May 2010

I have the great joy of being mother to a daughter. She often hands me little love notes, and I've been honored this year that three of the basic words she's learned to spell on her own are "I love Mommy".

Last week she handed me a note on bright yellow paper while I was working away at something in the kitchen. It's a picture of her with a big heart on a purple dress and musical notes trailing out behind her - she is dancing and singing. She presses the note into my hand and says "This is for you" and then my real-life daughter dances away across the kitchen and out into the living room, humming a tune under her breath, shaking her arms and hands in patterns that make her brother laugh. I am struck, completely struck, by her natural exuberance for life - her complete comfort in her own skin, her willingness for all things to be silly and new and full of song.

In May we enter the season of Beltane, of life reproducing itself, of continuation, growth and the blooming of all living things. The world is exuberant, luxuriant, passionate. Is your inner six-year-old dancing through this spring? Are you singing to yourself and maybe telling a silly joke here and there? Are you taking time to play? I wish that for you, and yours. I am interested in the song that echos in your heart and mind.

I decided to take a page out of my daughter's book, and allow myself the freedom to travel in the company of women this month, singing and dancing and praying our way to three ancient pilgrimage sites in France. Many "mothers" worked together to make this trip possible for me - the people who invited me, those who encouraged me, those who affirmed the trip with grant monies and those who are staying home to take care of my children while I roam. I have never felt so grateful for the sheer existence of parenting in the world - our ability to care selflessly for one another when we are in need.

I look forward to sharing my pilgrimage with you - you can read all about it on this blog. If I can post entries and pictures while I'm away I will, if not I will post everything when I am home - home in time for Mother's Day. May these beautiful spring days continue, may they lift you up and hold you close, may you know mothering and warmth, and may you sing and dance and send little messages of love to those who care for you, and for whom you care.

Warmly - Rev. Jennifer

My body is a living temple of love

My body is the body of the goddess

My body is the body of the goddess

Oh, oh, oh I am that I am

Oh, oh, oh, I am that I am!

- from Women With Wings

http://www.examiner.com/x-35413-Bangor-Paganism-Examiner~y2010m1d13-Women-with-wings-a-femine-chant-group

Palm Sunday Reflection

can be found on Sermons Page at http://uuyarmouth.org/sermons.html