APA June 2006 NEWSLETTER Hope all y’all had a magical Summer Solstice holiday! Seems too many of us pagans neglect to celebrate the Summer Solstice even though we ‘do’ Yule. Our family has for years took a yearly beach trip over the week of summer solstice. I hope everyone else considers marking the year’s longest day with the same honor we mark the longest night in December each year… So if you didn’t observe some Summer Solstice ritual this year, plan to do so in 2007! The APA as always joined in with PUC (Pagan Unity Campaign) in their summer solstice I AM A PAGAN post card mailing campaign, mailing post cards to our government officials in DC letting them know many of their voters are indeed Pagans. ------------------------------------------- FROM OUR BOOK OF SHADOWS: The Empress By Christina N. Ayers/Owlfire As every woman, You are- Mother of the World veins deep as roots, body solid as a tree spirit lifted bright, green leaves flutter upward. Dark of caves. quiet Womb, curves of flesh hold mysteries, red as Earth and mineral, blood travels the map topography of life. Sliver of moon smiles, untouched fruit on the vine, a temptress moving with unconscious abandon, innocent and guileless, reminiscent of butterflies. Awkward child, maiden-girl, swinging arms while walking by, heedless of all but sunshine, vision shielded by her arm, loping blindly up the rocky path. The Great Hush, in the pitch of night, chill of ending, Spirit’s flight leaving behind an unrequited future... Doom-time of inevitable decay, knowing, sunken into the creases of Her face, ancient Crone is not obsolete, though people refuse to see, In their bones they realize... The Empress seated, still as stone, impassive expression all alone. waiting, melancholy on Her gilded throne, waiting for ripening conception birth existence and to one day, bring all of Her children Home. --------