A gentle meditation for what is ... Guest Post by Tracy Brooks“May peace and love sit with you” ~ a gentle meditation for what is

“May peace and love sit with you” ~ a gentle meditation for what is

One of the best things that can happen to us when we meditate is the sense of connecting to ourselves, warts and all.  We meet both the painful and the peaceful. I love the Buddhist teaching of how we are a lot like blind people, and we have a hidden gem right in our own garbage pile. It takes a careful and soft stance towards ourselves and all our smelly, stinky stuff to uncover the hidden gems. We must find the compassion and the steadfastness to uncover these jewels.

So, one of the ways we can cultivate the patience and heart to go through our own garbage is when we meditate. It is here where we can meet the rising and falling thoughts. We learn to touch them softly when they arise. We begin to allow the garbage to smell a little, uncovering what we stubbornly try to hide. We slowly go through it, discarding what is not needed and stagnant. We also begin to see what is hidden under all our rubbish. Meditation allows a space for compassion.

Breathing in acceptance,

Breathing out compassion.

Can you sit here a bit?

May peace and love sit with you.

Here and now you sit.

Here and now you breathe.

May peace and love sit with you.

Stay here for a moment,

Mind may pull,

Body may ache,

May peace and love sit with you.

Inhale the pure golden light,

Embrace it.

Exhale all that you are,

All that you hold.

May peace and love sit with you.

As you softly touch what is uncomfortable,

You open.

May peace and love sit with you.

Breathing in acceptance,

Exhaling compassion,

Warmth and kindness upon you,

May peace and love sit with you.

When we engage in this practice we are finding our gems, seeing the miracles right within us and before us. May this sitting meditation bring you a sense of compassion and peace. May peace and love not only sit with you but walk alongside you.

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.  But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth.  Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child – our own two eyes.  All is a miracle.” ~ThichNhatHanh

Tracy Brooks - Soul Beckons

Tracy Brooks has been spiritual traveler and a soul seeker her whole life. She has always felt a call to be a listener of life and to inspire others. A yogini and poet since age 9, she grew up in New York rescuing abandoned animals and holding a space for those who hurt. Born intuitively empathic, she often finds herself listening to strangers open up to her. Studying education, psychology and engaging in community service invited her to feel we all have a gift to share. Life has led her to teach, write and now home-school her young ones. Blessed to be happily married to the love of her life and living (out loud!) in Florida, she has been embracing contemporary shamanism, writing inspirational pieces, and working on her first book. You can find her Facebook page here or visit her blog here. You can also email her. 

Reflections from the Fire: An Apple Seed changes Everything

This morning sitting at my fire and savoring the moment, the winds were alive with the sound of birds singing songs of life.  My eyes were drawn to the trees that live in my yard.

The shafts of light were incredible to "see" and experience.  As I sat in wonder of the moment, I was reminded on something I read a very long time ago.  This is from a larger works by Illan Shamir entitled "Advice From A Tree".

Stand tall and proud

Sink your roots deeply into the earth

Reflect the light of your own true nature. 

Think long term.

Go out on a limb.

Remember your place among all living beings.

Embrace with joy the changing seasons,

for each yields its own abundance.

The energy and birth of spring.

The growth and contentment of summer.

The wisdom to let go like leaves in the fall.

The rest and quiet renewal of winter.

Feel the wind and the sun and delight in their presence

Look up at the moon that shines down upon you,

and the mystery of the stars at night.

Seek nourishment from good things in life...

simple pleasures

earth

fresh air

light.

Be content with your natural beauty.

Drink plenty of water.

Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes.

Be flexible.

Remember your roots.

Enjoy the view.

The best lesson's in life surround us each day in nature.  I am reminded of a Koan given to me by a teacher:

The way is like an apple tree that grows an apple.  You can eat the apple or not, it does not matter.  Yet the tree still grows the apple.  That is the way.

If you are not familiar with Koan's, they are Zen riddles that can be meditated upon to achieve a new level of enlightenment or awareness.  They are designed to be able to be answered only by one who contemplates and meditates upon them.  Each person will have a different perspective and a different answer.

The apple tree.  The apple itself.  At the core of the apple is seeds.  Seeds that have the ability to flourish into new trees that can produce a thousand new apples.  Each seed growing into roots deep into the core of the Earth where the fires can fuel millions of seeds in the same moment.  Each seed can grow a branch that reaches to the sky for oxygen and sun to nourish its growth.  Yet, without the roots, without the branches, the tree would fail to grow.  

This growth of the single seed occurs whenever anyone pauses to appreciate the beauty of the tree.  To savor the sweetness of the fruit, or even touch the bark that has the flow of life giving chi through its core.  Is this not the truth for each individual.

At our core we have more seeds to plant.  We plant the seeds through our words, our actions, and even our thoughts.  Each breath plants a seed.  It can be a seed that flourishes and grows to plant other seeds.  If our seeds are of honor, faith, inspiration, and love, our journey is filled with shade from the trees that are filled with branches and leaves so that times of trials and struggles we can rest beneath them and savor a moment with the taste of a sweet fruit that nourishes.  If our seeds are of anger, resentment, and dis harmony, the path is barren and full of dusty sand that leaves no respite and no life sustaining fruit.  Still the seed is planted.  The fruit is birthed.

Each of us will plant a seed, that is just the way.  Each of us will travel a path, that is the journey of all.  The difference in the journey is whether you will make the choice to plant seeds that give off life sustaining fruit.  The difference in the journey is whether you will make the choice to pause and reflect the beauty of the apple tree you have given birth too.  The difference in the journey is whether you will taste the sweetness of the apple and allow it to nourish your body in the physical and the spiritual.  

The nature of life in a simple apple seed.

Rottweiler Wisdom: Guest Blog Post by Jeremy McDonald

Photographer Julian Robles

            In January of 2009, I had one of my greatest teachers come into my life. I want to share with you how amazing of a teacher he has been for me. I can say this with all confidence because of the tremendous amount of personal growth I have experienced since my Dog Maximus (Max) and I started our journey together. I know some of you are sitting there thinking.. what?? A DOG?!?!?! How can a dog teach you anything??? A few years ago I would have probably agreed with you. However, I can tell you that since Max has been in my life I have learned to be more patient, be a better coach, be better friend and learned how to be kinder to myself. So how did this happen you might ask?

            Let me just first say that max when I got him was approximately 6 months old and weighed 80 lbs as a puppy. Now that he is a full grown dog at 125 lbs! I would still consider him to be a big teddy bear. This is not to say that he can not be a handful at times! I just remember when I first got him and I thought to myself. “How am I going to take care of this large dog?” I had doubt, some anxiety.. but in all truth I was excited!

            I got him because a friend of mine said that they knew someone that had found a Rottweiler outside in the forest while they were hunting that winter and that they could not keep him and had to find him a new safe home.   Because Max had been living outside in the forest he was very insecure with himself and un-sure of where he stood with me at first. Displaying signs that all the books said demonstrated that he was not yet secure with his surroundings. At first, I did tons of research on this breed because I wanted to be able to be the best friend possible to him, and train him in the best possible way. The consistent message from my inner voice that really stuck out to me, was that I really had to be strong with him, but also very loving to show him that he was safe. Then I read that this breed needed a strong but benevolent leader and that he needed to feel secure in his surroundings because of this breeds natural instinct to protect it’s family and environment.

             So I started by being consistent with him and always making sure he had a clear understanding of where I was coming from when I asked him to do something. I also gave him tons of love but did not “baby” him so to speak. I found as one article told me that this breed is the “give them an inch and they will take 10 miles breed” Max was no different. He is basically a large child in a large dog body and is goofy, silly, full of energy and constantly loving, but also needs to be re-assured that he is loved.

            One day I had a huge epiphany!  I had been looking his eyes and I realized that I was looking at the K-9 version of me. My mirror in DOG FORM! What an AH-HA MOMENT! LOL This was a tremendous gift because he reminded me of a time in my life when I was doing drugs, doing things against myself and in those times I felt lost in a forest much like he was when he was found. I had been LOST! Now in my current life I am assured of myself and practice what I call the “self awareness game” I watch Max and hear his thoughts because guess what? He is an aspect of me! So knowing this it teaches me to pay attention to what he is doing! So I can get signs and process those signs within myself.

            One day recently I was taking him to the bank with my other dog Molly. Max was so excited that he got to go with me that when I started to open the back of  my SUV he jumped before it was even open! Hit the back door and fell back wards. As I jumped to go towards him thinking he might be hurt he jumps back up with this totally “destroyed” look on his face and holding his “paw” up to show that it was hurt and as I watched his paw quiver I immediately went to give him energy to help him heal and ease the pain. When I touched him and gave him energy I felt more like he was really almost felt embarrassed more then anything. I remember thinking is he a Dog or a human to be experiencing these emotions??  Very quickly as I connected with him and patted him on the head his energy changed back to excited and happy. He then waited for me to open the door and jumped up in the car all happy and not hurt.

            As I processed this whole scene I remembered not even 20 minutes before hand I was talking with a friend of mine on the phone and we were talking about how big of a kid he really is. It occurred to me how a little kid can get so excited about things and lose track of where they are and what is going on around them. So therefore they are not grounded in what they are doing in the NOW of the moment. So in this case the door was opening and he slammed himself into the door instead of going through it and getting safely in the care with ease.

            Here is the really amazing part about the lesson that my “Best Friend” taught me. I often times get so excited because the world around me is “happening” and it seems that my dreams are all unfolding the way I wanted them too. The “DOOR” so to speak is opening and then before it is fully opens or that I am “FULLY” ready I run straight towards the door and what happens? I slam right into it! J Therefore knocking myself out of balance and then having to pick myself up and learn from it. Even sometimes slightly embarrassed about not paying attention.

            It is at these points in my life that things are going very well! It seems like the right people are coming into my life and the right experience is coming in my life that I get overly excited! I forget at these times that everything in the NOW of the moment is RIGHT! I had to remember to be exactly what I teach others and understand the phrase I love to practice: “Peace Be Still” and know that I am GOD! Know that all things are happening in a divine flow of what all of consciousness is experiencing in divine timing and divine order! My Dog loves me so much to demonstrate for me such an important lesson of what I have done over and over again to remind me to stay GROUNDED! And Stay in BALANCE with the NOW of the Moment! He is pure SOURCE and pure LOVE! This is how we grow by paying attention to all signs around us and listening to all WISDOM! Even if it comes from our DOG.

            What I want to remind you of is that it is the journey to get to our goals that has the greatest gifts and treasures in our lives. Often times we get hung up, on what we think is going to make us happy but then we miss the journey! Often times we as a society and as people get so caught up in the excitement of the possibility of the future that we miss this exact moment and in turn we end up broken hearted and hurt inside. This is why living in the NOW is so vital to a happy existence. So take some time today to really process where you are at with your thoughts and really work on getting your thoughts grounded and balanced.

Jeremy McDonald

Accomplished spiritual healer and teacher Jeremy McDonald has been a

public speaker for over 14 years has designed and delivered many

workshops to assist individuals helping them find peace and joy in

their lives. Looking from an inside soul perspective, they are able to

overcome fears, alchemizing them into love. His clients find balance,

peace, joy and true sublime self love . For accolades of the world

Jeremy is a Reiki Master, EFT Practitioner, Theta healing practitioner

and Life coach. He has served as a Key Note Speaker for Expos,

Colleges, Professional Conferences and just the small Workshop in a living room. Jeremy is the show host of the online radio show, Soul Talk, on v109fm.com, which discusses the transitory experience of knowing ones soul from an inner perspective. Guests range from Spiritual Practitioners, Scientists, Medical Doctors, Musicians and Artists having conversations of the Soul coming together to enjoy the rewards of a soul driven by spirit, and guided by awareness of the self.

In addition, he is the author of the book titled: Peace Be Still due to release in March of 2012. An autographed copy can be reserved now at: www.millionhugs.com/peacebestill.html

A Sacred Prayer Bundle to Hold Your Prayers

Prayer bundles are a sacred way to hold prayers and intentions to send to the Spirits.  Nearly every culture will have a sacred ceremony in creating a prayer bundle that involve the construction and use of the bundles.

They are known as Bahos, Lung ta, Depachos, Prayer Bundles, and Prayer Sticks.  To describe a prayer bundle is a difficult thing.  Each bundle is sacred and just as your altar is intention, so to are prayer bundles.

When discussing sacred objects there is always a hesitation in saying more than they are sacred objects with sacred intention.  Yet, the ancient medicine is for all and to share a certain amount of description can be shared.

A prayer bundle will usually consist of a certain number of natural wood sticks.  Natural wood is wood that is from your natural environment that has been gifted from the tree.  Meaning you do not begin a sacred prayer bundle by going out into the woods and cutting branches.  You do not begin by going to a home store and buying precut lumber from which you have no indication of the manner it was taken from the earth.
Take the moments to set the sacred intention of finding natural wood upon a walk.  Ask the tree's to show you the sticks to be used.  When they are revealed, thank the Earth for the gift of the sticks.  Thank the tree for allowing and offering itself to you in order to carry your prayers and intentions.  It is the same for wood for your fires.

Many times you will find that within the bundle herbs are added for healing purposes.  Intent is energy and sacred.  With this in mind, sage, sweetgrass or tobacco may be added to your bundle as you are called by Spirit.

Words have power.  One can add a hand written statement of intent, request of healing, or prayer of gratitude to the bundle.

It is important to remember as you collect items for your prayer bundle that intent, thoughts, and reason for the bundle are kept in the mind.  Your thoughts are powerful energy.

Once all items are collected for the prayer bundle, they can be wrapped in a special cloth and tied with twine.  We always wish to be mindful of where all things come from when creating a Prayer Bundle.

The purpose of the prayer bundle is to have the prayers be carried by the Universe to the Great Spirits.  While it is my tradition to carry them to the fire to be released as they are returned to ash, there are many ways for the Prayer Bundle to be used.

It can be given to a river to be carried by the water, hung in a high branch of a tree for the winds to carry, or even buried deep in the Earth for Mother Earth to receive.

While this is not any lineage tradition specific, it is the basics of creating a sacred prayer bundle for the healing ceremony.  We should always be mindful to hold our own traditions, our own spiritual path as the guidance and direction.

We are holding this ceremony on the full moon, it is not necessary to have a special day or a holy day in which to create a ceremony and prayer bundle.  Every day is a special and sacred day, every hour and every moment a sacred hour and sacred moment - it is only necessary to treat it as such in order to create a sacred ceremonial moment.

Creating Sacred Space for Full Moon Healing Ceremony

An Altar for a Sweat Lodge 

It is vital to understand that Sacred Space is not a place, it is an intent.  An intent to pause and honor all that is - for all that is is Sacred, thus all space is sacred.  Yet, when we speak of ceremony it is deeper in meaning.  For many Sacred Space will be calling in of the directions, ancestors, spirits, and guides.  It will be creating an altar with Sacred symbols of one's journey.

Whether you are having a sacred ceremony or whether you are offering a simple prayer, that which around you is Sacred Space and tools in which you use are Sacred tools.  Nature itself is an altar to Mother Earth and all She gifts.  Today, we look at some of the ways in which you can create an altar as a Sacred Tool in preparation for a ceremony.

As an altar is a representation of your intention, of your spiritual interaction, it is personal and it is the most creative aspect of your intention.  It represents an invitation for YOUR spiritual guides to work with YOU.  It should be beautiful as all of nature is as the spirit guides are being honored - it should reflect your gratitude for their blessings.  It can be as simple or as elaborate as YOU desire.

My favorite altar is one that is a evolving one in nature.  It is living.  It is breathing.  Flowers emerge at its base and a small container is perpetually filled with water for birds to come and visit.  The large stones heat in the summer sunshine inviting black racer snakes to warm upon their flat surfaces.  There is a small piece of handmade pottery that allows for the element of fire to be brought in.  A small wind chime was added recently to bring in the sounds of zephyr breezes.  It is a personal sanctuary of sacred space.

As you prepare your Sacred Space for this ceremony, spend time creating a small space that reflects your journey - your altar to honor the blessings and gifts given by the Spirit world.  Be sure to include gifts to the Spirit world - small flowers, tobacco, sage leaves, or other representations of what is sacred to you.  This gift is a thank you, pause for a moment to reflect if you had someone consistently "asking"/praying to you for help and they never paused to say thank you, would you wish to work with them?

If you will listen within the silence of yourself as to how to create your altar, YOUR spirit guides will direct you far more than any person or book.  It is truly about your intention.  Your intention of what you wish to create in your world.  Once your altar space is created, offer a prayer that it will be blessed and that your gift be accepted.  Again, your words are your intention.

If done with Sacred intention you will come to find your space as a welcomed stillness to gift the breath of life to you each time you pause to hear the beat of your own heartbeat.

Here is another prayer that was shared with me that comes from another lineage.  It is my understanding it was written by Alberto Villoldo, but I have no other reference.

To the winds of the South, Sachamama, Great Serpent,

Wrap your coils of light around us,

Teach us to shed the past the way you shed your skin,

To walk softly on the Earth. Teach us the beauty way.

To the winds of the West, Otorongo, Mother Sister Jaguar,

Protect our medicine space.

Teach us the way of peace, to live impeccably.

Show us the way beyond fear, beyond death.

To the winds of the North, Serokenti, Royal hummingbird, Help us to sip from the source of knowledge,

Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Wise Ancient Ones,

Come and warm your hand by our fires,

Whisper to us in the wind,

We honour you who have come before us,

And you who will come after us, our children’s children.

To the winds of the East, Great Eagle, Condor,

Come to us from the place of the rising Sun.

Bring us your clarity and vision

Keep us under your wing.

Show us the mountains we only dare to dream of.

Teach us to fly wing to wing with the Great Spirit.

Pachamama, Mother Earth,

We’ve gathered for the healing of all your children.

The Stone People, the Plant People,

The four-legged the two-legged, the creepy crawlers,

The finned the furred and winged ones.

All our relations.

Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, to the Star Nations,

God, Goddess, All-that-Is, Great Spirit,

You who are known by a thousand names,

And you who are the un-nameable One.

Thank you for bringing us together

And allowing us to sing the Song of Life.

YOU Are an Energyworker! Guest Blog Post by Lloyd Matthew Thompson

If you are reading this, I can offer you adouble-your-money-back guarantee that YOU are an energyworker!

All things on all levels are manifested from the samevibrating energy as all other things. Let’s have some fun: gather a fewdifferent objects and spread them out in front of you. The harder, more “solid”objects vibrate at one frequency, while softer and even “invisible” objectsvibrate at another frequency. (Oh— You didn’t pick up an invisible object forthis experiment? Oops.)

If everything is made of energy, how can you perceive themif you are not seeing energy? You can see where something or someone is becauseYOU are reading energy! And if you consider yourself a part of everything, thenthat means you are energy reading energy. You’ve heard the expression “It takesone to know one”— in this case it’s absolutely true!

Reach out and pick up one of those wonderful objects infront of you. How did you do that? Hey— energy! When you extended your energyto “pick up” the object, your energy merged with the energy of the object. Inthat moment, you and the object were One, and the intentions in your energywere communicated to the object’s energy. The object then had a choice— agreeand cooperate with your intentions, or refuse. Have you ever had something justNOT stay put and keep falling off a shelf? Perhaps it did not agree with you!

Every road goes both ways, though! Pause and listen to whatthe object wishes from YOU! Do you agree and cooperate with ITS desires andintentions?

Next, observe the SHADE of energy this object holds. Is itblue? Red? Burnt Raw Aquamarine? Energy comes in a wide variety of colors, foryour viewing pleasure!

Now set the object down somewhere different than where youpicked it up and ask a friend to find it. How did they see where it was? Their eyes and brain scanned the room for the energy signature matching “Object!”

But wait! Even if there were no words or body language,could you tell what sort of mood your friend was in? Maybe they were annoyedyou called them in, or perhaps they were ecstatic to receive attention fromyou. Everyone can naturally “pick up” the mood of another— and steer clear ifnecessary! This, too, is energy reading.

Now, if you are STILL not convinced that YOU are anatural-born energyworker, I will be happy to honor the double-your-money-backguarantee I offered in the beginning… as soon as I get the energy in mycalculator to reveal to me what $0 times two comes out to be.

About Lloyd Matthew Thompson

Lloyd Matthew Thompson is far too many things topin down in one label, but among husband, father and artist is spiritualcounselor, metaphysical intuitive and healer. Born and raised in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, the petals of his Heart are turned toward encouraging others to takeup their own balanced empowerment and potential to live wholly authentic lives.More information about his energyworking practice can be found at www.galaxyenergy.org as well as www.facebook.com/galaxyenergy.

A Prayer to Begin: Full Moon Healing Ceremony

Altar From Previous Full Moon Healing Ceremony

As we prepare for the Divine Events that will be felt like ripples throughout the world, it is important that each of us take a few moments to prepare ourselves.  Every moment of everyday is truly a sacred moment that can be called a ceremony to the Great Spirit.  It is the intention of the heart and soul that declares it as such. 

A Sacred Fire Ceremony is very much like standing beneath the Sun that warms our Mother Earth, the Eternal Flame of Love from Source combines and radiates a pulse that can be felt all who pause to experience it.  A Sacred Fire creates or birthes energy, it is living, it is breathing and it celebrates all of life.  It grows and evolves through prayer, mantra, and can be expressed as a healing energetic wave of love for those who are ready to receive it.

To prepare of the blessings of the healing waves of energy that will bathe those who set their intention, we must prepare our hearts and souls to awaken.  We must open them to receive.  As we do every cell of our being will receive the light energies to awaken and activate the fibers of our own tapestries.  We do this by first setting our intentions to receive this living wave of energy.

So today we begin preparing with a a Prayer:

Great Spirit, the Creator of All,  we pray to open our hearts, open our souls that we may feel and breathe in the new waves of energy that that now flow to us from the Divine Source of All Things.

We pray that as our Mother Earth awakens and a new global world begins to emerge that you gift us voices to speak out as visionaries that collectively bring the change to fill our worlds with the Eternal Flame of Love.  Grant us the gift of transforming the impossible into the possible.

The Great Spirits of Skies we pray that healing happens within each of us preparing for this new journey.  A deep healing that releases and purifies the soul from limitations, lack, and old belief systems that no longer serve our higher good. 

We pray that we may easily and effortlessly let go of pain and separation, that the Eternal Flames transform them, allowing us as to become a beautiful Phoenix rising up from the ashes to lead the world in the change.

Almighty we pray that you bless us with courage to become fearlessly empowered with your inspiration and passion that we may soar through all spiritual challenges between the worlds as your Divine Warriors.

We pray that you become our bridge of Light to our Divinity giving us the faith and strength to walk as Empowered Souls with Truth, Passion, and Eternal Love.

Spirit of the Skies Above, we are filled with gratitude and overflowing love for all the blessings you have bestowed upon us this past year.  For the moments you carried us when we could not walk ourselves, for the moments you radiated love gifting us overflowing joys, and for the moments that you transformed our tears into laughter. 

We thank for the beautiful canvas painted across our skies this day and for each one you paint every sunrise and sunset.

It is within this gratitude, it is within this Eternal love that we ask these things.  Aho!

In the days leading up to the Full Moon Healing Ceremony, we will go through preparing the prayer bundles, the fire itself, and preparing our own hearts and souls to receive fully.  

To join with us in this event, please visit HERE.

Until then,

mwah

Dreamspeak: Flying With Both Wings

'Butterfly Sailor' by Gennady Privedentsev

Shaman and writer, Martin Prechtel of the Tzutujil people of Guatemala, says that dreaming as one wing of a butterfly and waking is the other.  Each wing tells half the story of life to the other, mirroring each other ceaselessly to keep aloft.  It is at the heart, where the two wings meet, that the substance of us is ripened.

Unlike the Tzutujil, we live in a society that disregards and even devalues dreams.  When one wakes us up in the night pounding on our hearts with urgency, we tell our children it’s just a dream.  Though we may have hot tears flowing or physical residue from our wrestling with the night, still we say it isn’t real.

After much practice at forgetting, we are amnesiacs awkwardly trying to take flight with a single wing.

The truth is people are thirsty to share their dreams and, though nobody has told them how important they are, the tribe desperately needs their dreams to make better decisions, to balance out personal and collective lopsidedness.

Meanwhile, the dreams are like lovers, and want nothing more than to be remembered.  Any small crumb of thanks we give to honour them makes them come alive in vibrant nightly theatrics.  The more we remember them, the more they remember us!  And the events of our everyday get plumper with significance.

The woodpecker that flies into your window is trying to get through to you, the warm breeze through the sugar maple is whispering a special secret for your ears only the friend you bump into is no accident for your learning.

I often speak of ‘dreaming it forward,’ which is the practice of bringing dreams down into the material through ceremony, beauty-making and generous giving relevance to the invisible.  With enough practice at this, you will feel yourself at the heart of this gorgeous feeding-back loop, from which you can sing truthfully into the greater song of things.  After all, my dream fits with her dream fits with his dream to orchestrate the Great Dream.

If we don’t feed the invisible, the heart weakens into depression and what Martin Prechtel calls, “spiritual homelessness.”  Like so many of us, it is easy to feel lost and irrelevant in a tribe where our “wilderness” is not allowed to roam.  Sure we can get by without dreaming – we may even thrive according to some standards – but in our quiet moments between doings, a sadness erupts on the landscape of us that has gone barren from all the ploughing.

To make beauty from our dreams is to plant seeds in that overworked soil, cultivating life where we have harvested too much.  It is slow and courageous work, but the bounty that can grow from it is inestimable.

Soon, the intruders and tyrants that haunted your dreams (and wakes!) reveal themselves to be the fragile ones.  It isn’t that you’ve become tougher, but rather more vulnerable – which is real strength in disguise.  Your wings, when they fly together, can take you to the home for which you’ve always longed – where the heart flowers in all its regal grief.

Toko-pa


Toko-pa was born on a farmhouse in Devon, England by a midwife to poet-parents. Because they liked the music saying it made, they named her after the Maori deity, Toko-pa, who is the “parent of the mist” according to the Maori creation myth.

She came to Canada at the age of four, where her grandparents settled after the war in Poland, and was raised in a Sufi community in Montreal.

Along with yoga, meditation, Sufi dancing and singing, dreaming was an every day part of her culture. From a very young age, Toko-pa was encouraged to share and explore her vivid dreams.

In her twenties Toko-pa returned to the mystical teachings of Sufism and the study of dreams. For the next six years she became deeply interested in Analytical Psychology and did a 3 year internship at the Jung Foundation of Ontario, while pursuing her studies in spirituality, mythology and shamanism.

In early 2001, she was awarded a scholarship to study with psychophysiologist and lucid dreaming expert, Dr. Stephen LaBerge, in Hawa’ii. She spent the following year writing a documentary series, Awake and Dreaming, which was picked up by Vision TV. In the same year, Toko-pa founded the Dream School in Toronto as a way of sharing dreamworking tools and creating community around dreaming.

Since then, she has lectured, taught and published her writings on dreams as well as helped many individuals in her private dreamworking practice.

Considered an authority on dreams, Toko-pa has been interviewed by CNN News & BBC Radio, and her Dreamspeak column has appeared in publications across Canada and the United States, including elephant journal, Synchronicity Magazine, Vitality Magazine, Aquarius and others. You can find Toko-pa on Facebook or on the Web at www.toko-pa.com

Collective Message by "We The Women" Sacred Lodge Sisters: Self-Love as the Ultimate Radical Act

Originally posted by "We The Women" on their website, shared here with permission.

"Nurture HerSelf"
Artist Diva Carla Sanders

We The Women spent our Sacred Lodge focused upon the topic of Self-Love as the Ultimate Radical Act.  We began the Sacred Lodge following the New Moon Despacho where the focus was upon balancing the energy within - balancing the Sacred Feminine and the Sacred Masculine.  From the ashes of the fires, from the ashes of the despacho, that was focused upon this unification of the Sacred Masculine and the Sacred Feminine, a clear message revealed itself. 

The unification of the energies both individually and collectively this process can shake the foundation.  We are seeking the authentic self in order to speak our truths and share our wisdoms with a global world. That voice emerges when we ourselves practice the art of self-love.  What is the art of the self-love?

In order to begin this process of self-love, one must truly begin to know their authentic selves.  They must “become the expert” of their own bodies, spirits, and minds.  One cannot begin to unify within the collective if they have not unified within.  It is imperative that we come to be experts on our authentic selves and not on the illusionary version of self that ego and society have created. To truly begin to know self we must come to see the light within as well as the darkness within. We must study ourselves from a sacred witness perspective. The ultimate radical act is coming to love deeply and equally our light and our shadow and to have conversations with the shadow and see all its aspects as a gift.  It is through the shadow we experience liberation from the illusion.

This work can be profoundly difficult but the rewards are immense. The focused intent before, during and after this work must be self-love. It must be nurturing of self, supporting of self, and compassion with self. Just as you would gift these experiences to a friend going through a deep transition, YOU must gift them to yourself. Understand this process is so vastly different in experience than many have experienced before. A true "radical rewiring of our systems".

In order to grow into true self love, at first we must have enormous compassion for ourselves. As women, we tend to use guilt as a self-saboteur. When we realize that even our “mistakes” were there for our learning - we did the best we could, with the tools we had and emotions we felt - Put simply, we made the best decisions we could at the time. Our intent was good. And then we learned. It takes a while to learn that what used to serve us quite well, perhaps as a child, no longer does. So thanking ourselves for learning coping mechanisms, and then creating the awareness to let them go, and grow, is part of compassion. Negative, self-sabotaging, guilty, blaming behaviors act as weights on our divine selves. It is difficult, for sure, to both recognize and let go of old patterns of behavior, but when we do, we catapult ourselves into a profound, deep knowing of our true selves and divine nature.

Letting go of thinking we have to do everything perfectly is one of the greatest gifts of self-love. The reality is that we are hard wired to look for obstacles, negatives, things to worry about - in order to survive.  Blaming self for “knowing better” or “making mistakes” makes us into a victim. It is simply taking one small step after another that allows us to turn toward the light, the positive, the fulfillment that is our divine inheritance. We have to first overcome our biology for survival and to realize, just like the fight or flight response, it has an infinitely smaller purpose in our lives at this stage of our evolution, but it is still imprinted on us.

Self-love means creating new imprints, new neurological pathways of default responses, and knowing we are more than our biology.   Having the emotional and psychological discipline to recognize when we are caving in to an old habit that no longer serves us is a big step toward facing our divine selves, and loving ourselves.

The best way to get past that monkey mind of ours is finding quiet, contemplative, meditative time; a ritual which exposes our soul and spirit to as much positive reinforcement as possible. Give yourself time to really get in touch with your divine self - and fall in love. Use compassion to bridge the gap between guilt and giving ourselves that gift of self-love - because it is then that you are celebrating life to the fullest. Loving ourselves is the greatest gift you can give yourself, and the world.

Self-Love and compassion is the message which resounded from the ashes.  Yet, to truly be a radical act – one must add in Radical Acceptance by giving permission to our hearts and spirit to accept that reality is what it is, to accept that everything has a cause, and to accept that life can be worth living even when there's pain.   It is in doing this radical acceptance that we are honoring the sacred directions by  letting go of all belief systems that do not serve us any longer, of accepting and embracing the PRESENT and no longer live in the past nor dream in the future of what ifs.  The Radical Act is what we do to our hearts and spirits NOW from the lessons of the past.  It is in the HOW of the walk in the Future.  We must choose and begin to act acceptance of self-love.  It is the act of self-love that honors all life as sacred.  All parts of self must be embraced in self-love; the infant, the child, the teenager, the younger adult, the adult, the elder, and even the present and future self.   We must accept fully as part of individual story all the parts of self, including every success, failure, error, truthful insight, embarrassment, hurt, and wound.  Every moment is sacred and must be honored.  We must choose to accept and love the sacred self if we are to create a life of acceptance and understanding in compassion for others.

When the practice of self-love is placed into action, the Sacred Feminine is restored to its natural order.  The paradigm of imbalance has left generations where achievement has only been won by following a competitive, aggressive masculine model, which has contorted the Sacred Feminine energy, it has denied the Sacred Feminine wisdom, strained the psyche of women, and left their souls starving.  The martyrdom model of service and the competitive model of achievement have unbalanced the natural order of creative masculine and feminine energies in modern societies.

Sacred Feminine energy, women in general, have learned to give of their own sustenance, of their very body, often times until they are left physically and emotionally spent.  Feeling depleted and empty, we look for validation, approval, and worthiness from others outside of self.  Not finding it in the external, one is left feeling shamed, blaming self, and overcompensating to fill the emptiness.

We must GIVE to self what you seek in the external.  You MUST give yourself love, attention, pleasure, support and appreciation.  It is an act of sacred devotion to Love yourself. Spirit requires this devotion from you, because Spirit needs your gifts poured out into the world as service.  In truth, you can only give and serve from your surplus, your overflowing full cup. It is Self-Love that feeds you and fills your cup to overflowing. When you know this, you make decisions and follow through with action guided by Self-Love.

Here's where the miracle happens.

When you have filled yourself up with Self-Love--Pleasure, Nutrition, Rest, Healthy Boundaries, Wealth, Self-Appreciation, Spiritual practice--The most radical act of Self-Love is to give your love to another, especially one who challenges you to love, one you may not want to love, one you have "issues" with. This generosity opens the floodgates and fills your brimming cup to overflow.

Truly such radical Self-Love will stir up the shadow as no other.  To deeply feel into the sacred Self, to be able to see and express our value, beauty, and power, this is to experience the very essence of the Divine Feminine. 

This is why women make Circle. We need Circle to do this work in the Light and Shadow.

The magic and miracle of being a woman--the gift of the Circle-- is that our Shadow turns us toward the Light. What we see in our Sisters is the Light of our own Love reflected.  The Divine Feminine lives and breathes thru each of us.  Her vibration is expressed both individually and collectively.  When we choose to recognize and honor the Divine Feminine, we are choosing to recognize and honor our own sacred Selves. 

This is the powerful WE of Women.  This is the powerful Divine Feminine – for She is We and WE are She.  We are all holy children – the daughters, the priestess, the Goddess container, the sacred chalice of all mysteries, the Great Mother of All That Is.  There is no separation.

When Self-Loving, individually powerful Women gather in Circle to stir each other's shadows, support each other's growth, reflect each other's Light, and work together, Sacred Feminine power is reclaimed in the collective body. She emerges as a loving, transformative planetary energy.  In response, the unbalanced masculine can regain right relationship to the Feminine as Sacred Masculine. (Healing Self-Love in men needs the awakened Feminine to activate.) Natural order and balance is restored.

That's how Radical Self-Love changes the world.  It is the only thing that can.

The Weekly Vibe From the Sky~ with Laurissa Heller

The Weekly Vibe From the Sky~

All systems go.  There is a formation of astrological points of which astrologers call a kite in the sky at this time.  There is an Earth trine between the Moon, Mid-Heaven, and Mars.  This energy will give you a boost of pragmatic vibration.  Earth energy likes form, to make sure ideas have evidence, and it is very uneasy with high flying acts that will float away when the presentation is complete. 

This is an excellent energy combo for completing worldly business.  You may be so focused on work that relationships fall to the side for a couple of days while you reconsider how to put the puzzle of your work together.  It may even come to you counting little parts and putting them in particular order, so you can see what you are working with.  What is real, what will really amount to something, and how can that become your future? 

These are all questions that will be searched and combed as the week begins. 

I have come to understand that in my own life, spiritual transformation is about living the every day life by washing the dishes, picking up clothing, and appreciating every moment as it is, but I have always been a dreamer.  Knowing the deep abyss of Universal love has always been at my finger tips.  There are many things that just don’t make sense to me about living here (I have Neptune on my ascendant and had very weak tribal connections as a child).  I have frolicked in the Universal playground at a young age, and have had many dreams about crossing an upper bridge to the other side, only to be told to go back and travel the lower bridge, it is just as important.

It was clear that I wouldn’t be allowed to stay unless I went to the lower bridge to cross.  Symbolically I understood this to mean my lower chakras.  At the time, my self empowerment was very low because of my continuous boundary issues.   My relationships with others was based on co-dependence, and my tribe didn’t accept me as I was, partly because I didn’t know who I was.  My journey was laid out clearly by the guidance, my astrology chart, and my experience of life.

I am on the path of living in form.  To love unconditionally, but to hold my boundaries with others, to empower my self worth with my true calling, and to not fear ugliness of being human.  To have compassion for my flaws, and to find the beauty of walking on this planet. 

There is a balance of flying with Spirit and living in the sweet smelling mud of Gaia.  We all have our own unique journey of becoming, mine happens to be learning to deal with form. This is why I have such love and respect for the middle path, but I also know astrology holds some really potent information about understanding the contract of incarnation.  Here is to being here and now-- and to you for being a compassionate warrior of life.

Eastern Philosophy ~ Western Living ~ Infusion Astrology

Laurissa Heller - Vibes From The Sky

Laurissa Heller is an astrologer and a 500 hour (Yoga Alliance Certified) teacher in Annapolis, as well as a meditation teacher. She assists people with their personal questions about life through her own unique style that she likes to call Infusion Astrology.  Blending her yoga and meditation philosophy with her skills as an intuitive astrologer gives her a different perspective on a person’s chart.  Her readings inform people of the different powers that they encompass as part of their incarnation. It is significant to understand how traits and qualities that have been imprinted can be used to benefit life’s journey.   She likes to combine her varied background to give her clients in-depth, detailed readings which empower them to make informed decisions. Laurissa’s workshops, personal readings, and classes allow fellow travelers to guide their development in a very empowering way. 

Laurissa has taught various types of yoga for over ten years throughout the Baltimore, Washington area.  She has studied with Robert Ohotto, (Intuitive Strategist and Astrologer), Beryl B. Birch, a long list of yoga teachers, Carolyn Myss (author of Sacred Contracts), and Lynn Bell who teaches at the Center for Psychological Astrology in London.    Laurissa considers Liz Greene, teacher, and founder of the Center for Psychological Astrology, to be one of her primary teachers through her many books.  She has studied with Lama Surya Das. She also belongs to the National Council for Geocosmic  Research Inc.

Eastern Philosophy ~ Western Living ~ Infusion Astrology

If you are interested in learning more about Laurissa’s work, you can check out her blogtalkradio show on a weekly basis, as she integrates the symbolic world of astrology and ritual into every day living topics with her co-host Deb Kabin, Earthmotherholisticevents.com.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theweeklyvibe

Weekly Message from Agni: Develop Clear Pictures

Weekly Message from Agni - 2/26/2012

This week:

Stay calm. Reduce the noise inside your head.

Get rid of what distracts you.

Develop clear pictures of your future.




Have a blessed week.

Love and light, Agni

You Can Reach Agni on Facebook by visiting 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Agni

To find out more about Akashic Readings by Agni visit here:  http://jesus-the-book.com/akashic-readings/

“Jesus The forgotten Years”,
 the long-awaited sequel to
 “Jesus The Book” is now online.  by Durga Holzhauser and Agni.  (Order here)