Public Priestessing

What comes after initiation?

So many of us have been more and more curious about the ordination itself. Personally speaking, I'm not all that interested in that for now. Later on, it will be a very exciting topic. Basically, I'm good with just letting the previous crop of priestesses worry about that, since most of it is a secret anyway. What I like to spend time thinking about is what happens once I'm a priestess.

Without doubt, I know I will remain heavily involved in CAYA and the Wildflowers. In December, we will start discussing the next batch of Wildflowers. That's exciting! Who will they be? I love the idea of mothering the next group. Now, I do not know if that is a possibility for me or not, since I cannot just decide that's what I'm going to do without having the blessing of Rabbit and the other Wildflowers. This is just me sharing my fantasies in the blogosphere.

Another idea that pops in my mind over and over is priestessing for the dying and their families. When my grandfather, Donald, died last year, I was profoundly impressed with the people who work and volunteer at Hospice. We were all there for several days, and they were like angels. They helped us so much and made what could have been really scary feel like a family event, albeit an incredibly sad one. One of my Dianic sisters (I will leave out her name not knowing whether I should use it or not) recently almost had the opportunity to help her uncle pass over. Her preparation for this got me thinking about how much we all could really use a friend to help us at a time like that, whether it's a spiritual guide or not. When I go, it would mean a lot to me if someone would hold sacred space and ease the transition, while also being kind to my family. Recently I was attuned to Reiki Level I, and learned that day that Hospice will let me in to do Reiki there. Maybe that is something I could do, maybe not, but the idea comes up, like I said, repeatedly. My grandfather passed away a year ago tomorrow, so maybe that has something to do with why it's on my mind now.

Another idea for public priestessing is writing. That counts, doesn't it? Some of us have been discussing starting a CAYA authors and poets hive. We have amongst us several really gifted writers, and writers need companionship and support at times in order to flourish. Just think of all the books where the author goes on and on and on about everyone they want to thank for making the book possible. Maybe we could make herstory?

In any case, for now just having roles in the upcoming rituals, as well as lots of ritual planning, is plenty of public priestessing. The heat is on, and things are more intense now than they were. Soon we are going to learn about aspecting, and I've agreed to aspect a deity for Samhain, leaving it open ended as to whom that will be. That is certainly something I've never done since becoming a witch, and I'm a bit apprehensive even in the midst of excited anticipation.

This initiation process is really tweaking and tuning us as public priestesses/priests. That is why I wonder where I'll be in the future and what I'll be doing. At the rate things are going, with my power revving up like never before, I can only guess.