Winter Solstices 2012-2013

It's been an unusual last 12 months because I am about to experience my 3rd Winter solstice in the last 12 months.For me, I associate the time between Autumn Equinox until Winter Solstice as a time of commemoration and reflection. Last year, in June, 2012, I celebrated Kucios at home. In December, 2012, I had a wonderful day in Venice, always  mindful of the auspiciousness of the day and feeling like I should be doing Kucios. I watched the Sun set on the train back to my accommodation, to the former residence of the Queen of Cyprus, in Casasavagra. Now I'm back home in Australia, I'm approaching yet another Winter Solstice. Talk about, "Pagan jet lag!", as I call it! I always try to live where I am and so was obliged to honour the customs of the land, where and when, I am. So of course, I have honoured my Ancestors many times this year. In June, I performed the Velines rites at Cooranbong Colonial Cemetery, on ANZAC day, 2012, I honoured the fallen heroes along with my ancestors and deceased loved ones, in preparation for the Kucios meal where I honour solely, my deceased loved ones and ancestors.

This year,(2013),I commemorated Velines at Jilliby cemetery, in preparation for the Kucios meal this year.
To use the Neopagan language, this is my "Year of Yule"! or my, "Yule Year"!

This year I transcended the seasons

Inspired by travel and without good reasons

I prepared my garden for a fallow Summer

no sucker from my garden, for me, this Summer!

I flew over the equator, traversed the globe

crossed many a border,

to experience yet another Winter

a cold snowy, but beautiful Winter

Journey from Australia to Lithuania,

to Bee with my kindred ancestors

to see the sights and feel my Motherland,

journey was long, much like a quest,

From west to east,

from the temples of Rome and Damanhur,

to the Rocks of Externsteine and sacred Hills of Lithuania,

to learn the ways of my blood and my earth.

After 3 months,in Europe abroad

flew back to Australia and Autumn after being so awed,

and inspired, knowing better, to what I aspire

I headed back into my 3rd Winter, in 12 months.

3 beginings, 3 new starts in Nature

3 times to dine with the Veles,

at Kucios, your flame flickers higher

I hear your voices louder,

3 candles of my life

Prince, King, Sage,

Princess, Queen, Matriarch,

Son, Father, Wise one,

Daughter, Mother, Crone, 

Boy, Man, Grey haired Fellow,

Girl, Woman, Elder. 

Searcher and Explorer throughout the age,  

I've been nurtured by nature to become,

A leader and Nurturer in every page, of every stage.

My true self is unisex, both genders in one,

All qualities, all paths, all dreams, in me,

as Yin Yang, I become whole, in my life and within my Soul. 

when I accepted that all the power of the Universe resides in me.

Steve Kryzius

Healing curse for Mum

Healing prayers for Mum

Temples of Humankind

Day 8-Wednesday (19/12/12)

I drove us to the, “Temples of Humankind”. It was a long trip on the motorways where the speed limit was 130 kms/hour but even when I got up to 130 kms/hour cars were still speeding past me like I was standing still. They surely must have been going 170 kms/hour, at least. It was scary, cars were tailgating and high beaming if people were overtaking. We saw some snow on the way but didn’t seem to be the coldesAlps could be seen in the distance and looked surreal as they appeared to be floating on the clouds! There were a few tolls to pay on the way and we arrived at Ivea and missed one toll road so our directions that we printed in Australia were no good to us after that.
t day. I think it was only about 5 degrees. The snow covered alps appeared to float on the clouds.

We stopped in Santhia and asked directions. It was funny because there were different people who argued with each other about the best way to go. I was a little confused as my Italian was good enough to follow the debate. In the end a very nice lady said she would take us part of the way as she lived in the village just before where we needed to go. We followed her to her village and she motioned the road to take. We made our way up the mountains and asked for directions again at a mechanics garage. We were going the right way and the man, knew we were going to Damanhur.

We arrived at Damanhur 30 minutes before our tour was scheduled to start. I was so relieved to finally be here! It was such a long journey from reading about this place on the internet at home in Australia, to actually be here! It was almost like a dream! We had to be let into the parking area through a boom gate. We were told that if we smoked, we had to go outside the premises as smoking was not permitted anywhere in Damanhur.

Everyone seemed happy and smiled lots. We had a drink in the café and went to the visitor center to sign an insurance waiver before we started the tour. We were joined by an American, who was from Houston, California. He asked if we knew of it and we said we did but chuckled to ourselves because of course we knew where it was! We did geography at school and as Australians believe that we were much more educated and worldly, than most Americans! J

Our guide was one of the original Damanhurians who explained many of their beliefs briefly and how the community was structured politically, economically, and spiritually. It sounded like a well organized community who regularily re orginised itself and altered their constitution when things were at their peak and not when things were dwindling because they understood the energy to make change was at it’s greatest when things were going well. It certainly made sense to me and challenged my thoughts on not changing or fixing something unless it’s broken! When things are broken, the energy, enthusiasm and passion, just isn’t there. It made me think of how it relates to The Hive. They even have their own currency that can be exchanged for Euros and vice versa. Much like the Vatican, not that I went there! She explained that when they first formed, New Age ctivities like astral travel, meditation, was new and they pioneered research into all these fields. I know that all these activities were not new but Old Age traditions that were rehashed into a streamlined and marketable, so called “New Age” for the mainstream. Some of these traditions were lost to most of mankind but there were always keepers and practicers dotted in numerous cultures across the world They believed that the temples were chosen to be constructed because of 4 energy lines that intersected in that place. These energy lines were not Ley lines but lines that connected Earth to other planets where ascended Beings lived. Through meditation in this place they believed that they could communicate with these Beings and receive inspiration from them. These Beings were believed to be Atlanteans amongst others and inspired their selfica machines that were built into the temples and also used for treating numerous health conditions and promote good energies to be present in your home. (peace,inspiration,etc) It was a lot to swallow and my skeptical and logical side took over but I struggled to keep an open mind and listened to her without questions or comments, as she spoke. By the way her name was Magpie something and we were joined by a German lady named Seahorse something. They somehow chose their animal names or it was given by their Atlantean Guides, I wasn’t sure. Everyone had one!

Anyway it was a lot to digest from plant communication and plant songs PranaTherapy to expression of spirituality through dance. There really was a lot that they were into and was really quite interesting. They researched these things in laboratories and were even developing a way of creating meat from a single cell. It was explained that they were trying to make a culture much like the way yoghurt is made! They would patent this if successful and create more income for the community.

Anyway, enough about the talk but I will certainly look into Damurian research further. We saw alters to the Earth, Fire, Water and Air. The Fire altar was the most interesting as it was an open altar surrounded on both sides with pillars. They celebrated Full Moons here and consulted or asked for directions by the Oracle from the other worlds. The buldings were painted with large flowers, plants and featured Daanurians who had passed away. The reason she gave was to always remember them and instead of looking down to see nature, it reminded them that nature was looking down on us and we look up to nature. I liked that idea!

There were many labyrinth walks and even their own stone circle which wasn’t astronomically aligned from what I could tell.

Chalice design of centre, writing given by Atlantean guides which is taught to people by the guides not by the founder.

We were then taken to the Crea centre where we saw art studios, Selfica research labs, medical centres that practice orthodox and unorthodox type treatments. Genetic conditions could be detected from saliva and preventative treatments would be prescribed. All food in the supermarket and café, was tested for pollutants before deemed suitable for sale.

We were then driven up the mountain on a very narrow road to the temples and was greeted by Falco, the initial founder of Damanhur. He seemed friendly but went back into his home after the greeting. We were led into the temples and asked not to touch the
walls or artwork contain in the temples. We were taken through an interesting passageway to an elevator which took us down to the bottom of the temples where we started the tour. I was speechless at the beauty of the temples. There were mosaics on the floor, beautiful paintings on the walls and stained glass windows on the ceilings and most of the doors. It was explained that many of the people featured in the paintings were real live Damanuhrians and only the positive icons. There were many representations of the 4 seasons and the stages of human life experience. We were lead through secret doorways to different temples which was quite fun and brought out child like wonder in me.

Meditations on the beach

I went to the beach today for the first time this year, as I just returned from 3 months in a European Winter. I was amazed by the change since I was there last which got me thinking:

Life is like the beach

The beach is like life,

sculptured by waves and wind,

ever changing and never planned,

just when you get used to the lay of the land,

the sand shifts and disappears, revealing hidden rocks,

and even shipwrecks from another epoch.

Never expected, never planned,

such is the nature of coast land.

we must adapt and find new swimming holes,

somewhere to refresh our souls,

and even a place to lay your towel.

so once again, in golden sunshine, we will revel.

Repeatedly surprised how much the beach constantly changes,

remind us that the sands have been wandering throughout the ages

But why do we dismay, when our lives are likewise transformed,

never ending twists and curves, devastate and dismay most,

just when you get used to the lay of the land,

storms of life will hit and make everything new.

No one to blame, no need for shame.

No point digging in your heels to make a stand

Laima, Goddess of Fate is your mate,

Change is a normal process of life

it's not judgement, penance and punishment,

but necessary for us to grow and shine brightly.

In my meditations, I believe that the key is not to get too attached to the way things are and be mentally prepared for change at any time.
I am reminded that in these transitional times, that I may uncover hidden rocks, treasures and shipwrecks of my past, which will give me the opportunity to deal with them and grow even more. I know it's easy to say when life is in harmony, I thank the Gods and Goddesses for this important lesson and will re read to remind myself when I am in transition and striving to achieve Darna,(harmony), again.

Pusiaziemis 2013