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, February 8, 2016

Monkeyshines, Valentines

When she lived in Wisconsin, Grandma Jean and her artist friends always got together this time of year to make valentines. After moving to CT, she tried to continue the tradition by inviting us to celebrate the February new moon by making valentines. Remembering our first gathering of that nature, Rachel organized another new moon valentine-making adventure this year.
Rachel and Darwin had colored thin pieces of cardboard on their woodstove so the crayons melted making vibrant colors, so we could make heart-shaped cut-outs.
Harriet showed us how to use a template to fold and cut two pieces of paper to weave together to form a heart.
We learned to weave our cutouts into heart shaped pockets.
We used Grandma Jean's heart-shaped paper punch to make many small hearts,
Made messes and music,
And decorated lunar postcards.
Inspired, Rachel and Darwin went home and incorporated what they had done into a project for 100's Day: a 10 by 10 woven grid with 100 hearts pinned on!

February 8, 2016  was also the "Chinese lunar New Year," based on the New Moon heralding spring. In the past, this was the only festival for which farmer's would leave their labors to celebrate. The festivities would last for two weeks/the full moon. It remains a time of honoring one's ancestors and deities, as well as holding family reunions. Because the color red represents good fortune, many people give presents of cash in small red envelopes. According to Chinese astrological tradition, this year (4713) is the year of the fire monkey and we can look forward to a year of intense confrontations, great technological advancements, and of women coming into their power.



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