Yule 2015

Sophia Rising wishes all its current members (of Momiji Moon) and all its future members a very Merry Yule.

Yule lands December 21-22 this year. May it be spent with family and loved ones.

Blessed be!

From the Public to Semi-Private

Due to circumstances and space availability, the Esbats that had been offered publicly have had to move to a semi-private status.

Reasons:

• Studio Sacred Space had to close its doors and give up its space
• Scarlet (the HPS) just had a baby via c-section and is housebound for recovery

So for the next three months, these Esbats will be restricted to those within the coven, those of Outer Court, CMS students, and selected invited guests. To see the rituals for if you wish to follow them on your own at home, go to the Rituals of the Year page.

Application for Outer Court is now closed till next spring/summer.

Sophia Rising Tradition is now OPEN for applicants

DATE OF FIRST OPEN MEETING: July 5th at 10am at Sacred Space Studio

Remember that there are many reasons for people to be accepted and refused. You might think you are a good fit, when the coven as a whole disagrees. Do not take it personally, we are keeping your and our best interests at heart. The same is also true in reverse. The coven might think you would be the perfect addition, but if you do not feel comfortable for whatever reason, then trust your instincts. Now might not be the right time for you. This group might not be the one. If it is... welcome to an incredible new journey along your and our path.

There are two ways to join a coven of Sophia Rising Tradition (such as Coven of Momiji Moon).

1. By Invitation
2. By Application

 
By Invitation
Someone from the Inner Court of the coven has petitioned for your entry. The coven has discussed it and agreed to invite you. A formal invitation is given to you; your acceptance or refusal follows. If you accept, then you will start the Outer Court with a mentor.


By Application
Applicants must meet one of three criteria in order to apply. If not, then you must both impress us and prove yourself. Prove you have experience and knowledge. Work at earning a reference. Then apply. Applications will be accepted May through July, thus those completing the Outer Court process might be dedicated close to Samhain, the time of the annual dues. Possible requirements:

• Completion of Crescent Moon School's Level 2 program
• 5 years active study with proof/references
• 1 year full community attendance/involvement

Applicants must provide the following:

• Legal and magical name
• Date of birth (must be a legal adult to apply)
• Address, tel #, email address, and Facebook name (skype too if you have it)
• Proof of previous magical training & involvement
• 2 references from the community who can vouch for you and your experience
• reason for applying to this coven / tradition

If your application is accepted for consideration, you will be contacted for a meeting, unless the meeting is OPEN, then anyone may attend but must come with the above information.
If your application is refused, an explanation will be given.

After the meeting, a final notice will be given of acceptance into the Outer Court Process or a refusal with explanation.


Outer Court Process
The Outer Court process costs $25 ($20 to your mentor and $5 to the coven). With a mentor, complete the Outer Court lesson in 3-4 month's time. This includes the reading material for the lesson and the preparation and presentation of personal research. All coven esbats must be attended. And understand that completion does not guarantee dedication.

Introduction to Sophia Rising

From earth we rose like metal and stone,

Into air we breathed in the lessons and started to form,

Through fire we have been tried and challenged and forged like great blades,

Then dropped into the Cauldron of Rebirth to cool and be born anew

Under an ever-changing moon.[1]

Sophia Rising Tradition was born 2014 out of the ashes of Katana Moon when life changes occurred. Katana Moon was founded by Scarlet, Blade, and WinterWolf in 2012. Sophia Rising is the over-arching tradition that is non-denominational, focused first on Traditional Craft and the rise of wisdom and enlightenment of all members. It provides the framework or skeleton upon which each coven builds. It draws many of its roots from the Sacred Order of the Black Forest, through which its founders were forged for a number of years from dedication to third degree.[2] Each coven has its own focus of pantheon, path, and practices. For example: Momiji Moon is a syncretic praxis which combines Euro-Celtic folk religions, traditional Wicca and Witchcraft, and East Asian philosophies (Taoism, Shinto, Buddhism, and Zen).

This tradition holds an Outer, Middle and Inner Court system. The Outer Court consists of basic introductory information and experiences in coven work and lasts about three or four months. The Middle Court consists of foundation lessons and practices for the Dedicant and lasts a year and a day. The Inner Court consists of the traditional three degrees as seen in Gardnerian Wicca and Witchcraft.

Sophia Rising is dedicated to serving its community in the many and varied ways it can. As clergy of the various covens, we offer the design and performance of rituals to celebrate rites of passage: Wiccaning/Baby-Blessing, Coming of Age, Handfasting, Eldering/Croning and Crossing Over. We also offer assistance with workshops and seminars, guest lectures and discussion groups, as well as the performance of house/business/personal cleansings[3] and blessings. Although our practices are predominantly of Traditional Wicca and of Paganism, we will readily custom design a ritual to suit someone’s personal preferences and celebratory practice.

Clergy are not just ritual leaders, mentors or counselors. As clergy of Sophia Rising, we stand ready to work through healing, life challenges, protection, and many other aspects that rise as the needs of the community change. Some of us stand at the forefront while others of us provide the foundations, support network, and protective shields. We are all different people and serve our community best by serving with our own true nature.

Membership in each coven is through invitation or application. These are not open study groups. As our focus is clergy training and community service, we generally do not train individuals new to the Craft. We consider candidates who already have a strong background in Wicca and Paganism and who demonstrate interest in serving their community in some way.

The clergy training process is a commitment of several intensive years, and it involves a willingness for self-transformation. Sophia Rising covens meets for every full, dark and new waxing crescent Esbat, and once a month for lessons, readings and practices. It also meets every Sabbat proper to celebrate together. There is an annual retreat for all member of Sophia Rising Tradition. And, 3^rd Degree Initiates attend a personal retreat of self-care hosting by the other members of the Inner Court.

In Service,

With Honor & Love

Lady Scarlet

High Priestess of Momiji Moon

A Coven of Sophia Rising Tradition

---

[1] “Transformation”, by T. Scarlet Jory, 2011

[2] Sacred Order of the Black Forest is also known as BFC (Black Forest Clan) or Tradition of the Black Forest.

[3] Cleansing here refers to the spiritual cleansing/purification process, banishing negativity.

Outer Court Materials Ready!

The Outer Court lesson is complete!


It took a few months to evaluate the criteria and to think about how this would work out, then to rework the lesson and rework it some more.  Next is to work on the Dedicant level information.

Sophia Risings: Momiji Moon will consider applicants in... JUNE!

That way Dedication will be close to Samhain.

Momiji

Momiji is referred to as a kami in Japanese Shinto tradition. A kami cam mean many things: ghost, spirit, elemental, god, otherworlderly being, etc. In this case, she is seen most closely related to a dryad or tree spirit. She represents the essence of all Japanese maple trees. This ranks her as a spirit or minor deity.

In one myth, she aids the Goddess of Autumn (Akibimi). "One day a dryad named Momiji stumbled upon the mountain (Akibimi, powerless and transformed) and, realizing that the beauty of the earth could not be appreciated without the slumber brought on by Akibimi's powers, offered to free the autumn. To this end, Momiji climbed up onto Akibimi's head and set down roots, and through her, autumn once more fell on the world." (https://broomcloset.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/akibimi-japanese-goddess-of-autumn/)

To this day, there are special festivities in the Autumn to view the changing leaves of the Japanese maple trees. This is called Momiji-gare. It is both a social and a spiritual experience. There are even protocols for proper viewing, like there are for tea and calligraphy. While viewing, one should try to come into spiritual communion with the leaves, listening and communicating with the gods and spirits of these trees. The aim is to "enter nature" and let it touch your heart. Internalize its beauty. "Man enters Nature, and Nature, in turn, enters man." This viewing festival is important in all sorts of tales, like the Tale of Genji, and throughout history where meetings of officials were held in peace under the watchful eye and the beauty of Momiji. This leads to notions of peace and prosperity being associated with Momiji.

The leaf shape of the Japanese maple tree is akin to a child's hand (momiji) or the webbed hand of a frog (kaede). Often the Autumn coloring makes for crimson colored leaves (momizu, to become crimson-leaved).

Momiji is found in many Japanese poems for all the reasons mentioned above. It was also a poetic euphemism for eating venison. Each Japanese tree became associated with a kind of animal and thus meat. The cherry tree (Sakura) is associated with horses and eating horse meat. Momiji is associated with the deer and thus the eating of venison.

Momiji Moon venerates Momiji as its main spirit or totem, and treats Momiji as a deity. It is through Momiji that the coven and tradition had been revived, and through Momiji that the smooth blending of East Asian traditions could find balance.

(References also from: https://printsofjapan.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/momiji-%E7%B4%85%E8%91%89-the-japanese-and-their-love-affair-with-the-maple-tree/)

Returning to the Source

When I first started out on this Pagan Path, I had explored a number of beliefs and practices. My first self-dedication was to Diana for lack of knowing any other deities at the time (back in CEGEP in 1990). I was soon after initiated into a family tradition akin to British Traditional Witchcraft.

As I grew and learned and explored, I came to a point where I no longer fit the roles and traditions I had been following. Academically and career-wise, everything had fallen through for me and I was lost. This is what happens when you train for 4 years in a field with the intention of teaching in it only to graduate a couple months after the government removes that field from the educational curriculum. I felt lost, floundering.

It was at this point that I encountered The Source, Spirit, Divine. I have come to know this divine being as a Goddess, Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom. I did not know her as this the first time I encountered her. And truly, she could have been male, but my perception was that this divine being was female and lunar. She was the ever changing moon, the constantly evolving source of knowledge and wisdom. She has remained in the background of my worship to this day.

Almost.

I spent time training in a coven, earning my 3rd Degree and Gardnerian lineage. All things change. I eventually walked away from this for the greater good of all involved. From there I started incorporating East Asian practices and beliefs into my usual Celtic training, trying to mesh them into a smooth and syncretic system. It worked on some levels and not on others.

Then life threw me off a metaphorical cliff with no parachute.

I lost my business and a great many other things. That loss damaged everything about me and how I view myself and my perceptions of what I was capable of or not. That was a deep and dark hole to be in for several months. I lost sight of the light. I struggled with my inner demons and the demons lying in wait from earlier traumas in my life. It was a hard climb from that deep dark hole. I could not hold onto a spiritual path as I was living in survival mode. I thought I had no support from anywhere, that no one cared. I was of course wrong. It was just hard to see the small candles of friends and family. The time was needed to heal.

When that healing finally started to take hold, She was there to remind me, "I have been here from the beginning and I am that which is attained at the end of desire." The path was once again there before me, if I was ready to step back onto it. She rose within me and around me. She wrapped me in her arms and reminded me that I was never alone. She poured love and wisdom into my wounds so they may heal. All things in life are a lesson, she had reminded me. As we learn, so do we become wise.

So I returned to The Source. Sophia Rising.

The path I form is Momiji Moon in honor of both Sophia's lunar aspect in my life and the momiji kami (spirit/minor deity/Japanese dryad) that has been instrumental in my steps forward. Through them I have been able to build a beautiful syncretic tradition whereby I blend my Euro-Celtic Gardnerian training with East Asian religions and philosophies. This time, I have found something that makes my soul sing, strengthens me, feeds light into the dark corners, and helps me do and be what I need to.

May She inspire not just me, but others along their paths of Wisdom. 

~ Lady Scarlet