I'm writing Day 9 on the patio of my little Greek house, just me and the Moon. Yes, I'm home before 10 again but in my defense, I was out all day from 9:30 am. Anyway, I love the peace and quiet up here. The bra is off, the wine is poured, and I'm wearing the Kaftan my daughter brought me back from Kenya recently. I'm feeling quite Bohemian.
I really didn't want to miss having some time with the full Moon. It's in the emotional sign of Pisces tonight, so don't be surprised if this blog takes a turn. A lot of stuff has been coming up on this trip, probably because I've had more time just to be with my thoughts than I've had in a long time. I see much value in this, so time alone under the moon is treasured. When I finish writing this, I'm going to take out my notebook and pen and see what this Moon has to teach me.
Day 9 was off to a good start. I was up and at 'em and made it down to Scala early enough to have a buffet-style breakfast by the sea then head to The Feminist Tarot and Goddess Amulet workshop in the Town Hall.
The Workshop was facilitated by Angela, founder of Spiral Sound, who has been a sound healer and card reader for 20 years. Angela is from Manchester and had such a calm, kind energy about her that I instantly warmed to her.
Angela and the view from the balcony at Scala Town Hall.
She began the session with a profound statement;
"The Sacred dwells within and waits for us"
I was immediately invested, as were the many women from all over the world in attendance.
Angela gave a brief introduction and spoke to us about how the western mind is conditioned to rely on analytical thinking rather than intuition and spirituality. She explained that our ancestors had access to knowledge and wisdom that is still available to us today but so often thinking gets in the way. The Oracle cards and Amulets were explained in a way that was understandable to complete beginners but also gave experienced readers like myself some new perspectives.
We were then put into groups, and I joined up with Kim from Melbourne and Karyn, a songwriter from Seattle. I'd had the pleasure of seeing Karyn playing guitar outside a bar earlier in the week, so I was pleased to see her in the group. They were both great girls with lovely energy and a sense of humor. It turned out we were all Taureans too.
My Bull Gang.
We pulled cards and Amulets and read for each other. The first Goddess that came out for me was Demeter.
Striking that I came here with Persephone as Patron for my journey and the first card out was her Mother, Demeter Goddess of grain, motherhood, and the harvest.
Alignment message;
"'Do you sometimes overgive to people until you are an empty vessel? Or you might be in a pattern of people-pleasing and afraid to set boundaries. There's a sticky quality to connections based on this need to be needed. The possible repercussions of setting boundaries are in your mind. Your body holds on to fear so tightly that it can be scary to make a change". Your alignment task is to step back, take a breath, and say no to the situations and people who are draining you. It's that simple. The Divine is the One with the plan"
Empowerment message;
"Now is the time to nourish yourself too, for giving must be balanced by receiving. Allow yourself to experience the Universe as a wonderful nurturing Mother who is always there when you need her. Demeter says to trust that you are loved and cared for all day, every day, at all times—especially now".
My next card was Metis. Greek Goddess of wisdom.
Alignment message;
" The Goddess Metis learned a painful lesson a long time ago and does not want you to have the same experience. She chose to make herself small, dim her life force and her inner light and reduce her power to keep love. Who or what in your life is causing you to do that now? Are you dimming your light for fear of reprisal or because you have a sense that you are unworthy or unlovable or perhaps too much or too smart?
The Goddess Metis offers an important alignment task. You must face this fear, this anxiety and say a resounding no. Even in the face of the greater story of cultural conditioning, be brave, be courageous and ask how you can be part of the solution.
Playing small is an excuse not to be accountable for your personal power and not to be effective in the world.
Empowerment message;
"There are many choice points in life when we have the opportunity to make beautiful changes and become more creative, empowered, and alive. Yes, sometimes memories that live in the cells of your body will trigger palpable fear, but you can move beyond your past and discover new territories and a new version of freedom will come to you. You won't see the past the same anymore as wisdom replaces numb acceptance. The memories will change because you've changed."
These are condensed versions of the messages that accompany each card, but each card resonated strongly with me even if I did feel like I'd just been dragged into the Headmistress and given a right bollocking.
The Greek Goddesses don't pull any punches.
I love working with the Divine Feminine. It's not about having unrealistic expectations of yourself or depriving yourself in this life with the hope of a good spot in the next. It's about surrendering and trusting the Goddess to help you illuminate the parts of you that you have lost sight of, and allowing her to remind you of your strength so that you can be the best version of yourself right here, right now.
After the workshop, I had a lovely chat with Angela. She told me it was 35 years since she was last at Scala Eressos. That time was with her partner who has now passed away, so it was a happy yet poignant experience returning again as an older woman of 74.
We discussed what it is like to be in a space with such a diversity of Queer Women.
I've been struggling a little with the number of people, and often rather than giving me a better understanding of my lesbian identity and where I fit, I've been feeling like I don't fit in and that my lesbian identity is a lonely misfit. After spending time talking to Angela, I did come to see it is wonderful to be the majority for once and not just the lesbians in the corner. Here it's the heterosexuals in the minority being the odd couple in the corner.
It is lovely for women here in couples to be able to be openly affectionate without having to second-guess how folk may react. Even in the UK where so much progress has been made, thinking first before you kiss your partner or hold her hand is still ingrained, especially in the older generations.
Angela holds sound baths in the UK, women's groups, takes her healing to many festivals, and is a funeral celebrant. Another powerful statement that she said to me was "you are as happy as you decide to be"
I couldn't figure out sharing a link, but if anyone wants some healing or a reading from this inspirational Lady, some details are on here.
Following our chat, I took myself out to lunch again and then joined one of my German friends on the beach for a sunbathe and a swim. On the way, I got talking to Georgios when I spotted him on the seafront playing this beautiful instrument.
The instrument is a Lyre, and Georgios made this one by hand.
The Lyre was invented in Sumeria around 2600 BC. The Ancient Greeks popularized it using it as an accompaniment to lyric poetry and other performances of dance, music, and drama.
Sappho herself, who was the inventor of lyrical poetry, played the Lyre, so it was beautiful to hear it being played so traditionally here in her birthplace.
Georgios held the Lyre up to the sea breeze and told me to put my ear against it. It was not being played, but the sounds of the wind stroking the strings and the ethereal melody it created were spellbinding. I was hearing the song of the wind. Even my goosebumps got goosebumps.
Day 9 ended sitting around outside the Rock-Ink gallery watching the sun go down, drinking beer, and enjoying company from Ireland, Germany, and Jersey, a very lovely evening with much laughter.
As always thank you all so much for reading. Bright Blessings and so much love Bex xxx
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