Aphrodite Shrine at Our Haven -- a history (and update)

Friends and long-time followers of this blog know that I am one of the Temple Keepers for the Aphrodite Shrine at Our Haven Nature Sanctuary in southern Indiana. I've posted plans and pictures, hopes and even heartbreaks regarding this beautiful little piece of paradise for years now.

Each year, as I, my family, and now even a loving and dedicated core of friends, come out to tend and beautify the shrine, I am awed and amazed at what a breathtakingly beautiful place it is. The entire Sanctuary is stunning, mind you. It is 175 acres of rolling woodlands in the hills of the southern part of Indiana. There are a couple of large fields that had been cleared years ago for farming by the previous owners, and they now serve as the primary camping and event fields.

Sometime between my first arrival at Our Haven in 2006 and my re-appearance in 2008 (at which point I made it my spiritual home), two women set the stones that form the altar of the shrine. These two women are incredibly dear to me -- one of them being one of my life partners, and the other being one of our closest friends -- although I hadn't met either of them on the Solstice evening when they set the shrine. They aligned Her altar to Venus (the Evening Star) as she set on the tree-line that Summer Solstice night.

Aphrodite's Shrine is within a larger circle called the Great Rite Spiral, which was established near the same time. A large stone Great Rite altar dominates the center of the circle, and spiral path made of Chinese hedgerows winds into it from the outside. The only problem is that after the hedges were planted, everyone thought they died. They got moved over, due to that belief, and then the entire area was allowed to be overgrown in weeds and tall grass. It's naturally a very wet space -- which the hedges like, but so did the marsh gasses. That was how it looked when I first saw it in 2008. Tall weeds around a massive rock. I had heard there was Aphrodite shrine in there, but I'd never seen it.

The first work weekend in March of 2010 saw about six of us pulling dried grass and dead weeds out of that space. My other life partner, Joe, wanted to start again on the hedges. But would you believe it? More than half of the originals were actually fighting for life under the nest of weeds. Their original orange flags were still marking their resolute stands, and they were determined to live. This was the day I got involved, and I've been a rather persistent advocate for that spot ever since.

April 2010 -- Before donations, and before foliage had come in.

Cleared of weed cover, the hedges grew two feet that year. I'm not exaggerating. They grow fast! I also uncovered some of the original altar decorations that the temple founders had placed there. They had gotten pounded into the ground. Seriously. But I cleaned them up and put them back on the altar. I brought out some of my own, too, including a small icon, because I had promised Aphrodite that she would have an image on the land. It wasn't made for outdoor use, and it got pretty weather-worn, but I think it added character.

Babalon Rising 2010, photo taken by Nick Vitori of Envy Graphix

Also by 2010, people had read my writing about Aphrodite, and I was in conversation with a couple of people who wanted to donate some money to the upkeep of Her shrine! Wow!! We bought a beautiful outdoor icon (Venus of Medici), a trellis arbor, and two climbing roses with donations alone. Our family contributed mulch and energy. We got everything put in by June, and it was lovely. Obviously new and young, but lovely.

Weeds literally covered the entire shrine. *sigh*

The wind knocked the trellis down, though, and we got so much rain between June and August that Indiana felt like a rain-forest. Aphrodite of the Gardens became Aphrodite of the Jungle. Our lovely shrine was overwhelmed in an ocean of weeds. I came out on retreat and battled them single-handedly for 2 and 1/2 days -- literally singing and dancing with the bees in the weeds. Pricking my fingers on datura occasionally was the worst part. Natalie was on retreat, too, and sometimes she would come sit on the Great Rite rock and drum or take pictures of the progress. By Sunday, it was all beautiful again, and I poured libations at the shrine (wearing what has become my semi-official "Aphrodite Shrine Work Dress"). I had even reset the trellis.

In the spring of 2011, we had terrible storms. The trellis came down and took out both the icon and the stone shrine. I had set it well, and it came down HARD. Trellis and icon were a shambles. We reset the stones and tidied up. Only needed to do a little weeding. We put in some more mulch. The shrine was getting easier to tend. The hedges, were getting enormous. They seem to grow a foot each time we saw them. In September, I found a replacement icon (Venus di Milo) and a marble base. We placed her at the Women's Goddess Retreat.

It's 2012, and we have worked on the shrine twice already. One was a weeding and mulching day. My partners and two friends who are Our Haven members worked on that at the first work weekend. It was a beautiful day, and a beautiful moment. We laughed and loved each other, and my heart was so full of gratitude for the many hearts and hands who have poured their love upon my Lady and upon the Land where She stands.

Last weekend, on Mother's Day, a good friend and her family planted two rosebushes at the shrine. They will be gorgeous when they grow and bloom.

Yesterday, my family and one of the same friends -- she's actually a coven sister -- filled in the entire center of the Shrine/Spiral with mulch and paved the spiralling pathway with pea gravel. The project was funded by the sweet friend, my Sister in Aphrodite, who founded the shrine with my beloved Natalie. It was another beautiful day, and the results are so startling, so stunning, so beautiful that I feel the touch of my Goddess in the work.

I am Temple Keeper, not because I have any claim or ownership, any special right or privilege over this Shrine. Indeed, I don't have those things at all. It's a public shrine within Our Haven Nature Sanctuary. I am a Temple Keeper because my heart is in that beautiful little piece of land, and I help to keep up the temple.

PBP - F is for Festivals

The following is excerpted from the Occult & Witchcraft Learning Series: Eclectic Witchcraft -- Wheel of the Year by Laurelei and Natalie Black, copyright 2011. The full text is available in PDF at Asteria Books.

Beltane at Our Haven. (My daughter is the one in the fabu hat.)

Every year hundreds of Pagan festivals take place all over the U.S and around the world. At these occasions, usually centered on or near a Sabbat, you will be able to camp and network with other Pagans, Heathens, Wiccans, Witches, Shamans, and general out-of-the-mainstream folks. Many of the events center around large group rituals, but some don't. Be sure to contact the event organizers in advance for information regarding fees, activities, workshops, and rules. Often you will find that a discount is provided if you sign up to attend early.

For a list of festivals near you, we suggest you explore the highly useful and exhaustive listing of Circles, Festivals, and Events at the Witches' Voice (www.witchvox.com). The Witches’ Voice also offers reviews of most festivals provided by its members.

Festival Tips

Your Noise Preference – Some parts of a festival ground are going to noisy (like near the areas designated for large bonfires and drumming) and some are going to be quiet. Choose a camping location that suits your needs and those of your family or companions. We also suggest that you take some earplugs in case you find that you’ve chosen poorly.

Rules and Laws – Know the regulations and laws for both the festival and the state where things like magical weapons and alcohol are concerned. Your athame and wine may not be welcome at all, or there may be certain restrictions on them. Then again, they may be perfectly fine. Best not find out by having them confiscated, which the authorities will be within their rights to do if you have violated the local laws.

Plants – Learn what poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac look like, and then scout your campsite for them before setting up. Keep an eye out for them while exploring the wilder areas of the festival ground, as well. Nothing ruins a great festival quite like learning your herbalism the hard way.

Bugs – Ticks and mosquitoes aren’t just irritating, they carry some serious diseases. We’ve known people who’ve actually contracted West Nile virus and lime disease at festivals. Protect yourself.  

Beasties – You should attempt to know something about the wildlife in the area where you’re camping, particularly the animals that may pose problems. You may only encounter raccoons, which can be a special sort of treat as they root through your festival gear and refuse if you don’t take proper precautions against them. However, your festival grounds may also be the neighbor or home of poisonous snakes, coyotes, cougars and bears. Each of these demands respect and different camping preparations, so try to inform yourself about the potential non-human festival attendees.

Companions – Whether you bring friends or make them at the festival, don’t plan on going it alone. Festivals are much more fun with a group. The process of camping is easier with a partner or group campsite, as well. You’ll have someone to share in the tasks of setting up and tearing down, cooking, tending the campfire, etc.

Building a fire at Our Haven's Women's Goddess Retreat

Work Shifts – Many festivals require that you volunteer a couple of hours of your time during the event to attend to grounds maintenance, set-up, tear-down, gophering duties, or other tasks that help the festival run smoothly. You can also very often make arrangements to do extra work to reduce the cost of your admission. Not only does this genuinely help the festival, but it is an opportunity to become a more integral and involved member of the festival community.

Perfect Love & Perfect Trust – When you come into a festival experience, you are often entering a complete magical community and possibly even consecrated magical space. When you enter a ritual circle, you are required to enter in “Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.” Though you will rarely be asked directly for this commitment at a festival, the concept is still sound. Treat your festival neighbors with love and trust and expect the same in return. Be a courteous camper, observing quiet times as designated, maintaining your campsite, and offering assistance when you see it is
needed.

There is a more intimate aspect of Perfect Love and Perfect Trust at play within the sphere of a festival, as well. A festival setting can be a time when the sacrament of sex is enjoyed rather freely among consenting adults. It is a time and a space of freedom with like-minded people, and it isn’t uncommon for festival connections to occur. Just be sure to engage in all intimacies in the same spirit of Love and Trust that you would enter circle. Protect yourself and your partner – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Psyche Station – Many festivals will offer a designated area for attendees to ground, center and even heal their energies. Psychic and emotional energy can run very high at a festival. You are experiencing magic and sometimes even enlightenment on a grand scale. Though this is empowering and wonderful, it can also be confusing and disorienting. Furthermore, your experiences at the festival may bring up old psychic and emotional wounds that demand healing. If the festival offers a place of recuperation for attendees, locate it well before you need it and don’t feel shy about going there when you do need it. It may be an unattended grotto where you can ground, center and meditate in solitude, or it may be staffed with healers who can help you work through your experience and get you back on your feet.

Packing Tips – We have found that packing our gear in plastic tubs with lids works very well for transporting your items. Critters stay out, everything stays dry even in a downpour, and they’re easy to organize and stack. Pack for all kinds of whether: hot, chilly, wet. We attend several festivals in the Midwestern United States, and the same event can manage to be hot, cold, dry, wet, and humid within a three day span. Bring your own shade. A canopy over your tent will keep it from being a hot-box and may spare you some of the onslaught of a terrible rain. A canopy to sit under while you’re relaxing will help keep you cool. An umbrella or parasol becomes portable personal shade to reduce your chances of heat exhaustion. Even if you’re hoping for a great wooded camping spot, you may not arrive in time to claim it. Having tarps and canopies to rig your own shade will make a huge difference. Futons do not deflate. Air mattresses travel compactly and are relatively inexpensive, but they have a fairly short lifespan. Before we switched to futons, we found ourselves sleeping on the ground several times due to air mattresses deflating in the night. You also may not have access to electricity for inflating your air mattress at many festival grounds, making them even less convenient. Hammocks, futons and cots are all comfortable, long-term alternatives to the air mattress problem.

911 – We hope you never experience a personal or family emergency while you’re attending a festival. However, preparing for the worst is often a great method of banishing it. To that end, make sure that the members of your camping group, or a neighbor camper if you’re attending the festival alone, have your emergency contact information and any medical alerts that might need to be relayed to First Aid in the case that you experience a problem. The festival organizers almost always collect this information as part of registration, too. If not, you should make sure that First Aid is aware of any drug allergies or medical alerts. In the event that you are unconscious, you really want this base well-covered.

Gaia Love – Most festival grounds don’t have the garbage pick-up budget to finance rubbish removal for hundreds or thousands of people. You’ll undoubtedly need to pack out your trash and dispose of it yourself. A good rule of thumb is to leave your site better than you found it. This includes things like cigarette butts, too. You also shouldn’t hunt, fish, or forage at the festival grounds without the express permission of the groundskeepers and festival organizers. These activities are usually forbidden. Whatever firewood you need for your campfire should be available on-site or at a local store just before you arrive. (Know the event’s policy on firewood before arriving so you can plan accordingly.) You should also ask permission before harvesting or planting at a festival site. Even well-intentioned unapproved plantings can endanger the ecology of the site.

Attunement – Take some time when you first arrive at the festival grounds to ground, center, and attune to the energies of the land and people. You’ve probably had a long car ride, and you’ve just shifted your reality from a world riddled with business concerns, bills, traffic, politics, and whatever plagues you each day to a world of magic, spirituality, nature, and the ideals you aspire to. You need a moment to adjust. Building your campsite can wait the few minutes you might need to do that. Feel this new place. Sense what magic is like here. Watch the people interact for a few moments. Take time to be still and attune to the rhythm of this world within the world before you build your new little home.

My kids playing with some of their best festival buddies -- first night they met, in 2008.

Little Witches – Children are welcome at most festivals, but you should always make sure that you have reviewed the festival’s policies carefully before planning to bring your child. Some festivals are strictly for adults, after all. At many festival grounds, you’ll find playground facilities, daycare programs for little ones, and activities for children of all ages. That being said, please keep in mind that children and minors are always the responsibility of their parent or guardian while at any festival. Children should not be left to wander unattended or unsupervised. If your child is being kept in a festival daycare program, you should take a volunteer shift at the daycare during that festival.

Touchy Tool Taboos – Please be respectful of other people's items, especially drums and other instruments around the main fire or ritual gear in ritual areas. Please do not play other people's drums without permission, and do not set items on drums. Drums are not tables, and can be damaged by pressure, moisture, and rough objects. Most Pagans feel about their drums, didgeridoos, Native American flutes or other instruments the same way that they feel about their athames and other ritual gear. All of these sacred items are infused with a Witch or Magician’s personal energy, and it is considered the height of rudeness to touch or play with them without permission.

Starwood's Saturday night bonfire is MASSIVE.

Sacred Fire – Almost all festivals will have a group bonfire on one or more nights of the event. The size and intention of the fire varies from festival to festival. Drumming is common to them all. Dancing is also popular. Some have a magical or alchemical focus. Some are geared toward trancework. Some are bardic opportunities with singing and poetry. Some are massive while others are over-sized campfires. Many central bonfires are tended only by designated personnel, while others are a community effort. All tend to be viewed as sacred, though. Generally, it is considered taboo to dispose of rubbish in the sacred bonfire, though it is quite common to do so at one’s own smaller campfire.

Laurelei & Natalie enjoying a post-ritual snuggle at Babalon Rising

Nakie Pagans – Many festivals are clothing optional or have areas that are designated as clothing optional. If this is the case, it will almost always be posted somewhere on the festival’s website or registration information, so you shouldn’t be shocked when you arrive. However, in the event that the festival failed to mention it, consider yourself forewarned that many Pagans take comfort in knowing that they can walk about au natural in this little magical world outside of the mainstream. There should never be any pressure for anyone to disrobe beyond their level of comfort, but you should brace yourself (and your kids, if they’re attending the festival with you) for the possibility of seeing the entire human form in all of its varied manifestations – young, old, Venusian, Willendorf, and so on. Gawking at the parts that are so often concealed is considered impolite, and being uncovered only means that the person wants to be free of their clothing – not that they’re looking for a date.

Laurelei & Natalie at Festivals

Are you near Indiana? Maybe you'll run into us at one of these festival locations:

Our Haven Nature Sanctuary, French Lick, IN – www.ourhaven.info – This is our second-home. We actually organize some of the events that happen at Our Haven, and we are among a devoted core of members who help care for the land. You can always catch us at Babalon Rising Pan-Thelemic Festival and the Women’s Goddess Retreat (the two events we currently help organize).

Lothlorien & Elvin H.O.M.E., Inc., Needmore, IN –www.elvinhome.org – Lothlorien is the longest-running festival grounds of its kind in Indiana, and it is literally right down the road from us. Nestled in the hilly woodlands of South Central Indiana, it is a beautiful location with a rich history.

Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day, Indianapolis, IN – www.indypaganpride.org – This isn’t a camping festival, but it is an all-day Pagan event. The Pagan Pride organization was actually begun in Indianapolis (long before we got involved). Still, Laurelei has been a Coordinator in some capacity with the event for several years, and you can find us there at the end of September showing our Pagan Pride, networking with the area’s Witches, Pagans and Heathens, and celebrating Laurelei’s birthday (which invariably falls on this auspicious weekend)!

Sometimes we are invited to speak at events, as well. Check out our schedules to see if we'll be in an area near you! (Mine is here, and Natalie's is there.)

Aphrodite's Priestess is BACK

Technically, I haven't been GONE. Well, I took that teensy break, but that last about a minute and a half. I did change my blog name, but I realized tonight that doing THAT was just silly. Apparently the entire Aphrodisian world was linked to me as Aphrodite's Priestess. So, I reclaimed that blog name, and here I am again.

You'll be happy to know, lovers of the Golden One, that I found a most delightful statue of Our Lady lurking in a flea market today. Just what I needed for the shrine, as a matter of fact. As I am headed out there tomorrow for the retreat, it was perfect timing.

And do stay tuned for upcoming information on the Order of the Red Doves (which Elle and I have been collaborating on) and the Priest/ess Training Program (which I am still working on). I'll have updates very soon about both of those projects.

Forging With My Sisters

Lorelei Sims (blacksmith & writer)

In less than a week, I'm going to be at the Women's Goddess Retreat in Southern Indiana. It is held, of course, at my very favorite spot for magical retreat and reflection -- Our Haven Nature Sanctuary.

This is WGR's 3rd year, and two Goddesses (ONLY two Goddesses) have remained constant influences in all that time -- Brighid and Aphrodite. I have a few theories about that, but the prevailing thought is that both Goddess have a very strong influence on the land. Our Haven was founded under Brighid's mantle, if you will. There were three devotees of Brighid who came together to bless the land in Her name as one of their first acts of consecration of the sanctuary, and Brighid's shrine (a beautiful spot) is a darling of the founders.

Aphrodite may not have been at the forefront of the founders' minds, but She has staked Her claim at Our Haven. There are no less than three places on the land that bear Her name -- and none of them are MY doing, I'll have you know. =) The Aphrodite Shrine that I help maintain was built years before I came to Our Haven. I am just it's most visible and consistent care-taker. (Even so, I am by no means its only care-taker.) There is also the Sanctuary of Venus Erycina, an adults-only sacred sexuality circle tucked away into a lovely little private nook in the woods and maintained by a couple from Cincinnati.

Finally, flanking the stage are an Aphrodite Hazel and a Brighid Hazel. They were each intended for their respective shrines, but the benefactor of these lovely hazels left them in someone's care who didn't *quite* understand her instructions. So they ended up together in a separate place of prominence. Symbolically, these hazels say what I've always known -- Brighid and Aphrodite have both made indelible marks at Our Haven.

Those marks are born out again at this year's Goddess Retreat. This is the third year that I'll be presenting the Aphrodite Circle. (Not shocking.) However, I am VERY excited about the chance to help out with the Brighid Circle. Mary, one of the Sanctuary's founders and a devotee of Brighid, will be leading the Circle; and I will demonstrate and help guide each woman through a little forge-craft. It's going to be very basic, and VERY awesome. As Glaux and I told our guy (to his bewilderment), "You just can't have a women's retreat without the rebar."

Vinalia Rustica 2011

Yesterday's shrine-tending was odd and incomplete. It was good, don't get me wrong. My partners (Glaux and Iron Dragon) and I were joined by another member of Our Haven to work on Aphrodite's shrine and maintain the Great Rite Spiral in which the shrine sits. We did as much as we could possibly do with the materials and folks who were there, but we were missing two people (one of whom had agreed to bring the statue and a weed-eater) and arbor-building materials from a third.

So, the very bright up-side is that we weeded the entire area, laid gardening fabric in the most needed areas, and placed a truckload of mulch on top of the cloth. We had to take apart the stones of the shrine to accomplish it, but all of the area surrounding Aphrodite's shrine is beautiful. The roses are doing quite well, although they are in dire need of the arbor. They are climbers, after all. We cleaned all the offerings on the alter, and I'm properly disposing of the ones that nature has worn down to decay. We mended the little fiberglass statue that a friend had given me years before. I have thought of her as Peitho since Aphrodisia 2010, but it's still right that she's holding the space until the Aphrodite icon returns.

Sadly, the broken Aphrodite icon could not be repaired. We tried. Glaux sat with her for an hour, I think, trying to mend her. Poor headless statue. We've brought her home, where I will dispose of this concrete shell with proper rites. It's very funerary and sad for me.

I have to admit to suffering some disappointment yesterday due to the my friends not being available. I understand two of them -- they were both out of the state, and simply couldn't make it. The third (with the statue and weed-trimmer), though, leaves me not knowing what to think. She's vanished from my contacts, disconnected her blog, isn't answering the phone. I don't know whether I should be worried or hurt. When I talked to her three days ago, all was well.

Ah, me. I don't know. *Laurelei repeats her mantra: "I can only control myself."*

All in all, the Vinalia Rustica work has been successful, but I am not done yet. The remainder of the shrine's spiral needs to be mulched, the stones need to be laid for the spiral, a statue now probably needs to be purchased and installed, and the arbor needs to be built. Iron Dragon and I are going back out on Saturday, August 27th to lay more gardening fabric and mulch. If we have time (and the cypress posts are available) we might also put up the arbor. The stones will have to wait for more time, and the statue will have to wait for more money. Oh, the world's precious commodities!

I want to thank everyone who has donated labor, materials and/or money to the shrine. Your names sit on Aphrodite's shrine within my home, and I pray for her to bless you with her many and abundant gifts!!

Gearing up for Vinalia Rustica 2011

In my post on July 3, I discussed the needed renovations at the Aphrodite Shrine I help maintain at Our Haven Nature Sanctuary.

Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed donations of money and materials to the renovation efforts. I'll keep your names confidential here, but know that they sit on my personal Aphrodite shrine at home as a prayer and a thanks for your generosity, grace, and love toward Aphrodite and this land that honors Her.

Secondly, I'd like to thank the folks who live locally to me and have already come out to help care for the shrine.

Arcadia (our cabin) in April 2010)

Finally, there is a small group of us that are planning on gathering to for a "work weekend" for the weekend when I was going to celebrate the Vinalia Rustica and restore the shrine. That weekend will be Friday, August 19th through Sunday, August 21. Currently, there are four women: Glaux (my sweetie), two of our good friends (Lily Savage and Daun), and me. We're going to have a mini-retreat at the cabin, and we would LOVE for you to join us if you feel moved to do so!




Our projects are going to include:
1.  Weeding and mowing the entire Great Rite Spiral
2. Raising a solid arbor above the shrine
3. Erecting a new statue (if it is available -- which is a possibility)
4. Laying ground cover -- either mulch or something like the fabulous spiral below

Lily's Idea (which we all LOVE)

If you would like to help in anyway (money, materials, plantings for the shrine or labor), please let me know. You can make monetary donations to the cause via PayPal: