~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Want to get the Firepit Update letter sent to you? Please join the Yahoo! Group: Flame's Firepit . You can choose to lurk, join in the discussions around the Firepit, or simply get a copy of the update letter (as seen below) sent directly to you. Thanks, and see you around the Firepit!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Firepit Update Letters
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
December 23, 2004
Dear friends and family;
The Yule update to the Firepit has been delayed by my own procrastination. I’ve been reluctant to make official what has become increasingly clear in the past few months. Since Samhain, the Lady has been calling me on a Journey. She’s been sending me steady and consistent messages that it’s time for me to follow Her into the unknown. It’s time for me to stretch and grow.
The word “Sabbatical” has pulsed through my meditations for weeks now. “Sabbatical” is based on the Hebrew word “Sabbath”, a day of rest. In academics, a Sabbatical is a period of time away from teaching to travel, study, and grow. It is traditionally granted every seven years. This is a remnant of the ancient Hebrew notion that every seven years, the fields should lie fallow to renew their fertility. I recently realized that it has been seven years since I was last called away on sabbatical, so it’s not surprising that I should hear that call again now.
I will be taking sabbatical from the work I do according to my vows to the Goddess. The Lady has been steadily withdrawing Her obligations from me, unburdening me for my journey. I am being asked to clear space in my life to make room for some big changes. I don’t know where She’s leading me... only that I must follow. I don’t know what She has in store for me, only that it’s important for me to once again “leap empty-handed into the void.” So as of Yule, I am heeding that call and officially going on Sabbatical from my public service to the Goddess.
Since much of my work is done online, this is the primary place where it will be noticed by most folks. I’ll be dropping away from most of the things that have been consuming my attention. This means reducing my participation in most online groups to “special notices” status and trimming down the 15 in-boxes I’m currently juggling. I’m also scaling back the writing and publishing work I’ve been doing for the past several years, and I’m going to take a step back from updating the Firepit website as well.
Since I don’t know where She’s leading me, I don’t know how long this journey will take. I expect to check in with folks now and then. In fact, I plan on drawing closer to the Firepit, although I won’t be making large updates at the Sabbats for awhile. I’ll still putter about, but I’ll often be entranced by the fire, rather than carrying the conversation. In fact, I’m hoping this group will continue to welcome new seekers to the Firepit whenever the Lady sends them here. This Firepit has drawn some amazing people, and the insights you share with one another is inspirational.
When the Lady calls me away, I drift into silence so that I may better listen. I’ll still be sitting around the fire, just sitting quietly on the edge of the circle, gazing silently outward toward the horizon.
So I offer you Yuletide greetings as I prepare to go within. I’ll be sure to check back with you all by the next Solstice in June.
Peace to you all.
~Flame
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~