A Time of Change, My New Years Resolutions!

In the midst of a galactic change I thought that this New Years I would resolve to change myself utterly.  Like the butterfly that started out as a baby caterpillar, then grew up to into adulthood.  For the last couple of years I have been in my cocoon learning from my past mistakes and learning about death.  This knowledge has brought me to the point of letting go of my past, my fears, my regrets, and my ego.  Now, it is my time to break free of my cocoon and spread my wings.  To me this symbolism says that I am ready to break free of my cocoon early so that I can experience the freedom of my soul flying while I am still alive here on earth.  Most people don't come to the cocoon stage until late in life, then when the finally break free that is when their soul tuns into pure spirit and flies home to the Great Spirit.


This also can represent a Shaman.  Once a person has undergone the certain process of riding oneself of past, fears, regrets, and ego he or she can break free of the cocoon early and live a life of great blessing.  The Shaman lives a life connected to spirit at all times.  This does require a constant cleansing and balancing of mind, body, spirit, and emotion.


There is a Native American legend that says, " If you have a secret wish, capture a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. Since butterflies cannot speak, your secret is ever safe in their keeping. Release the butterfly, and it will carry your wish to the Great Spirit, who alone knows the thoughts of butterflies. By setting the butterfly free, you are helping to restore the balance of nature, and your wish will surely be granted."   The Shaman also lives by this code of conduct.  Once a secret has been divulged to the Shaman it is never repeated and it can be communicated to higher spirits.


This is my path, it chose me!  Now is my time to break free and be graced with spirit.

Quote of the Week

The thought of initiation scared me more than dentists. I pictured shivering naked in dark caves, eating raw meat and insects, stumbling deliriously across miles of scorching desert, hanging from my pierced chest for days on end. “Perhaps it doesn’t have to be so painful,” I mused between drags on a damp Pall Mall while thumbing for a ride in a light mist of rain outside Grosse Tete, Louisiana.

Sol Luckman

Winter Solstice and Lunar Eclipse

Munay blessings to you all,

I sit down to write this message on the eve of one of the most powerful moments in our known history on earth. It is a galactic and planetary alignment so profound that the ancient indigenous people have prophesized about this event for millennia. This alignment marks the beginning of a two year cycle to bring balance and harmony to the earth; to usher in a golden era of peace and an understanding of our true nature within the cosmos. The shifts that this alignment will usher forth are a new way of being that has been lost in the conditioning and belief systems of our modern society; a way of living and loving, commonly referred to as Christ Consciousness.


I’m sure most of you are aware that the upcoming Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere on 12/21/10 at 4:38 pm MST) follows a full lunar eclipse, beginning 12/20/20 at 11:33 pm MST with totality occurring at 12:41 am on 12/21/10 and lasting for 72 minutes. The eclipse will be visible in North America (weather permitting and energetically regardless) and occurs with the earth (body), moon (mind) and sun (Soul/Spirit) within 2 degrees of the galactic plane which aligns us with center of our galaxy – the belly of creation. The Mayan’s refer to this center as Xibalba, the dark rift in the center of the Milky Way. 
 
This astrological and astronomical event is a tremendous opportunity for us to receive Great and Divine wisdom and it is strongly advisable to sit in meditation and ceremony to connect within to receive the heightened energy and information that is coming forward. Mythically a lunar eclipse reflects to us our shadow – both personal and planetary. It provides us with an opportunity to see into the shadows and move forward in our light.


With Love of the Infinite Source, Andrea (Shaman Healer)




Aho,


I am so grateful for my family, friends, community, the earth, and all animals.  I hope that everyone had a fantastic Winter Solstice.  And, I hope that everyone had the chance to take advantage of the full lunar eclipse.


With much love, peace, and happiness.  Stephanie

Levitation by African Shaman

A German film crew captures a levitation performance by an african shaman.

What do you think, Real or Not?

Quote of the Week

The goal is, then, having attained that balance, that wisdom, that connection, to then rise up to a level of universal meaning; in other words, to break through the machinery of cultural conditioning, in the same way that the shaman does, and to attempt to discover something authentic—something authentic outside the self-generated language cloud. And to my mind, what this authentic thing is, is—it’s hard to know how to put it, but—it’s the animate quality that resides within the psychedelic experience—that the universal mind is alive, is sentient, is perceiving, is there to meet you when you come through from the other side. So we’re not talking about psychedelics as a spotlight to be turned on to reveal the detritus of our own personal unconscious. It is not a spotlight. It is not shining from behind you; it is shining ahead of you. It is actually that the same organizational principles which called us forth into self-reflection has called forth self-reflection out of the planet itself. And the problem then is for us to suspect this, act on our suspicion, and be good detectives and track down the spirit in its lair. And this is what shamans are doing. They are hunters of spirit.

Terrence Mckenna

Self-Healing Expressions, Learn to Heal Yourself Holistically

Self-Healing Expressions brings the self to healing, one lesson at a time.

• Be informed and inspired by thought-provoking commentary, questions, and audio meditations.
• Embrace transformative exercises and interactive online learner's tools.
• Schedule to fit your needs! Our courses suit your lifestyle and schedule since our custom-made database lets you specify the course start date, interval and pace of lesson delivery to your e-mail inbox.

Reportedly, e-learning results in a higher rate of information retention - with students demonstrating a 60% faster learning curve than those in instructor led classes. And, in contrast to a Web seminar, teleconference, or traditional class, our lesson delivery suits your lifestyle and schedule! 

Just CLICK HERE to learn more... http://www.selfhealingexpressions.com/index.shtml

Quote of the Week

'Eveything is made of light,' he said, 'and the space between isn't empty.'"

Don Miguel Ruiz

Christmas Angels

It was December 23, 1993. For a single mom who was going to college and supporting my children completely alone, Christmas was looking bleak. I looked around my little home, realization dawning like a slow, twisting pain. We were poor.

Our tiny house had two bedrooms, both off the living room. They were so small that my baby daughter's crib barely fit into one room, and my son's twin bed and dresser were squeezed into the other. There was no way they could share a room, so I made my bed every night on the living room floor.

The three of us shared the only closet in the house. We were snug, always only a few feet from each other, day and night. With no doors on the children's rooms, I could see and hear them at all times. It made them feel secure, and it made me feel close to them -- a blessing I wouldn't have had in other circumstances.

It was early evening, about eight o'clock. The snow was falling softly, silently, and my children were both asleep. I was wrapped in a blanket, sitting at the window, watching the powdery flakes flutter in the dimming light, when my front door vibrated with a pounding fist.

Alarmed, I wondered who would stop by unannounced on such a snowy winter night. I opened the door to find a group of strangers grinning from ear to ear, their arms laden with boxes and bags.

Confused, but finding their joyous spirit contagious, I grinned right back at them.

"Are you Susan?" The man stepped forward as he held out a box for me.

Nodding stupidly, unable to find my voice, I was sure they thought I was mentally deficient.

"These are for you." The woman thrust another box at me with a huge, beaming smile. The porch light and the snow falling behind her cast a glow over her dark hair, lending her an angelic appearance.

I looked down into her box. It was filled to the top with delicious treats, a fat turkey, and all the makings of a traditional Christmas dinner. My eyes filled with tears as the realization of why they were there washed over me.


To read more click here... http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/new_workshop/it-is-the-season-for-books

Quote of the Week

Grandfather,

Look at our brokenness.

We know that in all creation

Only the human family

Has strayed from the Sacred Way.

We know that we are the ones

Who are divided

And we are the ones

Who must come back together

To walk in the Sacred Way.

Grandfather,

Sacred One,

Teach us love, compassion, and honor

That we may heal the earth

And heal each other.

By,  The Ojibway 

Get in the Spirit of Thanksgiving!

Fall really is my favorite season!  In order to get into the spirit of Thanksgiving I felt like sharing the all famous tell of the first original Thanksgiving with the indigenous people of America...

The Pilgrims that came here from the Old World had no skills to survive on their own in this New World. The ground was rocky and wouldn't grow what the Pilgrims had brought with them for food. Unfortunately by the time the indigenous peoples came to greet the "new comers" half of the Pilgrims had died during the winter. The indigenous people, called the Wampanoag's, were a giving and kind people. They could see that these now comers needed help. So, they went back to their village and put together enough food storage to help the Pilgrims survive. The Wampanoag's also offered skills like how to make sturdy huts, cultivating the vegetables, and how to catch the spring time fish. The Pilgrims did well with learning the new skills that the Wampanoag people had taught them, and by the time fall came around the Pilgrims were very well prepared for the coming winter. They were so grateful for what the Indians had done for them, for now they could flourish in this New World.

To read more visit my Squidoo lens... http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/new_workshop/it-is-the-season-for-books

Quote of the Week

How shall the might river

reach the tiny seed?

See it rise silently

to the sun’s yearning,

sail from a winter’s cloud

flake after silent flake

piling up layer upon layer

until the thaw of spring

to meet the seedling’s need.

Make tender, Lord, my heart:

release through gentleness

Thine own tremendous power

hid in the snowflake’s art.

By, Antoinette Adam

Quote of the Week

I have come to terms with the future. From this day onward I will walk easy on the earth. Plant trees. Kill no living things. Live in harmony with all creatures. I will restore the earth where I am. Use no more of its resources than I need. And, listen, listen to what it is telling me.

by, M.J.Slim Hooey

Halloween Origins from a Shamanic Perspective

Halloween is one of the oldest holidays still active, but most have no idea of when this fascinating holiday’s history started. Where does Halloween come from and when did it start?

Over 2000 years ago All Hallows Eve, as it was called back then, was a pagan holiday to honor the dead, also called Samhain.  It is said that the veil between worlds is thinner on this night.  This enables those who choose to commune easier with the dead, or should I say Spirits.  Although there are many versions of the true origins of one of our favorite holidays, there is much evidence that trace it back to the Druids. 

Druidism was practiced by the Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain, the UK, Spain and France.  These ancient Celts would make huge bonfires and wear animal heads and skins to commune with the Spirits that they believed could cross through the veil between worlds.  Celtic priests would use this day to seek prediction from the Spirits for direction and comfort.

To me this sounds all too familiar with Shamanic actions, which according to Mike Williams Ph. D., who has studied Shamanic origins, says, “Some of the oldest remains of modern human beings, people just like you or me, are found deep underground in the painted caves of southern France and northern Spain.  They date form around thirty thousand years ago.”  The paintings on the caves, once studied by archaeologists, were deciphered as shamans in trance and the visions of the otherworld.  There were paintings of men and women dressed in animal heads and skins, just like the Druids.  They also painted themselves dancing around huge bonfires.  So, when did Halloween start?  What do you think?


I have also put together a lens on this subject with a little more info...
http://www.squidoo.com/halloween-origins-from-a-shamanic-perspective

Audio Program for Learning the Gifts of Shamanism by, Mary Rivas

Now is the time to draw a line in the sand---how your life used to be and how your life is going to be in 2010 and beyond! It's a new beginning. Anyone who orders this program is stepping over the line -- entering the realm of empowerment, spiritual growth and success in all areas of their life.

To An Extraordinary Life,

Mary Rivas

Click Here to read more!