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The Zozorba Festival
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What is Zozobra?
Zozobra
is a 50 foot tall white marionette (puppet), with a black bow tie,
black belt and cuffs, big neon green glowing eyes, and huge red lips. It
was created by Santa Fe artist Will Shuster in 1924 and represents all
of the "gloom" (hardships and disappointments) that people have
experienced throughout the year. For this reason it is nicknamed "Old Man Gloom".
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 The Burning of the Zozorba is much like the ceremony of the Fall Equinox when we have the Sacred Giveaway in shamanic traditions. Throwing to the bonfire what you no longer need and no longer serves you. Isn't it interesting how the two ceremonies are based on the same concept? It is a time of cleansing, It starts the season of the Element of Water and preparation time to gather what we need during the winter months. 
Check out Wikipedia for further info on the Zozobra Festival and other Traditional Fall Rituals and Ceremonies
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Use our voice to vote.
Give money to a local charity or a world cause.
Adopt an abandoned or abused animal.
Join in groups and organizations that reflect your own views.
Be mindful of what resources you use and/or abuse. Recycle, Reuse and Conserve where you can. |
What can you
expect to see
during the
burning of
Zozobra? |
| When it begins to get dark, small fires are lit in front of Zozobra . A Fire Spirit Dancer"glooms" in a red costume and small white (children dressed in white)
start dancing in front of Zozobra. The Fire Spirit Dancer dances and
jumps trying to frighten away the "glooms". With anticipation building
from the spectators, Zozobra is finally set on fire. As the flames sore
up its body the arms start to move up and down and the heard turns from
side to side. Fireworks light the night sky as Zozobra starts to moan
and groan, the anguishing cries getting louder as the flames engulf its
entire body (it can be scary to younger children). | |
Something New......My View
Usually in these newsletters I try and keep the subjects objective and informational without a lot of input from myself. But there is change in the air, almost palpable, and many have contacted me feeling as if they are at a crossroads, instinctively knowing that big changes are coming and they want to prepare for whatever is unfolding in their lives.
Just in the USA alone, we have political campaigns and elections in November that will have a lasting impact on our daily lives. Whichever side of the spectrum you fall on, don't feel as if it is out of your hands. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Silence = Acceptance. Taking action = Consequences.
Which is why I have decided to speak my Truth, to all of you. I realize many will not agree with me, but I have faith that everyone will keep an open mind and if so be it, agree to disagree. I can no longer stay silent as long as I have a public forum to reach out with. So here is my view on the current events in our world. Feel free to respond in the Contact Me section and I will post your views as well. The idea is to start a conversation.
I am an idealist, and carry hope in my heart that everything will work itself out, that the human race has a limit, a line that is drawn in the sand, and if pushed hard enough one can't help but speak or take action for the sake of all humanity and those who need protection and our help. The silent majority is being called upon to find their voices, for each and every thought creates an energy that will manifest itself one way or another in our world. Are our words creating positive vibrations or negative ones? Are we being kind to each other? Are we handing our power over to organizations that no longer have our best interest at heart?
Ask the average American, and most will say they are worried about their jobs, a steady income, the environment, the wars, the protests, the scandals and the power of the media. So I ask you, what have you done lately? Have you sat on the sidelines or have you gotten involved? It's easy enough to stay in our own little comfort zone, and avoid the news and happenings that directly affect us. We give away our power and put it in someone else's hands, although ironically no one seems to really have the trust that it will be used wisely. Well I am one of those that has been pushed to their limit. I can no longer ignore the events or people that are spewing hatred, intolerance, making harsh judgements of those who are not like ourselves. All of a sudden everything is turning black & white again, and the gray is shrinking away. What happened to the hopefulness and excitement of having a new President with ideas for changes that we all know are needed? Everyone instead is pointing a finger or pushing blame - but in the end we have no one to answer to but ourselves. What was once united is now being divided - the have's and have not's , the heterosexuals vs homosexuals, the Christians vs other religions, intolerance of other cultures and races - and generalizing all who fall into these groups as if they are all of the same thought. Black & White thinking is easy, for we then have nothing to reflect on or decide what is and what is not our Truth. But even staying silent has a consequence for it assumes acceptance of what is. Are you content with how things are in this world? Every thought we create is energy, and energy does not die, it transforms or adds to what there already is. There are many who say the world is unbalanced and is weighed down with too much masculine (warrior) energy. So how do we influence that? With a higher outflow of the feminine (nurturer) energy. Mother Earth is wounded - by war, by natural disasters and global warming, not to mention the manmade disasters. Her resources are being depleted and nothing is being put in its place to heal Her, creating voids where it is all too easy for the negative vibrations to find a home. But if each and every one of us make a vow to take even one action, or voice one opinion with loving intent, the collective results will be amazing.
So this is my challenge to you. For You and I are One with All There Is. What is it that you want to create or destroy? Autumn is the season to get rid of what no longer serves you, to throw what has needlessly burdened you into the Fire of the Summer season as it ends. Leaving us once again with a lightness of being, a hope for the future and a lifting of our Spirit. We are the role models of our younger generations, the giver of our ancestral knowledge and wisdom, our influence is great and our responsibility even greater.
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