Dear Friends,

I am so lucky to have you in my life.

You have been letting me know that you are anxiously waiting for the release of Theatre of the Dark Goddess. I am thrilled that you are excited for it! I am also dying to get the DVD out there to you.

As you may have heard, my sister passed away at the end of October. In fact, she died the night of the DVD pre-release party. As you might imagine, the impact of my sister’s unexpected and untimely death has been devastating for me. It has affected my life, my family, and my heart and soul, in ways that I can’t even begin to express. She was only 35.

After the pre-release party, and the news of my sister’s passing, I had a choice to make: do I go to Europe to dance and teach as I’d planned for months, years? Or do I stay back in the States and mourn my sister? It was only one week after her death that my trip was scheduled to commence, and I was still numb with grief and shock.

I chose to go. And I’m glad I did. In Europe, I went to the land of my ancestors. In the presence of friends (and perhaps distant family) I participated in a Samhain ritual in Germany’s Black Forest. On this sacred feast day of the dead, we honored my sister as ancestor, and also the Grandmothers of the land, and the witches who were persecuted there. We called upon the Dark Goddess, and She was present. So present. And She healed.

I lit candles throughout Rome in memory of my sister under the gaze of the Great Goddess in Her form of Mary. I visited crossroads and spoke with Hecate. (My sister was born on Hecate’s sacred day.)

This major event was accompanied by a cluster of other challenges and losses that have affected my life and threatened to knock me off course.

But I’m still standing. Bring it.

Ok, enough defiant talk. Back to the DVD: The good news is that the DVD is long---longer than even I expected! It’s packed full of stuff for you! But this has also delayed its release, as it is more work to chapter, menu, and press a longer version. I am not a major company with a formula; I am self-producing, learning-curve-climbing, creative artist. But I do not want to compromise. The DVD is, I believe, comprehensive. It is more than the sum of its parts. Like the web of the Dark Lady, all parts connect to one another. That is my style of teaching. And so it is.

The videographer that we’ve been working with on the DVD has also had his share of challenges, both personal and professional. We’ve been forced to find another professional to finish the project, and raise extra funds to finish. So it’s slow going.

I watched the video again (and again, and again) yesterday. It’s a work I am proud of, and will be glad to release to you.

"But when?", you ask.
I say January.

Can you be patient with me still?

I believe all things happen as they should. Trails, tests, tragedy and healing are the domain of the Dark Goddess. Ultimately, through her darkness, She is the Bringer of Light, after all. She has Her reasons, and I have faith in Her guidance.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. I can’t tell you how much it means.

Yours truly,
Aepril