Paula West

Lady Branwenn WhiteRaven (aka Paula Jean West) is a Third Degree Wiccan Priestess, a published travel writer, an award-winning travel photographer, an urban homesteader, a herb enthusiast and an enigma. She has studied and taught about Wicca for the last 30 years in the DC and Central Virginia areas. She founded the Blue Ridge Beltane Festival in Stanardsville, VA in 2001. She is a legally ordained, non-denominational clergy through the Order of Melchizedek and has an extensive background in clinical psychology and counseling. She is 56, a Virgo, and resides in Lynchburg, VA with her husband, Jamey. She can be contacted at branwenn@aol.com and welcomes ALL correspondence and questions.

The Queen: A New Face for the Goddess

All women aren't ready to become "Crones" as soon as their menses cease. We live a lot longer than we used to in the "Olde Days", and we rarely progress straight from Maiden to Mother to Crone. In fact, many of us spend a really long time in the "no-woman's land" between Mother and Crone. The new idea of the Goddess incarnation of Queen describes a time of rejuvenation to be celebrated by "women of a certain age." This class about the Queen stage of a woman's life is offered to ALL women: 1.) No matter what your age; 2.) Whether you are childless by chance or choice-- or if you have lots of children--physical and/or spiritual; 3.) If you are one who started the "Strange of Life" early or late; 4.) Or just because you are interested or intrigued. (If you wish to research to prepare for this class, I recommend a great book by my mentor and the original QUEEN, Mama Donna Henes, entitled, The Queen of My Self: Stepping into Sovereignty in Midlife.)

Coronation of the Queen: A New Face for the Goddess

This will be an affirmative ritual designed as a natural follow-up to the workshop: "The Queen : A New Face for the Goddess" and is best experienced AFTER attending the workshop. This ritual will help women in the Queen stage of life reclaim their power, embrace their sovereignty and let go of the things that are holding them back from achieving their goals during the most creative time of their lives. The recent idea of the Queen aspect of the Goddess describes a time of rejuvenation to be celebrated by women who embrace the fires of their imagination, artistry, energy and passion. Wear your most queenly garments or your everyday clothes, whatever makes YOU feel the best, and come ready to become the Queen of your own life.