Several months ago I had a vision of having a larger kitchen. And some storage space (oh, my kingdom for a closet.) And a bigger garden. And being more in community. These thoughts flashed through my mind, and then I let them go. I love where I lived, so there was really no reason to move.
Not much later I came home to find my friend Stephen, who was visiting Raven and I from Vashon Island in Washington, jumping up and down excitedly and telling me about an amazing house for sale down the hill from us.
You guessed it. Huge kitchen. Lots of storage. Enormous, fenced garden, already filled with waist-high plants.
Raven, Stephen and I spent an hour with the owner wandering the property with our months either widely smiling or dropped open at the house, the land, the springs, the feel of this place. It was perfect.
But after a few weeks of talking about numbers and feasibility we all realized that it was not time to buy anything. I was a bit sad, but I surrendered to reality. It was not time to move, not yet. Maybe next year Raven and I agreed.
Last week I received a call from one of our students who is researching the feasibility of moving to Texas to be near our community. As i was on the phone with her I turned off the main road into our subdivision (a middle of nowhere Texas country sub-division that is, which means that most houses are on fourteen acres and there are no building codes…) and I saw a tiny cardboard sign stuck up on a pole by the metal white rabbit that is the namesake for Hill Country Ranches.
In rough black felt pen the sign said HOUSE FOR LEASE $500/ROOM WILL RENT WHOLE HOUSE.
"Hey, a sign of power! I'll call them and check it out for you," I told Marilyn.
Little did I know the sign of power (or sacred nudge from the Universe) was for me.
I called the number, left a message, and in a few minutes received a call back from a cheerful man who started telling me about what he was offering.
And what he was offering was the same house Stephen, Raven, and I had fallen in love with but couldn't afford to buy. But now he was offering it for rent.
I immediately called Stephen. "Okay honey, I don't know why but our house is back…" This was on Friday. On Wednesday I gave our new landlord a deposit. Raven and I move October 1st; Stephen will have a bedroom for when he is in Texas.
And so I let go of a much loved house for one that I dreamed of months ago, and has now manifested in spades. It has everything I've wanted in a house, and things I couldn't even have named. Like a landlord who called me a few days ago and said, "Okay, what would you like me to plant in the garden for you this week so it will be ready when you move in?" and who gives us bottles of sweet wine that he makes from the muscadine grapes that grow everywhere on the property. And a treehouse in an old oak at the edge of the property. And water from the enormous rainwater tanks outside that are now full after the rains. And space for horses. And a garden that is fenced from the nibbles of deer and snouts of armadillos. And many things yet to be discovered…..
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Summer Sabbatical 2010; City Lights, Temples, and Flower, Flowers, Flowers
To listen to the song Raven wrote in Bali (sung by the fabulous StormMiguel) click here
Raven wrote a poem one night, then the next day his poem blossomed into a full song in his head. He sang it into his ipad, and in a brilliant trans-oceanic partnership emailed it to our dear friend StormMiguel Florez. StormMiguel put it to music, sang and recorded it, and sent it back to Raven. All of this happened in the span of two days.... The recording is rough, and yet both Raven's inspiration and StormMiguel's talent shine through. We have both been singing it in our heads now for days, and it encapsulates our journey perfectly. Enjoy! Thanks, StormMiguel... and to Raven and his new song-writing muse! Check out StormMiguel's website for his newest CD, long lost sun. http://www.stormflorez.com/
HONG KONG
On our first day in Hong Kong (where I took my first breath almost 44 years ago) Raven and I sat in the lobby of the Peninsula, an ancient British queen of a hotel that was built long before I was born, and had high tea. I remembered the thrill I felt as a little girl having tea with my parents and sister here. Raven and I talked about consciousness, truth, the impossibility of sharing the truth, and I cried at the beauty of the silver cream pot.
It has been a whirlwind, full, marvelous journey to Asia. I'm trying to take in every morsel of it, sight sounds smells tastes touch. I have always loved Hong Kong, and experiencing its energy and vibrancy once again is magical. One morning on one of our many wanderings we spotted incense billowing out of a tiny stone doorway. The many street vendors surrounding it selling candles, flowers, statues, fruit, and incense by the handfuls made it clear we had discovered a temple. We bought three roman candle-sized, red and gold incense sticks and headed in. It was a small space, about 40 feet wide by 60 feet long, crammed full of Buddha statues, offerings piled high, massive incense coils dangling like thin snakes from the ceiling, and at least twice as many people as would have been legal in the United States. As I lit my offering with the flame of an oil lamp, pressed body to body with strangers and inhaling sweet smoke, I smiled to myself and thought, "Welcome back to Hong Kong."
One we traveled via subway, ferry, and bus to the Tian Tan Buddha; a HUGE statue of Buddha high in the rolling hills of Lantau, and island adjacent to Hong Kong. Part of my intent was to release some emotion and pray for my dad, who has been in my thoughts a lot as I travel in the countries where he raised me. So many memories. I stood inside the building that is the lotus that the Buddha sits on and wept, surrounded by hundreds of tiles of people's ancestors that lined the walls. Some just had names, black Chinese calligraphy on white tile, some also hd black and white photographs, mostly of older moms and dads. Lining the walls were offerings to the dead: neat arrangements of real and plastic flowers and incense, porcelain kuan yin and buddha statues.
I cried for the loss of my dad. I cried for all the people who have lost beloveds and mourned them. I cried for the incredible beauty of this world, and the overwhelming knowing that it is all temporary. In the edges of my consciousness I can taste the freedom of letting it all pour through me, the wisdom of drowning in the sea of life and death and rebirth.
And as we took the impressively long cable car ride back down the mountain to the subway station and the Buddha slowly receded in the background, I felt like a bird flying free over the green hills and calm water below.
THAILAND
The next morning I took Raven to a shrine that was next door to the hotel my family lived in for six months when we first moved to Bangkok in 1981; it is called the Erawan. We way overpaid for supplies: four rose wreaths, twelve sticks of incense, four packets of leaf gold, four little orange candles. There are always people praying at the Erawan Shrine, and it was so grounding for me to pray there. I'd always been drawn to it as a teenager, so what a gift to go back as an adult and be able to engage fully with the energies there. You pray at each of the four sides of the shrine, which is a white temple open on four sides with a golden statue of the god Brahma (who has four faces that look each direction) in the middle. The first side I sent my blessings to Thailand and her people and all I learned while I lived here; the second side I said prayers for my father. At each side you light incense and a candle, leave flowers, and also rub the gold leaf onto the pillars.
The Thai's main religion is Buddhism, so I was surprised to see that the statue in the middle of the Erawan Shrine is the Hindu God Brahma. There are Hindu influences everywhere, which I learned was brought in from India by Brahman priests. Each Thai house has at least one, and sometimes two, spirit houses, that guard the land and house. Many spirit houses are empty, others have statues of the elephant-god Ganesh or the Goddess of abundance, Lakshmi.
My main reason for visiting Thailand was to visit my first two horse-back riding instructors, Mrs. Rhodes and her daughter Puki. They live west of Bangkok in Kanchanaburi, the home of the well-known bridge over the River Kwae. (The River Kwae is where I learned to canoe and water ski! And swim with horses....) What a step back into time to see the stables and the dining room and these two dear women after almost 30 years.
It was really a trip to visit the camp; Mrs. Rhodes is now 94 years old and still perfectly sharp and present. She shared lots of amazing stories of riding her horse around Bangkok before WWII, then starting her horse riding school after she returned to Thailand from her native land of Germany after the war. Her daughter Puki is 70 years old and very active; she raised two granddaughters, who are now 14 and 16; and all total there are 8 grandkids from Puki's two sons, Peck and Piet. They are currently starting a riding program for autistic and disabled children, which I'll write more about soon.
We took one side trip to the Erawan waterfalls.... cool blue water, incredible curly vine trees, and fierce monkeys...
Our last day we visited a huge temple called Wat Pho; it is still in use and is the main center for teaching Thai massage. Many many buddhas; including a reclining gold buddha that is about 100 feet long. I found a statue of Buddha that at the base of it had a little statue of the Thai mother earth goddess, so it was by rubbing gold leaf on her and saying prayers that I said goodbye to Thailand.
It was perfect to leave Thailand and travel to Bali; someplace I had always wanted to visit, and that has the same energy as Thailand. Singapore, where we moved in 1982, was so sterile it was really hard on me to live there. So going to Bali was great, and my body is happy. I feel like I got to leave Thailand in a proper way, very consciously saying goodbye and sharing my love and appreciation. I do feel like I've reclaimed something I had left behind.
BALI
The first two weeks of our journey I was focused on experiencing; going to some of my favorite places, or places I'd never been but wanted to visit.
Bali is about integration and slowing down.
The Balinese are wonderful people; I've been amazed to find they are even sweeter and more loving than the Thais, more like the Thais when I first moved to Bangkok so many years ago. When I pass someone and smile I am greeted by huge grins and open hearts. So beautiful; Pixie is happy!
The whole island is based in ritual and ceremony and making offerings to the gods. As we walked the streets of Kuta when we first arrived there were small, square banana leaf plates filled with flowers and moss scattered all over the ground; Raven told me they put out offerings this way three times a day. The Balinese place them on altars that are everywhere, or on the street in front of their house or business. The altars range from bamboo woven, open-ended little boxes that hang from the eaves to tall, elaborate moss-covered stone pillars, topped by what can best be described as a throne. The one to my right is surrounded by a short wall, has two pillars on either side of the doorway, and is about ten feet tall. There is a delicately carved Buddha statue to the left of the altar; when I woke up this morning someone has already been by to put an offering in front of it. I added a flower.
The Balinese are Hindu, a very interesting thing since of all the many islands of Indonesia, only Bali is Hindu, everyplace else is Muslim. They have obviously combined the original shamanic, earth-based practices creatively with Hinduism. Yesterday at one hotel we were looking at staying at there was an altar by the pool that was a large stone slab with rocks on it, being blessed by incense and flowers. The statues that are everywhere are often fierce animal crosses from Indonesian mythology; dragons and demons and guardian garudas.
Hindus worship many forms of gods and goddesses; but they know that all the different forms are all representatives of One unnameable force. To show this most of the thrones on top of the altars in Bali are empty.
We spent long, wonderful hours sitting on the porch watching the wind lightly blow the rice, listening to the water rushing by in the canals on its way to the fields, going for long walks, and eating at our favorite hangout, the Yellow Flower cafe (Raven: lattes and banana berry pancakes, HeatherAsh: tumeric and ginger drinks and spicy veggies and eggs on toast).
One day we followed a tiny paragraph in our pocket-sized guidebook to a nearby river. Luckily we were found by Wayan, a river raft guide who had the day off and spotted us trying to figure out how to get down to the water. He cheerfully led the way, walking us across the river and across his rice fields. We traveled on tiny, muddy paths, snaking our way through jungle to cultivated areas and back again. Along the way he showed us bright red clusters of coffee beans growing in the shade of tall banana and banyan trees, tehe chubby green pods of cacoa (the mama of all chocolate), date palm where they tap the flowers for the dark, rich date palm sugar that Raven now loves, and a hidden sanctuary of temples surrounded by enormous, many-limbed banyan trees. Later we drank coca-cola at his home, which looks more temple than house. It was a delight to have a local to ask questions about Bali, religion, schooling, and more.
Our last day in Bali we walked along the looong beach at Legian and Kuta, swam in the ocean and got tumbled by a huge breaking wave, and drank neon orange mai tais as the sun set.
I feel content and blessed, and somewhat wordless around the impact of the journey. Suffice to say I feel a new level of stillness and peace in my being, and though I miss the flowers and smiles, I'm happy to be heading into Austin tomorrow to see my Thirteen Moons circle and share this energy with my sisters.
Here is a video Raven and I made from our porch:
Or watch it on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpsbZlhKvhk
Here is a video Raven and I made from our porch:
Or watch it on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpsbZlhKvhk
To see more photos, visit my facebook page:
You don't have to be on facebook to view them.
Blessings!
Friday, June 11, 2010
I was so moved to see the many different creative writings about the oil spill that I'm including them for you here. Your task this week; spend an hour or more sending energy and praying for the gulf in the way that works best for you. I invite you to read through each of the ideas below and pick one or more that speaks to you the most.
FROM CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE
My Relatives,
Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their Leaders. I ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together from the Spirit of your Nations in Prayer.
We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the World; we are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing their sacred color, which have been signs for us to pray for the sacred life of all things. As I am sending this message to you, many Animal Nations are being threatened, those that swim, those that crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations, eventually all will be affected from the oil disaster in the Gulf.
The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we cannot afford to continue to make.
I ask, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in prayer with the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these serious issues will continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our Ancestors have warned us of in their Prophecies.
I know in my heart that there are millions of people that feel our united prayers for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I believe we as Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our thoughts and prayers to allow the healing of the many wounds that have been infilicted on the Earth.
As we Honor the Cycle of Life, let us call for Prayer circles globally to assist in healing Grandmother Earth (our Unc'I Maka). We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.
As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And that what we crate can have lasting effect on all life.
So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us make a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our children's future and well-being, and the generations to come.
Onipikte (that we shall live),
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
FROM JOE VITALE
It's hard to miss the news about the oil spill
in the Gulf of Mexico.
What can we do about it?
I'm taking a big risk in telling you about this,
but I believe it's worth it.
See http://clearthegulf.com
Here's the story...
A few people wrote me, recalling that years ago
I sent out an email inviting everyone to envision
Hurricane Rita dissolving before it hit land.
Rita did in fact lessen in power as it hit.
A few others know about the Attract Miracles
community I created with Craig Perrine to
help people support each other to achieve
their intentions.
Hundreds have been going there since we
began it, and the results are a-maz-ing.
What you may not realize is that 23 scientific
studies prove that when people focus on a
common goal, using meditation to achieve
inner peace, that goal tends to come about.
With all of that in mind, Pat O'Bryan and I
created a special clearing audio designed
to help Clear the Oil Spill.
And we're giving it away.
The Clearing Oil Spill audio uses the same
formula we've been using in all of our other
clearing audios - my strategic statements and
Pat's original music - woven together using
hi-tech equipment and breakthrough processes
to speak right to your unconscious mind.
When you work with the unconscious, you
also tap into the collective unconscious.
And that's where we can impact the oil spill
and anything else we perceive as bad.
Scoff if you like but we feel it's at least worth
a few minutes a day to listen to our special
audio and let it help you clean the world from
the inside out.
If nothing else, consider it a relaxing few
moments for yourself.
And maybe, just maybe, it may heal the
Gulf, and the Earth, as well.
It's worth a try, isn't it?
Get the audio at --
http://clearthegulf.com
And please tell others about it.
If you can forward this email to family and
friends, Twitter it, Facebook it, blog it and
anything else you can think of, it will help
us all.
Again, it's freeee.
Let's make a difference.
It begins with you and me.
Will you help?
Love,
Joe
FROM THE THIRTEEN GRANDMOTHERS
"You Are Desperately Needed"
"We ask you to cast, anchor, and hold the Net of Light steady for the Gulf of Mexico," the Grandmothers said. "This crisis is affecting the entire world, and humanity is asleep. Wake up!" they cried. "Animals are dying, plants are dying, and your Mother is writhing in agony.
If you hold the Net of Light steady at this time you will help stave off further catastrophe."You have been lulled into a false sleep," they said, "told that others (B.P.) will take care of this problem. This is not so," they said. "And this is not the time for you to fall into oblivion.
Determine now to stay awake, and once you have made that commitment, think of, cast, and hold the Net of Light. Hold it deep and hold it wide. Amplify its reach to penetrate the waters of the Gulf and dive deep beneath the crust of Mother Earth. Anchor it at the earth's core and as you hold it there, ask it to unify with the mineral kingdom of this planet.
It will do this and will harmonize with all the solid and liquid mineral states on earth-including oil and gas. The Net of Light will call these minerals back into harmony."Whatever human beings have damaged, human beings must correct," the Grandmothers said. "This is the law. We repeat: This is the law.You cannot sit back and ask God to fix the mess humanity has created. Each of you must throw your shoulders to the wheel and work.
We are asking for your help. Several years ago we gave you the Net of Light so you would be able to help the earth at times like this. Step forward now. This is the Net of Light that will hold the earth during the times of change that are upon you," they said."First move into your heart and call on us. We will meet you there. The Net of Light is lit by the jewel of your heart," they said, "so move into this lighted place within you and open to the Net of which you are a part. Bask in its calming presence. It holds you at the same time that you hold it."
Now think of magnifying your union with us. We, the Great Council of the Grandmothers, are with you now, and all those who work with the Net of Light are also with you. There are thousands, even millions now connected in light," they said. "Along with this union, call forth the power of the sacred places on earth. These will amplify the potency of our joint effort. Then call on the sacred beings that have come to prevent the catastrophe that threatens to overwhelm your planet. We will work together," they said, nodding slowly."Think of, cast and magnify the presence of the Net of Light in the Gulf of Mexico. See, imagine or think of it holding the waters, holding the land, the plants, the sea life, and the people. Holding them all!" they said.
"The Net of Light is holding them steady; it is returning them to balance. Let the love within your lighted heart keep pouring into the Net of Light and hold, hold, hold. Calmly and reverently watch as the light from your heart flows along the strands of the Net. It will follow your command and continuously move forth. As soon as you think of it, it will happen. We ask you to practice this for only a few minutes at a time, but to repeat it throughout the day and night."We promise that this work with the Net of Light will do untold good," the Grandmothers said. "We are calling you to service now. You are needed. Do not miss this opportunity. We thank you and bless you."
FROM MICHELE BOCCIA
I imagine you are all watching in horror as tons of oil spills into the ocean each day. We can do something. I know how powerful positive energy and prayer can be when many people are focused on one thing. Change happens.
I ask you for the next three Thursdays to offer the prayer below or use your own words. We need to send as much positive energy and light to the engineers at BP so that they can figure out a way to stop the poison.
Please do this. Please send this email to your entire email list. The more energy we send to them, the more powerful. We can make a difference. It’s happened before and it can happen again.
For the next three Thursdays, whenever you think about it, send positive energy to the engineers at BP.
In peace,
Michele
Prayer:
I ask you, God of Nature, to give the engineers at BP the knowledge and support they need to cap the rig that is flowing oil into your sacred waters. Let them be open to your divine grace. I send my love and positive energy to them as well.
Think this thought for the next three Thursdays: God, give BP engineers wisdom and insight.
FROM VICKI NOBLE
So many of you have responded to my post from last week about doing “menstrual magic” in relation to the Gulf catastrophe. And many of you have asked me for particular “instructions” on what to do―what kind of visualization or healing work might we share together, even what time of day would be best, etc. I can do that to some extent; I can create some shared meditations that we all do for a few days or a week at a time, and then I can send a new one periodically. But as I listen to the terrible news of more and more oil gushing from deep in the ocean, and all the unfathomable devastation to people, plants, animals, and whole ecosystems, all I feel is sorrow. I think our main meditation should be one of empathy or joining with those who are suffering, with the main thrust of the meditation being what Jennifer Berezan called “Praises for the World.”
The BAM syllable of Vajrayogini is sufficient for calling in or invoking the female divine energies of life, creativity, empowerment, and awareness. You just think of red Vajrayogini; she’s the quintessential sacred woman, embodied and empowered to act spontaneously for the benefit of all beings. You hold her BAM syllable in your heart and imagine it glowing with red fiery energy (shakti). It’s enough (in my mind) to invoke these sacred female energies and pray for the world. Any way we can think of to do that is great. Be creative! Just wanting to help and heal is fabulous―and I think it doesn’t hurt to say “sorry.” I am certainly sorry for what we are doing to the planet in our consumer-driven, technological global society. Express your sorrow. Let the Earth know that YOU know you are part of her ecosystem, that you feel her pain, and that you love and feel anguish for all the beings who are suffering directly from this catastrophe.
If you are a bleeding woman, then offer your blood to any moving body of water with your prayers. All these waters end up at the ocean, so you can help with this offering no matter where you live. Make it count, give your precious red substance as an offering of compassion and oneness. Offer your tears and your pain, your helplessness as well as your powerful wishes for the miracle of regeneration.
If you are no longer a bleeding woman, hold space for all the young women you know to become aware of the power they hold in their monthly flow. Spread the word, join with them, make your own offerings of blood wisdom and life experience―let the Mother Earth know you are with her, actively sharing and praying.
And all you beautiful men who feel aligned, imagine making a protective hoop or circle around all these powerfully expressive bleeding women and girls, holding space for them and for Mother Earth (whom the Andean indigenous people call “Pachamama”) and all of nature. The important thing is that we are not isolated, not separate from this or any other tragic manifestation of global catastrophe. We are part and parcel of what is happening, whether in Haiti, Chile, or Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, or―eventually, inevitably―in our own neighborhoods.
I will attach a photo of the lovely altar we made at the Vajrayogini retreat I recently facilitated in Italy. I look forward to continuous energetic connection with each and all of you, as we make our love offerings and sing our “Praises for the World.” ( http://www.edgeofwonder.com/gallery)
FROM NICKI SKULLY
Dear Friends,
The debacle in the Gulf is generating a tremendous amount of news, and for the most part we fret and express our disgust and sorrow, and complain about BP and all that is not being done. We need to do more, yet not many of us can contribute physically, and few of us have the experience or skill to provide workable solutions to expedite the clean-up of the waters, beaches, wildlife, toxic chemical/oil mix, or economic situation that is and will continue to plague the region for an indeterminate amount of time.
What we can do is work energetically and spiritually to affect the situation. What we can do is recognize our power as co-creators and access our high selves and our greater wisdom. What we can do is put out a call for help and see who shows up. And what we can do is learn our lessons in such a way as to create a beautiful, healthy and safe world for our children and our children's children…
Our ceremony for healing the Gulf will be designed to connect to whatever aspect of this disaster touches you most deeply and personally. With the exponential power of our numbers, we will put out a call for help in a way that will allow you to experience directly, through your vision in the journey we will take together, solutions that you may not have imagined.
Also join us in an online discussion on my Facebook page.
www.shamanicjourneys.com
MATTER OF TRUST
http://www.matteroftrust.org/
Gathering donated hair to soak up the oil...
FROM CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE
My Relatives,
Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their Leaders. I ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together from the Spirit of your Nations in Prayer.
We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the World; we are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing their sacred color, which have been signs for us to pray for the sacred life of all things. As I am sending this message to you, many Animal Nations are being threatened, those that swim, those that crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations, eventually all will be affected from the oil disaster in the Gulf.
The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we cannot afford to continue to make.
I ask, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in prayer with the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these serious issues will continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our Ancestors have warned us of in their Prophecies.
I know in my heart that there are millions of people that feel our united prayers for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I believe we as Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our thoughts and prayers to allow the healing of the many wounds that have been infilicted on the Earth.
As we Honor the Cycle of Life, let us call for Prayer circles globally to assist in healing Grandmother Earth (our Unc'I Maka). We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.
As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And that what we crate can have lasting effect on all life.
So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us make a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our children's future and well-being, and the generations to come.
Onipikte (that we shall live),
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
FROM JOE VITALE
It's hard to miss the news about the oil spill
in the Gulf of Mexico.
What can we do about it?
I'm taking a big risk in telling you about this,
but I believe it's worth it.
See http://clearthegulf.com
Here's the story...
A few people wrote me, recalling that years ago
I sent out an email inviting everyone to envision
Hurricane Rita dissolving before it hit land.
Rita did in fact lessen in power as it hit.
A few others know about the Attract Miracles
community I created with Craig Perrine to
help people support each other to achieve
their intentions.
Hundreds have been going there since we
began it, and the results are a-maz-ing.
What you may not realize is that 23 scientific
studies prove that when people focus on a
common goal, using meditation to achieve
inner peace, that goal tends to come about.
With all of that in mind, Pat O'Bryan and I
created a special clearing audio designed
to help Clear the Oil Spill.
And we're giving it away.
The Clearing Oil Spill audio uses the same
formula we've been using in all of our other
clearing audios - my strategic statements and
Pat's original music - woven together using
hi-tech equipment and breakthrough processes
to speak right to your unconscious mind.
When you work with the unconscious, you
also tap into the collective unconscious.
And that's where we can impact the oil spill
and anything else we perceive as bad.
Scoff if you like but we feel it's at least worth
a few minutes a day to listen to our special
audio and let it help you clean the world from
the inside out.
If nothing else, consider it a relaxing few
moments for yourself.
And maybe, just maybe, it may heal the
Gulf, and the Earth, as well.
It's worth a try, isn't it?
Get the audio at --
http://clearthegulf.com
And please tell others about it.
If you can forward this email to family and
friends, Twitter it, Facebook it, blog it and
anything else you can think of, it will help
us all.
Again, it's freeee.
Let's make a difference.
It begins with you and me.
Will you help?
Love,
Joe
FROM THE THIRTEEN GRANDMOTHERS
"You Are Desperately Needed"
"We ask you to cast, anchor, and hold the Net of Light steady for the Gulf of Mexico," the Grandmothers said. "This crisis is affecting the entire world, and humanity is asleep. Wake up!" they cried. "Animals are dying, plants are dying, and your Mother is writhing in agony.
If you hold the Net of Light steady at this time you will help stave off further catastrophe."You have been lulled into a false sleep," they said, "told that others (B.P.) will take care of this problem. This is not so," they said. "And this is not the time for you to fall into oblivion.
Determine now to stay awake, and once you have made that commitment, think of, cast, and hold the Net of Light. Hold it deep and hold it wide. Amplify its reach to penetrate the waters of the Gulf and dive deep beneath the crust of Mother Earth. Anchor it at the earth's core and as you hold it there, ask it to unify with the mineral kingdom of this planet.
It will do this and will harmonize with all the solid and liquid mineral states on earth-including oil and gas. The Net of Light will call these minerals back into harmony."Whatever human beings have damaged, human beings must correct," the Grandmothers said. "This is the law. We repeat: This is the law.You cannot sit back and ask God to fix the mess humanity has created. Each of you must throw your shoulders to the wheel and work.
We are asking for your help. Several years ago we gave you the Net of Light so you would be able to help the earth at times like this. Step forward now. This is the Net of Light that will hold the earth during the times of change that are upon you," they said."First move into your heart and call on us. We will meet you there. The Net of Light is lit by the jewel of your heart," they said, "so move into this lighted place within you and open to the Net of which you are a part. Bask in its calming presence. It holds you at the same time that you hold it."
Now think of magnifying your union with us. We, the Great Council of the Grandmothers, are with you now, and all those who work with the Net of Light are also with you. There are thousands, even millions now connected in light," they said. "Along with this union, call forth the power of the sacred places on earth. These will amplify the potency of our joint effort. Then call on the sacred beings that have come to prevent the catastrophe that threatens to overwhelm your planet. We will work together," they said, nodding slowly."Think of, cast and magnify the presence of the Net of Light in the Gulf of Mexico. See, imagine or think of it holding the waters, holding the land, the plants, the sea life, and the people. Holding them all!" they said.
"The Net of Light is holding them steady; it is returning them to balance. Let the love within your lighted heart keep pouring into the Net of Light and hold, hold, hold. Calmly and reverently watch as the light from your heart flows along the strands of the Net. It will follow your command and continuously move forth. As soon as you think of it, it will happen. We ask you to practice this for only a few minutes at a time, but to repeat it throughout the day and night."We promise that this work with the Net of Light will do untold good," the Grandmothers said. "We are calling you to service now. You are needed. Do not miss this opportunity. We thank you and bless you."
FROM MICHELE BOCCIA
I imagine you are all watching in horror as tons of oil spills into the ocean each day. We can do something. I know how powerful positive energy and prayer can be when many people are focused on one thing. Change happens.
I ask you for the next three Thursdays to offer the prayer below or use your own words. We need to send as much positive energy and light to the engineers at BP so that they can figure out a way to stop the poison.
Please do this. Please send this email to your entire email list. The more energy we send to them, the more powerful. We can make a difference. It’s happened before and it can happen again.
For the next three Thursdays, whenever you think about it, send positive energy to the engineers at BP.
In peace,
Michele
Prayer:
I ask you, God of Nature, to give the engineers at BP the knowledge and support they need to cap the rig that is flowing oil into your sacred waters. Let them be open to your divine grace. I send my love and positive energy to them as well.
Think this thought for the next three Thursdays: God, give BP engineers wisdom and insight.
FROM VICKI NOBLE
So many of you have responded to my post from last week about doing “menstrual magic” in relation to the Gulf catastrophe. And many of you have asked me for particular “instructions” on what to do―what kind of visualization or healing work might we share together, even what time of day would be best, etc. I can do that to some extent; I can create some shared meditations that we all do for a few days or a week at a time, and then I can send a new one periodically. But as I listen to the terrible news of more and more oil gushing from deep in the ocean, and all the unfathomable devastation to people, plants, animals, and whole ecosystems, all I feel is sorrow. I think our main meditation should be one of empathy or joining with those who are suffering, with the main thrust of the meditation being what Jennifer Berezan called “Praises for the World.”
The BAM syllable of Vajrayogini is sufficient for calling in or invoking the female divine energies of life, creativity, empowerment, and awareness. You just think of red Vajrayogini; she’s the quintessential sacred woman, embodied and empowered to act spontaneously for the benefit of all beings. You hold her BAM syllable in your heart and imagine it glowing with red fiery energy (shakti). It’s enough (in my mind) to invoke these sacred female energies and pray for the world. Any way we can think of to do that is great. Be creative! Just wanting to help and heal is fabulous―and I think it doesn’t hurt to say “sorry.” I am certainly sorry for what we are doing to the planet in our consumer-driven, technological global society. Express your sorrow. Let the Earth know that YOU know you are part of her ecosystem, that you feel her pain, and that you love and feel anguish for all the beings who are suffering directly from this catastrophe.
If you are a bleeding woman, then offer your blood to any moving body of water with your prayers. All these waters end up at the ocean, so you can help with this offering no matter where you live. Make it count, give your precious red substance as an offering of compassion and oneness. Offer your tears and your pain, your helplessness as well as your powerful wishes for the miracle of regeneration.
If you are no longer a bleeding woman, hold space for all the young women you know to become aware of the power they hold in their monthly flow. Spread the word, join with them, make your own offerings of blood wisdom and life experience―let the Mother Earth know you are with her, actively sharing and praying.
And all you beautiful men who feel aligned, imagine making a protective hoop or circle around all these powerfully expressive bleeding women and girls, holding space for them and for Mother Earth (whom the Andean indigenous people call “Pachamama”) and all of nature. The important thing is that we are not isolated, not separate from this or any other tragic manifestation of global catastrophe. We are part and parcel of what is happening, whether in Haiti, Chile, or Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, or―eventually, inevitably―in our own neighborhoods.
I will attach a photo of the lovely altar we made at the Vajrayogini retreat I recently facilitated in Italy. I look forward to continuous energetic connection with each and all of you, as we make our love offerings and sing our “Praises for the World.” ( http://www.edgeofwonder.com/gallery)
FROM NICKI SKULLY
Dear Friends,
The debacle in the Gulf is generating a tremendous amount of news, and for the most part we fret and express our disgust and sorrow, and complain about BP and all that is not being done. We need to do more, yet not many of us can contribute physically, and few of us have the experience or skill to provide workable solutions to expedite the clean-up of the waters, beaches, wildlife, toxic chemical/oil mix, or economic situation that is and will continue to plague the region for an indeterminate amount of time.
What we can do is work energetically and spiritually to affect the situation. What we can do is recognize our power as co-creators and access our high selves and our greater wisdom. What we can do is put out a call for help and see who shows up. And what we can do is learn our lessons in such a way as to create a beautiful, healthy and safe world for our children and our children's children…
Our ceremony for healing the Gulf will be designed to connect to whatever aspect of this disaster touches you most deeply and personally. With the exponential power of our numbers, we will put out a call for help in a way that will allow you to experience directly, through your vision in the journey we will take together, solutions that you may not have imagined.
Also join us in an online discussion on my Facebook page.
www.shamanicjourneys.com
MATTER OF TRUST
http://www.matteroftrust.org/
Gathering donated hair to soak up the oil...
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Why I Cut Off A Foot of Hair and Donated it to a Stranger
It started off with a conversation with my sister, who said, "Hey, I heard you could cut off seven or eight inches of hair and donate it to have a wig made for kids…"I chewed on this information for months. I'd wanted to trim my very long hair for a while, but eight inches of it?
So I went into research mode. Perhaps I could still be generous by only donating, say, 4 inches of hair.
What I found out about the process of making a wig for a child inspired me to happily get a foot of hair lopped off. That and one evening that tipped the scales and sent me running into the arms of my hairdresser.
First the wig research:
• Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
• It takes as many as 30 ten-inch donations of hair to make one wig (!), which are made by hand, strand by strand.
• The custom fit wigs are then cut in whatever style the child prefers. The wigs are designed to stay put while the child sleeps, swims, showers, and roughhouses with pals. Amazing!
• The minimum donation for the program "Locks of Love," which makes wigs for kids for free, is ten inches.
Gulp.
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When I was in college I shaved my head and sported short hair for a couple of years. What I learned is that while it is fabulous to have people pet your fuzzy head when you have no hair, taking care of short hair is a pain. I much prefer long hairthat you can put up in a bun, braid, pull back, or leave long.
The turning point came when I spent a week ignoring my hair through multiple trips in and out of the hot tub, choosing to the twist the entire pile into a messy but functional bun. Each day my hair approached the distinctive status of resembling one massive dreadlocked bird's nest.
It took two of us armed with a comb each over and hour to detangle the result of my hair abandonment. My friend is a professional dog groomer who regularly demattes long-haired dog fur. She spent the hour quietly cursing my stubbornness for not brushing my hair for a week.
Nothing like a little motivation to spur me to action. Something had to change. And I had the perfect person to sever my problem hair.
Enter Bob, my hair savior.
Bob had been my hair savior and color deity for years when I lived in Santa Fe. My friend Gini and I spent hours every few months being pampered and primped and prettified by the brilliance of Bob's touch and his eye for just the right hue of brown or red. Or often purple, in my case.
Then I moved, and my hair has not been the same.
To my incredible delight, I discovered that Bob had moved back to his hometown of Marble Falls, TX last year and opened his own salon, Mojo. Marble Falls is a mere 45 minutes from my front door.
Road trip! My friend and Toltec Center teacher and minister Diana piled into her car one Friday afternoon and headed for the land of hair mojo. After much hugging, with glasses of wine in hand, Bob turned his sharp eye on my mop. He circled. He pondered. He asked "And what are you thinking about doing with your hair?"
I took a deep breath and surrendered myself into his hands. "I want to cut most of it off, and donate it to Locks of Love."
Soon Bob was skillfully creating one long braid down my back, and with three snips I was less years of growth, and a child I'll never meet was closer to a new head of hair.
To celebrate we dyed my hair purple, and added a sassy blonde streak.
I love it.
Each day when I effortlessly brush my hair, I send my blessings to the child who has or will receive what used to be hang almost to my waist. May it bring them self-confidence and enhance their connection to their inner beauty.
I wonder what color Bob and I will go for next.
If you are blessed enough to live in the Austin area, join Bob's facebook page and call him for a new look… His passion is "helping women (and men) to stop hiding behind their hair." (830) 265-6811
If you have an extra eight inches or more of hair, check out:
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Coming Full Circle; Jerry Garcia and Krishna Das in San Francisco
You know those times when your life comes full circle, and you get to see the panoramic view of who you were and who you have become?
I had one of those nights last night.
What an experience to see not only the differences, but the similarities of this being who is now called HeatherAsh Amara, and was then called Heather MacKenzie-Gaudet. (If you want to know more about my name change, click here for the blog post.)
I flew into Oakland yesterday to attend a concert of two of my favorite kirtan "bands," Krishna Das and Deva Premal & Miten. Five minutes after sitting in my faded red velvet balcony seat in San Francisco's Warfield historic theatre I was immersed in chanting Sita Ram with hundreds of other people.
As Krisha Das and the audience passed the chant back and forth, I felt my heart get as big as the room. To my right and just below me, a man threw up his arms in devotion and swayed to the music. I followed the happy gaze of the woman sitting next to me, and saw that dozens of people were dancing and chanting in the upper aisles.
That's when past and present merged, and I felt the overlay of being in this same place a double-handful of years ago, immersed in the energy of devotion in this same place as we sang to Jerry Garcia and his band.
What a long, strange, trip it's been.
For years I pilgrimaged to see Jerry and the Grateful Dead as often as I could. I was one of the long-haired, long-skirted girls dancing and spinning in the hallways, arms wide to the universe as I celebrated the divine marriage of the music and my soul.
At the Warfield once again, immersed in a peaceful sea of sacred song, I floated free of time and separation. Who I was, who I am, Jerry, Krishna Das, and all the beings around me, past and future, physical and spirit, all coalesced into one.
I spent the rest of the evening at the apex of the balcony section, alternatively sitting cross-legged on the top red-carpeted stair and singing mantras with my thousands of new friends, dancing to gospel music "Jesus on the main line, tell him what you want...." or swaying barefoot in my long skirt to rocked-up ancient indian chants.
Krishna Das shared stories between songs, and one image in particular made me laugh out loud at the gloriousness of being human with all of our resistance and struggle.
There is a train that has left the station, and it is speeding towards its destination. Inside the train you may be running as fast as you can in the opposite direction, but when the train gets to the station, so do you.
Later in the evening, as Deva and Miten led us in singing "living in the light of love, we are home," I understood. Home has no past, no present, no future. And the train has already arrived AND it is still en route, and we are all going home, one way or another.
Here is a you tube clip from the gospel part of the show... Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFyprviFejE
I had one of those nights last night.
What an experience to see not only the differences, but the similarities of this being who is now called HeatherAsh Amara, and was then called Heather MacKenzie-Gaudet. (If you want to know more about my name change, click here for the blog post.)
I flew into Oakland yesterday to attend a concert of two of my favorite kirtan "bands," Krishna Das and Deva Premal & Miten. Five minutes after sitting in my faded red velvet balcony seat in San Francisco's Warfield historic theatre I was immersed in chanting Sita Ram with hundreds of other people.
As Krisha Das and the audience passed the chant back and forth, I felt my heart get as big as the room. To my right and just below me, a man threw up his arms in devotion and swayed to the music. I followed the happy gaze of the woman sitting next to me, and saw that dozens of people were dancing and chanting in the upper aisles.
That's when past and present merged, and I felt the overlay of being in this same place a double-handful of years ago, immersed in the energy of devotion in this same place as we sang to Jerry Garcia and his band.
What a long, strange, trip it's been.
For years I pilgrimaged to see Jerry and the Grateful Dead as often as I could. I was one of the long-haired, long-skirted girls dancing and spinning in the hallways, arms wide to the universe as I celebrated the divine marriage of the music and my soul.
At the Warfield once again, immersed in a peaceful sea of sacred song, I floated free of time and separation. Who I was, who I am, Jerry, Krishna Das, and all the beings around me, past and future, physical and spirit, all coalesced into one.
I spent the rest of the evening at the apex of the balcony section, alternatively sitting cross-legged on the top red-carpeted stair and singing mantras with my thousands of new friends, dancing to gospel music "Jesus on the main line, tell him what you want...." or swaying barefoot in my long skirt to rocked-up ancient indian chants.
Krishna Das shared stories between songs, and one image in particular made me laugh out loud at the gloriousness of being human with all of our resistance and struggle.
There is a train that has left the station, and it is speeding towards its destination. Inside the train you may be running as fast as you can in the opposite direction, but when the train gets to the station, so do you.
Later in the evening, as Deva and Miten led us in singing "living in the light of love, we are home," I understood. Home has no past, no present, no future. And the train has already arrived AND it is still en route, and we are all going home, one way or another.
Here is a you tube clip from the gospel part of the show... Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFyprviFejE
Monday, February 8, 2010
You Can Help Peruvian Flood Victims Directly!
It was difficult to get news on what was happening, but I finally found a Peruvian blog site that showed incredible photos and videos of the disaster.
http://enperublog.com/2010/01/26/emergency-declared-in-cusco-heavy-rains-flood-the-region/
As we flew to Lima on February 2, Raven and I talked about how we might be able to help. I was really hoping to do some hands-on support, and a sweet miracle allowed that to happen.
I wrote on facebook that I was in Cusco, and a college friend, Annika wrote back: Hey, are you going to see Pilar while you are there? So I emailed Pilar, and yes indeed she was in Cusco! We talked via skype and I found out she was leaving in an hour to deliver blankets to people affected by the flood.And so I was soon snuggly packed into a jeep with four women and Pilar's 6-year old niece, Asraya. Pilar's sister, Sunday, lives in Cusco with her three children and husband. They are building a yoga retreat near Pisac (which was somehow miraculously not affected by the flooding..) So Sunday knows what was most needed and the areas most affected.
Our first stop was to buy blankets at a local store; we bought 100 but were only able to load 60 into our two cars. The remaining 40 will be brought in another run.
Thank you so much to all the people that donated money to help these people; as of today we have raised over $1,300! We are very grateful to have the opportunity to help in such a direct way. Sunday will continue to bring supplies out to the villages in the coming months. Pilar heads home tomorrow; we are leaving for Puno tomorrow, but will come back to Cusco in a week and be able to bring more money to Sunday.
For more photos, click here
To read Pilar's blog, which has extensive photos and video, click here
It takes a while to download the photos, so be patient
To donate via paypal go to tolteccenter.org and scroll down to the donation button.... Blessings!
And here is the original letter Raven wrote, in case you have not seen it...
Greetings!
We are in Peru and it is truly magnificent. As usual the people are lovely and the land here is rich and nourishing. We are very excited to being doing a big ceremony with about 260 people and large number of Incan and North American native elders at Late Titicaca next week. Tune in, the energy is already Rockin!
Perhaps you have heard that Peru has had major flooding over the last few weeks. In the two areas we are visiting over 8000 people are now homeless from mudslides and flooding wiping out their houses and their crops. We are on the ground with people who are heading up relief efforts for these folks. Our dear friend Jorge Delgado is acquiring blankets and food for the people in the Lake Tittcaca region and HeatherAsh's college friend Pilar is doing the same for the people in the Pisac region close to Cusco and Macchu Picchu areas.
The Toltec Center has already donated $1000 to Jorge's effort and today we bought 75 blankets and HeatherAsh went with Pilar to deliver them to the folks by Pisac.
We would like to do even more, the people by Pisac need fresh vegatables, water and meat to feed all the folks whose homes were flooded, and we would like to get them and the Lake Titicaca folks more help over the next two weeks we are here.
It is hard to work toward personal freedom when you don't have food and shelter. Help us help these folks feel a little more spaciousness, a little more gratitude to Spirit, a little more like they are held by the Divine, by sending the money they need to aquire that food, shelter, and warmth that is a bit scarce here at the moment! Just click on the "donate" image below.
All donations are tax deductible, we will happily send you a donation letter with our EIN number for your tax records.
You do not need a paypal account to donate, simply click on the "continue" button at the bottom left of the donation screen to pay with any major credit card without having a paypal account.
Thanks for your time
In Love
HeatherAsh, Raven and the staff of the Toltec Center
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