All posts by Barbara Ocskai

7.2018 Workshop Offerings

OFFERINGS

Snohomish Thursday Farmers Market

Full Moon Fires

Children’s Circle

Soles for the Soul Moccasin Crafting Workshops
Adults ~ Babies

Drum Birthing Workshop
Rattle Crafting Workshop
Wing Medicine Workshop
Medicine Bag Workshop
Talking Stick Workshop

Private – Group – Experiential Workshops

 

7.2018 Workshops and a Work in Progress

A Work In Progress

What does it mean to live on trust? To trust absolutely?

 

A number of years ago I was on the phone with my teacher, he was sharing a story about how he came to live a life of trust. I could not help but reflect as I listened. My own stories, I could clearly see the differences in my life having come to a spiritual path. Yes, I’ve been doing this, I’ve been living on trust. I could rest a little easy and feel some good about myself and this business of living on trust. He continued, in his charismatic booming voice, by saying trust is not enough, he tells me, “We must trust absolutely! “.

 

Oh! This set me back on my heels. I trust. But, do I trust absolutely? In all moments? Within days I was given an opportunity, a test of my absolute trust.

These last many months, it feels as though I am, we are, constantly being tested. Absolute trust is required to stay sane, balanced, and right-sided. And action. Many actions. All our attention is needed in every direction. There is no being on the fence.

“The future which we hold in trust for our children
will be shaped by our fairness to other people’s children.”
~ Marian Wright Edelman

 

I write this as a small boat, with duel American flags, slowly motors by on the river below where I sit. What trust is required to be an American, to be a citizen of the world? How does one go on aware that there was not one Treaty ever honored with our Indigenous Relatives, on stolen land where immigrates are unwelcome, while their government systematically destroys people, sacred places, civil rights, and has it’s dirty warmongering hands in the destruction of foreign people and lands globally? To trust that this is all in divine order requires great strength, total surrender, and a willingness to face the terrible facts head-on – it hurts, yet the suffering of other living beings the world over is unimaginable. Rising in compassion and empathy, it is only absolute trust that carries me. I hearing the birthing cries above the commotions and distractions, above the motor of the boat drifting by. #RiseUp #Vote #Divest

One Human Family – Sending Up A Prayer

To you, your families, and your communities… Love…

All My Relations

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I am created by Divine Light
I am sustained by Divine Light
I am protected by Divine Light
I am surrounded by Divine Light
I am ever growing into Divine Light

Swami Radha was my first spiritual teacher some 25 years ago. Her teachings woke me up to myself through the many practices of yoga. I was surprised to discover I wasn’t studying yoga. This powerful path was self discovery – body, mind, and spirit. Until then, I’d been a sleep-walker, in survival mode. I really worked it hard, this union of self/Self. I’m awake.

Even with this, it was a medicine way path that brought me fully into my heart. The Bear Nation showed me a way home to myself by way of the heart. A four chambered heart – open, full, clear, and strong – a unified, whole, integrated self.

“The mountains have always been here, and in them, the bears.”
~  Rick Bass
In the Light
FIRST DANCE
Gratefully, I was commissioned to craft moccasin for a Dancer, she hadn’t worn moccasin before to make her prayer. Prayers of health, help, and happiness, as well as her own prayers were held with every stitch. They came together so beautifully, red buffalo medicine. A brief and sweet exchange over tea, we wished one another off to our respective ceremonies. I returned home to find this photograph and an email in my inbox:
“I hope you’re not horrified,
these moccasin went to the depths and back with me. They were strong traveling shoes and I’m so glad for them.”  ~ CE

Horrified? Quite the contrary. The sight of the good Red Earth and her words brought me to tears of joy and gratitude. Worn only once, their first dance, four days, sacred shoes, sacred feet, dancing a prayer. So filled with Spirit, they are even more beautiful. It humbles me. It is an honor to be united in this way of making prayers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My own dance shoes. Fine dust permeates each layer of the sole, into cracked heels. As does the drumbeat. The songs. The wisdom. Into my grateful heart and spirit.

“What if we All came together
to pray for peace, unity, and justice for ten seconds? Just ten seconds.
Imagine how powerful our prayer could be in this sacred place.”
~  BR
What if? It’s all sacred.Join me, from wherever, however.
10am PST ~ Daily 10 SecondsAll My Relations

 

 

Meeting the Mystery

I didn’t seek a vision quest. One sought me.

“Our demons are our own limitations, which shut us off from the realization of the ubiquity of the spirit, each of these demons is conquered in a vision quest.”  ~ Joseph Campbell

I’ve been told that this ceremony is one that will bring up my fears. I’m not a particularly fearful person, however, I am a deeply feeling woman. And… if it isn’t love, it’s fear… a phrase I’ve heard often. Believing this to be true, I have no choice but to sink farther into what it is I am feeling. Flipping the feelings over and over to see what’s beneath the surface. How many layers are there before I find fear? Eventually. There it is.

I’ve been told also, this time of inquiry and lead up to ceremony is to empty out. Then I can meet the Mystery, Creator, God, the Universe, Great Spirit – whatever – and be filled back up.

Am I empty? Yet?

All My Relations

 

 

 

Look Both Ways

Surely you’ve got your tried and true tools for your shamanic journeys, your private, public practices. I do. And I am asking again, to deepen, who am I now? What can I honor about myself on my path and quest to be my best self? Where do I lack integrity? How can I grow, mature into the life that I’ve been born into?

Are you sitting with big questions too?

While I have trusted allies that are constant in my life, there are always new discoveries to make. Medicine is so vast. Perhaps there is something right in front of my nose that I am missing or so well hidden, it’s never been touched to heal. What medicine can I draw upon? Who will be the crossing guard to usher my next steps?

Are all your needs being met? Is it time to refresh, reboot, reenergize? I’d be honored to hold a sacred container for you to recharge within. A new rattle’s voice, reaching in… a gentler or more robust drumbeat resonating with your current heart… medicine for your daily bag…  Gift yourself (or another) a personal day for whatever your needs, make new relations, jump into the river of surprise, manifest your next steps. Medicine is a revealer and a healer.

I’m strengthening in service to the medicine that comes forward for me as well as learning. Reciprocity is vital. A beautiful Circle. I love the exploration, engaging and working with, and honoring the medicine with my presence. I give little gifts of flowers to Grandmother Buffalo, tobacco offerings and good smudges, black coffee sweet for my Constant Companion. I tell the Earth I love her all the time. I’m thankful.

It’s a good day to be alive. Many blessings to you and yours.

All My Relations

 

Heart Cartography

I have an Atlas of the World. A heavy tabletop volume. A beautiful but very fragile 1927 Atlas. Two US Road Atlas, bound and spiral additions. A multitude of Forest Service maps. Hiking guides, North America and Europe, two shelves full.

Likewise with the yoga books – student and teacher – two shelves.

I’d love to see the earth, the whole world over. See all her remaining wild places, ancient, and sacred. I’ve turned the pages of these books countless times exploring. Opened and folded the maps many times. My vitality rises with Earth-embrace.

Ancient. Yoga. Eastern tradition. Yoga introduced me to my mind and body, my breath. Leading me like a roadmap, consciously.

Medicine ways. Ceremony. East meets West, if you will, on my journey. These ways have been the passageway to my heart, the ultimate guidance to bring me home. Whole. This requires everything and nothing at the same time. It makes me so glad to be alive. Unlike anything else. My heart is so full the Hummingbirds recognize me!

“In order to change the world, we have to touch your heart.”                    ~LaDonna Tamakawastewin Allard

Envisioning All of Humanity leading with Our Hearts, spiritually awakened, One with All Our Relations… Peace.

All My Relations

 

The Last of Lyjse

The last of Lyjse’s hair called to be in a rattle. Of course. I listen to the medicine, it tells me what is needed. Still a grief settled in, a deep sadness. Grieve good, VGH said once. I settled in too, grief is needed.

Holding. The. Grief.

Grief took me beyond the horse hair to the insect bore on the fir handle. The river of surprise. A new prayer that isn’t grief, but none the less a healer. I have so much gratitude for the ways of medicine.

Blessing from the Four Directions, Above and Below, from my heart.

All My Relations

 

 

I have struggled to write, this is on my heart today

Heron fished the river banks this morning. The second of an anticipated 4 oil trains, daily average, has passed in front of my house.  Miss Cat sleeps in the warmth of the sun. The Standing Rock Sioux and nearly 90 other tribes are standing in solidarity for their rights. Many others are there to support, take part in this act of prayer and song, to protect the water, the land, their sacred sites. I want to go there. They are peaceful yet the officials feel threatened. The cape primrose is blooming again. Bill Spaulding did you fertilized the hell out them? LOL! Oak Flat still needs saving. All over this country there is cause to defend human rights. Good people are doing so. Wopila! The turtle doves’ coo and my heart smiles. 247 dead in Italy. Saudi Arabia is an ally? Really? There is tension in my body. Chickadee. Still 2 feet of standing flood water in people’s homes in Louisiana. The morning is blessedly light, cool. Steller’s jay. Another train, this one with Boeing fuselage. The oil trains are typically twice as  long as the average train. Digging in. Doubling down like the loggers who were called to halt clear cutting Redwood forests – saws ran day and night to cut as much as possible before the deadline to stop. Happy skydivers are descending above me. The ice is melting. Perhaps we need not protect anything since  Maka will tend to this business herself, on her own deadline. Cottonwood whisper a breezy secret. I’m listening for their beauty, seeing so much beauty. As modern thinking man, woman, the ones with big brains and opposable thumbs – we’ve been short sided in our hast to conquer the world, with little, if any, consideration for the next generations. Violence escalates. Every violent act seems met with violent response. How can I be non-violent, at peace of mind and heart? Not participate, not escalate the violence? What buttons get pushed in me with this greed and injustice? Honey salve. Self-love. Heal myself. I send up prayers on the smoke, make ties. Barking dogs on Maple Avenue. They always seem angry. Happily, I walk on the other side of the street to give them their space, they eave me be. Randomly, my neighbor gifted me safety glasses. I am protected. Om Namah Sivaya! Thank you Creator for my life! For my son’s wellbeing and happy heart, for All My Relations of All Nations. I get to  see a hero of mine in the flesh today! I hope I get to shake his hand. Wopila and thanksgiving!  OM

Escalate Peace

 

Morning Glory

“Good Morning! Glory!”!  It is a sweet memory to recall my mom’s singsong voice, waking me to each new day. “Good Morning! Glory!”

Good Morning Everyone ~

Snohomish is wild and wonderfully overgrown with white Morning Glory. It’s everywhere. It seems that not even the tamed and tended gardens are free of it. Morning Glory is a messenger encouraging me to break free of old habits, to be more creative, dare to live spontaneously, and to keep blooming anew day after day. Morning Glory wakes with the dawn, then exhausted it languishes as the sun disappears on western horizon – a full circle, a ceremony in each day. Pure white and funnel shaped, the flower is symbolic of both drawing energies in and sending energies out – how will I be in community now? What will I learn of myself? What can I offer? Can I receive? The heart-shaped leaves ask me if am I grounded in my body? In my body, the heart is allowed to lead, the mind can follow. The stretch of the many vining tendrils remind me to embrace what life has to offer, to express myself fully. Am I? Morning Glory connects me to the wealth of my inner reservoir where I acknowledge myself and honor Source.

“My life is my message.”  ~  Mahatma Gandhi

By experiencing the natural world as our messengers, we can see from a fresh perspective – with medicine eyes and a medicine heart.  An old yet new way of being human, in alignment with creation.

Offering workshops, circles, and mentorship throughout the summer season. I look forward to sharing time with you. Until then, I bid you all a glorious morning, noon, and night, and beautiful strides in the South.

All My Relations