Huzzah! I have been officially published in print.

http://www.circlesanctuary.org/circle/

I have written a leadership article in Circle Sanctuary's magazine. It's not my best work in writing, but I'm particularly proud of the content in that it takes much of what I've learned at Diana's Grove, but it's not me regurgitating a Grove tool. The article is about the process of learning to step into workshop and ritual facilitation, and should be useful both to people who are looking to become stronger facilitators, and those who are in leadership positions and are hoping to empower others into stronger facilitation roles. It's written for the latter audience, and I hope it proves useful.

Now that I know it's possible to get published out there, I just need to keep writing, keep sending out articles. I can tell I'm getting better at writing articles; it's still a torturous process that takes me longer than I'd like, but it gets easier. I'm hoping that within the next year, I have a shot at getting published in more professional magazines like Conscious Choice, Parabola, etc.

Well. That was certainly the worst move ever. But, at last I'm online again, and my fingers aren't too swollen to type, heheh. Which sounds whiny, perhaps, but accurate. The past weeks have been a train wreck of bad timing, too much crap to haul, and a few other minor difficulties; I feel so out of touch with the world.

The past days I've caught up on reading over a thousand emails; I've found myself shocked to read about the RNC arrests of people I know. I'm still catching up on a lot of things, and if you've sent me an email or note, I'll get back to you as soon as I have fully caught up, but it will still take me a few days to get back into the groove here. I haven't had a move this hard in a long time.

M's pretty sure I'm up for sainthood after helping to haul all of A's stuff into storage, and helping him to sort his stuff, move it, and clean his place up, and only then get to moving my own stuff.

Final tally:
A's stuff: 4 loads
M's stuff: 3.5 loads
S's stuff: 2 loads
Stuff to be ebayed: 1/2 load

Keeping in mind that all of these loads were packed in with Shauna's super Tetris style packing. In fact, I probably overloaded my van on weight; I've never driven her that heavy.

Also an exciting feature of the move was that about a week before the move, my gas started leaking. At first just a really slow drip, but by the time the move was over, we had to keep a 2 gallon jug full of gas in the car because she kept running out of gas at inopportune times.

We ended up not signing a lease until Friday the 29th due to some complications, which meant that we didn't have power at the new place until Tuesday the 2nd, and phone until later that week, and internet only got fixed recently. Amazing to me how living without power for a few days didn't even phase me. I think M was a little unnerved at the idea, but I've lived without power at the Grove, I lived without power in St. Louis for days, it's not that big of a deal. I told him, when the zombies come, we'll need to learn to live without power anyways.

The move tired me out so much, since M and I did it ourselves, that the place is still in a state of disaster here, though I'm picking up speed on the unpacking. The unpacking was halted by having to do Chicago Pagan Pride on Saturday, and then an emergency trip to Wisconsin to get my gas leak fixed. Fortunately, Blue Lion's back to her weirdly gas-efficient self, after a week of leaking out OPEC's finest. I need another trip up there soon to deal with some transmission problems. Trip up there wasn't too bad, on the emotional level. My parents like M, he likes them. What's not to like, of course; they're weird hippies. Everyone likes my parents :p

I can't believe it's mid september. I feel totally dazed and confused....but I'll keep on trying to catch up with the whirlwind of LJ posts and emails and such. More updates to follow.

Seems like the month is almost burned itself away here, heh....craziness. Brief updates:

Hubbub with M and I seems to be dying down. Really, not very many people cared, and the person who really cared, overall, was more interested in how M deciding to divorce his wife interrupted their plans for him.

I have been in communication with A, M's ex, and that's going well. After some shaky initial forays into direct communication, she and I have a good dialogue. I'm very glad, because I like A.

Things with M and I are going well enough that he and I are moving in together. I'm pretty portable--2 minivan loads flat--but M has a 2 bedroom with all of his and A's stuff. A packed up her things, and is trusting us to move it into a storage unit. A lot of work, of course, but I'm grateful that she's placed that trust in both of us, and that she heard my offer of helping them move as genuine. So the past week has been a lot of sorting through M's apartment, cleaning and packing. He may be down to 2 minivan loads as well if he can craigslist some of his bulkier furniture. Ideally, doing another round tonight should leave furniture clear to be photographed.

The rub is, we're still looking for an apartment, though we're waiting to hear back from a local friend who's looking for some roommates which could be a really fun communal housing arrangement.

My Pagan networking life has been pretty busy, even though I've put a lot of things on hold while Mark and I get ourselves moved. I can't wait to be moved so that I can kick it back up a notch. There are so many exciting things, threads that can be pulled together; somewhere in all this community mess is the secret formula for a healthy, sustainable community, I just have to find it, and build on that.

When this move is over, M and I are going to take the red line down to Belmont and go to Caesars and get blitzed.

Happy birthday to one of my favorite nerdygeeks, Hess42.  May all your nerdy dreams for the next year come to pass :)

Quickie update; M's ok. Nothing showed up on the stress test, other than that he needs more cardio exercise. What he likely had was an anxiety attack brought on by stress and lack of sleep, plus a hell of a lot of Red Bull and Caffeine.

Since M and I plan to live to be about 100 to do all the community building work we want to do, we're going to do the work we need to do so we don't kick the bucket from something dumb.

Now the poor guy has little shaved patches all over from where they attached the electrodes. He looks kind of like a sheep that ran away from the shearing team :p

Thanks for all the well wishes, folks. :)

Hmmm....to cap off the past weeks of stress, M's in the hospital tonight for observation. He had some chest pains earlier, and as he works at Northwestern University Hospital, his boss encouraged him to go to the ER. As his EKG showed something potentially wonky, they're holding him overnight and doing a stress test tomorrow. Looks like this is probably a case of too much stress, but I'm glad they're being thorough.

I'm here at NWH; M just went to sleep. I hung out with him for a few hours and he went through the Kabballah tree of life to me so I can use it for future infographic models. Though, he and I are pretty sure that, given my infographic leanings, I probably came up with the damned thing in a former life :D  Next, he's going to run through some of the basics of Alchemy, also for infographic purposes. It's good to have a total metaphysical nerd to play infographic with, especially now that we have the 8 foot white board in my room.

There's a reason, of course, that M was stressed out enough to have chest pains. He's currently living 3 separate lives--his work life during the day, going to play with the kids in the evening and give his wife a break (she's a stay at home mom), and also process separation stuff with her, and then he comes over to my place to be with me. And usually we're up until the wee hours because it's who we are, and we're so excited about group organizing, or metaphysical discussions, playing infographics on the whiteboard, or other things that shall remained censored, that the man gets no sleep. I encourage him to actually just sleep, but he's as stubborn as I am. And those of you who've tried to convince me to do something that I should do (like eat or sleep) to take care of my body, you know how impossible I can be. :P

This past weekend, he was up for days and days with little sleep in order to meet his family obligations, spend some time with me, and also support his obligations to the ESC group.

Actually, yesterday I facilitated a Leadership Retreat for the ESC team. That wen fairly well--I learned a lot about facilitation, and made some definite facilitation mistakes as I worked to teach some of the basic Grovian leadership concepts, but I learned a lot about how to, and how not to, facilitate this work. I also should get a medal for the marathon of the day--I facilitated for 12 hours straight, because the team wanted to keep going once we got into brainstorming things like: What does the group want to be, what is our mission statement, what are our values, what's our plan for the next month, how will we get more leaders on board to do this work, etc.

Having the Mega Whiteboards helped a great deal. Man, I love white boards, and having a whole rainbow of dry erase markers!

By the end of the day, I definitely felt like I was one of the tribe, vs. some kind of outsider that M had brought in. I feel that I did a really good job in helping to give this group a strong foundation to build on, and I enjoyed learning more about people's hopes and dreams for the group, and for pagan community at large.

So, the day went well, but I think M overdosed on Red Bull and caffeine, then didn't get a lot of sleep, and has had ambient stress going on from the process of divorce and dealing with his wife, and dealing with the community members who've chosen to be argumentative.

He and I have made a pinky-swear agreement to not have future one-upsmanship in the department of stress-related illnesess and injuries. His chest pains/hospital stay vs. my stress-throwing up/passing out/black eye/concussion--not a game I want to play.

So we'll find out tomorrow if there's anything actually wrong, or if the man just needs to lay off the Red Bull and get more sleep.

I realize, as I sit here, that this is the first time I've ever had a lover in the hospital. My ex had a colonoscopy done, but that was just an in-office procedure and not an overnight. He and M both had sleep studies done, and both have sleep apnea and sleep with the breathing mask. But this is different.

I've spent hours at the hospital for my friend JonJon, when his lung collapsed, and for my Dad the times he's been sick in the hospital, but I've never visited the hospital for someone I was with. I'm not really feeling it now, given that I'm a Vulcan Gemini, but I'll feel it later, knowing me. It always hits me later.

Yup, I'm "seeing someone." And it's complicated, so the juicy details are behind the cut.

So, not having watched TV in about 3 months, I've been a little out of it as far as what movies are coming up. I forget how much a good, epic movie just lights me up :)

Just discovered that the new Batman movie's out tomorrow, so I hope to watch that in the next few days. But, perhaps even more awesome is the animated Clone Wars movie coming out in a month. Amazingly, no matter what George Lucas has done to fuck up the Star Wars universe and storyline with the prequels, I'm amazed at how excited I get by anything in that universe, with that musical score, with those lightsabers. And, looks as if George has had a bit less of a hand in this, so it could even be good. Can't wait to see it; just got through the trailers and I'm panting with anticipation.

Happy birthday to Artemis 112!  Welcome to your Hermit year ;)

Hi all,
FYI....some devastating stuff is going on near Diana's Grove. Please consider attending the below event, or, if you aren't local, donating directly to the Grove.

Blessings!
-shauna

Chicago Mysteries presents:
In Service to the Sacred:
A Fundraiser to Save the Land at Diana's Grove
Presented as an Earth Spiritualists of Chicago Main Event

July 19th, 2008, 6pm-midnight
2032 W. Fulton, Chicago, IL  60612

Do you value the environment?

What if the choices you made could save sacred land?

You can make a difference.

 

Right now, in the foothills of the ancient Ozark Mountains, a forest being razed to the ground. Half of a total of 880 acres is already a wasteland of dust after the devastation of clear-cutting. This unsustainable logging practice threatens this beautiful land, the habitat of hundreds of species of plants and animals, and the local watershed.

 

This land borders Diana's Grove, a nature sanctuary and retreat center dedicated to personal and spiritual growth that has touched many lives here in Chicago, and in earth-based communities around the country.

You can help save this land

Please join us for a festive evening of fundraising to generate abundance, both financial and energetic, to help protect this sacred land. You can make an ecological difference in the world with your actions and choices.

For over 15 years, the land of Diana's Grove has stood to support the sacred work of hundreds of people, as well as rescued hundreds of dogs. Diana's Grove offers Mystery School and other retreats that foster personal growth, community building, and leadership development using earth-based spiritual values, practices, and processes.

 

Make a change in the world that you can see

 

Right now you can directly save the land; every donation helps to save a tree, and benefit this endangered environment. Your smallest donation matters. All profits generated from this fundraiser will go towards the Diana's Grove land fund.

Schedule of Events:

6:00 Doors open
Enjoy the potluck offerings, as well as musical entertainment; sacred play to help save sacred land.
7:00 Land Rescue
An optional informational session on effort to save this land.
7:15 Ritual information session
Find out more about the evening's ritual and prepare for the work of the night.
7:30 Ritual
Together, we lift our voices and connect from our deepest selves to the sacred land beneath our feet, sending healing energy to protect sacred lands near and far.
9:00 Auction
Bid on gorgeous donations from local businesses and community members.
9:30 Gaia's Groove
Dance for the dream of a healthy planet with a drum circle as well as an eclectic mix of worldbeat and other danceable tunes. Will you groove for the Grove?

Admission:
$5 and up, sliding scale. Please donate what you are able toward the land fund.
Please also bring a potluck dish to share, and any items you would like to donate for the auction.

This is a family friendly event, and children are welcome until the Gaia's Groove dance party begins. This event is drug and alcohol free. Please also join us in recycling during this event, and consider using ecologically sustainable choices in food containers.

Contact information:

ShaunaAura@ringinganvil.org, river.roberts@gmail.com, 773-506-1099

 

 

More information:
For more information about the programs at Diana's Grove, please visit http://www.dianasgrove.com

 

The Chicago Mysteries are a local group devoted to the work of the year-long Diana's Grove Mystery School program.

 

This fundraiser is our effort to support the Diana's Grove staff in preserving this land. Other ways to support the effort include a plan that will enable you to help with the preservation of this land through buying into a landholder agreement, or through tax-deductible donations in any amount. Visit http://www.dianasgrove.com/landproposal.html for more details.

Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2032+W.+Fulton,+Chicago,+IL+&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=77.383149,102.480469&ie=UTF8&ll=41.887327,-87.672873&spn=0.017476,0.02502&z=15

Public Transportation: Nearest stops are the Green Line at Ashland and Lake, and the Blue Line at Damen and Grand. Contact Shauna for carpooling connections.

May your sacred lands be held in the hands of the Goddess.

 

 

Happy Birthday to Celaenos Aerie! Many happy returns, and well wishes to all your upcoming projects whatever they may be :)

Yaaay! Chariot, here I come.

Thanks to everyone for the wishes of great abundance, joy, and great sex! My friends know me well. Hopefully I'll be getting to work on a few of those things...maybe even today! I'll keep y'all posted. Maybe I'll even begin to believe in the power of prayer :D

I just rediscovered an old favorite.
http://www.understandingusa.com/pdf/11.pdf

A luscious mix of visual infographics and photography, and all about environmental issues. I've been thinking a lot about alternative energy lately. Largely because 2 close friends/former lovers are all lit up with specific project ideas for how they can help people empower themselves to save the planet, so it's in my problem-solving mind. Partly also because I want to work some sustainability (energy, food,e tc.) work into the Grail event.

Thematically it works just fine, though perhaps not at the surface.

Sustainable food as a spiritual practice works well; for, the Grail serves us the dish we like best.
Sustainable energy--bringing the waters back to the wasteland. What is the Grail if not the place where all energy and life force comes from?

That old Grail question; who does the Grail serve? And one answer is, You, the King--for you and the Land are One.

If we can fill ourselves from the source, steward ourselves and drink deeply of the Grail waters, which come from deep within the Land, then we can have the power and energy to serve others, serve the Land, and steward it.

Yum.

I bet you didn't think I could turn alternative energy into a Grail Mystery, eh? Trust me. I can turn *anything* into a Grail Mystery *chortle*

So if you could have anything you wanted.... ANYTHING....at an event, what would it be?

I'm in deep brainstorming mode for the idea of a 3-day conference themed on the Grail next year in Chicago, and would really love to have your input, my friends!

If you were at a huge fantastic pagan/spiritual/burner/interfaith kind of event, what types of programming would you want to see? What kinds of workshops?

Sky's the limit. Nah, sky's too limiting. If, for a ritual, you wanted to pull the moon down from the sky to be closer to the earth, go ahead and post about why you want that. If you want an Olympics opening-ceremonies-style orgasmica festival. If you want Cirque du Soleil and Loreena McKennitt. If you want DJ Tiesto. If you want the *actual* holy grail. If you want me to bring Stonehenge over from England. If you want me to resurrect Merlin to give a workshop.

What would make an event worth going to for you? This could be small--like having vegan food options for lunch? Is it having a fire circle and drumming until dawn?

What would draw you to an event? What would spark you, perk up your ears and make you just want to drop everything to come to that event because you just knew, deep in your gut, that you had to? What has pulled you across the country for other events you've attended?

What have you never seen an event do, but always wanted to have it happen?

Any responses on this would be greatly appreciated.

And of course....if you're interested in participating in the planning of this, if you have ideas for workshops or installation art...or would otherwise like to be involved, please feel free to email me. If you don't have my email, message me on LJ and I'll send you my email address there.

Go here for Tarot goodness. Just do it, you know you want to.
http://www.johncoulthart.com/pantechnicon/tarot.html

There's this strange little world I venture into every once in a while...the world of the daywalkers, the world of people who rise at dawn and love it.

Blue Lion is parked on the street these days, and there is street cleaning. This means I need to keep track of what day of the week it is, lest Blue Lion get an evil ticket. So yesterday, at about 4:30 am, I headed out to move her to one side of the street. It was still dark, so I had no qualms about heading out in my pajamas.

Today, I opted for the same, but waited until after 7am so that I could park closer. And again I opted for pajamas; it's light out, but I thought, "Really, who's up at this time of day voluntarily? And who's conscious? Not like I'll see anyone I care about on the street on the way over to my car."

Wow. There are like, people up and jogging, people in suits, people dressed up like they're ready for church walking their well-groomed Evanston dogs. I had to laugh at the vague sneering I got from a few of them; I was in floppy pajama pants, dirty combat boots, hair messily pinned up, and a hoodie that's seen better days.

Huzzah for good boundaries, though, because their looks did not actually impact my sense of self on my little trek.

But it is kind of funny to remember that there's this whole other world, the world of the Day Star Rising, that I forget. I forget and think it's more like the End of the Night, and I feel like it should be quiet and still yet for a few more hours. Nope.

Funny stuff.

The warm wet winds of spring are here. It's time to be moving on.

Wow, so that's what an earthquake feels like. I woke up thinking, "Did I overload the washer that poorly?" Alas, it wasn't the pillow in the washer, it was a real live 5.4 earthquake in southern IL. P and I surfed the Interwebs to see if we were nuts or what, and reported it on the USGS web site. By the time we reported it, hundreds of other NERDS had filed reports with them all across the midwest, as far away as Wisconsin.

Fascinating!

Thanks, Rob, for this dose of weird. I have sperm! Er....yeah. Like whales! Just what I wanted.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In her book *Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All
Creation,* biologist Olivia Judson extols the male members of the fruitfly
species Drosophila bifurca. Although they are barely one-eighth of an inch
long, their sperm can be up to 2.3 inches long. If a man were capable of
the same prodigious production, his sperm would be as big as a whale.
Metaphorically speaking, you Geminis now have the ability to generate
phenomena on this scale. That's why I hope you will devote all your
ingenuity and resourcefulness to creating an intricate, beautiful
masterpiece, not a humongous, complicated mass of confusion.

What a strange trip I've had! All sorts of new experiences.

Today began quite leisurely; I slept past when I thought I'd get up. I forget how tired I get when I'm traveling, even if I'm not actually *doing* anything.

Not that I'm not doing anything--rather, I'm doing a lot of things. Yesterday involved renting a storage unit; got about half my stuff loaded into it, which rocks, I'll get the rest loaded in tomorrow. I also called and emailed a bunch of apartments, and I found myself incredibly frustrated with apartment people blowing me off.

On the total plus side of the trip, I have had two most excellent hostesses; At the beginning of the trip I got to stay with Artemis112, and now I'm at LadyHawker's place. It's been a pleasure reconnecting with folks that I haven't seen, and I'm looking forward to more and more of that.

On the down side, apartment stuff is still in the air. I'm going through the application process with the Evanston place--though I'm a little nervous, since her neighbors in the condo association have to approve of me, and she's indicated they are somewhat conservative. She's working to arrange a meeting so we can go through that process, and I'm not sure when that will be, and if I'll have to come back up into town to do it.

I did at last get a few responses from apartment listings I'd responded to days ago. Some are fairly interesting, if weird. One response got me back in touch with some mystic folks in Chicago that I'd wanted to get in touch with anyways. That will be less cryptic in a later post.