Kathy and Mike Marry in the Temple

It feels only right that the first couple to marry in the Temple are our Temple Creative Director, Kathy Jones and her long term partner Mike. They are the first couple to not only legally marry in the Temple, but also to make their vows before Goddess using a beautifully written Goddess ceremony conducted by a Priestess of Avalon. They married on the afternoon of the 23rd October, and I am sure you will join us in wishing them every personal joy and happiness following this herstoric public event. Lorraine and Lisa, Co-Editors.

Goddess Temple News SAMHAIN2014 DonationsWelcome

The Goddess Temple, 2-4 High Street,

Glastonbury, BA6 9DU

www.goddesstemple.co.uk

From the beginning of September, the Glastonbury Goddess Temple has been registered to conduct weddings. Our Melissa Mother, Priestess Dawn Kinsella will be undertaking a year of training / shadowing with an existing Registrar, in order to become our very own Registrar for the Temple, together with Katie Player, who will become the assistant Registrar. 

Original artwork by TianaOriginal artwork by Tiana

It is raining, tears of the Goddess after a week of deep heat in the cauldron of Glastonbury Goddess Conference. There has been a shift in Mother Nature and a shift in me. Coming to this Conference the day after Jenny, my mother –in-law’s funeral

– I knew it was going to be a deep experience for me. I walked the death road and back to life. I thought I had cried my tears, I thought I had said my goodbyes, as I Priestessed her for 8 days in hospital. She fell and banged her head at home, a blood clot on her brain that burst. She drifted in and out of consciousness she was aware. We sang to her, my daughters and I, Jess and Beth, my sister in law Seersha. We kept sacred space. She had a beautiful death, slow on the death road to start, she fought it, she was scared … She was never alone, she was never alone in the room. We took shifts between the family, and I love them so much for that. Grief is such a deep emotion. There is always more, more opening, more tears. A deep pool of grief. It is the physical loss, even with my strong spiritual beliefs that our beloveds who have passed over are just a touch away through the veils. I see them, I feel them, but I miss her physical touch. Knowing that I will never be held again in Jenny’s arms. During the Crone Crowning ceremony, all those beautiful women who sat on the stage to be honoured. To me, they were like living icons on my altar. I honour them, we all honour them. My experiences in the House of Weavers installation of Carolyn Hillyer was overpowering. As I walked into the room, the dark, huge wise women. They carried the energies and archetypes of forest, dusk, mountains, tundra, waters, desert Their beautiful wisdom shone through. I crawled my way around, full of snot and tears and deep, deep lamenting sobs. For all of those who have gone before separation, slow deaths, quick deaths. When I finished I was held so beautifully energetically and physically. I thank the sistars of the hearth for holding sacred space. Where do we lament now ? Where do we do our howling and crying ? Where do we release our tears and pain ? We do it when it comes, we allow it to come and flow through the whole of our body. Giving it back to Goddess. She is beating down now on the

roof of the Rhiannon Temple where I am honoured to stay. Washing away to be renewed again. The magical doorway that has opened since Jenny’s death, since

being in Glastonbury doing the energetic work of a Cauldron Priestess in the south, holding the cauldron of tears. Goddess knows ! The gift she has taught me this year in total preparation for all of this has been to get myself out of the way, control, expectations, thinking I am in charge of my own life ! We have been trying to move for 18 months, our house sale fell through just before Christmas. This sent me into the void place, the place of surrender and not knowing. We then put our house up for rent, and we know why we did not move, we needed to be in Kent for Jenny, her passing and sorting out her affairs. The day before the funeral we had an offer from tenants on our house, whilst in Glastonbury for conference I popped into a letting agent I had 10 mins spare. I asked if they had anything, he said yes, this has just come up in Roman way. We went to have a look straight away, and I knew. I knew it was the right location, views across the levels, view of the Tor herb garden, a safe nest for Rod and I on the edge of the cauldron, the swan’s neck dragons back ! We moved in on the 21st August. Trust, surrender, allowing. Thank you to all those seen and unseen who stepped into my life

during Conference and were there when I needed a hug, a hand to hold, a cup of tea, glass of wine. Goddess helps to make life more real, Goddess helps us to experience life more fully in our bodies, with all our emotions, right here, right now. With Goddess as my witness I vow to walk the life road with all my enthusiasm, commitment, love, integrity, humility and compassion. I love my life, my one precious life in this body.

Blessed Be, Angie TwydallPriestess of RhiannonWomb Wisdom Keeper Creatrix at www.theblessed-bee.co.uk

Walking with Death – The Crone Goddess Conference

Sewing my square on the death road before I went into Seventh

Wave Music : Nigel Shaw & Carolyn Hillyer exhibition in the

Assembly Rooms. Powerful, healing, gratitude for the ritual

spaces being held so carefully and with love. Thank you all for

witnessing my grief. xx

Some of the amazing Crones at their Honouring Ceremony.

Lavender and Roses Therapy Studio for Women

• Aromatherapy. • Hot Stone Massage • • Lomi Lomi • Thai Foot Massage •

£40 for 2 hour session • Combination treatments £50Special rates for priestesses of Glastonbury Goddess Temple

I offer generous concessions for women on low income / benefits 

For more info please see my website www.lavenderandrosesmassage.co.uk

I also offer a unique approach to tarot reading Reading will be free until June, thereafter £25.

To book an appointment call Stephanie 07940 006 637

You could say it was more of a hollering than a calling, “Oi you … get here now !” No whispering on the wind from the Morrigan I’m afraid. She stormed right in, grabbed the back of my collar and dragged me down that motorway from Essex to Glastonbury. Looking back, there wasn’t much choice in the matter. I didn’t know at the time that I had one. It was a bit like labour … the urge was so strong I could do nothing else but give in to the force of Her nature. She who must be obeyed ! You know what I mean don’t you ? It wasn’t until I arrived and met all the other women who’d experienced variations on a similar theme that I realised I wasn’t alone. Everyone has their own story and for many the pull has been so strong they’ve upped sticks and moved there. Now that I’ve been, I’m getting the picture. Until the beginning of this year, I’d never set foot in Avalon. I landed at the Goddess Temple shop with my sister Tania to a warm welcome from a petite and smiling Dawn Kinsella who gave gentle but firm instructions to go up to the Goddess Temple and ground ourselves after ‘landing’. Nice idea, but really ? I was energised beyond belief that only a sledgehammer could sort out. Tania and I had come to promote our self-published Magic of Nature Oracle deck at a town hall event and had been directed to Dawn who turned out to be a charming hostess and promoter extraordinaire. Not only did she extend the hand of friendship, welcome us into the Sisterhood, put us up and show us around but also helped with

introductions which led to stocking the Temple shop with our cards and securing a gig booking at the King Arthur with my band Morrigans Path. I sailed back to Essex on a cloud, full of inspiration – which I poured into my song writing – and the title track of our debut album ; Call to Avalon was born. I came back with the ‘Morrigans’ at Beltane, released the cd at the King Arthur gig and the Temple shop kindly agreed to stock some copies. It was a short-lived but magical time, and playing our music and dragging my husband Ian up the Tor in the early hours of the next day was priceless. And yes, I’ve been back again since, to Melissa at the Conference – an unforgettable week and well worth the guilt of leaving the husband at home with the kids. So much I learned. It was truly a privilege to share sacred space, to dive deep into the cauldron and experience the magic with so many open hearted and empowered souls.

Meanwhile, Goddess roars and Avalon calls louder than ever … the cards are doing well and Morrigans Path have another booking at the King Arthur in the next few months. That is, if I can wait that long. Estate agents ? I never said that … no I didn’t.Blessings, Sheena )O( www.morriganspath.com © Sheena Cundy 2014www.themagicofnatureoracle.com www.sheenacundy.weebly.com

Call to Avalon

A group of 15 Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian women walked from Iona to Glastonbury representing  Mothers and children.They brought their  Flame to add to the Flame of Avalon, on Friday 12th September at 6.00pm, in the Goddess Temple.

The Cauldron Cracks – Lake Bala, N.Wales – Autumn 2014

It does not matter how. It just is. Shadowy figuresTheir cloaks damp with dewArise to stir the cauldronAmongst the gathering darkAnd the mist rising from the lake. Intentions, struggles, triumphs – All are there – stir them wellFor they represent the part of youThat longs to go home. Keredwen is mighty and glorious hereHer breath is in the windAnd Her stillness is in the heartsOf those that know Her. Do not think this is about love – It is older than that. It is as old as the mountainsNow in their autumn colours – As old as your longing.

And when your cauldron cracksAnd drenches your flower bedsYour neatly tended spaces – What then ?

She has come to claim youAs Her Priestess. That is all. It does not matter why,It just is.

Lorraine PicklesPriestess of Avalon, Co-Editor, Goddess Temple News.

The Hag of all you Fear

Naked and hairy. Wrinkled and scarey. I am a wirey spiteful face.I am everything lacking grace.I am what you left behind.I am what you seek but never find.I am everything I fear to be.I am everything I think is Me.I am the end and the beginning.I am lost without ever winning.I am standing outside the first gate.I am all you could ever hate.I am the toothless haggard features.I am the dark and despised creatures.I am bones and hair and jaw.I am not anything you adore.I am the hag of all you fear.I am yourself and I am right here.I am bitter and alone.I am jaw and hair and bone.I am past and I am new life.I am what was once a herb wife.I am ugly beyond form.I am beauty now reborn.I am memory, I am of yore.I am now all the things my heart adores. I am fate and I am history.I am a soul reborn in her history xxxAnd most of all … I forgive every judgement made by me on me xxx

Charlie Garland, Melissa

Lake Bala, Wales

Goddess Temple Poetry

Original artwork by Tianawww.tianaart.com

Tiana’s art is also available from www.goddesstemplegifts.co.uk

The Crone

I am oldI am not as young as I used to beI am bigger and more shinyBut sometimes I am not so well and sometimes my memory goes …I am old and wise.

I am oldI am a grandparent …I teach you my skillsI am the grandfather who teaches you to play chess and fun gamesI am the grandmother who makes good cakes and vegetable soup.

I am oldI will teach you to make bread and lavender cakeI will teach you how to knit, plait and weaveI have the time to pass down my ancient skillsI tell you stories of long ago, about the past.My hard work made it possible for you to be who you areI am your kind and loving grandparent.

I am oldI am the CroneI am made of skin and boneWith my wrinkled hands I stir the Cauldron of LoveMy cape is black as spaceMt wrinkled face concentrates on transforming all that is.My Cauldron is a whirlpool of love, life and knowledge.

Glastonbury Goddess Conference. Children and Young People’s Workshop 2014Co-created by Beth, Holly, Arianrhod, Morrigan, Amma, Willow, Elfina, Oona and Mariella.

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During this years Crone Conference the young people at the Young People’s Workshops spent a morning sitting in circle discussing ageing, our grandparents and memories of grandparents, and The Crone. From the discussion about the wisdom of grandparents, ageing and aspects of the Crone and what She means to us this poem was crafted. It is evocative of living and growing older, the wonderous gift of knowledge and time that grandparents share with us and an exploration of the Crone wisdom. Once created the young people agreed movements for each verse, and through this co-creating journey the poem was danced, allowing exploration through both words and movement,  allowing all of those present to immerse themselves in the knowledge, wisdom and experience held within the poem.

Lisa Newing, Steph Mathivet and Kaye Cooksey Young People’s Workshop facilitators.

Cerridwen walks the land this Samhain. I hear Her crone song in the wind-drift of the trees, I see Her dance in the flight of the geese, the scurry of the nut-gatherers, the winter-readiers. I feel Her in the anticipation of freezing air, a sudden solar stream of late warmth. I know Her, as we clean up the garden after a bountiful season, enrich the earth, trim our Rose of Sharon bushes, plant garlic and daffodil bulbs to herald a colourful spring – and tulip bulbs which will eventually be dug up by hungry chipmunks. We know that, but my inner crone tells me to plant them anyway. The cycle of life must go on. At the edge of our small piece of land sits a double row of trees, separating us from the farmer’s field beyond, where coyotes howl at midnight. Between those trees breathes an entire ecosystem. Sometimes we hear a collision of power with rustles and yelps, a slithering over dry leaves, the tumbling crash of a dead branch joining the composting undergrowth, then silence. Life stories we’ll never know. Every creature, rock and tree cohabiting, each acting out its own essence, not questioning its destiny. We have planted ivies, forget-me-nots, wild strawberries on its borders. They spill out into our garden, bridging the gap between the wild and the tamed. Crone energy dwells in that space : our rain forest, our jungle, our savanna

- the transition between here and there, yesterday and tomorrow, life and death. The crones in our community gather often to talk about life transitions, discuss caring for Mother Earth, the meaning of life and death, planning rituals to mark the seasons. Ten of us recently celebrated a friend’s eightieth birthday with a ritual at the new moon. From planning to manifestation it was full of meaning, collaboration and joy. Bringing staffs and drums, we gathered in our friend’s home at the witching hour. Singing Old Women Are Watching, we processed to the kitchen where we cast the circle, passing around a red thread and chanting our matrilineal lines before we called in the elements, absent friends, Cerridwen, Kali and Hestia. Within the circle, each woman brought her favourite bowl to the oiled cauldron in turn

– bowls full of chopped onions, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes, garlic, peppers. Ruby-red wine and sprinkled spices were stirred in, as was story-telling, every contribution leading to memories, synchronicities, family wisdoms. The didgeridoo’s wail welcomed each addition, wooden spoons stirred in our intentions, and we told more stories. Sacred stories. Women’s stories. A delicious ratatouille evolved, Hestia’s alchemy in the red cauldron (my Le Creuset pot !) As it simmered, we escaped into the lakeside garden and circling our friend, now in her ninth decade, we raised a cone of energy, singing We are Women of Radiance. We gifted her with wise words of hope and encouragement on her journey. Then we gathered around the table to eat bowlfuls of our

steaming stew with crusty bread – telling more stories – before we opened the circle. Gathering empty bowls and staffs and drums, we disappeared into the night, richer for the meal we created together, but especially for the relevance and reverence of ritual, proof that, however simple, ritual has such value in our lives, both in community, and in solitary times. We celebrated the Crone at our 19th Goddess Conference this year. She danced wildly, She shared Her life’s wisdom in so many

deep ways, She led us down the Death Road, and back again to red sparkling life. We owe it to Her to live that life with as much authenticity, passion and creativity as we can. May we all listen to Her wisdom and think of Her this Samhain with compassion, understanding, and love. Accept Her into our lives, into our souls.

Blessed be, Roz Bound – Conference Elder

Support the Goddess Temple

Giving Your Time and Energy The Goddess Temple is open to the public seven days a week with volunteer Temple Melissas looking after the space while it is open. All kinds of people come to the Temple, some experiencing a Goddess Sacred Space for the first time, and many Goddess pilgrims who come to bathe in Her loving energy, to attend Ceremonies and Healing Days. We always need more volunteer Temple Melissas. If you would like to become a Melissa and can offer two or more hours of your time regularly to

care for this beautiful sacred space. Contact Dawn Kinsella – dawnkinsella@hotmail.co.uk.

Become a Temple MadronMake a monthly standing order donation to the Goddess Temple to help cover our regular monthly costs. Any amount you can donate will support the Temple. As a Temple Madron you will receive our Temple Newsletter four times a year, plus invitations to special yearly Madrons, Friends and Melissa days where Goddess speakers and presenters will delight and entertain you. Please see details on the Temple website: http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk/index.php/how-you-can-help.

Make standing orders to The Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Sort Code : 40-22-07 Account No. : 21374532. Let us know your address for newsletters by emailing : info@goddesstemple.co.uk.

Cerridwen Walks the Land

Original artwork by Tianawww.tianaart.com

Goddess in Spain has had a glorious past and visitors can still admire the remnants of many Temples of many Goddesses that have been venerated over the past several millennia all over the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal). For years Goddess-loving people in Spain (and Portugal, but that’s another article to be written by the Portuguese sisters) have been reconnecting with and reclaiming this glorious past for our present and future. The result is a young, and yet very old, lively spiritual tradition and a growing community honoring the Goddess in Her many forms in many ways.

Avalon has been a cornerstone in this development for many of us, either through frequent visits to Glastonbury or through the training as Priestesses of Avalon. The deep transformation effected through this connection has enabled us to accelerate the process of reclaiming our own Goddess heritage. Reclaiming-Spain (based on Starhawk’s teachings) has been another cornerstone preparing the ground for many years. We celebrated two Goddess Conferences in Madrid, in 2010 and 2011, during the first of which the ancient Goddess Iberia came to life again in a deeply moving ceremony. A core group of nine Priestesses of Iberia dedicated themselves in 2011 and re-created the Sacred Flame of Iberia (which has been added to the Flame of Avalon in 2012). Since then, we have created the Iberian Mystery School (Escuela de Misterios de Iberia) which offers a three-year (three-spiral) in-person training of Priestesses and Priests of Iberia. Our most recent Third Spiral initiation was celebrated in the newly inaugurated Madrid Goddess Temple, where Iranzu and Saucco de Trivia (who both danced at the 2013 Glastonbury Goddess Conference, so you may know them) dedicated themselves as Priestess and Priest of Iberia. The Madrid Goddess Temple was inaugurated on 15 June 2014, it is the first in modern times. We owe it to the lucky “coincidence” and support of Elen Lo (owner of the space) and Katie Player (providing support in Melissa training) and the additional generous support of Saucco, Jana de Madrid, Isabeau, Sainda, Iranzu in the refurbishment, temple decoration, and day-to-day running. The Temple is currently open on weekends and Friday afternoons. It offers regular seasonal celebrations and moon rituals, embodiments, as well as workshops on a wide range of Goddess-related topics. The central altar integrates the energies of Goddess Iberia (represented by the golden statue of the Dama de Elche) and of the Lady of Avalon (represented by Caroline Lir’s painting). Overall the Temple is decorated in the colors of Iberia : gold, red, and purple. The opening ceremony was a shared honoring of Goddess Iberia

and the Lady of Avalon. There, the Flames of Iberia and of Avalon were lit and both Iberia and the Lady were embodied. A month later, on the occasion of her Madrid workshops, Starhawk visited the Temple and lit the Flame of Reclaiming. And the future looks bright … a new group of students will start their Priestess training at Samhain. More exciting plans for 2015 include the Goddess Festival at Mabon 2015 in Madrid and a two-week Earth Activist Training conducted by Starhawk in August 2015. Goddess is indeed alive in Iberialand again. Anna de Iberia

Goddess Alive in Iberia-Land !

The new Sisters and Brothers of Avalon 2014

Newly initiated priestesses and Priests of the Goddess 2014

Swansea Monthly Goddess TemplesOn the 13th September 2014 the Goddess community in Swansea opened the first of many monthly Goddess Temples. The Temple was decorated with nine altars around the room, one in the centre dedicated to the local Goddess Gwyr, and another encompassed within a fabric shrine dedicated to Banbha. Mandy Skeels worked effortlessly to create beautiful Goddess banners foreach altar, and was assisted in decorating a selection of them by Nia Priday, Olivia Church and Oli Taylor. In the evening a Banbha ceremony was held, calling in the Wheel of Ana and including an intensely heart warming embodiment. The Swansea Goddess Temple will be set up monthly for the local community and any who wish to visit. We are greatly inspired and appreciative of the Glastonbury Goddess Temple and its Priestesses and Priests who have been so supportive towards us. This is a heart felt and emotional project for the Swansea Goddess community which we really believe in. We are manifesting Goddess in this beautiful landscape once again !

Editors, Lorraine Pickles & Lisa Newing, Priestesses of Avalon • design by Paul Williment, e-mail : brighid.design@mac.com

DISCOVERYWith Michelle Patten, Priestess of Avalon,Priestess of Rhiannon

Come and f ind Goddess in the Land, in yourself and in each other. Sing, dance, play, share, create and craft to express Her energy ! Discover more about Her and about yourself as she walks beside and within you.

A four-day training in Glastonbury for those stepping onto the path of Goddess spirituality.

Four days over four months OR four consecutive days (below) 2015 – 16th to 19th June inclusive

Saturday 17 January 2015Working with Goddess as Maiden and with the blessing of Fire

Saturday 21 February 2015Working with Goddess as Lover and with the blessing of Water

Saturday 21 March 2015Working with Goddess as Mother and with the blessing of Earth

Saturday 18 April 2015Working with Goddess as Crone and with the blessing of Air

photo: Rob Wildwood

Venues in Glastonbury

Contact : denhamhouse@yahoo.com

01458 835086 / 07542 946776

Michelle Patten, Priestess of Avalon

http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk

November 21/22/23 2014With an on the fringe Goddess journey in Belgium on the 20 th

“Celebrate the Goddess within you!”

With as special guest Kathy Jones and lots of other interesting people such as Erin McCauliff, Lieve Volcke, Marion Brigantia, Anna Saqquara, Luiza Frazao. Lina Spirou, Luna Silver, Katie Player, Saucco de Trivia and more...

Full information and bookings on www.inthelightofthegoddess.com E-mail lieveke_volcke@hotmail.com, tel 0032 498 042 493

Address The Outsider (Vlaamse Ardennen, Oudenaarde, Belgium)

Tickets € 300.- (free accomodation in com-munal areas of 12. incl break-fast, lunch and dinner)

Come and meet the Goddesses of the Wheel of the Belgae and discover Their energy and Their power. They welcome you in a magical landscape with a lake and an isle of deep knowing...

First B

elgium Goddess Conference 2014

Ceremonies

Presentations

Dance

Workshops

Masked ball

Chanting

Joy

FriendshipLove

Unity