Light and Hope

1.)  In the last aspirant session, we did a meditation on our allies through/of the elements.  All of them came out to say 'hi' as we explored.  When we got to the fifth element, spirit/service, the Raven Stealing the Sun, Moon, and Stars appeared for me.  In this story there is a man hoarding all light from the earth, and so everyone must live in darkness.  There are, of course, variant tales, sometimes Raven releases everything at once, sometimes the stars first, then the moon, then the sun.  The gist being that Raven releases sun, moon and stars, Light, for the benefit of all people and there is rejoicing.  There are all sorts of additional entertaining details too, as with all good stories (Raven was a white bird, but the sun burned him and now he's black like charcoal, and so many other trickster details of how he got access to the box, etc). But the key takeaway within the meditation for me, with Raven as my 'ally' was that I must not hoard my light, and I must help Raven release light where I find it whether that's my own light, or to help show someone else's light (e.g., bring to light contributions, etc), planning will likely be required in order to accomplish this.

2.)  The first CAYA full moon of 2015 women's circle ritual invite read:

In this ritual of yearning, we honor our yearning for knowledge, and for hope even in the face of painful facts. We welcome Pandora, whose vessel of knowledge was a considered a dangerous source of power. Knowledgeable women are dangerous women, it's true. Join us for an intimate, personal circle in which we share knowledge with one another, make offerings to She Who Knows, and receive gifts of knowledge from Pandora herself. 

Ah, another box that was "not supposed to be opened." And the result of someone stealing light/fire too!  Another box that has potential to deeply harm.  But another box too, with a gift.  A gift like Raven's gift, of light, that glimmer that shines in the dark corners when all seems lost and lights the way.  Hope.

3.)  The day after full moon, I returned to work after two full weeks off to news of layoffs in my organization.  None on my team affected, but people I know and have worked with and like (in cases where I knew them -- I assume I would like the ones I didn't know as well).    Today I awaken to news of big shooting in Paris, followed quickly by news of my childrens' school district being put on lockdown because of a reported gunman who threatened to shoot up all schools in the district. Editing to add, the bombing of NAACP in Colorado.

Welcome first full week of 2015, this is how it's going to be?

4.)  The challenge in each moment is to be present.  To be present and remember the message/s.  To be present and experience the mysteries.

Light and Hope.

Light and Hope:  May those who were laid off find new right livelihood quickly and easily and may it be better for them than what they were doing.

Light and Hope: “I’m alive. There is death all around me. Yes, I am there. The jihadists spared me.”* I am alive.  At the bottom of this box of horrors, light and hope shine in there being survivors.

Light and Hope: No one was hurt today in my children's school district.  And I hope no school, parent or child will ever go through that drill again, but light was shown on a solid procedure in place to handle such an emergency.

Light and Hope: That there are people looking critically at the news and what's making it out and what is not, and fearlessly bringing light to the stories not getting told, being left in the shadows despite profound importance, happening in our own backyards. That there are people who fight now and forever for Civil Rights.

Light and Hope. Light and Hope. Light and Hope.

In 2015, may we all find light and hope, whatever else we may encounter.

...

Footnotes:

1.) Two Raven Steals the Sun, Moon, and Stars stories:

• Raven Steals the Sun: Interview and Storytelling, American Indian Heritage Month 2013 Family Celebration of Tlingit Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yoz-VbepZU
• Raven Steals the Light: As told by Bill Reid: http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/aborig/reid/reid14e.shtml

2.) A Pandora story:

• Pandora:
  http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Pandora.html

4.*)  Quoted in the NYT, 1/7/14.