Camp 22: The Pentacle of Birth: Becoming the World We Seek
This year Wild Ginger has chosen to work with the symbol of the Pentacle. For many of us the Pentacle is a symbol of Witchcraft in general and many of us define ourselves as witches, but Pentacle work goes deeper than that.
Pentacle work is one of the foundations of our tradition, Iron Pentacle and the Pentacle of Pearl being two of the four Reclaiming Core Classes. It is sort of expected that people who work in our tradition are at least familiar with them both.
However, because Reclaiming is the open-ended tradition that it is, over the years many Pentacles have sprung up. After all, the Pentacle reflects our human 5-pointed skeletal structure (head, two strong legs, two creative arms).
Reclaiming and Feri (part of our Reclaiming foundations) practitioners everywhere have developed their own pentacles. Some examples include The ‘Amethyst Pentacle’ of Storm Fairy Wolf, the ‘Warrior Pentacle’ of T. Thorn Coyle, the ‘Pentacle of the Great Turning’ that arose out of Free Cascadia Camp, and many, many others. You may have developed a personal Pentacle as part of your own spiritual practice.
The Pentacle we developed for this year’s camp came out of our desire to Birth ourselves anew; as individuals, as a community, as a culture. We looked at the aspects of bringing something, anything
To Birth.
We settled on Contemplation, Conception, Quickening (or gestation), Transition, Birth & Contemplation
These are the points of our Star. You will find them reflected in the ritual Arc and in Path work during Wild Ginger 2019.
We ask you to Contemplate …
What do YOU bring to Birth?
Camp 21: Wild Ginger 2018
Air we are, Fire we are, Water, Earth, and Spirit, we are!
Claiming our Birthright as Elemental Beings
Deep Listening to what the Elements want of us now
Working magic through consciousness, intention, focus, and skill
Camp 20: Wild Ginger 2017
ReclaimingPandora
The Myth of Pandora
By Charlene Spretnak
From Spretnak, Charlene. Lost Goddesses of Early Greece: A Collection of Pre-Hellenic Myths. Boston: Beacon Press, 1978.
Earth-Mother had given mortals life. This puzzled them greatly. They would stare curiously at one another, then turn away to forage for food. Slowly they found that hunger has many forms.
One morning the humans followed an unusually plump bear cub to a hillside covered with bushes that hung heavy with red berries. They began to feast at once, hardly aware of the tremors beginning beneath their feet. As the quaking increased, a chasm gaped at the crest of the hill. From it arose Pandora with Her earthen pithos. The mortals were paralyzed with fear but the Goddess drew them into Her aura.
I am Pandora, Giver of All Gifts. She lifted the lid from the large jar. From it She took a pomegranate, which became an apple, which became a lemon, which became a pear. I bring you flowering trees that bear fruit, gnarled trees hung with olives and, this, the grapevine that will sustain you. She reached into the jar for a handful of seeds and sprinkled them over the hillside. I bring you plants for hunger and illness, for weaving and dyeing. Hidden beneath my surface you will find minerals, ore, and clay of endless form. She took from the jar two flat stones. Attend with care My plainest gift: I bring you flint.
Then Pandora turned the jar on its side, inundating the hillside with Her flowing grace. The mortals were bathed in the changing colors of Her aura. I bring you wonder, curiosity, memory. I bring you wisdom. I bring you justice with mercy. I bring you caring and communal bonds. I bring you courage, strength, endurance. I bring you loving kindness for all beings. I bring you the seeds of peace.
