~ Priestess of the Great Mother Goddess ~
Perth, Western Australia
Catherine de Garis
PO Box 203,
Hamilton Hill WA 6963
Raised and educated in the inner suburbs of Perth, in a family which valued spirit and nature.
My affinity with pagan/Goddess spirituality, and my personal vocation,
as a priestess emerged gradually over a number of years beginning
in late adolescence, and eventually demanding formal acknowledgement in
my mid-twenties around the ending of my first, six year (marriage) relationship.
Major
evolutionary moments in the past ten years ->
Summer Solstice 1992:
Following three specific incidents of being 'called', I ritually dedicate
myself and my life to the Goddess, committing myself to serve as a priestess
of the Great Mother "for the sake of the work, and for as long as the work
shall last."
The ceremony takes place in the centre of a grove of She-Oak trees
on the Swan River foreshore (not far from where I grew up), in the witness
of a small group of friends.
2nd October 1994:
Birth of my son, Robin Elden, born naturally at home in a water tub,
under the watchful eyes of an independent midwife.
(Blessings upon him for bringing me the long-sought initiation into
motherhood!)
Summer Solstice 1995:
Ritual 'birthing' of EarthDreaming Coven, at dawn on Raybold Hill,
a co-creation with my then-partner (and Robin's father) Peregrin Wildoak.
July 2000:
I leave EarthDreaming Coven. (The coven subsequently closed early in
2001).
February 2001:
Return to the Fremantle area, where I currently live with my son Robin
(shared half-time with his father).
I currently belong to a (closed) women's full moon circle, and am an active member of the Village Community (an intentional urban community seeking to live centred on the sacred).
I run a childbirth preparation group for pregnant women (from time to time as the need arises), and work part-time as an administrative assistant for Community Midwifery WA.
I am actively seeking more meaningful, paid community work to support
myself and my son, so that I can continue to develop my vocational work
as a priestess however I am called to do so by Goddess and my community.
I would like to acknowledge the following people who have taught and inspired me along the way (whether explicitly or by example):-
Peregrin WildoakFormal tertiary education:-
Andromeda
Women whose birthing journeys I have been privileged to witness and support: Joan, Skye, Teena, Melanie, Paula, Carrie...
My fellow EarthDreaming coven members over the four and a half years of our co-journeying
Sonja Glamorgan
Sofia, Ariel and Kathleen (The women's spirituality group which kept me sane through 1995)
John, Vivienne and various other folk from the Gaia Foundation
Zahira, Zubeida and others from the International Network for Dances of Universal Peace
Lizzie Sharp, Geoff Mortlock and members of the Creation-Centred Spirituality Network of WA
Yuthika Robin Juniper & Nicole Hastings
Shivam Rachana (of the College of Spiritual Midwives)
Daniel Sowelu and Claudia Defrenne
David Rivett
Jacob & Nicki De Hoog
Sam Weinstein
Starhawk
Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in French Studies (University of Western Australia, 1984 - 1988)Grad. Dip. in Applied Science (Computer Science) - part-time, incomplete (Edith Cowan University, 1990 - 1992)
Grad. Dip. in Childbirth Education - incomplete (Associates in Childbirth Education, NSW, 1996 - 2001)
Village Community - An intentional urban village centred on the sacred (2001 - )Birthplace Community Childbirth Education Project (2000 - 2001)
EarthDreaming Coven (1996-2000)
Homebirth Conference ó Opening & Closing Rituals (September 1998?)
Desert Wisdom (Dances of Universal Peace) Retreat at New Norcia
"She Changes Everything She Touches" three day experiential Goddess retreat at Gidgegannup
Womenís Spirituality Gathering, New Norcia
Introduction to Transformational Ritual, Short course, with Peregrin Wildoak (1995)
Forest Healing Weekend
Creation Spirituality Network Summer Solstice Celebration (1992)
Dances of Universal Peace retreat at Stoneville (1992?)
