Poverty and Homelessness: Blog Action Day 2008

Today is Blog Action Day. I learned about this from Nature Deva. Bloggers from around the world unite to write about a world issue. This year the topic is poverty. After the Canadian election yesterday this topic is even more important. A court ruling handed down yesterday in Victoria BC, has given homeless people in that city the right to erect tents in public parks and green spaces. For more info click here.
Many of us may cringe at the "unsightliness"of this. Make shift shelters, debris and goodness knows what else will be laid out for all to see. This is a landmark decision and one that the mayor of Victoria is not happy about. In many countries around the world poverty is not as hidden as it is here. We shake our heads at our homeless, thinking they may be lazy, drug addicts, or mentally ill. Some give spare change, some support homeless shelters, but most of us turn our heads the other way. Poverty exists in Canada and while our government gives tax cuts to corporations people have no public housing. Our climate on thw west coast may be the mildest in Canada, but I cringe to think that a nylon tent or card board shelter is all that keeps many homeless from our sub-zero temperatures. I don't want to see tent cities in our public parks, but I don't want to see human beings living in poverty anywhere. Why is it that parks can only be used by people who have? If you were homeless would you rather sleep in a tent in a park or in a cold concrete doorway or dangerous back alley? We need to get our homeless the option of housing. The options of shelter and the help they require to pursue what we all do. I say the option because some people who live on the street choose to live there. I do not understand that choice but I try not to judge it. I have not walked in anyone else's shoes. For those that want off the street our governments from federal to municipal must provide safe alternatives for them. I think that is a worthy case for my tax dollars, and until they do, on their drive or walk to work each morning they will be faced with the reality of poverty in Canandian cities, tents and all.

Pumpkins & apples & bees, oh my!

Friday was our second annual trip to the Applebarn. We had a great time, despite the crowds of school children and my luck of getting stung by a bee. Kyan did not sleep on the way there as I was hoping, so he was a little out of it for some of the morning, but I think he liked the fresh air. We took a hayride to the pumpkin patch and picked out a small one for him. I picked a 10 pound bag of apples that are lovely and crisp. I really love pumpkins, their shape, their taste, their colour, and the fact that you can make them into wonderful globes of light.
On a side note, the election results are coming in...looks like my riding is staying NDP but the country is headed for another Conservative minority government. Despite my previous post about accepting the will of the majority, I find it hard to swallow this one. My views just do not mesh with Right wing ones. I hope with all my heart that Mother Earth is able to sustain the pillage that this government will probably put her through. John Mayers' song Waitin' on the World to Change comes to mind here, especially the line: "one day our generation is going to rule the population". The fact that our population is aging does not help us bring in the fresh blood. I have to look for other ways to create change, I've cast my vote and now must walk my talk.

Heidi's Blessingway

All of us sporting the feather crowns and Heidi's final belly henna

Heidi reclining before the Pledge to My Child

Heidi's Goddess Nest Crown

A massage for baby

The Goddess and Element altar

The Henna artist and the Family altar in the background
(I didn't take a picture of it...darn)

As promised a more detailed post about my best friend's blessingway. My other best friend Matthew and I planned this for about three months. It is amazing that it stayed a secret because he often lets the cat out of the bag. But we managed to completely pull the wool over her eyes and she was pleasantly surprised when she arrived. As I wrote previously Blessingways are a more Mother centered and meditative event than Baby Showers. They can follow many patterns, not necessarily pagan in nature but since both Heidi and I are pagan the ritual was typical of a pagan format. We based the ritual on the book Mother Rising ; which we later gave to Heidi so she can use it in her doula work. In the planning process which they take you through in the book we chose the theme of "Nesting". It has been something that Heidi talked about often in her pregnancy, not to mention she started nesting at 4 months pregnant. Most of the ritual that follows ( circle casting, Pledge to My Child, and circle release) was found in the Mother Rising book.

Heidi's Blessingway Ritual
Over a bowl of salt water:
“May these waters from the west renew and ready us for the important work we will do here today” (We all wash our face with the water)

(We then did a Grounding to center our spirits and release fears.)

Circle Casting:

“We welcome the spirit of the East, who brings the breath of new life and gives relief from difficult labouring energy. Please be with us today.”

“We welcome the spirit of the South, who inspires fiery determination and prompts a baby’s first cry. Please be with us today.”

“We welcome the spirit of the West, who calms the waters of a baby’s uterine home and ensures the plentiful breast. Please be with us today.”

“We welcome the spirit of the North, who comes from the land of quiet rejuvenating spaces to tell tales of surrender and of our ancestors. Please be with us today.”

“The circle is cast. Blessed be.”

Invoke goddess Isis at the center altar.

“Winged Isis was a teacher and Mother of all Life. As a moon and wind Goddess she gave birth to Horus who was the God of the sun. Together they sustained all life. We welcome your spirit to our circle.”

(Have Heidi light the Goddess Candle)

Statement of Purpose:

“We are here today to honour you Heidi, to help you prepare for the next phase of motherhood. To soothe your soul, rest your mind and allow the magic of this time to come forth.
We are also here to honour the new baby, to celebrate his impending arrival and send him love as he completes his growth in your womb and prepares to join us outside you.”

(Heidi finds a comfortable laying position on the floor; we can have an area ready with blankets and pillows. Everyone takes a position around her and places a hand on her belly. Everyone can offer any blessings to the baby if they wish. Before removing our hands…)

Pledge to My Child:

“May you anticipate your child’s birth, his childhood, and his life and encourage him to look forward to.
May you watch him flourish and discover his home in this magnificent world.
May you nurture his innocence and never forget the sacred place it comes from.
May you show him the way of wonder and walk strong along beside him.
May you stand for him as parent and a friend, valuing his dreams just as you value your own.
May you voice your feelings honestly, and honour the promises you make.
May you listen to him thoughtfully and give him the freedom to expand his own mind.
May you envision his happy future, always mindful of the precious, present moment.
May you embrace him and enjoy him with your heart wide open.”

(Massage & Henna)

(Once henna is done we can take pictures etc. and then gather on the floor seated in a circle)

Weaving a Web:

“This will symbolize our connection to each other now and once the baby is born. We wrap the cord around our wrist and then pass it to the next person with the Goddess candle as the center.”
(Once the web is woven we can raise some energy with chanting)

“We are the flow, we are the ebb, we are the weavers, we are the web”

(Chant dies down naturally and we can ground out the energy raised into the candle)

“We will now cut the web leaving enough room for each of us to tie the cord around our wrists. We will wear the cord until the birth is over and Heidi’s milk is in.”

Circle & Goddess Release:

“Thank you great Isis for your presence. You are free to leave our circle. Please encircle Heidi with your strong and powerful wings, and breathe life into her efforts as she prepares to birth her second child. At the time of the birth please place your great shield in front of her and help her proceed with her work unafraid and safe in her nest.”

“Spirit of the North, we thank you for your presence. You are free to leave our circle. Please remain with Heidi to give her the ability to surrender to her changing role as she births her baby.”

“Spirit of the West we thank you for your presence. You are free to leave our circle. Please remain with Heidi to facilitate her rapid physical healing after the birth of her child.”

“Spirit of the South we thank you for your presence. You are free to leave our circle. Please remain with Heidi to give her all the courage she will need to birth her child.”

“Spirit of the East we thank you for your presence. You are free to leave our circle. Please remain with Heidi so that the burdens of mothering will become light as a feather."

“Our circle is open yet unbroken. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again. Blessed be.”

We had a wonderful time with good food and lots of relaxing for Heidi. I really enjoyed making the decorations and crowns. It was lots of work but worth it, I think it is harder Moms the second (or third etc) time around to make their pregnancies special. They spend so much time looking after family matters that they don't have as much bonding time. So these events are nice to honour the process and the new arrival. We also honoured the new big brother and Dad with gifts. A "Big Brother" Cloak(which I made and am very proud of) (pic to come) and a lovely art print of a family of four birds for Dad.

Canadian Political Debate

I was invited to blog on the Voteenvironment.ca website which was set up by The David Suzuki Foundation. I registered but have yet to receive my registration.......so here is my view of the debate last night.
Over all I felt that each candidate was well spoken and kept to the issues. The moderator is of course the one to thank for that. The top issue to me in this election is the environment.
The Greens, NDP and the Liberals believe that working towards stopping the destruction of our life source does not have to send us into debt. Its a matter of shifting our priorities. I agree. The problem that the average Canadian has with "left" thinking politics is that they believe that socialists spend money like there is no tomorrow and have no cares about driving the government into deficit. That may have happened in the past, but I for one am a practical socialist. We can't spend money we don't have, but we don't have to. Shifting the money to reflect our new priorities is all we have to do. What good will paying down the National debt have if in 50 years we can't breathe? Obviously we can't increase the debt, we must live within our means. In my home if we don't have the money we don't get it.
After watching the film The 11th Hour where the panelists recommend that taxing pollution and lowering income tax is the key to making a cleaner environment without incurring debt, well that is what these parties are saying they will do.
Secondly the arts funding cuts. I thought Jack Layton made my main point when he told Steven Harper that his $500 tax credit for parents enrolling their children in Arts and Culture programs was no good for the average person working in the arts sector. The average income for an arts sector employee is $10-12,000 a year barely enough to live on. Another great point that Jack Layton made was that poverty is the key reason for crime. If we dealt with poverty we would not have the desperate petty criminals robbing homes and stealing cars. So putting young kids in jail and having their identities public (as the Harper government wants to do) will do nothing to help or stop crime in our country.
The last point I consider important when anyone is deciding on who to vote for is this idea of strategic voting. Splitting the "left" leaning vote, is in some people's opinion bad. They urge us to vote for the party that has the greatest chance of beating the current party in power. Who cares if they have run the country for more than a decade with little to show for it? At least they are not the Right wing guys... Well I do not agree with this way of voting. I'm not going to vote for the people who have the biggest chance of beating the ones I don't like, I'm going to vote for the person/party that I feel represents the values and goals I strive for in my country. Democracy is about casting your vote in your interests and value set. If the rest of my riding or the country does not agree, then I have to go along with the majority. I can still fight for what I believe in and stay active and participate for the causes I care about. But I will not vote for one party in the hopes that they will eek out a win, the polls are still saying the the Conservatives are in the lead. In my riding we have a NDP representative. So I feel confident that at least my riding will not go from left of center to right in one election span.
Thursday night we watched both the Canadian and American debates. I felt so proud to be participating in the democratic process and informing myself on the choices at hand. Both outcomes are going to be really interesting to see, especially with our current economic situation. Whether we you decide to go Green, Orange (NDP), Red (Liberal), or Blue (Conservative) (Blue really??? Are you sure???) democracy is happening now, have your say.
What is everyone feeling about the election race and possible outcomes? Do you feel that your options represent your values?

Remembering South Africa

In Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town

An ant hill in Lowveld National Botanical Garden, Nelspruit

Male elephant, Lodolozi Game Reserve, Sabi Sand

Male lions, Londolozi Game Reserve, Sabi Sand

Our private cabin at Londolozi

Table Mountain, Cape Town

This time of year always makes me miss my trip to South Africa three years ago. My husband was born there and moved to Canada when he was 8 years old. His grandmother, an aunt and uncle and several cousins still live there. Three years ago we traveled there on our pre-honeymoon (we were married the following summer). I loved this trip. It was the furthest, longest and most memorable vacation of my life.
While there we visited a Game Reserve where we saw elephants, giraffe, lions, leopards, hippos, rhinoceros, baboons, water buffalo...the list is endless really. I remember the first morning I woke in a hotel on the way to the game reserve. I turned on the t.v. it was the BBC and the news was all about the African continent. No North American news at all. It was my first time being off this continent and I was so happy to be immersed in something so new and different. That day we visited a lovely small botanical garden and I remember that the smell was new to me. I had never smelled this pollen, this soil, these trees. It was a delight to the senses. I tried to drink in every moment.
There are many things in South Africa that are hard to handle for someone from a more sheltered culture(like ours in Canada). Child poverty is everywhere. Here it is much more hidden. The level of poverty in general is huge. The obvious division between white and black people. The systemic and often sub-conscious racism which was blatant to me, but was the lasting effect of apartheid there. On a political level what struck me the most from the trip was the hope and current of the people. Decades of oppression were lifting and millions of people who had no hope before, can now work towards a life of their own choosing.
This hit home for me on the gondola ride down Table Mountain in Cape Town. Dave and I were on the gondola with a group of school children probably 10 or 11 year old. As the beauty of their city struck them they spontaneously began to sing the South African National Anthem. This song is in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu and Sesotho. We asked their teacher what they were singing and when he told us I was just overcome with the love they had for their country. The possibilities are endless for them. They are a new generation rising from the ashes of apartheid.

We plan to go back one day when our child(ren) are old enough to remember it. It is a long flight and expensive but it has stayed with me for three years and I know it will always remain in my heart. That was something an employee of the Game Reserve we stayed at said, that Africa grabs your heart to never let it go. I have to say that it won me forever. The original home of us all.

Women supporting Women

I've been out of the blog world for the last week. I was preparing my best friend's Blessingway. For anyone not familiar with the term a Blessingway is a special ritualized party celebrating the passage from maidenhood to motherhood or the next phase in motherhood. It is a more mother focused event and not as gift oriented as the traditional baby shower. I will post a specific entry about the party at a later date. But in the essence of supporting women I wanted to post about two organizations that I came across this week.

The first I read about at Crunchy Domestic Goddess. Amy wrote about a recent party/meeting she attended in which the Moms discussed their efforts in raising children and living green. The EcoMom Alliance was founded by Kimberly and is "a grassroots, global movement propelling a sustainable future and helping to reduce the climate crisis". The website is great with lots of ideas for gathering Mom's together to work towards a positive eco footprint. I joined the online group and am looking forward to sharing this with Moms in my area as well. I do believe that if Moms everywhere united on this issue, we could change the world, because frankly moms can do anything!
The second organization is called Women for Women International. Many of you may have heard of this group before as they have been featured on Oprah and 60 minutes. I think they are worth a deep look for anyone interested in the empowerment of women and how women(and their children) are affected by the ravages of war. They "mobilize women to change their lives through a holistic approach that addresses the unique needs of women in conflict and post-conflict environments". Writer and activist Alice Walker narrated this heart wrenching but wonderful ad which I would recommend all to watch. Many of these women were raped as a war act. The stories of their survival are incredible and give any North American woman insight into the misogyny and in-equality that is rampant in the world today. Currently I do not have the funds to sponsor a woman, but it is something I will do in the future. Both sites have blogs which have great information as well.
Mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins and friends, what happens to one of us touches each of us...our souls are part of the collective of this planet. We can make a difference together, united we are unstoppable.

My Journey to Paganism Part II

My first outing as a witch

If you are just tuning into this story here is part one.
After an afternoon tea at a typical small town University coffee shop I stopped into the local book store. For such a small town they had a wonderful bookstore. I wandered to the Spirituality section. Out of the many titles the one that spoke to me was called Book of Shadows. For anyone who has not read this book it is written by Phyllis Curott, Book of Shadows: A Modern Woman's Journey into the Wisdom of Witchcraft and the Magic of the Goddess is Curott's story. As I read this book I found a language that made sense to me. My connection to nature, my belief in revering the source of life, and the patterns that move with the earth and the universe. What I connected with most were the correspondences between the elements and the cardinal directions. Air, Fire, Water and Earth, East, South, West and North had been surfacing in my art work for years. Since I was studying feminism I was looking for a more balanced view of the essence of spirit. The patriarchy that had ruled western society for the last 6000 years had negated the female aspects of the divine. I saw the beautiful lessons in Maiden, Mother and Crone. Honouring the stages in women's lives and revering them.
This book was the beginning of my pagan journey. I read voraciously informing myself and blasting open layers of conditioning that Christianity and popular culture had made on me. This process was not easy, I questioned everything. Along the way some people close to me were forced to endure the exploration. Some rolled with it, luckily some were also going through it, others challenged me which in the end was helpful in my reconstruction.
I read Book of Shadows in the summer and followed it with The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. In the Reclaiming tradition and her lovely way of writing I found a language that was less formal and more inclusive than Curott's.
That fall I did several rituals with friends and tried my hand at creating a Wiccan/Pagan practice in my life. These explorations led me to understand more about the labels and titles in the pagan community. It is hard to not get convoluted when talking about the whys in different terms etc. And I am obviously writing this from the perspective of the informed reader. So anyone who is new to the craft and reading this may need to research some of the terms and jargon that result. Please keep in mind that I am recounting my own personal story and not trying to insult any one's reasons for the terms they use on their path. That goes for my rejection of Christianity as well.
As a feminist I responded to the female principals in Paganism. I do not believe in ignoring the male principal though. The balance of male and female is important to me, I have never practiced with men in a small coven setting, but I honour the male aspect of the God, the Green man and his myriad of faces. I do not believe in outside deities but in the archetypal essences of Gods and Goddesses. They are lessons, guides and markers on which to mirror your own conduct. I sometimes refer to the earth as Goddess, but the universal spirit is both male and female and neither at the same time. The term witch is one that I have always liked. Despite the negative views of witches, I respond to the word on a sub-conscious level. I can't even articulate why I love it, the word has power to me. All the ways you can misconstrue the word, just makes it stronger to me. It resonates on a deep level for most people, one of fear to some and yet that does not make it a "bad" word to me. So while I would call myself a witch, I would not call myself Wiccan. Now I am aware of the debate in terminology in the Pagan/Wiccan community on this issue. Some feel you can't call yourself a witch if you are not Wiccan. I find Wicca to be too constricting to me, too ordered and set with rules. The soul of ritual to me is spontaneity, true intention and a focus on making an authentic effort. Reciting the proper lines, and lighting the green candle before the red is not something I stress over.
So I call myself Pagan in the definition based on the old meaning of "from the country" and in the Neo-pagan sense of reclaiming the spirituality that I believe my ancestors followed before conversion to Christianity.
By the time I left University and moved to the West Coast of the country I had reached these definitions within myself and felt comfortable with them. Much has developed in my Pagan practice over the years here. I joined a group of women, was with them for several years and participated in some wonderful rituals. I eventually left the group (I go into more detail about why in my Witch's Voice article) and have been solitary for the last two years. This has worked out all right for me. I do participate in some larger community gatherings, and sometimes do rituals with friends. I consider my path an ever changing and evolving one. Nature and its rhythms is my guide. Science and environmentalism are also part and parcel of Paganism for me.
I still read many books about the craft, and attempt to make every day a spiritual one. It is not easy with a young family to care for, but I can't be perfect so I do not let myself try to be (most of the time).
Life is precious...and short.