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Sisters of the Burning Branch Please download your Level I exercises here: http://goddessschool.com/levelI/Downloads/exercise1_1.mp3 http://goddessschool.com/levelI/Downloads/exercise1_2.mp3 http://goddessschool.com/levelI/Downloads/exercise1_3.mp3 http://goddessschool.com/levelI/Downloads/exercise1_4.mp3 http://goddessschool.com/levelI/Downloads/exercise1_5.mp3 http://goddessschool.com/levelI/Downloads/exercise1_6.mp3Part A * Part B * Part C * Part D *Part E |
Part A
Affirmations.
Over the last two weeks we've been working on the "I'm beautiful" affirmation. Have you felt it working? Affirmations can be a powerful tool for shaping consciousness. At first I was resistant to using affirmations because they seemed simplistic and even fraudulent in a self-help/new-agey way. But once I tried them, I was amazed at how powerful they were.
Why do affirmations work? Affirmations are just scripted self-talk. We talk to ourselves all the time, using scripts that were most likely created in childhood by other people. Many of these scripts are negative or harmful, as you may have noticed over the last few weeks as you monitored for negative self-talk. With affirmations, we write new scripts for ourselves, positive scripts, healing scripts. Most of the affirmations we want to tell ourselves are already true, we just don't fully believe them yet.
My favorite, all purpose affirmation is this one: I am loved, I am protected, I am guided, I am healed; I am centered in the Divine. I know that is already true, but I tend to forget this and to panic during painful or stressful situations. This affirmation reminds me that no matter what's going on in my life, I will be okay.
Another much-used affirmation in my life is: I choose to learn my lessons with the least amount of pain. This reminds me to let go, to quit fighting the current, to trust The Divine and see where she leads me.
This week, write 3 - 5 affirmations for yourself. Write them in the first person and use active verbs. (For example, not I will choose, or I must choose, or I will start choosing, but I choose.) Write these affirmations on a 3x5 card and put them somewhere you will see them each day: by your bed, on the bathroom mirror, on your car steering wheel, on your computer. Repeat each affirmation at least 5 times a day, either all at once (perhaps during your devotional time) or spread out through the day (perhaps before every meal).
Write a paragraph about your experience using affirmations this week.
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Read Stein's altar dedication ritual page 31 - 33.
Ask yourself if you feel called to dedicate your altar, your sacred space, your house, or yourself for a particular purpose. Perhaps you simply want to dedicate your spiritual study/practice to your own healing or to the intent of bringing spiritual balance into your life and/or into the world.
Perhaps you feel ready to dedicate you path to The Goddess (or to Goddess and God together). Unless you have already been walking this path for quite some time, you may not be ready to dedicate yourself to a specific Goddess or to a specific role at this time-- you may feel the need for more time for exploration before you decide that.
If you do feel ready to perform this dedication, remember the KISS principle:
Keep it Short and Simple!
Be sure your words flow (or even rhyme)...they are easy to say and easy to remember. Read through Stein's suggestions, but again, avoid scripts if possible. Have all of your materials at hand before you begin, then invite your creativity to leap up and take you over during the ritual. There is no wrong way to do any ritual: just be certain you are clear on your intent.
Write 1-2 paragraphs about the reading and/or the ritual you performed.
Part C
Meditation: Exploring the Directions.
You will need to download the meditation for Part C or just play in on your PC.
Set aside at least two 15 minute time periods this week for meditation in a private, quiet space.
Go through Exercise 3 on the tape, then perform the follow up exercise the next time on your own.
Traditionally, Air is East, Fire is South, Water is West, Earth is North.
The 5th depending upon your tradition is Spirit, Goddess, or The Divine.
The following exercise will help.
Draw out the 5 symbols that came to you in meditation on 5 large pieces of paper. (You can tape together 4 pieces of printer paper to form one large piece.) Don't worry if you lack drawing talent (so do I!).
Try using these drawn symbols the next time you cast a circle. Tape the symbols up on your walls or place them on the floor, each in the appropriate direction.
Write a summary of your experiences with exploring the directions and what each direction signifies to you.
Part D
Goddess Studies
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Read Gadon chapter 5, "Malta: The Temple as the Body of the Goddess" and continue your reading in 365 Goddess.
Let your reading inspire you to mold the body of the Goddess out of playdough, salt dough, clay (or even bread or cake!). Let your inspiration guide you: think of this as a playful expression rather than a quest for art. Place your Goddess figure somewhere safe and admire her often. (Or eat the figure, ingesting her blessings into yourself.)
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Be sure to take a picture of her to share with the group or for your own personal BOS.
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Write 1-2 paragraphs in response to your reading and one paragraph describing your sculpting experience.
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Part E
Pantheon Research
This week we continue with our research of non-Indo-European Goddesses in order to become more aware of World Goddess Culture. You may research via the internet or via books.
.This time, the focus is on Native American . Find the names of five Native American Goddesses, their stories, and their attributes. Remember, this is simply an introduction, so this assignment should be brief.
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Summarize you research in a paragraph or two..
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END OF WEEK V
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