97 lines
6.2 KiB
Plaintext
97 lines
6.2 KiB
Plaintext
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THIS FILE WAS DOWNLOADED FROM
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MAINBASE BBS (040 - 965819) Malm”, Sweden
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A superb TEXTFILES BBS
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PERSONAL & CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT WORKING
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FOCUS: THE AIDS CRISIS
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Link-up date and time: LAMMAS (Saturday, August 1, '87) 7-10 PM EDT
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*note--major steps in ritual outline are in caps for easier
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reference--(yes, i know it sounds like shouting but apparently
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subtlties like underlining & italics don't translate well
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electronically*
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PLEASE PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION SHEET. This is a networking
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effort to include as many people/groups as possible. Also inform those whose
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lives are directly affected by AIDS, so they may participate if they choose,
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on whatever level they desire. If you can't make the link-up time, please do
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this working when you can, as close to the link-up time as possible.
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As Lammas approaches and the wheel of the year turns towards harvest time,
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we as Witches feel a desperate need to use our power *together* to recognize
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the teachings of this disease on a personal and cultural level. It is only
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through opening to the teachings which lie beneath the horror of AIDS that we
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can begin to heal ourselves, each other, and our culture of this monster we've
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collectively created. (we know this is hard. please keep reading.) AIDS is
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transmitted through intimate contact, but often leads to painful isolation.
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The work of confronting AIDS is a cultural task and should *not* have to be
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faced alone. Because of this, we are suggesting a link-up time and we ask
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that people do this ritual with *at least* one other person. It is only
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through compassion and the connection of the open heart that we can heal our-
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selves and our culture, and stop the spread of the virus.
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Twentieth Century culture denies death as well as the sacredness of sex-
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uality, which are the domain of the Dark Goddess. As the Dark Goddess is re-
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pressed, our resources are poured into making tools of destruction and
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selling sex as a commodity. As we further alienate ourselves from each other
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and the Earth, the Dark Goddess we've repressed becomes terrifying to us.
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The longer we deny our mortality and the sacredness of our sexuality, the
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more severe Her teachings become. Let's start *now* to reverse this trend, to
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embrace the life-force in its fullness, which necessarily includes death.
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LAMMAS RITUAL FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS
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Since this is a challenging task which demands a lot of trust, we suggest
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that people plan extra time before the ritual for discussion and trust build-
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ing. In casting the circle, invoke whatever spirits and deities will provide
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the most support for you in this working. Be prepared to communicate your
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own needs and feelings, and to be receptive and supportive to the needs and
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feelings of others throughout the working. As you ground into the Earth's
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Center, feel the power of all of us as we link up and turn our energy toward
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this common purpose.
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1) FACING THE TRUTH: Whether or not we believe we have been personally
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exposed to the virus, it is a threat to all of us and to those we love. Since
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no effective healing can be done while we remain in a state of denial and
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fear, it's time to take stock of ourselves and our experience in full honesty
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so that we may all learn the lessons of this disease. Hopefully, if we open
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fully to these teachings, we will not have to learn through manifesting phys-
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ical symptoms; and if we already have physical symptoms we can arrest them
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here, and not pass them on, nor be consumed by them.
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Take time to EXPLORE AND SHARE our feelings and concerns about AIDS with
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each other. Acknowledge how we have all been touched by this. Our fears
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have kept us separate; it is through accepting our own fears and sharing
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about them with others we're close to that isolation ends. Mourn our losses
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and accept the sacrifice; honor the teachings given to us and our culture by
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those who are suffering now and those who have died of AIDS. People should
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take as much time as they need to grieve, to feel their fear, to feel their
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sorrow, to name and accept all of these, whether these things appear to be
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rational or not.
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INVOKE THE DARK MOTHER as comforter and guide in this process. Ask Her
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to show each of us what our personal work is to restore balance in ourselves
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and in our culture. Allow time for all to MEDITATE and be with the Dark God-
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dess. When that is done, the group should SHARE with each other any images,
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realizations, feelings, and insights gained.
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2) OPENING TO CONNECTION: Building on the realizations gained, FIND AND NAME
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ways to integrate these teachings into our daily lives, to carry out this work
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on the Earth plane. RAISE POWER for healing and compassion, to empower and
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root our visions and promises for action. AFFIRM our openness to connection
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and healing. ENTRUST the AIDS virus itself to the care of the Dark Mother,
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affirm that as we open personally and culturally to these teachings, the virus
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will become obsolete. Visualize the mutations of the AIDS virus slowing down
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and stopping, so that a medical cure can be found as soon as possible.
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3) GROUNDING THE WORK: When the power has peaked and all feel complete with
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this process, release all excess energy and begin to ground. As you dismiss
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the circle, see the spirits and powers you've invoked carrying the healing and
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wisdom out into the world in each direction. As you do the final grounding
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into the Center, send the power that has been raised into the center of the
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Earth, and through the Center, out through the entire planet. Hugs all around
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for having the courage to have faced such a challenging issue. Blessed Be.
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This ritual written and originally distributed by Flaming Crones Coven
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P.O. Box 1200, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
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