CIA Brief | 2022 Winter
President's Brief
Happy Holiday Season!
This season brings the Winter Solstice on December 21 when people will gather at the Sun Circle at sunrise to join in celebration and welcome Winter. This will be our “Gongmaster”, Don Orne’s 50th and final ceremony; you can read more about his journey in this newsletter.
If you are a member, active memberships expire on March 31 at which point you will receive a reminder to renew. Thank you for your continued support.
I would like to acknowledge the passing of a dedicated board member, an inspiration to me and a dear friend, Allie Blodgett, who passed away peacefully in October. We have set up a donation fund in her honor on our website and Sheryl has collected and contributed heartfelt thoughts in this newsletter about this special lady.
On behalf of our Board, I wish you all festive and happy holidays!
Kelly
Tribute to Allie Blodgett
On October 1, 2021, a partly sunny day, hundreds of dragonflies flew over a beautiful home on Beach Bluff Avenue in Swampscott where Alice (Allie) Flather "Mugsie" Blodgett had passed away after a long illness, 30 days before her 87th birthday. Allie was surrounded by her loving family. These dragonflies seemed to know they had lost a dear friend who loved the ocean and all the parts of nature that surrounded her.
Most people met Allie for the first time through the Clifton Improvement Association (CIA) when the Blodgett and Mayo families graciously donated the land now known as Beach Bluff Park. I was fortunate enough to have met her long before her involvement with the CIA, though I can't remember how. What I do remember is that I had just been in the company of a woman of grace, kindness, endless energy, and a genuine concern for others. I also remember feeling like I was underdressed. Allie always looked elegant without any effort.
Allie was one of those rare people who might disagree with you about something, sometimes strongly, but would always be willing to listen and give you the courtesy of her uninterrupted attention. She also made sure she gave compliments and encouragement to others.
Roberta Levy and Pete Bowen, former Board members, remember lovely walks with Allie on Preston Beach, which is something all enjoyed. Phil Lee (Board member and Treasurer) and Kristin Nyberg (former Board member) would at times also meet Allie on Preston Beach during walks and stop to chat about her travels; however, Allie always loved coming home to her beach and the ocean.
Roberta Chadis, Board member and Officer, remembers Allie being a gracious host who would welcome us into her home on many occasions. Lynn Nadeau, also a Board member (and former Board president), shared the same birthday as Allie and remembers how much joy she got from attending the ceremonies at Beach Bluff Park, run by Gongmaster Don Orne.
Allie grew up in Lowell. She met her loving husband, Don, through friends from Marblehead. Her favorite hobbies were tennis, going to the theater, sailing, skiing, and bridge. Beyond all her activities was her passion and love of helping others, including family and friends. Some of you may also know of her love of stuffed animals, especially cats.
As her health deteriorated, I was never sure if she recognized who I was when I came for visits. But that didn't matter to me. I would sit with her, hold her hand, and talk about things we did together. She would listen and sometimes smile. All who knew her will remember her beauty and devotion.
There was something about Allie’s generous spirit that made people understand the significance of our magnificent place on Earth right here in Swampscott. That’s why Beach Bluff Park will always be cared for by the Board and all the people who enjoy the beauty and peace they feel as they look at the ocean or watch the sun rise or set.
The spiritual meaning of a dragonfly is "the light of God." Allie's light will remain in my heart forever. I’m sure that everyone who knew Allie feels the same.
Sheryl Levenson
Shape of Geometry
Eternal tumbleweed of birth(born) dying(death)
Orb of sun seekers in rondo sonic whirlpool of singing bowl
Full embrace of basalt pillars: circles all
Arrows of sunlight dart of the crow path of wooden slats linear extensions of arms in prayer and praise: angles all
Sinuous waves rollings of human voices gyre of shaman rattle tumult of Rosebush, pokeweed bees freshets of wind: momentum all
Surely the geometry of solstice is a touchstone for blessings
Sightings
They go together, like… dragonflies and damselflies. These two insects that make up the order Odonota are the largest insects you’re likely to spot in Massachusetts. We tend to lump them both into the “dragonfly” category, but they are two different species: Anisoptera (dragonflies) and Zygoptera (damselflies). Both species have two pairs of transparent membranous wings of about equal size. These large wings allow them to hover like a helicopter and fly in almost any direction. Their jewel-like eyes are multi-directional, too, allowing them to see every angle except directly behind them.
Dragonflies hold different meanings in different cultures, symbolizing good luck in some and bad luck in others. In the Native American community, particularly to the Navajo, the dragonfly represents purity and happiness. In Japan, the dragonfly signifies the end of summer and the beginning of winter. In Sweden, it is said that dragonflies approach people to measure the purity of their soul.
Regardless of their cultural meaning, odonates are an important member of our aquatic ecosystems, keeping mosquitoes, black flies, and other flying insects in check. In New England alone, more than 180 species are recorded—160 of these occurring in Massachusetts—with more than 5,000 species worldwide.
For more information, visit massaudubon.org
With Grateful Recognition to Don Orne, Gongmaster
Many of you have witnessed our sunrises over the years at the Sun Circle where our Gongmaster, Donald Orne, has led us through the four seasonal ceremonies.
Don has decided to retire as Gongmaster after the Winter Solstice on December 21st. I asked Don to share his thoughts and feelings about how these ceremonies emerged many sunrises ago. Here’s what Don wants us all to know:
“The role of Gongmaster emerged when I went to Israel to plant a peace pole in Jerusalem in 1996. I first played my gong in Jerusalem, on Christmas Eve, from a peace and meditation temple. It grew into the World Peace and Prayer Society asking me to play my gong live in real time over the Internet via The World Puja Network to the world.
That led to my playing my peace gong at the United Nations during Children's Day.
That led to my traveling to Assisi, Rome, and Hazelwood, England, for the full solar eclipse in 1999. I went to Guatemala twice with a group of Reiki Masters. The shamans held the gong over their seven sacred fires, turning my musical instrument into a sacred object. I only took it out from then on to create sacred space. When Lynn Nadeau asked me in 2009 to create a spiritual experience for solstice and equinox events for the new Sun Circle, I was honored to incorporate the honoring of the seven directions into the other activities using the peace gong.
The participation was strong as the beauty of the park increased and we had a dozen or so to over a hundred at one event.
The ceremony has allowed me to bring forth my spiritual side and create intentions each time by adding participants’ voices, instruments, dance, poems, and prayers, etc.
It has been a wonderful experience that has included my son, granddaughter, and friends adding their loving energy to the sunrise ceremonies. I am so grateful to the CIA and its members for a decade of magical moments surrounded by flowers and plants and rocks and the fabulous Sun Circle itself. We braved the elements as our ceremonies marched us through the wind, rain, snow, and fire while the 21 birds honked at us as they flew through the vibrations from the gong on several occasions. The fact that I was able to show up for 50 consecutive events in good health was a miracle in itself. We were able to film almost all of these events and have left a video library for CIA history.
I would love to see a woman replace me if available. Now that I am 80 years old and taking care of my girlfriend on a twenty-three hour a day schedule, we must take what time left us and enjoy what we can. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE!” -Don
We are happy to say that Don’s wishes are coming true and Lisa Kawski, founder of Sound Healing for the Soul, has enthusiastically agreed to take over as our gongmaster and leader of the seasonal ceremonies in March for the Spring Equinox. Lisa and her partner, Kampa Vashi, will be at the Winter Solstice and look forward to meeting you there.
Roberta Chadis
The Winter Soltice
Jim Keating
The winter solstice means the northern part of Earth is tilted most away from the sun. The sun appears at the most southerly part of the ecliptic, which is the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun. Two phenomena of note occur at this time.
First: The earliest sunsets of the year are December 7, 8, and 9 and occur at 4:11 p.m.
Second: The latest sunrises of the year are December 28-January 10 and occur at 7:13 a.m. This is at the Latitude of Marblehead (42*28’43”N).
But why do all these celebrations (Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa) occur during this time of year?
To find the answer to that question, one has to look at different cultures through the lens of Archaeo-astronomy. What we find are different clues of ancient cultures and the winter solstice. One such find is the Neolithic monument in County Meath, Ireland, called Newgrange. It dates back to 3,200 BCE, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Its entrance is aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice. In India, where Zoroastrianism started, they believed the Nativity of the Sun occurred on the winter solstice. In ancient Rome, they held a holiday called Saturnalia, which was on the winter solstice. At the start of Christianity, they held the belief that the son of God was born on December 25, which is very close to the winter solstice. If one is to evaluate the different cultures down through the ages the thing in common is the winter solstice.
But why the winter solstice?
Come to the Sun Circle on the winter solstice on December 21 at Sunrise, 7:10 a.m., and you will find out the why.
We are delighted to say that Lisa Kawski has agreed to continue as our gong master starting at the Spring Equinox in March. Lisa will join us at the Winter Solstice and would love to meet you then.
2021 Holiday Sale
You Can Walk Your Own Plank at Beach Bluff Park
One of the most popular ways to donate to the park is with a personalized plank along our boardwalk. You may choose to memorialize a loved one, commemorate a special event, give a gift to your favorite beach lover, or simply to have fun and leave a message to park wanderers. Planks are usually $250 each but are on sale for $200 through December.
Planks can be engraved with up to 28 letters and punctuation (no numbers or other symbols available at this time). Go to www.ciabeachbluff.org and click on “Support the Park" to order your plank before December 31st to get the Holiday Sale price of $200.