On Silence and Talking: Weekly Meditation Series - Guest Post by Cuauhtli Cihuatl

FeatherStone Art Julie A Miller

Indigenous People know about silence. We are not afraid of it. In fact, to us it is more powerful than words; it is medicine.

Our elders were taught in the ways of silence, and that lesson has passed down to us. Watch, listen, and then act, they told us. This is the way to live.

"Watch the animals; see how they care for their young. Watch the elders to see how they behave. Watch others to see what they want. Always watch first, then with a still heart and mind you will learn. When you have watched enough, you may then act."

In the "normal world”, it's the opposite. We learn by talking. We reward kids who talk the most in school. At parties everyone is trying to speak at once.  In meetings everyone consistently interrupts everyone else, and everyone talks five, ten, or a hundred times. We rationalize this by saying we are 'working out a problem'. Silence makes us nervous. We have a need to fill the space with sound so we talk right away before we even know what we are going to say.  We like to argue. We will not allow one another finish their sentences and consequently we are always interrupting.  Indigenous People see this as very disrespectful.  

Know if you start speaking, I will not interrupt you. I will listen. I will stop listening if I do not like or agree with what you are saying, I will not interrupt you. When you are finished I will make my decision on what you said, however I will not tell you if I disagree unless it is important. Otherwise, I will just be quiet and go away. You have told me what I need to know and there is nothing more to say. Nevertheless, this is not enough for most people. The last word always seems to be lingering.  I won’t have lingering words.

People should think of their words like seeds. They should plant them, and then let them grow in silence. Our elders taught us that the earth is always speaking to us, but that we have to be silent to hear her.

There are many voices besides ours. Many voices.   Creator gave us one mouth and two ears.

About Cuauhtli Cihuatl

I am Laura Alonzo de Franklin, granddaughter of Casimira Rocha and Melecio Sanchez, daughter of Ascenion Alonzo and Celia Sanchez, life-partner of Michael Franklin and the mother of six amazing sons and the mother of three incredible daughters that have crossed over. In the Latino/Hispanic community, I am given the title of Maestra Curandera; in the Lipan Apache path, I am seen as a medicine woman and in the Western Model of healing, I am a Clincial Social Worker. I have been initiated in the Mexhika tradition as Cuauhtli Cihuatl (Eagle Woman) and in the Nde Lipan Apache (Hleh-pai ndé) tradition as Itsa Isdzán (Eagle Woman). Both paths, connect me to The Eagle: carrier of prayers, courage, wisdom, a special connection to the creator, protector, the sky spirit, and a symbol associated with visions & spirits. I carry the sacred staff, the sacred, pipe, the sacred saumerio and the feathers of my winged brothers. I thank Creator and my Abueltia for their permission and blessing in carrying this medicine to ALL that seek it without restritction, without judgment and for it to be inclusive of all faiths, colors, race, genders and backgrounds to walk with dignity, grace and respect. OMETEOTL. 

Kalpulli Teocalli Ollin 

Kalpulli Teocalli Ollin is the direct legacy of Casimira Rocha y Sanchez and her ancestors.  They are dedicated to sharing the wisdom with respect and integrity to all whom seek it.  They are a group of men, women, and families who are affirming, reconnecting, and remembering the traditional ancestral methods in which people empower their own healing.          Through reaffirming ancestral beliefs of the healing process, we affirm the holistic treatment of the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical bodies.  Through reconnecting to our Mother Earth and Father Sky we reconnect to one another by honoring and respecting all life:  animal, mineral and plant, so our equilibrium in this universe may be restored.  Through remembering that we are conduits of higher sources of cosmic energy, we have faith in the ancestral methods of our abuelitas and abuelitos in relearning how to heal ourselves, each other, and our communities, by sharing this medicine with our present and future generations.

The Great Invisible Wound - A Collective Message from "We The Women" From Lack and Scarcity to Abundance and Prosperity

‎"There's a deep wound in people - that they have been so cut off from the source of their being, their mother, their Earth Mother." -- Francis Story Talbott II (Medicine Story), WAMPANOAG

The Great Invisible Wound - A Collective Message from We The Women - From Lack and Scarcity to Abundance and Prosperity

All of life seems to be touched by some facet of a great wound that the prospect of healing is daunting.  The great wound of separation.  The wound has created such things as lack and scarcity.  It sets the stage for alienation, duality, and the illusion of lack.  The ripples of separation permeates our society driving the human heart to seek solace in many places - yet, each only a band aid for the wound.  The truth being the wound created a chasm of emptiness that is experienced as a lack.

The experience of the great invisible wound has been manifested from illusion to reality; the reality of not enough from the monetary aspects of life and pervading the soul, the soul longing for more resulting in greed, competition, lust, and the deep psychological depression.  Our ancestors, the elders, had a deep sense of Oneness.  They not only experienced and felt the ancestors, but a deep knowing allowing for a blissful unity with all worlds. 

The great wound must be purified and filled with this knowing that they are Oneness, they are enough, and they are whole.  It can be difficult to even wrap the psyche around the idea of being whole, of being and having enough, and a blissful existence when the reality of the path has manifested into poverty, depression, and fear.  If we do not honor the separateness that has been brought into reality, one may never experience true Oneness.

Whenever there is a wound, a deep wound that is to be healed it is necessary first to acknowledge that the wound exists.  Many cannot see the wound as they have come to experience being the wound.  It is vital to recognize and acknowledge that we are not the wound.  The wound exists, yes, but we are not the wound.  In order to heal the wound and to fill the emptiness, we must begin with determining our authentic true worth.

We must experience that we are worth healing.  The enormous chasm of discord opened by this wound must be filled.  Each one must experience that they are perfect in value for it is only then that we can begin to experience the unity, the oneness of our ancestors.  This is the basis of a relationship with the foundations of respect, commitment, trust, and loyalty. 

The healing of this great wound means that we have the freedom to explore what the expression of Oneness is.  This healing begins with discovering the center of balance.  It is within the center of being that the foundation of worth exists.  The closing of this wound allows for the foundational removal of beliefs which allows for freedom - freedom of choice and abundance.  Allows for dreams and desires to become co-created with the Universe.  What is the experience of prosperity?  The experience of abundance?  What blocks or stands in the way of Oneness?  The root cause of lack or scarcity is based upon the energy of fear.  Fear that something will disappear.  Fear that there is not enough.  Fear that someone has more.  Fear of money itself.  Fear stops the circulation of all energy of Oneness.  This fear is based upon the power that is perceived with abundance and prosperity.  It can be seen as guilt, worry, judgment.  

Healing the great wound comes when we return to the core value of self.  The value of self within stands as a representation of all our fears, guilts, worries, judgments as well as all our faith, dreams, characterizations, and self-worth. 

Clearing the fear is not enough, to truly heal the great wound one must take responsibility.  Responsibility for all aspects of self-worth and creating the new reality of worth are vital to true healing.  The filling of the chasm is your responsibility.  What are you going to fill the wound with?  Your authentic self-worth will be the basis of what fills the chasm. 

Your authentic and truth worth is determined simply by how much you give in life as compared to how much you receive.  This is known as the Law of Value.  What you give in value to life whether in relationship to service, business, or spiritual relative to what you receive in payment (whether in spiritual gifts or monetary) is the formula for all true worth.  If you give more than you allow be received it is out of balance.  If you receive/take more than you give, it is out of balance.  The true gift of balance is when you gift as much as you receive.  Even your compensation in life is determined not only how many people you serve, but more importantly how well you are of service to them.  What is your intent in serving – is it simply monetary or do you serve from a place of true altruistic motive?  When we are looking to heal the lack and scarcity wound, the intent or motive of why give is vital to understand.

The most valuable gift or service that you as an individual have to offer is the gift of yourself.  If you are not valuing that as a gift – if you do not gift yourself moments with yourself – if you do not find value in yourself, than you cannot gift authentically.  When you do not value yourself, the ability to stay open to receive prosperity and plenty is not available. 

When you put another souls’ interest in the value spot – you create a relationship.  This created relationship is based upon a foundation in respect, commitment, trust, and loyalty.  Or you are showing the other soul that you value them enough to do this giving/serving.

This thought includes ourselves.  If we do not value our own selves – our own passion, we are not able truly to place others in a position of value.

We begin by placing a value upon our own soul, our own love of self, and upon our service to others. We must value our self in order to receive prosperity in any form. As with all aspects of life, there is a line between value and ego. This is not to say that one must be ego based to value self. It is from a place of deep self-love that value stems.

Setting the intention, healing the wound, and filling it with love, self-worth, and giving result in abundance and prosperity in all aspects of being and reality.

As we sit in ceremony for the New Moon Despacho, we offer prayer to heal this wound.

Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Great Spirit.

We bow humbly before youas your sons and daughtersto plant the seeds of abundanceunder the dark of Mama Killa,Grandmother Moon.

Thank you for holding our fears Pachamama.

We surrender the wounds of lack and scarcity to your belly.

We thank you for composting this dense heavy energyso that we may be reborn,under the light of Inti Ti Ti, Father Sun.

May we reclaim our birthrightand align with abundance and prosperity so our hearts may overflow in love,compassion, generosity and sharing.

May we be vessels of Light.

We thank you for hearing our prayersand answering our call. 

AHO!

**Prayer offered and written by Karen Chrappa Daughter of Pachamama

 Sister of the Sacred Lodge of We the Women

 Sunflower of Bouquet of Light Ayllu  You may read additional information, watch the video teaching of the New Moon Despacho Ceremony for Prosperity, and learn more about healing the wounds of lack here: http://astructureforspirit.com/2012/03/21/prosperity-despacho-open-for-prayers/ Originally shared at www.wethewomencommunity.com - reproduced here with permission

I Was Found Guilty of Assassination: Weekly Energy Thought

I didn't know I was about to assassinate someone. I didn't know I would get a death sentence for it. I didn't even have representation to defend myself. The jury was prejudiced before I could even show my perception of what happened. I'm innocent I tell ya...innocent! 

Energetic assassination. I had never even heard of it before. Yet here I was being accused and sentenced before I could even grasp what it meant. Energetic assassination can be one of the most severe and degrading activities that any one can ever encounter. Sadly, it has become a common practice. So common in fact, that it has become an acceptable part of society. 

Gossip is an energetic assassination. It is as deadly for the one gossiping as it is for the one being spoken about. Your own character is assassinated before you can even have an opportunity to share your side of the story. Every person hearing/reading you will be prejudice against you as though you were being energetically stabbed. You will begin to simply ooze with negativity before the rationalization of your statement is made. 

Society today has desensitized us to gossip as we are bombarded by it on TV shows, magazine stories and even so called news. We have come into a place in humanity where it is an acceptable state of affairs to gossip. It has become a multi billion dollar industry in fact. 

We have substituted what we need to know for what we crave to know to make our own lives seem better. The idea of defaming another person has shifted from being something malicious to something called "entertainment". 

Unfortunately, what is set aside is the cost to the person speaking the gossip. It starts with an imprint of perceptional based information that may or may not be true. When the information is imprinted, it becomes difficult to make any further imprints or impressions of the person that do not inter with the first imprint. when you then share this information (i.e. you gossip to someone else) you are not only assassinating the person you are speaking of, but you are actually assassinating the character of the person you are speaking to. How? 

Your imprinting their inner subconscious with a negative thought form that is based upon a distorted fact; thus not enabling them to make their own impressions. They can no longer have a pure impression of the person you spoke of. So in reality, when you gossip you are assassinating energetically three people (can you see how this spreads?).

It becomes a viscous cycle that is near impossible to break. 

It is possible to break a self imposed cycle. It is possible to release and change behavior and be freed from the death sentence of prison. When a person crosses your path, look to see who they are right at that moment. Don't look at who they were or what you may of heard about them. Don't preconceive thoughts. Don't participate in gossip either as a speaker or a listener. 

It is difficult to break the cycle; however, as individuals we can reclaim our energy back. The gift in the end is having an inner world that is serene and balanced able to see to see the abundance in the life around you.

The Trek: New Moon Despacho from Lack and Scarcity to Prosperity and Abundance

It is has been said many times - it is a the dawn of a new era .... I say it is the dawn of a new chapter and in the emerging light of the skies you can paint your own sunrise, what colors will it display?  What dance will you perform?  What song will you sing?

As we prepare for the New Moon Despacho to heal the wounds of scarcity and lack, I pause for a moment to reflect.  Reflect not upon the wound so much as the deeper chasm that has formed.  A vision gifted a mere three months ago was one to gather All to form a Sacred Hoop to assist in healing this chasm.

What was birthed was "We The Women".  21 Sacred Lodge Sisters gathering together to go into ceremony.  This is not unusual.  Many times women gather together to form a bond in ceremony.  Yet, this time it was vastly different than many.  The women who gathered - Shaman, Medicine Women, Priestess.  Each from a vastly different path, different tradition, different lineage and different background.  we would go further than sitting shoulder to shoulder with our Sisters.  We would bridge the chasm and freely share our medicine with one another - teach our traditions, our lineage with one another.  We would support, nurture, and co create together openly with "no boundaries".

Yes, we would push it even further, we would find away to anchor the bridge in order that All our Relations could join us.  We would bring our ancient medicine, our gifted teachings to All people who wished to receive its medicine.  We would discover a way to honor and hold sacred our medicine and yet, bring it to those who had not been able to hear it before, to experience it.  We would stand together and support one another as we bridged the past with the future to break the signatures.

We bring to you ceremonies from various teachings, various paths, and various lineages.  We share them openly with honor and sacred intent.  We know many this causes a great pain too as some have never been brought to All relations before, and yet it is a time of rebirth and emergence into a new dawn.  It has long been said only when the wisdom of the South meets the wisdom of the North, the birds of the West meet the birds of the East, will All things return to peace, harmony, and unity.  The meeting may be a long and arduous journey - yet, we celebrate and dance as within the Mystery of it All the harvest is abundant for All.

We have brought ceremony, this month we step out further towards that Mystery.  Sacred Lodge Sister Karen Chrappa brings the New Moon Despacho, her own mesa, and medicine to the virtual.  As the merging of technology occurs with adding video to the ceremony, we ask for each of you to hold us in Sacred space that we may honor the vision, honor our ancestors, and bridge the chasm.

May the Great Spirit, the Creator, bless our trek, gift the smoke winds to carry the wisdom, and receive them well.  May each Sister who weaves the bridge experience the bounty of the harvest.


For more information on sharing the medicine, transmuting the lack and scarcity into prosperity and abundance, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/114298642027861/ to join with us.  Here you will find links to the preparation, information on a Despacho ceremony, and the upcoming video ceremony release.

Many thanks to All the Sacred Lodge Sisters and to Karen Chrappa who is leading our trek this month.

The Cosmic Story: The Primal Spark of Lightning or Happy Eostre

Owl Woman's Vision by Carole Estrup. 

The Cosmic Story - the day of balance arrives.  There is a celebration, a rebirth of life and of energy that occurs during this cosmic story.  It is the return of light after a hibernation period.  Just as in nature, there must be a death of old so that new can grow.  During the day of balance, there is a bit less in the natural magnetic field that exists.  This allows for the rattle to shake the old free and awaken the new more easily - effortlessly.

The primal spark of lightning - the Eternal Flame of love - brings that exciting and enthusiastic breath to our physical bodies.  The cosmic storyteller hands us the pen and asks each of us to become the author.  The choice of being the hero or the victim is our own.  We can head out on a great adventure as the king, the warrior, or the miner.

The next chapter written truly begins a new year.  The characters change, the plot shifts, the unexpected happens, and the emergence opens up a new ocean of possibilities.  A transcending of self rather than a transmutation of old.  The warrior energy rises up to defend your own authentic truth while the women of the ocean rises to meet her lover.  Your story becomes one filled with prosperity and abundance as you take the pen.

It is time to be bold.  Be brilliant.  Be beaming.  Be being.  The gestation period is over.

Peaceful Warrior learns to paint

I heard in a journey the words peaceful warrior.  Two words that contradict one another.

Peacemakers - they love, are kind, and compassionate  They show no judgment nor intolerance.  They dismantle confrontation and rebuild it into a beautiful structure - at times slowly in order to ensure the peace and beauty is revealed.

Warriors - courageous, committed, strong, with a destination upon their journey.  They approach a situation, assess it and then quickly strike to dismantle the energy in order to dissipate the violence, judgment and hatred.

The end result may be the same but the journey to arrive vastly different.

To be the peaceful warrior it is to breath in the essence of both and know when to be peaceful and when to be a warrior.

There are gateways, experiences if you will, along the journey we call life that will reconnect our soul to itself - merging it it into a whole.  While many many have fragmented pieces that have been left behind, it is not enough to simply recollect the pieces within.  They must be merged together after collected so that a being may experience wholeness, fullness, and completeness.

It was interesting this weekend as I saw the merging occurring within, that the cosmos our very universe is in constant motion.  We gaze upon her stars and planets in awe.  We speak of her innate intelligence and the completeness of law that dictates her evolving and movement, when it suddenly became clear that these same laws, this same innate intelligence is within each of us.    The constant movement of the universe, those laws that dictate the mechanics of nature, are within every aspect of our being, of existence itself.  The way the ancients guided their lives through the rivers of the universe by contemplating the stars as their compass, is the the same way each of us can set the charts out for our own course.  The same mechanics apply.

A peaceful warrior inhales deeply all of these mechanics, all of these changes, and sets course.  They know what must be distilled and fermented and what must be set a fire and burned to ashes.  Within each of us is the peacemaker and the warrior.  Within each of us is the mechanics of the ancients laws - such as balance meaning to find our own way, choices to reclaim our power, integrity to live our truth, compassion to awaken our humanity, presence to inhale the beauty of living the moment, cycles to learn the steps of the dance, surrender to simply embrace all that is, and unity to remember our connection within all.

The alchemist would say, yes deep within their is the ability to transmute the base of who we are - even with the fears and confusion - and return it to the gold.  The gold elixir of life with clarity, serenity, and peace.  They are the steps to the phoenix rising once more.  They are the laws we do not remember, yet live every day.

The Taoist may say that yes, yes these are the ways to find the way.  The Shaman may say that these are the "rules" discovered after learning to put the pictures together.   The picture sharing more "rules" to learn the mechanics to make your own pieces and create your own puzzle.

So I have a new "picture" to create - there are no pieces, no framework, nor instructions.  What there is a rainbow palette, a star filled universe, the wind, the Earth, the Spirit guides, the ocean, and a fire.  Those are the tools, the wisdom, and the medicine to begin crafting new pieces for a puzzle picture yet discovered.

As more is revealed, as more is integrated, and as the alchemist within begins to work, I will share more.  For day the picture, is simply a white canvas ready to be created.  I hand each of you a paint brush knowing the rainbow palette exists for each of you, paint your path, paint your pictures, and allow all that can be to be.

mwah

Drops of Gold: Weekly Vibe with Laurissa Heller

Messages from our spiritual guides may be brought forth through our interactions out in the world. Even though we may feel the steadiness of life to be out of balance, there are plenty of gifts to be had at this time.

Our times of greatest struggle bring the most precious gifts. The drops of gold that brighten our astral bodies and our soulful vibrations is the flow of prana that we take through life and perhaps beyond.

Our struggle comes from the collective which is washing away boundaries, and opening up our hearts to something bigger than just our personal process. Our awareness is broadening beyond our tribe, our neighborhoods; it is even encompassing our foes. This energy doesn’t follow the structure of our society’s set boundaries. It is like the air we breathe, it doesn’t matter how much money you have or where you come from, we all end up breathing the same air at some point.

The momentum is building. In June, we will really feel the power of this movement. 

Transformation takes decision making and action, and for every action there is a reaction.

Whatever we are building now, is the foundation of the future. Putting down spiritual roots that have the ability to steady our breath as we shift, is the strongest base we can give ourselves. 

Beyond each breath, what is there? Another breath. If we focus on each lovely, deep breath, life is good.

It is freedom that we seek, for our soul and for our emotions.

Let your Lives Speak. - George Fox

Eastern Philosophy ~ Western Living ~ Infusion Astrology

About Laurissa:

Laurissa is an astrologer who likes to work with people to help them find answers to life's questions through her own interpretation called Infusion Astrology. She pulls from yoga, buddhism, astrology, intuition, and life to help guide people through their decision making processes. 

Relationships, Work, Family, Children, Travel and Location for Living are all part of her offering as part of her Infusion Astrology Readings.  Her mission is to enhance people's awareness in their own lives so that they are able to live to their fullest potential.  Her philosophy is that by taking care of ourselves and recharging our own batteries we are better able to assist the people who are in our lives and extend that energy into the environment as well.

Laurissa offers Astrology Guidance and is an Educator of Conscious Living and Yoga Meditation Teacher (500 Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher) and has been practicing yoga and meditation for nearly a decade. 

To find out more information about workshops offerings and private sessions, visit her website at www.tribaltree.org or visit her facebook page .


You can also catch "The Weekly Vibe" show on BlogTalk Radio where Laurissa and Deb Kabin (Earthmother Holistic Events)  The Weekly Vibe Show