Gaia Grove Spring Full Moon Retreat

Gaia Grove is holding a full moon retreat in March 2017 on the Baja coast for all who wish to refresh souls, reawaken creativity, & be inspired by the healing magic of Gaia.

Come on a sacred journey for 3 mystical nights and 4 magical days on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean in a retreat designed especially for creatives seeking to grow skills and practice their craft in harmony with nature. This location abounds with tidal pools, marine geysers, secret ocean caves, and more, and is known for opening channels for inspired work and healing.

the home itself perched on the ocean cliff

sunrise & the moon over the mountains

the view of the home from La Bufadora

This weekend of nature, writing, hiking, art, song, circles, and creativity will be at the Baja Off The Grid ocean cliff retreat (www.bajaoffthegrid.com) in La Bufadora, Mexico, just a 2 hours drive south of San Diego, outside of Ensenada. The location is near local villages for food, local artisans, and emergencies, yet remote enough to have sweeping views of the horizon and the Milky Way is usually visible at night with the naked eye. The home itself is custom-designed for spiritual gatherings & retreats, has been featured in LA Yoga magazine, and is a primarily solar-powered sanctuary surrounded by hiking trails, marine life from whales to anemones, and remarkable scenery.

We live by the sun; each evening, we gather before sundown for a group circle, activity & dinner, and morning begins with breakfast & group circle, followed by a hike. Days are free to explore in your own way, journal, sing, drum, paint, yoga etc. with an optional offering class, tarot, or astrology reading. Healthy and mostly organic, vegetarian meals are included Thursday dinner through Sunday morning. There will be a lovely balance of both private and group time, which will allow for necessary insight, sharing, and reflection.

We would like to keep this group under 8; there is also ability to drive participants to the retreat to and from Los Angeles. Please email scorpfaery@gmail.com to make sure the room you are interested in and ride space is still available before booking.

Please also feel free to ask any questions you have!  There are 5 bedrooms in the house, and single rates are for those needing an entire room for just one person ($400), while double rates are for rooms shared by two people ($600 total; or $300 per person for Sun/Moon & $700 total; or $350 per person for Mars/Venus. Guests may drive themselves or have the option to be driven roundtrip from Los Angeles for $150…

https://www.facebook.com/events/212594065849115/
Reservations, rates & more details: http://bit.ly/gaiagrovemarchfullmoon

This retreat will be facilitated by Gaia Grove creatrix Amy Clarke, an award-winning singer-songwriter, pianist, percussionist, performing & teaching artist, who has also facilitated moon circles, public/private rituals, and women’s circles for over a decade. She offers workshops, classes, and private consultation in music, magic, and more, with a special focus on divination and sound healing. Amy has performed solo around the country to notable acclaim, and has shared stages with a diverse collection of inspired artists including globally known author, witch & activist Starhawk, Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls & The Courtyard Hounds at Lilith 2010, Amrita Sen, Poe, visionary painter Amanda Sage, drummer Dave Greene (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Joe Walsh, Steve Ferrone), and at such festivals and communities such as Spirit Weavers Gathering (2016), Cross Pollinate (2013-2015, Jan 2017), Reclaiming Los Angeles (2013-2016), California Witchcamp (2016), Temple of Visions, Earth:Arts Partnership, Sacred Spaces Village at Burning Man & SD Burning Man Decom, Lightning Temple, LA Burning Man Decom, The Viper Room, The Cutting Room, Busboys & Poets (Artist of the Month), SXSW, The House of Blues Sunset Strip, the International Alchemy Conference, and many more. Amy is also a community leader who has served nearby gardens, schools, and her neighborhood council in Silver Lake, and is a priestess & percussionist in the Reclaiming tradition. She is teaching Sacred Rhythms and Spiritual Activism at Spirit Weavers next June during the Moon session and is releasing more new music in 2017.

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PS    WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH OTHER ARTISTS, HEALERS, AND MORE IN 2017 – GAIAGROVE@GMAIL.COM for cocreation of retreats in May, June, September & beyond…

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RATES INCLUDE THE ENTIRE RETREAT;  FACILITATION, MEALS & LODGING.

Rates for Fri/Sat/Sun eve for Private Bedroom, ocean deck or mountain balcony:

Sun or Moon Room (Ocean View, sunset, downstairs, shared balcony) -$400 single occupancy, $600 double (shared queen bed, $300 pp)

Venus or Mars Room (Mountain/partial Ocean View, sunrise, upstairs, shared balcony)- $400 single occupancy, $700 double (shared queen bed OR  1 person each on queen bed and pull out queen trundle, $350 pp)

Possibility of 1 Work/Trade – Shared Main Room/Meal Preparation/Class – please inquire

All rooms share the three house bathrooms – one downstairs with shower for Sun/Moon and two upstairs – one with shower for Venus/Mars & one general bathroom for house.  Showers with hot water are available on limited basis during the daytime only, please 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/events/212594065849115/
Reservations, rates & more details: http://bit.ly/gaiagrovemarchfullmoon

More details on rooms & pictures found here: www.bajaoffthegrid.com

Please give yourself this sacred gift to replenish your creative wells, spark your fires of expression, and prepare to emerge transformed from a weekend communing with the earth, the ocean, the sun, the stars, and your soul. Please email gaiagrove@gmail.com with questions, to express interest, and to make initial inquiries. Non-refundable deposit checks/venmo payment etc. of $250 required to reserve a space for this weekend at the edge of the earth, where the sea meets the sky, and where magic happens…

“THERE IS NOTHING NATURE CANNOT HEAL, THE MAGIC OF GAIA IS MIGHTY AND REAL” -“Into The Mystery”, Amy Clarke (c) 2016

Link to Amy Clarke’s newest song “Goddess” on CDBaby (also on iTunes & Rhapsody) ~ (written at Baja Off The Grid last year) https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/amyclarke

www.gaiagrove.org

Spiritual & Magical Activism via Reclaiming & Starhawk!

Looking to do ☆MAGICK☆ for this weekend’s rallies & protests? Or, maybe you’re staying home but want to prepare for the new regime in DC? A group of witches & magick-makers (including Star Hawk) put together a “MAGICKAL ACTIVISM TOOLKIT for CHALLENGING TIMES”, along with 2 sigils. It’s a lengthy post, but worth reading! 
☆ MAGICKAL TOOLKIT FOR CHALLENGING TIMES ☆

:: Magickal Activism During Political, Environmental, and Social Upheaval ::

(Version 1)
Dear Reader,
This toolkit is a starting point for magickal activism in these challenging times. It is an evolving document, co-created in a consensus decision-making process by members of the Reclaiming Tradition, an international community working to unify spirit and politics. We are critical of the people and systems of oppression that create our dominant culture and aim to liberate ourselves from the colonial mindset we’ve inherited.
This toolkit will adapt to upcoming political, social, and environmental issues as they present themselves. The current version lays a foundation for the work ahead. Regardless of your years of study or experience, we recommend starting (or renewing) your protection/shielding now. Developing a relationship with the recommended deities and practicing the sigil visualization will also prepare you for the magickal work in the coming weeks, months, and years. More specific instructions (rituals, spellwork, etc.) will be forthcoming.
The magick we weave contributes to a global movement of witches, Pagans, and occultists committed to freedom and justice in all its forms. We recognize that the earth is alive as we are alive, and animism is an antidote to apathy. So, don’t forget to get outside and connect with nature – it will strengthen both your magick and activism.
We offer thanks to the Ancient Ones, the Mighty Dead of the Craft, and the descendants yet to come.
Blessed Be

January, 17, 2017
:: INTENTION ::

“Grounded in magick and activism, moving between shadow and light, we gather in community to work the deep and radical magick of resisting the destruction of all we love and support all working for justice and liberty. Rooted together, we crack through the concrete to grow and use our gifts to heal the earth and her people. May love, justice and truth prevail now.”

[Consensed 12.21.16 on Winter Solstice]
:: PROTECTION / SHIELDING ::

When doing any witchcraft, magickal, or occult work it is important to practice grounding, warding, shielding, and/or protection. This will help you maintain your balance when dealing with people and systems that use a power-over method of control (ex. white supremacists, heterosexists, patriarchal capitalism, etc.). This includes the miasma created by news reports and social media ‘memes’ that highlight political figures and the shocking decay of our society and government.
Shielding can protect you from generating fear inside yourself, feeding the instigators of the fear, and undermining your magick. It can also help you avoid a rebounding effect or attack from within when your emotions get stirred up.
Protections can include the Tree of Life grounding, Blue Feri Fire meditation, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, Iron & or Pearl Pentacle, cleansing your aura/energy body, and casting a circle while visualizing pentagrams, roses, or protective symbols surrounding you. An Internet search will provide descriptions and instructions for these exercises, and here are guided meditations for grounding and shielding that you can try: http://www.sacredplanthealing.com/resources/practices/
:: WORKING WITH DEITIES ::

Although you may already work with Gods, Goddesses, guides or spiritual allies, please consider cultivating a relationship with:
:: LADY LIBERTY ::

Lady Liberty stands above New York Harbor and welcomes all, especially in all our diversity, proclaiming: ‘We are all in this together’. She is a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of Freedom worshipped widely in ancient Rome, especially among emancipated slaves. She holds a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. She teaches us about the complexities of the world-changing work we do to create a just, sustainable planet.
Lady Liberty is a powerful ally to work with. Her energy will feed your work and spread life-affirming magic in the world. Her large, colossal energy is way beyond our ability to hold or contain, although you might be able to induce that energy in yourself or a group. Invoke Lady Liberty’s energy to flow via the 7 rays of her diadem or crown which form a halo or aureole. The 7 rays evoke the sun, the seven seas, and the seven continents, representing another means, besides the torch, whereby Liberty enlightens the world. Imagine her holding a torch surrounded by a lantern of mirrors directing the light of the flame like a lighthouse, revealing truth and igniting passion and determination in all who work for freedom, justice, and liberty for all.
Statue of Liberty Images and References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_(goddess)

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/307

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty
::HERMES ::

Hermes (Roman name: Mercury) is the Greek messenger of the Gods, communications, travel, cunning, luck, eloquence, and athleticism. A guide of souls to the Underworld, Hermes is also the consummate magic wielder and… a trickster. Hermes is a powerful ally to work with when you need technology and telecommunications to bend to your will and when you need the way to be open. Invoke Hermes when you need to effectively and powerfully communicate, when you need to deeply listen and speak, and when you need to perceive or ascertain the truth.
Considered a friendly God by the Greeks, call on Hermes (“Hail Hermes!”) when you need a friend, some good luck, or a dose of wit and cleverness. With wings on his shoes and a wide-brimmed hat, Hermes holds the Caduceus in his hand (rod with two snakes intertwining). Cultivate his qualities of courage, dedication, humor, and wisdom when you desire transformation or to turn things upside down.
Hermes Images and References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes

http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hermes.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/hermes-god-of-geeks_b_59093…
:: VISUALIZATION / JOURNEY WORK / TRANCE ::

Here are some ways to connect with Lady Liberty:
+ Create an altar to Lady Liberty that includes her picture, statue, offerings, etc.

In a meditation space, imagine yourself in a safe, natural environment or Place of

Power. As you explore the space, notice a path leading away, and follow it in search

of the sigil (see below). Follow the sigil until it takes you to Lady Liberty.

+ At her Torch, ground, breathe, and open yourself. Fill your energetic body with

Earth energy. Allow your field to be wider and wider, taller and taller. Feel it blossom

into a crown at your head. Fill up yourself with Lady Liberty’s healing, bright light.

+ You can also ask for Lady Liberty’s assistance to see the world you want to create

(near term or more distant). What does it look like? Who is there, what are they

doing? What grows there, etc.? With that image in mind, who do you need to be in

this new world? What action(s) will you take to manifest this state of being and

vision?
Here are some ways to connect with Hermes:
+ Hermes’ element is Air, so any work with this element can be an invocation to/of

Hermes

+ Create an altar to Hermes that includes his picture, statue, offerings, etc.

+ Include the astrological symbol for Mercury and visualize it daily to connect with

him

+ Repeat the mantra “Io Herm, Io Herm, Io Herm, Io Herm” in groupings of four

(Herme’s number) [pronounced “ee-oh herm”]

+ Read aloud The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus: The Invocations used in the

Eleusinian Mysteries, by Thomas Taylor (page 36): http://bit.ly/2iFJ8ft
:: VISUALIZATION TIPS ::

If you do not feel comfortable doing trance visualization on your own, try pre-recording it yourself for listening while in meditation, or use a Shamanic journeying drumbeat while you visualize/trance with Lady Liberty. Here are some resources:
+ “Journey to the Heart of the World” with Sandra Ingerman (brief intro to Shamanic

journeying, 8 min drum beat): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQDK9pLC1Zk

+ Michael Harner: Shamanic Journey – 15 minutes solo drumming:

:: SIGIL ::

A sigil is a symbol that has magickal power. Our sigil for Lady Liberty and all she represents has the open book or tablet (tabula ansata) with the light of truth shining brightly from its pages, illuminating her 7-rayed diadem, or crown.
How to use it:

+ When you meditate, focus on the sigil to strengthen your connection to Lady Liberty. You can also look for the sigil when you are doing trance work or journey work and see where it takes you.

+ It can be scribbled quickly in a magickal working or spell and also on sidewalks.

+ Share the sigil on social media and make your own stickers, stencils, t-shirts, etc. Here are some DIY and merchandise resources; we have provided two versions of the sigil for you to work with:
Instructables (DIY stencil)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-stencil/…
Cafe Press (t-shirts, etc.)

http://www.cafepress.com/make/design-your-own
Zazzle, etc. (stickers)

http://www.zazzle.com/custom/stickers
::ELEMENTAL WORK ~ WATER ::

+ Mindfully move water through you to help you ground. Drink magickally charged

rose water or rose tea to allow truth and justice flow through you. It’s okay to “be

pissed” not passive.

+ In solidarity with the Water Protectors at Standing Rock, breath into the meditation

that water is life (and remember that Lady Liberty is surrounded by water).
:: BUILDING EMOTIONAL MUSCLE ::

+ Build your capacity for emotional muscle during these challenging times. Allow

yourself to be present to the anguish, grief and emotional pain you’re experiencing

and also practice holding onto the beauty of our world.

+ To get through grief, stress, and hard times, try tuning into the five senses on a

daily basis. Notice a beautiful smell, sight, sound, touch, and taste.
:: MAGICKAL TIPS FOR STREET PROTESTS ::

+ Practice shrinking your aura or using an invisibility spell to make yourself less

noticeable. Try the Instant Mashed Potato ~ Invisibility Spell originated by Sequoia

Greenfield: at every potluck, a bland bowl of instant mashed potatoes sits on the

table, which everyone ignores or doesn’t see. Be that bowl of invisible, instant

mashed potatoes.

+Practice your Jedi mind tricks: “These are not the droids you’re looking for”

+ Stay hydrated. Always carry water and make sure it’s magickally charged. Wear a

water back pack under your clothing and if you carry a thermos, ginger tea is a good

choice for cold weather.

+Howl like a wolf to reduce effects of LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) sound

sonic weapons, a means of crowd control. More at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Long_Range_Acoustic_Device
:: SUGGESTED READINGS / RESOURCES ::

+ The Spiral Dance, by Starhawk: http://amzn.to/2juIVA4

+ The Magical Battle of Britain, by Dion Fortune, edited by Gareth Knight: http:/

amzn.to/2juTenF

+ Beautiful Trouble, assembled by Andrew Boyd with Dave Oswald Mitchell http:/

beautifultrouble.org/

+ Structure of a Ritual by Vibra Willow: standard ritual structure for those unfamiliar

with Reclaiming-style magick: http://www.reclaiming.org/about/witchfaq/ritual

structure.html

+ Pagan Anarchism, by Christopher Scott Thompson: http://bit.ly/2iNaxz7

+ Don’t Think of an Elephant, by George Lakoff: http://bit.ly/2cp1JgF

+ Chakra & Aura Healing: http://walterzeichner.com/NCY.html

+ Supporting Standing Rock and Confronting What It Means Living On Stolen Land,

an article by Berkley Carmine and Liza Minno, confronting the fundamental questions

of what it means to live on stolen land and how to transform colonial relations in a

way that creates a viable and just future for all communities and the planet: http:

bit.ly/2jlZGLo
:: WEBSITES ::

http://www.reclaiming.org/

Regenerative Culture, Earth-based Spirituality, and Permaculture

http://www.pagancluster.org

https://godsandradicals.org/

https://www.storybasedstrategy.org/
ABOUT THE RECLAIMING TRADITION

Reclaiming’s vision is rooted in the religion and magic of the Goddess, the Immanent Life Force. We see our work as teaching and making magic: the art of empowering ourselves and each other. We use the skills we learn to deepen our strength, both as individuals and as community, to voice our concerns about the world in which we live, and to bring to birth a vision of a new culture.

Www.reclaiming.org

2017 Music, Magic & more… Full Moon Percussion Circles, Spirit Weavers, Women’s March, Cross Pollinate, Baja Nature Retreats

Happy Friday the 13th, as we emerge from the gentle, mystical, watery waves of the Cancerian moon – the first full moon of 2017 – into the dynamic and playful energy of the Moon in Leo…

Gaia Grove Full Moon Music percussion circles in 2017!
After a magical first circle of #fullmoonmusic 1/11, we will have another gathering in February (& more popups around LA) ! Feb location/date TBA will be announced by Lunar New Year/New Moon at month end. Year of the Red Female Fire Chicken (aka Phoenix) approaches!

We gather at the full moon for a timeless tradition ~ drumming ~ to connect with universal cycles and the heartbeat of Gaia. We honor the Mother with music, magic, and the medicine of sacred percussion, cocreating divine rhythms and weaving a healing sonic song spell with our voices, hands, hearts, and souls. For all levels of experience. Everyone has a heartbeat, everyone is a rhythmmaker. Feb location TBA. Suggested donation $10-$20 for energy exchange; though no one is turned away for lack of funds. Please bring your own drum/percussion instrument, although some may be available for use if reserved in advance. Please indicate when you email RSVP (to gaiagrove@gmail.com) if you will need a drum or have one. We have a wide variety of percussion instruments aside from drums to choose from as well.

Spirit Weavers Gathering – TICKETS ON SALE 10AMPST tomorrow and WILL SELL OUT
I am honored to be teaching at Spirit Weavers Gathering for women and girls this summer, taking place at either Lake Concow in Northern California or in Southern Oregon, location is finalizing. I will be leading workshops at the Moon Session this year, and was accepted to teach Sacred Rhythms Percussion Workshop & Spiritual Activism! http://www.spiritweaversgathering.com/weavers-moon/  The tickets sold out in hours last year, so if you wish to attend, please be be ready to register first thing tomorrow am. http://www.spiritweaversgathering.com/register/

Spirit Weavers Gathering is a five day celebration of cultures past,  a remembering and practicing of basic human skills to ensure the survival of the body and the soul. Fermenting foods, weaving, dying fabrics, creating ceremony, sharing meals at night and dreams in the morning, drinking tea, and making plant medicines- singing songs, together as a community- these were the common knowledge ways and part of the simple pleasures of a life lived in balance and harmony with nature. Let us gather together as Women and share our skills in remembrance of the beauty path and an honoring of our Ancestors. http://www.spiritweaversgathering.com/about/

 

Women’s March in Los Angeles – Sat Jan 21, 2017

My daughter Ella Mira and I will be marching in the Women’s March Los Angeles in solidarity with the huge DC March and sister marches around the country. Who will join us?  We are meeting in Pershing Square at 8:30AM somewhere near Planned Parenthood to form a rhythm section with drums, instruments, voices, chants and more – email/text to link up and expand the sonic waves…
https://www.facebook.com/events/1141087212675446/ Gaia Grove Percussion Meetup
https://www.facebook.com/events/1211228062281167/  Women’s March

www.womensmarchla.org

 

Cross Pollinate Women’s Leadership & Networking Event in LA – Sun Jan 22, 2017

Cross Pollinate is an opportunity for Los Angeles women to connect with one another in a supportive environment to share ideas, resources, and projects. In light of our political climate we feel it’s imperative that we gather and create solutions. Our theme this will be political and social justice. We will have dynamic women in the environmental and social justice fields leading us in dicussion that will move beyond our circle, make ripples that will turn into waves of profound action! https://www.facebook.com/events/386437141709596/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cross-pollinate-los-angeles-womens-networking-leadership-tickets-29769348924

Get tickets:  http://bit.ly/women-gather2017  PROCEEDS GO TO STANDING ROCK

Creative, Spiritual, Nature Retreats in Baja, MX
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPEYLVMBFaO/?taken-by=scorpfaery
So grateful for the #magic, #inspiration and #healing of #Gaia – here looking out from the front of the beautiful @bajaoffthegrid over the Pacific #ocean and the coastline of #Mexico – thrilled to be leading #spiritual and #creative #retreats here in #2017 for #artists, #musicians, #healers, #shamans, and all who need recharging and replenishing of their #sacred wells… #fullmoon retreat being planned now for March along with other events for May, June & September, other events shaping up with #urbancoven and #reclaiming – please reach out to discuss ideas and possibilities if you have something you would like to put together as a retreat or getaway 🙂
https://gaiagrove.wordpress.com/2017/01/11/gaia-grove-full-moon-retreat/

www.bajaoffthegrid.com

GODDESS SONG
“rising awakening opening eyes / calling my sisters it’s time to arise”
Have you heard #GODDESS yet? Streaming through end of January, then only available for purchase from iTunes, Amazon, etc. #MAATmusic #ScorpFaery #GaiaGrove

https://soundcloud.com/amyclarke/goddess
*~ )O( ~*

~ “love is the way” ~

www.amyclarke.com

instagram.com/scorpfaery

Drumming for Justice at the Women’s March LA

For all interested in meeting up in advance of the Women’s March Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan 21, 2017 to co-create and grow a rhythm section during the march, please bring drums, instruments, rhythm makers, voices, songs, chants, and more and plan to be in Pershing Square by 8:30AM. More details to come next week.

Amy Clarke and other Gaia Grove collaborators will be there with several drums, sharing songs and chants, and welcomes collaboration with all.

www.womensmarchla.org  OUR MISSION We stand together in solidarity for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families — recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country. In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us. We support the advocacy and resistance movements that reflect our multiple and intersecting identities. We call on all defenders of human rights to join us. This march is the first step towards unifying our communities, grounded in new relationships, to create change from the grassroots level up. We work peacefully while recognizing there is no true peace without justice and equity for all. HEAR OUR VOICE.”

Happy 2016! Love from Gaia…

Wishing all a peaceful, inspiring, creative, magical and fulfilling 2016.

If January has seemed like a slow start to the year, take comfort in the fact that Mercury has been in retrograde nearly the whole month (stationing direct on Jan 25), that some key themes for January 2016 have related to rebalancing, recalibrating, reflecting and RESET (Lena Stevens/Power Path), and, have always found that the new year REALLY kicks into high gear with the magical spark of Imbolc (traditional: Feb 2, actual cross quarter for 2016: Feb 4) and the New Moon/Lunar Imbolc on Feb 8, 2016 (Chinese New Year of the Red/Fire Monkey – remember, the Chinese astrological calendar doesn’t even start until then!)

So make the most of the illumination and insight the Leo Full Moon brings this weekend (Jan 23-24), pay attention to what is revealed, especially in relation to how and what you create in the world (hint: focus more on authentic expression than dramatic attention), then prepare to release whatever is no longer serving your highest purpose, vision, and self after this full moon and get ready for a refined seed vision to emerge in your mind’s eye in the next few weeks.  Make sure to “enchant the earth” ~ literally and metaphorically if possible ~ so that your foundation for the year is clean, fertile, and primed for new planting, and also nurture your seed vision with love and care over the next few weeks in preparation for spring equinox/activation.  There is still time to refocus intentions for the year ahead…

P.S. Don’t forget to take a morning in the next few weeks to awake before dawn and check out the stellar lineup of planets visible on the eastern horizon to the naked eye!

Here, I am re-dedicating myself to my lifelong musical endeavors, not only with my long-unfinished album still tugging at my wings, but an entire new project now bubbling into being and captivating my curiosity… excited to see what else comes forth from the void…

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A post shared by Amy Clarke (@scorpfaery)

Personally, some of the greatest motivations for me this winter have been reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s BIG MAGIC (check out her Big Magic Guide here with some great exercises for you to do right away!), Heatherash Amara’s Warrior Goddess Training: Become The Woman You Are Meant To Be, the unfortunate passing of many musical icons (especially David Bowie, triggering deep reflection on mortality, magic, and creativity via Blackstar), and numerous long walks in nature, taking time to listen to the wisdom of Gaia.  After much purging/release at Samhain, and a contemplative, transitional Winter Solstice, insights and breakthroughs have been coming like lightning flashes of divine inspiration!

Finally, Gaia Grove is holding space for a creative open house/retreat for artists, musicians, creatives, witches, healers, shamans, and all others who wish to recharge and be inspired by the beauty and healing power of Gaia Feb 11-15, 2016 at the AMAZING Baja Off The Grid home (www.bajaoffthegrid.com), perched high on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, just a 2 hours drive south of San Diego in La Bufadora, near Ensenada, Mexico. Make a date with your Muse, and spend this weekend communing with nature, the unknown, and your creative spirit. Very limited space; please email gaiagrove@gmail.com to express interest, inquire about rates, and hold space. More details forthcoming, but announcing before full moon as if you are without a current passport, LA based folks can get an expedited one via an appointment with the Federal Passport Agency in West LA if you feel called to visit this magical place 🙂

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A post shared by Gaia Grove (@gaiagrove)

 

With Love, Music, Magic, & MUCH Inspiration :),

Gaia Grove founder & Creatrix,

Amy Clarke

www.amyclarke.com

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Soulful songstress Amy Clarke crafts powerful vocal & piano-driven music with lyrical depth, consciousness, and *magic*. Skillfully blending classical training with modern influences, she is a dynamic and compelling stage presence – whether solo acoustic, experimenting live with guest artists, or mixing effects on her synth keyboard. Her own label MAAT Music references the Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, and balance.

“beautiful, magical, original” – Mary Ishimoto Morris, The Washington Post

“full of dark, quirky and experimental sounds and complex lyrics” – Pete Harris, Indie Sounds NY

“a gifted musician with a lovely voice” – The Eclectic Collection: A Celebration of Women in Music

ARTISTRY
As a creatrix, oracle reader, and priestess of the moon, Amy brews music, healing arts, ceremony, & nature into a promising and potent alchemical blend.  While primarily a solo artist, Amy enjoys experimenting with other musicians and artists, at times producing  unique concerts and events to benefit sustainable non-profits and local organizations with her evolving collective GAIA GROVE (www.gaiagrove.org). Amy has opened for and shared stages with a diverse & inspirational collection of artists and projects including Starhawk, Poe, Amanda Sage, Occupy Love, Dave Greene (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Joe Walsh, Steve Ferrone Band), La Palabra, played an impromptu set at Lilith 2010 in Irvine, CA in the Yamaha tent, and was appointed the Nettwerk Social Media Ambassador by CEO Terry McBride for the penultimate Lilith concert in her hometown Washington, DC.

Inspired by many muses, Amy has interviewed Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, the Indigo Girls, and more in person on creativity, songwriting, and touring, and she has shared her own music and taught workshops on creativity, sound healing, astrology/tarot and more from major festivals (Sacred Spaces Village, Burning Man, SXSW, etc) to local collectives, schools and community gardens (primarily Micheltorena Garden in Silver Lake, Los Angeles). Amy is also a Priestess with Reclaiming, has been published in the Reclaiming Quarterly, has shared her work at the International Alchemy Conference.

DISCOGRAPHY
Since independently producing and releasing her debut After The Fall EP mostly from her laptop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2006, Amy’s music has been featured on national, cable & internet TV; FM Radio, internet radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, she has been interviewed on TV & radio and local press, and performed in countless high-profile gigs in both top NY/LA/DC venues (see below) & on festival circuit (SXSW, Burning Man (twice), LA Burning Man Decom (3 times), San Diego Burning Man Decom, South Park Music Festival, Temple of Visions, Cross Pollinate, & Sacred Spaces, to name a few). Amy earned a Certificate in Electronic Music Production from SAE-NY in 2005, and has also received 5 ASCAP Plus awards for songwriting.

Amy released the single “MARY (her story)” in 2009 as a preview from her future album, and followed that up with the Winter Solstice 2012 release of “We Are The Web”. She now plans to release her full album in 2016, along with another new project.

PERFORMANCE
In New York City, Amy has performed at The Cutting Room, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Pianos, Rose Live Music, CBGB’s 313 Gallery, Marion’s on the Bowery, Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction, Caffe Vivaldi, The Triad, The Duplex, P.S. 122, M Shanghai Den (Williamsburg residency), BAP (Bushwick Art Project), Hope Lounge, and in events for Tree People, Direct Relief, Theatres Against War International, Planned Parenthood & Habitat for Humanity International. Amy has also starred Off-Broadway and been featured and interviewed on television, Sirius Satellite Radio, and cable. In Washington, DC, she has performed at the Studio Theatre, Georgetown University, Catholic University, The National Theatre, and from the indie underground scene of the Black Cat and The Red & The Black all the way to The White House. Amy has been selected as Artist of the Month at Busboys & Poets U St and was featured at All Souls Unitarian Church, 16th St, DC. In Los Angeles, CA she has performed at The Viper Room, Hotel Cafe, The House of Blues, Temple of Visions, The Big Art Church, LA Burning Man Decompression Festival, Playhouse, King King, The Silver Lake Picture Show, Sunset Triangle Plaza, Los Globos, Genghis Cohen, El Cid, The Derby, Tangier, The Verity Room, MethodFest Film Festival, Burbank International Film Festival, Los Angeles Convention Center, LA State Historical Park, and has opened for Starhawk three times at Fais Do Do.

Amy is grateful for the loving support of many wonderful friends, family, and community members. “Love is the way” ~

http://www.amyclarke.com/

http://www.youtube.com/scorpfaery
http://www.myspace.com/amyclarke

http://www.reverbnation.com/amyclarke
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AmyClarkeMusic
http://www.twitter.com/amyclarke
http://www.instagram.com/scorpfaery

www.gaiagrove.org

 

Magical Events in October

THU OCT 22 ~ Last Thurs Night Summer Potluck in Micheltorena Garden! 7PM

bring fun finger foods, something delicious to bake in the oven & a good friend 🙂

* we hear this potluck may have some special guests ~ please also bring musical instruments & cheer!

_____________________________________________

SAT OCT 24 ~ Native Wildflower Seed-Bomb Making event in Micheltorena Elementary Garden in Silver Lake 10AM

with a talk by Theodore Payne on Native Plants at NOON

https://www.facebook.com/events/898112620272607/permalink/904295349654334/

_____________________________________________

SAT OCT 24 ~ Starhawk in town for “Stories For The New Era” workshop & Spiral Dance Ritual with Reclaiming LA 2PM-9PM at Fais Do Do in West LA.  “Hard to believe it’s that time of year already–when the veil is thin between the worlds, and we honor the ancestors! Come join us…” https://www.facebook.com/events/1615716085353150/  Grateful for Gaia Grove to share the opening music ~ 2PM Sat Oct 24 at Fais Do Do featuring Amy Clarke, Rene Collins, Devon Rachelle & more, then Starhawk workshop at 2:30PM … get tix in advance! http://bit.ly/1K6vh7K 

BRING BACK THE GODDESS ~ #GODDESS BANNED on INSTAGRAM

There are so many wonderful articles and blogs on the recent Instagram ban of #Goddess I have compiled many of them here. Thanks to LA MOTHER for doing the art campaign in May to reclaim derogatory language that led to me choosing the hashtag #goddess so the picture above was taken, as it was featured in the Daily Dot blog and is getting traction and awareness on Instagram at present. Sign the petition at Change.org. Spread the word.

In HER name, Amy Clarke

“not without my consent / not without my amen” – Not Your Landscape, http://www.amyclarke.com

http://www.gaiagrove.org

#BRINGBACKTHEGODDESS #BRINGBACKGODDESS

<<The use of hashtags on Instagram has become a new way for social media lovers to gather and search for information. Most of these popular hashtags seem harmless, but there are a few that are problematic. To make sure the app is being used in a safe way, controversial tags are blocked or given a “Content Advisory” warning message. While it’s clear why certain questionable hashtags would be suspended, we were incredibly confused when earlier this month the app decided to ban the body positive hashtag #curvy. Instagram users were not happy with the eliminated hashtag and fought back by using #curvee, #stillcurvy, and #bringbackcurvy instead. Eventually Instagram came to realize that the hashtag was being used to celebrate the female body and lifted the ban.

Unfortunately, Instagram decided to surprise us once again. The photo sharing app decided to ban the hashtag  #goddess. Meanwhile, #god remains securely intact.

The common thread in each of these hashtag removals is that all of them are directed towards women.

(via Refinery29)>>  http://www.refinery29.com/2015/07/91400/why-is-the-hashtag-goddess-banned-on-instagram

GREAT ARTICLE at THE WILD HUNT: http://wildhunt.org/2015/07/instagram-bans-goddess.html

While there are those that do acknowledge that Instagram’s attempts are noble, there is still incongruity in its efforts. Linda Steiner, PhD, a University of Maryland, College Park media studies professor, told ThinkProgress, “I’m impressed with the attempts of Instagram, Reddit, and Twitter to try to come to grips with the problem rather than ignoring it altogether.” However, she goes on to say that the enforcement and methodologies used are inconsistent and problematic. Steiner said:

Instagram’s policy is not only weirdly enforced, I think they’re trying to have a simple policy that makes it easy for them …. Women are really bothered by the predatory invasion of their bodies … That includes posts of their body parts without their permission and the banning their own images because they don’t conform to an ideal physique.

As Steiner suggests, many of these bans, and related deleted photos, directly involve the display of female bodies and women’s sexuality. And, that has been the crux of the problem. While Instagram is trying to protect women and curb violations against women’s bodies, it is also censoring women and their positive expressions of female sexuality, spirituality, agency and body-positive imagery.

– See more at: http://wildhunt.org/2015/07/instagram-bans-goddess.html#sthash.HTEfGibc.dpuf

SIGN THE PETITION AT CHANGE.ORG:

https://www.change.org/p/instagram-bring-back-goddess-2b836966-7c20-41c4-bd60-0bc7c1bddf25

MORE MEDIA LINKS:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-gutierrez/my-angry-letter-to-instag_b_7889564.html

http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/instagram-goddess-tag-banned/

http://www.nylon.com/articles/instagram-bans-the-hashtag-goddess

http://www.themarysue.com/instagram-goddess-hashtag-banned/

http://www.seventeen.com/life/tech-social-media/news/a32701/why-did-instagram-ban-goddess/

#‎bringbackthegoddess‬ ‪#‎goddess‬ ‪#‎autonomy‬ ‪#‎divinefeminine‬ ‪#‎fullmoon‬ #goddesses #bringbackgoddess #wearetheweb

Summer Solstice “Welcome The Sun” Concert 2015, Silver Lake (part of Make Music LA)

Summer Solstice morning concert “Welcome The Sun” ~ Make Music Silver Lake (part of Make Music LA) June 21, 2015

Photo blog below ~ huge thanks to Kamini Natarajan, Saheb Singh, Amy Clarke, Ian McCulloch of Stonefeather, Renee Dawson, Ella Mira & Shivali, Ralph (on Djembe), Brit Rodriguez, the Lollipop Girls, Mooney Starr, Joyeur, Alan Ishii, Miguel Elliott of Living Earth Structures on percussion, Chris Cooley & Dave Alvarado of Mefisto, all of the musicians who joined us to co-create music, all of the neighbors who came to listen, Julie & Mornings & Nights Cafe for the electricity, Karina Andrade & Stephanie Andrade for extra photos and support, Pine & Crane, Yummy.com, Sunset Triangle Plaza, Genelle LeVin, Mark Hummer & the Silver Lake Improvement Association, Jeff Wayne, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, Gaia Grove, Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, Dorsay Dujon of Make Music LA, everyone who helped make the Plaza a reality & our beloved street piano Georgia, still rocking the plaza a year and a day after she was delivered here last year for the 2014 Make Music Silver Lake concert!

More pics & video coming soon.  Stay tuned…  instagram.com/gaiagrove  twitter.com/gaiagrove

Sunset Triangle Plaza (aka Polka Dot Plaza) at sunrise on Summer Solstice morning, ready for the concert…

Kamini Natarajan & Saheb Singh opening the concert with beautiful classical kirtan ~

local Ralph on percussion joining Kamini & Saheb, while Ella Mira & Shivali ring the bells for the sun

Amy Clarke on vocals, piano, keyboards & percussion (Gaia Grove) with Ian McCulloch (Stonefeather)

sultry ukelele diva Brit Rodriguez joins the mix as musicians all play together in lovely collaboration

new friends Ella Mira & Shivali enjoying the music

the amazing Renee Dawson singing soulful, jazzy standards & bluesy originals

simply sweet summer songs of The Lollipop Girls, local Mooney Starr on guitar

more local magic from power pop Silver Lake band Joyeur

Motion of the Ocean ~ Ian McCulloch of Stonefeather solo, later joined by Amy Clarke & Miguel Elliott on drums

eclectic Alan Ishii rocking the loop pedal and later the piano too

Silver Lake locals David Alvarado & Chris Cooley of Mefisto making a hot day COOL

after the joyous co-creation and celebration of the day in community, Amy plays solo acoustic in the sun

THANK YOU TO ALL for making it happen.  Special Silver Lake Gaia Grove house concert/garden party coming soon … get on the list to make sure you get the invite – send email to gaiagrove@gmail.com, subject line: MUSIC

More pics & video coming soon.  Stay tuned…  instagram.com/gaiagrove  twitter.com/gaiagrove

Summer Solstice in Silver Lake

Greetings friends, neighbors, & family,

We are warming up for the Summer ~ some great community events in Silver Lake this weekend!

Saturday 6/20 at Micheltorena Community Garden is our Barrel Cob Oven Build!
https://www.facebook.com/events/598692343606003/
A full day of mud, food and fun! We’ll have a potluck lunch and be led by Sir Cobalot (Miguel Elliott) to construct the wonderful new addition to our community garden, & we already have over 200 cob bricks made from a few weeks ago ready to build 🙂 Bread, pizza and pies made with delicious garden herbs, greens & vegetables all summer long!

Micheltorena Garden, Sunset & Micheltorena, 10am-5pm, FREE
please bring clothes that can get muddy and potluck food to add to the fun

and Sunday 6/21 in Sunset Triangle Plaza is the 3rd Annual Make Music Silver Lake free concert (part of Make Music LA & global festival Fete De La Musique)!

 

The concert will be in the morning this year, to welcome Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and to kick off the all-day festival Make Music Los Angeles! (Part of global festival Fete De La Musique) ~ exact moment of Solstice is actually around 9:30AM this Sunday morning!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1443218525994308/

www.makemusicla.org

Morning concert begins at 9AM in the Plaza with classical music/vocals, instrumental music, and soundscapes welcoming both the sun and the musical day, with piano, harp, tabla, violin, frame drum, guitar, other percussion, and a variety of eclectic musicians coming together to collaborate, including Indian classical vocalist Kamini Natarajan, world singer/pianist/percussionist Amy Clarke, improvised musical co-creation via Gaia Grove, soulful blues songwriter Renee Dawson, funk/rock/soul band Ian Thomas McCulloch & Dave Rundell (Stonefeather), ukelele diva Brit Rodriguez, power pop band Joyeur, singer-guitarist Mooney Starr, eclectic vocal loop-pedaling of Alan Ishii, and other special guest artists all joining us around the piano & congas in the Plaza.  At Noon, when the morning concert concludes, the Bijan Taghavi Jazz Trio will play an extended set until 2pm…

Sunset Triangle Plaza, Sunset Blvd & Griffith Park Blvd
at piano in front of Mornings Nights & Pine & Crane, 9am-2pm, FREE
please bring instruments if you have them & blankets to spread out in the Plaza picnic style…Thanks to Sunset Triangle Plaza, Genelle Le Vin & the Silver Lake Improvement Association, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts & Culture Committee, Make Music Los Angeles, Gaia Grove, Fête de la Musique, yummy.com, Pine & Crane, Mornings Nights, Nina Sorkin & more!

www.gaiagrove.org
www.makemusicla.org
www.silverlakenc.org

See you soon in Silver Lake, and remember ~ next Thurs 6/25 is the kickoff of The Silver Lake Picture show in the Plaza (running biweekly through the summer) and also the Thurs night Micheltorena Community Garden Potluck! (every Thursday night – including tonight…)

LOVE,

Amy

www.amyclarke.com

www.gaiagrove.org

www.reverbnation.com/amyclarke

https://facebook.com/amyclarkemusic

twitter:  @amyclarke @scorpfaery @gaiagrove

instagram: @scorpfaery & @gaiagrove

New Moon in Taurus, Mercury Retrograde in Gemini ~ Reclaiming the Divine Feminine & More

Hello bright stars!

Earthy, sensual New Moon in Taurus today, conjunct fixed star Algol, & Mercury stations retrograde to transit Gemini through June… https://instagram.com/p/20xtXkq0ky/

Plant seeds of intention today/tomorrow to grow into bloom by the full moon (short term) and over next 6 months (long term)…since it is also Mercury retrograde, though, REflect upon & REview your words carefully…they have power!  Mercury retrograde is a great time to go back & do something you wanted to do before (or from your past) and also anything beginning with “RE” ~ REnew, REhearse, REvisit, REconnect,REdesign & more…especially in friendships, communications, all things ruled by Gemini….also, REthink the myth of Medusa, the snake goddess (start here: http://www.covenofthegoddess.com/goddessmedusa.htm) and REconsider what you may fear both in sexuality and in your temple, as this new moon is REvealing new ways to think about this classic maligned Goddess, rising feminine kundalini wisdom, sacred sexuality and more…(Algol is located in constellation Perseus, in the center of Medusa’s forehead, and could also be considered a third eye, or intuitive knowledge, cut off by the patriarchy)

Medusa (Dark Moon, Crone, Snake Goddess) was one of three Goddesses divine to the Libyan Amazons known, along with Athena (New Moon, Virgin, Warrior Maiden) and Metis (Full Moon, Mother, Sea Goddess), and in ancient Libyan myths, this Triple Lunar Goddess rose from the water as Anatha.

“Serpent-haired Medusa ruled over the regenerative mysteries of sex and death, and protected these magical rites from being discovered and abused by the uninitiated. As the third, crone/destroyer aspect of the lunar triad, Medusa’s message was one of wisdom, and it concerned the inevitability of death. AS an Ocean Goddess of the West She guarded the gateway of death and granted safe passing to all souls entering the oceanic entrance to the underworld.”

Guiding a exploratory workshop on these above topics and more next Sun May 31 at the beautiful Giving Garden in Santa Monica, 11am-1pm, $22 donation, with more details at flier below & at FB invite: http://on.fb.me/1SfhUtR 🙂

In the meantime, save the date for LAMother Exhibition Preview (REscheduled) next Saturday May 30 in Hollywood!  This is the source of my current FB profile photo with hashtag #Goddess ~ and is all about women REclaiming words in powerful ways…together, let’s REspect, inspire, empower & celebrate women all around the globe! — at LA MOTHER.

SAT MAY 30 – LAMother Exhibition Preview in Hollywood
See LA Mother for the First Time at the Exhibition Preview of #notadirtyword
https://www.facebook.com/events/1718273488399754/

Also coming soon!

SUN JUN 7 – Cross Pollinate 5 in West LA
Inspiring Women Leadership/Networking/Connection event at Fais Do Do 1-5PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/447723228729372/

SAT JUN 20 – Summer Solstice Ritual with Reclaiming LA in North Hollywood 7:30PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/1603308046576148/

Will be drumming at this event at the fabulous Green Man Store in NoHo…

 

SUN JUN 21 – Make Music Los Angeles/Fete De La Musique

Special “Welcome the Sun” Morning Concert 9-10:30AM in Sunset Triangle Plaza, Silver Lake
https://www.facebook.com/events/1443218525994308/

Performing, curating & co-creating at this event…email gaiagrove@gmail.com to get involved!

More to come…

Gaia Grove – recent blog posts: http://www.gaiagrove.org
Follow on instagram: https://instagram.com/gaiagrove

Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/gaiagrove

Join FB group (over 400 members & growing): https://www.facebook.com/groups/gaiagrove/

LOVE IS THE WAY

www.amyclarke.com

Please email scorpfaery@gmail.com for rates on music bookings, commission based compositions, music/astrology/tarot/moon workshops, tarot/astrology/oracle readings, and more if not already listed here (website being REdesigned)…www.amyclarke.com/magic