Sunday, May 8, 2016

Wheel of Wonder May 8, 2016

Today lets remember what Mother's Day was always intended to be about:
In 1870 in the American States Julia Ward Howe created the "Mother's Day Proclamation" which was a call to women to engage in a day of protests against War and the Killing and the harm it caused their Sons and Husbands, and all others as a reaction to the losses of the "Civil" War.

File:Sarah Choate Sears- Julia Ward Howe, 1907.jpgArise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts,
whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by
irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking
with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be
taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach
them of charity, mercy and patience.

We women of one country will be too tender of those of another
country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From
the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance
of justice."

Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons
of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a
great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women,
to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the
means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each
bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a
general congress of women without limit of nationality may be
appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at
the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the
alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement
of international questions, the great and general interests of
peace.

Julia Ward Howe
Boston
1870



The photograph above of Julia Ward Howe came from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarah_Choate_Sears-_Julia_Ward_Howe,_1907.jpg and was listed on that site:  This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.

In 1907 Anna Jarvis began the campaign in the USA To have Mother's Day officially recognized as a national holiday.  In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared it one.

Happy Mother's Day, perhaps those of a Pagan heart may also find it a day to honor Mother Earth!


 

 

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Wheel of Wonder May 1, 2016

As Spring returns, winter's quiet and reflective, relaxing lifestyle can get busy.  I know mine does.  We just finished up on our spring fund drive at KAOS community radio, and thank you to all the new and returning members that not only helped Wheel of Wonder reach its fundraising goal for the drive, but actually exceed it!  Community without borders!
https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5124363/il_570xN.279106004.jpg  If your involved in your community starting just after St. Patty's day, there seems to be an event every weekend.  I think, for an earth spiritualist a new event occurs every day, because spring and summer are returning!  Migrating birds sing their song from the trees reminding us there is more beauty in the world than just what we see in our friends, children's and partner's faces.  Their faces surrounded us through the winter months, bringing a natural warmth to the inside of our homes and the planning of our lives. We love that.  Now the sun shines down warming us outside as the greys, browns, and gusts of wind  are replaced by a rainbow of blossoms, the emerald budding of trees and the songs of the birds. 
Today, is Beltane, a time to celebrate all the growth and fertility of nature and the first shoots of seeds we've planted at the turning of the spring and under the blessings of Bridgit's fire. The sun, he shines down on us and reminds us of life's return.  These rays of hope and life brighten Mother Earth and we see her beauty even more clearly than before.  Happy Beltane!  May your inner fire again return, as you walk about surrounded by spring and summer beauty, feeding your creativity and your passion to do the great work you have awakened on this earth to do, and blessed be.

The picture above and to the right was found on Pinterest, but I could not find out who the artist was before the Pinterest "join now" filter blocked the view of my screen.  Please let me know who it is and how I can reach their website if you know, so I can credit them. Thanks