Finally, after trodding down the dirt road for nearly two miles, having had some enlightening discussions and eye-opening lessons along the way, Ginny and I finally arrive at our destination – Kirby Cove.
Once one arrives at the cove, it’s just a matter of hiking down the steps to get to the beach itself…
… And then there I was, standing on the beach looking out over the waves.
Being that my Pagan name is Ocean, it’s not hard to imagine the impact that standing on that beach had for me. Granted, I’m not a big beachcombing fan, but I do have a strong affinity for water, and thus a love for being near lakes, rivers, streams…
and oceans.
Indeed, there was something very spiritual about the place; something rather magickal and mystical. It wasn’t hard to understand how Ginny would have chosen this as one of the sacred sites of the San Francisco Bay Area.
To my left one looks into the bay itself, and can see the Golden Gate Bridge… the famous symbol of San Francisco known around the world.
To my right one sees the cliffs of the Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean beyond…
As I stood on the beach, the waves came up and lapped teasingly at my ankles, as if trying to pull me into the water.
My mind was still thinking about Ginny’s description of me… and suddenly, without even thinking about it, I grabbed a nearby stick and began writing in the sand:
I am an adventurous woman
As I stood back and examined my handwriting, I felt an inner strength. It was as if with this single impulsive act, I was accepting myself… accepting my place in this universe… accepting the journey that had brought me here to this cove.
As I stood on the beach with Ginny, looking out over the waves, a song came to mind… a song which was written by a Pagan musician by the name of Charlie Murphy. I actually met Charlie many years ago – in fact, I interpreted for a concert that he gave in Madison, Wisconsin. At that concert he performed a song called “Mother Ocean”… which he also recorded on an album titled Catch the Fire:
Ohhh Mother Ocean – with your waves of power and grace
Ohhh Mother Ocean – your children have lost their way
And we need you to comfort us – to heal the pain within
And we need you to anchor us – to rock us deep in your love again
to rock us deep in your love.
At the end of this song is a chant, which basically repeats the same line over and over again…
Ohhh…Mother Ocean Love, Ocean Love, Ocean Love
As I stood on the beach at Kirby Cove, signing this chant over and over, a wave of peace flowed over me. After watching me for a couple of seconds, Ginny picked up on the simple signs I was using and together we began signing this chant… looking out over the waves as we did so. The chanting and signing continued for several minutes, and when it died down to silence we looked at each other, both of us with tears in our eyes. A long loving hug helped to ground us both and bring us back into the here and now.
The beach at Kirby Cove is strewn with rocks… pillow basalt and radiolarian chert which has been pounded into rounded shapes by ocean waters, and then cast upon the sand by the waves. Many have interesting designs on them, and I found myself stuffing my backpack with several examples to bring home and place on my altar.
I knew it was now time to leave. I needed to move on… to continue my journey. Picking up the stick once again, I drew a spiral in the sand – one of my favorite shapes.
Then arm linked in arm, Ginny and I climbed back up the stairs and left the beach.
I shall return. Exactly when… I’m not sure.
But I know I will be coming back to Kirby Cove again, and when I do…
Mother Ocean will be there waiting.
To comfort me.
To anchor me.
To rock me deep in Her love again.
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
What a sweet blog! Love the photo illustrations.
Hopefully this peace and inspiration will ground you in these coming days!
Greetings, Ocean !
Gosh, I love all of these pictures. It does makes me; to want to be there. That pictures does ease my eyes which I love the nature view. That song really comfort me. I say , “Sigh” ! Thank you for sending me, this ! Keep well, Ocean ! Goddess bless !
Witchpi
May you find comfort and joy wherever your path leads, Ocean.
that was beautiful, when i was a little girl, my grandpa use to take me to fun land and fisherman’s wharf. i too collected rocks and shells and chased the waves. boy that brought back memories bb birch
Wow! What a beautiful spot and obviously touched you at a deep, spiritual level.
so much magick “down the shore,” as my new jerseyan folks would say. thank you for sharing such a beautiful experience, replete with gorgeous pictures and words of music. you have a gift for the narrative, Osh
take me to Kirby Cove sometime? it would be such a bless.
Just taken in the simple beauty of ocean waves is magic in it’s self. Like you, Ocean, I have a strong attraction to water.
A beautiful moment thank you for sharing.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 (Holy Bible)
It’s obvious that God, the Creator of the Universe, has given each of us a desire to know and worship Him. I pray that you will truly come to know HIM, not only the beautiful creation that He has made. It is in knowing HIM, Jesus Christ, that find true fulfillment and peace in life.
Your pictures are lovely! You have an art for capturing beauty and makes me want to visit these places!
As a fellow Pagan, I feel the need to respond to Shelly’s comment above…
Shelly – while I respect your beliefs and honor your right to express them, I must point out a few things…
Paganism is a religion just like any other – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. There are many different Paths to the Divine; many different ways, many truths, many different lives. It is not for us to dictate which path, which way, which truth, and which life is appropriate for another individual.
Both Ocean and I have been Pagan for over 25 years. We are both ordained ministers in the Wiccan tradition. We feel as strongly about our own faith as you do yours.
Being Pagan does NOT mean that we don’t believe in God; a common misunderstanding that many people outside of Paganism seem to have – that we are a Godless people. On the contrary, when Ocean and I get together within our spiritual circles, we call down the God and/or the Goddess… and honor them as the life-sustaining force that not only created the Universe, but IS the universe… and everything within it.
As Pagans, we do not believe in proselytization – which can be defined as the act of attemping to convert a person from one faith/religion to another, or trying to preach your own religious doctrines and beliefs on other people. We don’t try to recruit people to the Pagan Path… we believe people must come into the Craft of their own free will, by making their own personal choices.
I feel I must also mention that while Christianity is the major organized religion of the world, there are far more non-Christians than there are Christians… Christianity makes up 33% of the world’s population; while Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism make up around 42%. The remaining 25% practice other forms of religion, or consider themselves “nonreligious.”
I am familiar with the teachings of Jesus Christ,and do believe he existed and was a good man… I simply choose not to follow his doctrines.
I have found the peace and fulfillment which I seek in my life, by connecting myself to a Divine Spirit which speaks to me in many ways. I hear its voice in the whispers of the wind and the roar of the ocean waves. I see it in the beauty of the mountains, and in the smiles of the people I meet every day.
And when I go into the forest and perform the sacred rites, whether it be alone or within the Circle with my friends…
I feel closer to God/dess than I do in any church.
Thank you for your prayers.
I too pray – for peace and understanding and acceptance amongst all people…
of different faiths and different beliefs.
Blessings.
Ummm ! I am Catholic and I understand. But I also Wiccan. I respect to Hawk . That his decision. As long as he is respecting. And I am interesting to read their opinion. So Goddess bless to all of you !
Witchpi
I believe there was a Christian Theologian who wrote an article once entitled “Why I am Pagan, Why I am Christian.” I want to say Paul Tilliach or Eric Bonhoffer but neither name sounds right. Was interesting to read about how elements of both spiritualities complimented one another.
GURU means the preacher who removes ignorance – darkness by emitting knowledge – light. The field of the context is important here. If you are ignorant of mathematics, a teacher may remove your ignorance about mathematics by teaching mathematics. Such a teacher cannot be called as Guru. Guru is the preacher who diverts you towards God by removing your ignorance about God. This is the most important field for any human being because it is the basis of every aspect of life here as well as there after death. The final knowledge of God is to know that you are always ignorant of God, because God is unimaginable or ever unknown.
Hello…
It has been a while since the last time I left comments on your blog. I want to say that this blog has touched my heart because I was there also, during my visit to Novato, CA a few years ago and my family went there, to Kirby Cove. It’s a beautiful place…