WELCOME!!!!

A few female friends gather every new moon to honor our selves and our cycles. Inspired by the book The Red Tent, we have stitched together a collection of various shades of red fabrics which we often hoist to designate our meeting place. We've also tie-dyed dresses for the event... usually we eat well, do some creative project, just relax, and treasure our family and friendships. Contact Debra@Motherhouse.us or call 860-671-7945 if you'd like to join us.

The next new moon falls on April 26. We hope to continue our "Honoring our Foremothers" Book-Making project; a 5X5 accordion book celebrating women who have been personally influential, inspiring in our lives. After sharing stories about how the women we've chosen have uplifted and/or empowered us, we'll compose tributes to them.

For an astrological summary of the new moon's position visit
MoonCircles.com.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Spinning in Place

Rachel hopes to use her sheep's wool to knit or crochet soakers or "butt sweaters" for Darwin, so this New Moon we gathered at Debra's to try our hands at spinning. Janet Lynn of the Wheel Thing Spinning Supply House in Lakeville, CT, generously donated several drop spindles for us to use. Margaret carded wool. Jean read and reread directions; especially the line exhorting us to "Try and try and try." Debra and Rachel tried and tried and tried...
After lunch, we looked at hand-made books and a photobook of Debra and Margaret's trip to San Francisco designed by Margaret's brother Zach. We sang songs, Jean played the piano, and Darwin played with finger puppets.

Then Rachel pulled out the materials for making our own drop spindles out of old CDs, dowels, and plumbing supplies. The directions were also a suggestion from Janet. Debra finished one and found it a REALLY smooth spin. Join with more wool works at this Saturday's Mother/Daughter retreat! Contact Debra@Motherhouse.us to register.

The March 15th new moon began the first day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year in which they celebrate Passover. As a holiday commemorating freedom, this is an excellent time to reflect on freeing ourselves from rigid habits and harmful thought-patterns. (For a woman-centered version of the thought-provoking 49 day ritual called "counting the Omer" see Ritualwell.org.) In New England this moon will wax into the Sap Moon or Worm Moon. We'll watch for sweet and tasty "sapsicles" made by freezing trickling sap from broken maple twigs. Warming soil will hearken earthworms to the surface and we can expect to observe many worm castings in the coming weeks as well. As the 2nd full moon in March, it will also be the only "Blue Moon" in 2010.