Snohomish Thursday Farmers Market
Full Moon Fires
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
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.
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 BassIn the Light |
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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. “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.” ~ BRWhat if? It’s all sacred.Join me, from wherever, however. 10am PST ~ Daily 10 SecondsAll My Relations |
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
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
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
It’s amazing how dirty feet can be after a sweat lodge. I find it amusing that I cannot stand dirty fingernails but dirty feet during and after any ceremony are totally tolerable. Amazing.
Such a boon! An infant joined the communities lodge yesterday. A sweet purely perfect 6 week old came in the door between first and second rounds. He was passed from hand to hand around the circle, each of us offering our blessing to him. All of us taking delight in the enormous gift of his presence. His tiny toes were altogether clean.
I was guided to make baby moccasin on Christmas day. What? OK, sure, I love to sew for tiny feet. Surprisingly, what came up was not love. I got a little agitated and anxious about people having babies today, these times too awful. Who’d want to bring a child in now? Conscious or unconscious parents, my thoughts rambled on…. what must they be thinking? Such judgment and fear welled up in me.
Ah… Medicine work is such a revealer and healer.
I noticed that my fear churned when I laid the pattern down. This fear has lived in me for a while. The judgment and questioning came as I cut the pieces from the hide – symbolic to me of how separate I was feeling from the Whole. While praying and sewing the little pieces of red Deer hide back together, creating “Winter Girl” moccasin, I was reminded that we are all here by agreement. These New Ones are coming in by choice. And they have their reasons for coming in at this time. They know what they are getting into. This allayed my fears tremendously. I was then and am now, humbled and awed. I bow to the unknown wisdom of the Soul’s path and the Mystery. I stitched such gratitude and love now. These little shoes – the lesson I received that Their enlightenment is my, our, gift and we need them now. There is no escaping the Whole – I needed to be reminded. I remember.
Mother and babe crawled out of the lodge, the door came down, we went on with our prayers. Just now, I wondered about the fire tenders, did they too have their time with the baby? Surely they must have. I hope so. Afterwards, still in our circle, I watched Mom. She was captivated, watching him asleep in the crook of her loving arm. Looking at them with my heart-eyes and not the fear-mind, it was clear that the lesson I’d received that day allowed me to fully be present for the gift of their presence.
Joyfully (my usual way), I had sewed moccasin for this one too a few months before he was born. Mom thinks he’ll be wearing them by the time we go into ceremony to dance the Night Turtle Dance this summer. My heart was so full. My feet needed a pumice stone. 🙂
Happily and lovingly (truly) sewing baby moccasin. They are filled with prayers of gratitude and joyful wonder at the remarkable mystery of it all.
Mitakuye Oyasin
All My Relations
Open ~ Medicine Gift Crafting: Create whatever you wish! How can I support you? Announce your intention to attend, thank you. ♥ Offering ♥ Gratitude
Wing Medicine: Craft a feather fan to cleanse and clear in your personal life and for professional practices.
Drum Birthing: Send up a call, let the beat of your drum harmonize with the heartbeat of our Mother Earth.
Rattle Crafting: Move the energies, call your guides, meditate and journey with these powerful tools.
L♥VE Offering ~ Fund Raiser for Cocoon House
Soles for the Soul: Moccasin are for everyday wear, for ceremonies, moccasin for life!
Medicine Bags: Personal, protective and private – honor the medicine that comes forward for you in a good way for the new year.
Talking Sticks: Are you one who has been called to form a talking circle? Many have in these times and it is good. The talking stick is a respectful way to share and listen to what is on one another’s hearts.
Leather Crafts: Come sew, stitch your best intentions into the leather, create what you have a need for. There will be cake.
Children’s Circle: In a sacred way, each circle date is a unique exploration into the natural world.
Feeding the Fire Ceremony: Celebrate the feminine by feeding the fire with Grandmother Moon.
Looking forward to spending time together working in a sacred way. With gratitude.
Mitakuye Oyasin ~ All My Relations
Literally the Stars are aligned. And the new Moon in Scorpio. The depth of my own prayers in the lodge, the heart of the pourer. The energetic healing from Shamrock. A visualization from the Star Nation combined with breathing into my root, into Maka, clearing chakra and connecting to the Golden All – truly mind altering. My physicality too. The medicine of the Black Horse, new rattles created in a sacred way from this hide – all whispering their gift for me while sending up a call to their new partner – who will come to adopt them? The teachings of Chief Avrol Looking Horse and Chief Phil Lane, Jr.. The gorgeous (m) Northern Flicker whose back patch is shimmering fluorescent orange, just begging me to follow – drum with me. Shadow work. The teachings of the 16 Mysteries. A lone Canada Goose. Why are you alone? Are you like me? Who are you calling to? Am I the one? The word for this 54th year was adventure, am I missing something? Many more come honking their communal calls. Joy is elevated. My dreamscape – so many delights to be acted upon – where to start? Waterlily by Ella Cara Deloria. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Each with invaluable words, lessons and inspiration. The power and courage of my own heart and words. Falcon. Forgiveness. Love. Deep Gratitude. Snow in the mountains. Echo Lake slowly filling up with the rains. The rejection of Keystone XL – arms linked in solidarity.
Everything is going to be alright. Winds of change have come.
Mitakuye Oyasin ~ All My Relations
Having spent the past year immersed in the teachings of Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr. I am a little wiser than I used to be, more sure of the direction we are going as a people and proud to be included in his Circle. And I love to hear him laugh! http://www.fwii.net/
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, among many other things valuable, is the founder of World Peace and Prayer Day. Annually since 1986 he rides horseback in the Bigfoot Memorial Ride to honor his ancestors in the massacre of Wounded Knee. http://wolakota.org/index.html
Both Brother Phil and Brother Avrol can be heard speaking on the Shift Networks Global Indigenous Wisdom Summit, a free three-day powerhouse of Indigenous Elders and Youth speaking for the needs of our times. No matter your philosophical or spiritual beliefs much wisdom will be shared during these days that can positively affect the way we live and relate to one another and the Earth. A’ho !
Rik Astrohawk Astrology www.astrohawkastrology.com
