I had already bought all the herbs that were not growing in my garden or the canyons, made my infusions and tinctures, and started my regime. I made arrangements to attend a ritual with Circle of Aradia on Saturday, and to have the children over for a smaller family drum ritual in my garden on Sunday.
Saturday was wonderful. A woman friend invited me to her house for a pre-ritual party with body-paint and sisterhood. I cooked some lovely nut loaves for the pot luck, and picked out a ritual robe that would leave my breasts bare. I had not participated in rituals bare-breasted previously, but this seemed to be appropriate. I wanted to honor my breasts, and to affirm my journey from nourishing mother to teaching crone. As Crone, my breasts are no longer sources of food, but of pleasure and womanliness. Although I would prefer to keep them, I could now release them without being devastated by the loss. I decided that if I were to become a single-breasted Amazon, I would definitely study archery, and take the middle name of Artemis.
I went to Sammy's house at the top of Topanga Canyon. Her house was airy, light and beautiful. In back, there was a small herb and vegetable garden and a koi pond covered with water lilies. This wonderful space came to her as the outcome of her Lammas magic.