My Sister Priestess in the Sacred Mists wrote a beautiful piece in her journal about the topic of Initiation.
Today, we welcomed several of our brothers and sisters into the Priest/esshood of the Sacred Mists, as they Initiated to the First Degree. I offer them the warmest of congratulations and welcome them into the Coven and the Service of the Lord and Lady with all my heart.

Naturally, this started me thinking about Initiation and what this means to me, and what this means to the larger Wiccan community.

I think that there is a need to stress the seriousness and importance of what Initiation is and what it means. It is not simply a ritual to welcome someone into a group like joining a sorority or fraternity. It isn’t just being accepted by a coven, or awknowledging the end of a period of study with a ritual. It’s not like a convocation, either. Initiation is nothing less than crossing a spiritual threshold, pulling back a veil and moving to the other side, with no ability to turn back. It is taking a Sacred Oath to the Gods and Goddesses, and to all of the Universe. It is an unending bond between you and your coven mates. It pledges loyalty to your Tradition and a serious decision to walk that Tradition with honor, joy, honesty, and sincerity.

My first Initiation was at Ostara 2002. I had been studying with a group called Circle of the Goddess (COTG) via distance for over two years. In a brave and brazen (and risky, “crazy” as some said) move, I flew alone to the United States, something I had never done before, to be Initiated by Priest/esses that I had never met in person but had studied with intently for some time. I was to stay at the home of my High Priest and Priestess (Who were also a married couple) in Santa Clara, California, somewhere I had never been.

To say that those first steps beyond the curtain to Initiation was life shattering, deeply moving, profoundly emotional and filled with joy and reverence would be understatements. I cannot and will not ever divulge the secret rites that I went through during those miraculous days, but suffice to say, I was transformed.

Time passed, the group disbanded, and I was left feeling adrift and like I had no spiritual compass anymore. I started an eclectic circle which did not last long. I tried being a solitary, but something felt missing. I even tried to go back to the Catholic Church of my youth, as I was feeling like I didn’t know who or what I was anymore.That didn’t work, and I found myself longing for more direction and for a place that I truly felt would be my spiritual home.

But part of me remembered who I was, and what I was called to. I practiced again as a solitary and searched for the right tradition. I finally found what was to be my true spiritual home one autumn some five or six years ago now; The College of the Sacred Mists.

As I have mentioned several times on this blog, the Sacred Mists is home to me like none other; from the moment I was exploring the College, I *knew* in my heart that I had found my spiritual home and family, and that I wanted to be a part of the Tradition when I was able. A year and a day followed, a time where I grew closer to the Sacred Mists family and my desire to Initiate grew stronger. I grew and flourished as a Dedicant of the Sacred Mists.

When Initiation was offered, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to be a Priestess of the Sacred Mists. When I Initiated with several of my brothers and sisters of the Mists, it was the most pivotal experience spiritually for me; I had come home, I had drawn back the veil and seen the face of the Goddess, and felt honored, blessed, and deeply joyful to be a Priestess in this beautiful tradition.

I continued my study and service to the Tradition, and am now a Third Degree Dedicant. I know that when it is offered, my Second Degree Initiation will be an experience like none other. I take my responsibilities as a Priestess of the Sacred Mists very seriously, with reverence and awe. I see this as a calling to be a teacher, leader, and mentor to others. I’m honored to be accepted by and to be a part of this beautiful tradition that is truly my spiritual home and family.

As it says in one of my favorite quotes from “The Mists of Avalon”, which the title of this blog comes from;

“How do you write of the making of a priestess? What is not obvious is secret. Those who have walked that road will know, and those who have not will never know though I should write down all the forbidden things.”

Being a Priestess is something that you become and that you are. It is not a “job” where you turn out the lights, lock the door, and head home at the end of the day. You are a Priestess 24/7. Being a Priestess becomes as much a part of you as your backbone is. You are one that serves the Gods, that teaches and is a mentor to others. Most of all, you are one that has agreed to take on every experience in life. Phyllis Curott, a well-known Wiccan High Priestess and author, says in her book “Book of Shadows” that a shaman is like a wounded healer; you can’t learn to heal others until you’ve learned to heal yourself.

To me, this says that we will go through many trials. And I have, and will, and I have the knowledge that they are all sent to craft me to Her service. In the myth of the descent of Inanna, She has to get rid of all the external trappings that are important to her: clothing, jewels, and prestige, in order to become a Queen. So must we. Our spiritual studies mirror what unfolds in our lives, and vice versa..it is all connected. That is why it is such a serious and important decision to be Initiated; we will be changed forever, and there will be many joys but also many challenges.

I know that a Priestess is what I was born to be, what I have been created for. I remember a Priest at my first Initiation said; “With every step your feet kiss the Mother Earth. Make every step count.”

I shall try, for the honor and joy of the God and Goddess, and for the Sacred Mists Tradition that I love so dearly.

The city I live in is not known for its great weather…well, unless you find freezing cold weather “great” (and trust me, I mean FREEZING). So, when summer comes, it always makes me think of those old Biblical movies where the people would take to the streets, shaking tambourines and dancing joyfully. Suddenly, people are out everywhere and seem happier…well, in general. Crime also goes up. But,the general public seems happier.

It’s truly beautiful where we live right now. Everything is green; the grass, the trees, the stems of the flowers that are blooming on shrubs and trees everywhere: lilacs, blossoms, tulips. All of nature in its’ finery. This is where I feel closest to my Goddess; sitting outside, breathing the sweet air, looking up at the green trees and the blue sky, hearing that delicious rustling noise that the wind makes when it goes through the trees, often eerily just as I am meditating, as I think the wind can be the Goddess speaking Herself. All of nature contains messages, lessons, from the Gods; we just need to stop and listen to it. I’ll admit it, I’m a city girl: I grew up a “Concrete Native” (I’m Metis, born and raised in a city, though.) and about as far from a traditional Aboriginal way of life as I could get, but the ways of my ancestors always called to me. A man that was at a sweat lodge I was at once spoke about the “blood memory people”; the Old Ones will try to call their people back to them for seven generations, and only after the seventh has passed without hearing will they be silenced.  I am a proud Metis woman, but it’s been a long climb to get here.

I find that my Aboriginal roots greatly assist me in my path of honoring the Lord and Lady; our traditional ways are similar in many respects; honoring nature, seeing Creator in all things, living in harmony with the Earth and taking our ques from Nature as to how to live the right way. I have a lot to learn about the traditional ways and how to live as a Metis; between the white world and the indian world. I’m very lucky to be married to an amazing man who also is of Ojibwe/Lakota ancestory and lives the traditional Ojibwe way. He’s taught me much. We already know that when we have kids we want them to be exposed to the Traditonal Way and the Wiccan, and when they are old enough, they can choose what path is right for them, whether it be Paganism, Traditional, Christianity, or something else entirely.

Lord and Lady have certainly blessed me in this lifetime. I realize that sometimes I get so caught up in what I don’t have, I don’t see what I do. I realized some of these simple blessings when I was sitting on the front step enjoying the weather today; God and Goddess can and will provide, and worry and pessimism don’t help. My good Priestess friend Isobeail told me once how we should remain solely in the moment: not tomorrow or yesterday…now. That is going to take a long time to master, if I ever do, but it is a good goal to strive for.

As I mentioned here earlier, I’m positively ecstatic to be a part of the Third Degree. I know that many life lessons are to come, but I honestly feel that this is my life’s calling.  I’ve started on some work for my course and are very much looking forward to more. I’m so lucky to have such a supportive, loving commnity as I do in the Sacred Mists; and such a mentor and High Priestess that Lady Raven Moonshadow is. She really is amazing. I sometimes say “I want to be like Lady Raven when I grow up!” ; meaning that I want to become an Arch High Priestess one day like she is, but also to develop my own style of High Priestessing. I’ve always felt more comforatable with being a leader than a follower, and leadership positions just seem to be given to me to do. In a group, people tend to look to me to be a leader. Maybe  it’s my personality, maybe it’s my astro sign (Leo), a bit of everything, I just know that’s how I’ve always been and I hope to develop into a stronger Priestess and Mentor for others.

Blessed Be to all of you!