Blogs

Mid-Summer

"The energy and beauty of this place

and the women Shelli Stanback drew together

made for one of the most spectacular workshops

and rituals I’ve ever experienced!"

Layne Redmond

~ We created "Success"herb bundles as a way to use the power of the plants to claim victory: going after what you want and getting it.

~ We joined in Story, chant & movement inspired by the attributes of (our featured) Goddess " Astarte".   Embrace a personal focus, support and the Power sharing with other women in juicy Celebration....with our Guest artist Tahya who taught the use of the ceremonial Systrum and remembering the sacred temple we've been given for this lifetime's journey.

What an amazing gathering of Women!

  Gestation: Sheild of Self Knowledge Part 2 of Manifesting Your DreamsDrawing on the Power of Sheids (Medicine shields, Goddesses who used them and Mandala) and creating Shields of Self Knowledge was powerful to do in circle.  Women creating with Women is a shield of its own.....Shelli

......It was so much fun to learn a song and dance and play instruments and then to create a Shield too.  I feel you and Helen and Linda did a beautiful job in covering all the bases to make us feel welcome and important and Divine.  I am looking forward to the next session with great enthusiasm.  In the meantime I will have the pleasure of finishing my Shield and creating a Cauldron.....A.B.

Astarte…ancient Goddess of Sumeria and Canaan, adored for thousands of years…we call upon her name now to reclaim and re-awaken her energy of feminine strength and clarity within us. Her name Astarte actually translates to “womb”, the cauldron of creation that we are all inspired by.  Other names she is known by in other cultures are Ishtar, Asherah, Inanna and Aphrodite. ( Astarte was the “whore of Babylon” of the Old Testament, so reviled by the misogynistic patriarchy of the Jewish fathers that her name was perverted to “Ashtoreth” meaning “abomination”.) Like these Goddesses, she is associated with the planet Venus and its symbol of the five-pointed star, the shape of the pattern the planet makes around the moon in its ongoing cycle.  As the morning star Astarte is the Warrior, dressed in flames, riding on the back of her lion, carrying her bow in her arms, taking aim at her desire.  As the evening star, she is the Lover, seducing the objects of her desires with her feminine charms.   ~ Helen Holifield~

"Ever since the Cauldron of Creation workshop the Flood Gates have opened! I have had two Profound and Powerful dreams every night (It's been a week now).  At first it was kind of scary and I didn't want it but then I realized I wanted to grow.  Now If feel like I have found this strength that has been buried.  Now I am having to figure out if I have the courage to use it.  I was stuck before coming to the event and what The Rhythmic Goddess doing for me matters a lot."

"My way of disconnecting from my thinking is by sing the Astarte goddess chant." Thank you.  ~ T.G.~

Our Creations!With a Powerful group of 6 we called in the Conception of our Desire by creating a ritual and focus guided by the warrioress goddess Astarte and the "Cauldron of Creation" which symbolizes the chalice and the womb were thing are born.  This is the place that holds nourishment and inspiration. The first step to manifesting your dreams is by conceptualizing them through spirit and inspiration.  To call in our Dreams we created a Cauldron of Creation symbols the inspiration and rebirth of our desire.  
We shared the ~ Story, Song,Movement  and rythm inspired by the Goddess Astarte as a way to loving fertilize your desires.
We used ~ Ceremonial drum rhythms to ground & invite elemental energy.

     ~ Shelli SuZanne ~

Manifesting Your DreamsRHYTHMIC GODDESS PRESTENTS "Manifesting Your Dreams" 3 part series April 19, May 24 & June 21 Sistrahood Solstice Celebration with guest artist Tahya. The Rhythmic Goddess is presenting this incredible series for women to DREAM their DREAMS and then live them!  Through the Goddess Astarte (the warrior goddess who knew how to get what she desired),  Rhythm and Ritual> Shelli, Helen and Linda are devoted to the honoring and awakening of the divine feminine. Through ceremony, circle and celebration, we welcome you to the world of the Contemporary Goddess. For centuries women have gathered in support of their community, rites of passages and female journey. Rhythmic Goddess invites you to join us in carrying on these ancient wisdoms to heal, revive and refresh our selves and our planet. Women coming together to create, focus, nurture and but the sacred back into being a Woman!

Tahya

helen

Friday Layne Redmond presented, When The Drummers Where Women Slide presentation and the path of the Bee Goddesses associated with the frame drum:  Aphrodite, Demeter, Artemis, Persephone, Cybele and Bridgit -- to name a few.  We learned bhramari, the buzzing pranayama called the Bee Breath and introduction to rhythmic integrative meditations.

Saturday & Sunday were spent taking students on a  Rhythmic Path of  “Fire and Purification” journey.  Brigid Goddess of Sacred Flames and Healing Fire and purification will be an important aspect of this gathering. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.

Chanting, overtone singing, and humming sacred sounds to the rhythms of the frame drum is an ancient technique for directly synchronizing the mind and body, creating conditions for psychological, physical, and spiritual healing.
*    Bridgit was connected to the bodhran, so we will learn rhythms on the “ knee position” as well as the middle eastern tambourine.  
 Layne Redmond

River“River Guerguerian’s composition, sensationally performed, devoted itself even more
religiously to the ties of pure sound”. ~ The New York Times ~
Our Solstice Celebration and Focus: Inner renewal. Awaken the ancient Healing Power of your Body ~ Mind ~Spirit, through: Goddess Ritual, Drumming, Chanting, & Personal Prayer