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The Way of the River

Yemaya Assesu and Spiritual Guests

Yemaya Assesu and Spiritual Guests

February 27, 2018 by Catharine Clarenbach 4 Comments

I have written about spiritual pillaging. And about spiritual tourism. And now I write about spiritual guests. In some traditions I have been a guest; more than just a visitor, but not a full member of the community. My time with the Religious Society of Friends, also called the Quakers, and my time with African […]

ritual Tagged: deities, interfaith, justice, multifaith, Paganiam, Santeria, Wicca, Yemaya

Shifting Stones of Fat and Love

Shifting Stones of Fat and Love

August 27, 2017 by Catharine Clarenbach Leave a Comment

This is a story of a young woman in her twenties, knowing she was powerful, glorious, radiant, sick and suicidal. She was fat, the fattest among her ceremonial colleagues. But she was powerful, physically and otherwise, and she knew it. And this is a story of a femme woman in her forties, no longer physically […]

stories Tagged: fat, Four Quarters, love, ritual, Wicca

Lammas is Coming, the Grain is Getting Fat

Lammas is Coming, the Grain is Getting Fat

July 20, 2017 by Catharine Clarenbach Leave a Comment

Monday evening, at 4 pm Pacific, 5 pm Mountain, etc. I shall be coordinating a discussion in preparation for Lammas, the contemporary and ancient Earth-centered grain holiday. As I’ve prepared for our discussion, some words and their etymologies have come to mind, and some pieces of stories about my experience of Lammas over the years. […]

seasons Tagged: classes, Lammas, Pagan, ritual, Wicca

Where is Faith?

Where is Faith?

November 17, 2016 by Catharine Clarenbach Leave a Comment

Well, I wrote Reflections about love. I wrote yesterday about hope. I’ve painted myself into a religious corner here, one that I welcome; I need to write about faith. What does faith mean to you? I grew up with the traditional Roman Catholic definition of faith:  Intellectual assent, and belief in things unseen. Particularly intellectual […]

discernment Tagged: authenticity, faith, justice, spirituality, UU, vulnerability, Wicca

Initiation:  The Greatest Is Love

Initiation: The Greatest Is Love

September 6, 2016 by Catharine Clarenbach Leave a Comment

I’ve spoken this week about initiation on FBLive and I’ve written about it in Reflections. And it has occurred to me that I’ve never written here about the initiation that ultimately led to the birth of The Way of the River. I’ve never written here about the intersection of ordination with what is commonly thought […]

ritual Tagged: initiation, multifaith, ordination, UU, Wicca

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Discernment means to make a difficult choice. To find a path forward that was previously hidden. To reflect upon your deepest values, desires, and hopes.

Learning the art of discernment — and yes, it truly is an art! — doesn’t happen overnight.

However, once you have learned it, it will serve you for the rest of your days. Choices may well still be hard, but after acquiring the tools of discernment you will be able to rest comfortably in knowing you came to the decision that’s right for you.

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