As has always been, the journey of 13 moon cycles leading to the initiation of any Priestess, is not undertaken by the feint of heart. We are called upon to know ourselves—deeply. To delve into the dark and become lost to the light. To examine our fears and relationships and our own nature, and let me tell you, some of it is not fun at all. There have been tears, despair and fear and like Persephone you enter into the underworld, not knowing if you shall return, but when you do, you have faced your demons and challenged your own soul and returned, much stronger and more whole.

For me, my day of initiation felt like a bride in preparation for her commitment to her beloved. It was the culmination of my training in learning the sacred lore of goddess and now I am in her service as an initiated Priestess. An honour recognized by the other women who have gone before, who like me, know and understand this is a renewal of vows from lifetimes before when it was our greatest honour to do her work. So, what does it mean to me to be a modern day Priestess? I see myself as a keeper of the mysteries; one who honours the changing cycles and seasons of the Earth; to be a channel for the essence of goddess to work her magic in the physical; to hold space and invoke the power of sacred ritual back into lives which have forgotten what it means to be moved by the energies of earth, fire, water, air and spirit; and to be a light for awakening womanhood. The day was long and the ceremonies many, but finally, garbed in our full length red Priestess capes, we declared ourselves to the group gathered in the twilight on the longest day of the year, high on a mountain top, connected to the earth and looking out towards the ocean. Such stirrings from the past and such sacred rememberings. And with the official part of the day done, we went inside and feasted, laughed, told our stories, and shared with the sisterhood of women who had come to gather in her name and bear witness to those who made their intentions to walk the sacred path.