March spotlight dancer of the month :)

I made it onto joyofbellydancing.com. The international site ran by the lovely Yasmina of Arizona. If you want to learn about my entire adventure in belly dance in one lump sum, check it out!!! I'm very honored and proud she asked me to do it. Bless her!

www.joyofbellydancing.com/spotlight2.htm

2009 Xena Con

I went to the 14th annual Xena Con at LAX and had the time of my life :)!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is a picture of me with Michael Hurst (He played the character Iolaus on Hercules). He was hanging out at the bar ;-) Standing with us is Xena (look-a-like) from Austria and Brad, a man dressed as Ares. I also got a couple seconds on the LA News there. Here is the clip! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!
www.youtube.com/watch
And for pics of our entire trip go here:
viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm

I'll miss you my friend

Shadow 1-02 - 1-09 RIP

This has been the worst holiday season of my life, which was spent losing my baby Shadow, who has been with Dave and I for seven years. She is now part of my spirit, just like Elvira (my cat that left the earth plane 3 years ago). Losing our friends is HARD. I will go on as a better person having had her in my life.

We all come from the Goddess and to her we shall return, like a drop of rain flowing through the ocean.

GODDESS REVENGE now ready for your viewing

It's finally here! My entire show GODDESS REVENGE is posted onto You Tube in a six part series. Please watch it from beginning to end to get the full experience. It's about forty minutes long total.

She has AWAKENED!!! She has come out of the Earth from her long slumber and is not to be messed with this time around!!! She is here to fight for Nature and the betterment of all humanity! This is a story of dance told and written by Epona Warrior Belly Dancer, founder and choreographer of the dance production, ARETIAS Warrior Women. This performance was held at the 2008 Phoenix Faerie Festival. For more info on Epona Warrior Belly Dancer and ARETIAS Warrior Women please visit: www.aretiastribe.com

Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch
Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch
Part 3: www.youtube.com/watch
Part 4: www.youtube.com/watch
Part 5: www.youtube.com/watch
Part 6: www.youtube.com/watch

GODDESS REVENGE at The Phoenix Faerie festival

It's been a couple days, since our adventure traveling to Estrella Mountain Park to perform at The Phoenix Faerie Festival. I have been on a spiritual high, since it all came to fruition this past Saturday afternoon. I've had a little time to digest the entire thing, so it's important I get it out now and write about it.

If any one that is reading this has any experience of putting together a show, one must understand the absolute stress it can entail to make sure everything goes smoothly. When the director of the Phoenix Faerie Festival asked me to do this almost one year ago, I had to say yes, for how can I refuse a faerie themed event? If anyone has ever seen what I do, whether it be a solo or group performance, it is almost always more of the other dimensional variety. I am rarely conventional by any means, for I am drawn to mystery and the other realms. That it is literally my life. I strive for the 'unseen' in this illusionary reality one calls regular modern society. Faeries are also a HUGE part of who I am. Yes I BELIEVE in them and I have seen them, but that's an entirely different story.

So, when she asked me to do this again, I was honored. We did it once before, but it was a brand new event in Phoenix then and things did not go the greatest, at least for us. Our performance went alright, but we went on very late in the evening and lets just say it was a learning experience. If I were to do this again I needed that experience to learn from, so that I could make this experience of Aretias - Warrior Women successful! And success doesn't even describe what occurred on Saturday. It was MAGICKAL!

Before we traveled the 45 min drive from Scottsdale to Goodyear, we had the practices every Wed evening for a couple of months at my cosy apartment. Yes, that's where we gathered to practice the actual show. To my surprise the stage was about the same size as the small space we practiced in, so it worked out perfect. The lovely and talented group of women that so graciously dedicated their time to help me with this, Levana, Kali, and Nissa, became my close friends. Not superficial friends, mind you, but REAL friends. I have to admit that I have been searching for women friends for a while, since I moved to Arizona, Oh about 10 years ago. Being the unusual ex punk rocker, Goddess worshiping, Earth lovin, Vegetarian, Tree Huggin Hippie, Warrior Woman, Xena lovin, Pagan Belly Dancer that I am, it is not very easy to find friends. I'm also very shy when it comes to opening up personally. I started belly dance, originally, to find 'sisterhood', but fell short of my search and found lots of cliques and self absorbedness instead. This is speaking from personal past experience. I also understand that I'm not perfect myself and being so "different" it is hard for many to relate to me. But, alas, I'm me and that's all there is to it. Until I truly accept myself for who I am, know body else will accept me either, so that is part of my lesson.

One of the first challenges of preparing for this show was what to do as far as a story. I did not want to do an Amazon Warrior Women themed story this time around, because, I did that already, in the past, several times and I needed something different and refreshing, for my life has been very much about 'rebirth' lately. Not that I don't love the ancient Amazons as a topic of women empowerment, but I wanted to write something more relative to 'this time'. I also wanted to keep the feeling of ancient mythology and fantasy in my story. So, it was not an easy task.

The idea of GODDESS REVENGE came to me when I was in a twilight sleep. I am very passionate about what is being done to Mother Earth in the past and today. The ravagement and literal rape that has been occurring to her for too many years is truly taking it's toll. The Goddess was truly worshipped and revered thousands of years ago and it was through that matriarchy that people respected the land, honored the animals, plants, insects, waters, and trees. We have lost that as a humanity. I know that there are many who are helping her on many levels today, but it needs to become more of a REAL issue. I love the idea of the Goddess waking up and taking back the planet from desecration to LIFE. This is revenge to those who don't care. Those that trash the Earth and do not respect her as a living breathing being, which is truly what she is. So, that's how it began.

I wrote the choreography around this beautiful idea of all of us being a personality or aspect of "Her". I was, being the warrior belly dancer that I am, Andraste - Celtic Goddess of War. Levana was Isis, great Mother Goddess of Mysteries. Kali was Demeter, Goddess of Nature. Nissa was Freja, Nordic Goddess of beauty and power behind the Valkyrie.

We had so many powerful forms of sisterhood during our meetings that it was true women empowerment. We helped each other through personal issues and laughed! I have never experienced sisterhood like this! I gave them creative control of their dance solos and it was truly "Her" speaking through all of us. To my amazement everything 'fit' so well. Levana, being Isis, picked a song that brought us all to tears. It fit so well on the emotion I wanted to portray about the Goddess 'waking up' and seeing what has been done to the planet. It was, by far, the best production I have ever done and I'm so glad we got it all on video!!!

You Tube connossieurs awate, for it's coming soon to a computer near you! In the mean time, enjoy all of the lovely pictures Levana's husband Rob took!
viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm
THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH GREAT GODDESS! I LOVE YOU!

Blessed Be!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND BLESSED SAMHAIN!!!!!!

Enjoy your weekend and trick or treats!!! Don't let the spirits of Halloween scare you too much or get you too drunk, depending on what kind of spirits your into ;-). WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tribe's down too much :(

Hello friends here on Tribe :) I just wanted to invite you to my myspace friends lists if I don't already have you there. Some of you have wrote this same blog and added your link, but you have it set private, so please add me. I'm always looking for friends there as well and I will probably become more active within my blogging there and such.

www.myspace.com/epona_of_aretias

I'm also on Facebook under the name Epona Sworddancer if you would rather find me there :)

Blessed Be!!!

Chastity Pariah is Republican V. P nominee

Ever seen the movie, cult classic, Elvira - Mistress of the Dark??? If you have, you'll know what I mean. She played a council chairperson of the small town Elvira wreaks havoc in. She is also head of the Morality Club and is appalled by Elvira's antics.

Quote from the movie:
Chastity Pariah: I don't know who you are or where you came from, but you most certainly don't fit in this town. Why, you don't even fit in that dress.
Elvira: Listen sister, if I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of ya.

Enough said.............

Past Lives

OK, for those of you that sort of know me and read my blogs, you should know by now that my beliefs are not conventional. At least as modern society goes. I was raised with a Christian belief by my Mother (Goddess rest her soul) who found comfort in our hometown church. I understand what it did "for her". She had many problems at home and with herself, so perhaps it gave her a sense of belonging or community. I understand, now, why, at that time, she went every Sunday and made my sister and I go as well.
I understand that she thought it was the right thing to do, then, and I've long since forgiven her for dragging me out of bed every Sunday morning, kicking and screaming, to let me stay home and sleep. I bloody well hated it!

Now, my purpose here is not to offend anyone who believes in Christianity. I understand that everyone here on Earth has a path and a reason for believing in what they feel is truth. I believe there is some truth in all religions and know that most people who find religion have good intentions. For me, though, ever since the tender age of 11, I questioned what I was being taught in Church. I kept telling myself over and over, as a kid, if God loves me so much, why am I always being threatened with eternal suffering in Hell? Especially for simple things like cheating on a test or not reading the bible everyday. I hated the people at my church and felt they were always trying to make me feel like an evil spawn of Satan if I didn't agree to "Get Saved" every week. If there is a Hell (which I truly don't believe in) it would be like going to that Church.

Now, that tid bit of history of my experience with organized religion was a beginning for me to eventually find my "OWN" path and well, by golly I did! Thank The Gods! I believe that there are many truths in life and in spirituality. The study of my ancestral past, being from Scotland and Ireland, was one step that took me in the direction of "The Celts" and therefore Paganism. Yes, I am a Celt, proud and true! It fits me so very well, for my life goal is to help creatures and be one with nature, our precious Mother Earth!

Pagans believe that this life, here and now, is only one aspect of who we truly are as a whole. Many past lives have been lived for, perhaps, different lessons that needed to be learned. I'm still trying to figure out who I am, but I know that all that matters, really, is right here, right now, and what I'm doing with the time I have at this moment. So, here I am writing and sharing, for what is the purpose of experiences if one does not share it with others?

I had a dream about one and a half months ago. It shook me deeply. I have weird dreams all the time, but this one was one of those REAL kind of dreams that sort of lingered with me as I awoke. I remember it started with me being amongst a group of people, but I didn't feel like myself now. I was somebody else, but still a woman. I can't recall what I looked like or anything, for there wasn't a mirror present in the dream, but I noticed the people around me were dirty and dressed in raggedy clothes. They were very sad and sort of looking down like hopeless. One of the people in the group, another woman, said they were all about to be burned alive. Yikes! Kinda scary, huh! I told her that I would not let that happen. I can't remember the exact details of what happened next. Ya know how dreams jump around in one's subconscious? Anyway, I remember having an idea of how to save them and I felt that I could do it. The next thing I remember in the dream, I was unroping some sort of boat or ship, with the same group of people all on it and I watched them sail off into the sea. They were thanking me and rejoicing for their life and then I woke up. the weird part was I had tears of joy as I was telling myself over and over. "I saved them! I set them free! They were saved!" It felt like more of a memory then a dream. Or more of a feeling then a memory. How could this be? A past life perhaps? Who knows, but it definitely made me think about stuff. Weather the dream was a memory or not, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Just the shear thought of saving that many people from torture and inevitable death puts ones thinking into a different perspective.

Life is weird, but it is what we make of it. I am proud of who I am, hero or not. At least I know where I come from, which eases the stress of where I'm going.

Blessed Be!!!

Owls, New Energies, and Past Lives

My life is full of magick and wonder. I wonder sometimes if the reason I have the experiences I have is because of my reverence and connection with Nature. Or if other people have similar experiences, but either do not notice or speak of it. I really don't like to blog about my personal crap too much, for I don't want to bore people with my beliefs and antics, but hey! if it helps one or two people along the way my job is done.

So, Dave and I were forced to move out of our apartment this month. The apartment was upgrading and we were told we could move to an upgraded version of our place, but we would have to get approved all over again, and pay $200 more a month, so we were out of there. It was a living Hell living there within the last year or so, for it was nothing but construction noise ringing in our ears every day. The area no longer had a positive vibe with all the new people moving in. So, it was good timing for us to leave either way. We began the search for a "nice" place. A nice place to me is location location location. I don't like living in areas where I can't ride my bike or walk to the store and feel safe. I also have to have trees and living things surrounding me. The Phoenix area is a desert, so the newly built areas are nothing but flat, concrete, and dry man brought plants. I need trees! So, we found a lovely place and area and applied right away. We thought we would get approved, so no worries there. We went on with our life as if we were set to move and two weeks later we get a paper in mail that said we were denied. What! We were worried. No reason whatsoever! So, we went to search yet again UGH!

This time I was more prepared. I did a payer and meditation and also worked with a few VERY special circle of people here on tribe to help me. I called upon my local faerie friends to guide me as well. The first thing we saw as we drove to the first location was a swirl of dust on the side of the road. Like a mini tornado. The day was not windy and this is a sure sign of a faerie, as told in myth and legends. The place was a bust, so I looked at the spiral of dust as a sign of where not to go. They were right. We then drove in the opposite direction close to the place we were just denied. A black bird started following us and it's shadow was clearly seen flying by our side as we drove. As we parked our vehicle, the bird landed near us as in saying "Try this place". So we did. It was a small building and all brick, which is so nice. The lady in the office greeted us kindly as if she had been waiting for us. She also reminded me of Dave's grandma who had just passed three months ago. We loved it, but feared we would once again get denied, so we kept looking. Every place we looked at after that was either too busy to help us or booked. So, the next day we took a chance and applied at the place the bird followed us at.

We got in! Well, with a few complications that were corrected as we figured out why we were denied at the last place, which created the awareness of incorrect information on Dave's background. This was the best place we could find in a beautiful neighborhood with huge old trees! I just love it! As we starting moving in, Dave noticed something odd. We have a huge old tree right in front of our patio window. An owl decoration is hanging face front from the tree looking directly at our window. The owl is only on our tree, no other trees have this, and we don't understand the reason for it. Well, Dave and I knew right away what this meant for us "symbolically". Dave's Grandma, the one who just passed away three months ago, was an owl collector. Her entire house was filled with them. This is the one thing that they said about her at her funeral. The lady loved owls, she collected them her whole life, but know body knew the reason why. So, Dave and I knew that this was a sign from her and or the faeries who also helped us.

My point here? Well, when Dave and I were denied at the first place we were in dire straits. We absolutely did not know what to do. We are good people, maybe not rich, but are worthy of living in a decent neighborhood. OK, maybe we are a little like The Adam's Family, but whatever. We deserved to find "the right" place to live and WE DID!!! When one trusts in The Universe, the Universe will provide one with the help that is required. This was shown to me. Nothing is impossible! So now I'm thinking of the endless possibilities to come.

OK, I know I titled this with the word past lives, but I feel that I went on too long, so i will put that in my next blog!
Blessed Be!!!