Honoring the Wild – a new book from Irisanya Moon

Irisanya Moon, a teacher and author in the Reclaiming tradition, has just published a book on Reclaiming-style magical activism.

Honoring the Wild: Reclaiming Witchcraft and Environmental Activism by Irisanya Moon

Author’s website and store- click here

Bookshelf online store – click here

Amazon & Kindle – click here

Reclaiming Witchcraft is deeply rooted in activism, including environmental activism, as an answer and an action to drive change. From political actions to personal calls, “Honoring the Wild” compiles stories and lessons from Reclaiming Witches from around the world.

This book seeks to inspire as much as it does to inform, knowing that creativity and purpose are often better motivators for lasting change. With a timeline of activism in Reclaiming, these pages contain facts and fears, confessions and collaborations, and (perhaps) a call to the reader who wants to learn more and do more.

Publisher’s Weekly Review

Irisanya Moon (Practically Pagan) collects meditations on the Reclaiming Witchcraft tradition in this brief, inspiring anthology.

Founded in the late 1970s, the Reclaiming tradition is based in “deep, spiritual commitment to the earth, to healing and to linking of magic with political action,” Moon writes.

Short accounts from Reclaiming witches weave a “tapestry of many different threads,” including tried-and-true advice for being environmentally conscious (buying secondhand clothes, using public transportation), discussions of “magical activism” (which takes the form of writing, storytelling, and organizing protests), and accounts of individuals’ experiences (using directed energy to help protect the California redwood forests during protests).

Suggested rituals include an “Extinction Rebellion Ritual” (which involves speaking one’s demands into being in a group setting), while an annotated timeline highlights major moments in Reclaiming history, from anti-nuclear demonstrations in 1976 to 2017’s Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Though the takes on activism will be familiar, the personal narratives evoke a raw earnestness and urgency that will encourage readers to do their part to protect the earth. Reclaiming witches and those curious about the tradition will find value here.’

Seeds of Hope & Renewal – a Ritual with Starhawk

Come and find hope with us!

This is the dark time of year, when winter closes in and sometimes it’s hard to keep the warm flames of hope alive. But the cold, dark ground is where seeds gestate and prepare to grow again. Some seeds can only sprout after enough coldness, roughness, fire, or other disturbance.

In these times when the great disturbance of climate meltdown impacts all of us, we come together to prepare for new growth in both practical and spiritual ways.

Join us for both spiritual and practical inspiration. In ritual, we’ll find our own deep sources of renewal, and we’ll ground our hope with actual examples of projects from our students and teachers, that regenerate ecosystems and put into practice the skills of earth healing.

Admission is by donation, proceeds go to support our diversity scholarship fund. Learn more and register here: 

https://earthactivisttraining.org/seeds-of-hope-and-renewal/

Magic for Ukraine – Reclaiming Pagan Cluster

Summary of Magic for Ukraine 2.27.22

Contact the Reclaiming Pagan Cluster – click here

Our main focus is to work with the Sunflower sigil. Below that are other suggestions our group came up with that might interest you.

:: SUNFLOWER ::

~ Our Sunflower has a pentacle and spiral in the center. There are others around the world also working with the Sunflower for magical purposes to support Ukraine (both seeds and full bloom).

~ The flower sigil can be printed and placed on your altar at home, drawn onto your hand, circulated via social media, visualized throughout the day, etc.. You are also encourage to create your own!

~ Here is the image created by Shel (hand model Sharon Pink) – see end of article for larger image.

WORKING WITH THE SUNFLOWER

=> SPIRALS

~ Imagine or visualize spirals spinning out of the sunflower, like the Fibonacci frequency, fractals of spirals shining and moving through space and time.

~ Spiraling out and spiraling away the desire to conquer and for conquest.

~ You might work with a double spiral, drawing forth the power of the earth itself – remember the fertile soil of Ukraine, the breadbasket that has fed multitudes for centuries.

~ Call out to those desiring peace and an end to war everywhere, especially in Ukraine as well as those working for peace inside Russia who are putting themselves deeply at risk.

~ We call to the spiral of change – the unexpected turns of events. The unpredictable, the beneficent, El Mundo Bueno.

=> PETALS

~ See the petals and ray of the sunflowers extending outwards. This sunflower wrapping around the world. Holding it in those rays of protection.

=> ROOTS & STEM

~ Feel the roots of the sunflower going deep into the earth, expand the roots to catch all the politicians doing terrible things and bind them all who would pursue war and oppression in Ukraine and other places around the world in turmoil.

~ The virus of aggression is caught by the roots, and Putin and others are sucked up by the roots and bound up, just like lead and other heavy metals are bound into forms that can do no harm.

~ Swaddled tightly in the roots, like a baby in a blanket. Held in the stem of the sunflower. Swaddled and held and prevented from doing harm.

=> SPIDER WEB

~ Forming a web of protection over Ukraine. Visualize pentacle around the country, holding Ukraine, anchoring the web of protection and spinning off little fractal pentacles to protected all who call for justice.

~ Creating protection. Any forces – any energies that enter with malevolent intent – will spiral and spiral away. Spiraling into directions that are unexpected and unplanned for.

:: OTHER ACTS OF MAGIC & MANIFESTATION ::

=> ANCESTORS

~ Call upon the ancestors of Ukraine for help and assistance. To help the people of Ukraine with food, shelter, warmth, basic human needs, and courage.

~ Give speak with Putin so he will have a change of heart and mind

=> GODDESSES

Ukraine Mother Goddess Invocation, by Madame Pamita

I call upon the ancient Ukrainian goddess Berehynia 

I call upon the Forest Grandmother Baba Yaha 

I call upon the mother goddess Mokosh 

I call upon the mother bear who protects her cubs 

I call upon Maty Zemlya Mother Earth, mother of all 

I call upon all spirit mothers 

Peace and protection for the land of Ukraine 

Peace and protection for the people of Ukraine

=> #HEXPUTIN

~ March 2nd, 7:33 pm EST (3:33 am in Moscow), by the dark of the new moon witches around the world will #HexPutin You will need: Light blue candle, Yellow candle, Handful of sunflower seeds.

~ Follow @michaelmhughes for more details.

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Contact the Reclaiming Pagan Cluster – click here

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Last Wild Witch – Starhawk’s Ecofable on youtube!

Starhawk’s classic eco-fable for all ages – read by Georgie Craig. With surrealistic illustrations by Lindy Kehoe.

Youtube – with all of the pictures!

In the heart of the last magic forest lives the last wild witch…

Will the children of the perfect town find their inner power and let a little magic into everyone’s lives?

AIRA – Ableism-Impacted Reclaiming Alliance

Are you a Reclaiming witch? Are you disabled, differently abled, and/or neurodivergent?

Consider joining the Ableism Impacted Reclaiming Alliance (AIRA)!

We seek to increase accessibility in Reclaiming spaces for the 25% of the population who are disabled, and thus further the work of decolonisation of capitalistic values within Reclaiming.

We hope to discuss, process, heal, and try to help bring our diverse perspectives to making Reclaiming spaces more adaptive and accessible. Your input and participation are valuable whether it’s joining meetings, discussions in the online group, sharing personal stories, witnessing the stories of others, joining rituals, or simply watching it all unfold. We encourage a level of participation that works for you and your needs. 

Join the Ableism Impacted Reclaiming Alliance (AIRA) if this work calls to you! 

Visit our facebook group for more information and to get involved – click here!

*Allies, we see and appreciate you! Stay tuned for a space for allies and the larger community.*

New Anti-Racist Curriculum from Reclaiming’s DARC Group

DARC (Decolonizing Actions in Reclaiming Communities), a group of Black, Indigenous, and Mixed Race people from around Reclaiming, has created a booklet detailing a participatory workshop for local communities and camps, including readings, videos, and discussion questions.

Download the PDF here.

This is an open-hearted invitation to Reclaiming communities, covens, camps, and other groups to tackle the big issues of race, racism, anti-racism, and decolonization.

This resource outlines a participatory workshop, with readings, videos, and discussion questions throughout. If you are facilitating this workshop, please read through the entire document first, then feel free to pick and choose which items your group will focus on, based on the group’s composition, interests, level of understanding, and time. Hopefully all groups – from the 101 level on up – will find something valuable to spark discussion here.

Depending on the nature of the group, you might wish to create sacred space or use other techniques such as icebreakers, rounds, or small-group activities to build relationships and trust between community members and thus create a reflective space for listening within and without, a safe(r) space for speaking truth, a brave space for taking risks and daring to make mistakes.

Doing anti-racist work can be tricky and may require strong facilitation skills. Facilitators might want to work in pairs or teams or rotate leadership. We are hoping that members of the Reclaiming community will find ways to support each other in this work.

​Download the PDF here.

Reclaiming Cauldron – new experimental journal!

Welcome to the first and perhaps only issue of the Reclaiming Cauldron, a compendium of creativity from around Reclaiming. Folks from around our network wrote, photo- graphed, painted, and even helped proofread.

Print edition or free download – 150 pages of writings, artwork, photos, music and video links, book excerpts – and even some funny stuff!

You can download a free copy, or order a black & white ($20) or full-color ($30) print edition at WeaveAndSpin.org/cauldron

What New Orleans’ Common Ground Collective can teach us about surviving crisis together

Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina, the Common Ground Collective’s uncommon success offers lessons on how to build effective mutual aid projects today.

Many Reclaiming people took part in post-Katrina restoration – Common Ground was one of the main groups facilitating volunteers and relief efforts.

Shane Burley reports for Waging Nonviolence – click here for full story

Photo by Peter Lerrman/Wikimedia Commons

Earth Activist Training with Starhawk & Charles

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about permaculture, here’s two ways to do it—I’m teaching a full permaculture design course, together with Charles Williams and other awesome guest teachers. You can also take just the first three weeks as an intro. And there’s a link below to a free webinar I’ve recorded, to learn more about it. We have some Diversity scholarships and work trade available, too! I’d love to get some more good Witchy energy into the permaculture world – love Starhawk

Learn how to design human systems that mimic natural systems, using a minimum of energy and resources and creating real abundance and social justice. We will cover principles and ethics, reading the landscape, how to heal soil and cleanse water, design integrated systems, harvest water, drought-proof land, build soil, sequester carbon, make compost, compost tea, and biochar, bio-remediate toxins, and more. Explore the solutions to climate change, and the strategies and organizing tools that can put them into place.

A Sampling of Topics plant guilds, food forests, edible landscaping, plants, animals, natural building, design, earth, water, climate, energy, spirit, social permaculture, organizing & activism.

Permaculture Principles, Ethics and Design Process
Climate Change Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation
Water Systems, Water Harvesting, Roof Water Catchment
Greywater and Blackwater Treatment
Bioremediation
Soil Building
Compost, Compost teas, Cover crops, No-till systems
Plant Guilds and Perennials

Join Starhawk, Charles Williams and an all star cast for Earth Activist Training’s first fully online Permaculture Design Certificate Course. We have been teaching this course for 20 years and now are adapting our teaching skills to the needs of the moment. We are excited to share with our global Earth Activist friends, family, and new community!

Students who complete the course requirement receive a Permaculture Design Certificate, recognized by PINA (Permaculture Institute of North America).

LIVE CLASS: Tuesdays 6:00-8:00 PM Pacific starting July 21st. Classes will shorten to 90 minutes starting August. Registration below.

WATCH INTRODUCTION WEBINAR HERE:

REGISTRATION LINK:

earthactivisttraining.org/event/permaculture-design-course-online/

PAYMENT PLAN: In order for us to offer this option – there is an increase in our administrative costs so the payment plan option is for our $800 tuition. We are asking for a $200 down payment to reserve your spot and then $50 / month for 12 months totaling $800 by July 2021.

DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS: Earth Activist Training is committed to increasing the diversity of the global permaculture and regenerative land movements. Our goal is to provide access to our programs through scholarships for indigenous people and people of color working in environmental and food justice areas. Apply via the link below.

WORK TRADE AVAILABLE: We have transitioned our traditional in person work trade into a remote arrangement. The cost of this course increases with this option as there is additional administrative time.

We ask that you pay a 50% contribution (which is $400) and work trade for 20 hrs ($20/ hr + 30 mins communications). We are seeking remote skills such as: graphic design, video editing, grant writing, journalism, content development…

Stolen Lives – 2004 SF Vigil

Photos from a 2004 vigil outside the SF Metreon called Stolen Lives: Killed by Law Enforcement – a forerunner of Black Lives Matter. Reclaiming folks helped create a living altar.

Click here to see slide show

Stolen Lives was organized by community activists from Hunters Point neighborhoods.

Reclaiming folks including Kevyn, Bill, Starhawk, and others brought potted plants to create a living altar. You can see the Pagan Cluster circled up to the left in the shot below, and creating altars in others in the slide show.

Photos by George Franklin/Reclaiming Quarterly