Magical Stance

February 2000
Acrylics on Paper
16”x 20”

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This is the High Priestess II in Lane's Greenwitch Tarot:

Tree-like, though obviously human, she is deeply rooted into the earth. From this powerfully grounded stance she reaches into the night, towards the Lunar Eclipse and the Cosmos beyond and within. A smudge of light beckons in the distance. She listens and sometimes channels messages from the Mysterious Beyond. Thus she is a conduit for what wants to come through for herself and for the collective. Eclipses are potent times that allow deeply hidden shadow stuff to emerge to be looked at and danced with. The New Moon is also a time  for this work as well for planting root crops and seeding intentions of all kinds. She looks to be alone in this moment with those intentions, though they may well include visions for her community circle and the wider collective, as well as for herself. She may or may not be practiced at this in her current lifetime but the designation of High Priestess indicates that she has at the very least taken this role in past lives. We are in a critical time of reclaiming and re-membering the old ways. We’re being called to honor our earthly and cosmic connections as we follow the cycles of Earth, Moon, Sun and Star beings to channel and use their powerful dances.

 Do you remember what it feels like to stand thus? Can you find the courage to do this now? You need not be alone like this. Find or establish a circle to do it with. What visions do you harbor? How do you ground them with action? How do you reach for guidance? Listen to your community to understand their dreams. Can you interpret  your dreams to understand your community? Don’t forget to include and attend to your own needs with all that you are doing for others. You are ready to be a priestess and to deepen your practice whatevert hat might look like to you or to others who admire you.

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Written for Out of the Ashes Solo Show at North County Rec District - March 2005

The winds of change, the fire of the heart, the sap of the womb and bark of her skin – all will answer her call.

In February 2000, I did a second session of the Hero’s Journey with a new group, this time as a week long intensive. For the first assignment I did The Doer.‍

‍That painting felt overwhelming and exhausting – a catalog of all I was doing that spring. As usual Susan came up with a brilliant homework assignment – to choose one stance among the many to be with for the week of the class. I chose the priestess (or maybe the priestess chose me!). She who grounds down into the earth with her roots and up into the sky with her branches. In touch with the moon ready to call in the elements – whether solitary, with her sisters or with a mixed group. The altar took things another step to give her ceremony and storytelling tools at the ready near where her feet are planted. A tree indeed.