JANUARY 2019
facebook   twitter   goodreads   youtube   google plus  

INDEX  |   HEALING WISE  |   Q & A with SUSUN   |   GREEN BLESSINGS
THE LIBRARY   |   PEOPLE MAKING CHANGE   |   GODDESS ART GALLERY

Green Blessings ...
with Susun Weed

Ode to Marie


Greetings of the growing light to you.

I spent the day with Marie Summerwood (shamanic apprentice number 50) recently.

We cried. We laughed. We reminisced. We kissed. We told stories. We drank infusion. We ate goat cheese lasagna. We enjoyed chocolates from Krause's. We sang songs, songs Marie wrote for me, for us all. We looked at photos. (Here are a few.) We talked about the many workshops Marie taught at the Wise Woman Center: on grief, on chanting, on sacred sex. I thanked her for helping me with so many apprentices and cooking with me for so many years and for so many women.

We always joke that when Marie started her apprenticeship, she was a professional macrobiotic chef. And when she graduated, she was a damn fine cook. I have a macrobiotic background myself, but tend to follow dictums rather than practices (when they don't agree). The main dictum of macrobiotics – "Eat what is in season where you live" – becomes, in practice, "Eat what is in season in Japan." Teaching Marie to harvest and eat weeds brought to a whole new consciousness to her macrobiotic cooking.

 Marie, my apprentice, my help mate, my friend of thirty years. I cherish you. Marie gave me books and a tray carved of teak and anything I wanted from her jumble drawer. I gave her a pair of green silk pants, a bottle of rose water, and an embroidered red silk scarf. Marie was diagnosed with stage 4, metatastic breast cancer this past August. Nothing modern medicine has to offer touched her cancer, but the treatments (chemo and radiation) weakened her to the point where she could not stand. She was taken care of with great finesse and grace by loving women of her community. Hospice was too late. Marie left her body before they could come.

 Marie would like you to sing for her. Marie welcomes your loving thoughts. She is smiling. She is smiling at you. She beckons you to the Green Goddess Week, which is dedicated to Marie this year. (And filling up fast.) When Green Goddesses are initiated as Green Witches, they visit Lady Beauty's Beauty Parlor, a special place Marie created for us to help us connect with the glamour of the Goddess. My life and land are imbued with so much of Marie's glamour and magic. We wove so many spells here together.

 Be like the bird, who, halting in her flight, on a branch too slight, feels it give way beneath her, and she sings, sings, knowing she has wings, she sings, sings, knowing she has wings.

 In honor of Marie, and in honor of your compassion for her flight, please accept my gift of any one of her magical, powerful CDs with your order of at least $30 from the Wise Woman Bookshop from now until the end of February. Also, for the entire month of February, my special offer, repeated from last year due to popular demand: Buy ten classes for $750, get 13. That's $225 worth of classes free. Wow.

 Marie's apprentice year was a solid one for apprentices. Irmela, Caro/Lilith, Regina, and Barbl – all from Germany – were four of the 23 shamanic herbal apprentices who graduated with Marie in 1990. Ann graduated after 13 weeks and returned home to Boulder to spread the word on the Wise Woman Way. She is still doing it, with grace and beauty. I am so proud of her. Thanks for the MAM sweetie. (Mayan Abdominal Massage) I love and appreciate you. Also graduating in 1990 was Jaia, who did the covers for all the Juliette de Bairacli Levy books published by Ash Tree Publishing. Last I heard from her, she was recovering well from a joint replacement. Love you too gypsy woman. Sylett Stickland is another 1990 graduate who went on to teach and do good works. You rock girl. I love you. I haven't heard from Nikki, or Chris/tina, Maggie or Cindy, Amy or Ellen, Maureen or Chris, but Nora and Annemarie, Gardenia and Kim have been in touch over the years. Smooches to you all.

 Applause for the past apprentices. Hooray for spreading the word on nourishing herbal infusions and healing by nourishing. Write or email or text or send a psychic message and let me know what you are doing now. I want to brag on you!


Ode to Marie Photo album


2001: Lady Lib and Lady Beauty

No. This is not an episode of I Love Lucy. This is an episode of green magic and high jinks. Marie and I are enjoying ourselves while waiting for the apprentices to gussy up and be ready to present their Goddess pageant. Love your smile Marie.



2000: Marie and shamanic herbal apprentices

Marie interacted with nearly every shamanic apprentice for more than 20 years, having a deeply positive and empowering impact on many of them. Here she is at our ritual space, with Teresa Marie (#196), Ashley (#200), Kris (#197), Meghan (#201), and Marni (#202). Hmm. That is too many. And where is Sarah? Probably taking the picture.

 





2002 and 2004: The Ladies Make Magic

Marie and I created and led magical rituals together for nearly two decades: Solstices, Equinoxes, Cross Quarter Days, Full and New Moons, and Green Witch Initiations. Here we are, two high priestesses, in all our finery, ready to lead the procession to the holy mesa to initiate Green Witches. I have my staff of power and Marie is ready to ward off all problems with her green scarf. I could write an entire essay on initiation. Making and keeping a commitment is the royal road to power. Making that commitment in front of your sisters and having them affirm that they hear you confers a magical ability on you that endures, and, if nourished, grows. I am so honored to have the privilege, as Lady Iona, to pass this magic on to every apprentice.

 


2002: Lady Beauty

Marie taught us how to assume a glamour. She taught us how to chant our own songs. I initiated her as a Green Witch in 1990, and as a high priestess in 1992. She continued to make creative, colorful, delightful magic with me publically for the next twenty years, both at my home and in Syracuse, her home town. Way to go Lady Beauty. The magic never ends, dear friend. Your magic lives on in the very rocks of the Wise Woman Center – as does your altar to the Blessed Virgin, your namesake.


2001: Workshop and Apprentices

Marie, surrounded by apprentices and workshop students. I may have missed a few names; help me out; I know you will.

In the back, from the left: Julie?, Helen (#207), Deb Red Onion, Marie, Susun, Rachel?, Jackie (#204), Julia?, Peggy hugging Shauna/Astrid (#208), (blue hat)?, Catherine (red hat, #209)

front row: kneeling: Sarah/Featherhawk, who in poncho?, Rachel (#210), Krista (#206)

Leela must be taking the picture. Love to you all.




1999 & 2000: Tender Moments

It wasn't all cooking and singing and ritual making and teaching and dealing. Marie and I found tender moments to share our hearts. Friends rule! (So does purple!) Knowing Marie for decades has been a continuous blessing in my life and my career. For many years Marie was my official photographer. So the way you see me, the images you see, are the way Marie saw me. I so appreciate her loving gaze. Lady Beauty made me beautiful in every photo.

"When you look into my eyes and see the love there

Shi-uh-i-uh-i-uh-ine (shine with a warble)

Reflection of your own true love

Reflection of your own true love."

(Words by River)


The Wise Woman Center exists to re-weave the healing cloak of the Ancients. This land is sacred, it is a safe space for women, and a place for the teachings of the Wise Woman way. The Goddess lives here, as do goats, fairies, green witches, and elders.
Located between Woodstock and Saugerties, 5 miles from the NYS Thruway, the Wise Woman Center is easily accessible while private enough for nude swimming. You'll receive a map and directions when you register. Incredible wild-food vegetarian meals are included with all workshops. Two - and three-day workshops (limited enrollment) include camping or indoor sleeping space and meals. Click to learn more

 

HOME  |  ARCHIVE  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  SITEMAP

Wise Woman Herbal Ezine is sponsored by
www.susunweed.com and www.wisewomanbookshop.com




HEALING WISE  |   Q & A with SUSUN   |   GREEN BLESSINGS  
 
THE LIBRARY   |   PEOPLE MAKING CHANGE   |   GODDESS ART GALLERY


©Susun Weed -Wise Woman Center
~ Disclaimer & Privacy Policy ~