Rev. Catharine Is Currently
On Medical Leave

The Reason: You Are Ablaze

I’ve been writing a lot about this and that related to The Elemental Wisdom of Fire course. I’ve been writing about the topics and what we might talk about. I’ve realized, though, that I haven’t given you a reason to consider taking the course. Sure, it sounds cool. Sure, the topics sound interesting. But why […]

The Love of Lightning’s Fire

In our upcoming course (starting THIS Thursday, WOOHOO!) The Elemental Wisdom of Fire, the second class will be about two very different kinds of fire:  Lightning and the sun. This post is about my favorite of the two, lightning. When I was young, I had this strange idea—truly strange—that I would like to be struck […]

Embers Turn to Flame

A friend of mine needed a sabbatical. He wanted to spend a year tending to his spirit, reading what would edify and delight him, cooking good food, and just being with himself. Holding the Ember He had the money to do it. He even had a job that took him back after he did some other […]

Love and Fear: One without the Other?

blooming pink lotus up close on the flower

Oh, oh, oh… What if this? What if that? What if I can’t? What if I don’t? What if they don’t like me? What if they don’t respect me? What if I’m the fraud I’m afraid I am? I struggle with imposter syndrome. Do you? I struggle with worrying I don’t have anything to offer. […]

Thoughts on Beautiful Conversation

I used to say that I thought excellent conversation was better than sex. Now I hadn’t had much sex at the time, so… Still, excellent conversation, discussion, discourse, even archaically called “intercourse”—is a beautiful, beautiful thing. There are so many splendid pieces of conversations:  The listening, the speaking, expressing one’s own sense of the truth, […]

Into the Fire: Sunlight and Lightning

Fire is both creative and destructive. Its reputation is often largely as something destructive, and yet it gives life, as well. The humble candle can lead to a house fire, destroying lives, possessions and a sense of history. Or, attended and respected, it can create a sacred atmosphere, a romantic environment, or even a place […]

Welcome to Fire’s Light and Shadow

In honor of my free discussion on The Elemental Wisdom of Fire on September 15th, I thought I’d write a wee bit about the Element of Fire and how it speaks to me. The Element of Water is where I feel most at home. I love to drink water with lemon. I delight in baths […]

Elements and Directions: Part I

The tradition in which I came up, Stone Circle Wicca, and the tradition I am forming, Cascadia Arbor, pay special attention to the Four Directions and Elements. Cascadia Arbor adds to the original Four, but those Four are where my heart is most at home. For those of you who are not familiar with a […]