The Clarity of Grey
When 2015 arrived it seemed world events would ease a bit. But the geopolitical 
predictions for the year pointed to more turmoil with extremists and
terrorists of various persuasions running roughshod over others. How
can this be? All over the world there are groups praying for peace,
for a change in human hearts, or for a better way of life. Yet, their
sparks of light get lost in all the dark and dreary events in the news.
What can we do?
Reflecting on it one morning in meditation I heard a voice say, Summon the Clanmothers. It seemed like the answer! Especially because this month is the Equinox - the seasonal point when the earth is covered with equal hours of sunlight and darkness. It's a cosmic point of balance for the earth, where extremes are harmonized. At the midpoint everything that is black or white becomes a neutral gray. In that moment The Clarity of Gray appears. It simply blends and neutralizes both extremes of black and white.
So, if the ancients considered the Equinoxes holy and sacred why not us? The word went out and the Clanmothers were summoned. One was a peacemaker. Three led
spiritual centers. One worked with the oceans and her inhabitants. A
few taught "earth ways" in their practices while others led
meditations. All of them responded to the call, knowing that on this
day, in this season of balance, the sound of their prayers would fill
the ether, and the discerning would hear it. They knew in this brief
moment of balance, the extremes of black and white would neutralize for a
few days, and they would influence the outcome.
The 13 Clanmothers represent aspects of the Divine Feminine - aspects ignored for 3000 years. The Divine Feminine kept the wisdom ways, told the stories, acted as a healer, counseled the afflicted, weaved and spun, prevented war and honored the visions. Each of the 13 Clanmothers was a matriarchal elder in ancient tribes. Each matriarch held the truths of the aspects. They performed the rituals and ceremonies, presiding over births and funerals. They were keepers of the names, dispensing them at birth and returning the name at death.
The Clanmother was not just the wisdom keeper but also the dispenser of justice. She would remove a Chief who did not follow the guidance of matriarch. She negotiated and harmonized all tribal disputes. Wars could not begin unless the Clanmother approved. She rose above the petty arguments and extreme positions, using her skills as peacemaker and mother to keep everything in balance. She was the epitome of The Clarity of Grey.
Each Clanmother is aligned with one of the 13 moons of the lunar. It's more natural because it acknowledges the feminine and lunar cycles. It logically assigns thirteen months of 28 days to the lunar calendar. This totals 364 days of the solar year. The extra day was one of celebration, honoring the year past and welcoming in a new year.
On the Equinox, the Clanmother acts as harmonizer for the earth and peacemaker for the people of extreme positions. She will take all extremes of black and white and blend them into the clarity of grey. She will insist that weapons of war and the voices of hate be sheathed as she summons peace upon the land. She sees far and weaves a web that raises humankind. For her duty is to hold a vision of hope, ease, and grace. But most of all she sees to the children who will live the vision of the 13th moon.
predictions for the year pointed to more turmoil with extremists and
terrorists of various persuasions running roughshod over others. How
can this be? All over the world there are groups praying for peace,
for a change in human hearts, or for a better way of life. Yet, their
sparks of light get lost in all the dark and dreary events in the news.
What can we do?Reflecting on it one morning in meditation I heard a voice say, Summon the Clanmothers. It seemed like the answer! Especially because this month is the Equinox - the seasonal point when the earth is covered with equal hours of sunlight and darkness. It's a cosmic point of balance for the earth, where extremes are harmonized. At the midpoint everything that is black or white becomes a neutral gray. In that moment The Clarity of Gray appears. It simply blends and neutralizes both extremes of black and white.
So, if the ancients considered the Equinoxes holy and sacred why not us? The word went out and the Clanmothers were summoned. One was a peacemaker. Three led
spiritual centers. One worked with the oceans and her inhabitants. A
few taught "earth ways" in their practices while others led
meditations. All of them responded to the call, knowing that on this
day, in this season of balance, the sound of their prayers would fill
the ether, and the discerning would hear it. They knew in this brief
moment of balance, the extremes of black and white would neutralize for a
few days, and they would influence the outcome.The 13 Clanmothers represent aspects of the Divine Feminine - aspects ignored for 3000 years. The Divine Feminine kept the wisdom ways, told the stories, acted as a healer, counseled the afflicted, weaved and spun, prevented war and honored the visions. Each of the 13 Clanmothers was a matriarchal elder in ancient tribes. Each matriarch held the truths of the aspects. They performed the rituals and ceremonies, presiding over births and funerals. They were keepers of the names, dispensing them at birth and returning the name at death.
The Clanmother was not just the wisdom keeper but also the dispenser of justice. She would remove a Chief who did not follow the guidance of matriarch. She negotiated and harmonized all tribal disputes. Wars could not begin unless the Clanmother approved. She rose above the petty arguments and extreme positions, using her skills as peacemaker and mother to keep everything in balance. She was the epitome of The Clarity of Grey.
Each Clanmother is aligned with one of the 13 moons of the lunar. It's more natural because it acknowledges the feminine and lunar cycles. It logically assigns thirteen months of 28 days to the lunar calendar. This totals 364 days of the solar year. The extra day was one of celebration, honoring the year past and welcoming in a new year.
On the Equinox, the Clanmother acts as harmonizer for the earth and peacemaker for the people of extreme positions. She will take all extremes of black and white and blend them into the clarity of grey. She will insist that weapons of war and the voices of hate be sheathed as she summons peace upon the land. She sees far and weaves a web that raises humankind. For her duty is to hold a vision of hope, ease, and grace. But most of all she sees to the children who will live the vision of the 13th moon.
Jo Mooy - March 2015
more specifically, in the northern Native American tribes, the Mothers of the Clans were held in sacred reverence. These Clanmothers were the historians, the faith-keepers, spiritual advisors, and the ones who chose tribal leaders. They served in rituals, ceremonies, medicine and spiritual events. As life-givers, their role was keeper of the culture and history of the tribe. 
