Celebrate Fall Equinox and Laka, Hawaiian Goddess of Hula and The Forest

Tuesday, September 23, 7:30PM

Concord location, directions given upon RSVP

$15 newcomer discount, $30 one time exchange

This ritual is for cisgendered women.

Please RSVP to 925-787-9247 or Leilani@DaughtersoftheGoddess.com

http://www.daughtersofthegoddess.com

“She was born of a breath: an emanation, rather than a human birth, and She is the purest experience of inspiration.

Altars to Laka grace the entrances of hula halaus in many reaches of the world! She is the Goddess of Hula, and it is Her energy that moves the bodies of those who perform this Sacred Dance. Hula, then, is a partnership between the body that moves and the spirit of Laka that creates the movement. Laka both demands and ensures that we concentrate, work hard, and are diligent in whatever we endeavor to pursue.

As the Goddess of Hula, Laka keeps the ancient stories of Indigenous Hawaiian ethnic heritage alive and sees to it that the history of the Hawaiian people is remembered and infused into the lives of future generations. She is Sacred Memory.

Laka is also the Goddess of the forest and vegetation; all things lush and growing. She inspires life, She increases fecundity, and She teaches us about diligently listening for signs from Nature. When we embark to enter the forest, it is She to whom we ask for permission. If we need plants from beneath Her trees, it is She to whom we look for approval. As the Forest Goddess, Laka is also closely associated with rainfall and the movement of air required for life. Many plants and flowers are Sacred to Her, including the ohia lehua, maile, lama, and ie ie, which are traditionally used on Her altars and to make the leis which adorn Hula Dancers.

The Fall Equinox is the second of the three harvest Holydays in Nature’s calendar and the day when at the equator, there are equal light and dark hours in a 24 hour period! How precious that we will prepare an altar for Laka during our Fall Rite! We give praise and thanks to Laka for this year’s precious harvest.

As we ready ourselves to feel the Spirit of Laka within us, let us consider how we dance through each day of our lives, how we have danced through the Wheel of the Year, and what we will be harvesting from our hard work. How do you honor this energy that flows through you? In what ways do you reciprocate? How diligently do you listen to Her wishes and value them above all else?

For the altar, please bring an offering of greenery, a small potted plant, some flowers, or a fruit that you think She would like. In addition, please bring a yellow candle and wear yellow, which is a color that traditionally represents Laka on altars built for Her.

We look forward to celebrating Fall Equinox, under the New Moon, at the altar of Laka with each of you!

If you are interested in participating in a ritual or celebration, please help out by doing the following:

Please bring a snack to share (if possible, food of the culture we are celebrating), washable eating utensils (bowl, cup, plate, utensils, etc. In honor of Mother Earth, we do not provide disposable items), a candle (for safety reasons, we highly recommend a candle in a glass container, often called a novena), and pillow or chair to sit on to all rituals. For more information about our rituals please visit our FAQ page.

Please see our current series schedule and check the web page for the specific ritual to see what items to bring and how to prepare yourself. Please take the time to read this, especially if you are a newcomer. New information is added from time to time so even if you feel you have already seen this, it is important to check back in every now and then.”