The
Temple of Divine Feminine Flow - A Growing Network
by Helena Montelius
Written for the Spheres Circles Publication,
August 2007
I am grateful to have this chance to share about the Temple
groups and our unique practices. Most of our work is non-verbal
and deeply experiential but I will try my best to give you
a taste through words.
Imagine an Indian Temple Ritual or a Bedouin Wedding with
women ecstatically dancing and praying, celebrating the
divine and each other, expressing everything that is in
their hearts, then slowly coming to stillness, drinking
each other in trough the eyes and like in a tribal women’s
gathering; massaging and nourishing each other’s bodies,
except without clay, henna or manure. The women leave the
Temple fulfilled, grateful and open.
This
could be an evening in the Nevada City Temple Group, which
my dear sister Chameli and I founded in Feb.2005. We both
had been involved in many different women’s groups
and meditation practices and longed to create a new and
deeper way of connecting with women. A circle where we could
go beyond the mind and our personal stories and enter the
spaciousness of our true nature in a feminine, allowing
way.
In Temple everything is welcome, we share both our pain
and joy as gifts, creating art and prayers through our bodies
and voices, allowing the deeply feeling feminine heart a
safe oasis. We share our stories and wisdom without words.
When
we do talk, it is within certain inquiry practices such
as: Tell me what it is like to live as an embodiment of
love or: Tell me what your deepest longing is: Tell me what
the feminine is. We also practice becoming the energy of
each season and different Goddesses, speaking as that season
or Goddess.
We touch, massage, caress and connect through our bodies,
filling each other up with feminine juice and love (in a
non-sexual way). Only women can do that for each other,
as most women in indigenous cultures know. In the West we
have lost the natural physical closeness with other women,
trying to get that nourishment from our men instead.
Our Temple is open every Monday night, a “Temple Mama”
is guiding the evening (Chameli or myself or someone we
have trained) and you come to Temple when you can. We recognize
the cyclical nature of the feminine and don’t want
Temple to be another demanding commitment.
The Temple practices have deeply enriched our lives and
seem to fill an empty spot in many women’s heart.
Most women simply sigh and say: “I have been longing
for this my whole life!” The Temple women feel more
able to be present in love with their families, juicier
with their partners and more capable of speaking up in their
work situations. We endeavor to carry the awakened feminine
heart into the world, radiating compassion and truth into
whatever projects or types of work we are involved with.
Chameli and I are so happy and grateful that the Temple
of Divine Feminine Flow is expanding into an international
network with groups in California, Texas, Oregon, Sweden,
Germany and soon in Idaho and New York.
Small
Circle Ritual to Share:
• Stand close together with your hips touching and
come to silence and take some deep breaths. Spend a few
minutes gazing into each other’s eyes, then pair
up with another women.
• One is the receiver and the other partner will
give the “Temple Rinse.” Let your hands gently
rest on her head and then stroke her whole body, all the
way down to her feet. Repeat the stroke many times, moving
around her and stroking every side of her body, imagining
rinsing away any tensions and stress, helping her to come
into the present moment and her body. Without speaking,
change over.
• Then play some flowing music with a sensual beat
and let each woman have her own space, with closed eyes,
to move her body. Let the movements arise from within,
opening all areas of your body. Breathing deep.
• After 15-20 minutes of individual movement, come
into a circle again and, without speaking, each woman
moves into the middle and share what is present for her,
using her body and sounds. Allowing everything: playfulness,
divine grace, rage or whatever else is present. Come to
closing by holding hands and sharing gratitude through
the eyes.
Chameli Gad Ardagh & Helena Montelius
are both passionate feminine practitioners, authors and
international spiritual teachers, who live in Nevada City
with their families. To create or locate a Temple Group
in your area, order the Temple Group Manual or sign up for
the annual Feminine Face of Leadership Training, check our
websites.
Chameli:
www.wildlove.org, chameli@wildlove.org
Helena: www.lookwithin.net, info@lookwithin.net, 530-292-3723
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