July/August 2022 Alchemical Voice

Those who received wisdom through their wombs
as the moon grew full and dark again - illuminating
the cyclic rhythms that they carry within. They
were wild and wise. They were caretakers and
wisdom keepers. They were the first Shamans
("Shamanka") , the Medicine women. They were
Keepers of the Wheel - of Life, Death and Rebirth.
They were the Warriors of the land, the soil, the
seed, with power that they knew how to harness -
not just for themselves but for the collective, who
depended on their psychic wisdom to know how
and when to travel, hunt and settle.
Those Womben would gather together in Circle - to
release, bleed, dance, sing, share. They held one
another as they journeyed through the rites of
passage that every Womban must go through. They
knew how to stand strong - not through violence
but by setting healthy boundaries and speaking
their truth.
The truth is, we all have a Warrior/Heroine within
us. We have all been on the battlefield of life.
Collectively and as individuals.
The energy of this archetype is always with us, it
runs through our blood and penetrates deep into
our bones. Calling out to us to reconnect.
There is a resilience so strong buried deep within
our Wombs sisters (whether you have a physical
womb or an energetic womb space), and there are
going to be times when this world will feel like too
much to bear.
Instead of resisting the pain, or pushing ourselves
until we reach burnout... let's instead gather
together, remember our natural cyclic ways, and
rekindle our connection to the Earth, to our bodies,
to the circle.
We do not need to stand up and fight using the
same flames that have been thrown for centuries.
We can rise into our power from a place of gentle
awareness. Just like the Rose with its soft petals
and sharp thorns, we can be soft in our
vulnerability, whilst also creating healthy
boundaries for ourselves.
No matter what stage of life you are currently in,
remember that you are sovereign. You can be
powerful in every aspect of yourself. For you are a
multifaceted, cyclic being and every stage of your
life is so sacred, for there is wisdom in all of your
life experiences.
Perhaps, one day we'll sit in circle together,
witnessing one another stand in our power as we
share our stories of life on the battlefield.
Amanda Tracey is a Circle Keeper, Ceremonialist
and Earth Based Practitioner, and runs regular
events in and around Oxfordshire, UK.
www.goddessliberation.com
Front cover and professional photos:
Model - @goddessliberation
Photography - @ianwallman
Designer @jonathanharrisdesigner
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