Liminal Time: Earthwise Calendars for 2009

Today I would like to share what Hecate has written about liminal time and calendars.

This time of the year -- the space on the calendar from December 24th or so until January 2nd (and, this year, really, until January 5th) -- is special to me because it's always seemed to me to be almost the very definition of liminal time. And liminal times are when it's easiest for change to happen. That's what makes them scary to some people, but it's also what makes them special and, even, fun. They're the times when a small shove, be it magical and/or mundane, can make a big difference in ultimate outcomes.

...And calendars are part of what can make this liminal time so productive. IMHO, there are few magical tools as powerful as a calendar, be it the lovely new WeMoon calendar (I was gifted mine by my wonderful DiL), the calendar on your iPhone or Blackberry, or a plain old FiloFax. If it's got the phases of the Moon and plenty of room to write stuff, you can work magic with it (and starting today, you can usually find a lovely one on sale for half off). If magic is a way of being in control of your life, a calendar is possibly the most basic magical tool there is. (And don't just take my word for it. The Druids, the Mayan priests, the ancient Egyptians: they all understood that keeping track of time, knowing what's coming and when it's coming, being aware of precisely "when" you are, was magical.)

Here some some links to calendars you might enjoy:

Amber Lotus: This Oregon-based company offers such calendars as The Celtic Mandala, The Call of the Goddess (featuring the artwork of Helen Nelson Reed), The Divine Nature calendar and many more.

Audubon calendars:
- You can purchases these at Powells Books, Amazon, Barns & Nobel and other retailers - The Audubon 2009 Calendar Collection offers a beautiful sampling of our great natural heritage. From the colorful close-up photos of our backyard friends in the 365 Songbirds & Other Backyard Birds Calendar, to the stirring images of the new Hiking America and the elegant beauty of the Engagement Calendar, all of the titles are filled with quality and commitment and are printed on recycled paper.
- click here to find more Audubon licensed gifts

Doorway Publications: They print the "2001 Moon Awareness Calendar", an 8 1/2 by 11 laminated poster. This is an easy guide to all phases of the moon throughout the year. It goes from December to December and lists each phase of moon and the date it occurs within any given month. The same company sells a "Mini-Moon Calendar" which, when punched with holes, will fit into a standard sized organizer.

Llewellyn Publishers: Llewellyn publishes a wide variety of calendars, included among them are: "The Goddess Calendar", "The Witches Datebook", "The Herbal Almanac", "The Moon Sign and Gardening Almanac", "The Daily Planetary Guide" and the "Tarot Calendar".

Moondial Mandalas: A beautifully illustrated wall calendar based on women's cycles, the phases of the moon and the position of the sun.

More Time Moms Family Calendar: More Time Moms Family Organizer Pocket Wall Calendar: The More Time Moms Family Organizer is a tool to help you keep your family a priority and keep track of their comings and goings.It has the biggest squares, 2.1"x 3.5", to give you plenty of room to write in, the best stickers to remind you of important events, and a pocket for bills and loose paperwork.

Sagewoman Calendar: Oregon based SageWoman, the best-selling magazine of women's spirituality, joins with Amber Lotus to present a new level of excellence in Goddess art and inspiration. The SageWoman 2009 wall calendar presents exquisite interpretations of Goddess virtues that guide and empower women every day. The calendar features four artists who are among the most accomplished and well-loved in the Goddess-spirit community: Emily Balivet, Melissa Harris, Hrana Janto, and Shiloh Sophia McCloud. Accompanying each image is text by Lunaea Weatherstone, priestess and writer, who weaves a tapestry of wisdom and wit that illuminates the common threads of sacred feminine energies worldwide. Each month marks the turning of the Wheel of the Year with seasonal themes, festivals, suggestions to bless each day, and much more - adding up to 365 ways to celebrate the Goddess in every woman.

Seasons of the Witch - The year of the Bog Witch Seasons of the Witch Engagement Calendar: This hardcover engagement calendar includes month-at-a-glance overview in two-page spread with waxing moon phases shaded for easy planning. Two-Page-Per Week format features major and minor PowerCasting opportunities for spells, sabbats, esbats, noteworthy events, lunar astrology, moon void-of-course, Mercury Retrograde and Secular (bank) holidays.

Susan Seddon Boulet: If you love Susan Seddon Boulet's work, you'll want to check out the "Goddess", "Shaman", and "Signs of the Zodiac" calendars, which feature her artwork. Most New Age and Pagan stores carry her books, calendars and greeting cards.

WeMoon Datebooks and Calendars: (Yet another Oregon-based company - I'm sensing a theme here.) WeMoon makes the wonderful We' Moon Calendar & Datebook. This is many things in one package: an astrological moon calendar, an eco-feminist appointment book, a daily guide to natural rhythms, and a lunar perspective through the 13 moons of the year. Inside you'll find art and writing from women around the world on Goddess inspired themes. This inspirational calendar comes 3 ways: in spiral bound version, in a "lay flat" bound version and in an unbound version. I punch holes in the unbound version and use it in my desk-sized organizer. You can order via their website or by calling 877-693-6666.

History of the Calendar

Last but not least, here is a brief History of the Calendar: It contains discussions on lunar, solar & stellar cycles and lists early calendars used by Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman and Jewish societies. It also notes major changes on our Western Calendar in the last 2,000 years.

The future stands before us full of possibility and hope. With that in mind, I'll end with a blessing I learned from my Scottish grandfather: "May the happiest days of your past be the saddest days of your future."

Blessed Be to you and yours, this year and in all the years to come.

Sia

Photo: Young Bobcat in Snow at Jeff Rich Nature Photography