Cartoon by Shea Thomas at Noland-Comics
Follow the Moon: Astrology of intention and mindfulness
by Teri Parsley Starnes
Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.
Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.
Coldwater Spring – The New History
Coldwater Spring is being replanted tomorrow (see Paganistan Weekly below), and how can restoration not be a great thing? How this sacred place has gotten to its current condition, a bulldozed and denuded site, ready for the National Park Service (NPS), to “restore” is a very long story. Susu Jeffrey tells it better than most anyone, and her recent article in the “Southside Pride” community newspaper gives you an update (reprinted in full at bottom). There remains an ongoing struggle to have this site declared, as the Minnesota Historical Society supports, a Dakota traditional sacred site, a “Traditional Cultural Property (TCP)”.
About Saturday’s NPS restoration event. Susu adds:
The National Park Service told the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community that they could not hold a pipe ceremony on opening day at Coldwater Park, Saturday, September 1, 2012. The community held a pipe ceremony anyway while the National Park Service brought in an armed man in a bullet proof vest. People considered this disrespectful at a sacred site. The park service refuses to honor the Traditional Cultural Property/sacred designation at Coldwater.The National Park Service clearcut most of Coldwater and now wants volunteers to plant toothpick trees where NPS wants new trees. NPS has solicited donations for new trees: $1,000 for a dozen; $100 for one tree. It’s an extremely dry year for new trees. Survival is iffy.
Other Coldwater Spring events:
Offerings for the Sacred Spring on the Harvest Full Moon, Saturday, September 29, 2012
Gather at the entrance to Coldwater Springs, 7 PM – This is a crafty, child friendly gathering.
Native elders have asked people to leave offerings “for the ancestors” at Coldwater. We will make natural offerings from the beautiful “weeds” around the front gates. The federally recognized Lower Sioux Indian Community Council declared Coldwater a Traditional Cultural Property and “sacred” in 2006. Unfortunately the National Park Service refuses to acknowledge Coldwater Springs as a sacred site for Native Americans and others.
Traditional group howl! Full Moon celebrations at Coldwater have been observed every month since 2000.
Sunset 6:56 PM (55-minutes earlier than last full moon) Moonrise 6:27 PM (1-hour, 6-minutes earlier)
Solstice 2003 at Coldwater Spring
DIRECTIONS: Coldwater Springs is between Minnehaha Park & Fort Snelling, in Minneapolis, just North of the Hwy 55/62 interchange. From Hwy 55/Hiawatha, turn East (toward the Mississippi) at 54th Street, take an immediate right, & drive South on the frontage road for ½-mile past the parking meters, through the cul-de-sac and into Coldwater to park free.
This gathering is free and open to all. Note: This is not a “special event” since the National Park Service is not issuing any special use permits for Coldwater Springs until late spring of 2013. Info: http://www.friendsofcoldwater.org
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Paganistan Weekly; September 24-30
Plant trees at Coldwater Spring this Saturday, but sign up today. This is one of the great spiritual centers of the Twin Cities, and the work done this weekend will influence it for generations. http://www.missriverfund.org/index.asp?Type=B_EV&SEC={834BA92F-C5DB-420E-AA33-DBDFA610173B}
Earth House Project of Minnesota will be hosting a Picnic October 6 in Newell Park. Come on out for a Free lunch. http://earthhousemn.org/notices.htm
There was a post on the Twin Cities Pagans Yahoo group this week describing coming of age groups for young people. The girl’s group can be found at http://www.joyw.org/girlscircles.htm and the boys group can be found at http://boysmentorship.webs.com/
Follow the Moon: Astrology of intention and mindfulness
by Teri Parsley Starnes
Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.
Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.
Pagan Newswire Collective - Minnesota Bureau 