festivecirclesupdate_Spring1993.pdf
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- festivecirclesupdate_Spring1993.pdf
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l'olume 2
''Many Voices United In One Spirit!"
~pring - 1993
MIDWIFERY:
One of the Goddess' Mysteries
Throughout the Ages
by Sharon and Marty
allowed to attend.
The Witch was a threat to the church
because she was a woman and not
ashamed of it; she was a part of an
organized underground of peasant
women that educated themselves and
each other, and she was a healer whose
practices were based on cause and effect
and trial and error rather than the belief
that everything was ''.the will of God".
Midwifery is the oldest profession.
At times we have been called Wise
Women, Healers and Witches. Today
we are called Midwives. Midwifery is
one of the women's healing arts along
Her magic was the science ofher time.
with aura work, colors, herbs,
Because medicine lacked her healing and
homeopathy, reflexology, massage,
knowledge, the wise woman was killed.
crystals and trance states. Healing in the
Many of us remember "the burning
matriarchs was women's work as we
times".
dealt with birth, death and life forces.
Today, Midwifery is still persecuted
Healing is caring and nurturing, the
by the medical establishment. Witch
ability to reach out and
hunts are still
n
...
Midwives
arc
arrested
for
love others, to
common and
possession ofraspberry leaf tea, Midwives are
interconnect with all
life. Midwifery is the
practicing medicine without a arrested for
bringing of new life
possession of
license and occasionally
into the world, the care
raspberry
leaf tea,
manslaughter... n
of pregnant and
practicing medicine
birthing women and
without a license
the care of newborn babes. It was for
and occasionally manslaughter if a baby
the casing of women's labor pain
dies during a birth - even if major birth
that Midwives were burned du.ring
defects are found. Our healing
the inquisition.
knowledge is scoffed at, herbs and
The Inquisition was the male
homeopathy not believed effective, our
medical establishment attempting to
intuition of birth complications not
stamp out all Wise Woman knowledge.
believed and our visualization talents,
They were well organized campaigns
without the benefit of machines,
initiated, financed and executed by the
ridiculed. Despite all this, midwives
church and state. The church and state
have the best pregnancy and birth
used medical doctors as experts to decide
outcomes in the world!
whether a woman was a Witch. In the
Women's concept of healing was
witch hunts the church legitimized the
that of mutual sharing. Wise Women
doctor's professionalism denouncing
were the healers of "the people". We
healing as heresy; if a woman dares to
serve all, teach all. Medicine is big
cure without studies, she is a Witch and
business, with knowledge hoarded and
must die. Studies were, of course,
dealt out to those that can pay for it. It
university studies that women were not
holds power over the poor, women,
children and the minorities. Healing
belongs to all who want to learn it and is
taught and shared among women in
openness. Fortunately, as in ancient
times, women are beginning to network
again. Midwives meet and teach each .
other the healing herbs and old
knowledge. Women meet and teach each
other birthing and breast feeding
knowledge that were once lost.
Call us what you may, we are here
and we are teaching and sharing our
heritage. Every baby we catch, every
woman we heal and every child we touch
will make a difference in our world.
Celebrate the Wise Women - we will
heal.
Blessed be.
(Sharon has been a Lay Midwife since 1984 and
is certified in three states. Practicing the Wise
Woman Tradition ofMidwifery she has "caught"
over 200 babies. Sharon and Marty are both
EMI's and in addition to teaching pre-natal,
nutrition and holistic healing techniques to
women they teach natural child birthing to
future EMI's.
Ifyou would like more infomiation you may
write: Spirit Within Home Birthing Services, Rt.
1, Box 338110, Noble, OK 73068.)
Festive Circles Update is the news source
ublished by and for the Gay and Lesbian Pagan
ition and is included with Coalition
mbership.
Festive Circlea Update welcomes written and
•stic contributions. Any part of this newsletter
y be reproduced providing that credit will be
·ven to the newsletter and the author. The views,
pinions, practices and religious philosophies
ontained berein do not necessarily reflect those of
Gay and Lesbian Pagan Coalition as a whole,
Material submitted to Festive Circles Update is
subject to editorial license as appropriate.
Submissions should be mailed to: FCU, P.O.
Box 26442, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0442.
Gay Male Spirituality '93
A Conference of Embodying Our Gay Spirit
Saturday, August 7 - Friday, August 13
Are you looking for a safe place to explore your spirituality
among your fellow gay and bisexual men? GMS '93 is for
those taking their first steps on their spiritual journey as well as
for the "seasoned traveler". We promise you a chance to
explore, envision, and invoke, to celebrate, to share, and to
change, to swim, to talk on the beach, to gossip on the porch, to
giggle in the woods, to drum and sing and dance, to be naked
together, to wear leather or lace or polyester.
Explore a variety of spiritual activities and practices.
Experience the connection between our sexuality and our
spirituality. Live together as a caring and supportive
community. Discover the role of gay people.
Gay Male Spirituality activities will include:
Body Painting - Practiced in many cultures of the world, body
painting at GMS becomes a playful celebration of our bodies;
Wiccan Ritual- Using the traditions of the ancient Pagan
religion of Europe we will work Lavender Magick and call
forth the Gay Spirit; Erotic Massage - Drawing on the teachings
of Tantra and Taoism and also the modem practice of
Rebirthing, we will use breath and massage to raise erotic
energy in an ecstatic ritual uniting the sexual and spiritual. In
addition to these and other workshops, we invite participants to
propose activities of their own.
GMS '93 will be held at Ferry Beach, a Unitarian
Universalist conference center located on the beach in Saco,
Maine. Ferry Beach activities will include drumming and
dancing around the campfire in the Grove, a Talent Show and a
Dance. Enrollment in GMS is limited to 30. Total cost of the
conference, including housing and meals is $310. A
scholarship will be available to one person in serious financial
need.
The retreat will be led by Bob Adams, a massage therapist
and rebirther and by Larry Firrantello, a Pagan and computer
programmer. Bob and Larry, who will be coordinating for their
second year, will be assisted by Shara Redleaf, Pagan,
songwriter and male belly dancer. All three have attended
GMS since it's inception in 1990.
For further information contact: Larry Firrantello, 21
Young St., New Haven, CT, 06511, (203) 387-8447; Bob
Adams, 119 Public St., Manchester, NH, 03102, (603)
669-7157; Shara Redleaf, c/o Jenkins, 4 Pearl St., #2, New
Haven, CT, 06511, (203) 787-3001.
G.L.P.C. Membership
ame: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Date of Birth: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Male
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ues: Individual- $12.00/Year, Group - $15.00/Year (Residents outside of the USA and Canada add $2.00 each category.)
Send this form with payment to: GLPC, P.O. Box 26442, Oklahoma City, OK, USA, 73126-0442
Your ''Personals" Listing is FREE with Your Membership!
1) Limit your listing to 70 words. Anything above 70 isan additional $1.00/word. 2) Use good taste. Sexual innuendo isn't acceptable. 3)
TYPE or PRINT your listing. 4) Remember... FCU cannot forward responses to your listing. Use the space below and another sheet of paper
if necessary and get your ad in the next issue of Festive Circles Update!
Letters, continued
Persian Gulf situation remains
topical and veiy much on the
minds ofmany people, especially
those who continue to work for
peace via magickal endeavors.
FCU attempts to accw-ately
reflect those views, opinions and
practices that are held by the
Coalition's members. FCU
depends on and encourages input,
such as yow-s, to present
altemative views and/or
practices.)
Brothers and Sisters of Like
Mind,
Merry meet and bright
blessings. I wrote G.L.P.C.
approximately two and a half
weeks ago and I wish to thank all
for a prompt response. It is nice
to know that there is a dedicated
and committed group of beautiful
Pagans out there in the free
world.
I am an incarcerated inmate
with two strikes against me: one,
I'm gay and two, I'm Pagan. In
the free world I was shunned and
made fun of because of my
sexual preference. My 'fellow'
Brothers and Sisters were the
ones who showed me the most
pain, agony and suffering.
Prison life is no different than the
free world but with a twist. I'm
accepted by most of being gay
but my choice of path-following
is a different story. I'm labeled
as the "devil worshipping fag". I
am a life; the treatment I receive
from non-Pagans I am forced to
deal with, but the same treatment
from straight (Pagan) Brothers
and 'Sisters hurts the worst. It
would be nice if all Pagans straight and gay - fully
understood the impact of the
Witches Rede.
At this time I am starting to
save up my state pay to become a
member of your group should the
application be approved. 1bis is
the type of group I've been
seeking to align myself with.
My friends, thank you for
being you and being there.
Merry part and merry meet again.
Love Under Will; Love is
the Law!
Melvin Bates - #857007
(Ed - Thank you for yow- letter.
Unfortunately it comes as no
great surprise to many of us who
are gay/lesbian/bisexual Pagans
that the 'mainstream' Pagan
occasionally has a difficult time
coming to grips with the fact that
there are, indeed, gay Pagans
running loose amongst them. For
this reason, among others, the
Gay and Lesbian Pagan Coalition
was founded. The Coalition
offers free membership (as
resow-ces allow) to incarcerees
who are gay/lesbian/bisexual
Pagan; however, any amount of
money you are able to donate
will be gratefully received.)
Greetings, Desmond!
The Wiccan/Pagan Press
Alliance stands fully behind the
Gay and Lesbian Pagan Coalition
and will render their assistance,
should the GLPC need it, in the
area of networking and will
continue to assist all
organizations in eradicating the
persecution of the Gay/Lesbian
population in the United States.
Bright Blessings,
Silver RavenWolf
Director WPPA
(Ed. - Many blessings to you
and the WPPA, Silver. The
support of the WPPA is
enthusiastically embraced!)
Write us! We'd love to
hear from you!
Send all correspondence to:
GLPC, P.O. Box 26442,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
USA, 73126-0442.
Remember.. .if you don 't want
your mundane name printed
be sure to let us know in your
letter.
Webtueabers
~bbress 1}iook
Earth Religion, Earthly
Concerns! - The Thomas
Morton Alliance, an
international network of
Pagan political activists,
provides links for Pagans
supporting Earth-defense,
Indigenous rights and Pagan
rights, sexual liberation, social
justice. Sample copy of the
Merrymount Messenger $3.50
($12/year), SASE for
introductory info to:
TMA-West, Box 458, 1016
East El Camino Real,
Sunnyvale, CA 94087, USA.
The Rowan Tree Church A collective of diverse
persons dedicated to the Earth
in all Her glory and to
learning the Mysteries of the
Universe. Providing an
avenue for learning, growing,
fellowship and pathworking
for those who wish to carry
into the New Age the
Knowledge of the Ancients.
The Rowan Tree Church, P.O.
Box 383, Northridge, CA.
Wiccan/Pagan Press
Alliance - WPPA, P.O. Box
1392, Mechanicsburg, PA,
17055 (SASE).
Tides - A Journal of Wicca
and Neopagan Spirituality.
Tides, P.O. Box 1445,
Littleton, MA, 02146
($13/yr., U.S.)
Female, Celtic Wiccan, 21,
wishes to correspond with
others of all ages.
Please write: Michelle Payne,
149 Old Shady Grove Rd.,
Piedmont, AL, 36272. Will
answer all letters.
Lesbian couple with kids,
living in the country, looking
for other couples/moms of
like mind. Our kids are home
born, home grown and
naturally fed.
Would like to network with
others raising great kids to be
an asset to our world. Call
(405) 872-9732.
White male looking for
friendship, either male or
female, gay or straight.
Traditional roots are of
Anglo-Seax Wicca; study
Kabbalah; Esoteric
philosophy and Ceremonial.
Student of Alister Crowley.
Will answer all inquiries.
Melvin Bates - #857007, P.O.
Box 473, 7-Dorm, Westville,
IN, 46391-0473.
Get a full year of space
for your own Personals
Ad!
Locate the Gay and Lesbian
Pagan Coalition Membership
Form elsewhere in the
newsletter and join today to
get one year of ad space!
irynnil 14r ~rnur (fromPage2J
Bob answers the phone on the first ring. "Just a minute, let me see ... ", he tells the voice on the other end of the line. He picks up
a large, ringed binder and begins to flip through doz.ens of pages of resources. To the caller, "Nope, sorry. No massage." He
replaces the telephone handset, looks at me, raises an eyebrow and grins. I ask him about the types of phone calls he receives.
"Many of our calls are from out-of-towners wanting information on community activities. In fact about 80% of the calls we receive
are those", he states. In addition to guiding people to community resources Oasis also distributes information on HIV, AIDS and
other STD' s and their prevention. Looking about the center you will see most of the walls covered with posters and a host of other
educational materials. On the desk where Bob is seated is a large basket filled to the brim with a colorful variety of condoms and
small packages of lubricant that are provided free of charge to anyone who walks through the door.
The phone rings again. After a few moments of discussion he places the handset down and thumbs through his book until he
finds the number he's looking for. Bob makes his call and delivers his message. What happens when the center gets a call from a
troubled individual? "All crisis calls are referred to the Gay/Lesbian Help line or to Contact (a crisis hotline) where the volunteers
are trained to handle those types of callers. We never take on crisis calls ourselves", he warns. Although not a "crisis center" per se,
Oasis has at it's disposal an arsenal of resources which include approximately a doz.en religious groups consisting of the Catholic,
Episcopal, Church of Christ and Methodist faiths among others; twenty-six organization resources (one of which is the Gay and
Lesbian Pagan Coalition); local and national information and/or crisis lines; numerous bars and eating establishments, and
individual listings of physician's, attorney's and others whose professions serve the gay and lesbian populations of our area.
For the past decade the Oasis Resource Center has been the place where changes occur. Being a major role player in getting
information out to countless individual's and groups on being gay in today's world, HIV, AIDS and other vitally important issues that not only impact the gay and lesbian communities but other segments of our society as well - Oasis looks toward the future when
information dissemination will become increasingly important. A couple of Bob's goals for Oasis' future include staffing the
center full-time and having someone at the phone bank around the clock. He also tells me he would like to see Oasis "become the
hub of the community" some day. From what I observed in such a short period of time at a place where it's history is filled with a
decade of success and service I would say that Oasis is well on it's way to becoming that hub - if it isn't already.
Beyond the Grove is a regular feature ofFestive Circles Update that highlights your local community service agencies, groups or
organizations. Ifyou are aware of. or are associated with, a community service you'd like to spotlight in FCU just submit your article (or
other pertinent information) to: Beyond the Grove, c/o GLPC, P.O. Box 26442, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73126-0442.
Letters
Dear Desmond,
I am writing to express
concern about the article, "Peace
Poppets" by Yarrow in the Yule
('90) issue of Festive Circles
Update. Poppet magick is a tried
and true part of our heritage. It is
also an extraordinarily serious
one with great responsibility
attached. I agree that the Persian
Gulf situation has become one
that is of vital importance to us
all. I am concerned that readers
will not realize the gravity and
responsibility of creating a
poppet. It is not Wicca 101. In
my fifteen years as an initiated
Wiccan I have only done poppet
magick twice and then only in
dire circumstances.
When a poppet is created
you also create a strong magickal
link between yourself and the
person. This should not be taken
lightly. You are responsible for
their welfare. Just as a bond is
created between the poppet and
the person, there is also a link
created between your and the
person. Think about being linked
to (then) President Bush and
Saddam Hussein. Think
seriously. Do you want that
responsibility and connection?
Then consider that you are
responsible for the person's
welfare. The poppet IS the
person, remember. So proper
care must be taken with the
image. It must be taken apart in
a special ritual in the proper way
to truly dissolve those links.
I appreciate that Yarrow
may consider the "radical faerie"
spirit as a type of Trickster
energy. Nevertheless, the care
and de-consecration of the
poppets is very important. While
the idea of sending the poppets to
the White House may seem
humorous or magickally
appropriate it could do serious
harm. First, the most likely
scenario is that they would be
destroyed when received. Would
you want that done to a poppet
made of you? There is no chance
that they will be properly
handled, understood, or properly
disposed of. And should it be
destroyed you are responsible. It
is your karma. You may choose
to do this. But you must be
warned. I did not feel that the
article conveyed the importance
and responsibility of the
working.
We always make choices
when we do magick. We choose
when we decide to do
'manipulative' or
'non-manipulative' magick.
Each is a choice. But we must be
properly informed. I hope that
Yarrow and FCU will take a
somewhat more prudent course in
the future.
May Peace Prevail on Earth,
Michael Thom, Kathexis
Coven
(Ed. - The Persian Gulf Crisis
appears to have resolved since we
received your Jetter, Michael.
However, we feel the issue of the
2
OASIS RESOURCE CENTER
"There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the
2135N.W.39th
d. h
t t
d"
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
common goo ,st e grea es cree
(405) 525-2437
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 7:00 pm-10:00 pm, Fri-Sat: 6:00 pm-2:00 am
Submitted by Desmond Stone
IBrynnh t4r
~rnur
Entering it's tenth year
the Oasis Resource Center is a
place where one may find just
about anything in the way of
information and support
services targeted for the gay
and lesbian communities of
Oklahoma City. Funded only
by private donations and
staffed with fifteen volunteers
this oasis, in a world which
often brings the harsh reality
of merely surviving to many,
plays an integral role in the
lives of not a few people of
this town.
Oasis is a meeting place
for those who drop in to sit
and chat over a cup of coffee
or soft drink. When I visited
the place late one Saturday
evening there was a steady
movement of people in and
out of the center, and sitting at
one of three desks situated
near the entrance was Bob
Yowell, director since
January, greeting all who
wandered in with an affable,
toothy smile, a warm
handshake and an occasional
hug. A transplant from
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Bob has
been in Oklahoma City since
May of 1992 and was
recruited by the Oasis
Foundation to oversee the
center's functions. Knowing
the area that Bob is from has
an active gay/lesbian
community I asked his
impression of Oklahoma
City's gay community. "I
was surprised. Here in the
buckle of the bible belt you
have an entire community
centrally located right here in
Oklahoma City", he
responded. "You can't find
another city this size in this
part of the country that has
such a large gay community
with two restaurants,
numerous bars and a large
hotel that is totally gay owned
and operated. It's unheard
of!" He points beyond the
large plate glass windows at
the constant movement of
people outside. Oasis is
located in the middle of "the
strip", that area of OKC where
many of the gay owned
establishments are located.
Tonight everyone is out en
force.
Directly across the street
is one of the two gay
restaurants Bob mentioned
and next to it is Coyote's, a
trendy, stylish bar for womyn.
Located next door to Oasis
will be one of the new
businesses scheduled to open
Albert Schweitzer
soon, a book store called
licensed professional
Lobo; adjacent to Lobo are
counselor each Sunday
two popular watering holes
evening. One teen volunteers,
and beyond those is one of the
"If it weren't for this place I
city's most active night spots
would have never come out of
for both gays and straights
the closet. I've found a
alike. One can move literally
supportive environment here."
in any direction from Oasis to
He goes on to say that he is
find a bar, eatery, bookstore,
now one of the more vocal
other resource centers, a large
proponents of gay/lesbian
hotel and well, the list goes
rights in his school. Other
on.
teens voice the same
Bob glances over my
sentiment of the type of
shoulder and says, "Isn't she
support the center offers by
beautiful?" I turn to see a tall,
it's simple existence. The
attractive, Black female
Y.G.L.A. has seen it's rough
impersonator flashing a
times but this past year seems
brilliant smile at Bob. A few
to have solidified the group,
moments later another female
Bob offers. While some sit in
impersonator emerges from
front of the television set
the restroom, which doubles
watching a rerun of Saturday
as a dressing room this
Night Live, others move to the
evening. I look at Bob asking,
back to chat with friends. A
"Show time?" He laughs,
relaxed atmosphere pervades
raises his arms and proclaims,
the room along with the
"Show time!"
intensity, vitality and
Our conversation
enthusiasm that seem to
continues as several teenagers
acconipanyteenagers
enter and make themselves at
wherever they go - regardless
home in this cozy, if not busy,
of sexual or affectual
environment. They flop down orientation. Oasis also makes
on the sofa and easy chairs
it's space available to other
which are skillfully and
gay and lesbian businesses
strategically arranged among
and organizations. Located at
other desks and literature
the back of the building is the
displays in the smaller, front
conference room where many
portion of the center. Oasis
of the decisions regarding
offers it's space for meetings
Oklahoma City's gay/lesbian
held by the Youth Gay and
progressive movements take
Lesbian Alliance which is
place. (continued on page 3)
sponsored by Red Rock
Mental Health
Center's gay and
Oops! Please note the corrected
lesbian outreach
GLPC dues found on the membership
program. The
fonn in this issue ofFCU.
meetings are led by a
GAy ANd .L£sbiAN PAGAN CoAliTioN
p.o. box 2 644 2
okWmMA chy, okWioMA 7} 1 2 6-044 2
U.S.A.
ft
~., 50% post consumer waste