In Pursuit of Mysteries

Dzogchen Community Retreat with Norbu

I'm going to go to Conway, MA in September to the Dzogchen Community's annual retreat with Namkhai Norbu.

I've been planning this for a while but hadn't commited to anything. I just sunk the cash in for it to pay for the retreat today and, minutes ago, I purchased the plane tickets as well.

I'm taking off September 9 in the morning to attend the second retreat that starts the next day. I'll be returning September 14 late in the evening.

Information about the retreat can be found at http://www.tsegyalgar.org.

The weekend before, I'm going to Minneapolis to spend time with the Ordo Astrum Sophiae…

Oh yeah, and at the end of September, R and I are going to Twilight Gathering with Sam and Tara Webster and their crew of hellions. September suddenly seems pretty busy.

Notocon

Just over a week to Notocon.

Which of y'all am I going to see there and how will I know that you are you?

If you do go, go see my mom!

Event: Nuit - The Limitless Goddess

To the ancient Egyptians Nuit was more than just the starry sky, she was the very fabric of space within whose body were the dimensions of life and eternity. What is the relation of this Goddess to the modern day? Who is she now? What is the Thelemic connection?

This presentation examines the rich and venerable identity of a Goddess well documented more than 5,000 years ago. First we will explore her role in Egyptian cosmology and religion. A brief run-through of her iconography will equip the individual to recognize and appreciate her in Egyptian art. Then we move on to Cairo in 1904 e,v,, with Aleister Crowley’s experience of the Lady of the Stele of Revealing. We will see what Nuit has to say for herself, her instructions and her desires for us. A personal interpretation of her theology reveals Nuit as the Initiator of a new paradigm for present-day magick. Please join Sor. Ashera as we explore the symbols, character and message of the Goddess of Liber AL.

Soror Ashera lives and practices magick in Salt Lake City Utah. With the O.T.O since 1995, she is Secretary of Horus Oasis, an Ordained Deacon and half of a Mass Team. For over 15 years Ashera has pursued her education as a Ritualist studying world religions, cross-cultural mythology, theology, performance skills and of late - Ancient Egyptian religion. She is well known in Utah for her devotion to the Goddess and the neo-pagan community, maintaining ties with diverse pagan and international religious traditions. Over the years she has presented at panel discussions, talk shows, University lectures, police departments, schools, and pagan workshops and led many, many rituals. Aside from the O.T.O., her scholarship and energy have been directed to the founding and administration of S.L.C.’s only open (legal!) Wiccan Church, of which she is HP. Her personal spiritual focus is eclectic and devotional. She admits to being completely obsessed with Our Lady of the Stars, collecting Nuit art, prayers, poetry, and arcane Egyptian references.

Bumper Boats

R and I went white water rafting on Saturday on the Wenatchee River. Actually “white water” might be a misnomer as the water level was fairly low overall so there weren't as many rapids and drops as normal.

We got up and out of the house by 10:30 am and drove 2 1/2 hours to the other side of the mountains. We then met up with people from her work (and a couple of OTO people by accident) at 1:00. From there, we drove out to the launch point and hopped into the river with four of us and a guide to a boat. The trip down the river took until around 6:00 pm. We stopped at one point to swim for a while (and this river is mountain runoff) as the water was actually fairly warm because of the lateness of the season. It was over 90 and without any cloud cover as well. Many water fights and other highjinks with other rafters on the way down the river as well.

After we got back to town, we had a BBQ with the rafting company and then did the 2 1/2 hour drive back to Seattle. We got home at nearly 10:00 pm. That's quite a long day.

Right now, my lower back is very sore (it kept me awake a bit last night) and apparantly my neck is a fair shade of pink. It was fun and we plan on going back next year earlier in the season when the water is quite a bit wilder.

Yesterday, Madeline came over and we played around the pool at home for a while, watched some cartoons and went out for food together. Other than that, it was mostly a day for unpacking and cleaning. My library room is still a disaster area. It will probably be one of the last places to be put right. Since we're having a housewarming BBQ within the next month, I'll have some impetus to take care of that though.

Today, my day began with my alarm not going off (I only overslept 13 minutes) and a 9:30 am meeting. Whee!!