Open Circles

Dear Schnookums Darling Community Sweetie Pies,

DANCE – Thursday, November 13th – 7:30 PM – Unity Church (1401 W Vine, Fort Collins) – $10 suggested donation

COMMUNITY ZIKR – Saturday, November 15th – 7 PM – Rocky Mountain Miracle Center (1939 S Monroe, Denver) – Checking out a new place! Hope you can join us! – Hey, anyone interested in carpooling from Boulder and/or Fort Collins? Please send me an e-mail and I’ll try to help connect you! – $5 suggested donation and dessert potluck …  BY THE WAY… several of you have said that you would like to see more energy and participation for the dessert potluck… Please bring something to share! We have access to a kitchen at this location and can make ourselves at home! CHOCOLATE!!!!

CHANT – Sunday, November 16th – 7 PM – Unity Church (1401 W Vine, FC) – YES!!! This is where we’ve been dancing on Thursdays and they are HAPPY to host chant circles as well! COME SING!!! – Inter-faith chanting… bring a cushion for floor seating… or there are chairs and couches… – $10 suggested donation

SUFI MEDITATION – Monday, November 17th – 9:30 AM – My House (2727 Alan St, FC) – Concentration for this week will be “Al-Jabbar” “The Compeller” – this is a small meditation group… all are welcome! And expect to be greeted by a dog, cat, and whatever state my home happens to be in that morning!

DANCE – Thursday, November 20th – 7:30 PM – Unity Church, Fort Collins – $10 suggested donation

MUSIC AND DANCE IN DENVER – Saturday, November 22nd – 1 PM and again at 2 PM – 2451 W 82nd Place, Westminster – I’ll be sharing music from the Dances with the senior community here – Please join me… I expect it’ll be much like the “Elder Dance” that Juanita has been leading in Boulder and Denver forever… – Let me know if you can make it, or just show up!

SUFI MEDITATION – Monday, November 24th – 9:30 AM – Alan St, FC – This morning, we’ll concentrate on, “Al-Mutakabbir” “The Greatest” – PLUS… It’s Jodie’s Birthday!!!! Send her all your love!!!

THANKSGIVING DANCE and DESSERT POTLUCK – Thursday, November 27th – 7:30 PM – Unity Church, FC – Bring a dessert food, drink or snack to share after the dance!

SUMMARY OF 2015 RETREATS… so far…
1. California Dance Retreat – January 16 to 19 – Santa Barbara
2. Caravan to the Goddess Temple in the Desert – March 13 to 17 – Near Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Chant Retreat with me and Jonas Koukl – April 24 to 26 – Camp Santa Maria, Bailey Colorado
4. MeadowFest – Pagan-esque Campout – June 25 to 28 – Jack’s Gulch, Colorado
5. Women’s Retreat with me and Leilah Be – September 17 to 21 – Camp Santa Maria, Bailey Colorado

I was recently driving across the country from rugged colorado through the flat-lands of Kansas… and somewhere in there I encountered (not a physical collision… just a collision in my eyeballs) a pink cadillac! I kid you not. I have reason to believe it was a Mary Kay vehicle… I can’t imagine any other reason for there to be a pink cadillac in existence. But it inspired me to share this with you: http://www.marykay.com/en-us/about-mary-kay/companyfounder

And now I feel bad for inflicting your inbox with that so I’ll make-up for it with this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-anGSwEGjQ

Love and happy juju to all of you!
Sára

Dear Ones,
Quick update…

1. Fort Collins Dance of Universal Peace tomorrow (Thursday, the 30th) – wear all black – bring pictures or small items for the Altar for the Dead – the dance will be focused on the ancestors and honoring the departed… 7:30 PM – 1401 W Vine – $10 suggested donation.

2. NO MEDITATION THIS COMING MONDAY – if you show up at my house, the dog will bark at you… and Tim will probably greet you at the door in his bathrobe… really… no meditation on the 3rd.

3. NEXT WEEK DANCE – Thursday, November 6th – Y’all are in for a treat!!!
Brooke and Willow will be leading the Fort Collins dance in my absence… YAY!!! – 7:30 PM – Unity Church on Vine St – These wonderful ladies have planned a beautiful dance program for you… I wish I could be there! – $10 suggested donation.

4. NO MEDITATION at my house again November 10th – feel free to follow the meditation format on your own…

5. I’ll be back to lead the Fort Collins dance November 13th – hope to see you there!

6. COMMUNITY ZIKR is MOVING… Please do mark your calendars for November 15th… location is not entirely decided yet… but it looks like we’re moving to DENVER!!! – stay tuned… I’ll be sending an announcement with a solid plan on Friday this week…

7. Looking a few steps ahead… I’ll be leading a dance afternoon in La Veta, CO, Saturday, December 6th… more details shortly… please let your friends in the area know!

8. Looking several leaps ahead… I am happy, Happy, HAPPY to tell you that I have invited the Fabulous, Inspiring, Magnificent, Sweet, Beautiful, Wise and Graceful Leilah Be to co-lead the women’s retreat with me next September. Details pending… but mark your calendars September 17 to 21…

9. One more thing… scotch, whiskey and bourbon are NOT tasty in real life. They only look good in the movies… don’t drink them if you value your tastebuds, esophagus, or liver… it’s not worth it. Chocolate on the other hand… always good for everyone all the time. Just say “no” to hard liquor, say “yes” to life with CHOCOLATE!!!

Love and smiles,
Sára

P.S. Mead is fine… as is port. They go nicely with chocolate.

Dear Community,
In case the autumnal season is getting you down:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQvanCpC3Q
It makes me laugh every time!

Coming right up…

Monday (tomorrow), October 20th – 9:30 AM – Sufi Meditation – 2727 Alan St (my house)

Thursday, October 23rd – 7:30 PM – Dance – Unity Church, Fort Collins – $10 suggested

Saturday, October 25th – Witches Ball in Denver – Masonic Temple – I’ll be heading up themidnight ritual with a bunch of you helping! – $25 in advance… $30 at the door

Monday, October 27th – 9:30 AM – Sufi Meditation – my house

Thursday, October 30th – (WEAR ALL BLACK) – Dance of Universal Peace (wear black) – Unity Church 1401 W Vine, Fort Collins –7:30 PM (Come dressed entirely in black) – $10 suggested donation – Bring photos or small items for an altar for the dead – and Wear Black this evening! 

Monday, November 3rd – 9:30 AM – Sufi Meditation – my house

UPDATE:
The Boulder Community Zikr will continue… but we are looking for a new home… stay tuned… and mark your calendars: November 15th… Zikr… SOMEWHERE…

REMINDER:
There are still a couple openings for the Caravan to the Desert in March, 2013… want to join us? It is a co-ed group this time… Going to the Sekhmet Temple near Las Vegas… March 13 to 17… let me know if you’re coming!

TOP SECRET:
I LOVE rice krispy treats! And while I have very little self-discipline as a life rule… I am DEDICATED to keeping rice krispy treats as a healthy, balanced part of my happiness diet! Here’s the recipe:
*melt 3 tablespoons of butter with an entire bag of VEGAN marshmallows, which you can buy at Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (which is a stupid name for a good store) over low heat until smooth –
*remove from heat and add 6 cups of rice krispies (elves are happy and therefore make happy food products) –
*mix gently but assertively until well blended –
*empty mixture onto waxed paper,
*coat your bare hands with a bit of butter and press this heavenly concoction flat and even.
*Cut into desired squares while still warm.
*Eat all of it in one sitting if it makes you happy. I do.

Love and joy to all!
Sára

Dear Ones,
It seems the cyber-Gods have stolen my communications and several of you have been out of the loop.
My deepest apologies.
Here are some reminders of very soon-approaching gatherings:

1. TONIGHT – Dance in Fort Collins – Unity Church on Vine – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested donation

2. STARHOUSE DANCE – Saturday, the 11th – I’ll be leading the Deeper Dance in Timothy’s absence – 7:30 PM – in Boulder – $12 at the door

3. SPIRITKEEPERS INTERFAITH FELLOWSHIP – Sunday, the 12th – I’ll be leading dances and offering the presentation for the morning… on Paganism – 10 AM – Boulder Senior Center at 9th and Arapahoe

4. SUFI MEDITATION – Monday, the 13th (not as spooky as Friday the 13th, but the 13 is still good!) – 9:30 AM – 2727 Alan St (my house) – by donation

5. FORT COLLINS DANCE – Thursday, the 16th – Unity Church – 7:30 PM

6. BOULDER COMMUNITY ZIKR – Saturday, the 18th – 7 PM to 9:30 – Studio Be – $5 suggested donation and dessert potluck

I’m sure there are other things too…but that’s all my brain can grab onto in this moment.
Hope to see you twenty times in the next two weeks!
Blessings in Abundance,
Sára

Dear Community,
My sincere apologies for a lack of humor, which is based entirely on exhaustion and not on any lack of humorous material!
Shall I find you a fun youtube snippet to make up for my tiredness?

Thursday, October 2nd – Dance of Universal Peace – 1401 W Vine, Fort Collins (Unity Church) – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Wednesday, October 8th – Denver Dance of Universal Peace – Clayton Early Learning Center (3801 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) – 7:30 PM – I’ll be leading the evening – $10 at the door

Thursday, October 9th – Dance at Unity in Fort Collins – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Saturday, October 11th – Starhouse Dance in Boulder – 7:30 PM – I will be leading – $12 at the door (I think)

Monday, October 13th – Sufi Meditation – 9:30 AM – 2727 Alan St, FC (my house)

Thursday, October 16th – Dance in Fort Collins – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Saturday, October 18th – Zikr and Sufi Practices – Studio Be, Boulder – 7:00 PM – $5 suggested donation and dessert potluck – I’ll be leading the evening…

Monday, October 20th – Sufi Meditation – 9:30 AM – Alan St, FC

Also…
Please know that ticks you may encounter in Colorado are not known to carry scary illness… but… land of the Ozarks’ ticks… treacherous buggers!
Just thought you might find that information useful.
See you at the dance!
Sára

(970)227-5275

Dear Ones,
Welcome to the uplifting, enlivening, inspiring and joyful season of AUTUMN!!!! No need to wallow in depressive thinking about the fading light, withering trees, or pending frigidity…
And to help you stave off the hum-drudgery of change:

This Thursday, September 4th – DANCE at the Unity Church, 1401 W Vine Dr, Fort Collins – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested – if you are able to come at 7 PM to help set up the room, I’ll give you the biggest, baddest bear hug imaginable!

Tuesday, September 9th – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln, Fort Collins – 9:30 AM – concentration on “As-Sabur” “The Patient One – by donation

Wednesday, September 10th – Denver Dance at Clayton Early Learning Center, Denver – I’ll be leading in Timothy’s absence – 7:30 PM – $10 at the door

Thursday, September 11th – Dance at Unity in F.C. – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested – can you come early to help set up?

Saturday, September 13th – Deeper Dance at the Starhouse in Boulder – 7:30 PM – I’ll be leading in Timothy’s absence – $12 at the door (I think)

Sunday, September 14th – Chant!!! – 449 Clover Ln – 7 PM – $10 suggested – Let’s SING, SING, SING!!!! I love it!

Monday, September 15th – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln – 9:30 AM – concentration on “Allah” “The One” – by donation

Is that enough to weigh your calendars down with black ink?
NO!

Also… The Dancing with the Goddess Retreat is not yet sold out… September 26 to 29 – led by me and Starhawk (of all awesome people in the world). are you thinking about signing up for it? Please do! http://trigoddess.org/special-events/ or contact me for more info: (970)227-5275 or rain@trigoddess.org

PLUS… I’m cooking up a plan… a Dance Leader Training Program. Interested? It would be a series of weekends geared toward certification guidelines… Please let me know if this captures your fancy so I can keep you in the communication loop as I set it up.

Love to all y’all!
Sára

Dear Community,
Changes are afoot, ahand, aforehead…
My schedule just opened right up and I’m delighted to get back into the circling swing with all of you!
Mark your wall calendar, copy and paste into google calendar, or write it on your forearm with permanent marker…

Thursday, August 21st – Dance of Universal Peace at Unity Church in Fort Collins (1401 W Vine) – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested donation

Sunday, August 24th – Chant – 449 Clover Ln, Fort Collins – 7 PM – $10 suggested donation – WOO-HOO a CHANT EVENING!!!! I’m Excited!!

Monday, August 25th – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln, Fort Collins – 9:30 AM – by donation – YES!!! I’m starting it back up! This coming week we’ll concentrate on “Al-Warith” – all levels of experience are welcome. Facilitation will accommodate everyone. Contact me with questions.

Thursday, August 28th – Dance at Unity Church – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Tuesday, September 2nd – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln – 9:30 AM – by donation – concentrate on “Ar-Rashid”

Thursday, September 4th – Dance at Unity Church – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Tuesday, September 9th – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln – 9:30 AM – by donation – concentrate on “As-Sabur”

Thursday, September 11th – Dance at Unity – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Sunday, September 14th – CHANT – 449 Clover Ln – 7 PM – $10 suggested

Monday, September 15th – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln – 9:30 AM – by donation – concentrate on “Allah!!!” – all welcome!

Thursday, September 18th – Dance at Unity – 7:30 PM – $10 suggested

Friday to Sunday, September 19 to 21, Pir Shabda is in Boulder for workshop, dances, and zikr… contact Waduda for more info: 303-718-9712 or e-mail wendywelsh@earthlink.net

I will NOT be leading Zikr on the 20th… we’ll be back at Studio Be in October.

Monday, September 22nd – Sufi Meditation – 449 Clover Ln – 9:30 AM – by donation – concentrate on “Ar-Rahman” – all welcome!

NO DANCE the 25th in Fort Collins… I’ll be prepping for the Goddess Retreat, which starts…

FRIDAY, September 26th to MONDAY, September 29th – there’s still room for you to join us – $230 covers lodging and food – hot tub included – all programs facilitated by Starhawk and me! – more info and on-line registration here: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

….and…

registration is open for the Sufi Meditation Retreat, October 30 to November 3 – time to register if you’re planning to join us: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

For those of you in school… or with children in school… or working in schools… or in some way governed by the school calendar and clock, I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy and apologies on behalf of our ridiculous society that is so blatantly biased toward the early-bird mentality and completely trampling the night-owls. I would like to start a revolution demanding that schools adjust their schedules for half the year to accommodate those of us who do our best work in the middle of the night.
Just to be clear, I am not advocating for my neighbors to run their lawn mowers, weed whackers and chainsaws in the middle of the night… I simply want our beloved children to be able to sleep in.
Can I get an “amen?”

Celebrating the brilliant shower of yellow leaves…
Sára

(970)227-5275

For all you Goddess Lovers in the Mailing List Mix,
Two super awesome things…

1. Dancing with the Goddess Retreat – led by Starhawk and me – September 26 to 29 – time to sign up! – http://trigoddess.org/special-events/ – deadline is September 1st.

2. Goddess Caravan… Round TWO!!! This retreat was amazing in March of 2013. We’re doing it again in 2015!!!
Friday March 13 to Tuesday March 17
share the drive with our wild tribe ($115)
or fly ($90 plus airfare of your choice)
We’ll have four nights and three full days at the temple.
Sharing meals, chanting, drumming, ritualing and contributing our labors of love to the Temple and the grounds.
The Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet is 40 minutes north of Las Vegas (12 hours in the car)
Jodie and I plan and bring all the food for everyone.. all vegetarian
There is no charge for lodging, but donations to support the temple, the guest house, and your super wonderful organizers are greatly appreciated!
Here is a link to the Goddess Temple website if you would like more info. http://www.sekhmettemple.com/
Send Sára $100 check or paypal to save your spot!
This retreat filled up in less than a week last time, so be quick!
2727 Alan St, Ft Collins, CO 80524

Blessed Be!
Sára

(970)227-5275

For your very great enjoyment and enlightenment…

Saturday, August 16th – Studio Be, 2077 30th St, Boulder – Allaudin Ottinger will be in town and bringing his excellent juju to the Zikr circle! – More special guests this month include Hadi and Karim (the folks who got this Zikr circle started almost 20 years ago) – Habib will be with us… full house! – 7 PM – suggested donation $10 and dessert potluck

then… in September… Pir Shabda Kahn – September 19 to 21 – Adi Shakti 6717 Valmont Rd Boulder – $101 for the weekend – $60 per day – $10 to $20 for the Zikr evening
Friday, the 19th – 7:30 PM intro talk and dances
Saturday 9:30 to 4:30 workshop
Saturday 7:30 zikr
Sunday 9:30 to 4:30 workshop
Mail check payable to: Wendy Welsh
2299 Pearl St. Ste. 304
Boulder, CO 80302
303-718-9712
wendywelsh@earthlink.net

then… in October… Back to the new version of “usual” – Zikr with Sára – Saturday, October 18th – 7 PM – Studio Be – $5 suggested and dessert potluck

also… in October… Sufi Meditation Retreat w/ Sára – October 30 to November 3 – Sunshine Mountain Lodge – catered by Rahima Jodie – $295 to $325 (depending on your lodging preference) – more info here: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

My head is spinning… probably just an indication that I’m getting into the Sufi groove…
Blessings of light,
Sára

Hi Friends!

Tomorrow, Thursday, the 10th, Dance, in Fort Collins, 7:30 PM, followed by, local ice cream outing! I love ice cream! Bring a friend! – $10 suggested for the dance… ice cream cost depends on how fancy you get!

NEXT WEEK…

Thursday Dance on the 17th… in Fort Collins… see above…

Then… ZIKR – Saturday, the 19th – Studio Be, Boulder, 7 PM – Sufi practices, readings, etc. somewhere in the middle of the evening – Bring a dessert to share – and $5 donation.

SPECIAL SUFI EVENT COMING UP…
Pir Shabda is coming to Boulder in September – I am unable to send a flyer with this e-mail list… but here’s the most important info: Friday, 9/19, 7:30 PM talk and Dances – Saturday and Sunday 9/20 and 9/21 full day workshop 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM – Saturday evening Zikr 7:30 PM ($10 to $20 suggested) – Register before 9/5 for discount rate $120/weekend, $65/day – all events occur at Adi Shakti Sanctuary (6717 Valmont Rd, Boulder) – contact Waduda for more info: (303)718-9712

…and…

Register for the “Dancing with the Goddess” retreat – It’s filling up… September 26 to 29 – facilitated by the amazing Starhawk and me! – http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

Register for “Sufi Meditation Retreat” – October 30 to November 3 – facilitated by me! – http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

While I am entirely too tired to be funny right now, please allow me to leave you with this thought…
Bathing in lemonade is the most summer refreshment you can possibly get.
Scrub between your toes with fresh mint leaves from your garden… or come harvest some from mine.
If you find a few happy toads on your way into the garden, step carefully. Toads are your friends. They may even be some of our long lost witchy relatives.
Happy Summer Storming Blessings,
Sára

(970)227-5275