Birds and Plantings

Today is tree-planting day.  Wednesdays have become one of my favorites since I don't have anything regularly scheduled till evening yoga.  Unscheduled time is precious.  Even in my retirement years when everything I do is at my own request.  Still I have to work at keeping open time.  It is all too easy to stay busy with things that don't really matter.  What really matters to me now is quiet time.  It seems there are so many things to enjoy in silence - or near silence.  I'm watching redbirds and the lonely male duck at the feeders outside my window - and red-winged blackbirds - and hearing mourning doves - never have known why they mourn but they certainly have a beautiful song with which to do it......got interrupted with I don't remember what....Anyhow, got the red maples and the American Beautyberry planted, had some hammock time and now.........who knows?

Playing with Mother Earth

This morning the Pond is totally still.  I do see a new tree (not noticed before) reflected in the far side between the labyrinth and the Pond.  Odd, Ray planted three weeping willow trees near there a couple years ago that didn't survive my inattention during the drought  And now, God has planted a red maple that will surely survive.  I have learned living here that those that God plants seem to be guaranteed to survive - those I plant probably won't.  But, if they are gifts from friends, they do!  For example, Liz gave me a  tiny shoot of an American Beautyberry last year that I put in a pot.   It went leafless very soon but now is loaded with beautiful live leaves!  Now the question is, where do I put it? - time to get it out of the pot and into the yard.  You may have noticed two small trees near the labyrinth?  They are persimmon trees planted by God several years ago (There is a large one in back of the labyrinth.)  Even though I cut the smaller one down two years ago, it is coming back....Red maple seeds have sprouted and I've dug holes along the drive for 6 of them.  Started holes and had to fill them with water and wait for the soil (red clay) to soften a bit to dig more.  I have no doubt the red maples will survive (if I remember to keep them wet a few weeks).  We found their beautiful bright red seeds on the forest floor while a group was walking the trail some weeks ago and Philip and I stuck some in potting soil - and now we have leaves. ......Do you ever put your fingers into the dirt?  If you have trouble meditating, try it.  There's something about playing with Mother Earth that turns off the monkey mind and turns on the inner voice we wait to hear in seated meditation.  

Memories are made of this - here now

First Drumming Circle, not last night

What a fabulous night celebrating life last evening! We  made up a lovely group sharing space and energy together in meditation, contemplation,  and at the fire.  For me, it was a breakthrough since it was my first leading through the ceremony all by myself.  Spirit was definitely with us!  Each of us took our spirit arrow to the fire releasing our intention to Spirit.  ........I'm set for another beautiful day - yoga at the Y this morning, healing session at noon, yoga again this evening here at the Yogatorium at 6:00.  There are times, many times, when I marvel at the blessed life I lead.  Somehow it seems as though heaven is here right now!  Happy Memorial Day!  I hope you have beautiful memories throughout the day ....and perhaps create some new ones!

Connecting with Creation

Once again struggling with new computer.  Just had a one-on-one training yesterday and already forgot half of what I heard!  Tried to do too much in one hour.  Next time, I'll be smarter.  Had a techie working with me yesterday who tried to teach me too much in one shot.  Oh well, we learn as we go.  Today is the day for our gathering tonight - 7:30 for meditation, discussion, labyrinth walking and 8:30 for fire ceremony, drumming, etc.  But then, you already know about that!......What I really want to talk about this morning is more fun.  Two days ago a female mallard landed on the Pond and what a sight it was watching the male chase her around - flying in short spurts then swimming then flying again and all the while she evaded him!  Unfortunately she seems to have disappeared - but maybe, just maybe she is nesting.  Haven't seen a female on the Pond for over a year.  Hope she stays and is just out of sight for now.  Then, too, I've seen a doe at the labyrinth every evening lately.  And, the Great Blue Heron is visiting regularly.  The hummingbirds are scarce.  Pam thinks there's plenty of food for them in the abundant honeysuckle and there is a bunch of it around.  So, maybe they'll frequent the feeders later.

Sunday Evening Fire Ceremony at the Yogatorium

Big Night Sunday - Drumming, Chanting, Fire Ceremony - at the Yogatorium 7:30 for labyrinth walking, meditation, and discussion - 8:30 for fire circle.

Stones of Energy

Hard to believe I missed writing the last two days.  Life fills so easily.  Still caught up in reviewing notes from my five weeks since last August of Healing the Light Body School.  This training has been life-changing, for sure.  At this point, I am beginning to feel more comfortable with the information I've been exposed to as it gradually becomes a part of me.  I am grateful to friends who have been so generous with their time volunteering to allow me to practice with them.  I am also more comfortable and even excited about my own personal spiritual growth.  Without the cooperation of friends, it would have been impossible. .......I am now in the habit of visiting my Earth Painting, walking the labyrinth, and shifting stones from inside the Yogatorium to the Earth Painting for mulching by Mother Earth and eventually to the center of the labyrinth.  If you have stones you'd like to add to the labyrinth, please bring them along the next time you visit and add them.  The energy you bring will inspire me and others who visit.

Shamanism - what is it?

The dandelions are gone for now.  Mowed on Friday.  It's hard to choose - but it is certainly nice to have both flowers and then newly mowed grass!  Last year the dandelions returned several times.  So, I expect them to return.  Many of you are aware I have been heavily into studying shamanism over the past year.  Just this morning I ran across a definition that might be of interest.   Shamanism is not an institutionalized religion; rather it is an attitude, a discipline and a state of mind that emphasizes the loving care and concern of oneself, one's family, one's community and one's environment (from Healing States by Villolda and Krippner) Great emphasis is put upon protecting the Earth.    A short definition is:  caretakers of the Earth or Earthkeepers.   Somehow, mowing the dandelions reminded me of this.  But then, I'm finding myself connecting much more frequently with Mother Earth in all  her glory.  Perhaps the soft rain  now falling and drawing tiny circles on the Pond surface  is giving me cause to see God in all her glory this morning.  In the rain, new-mown grass and dandelions.

Over-thinking

Last evening I practiced three new shaman learnings.  Today I am continuing my review of all 5 modules in order to solidify my understandings.  Next week I will begin offering sessions to friends and building my practice.  What I am finding is that my major hangup is - letting go and letting Spirit.  For me, a former control freak, letting go has been a real challenge, but it is coming - becoming free of the need to manage my life all by myself.   As I spend more time in the woods, walking the labyrinth, meditating, writing, and particularly "being" instead of doing, letting go gets to be less of a problem and more of a natural state.  It is truly amazing how this works.  All that needs to get done, gets done.  Even without my concentrating on it.   My stress level has gone to zero.  My contentment level has risen.  Events that in the past would have been a true stress-maker, aren't now.  For example, I broke the mirror on the driver's side when I was backing out of my friend's garage in NY - but simply duct-taped it on, drove the 900 miles home, made an appointment at the Toyota place on Monday, went in on Wednesday and had it replaced, and - none of this occupied more than a minute or two of my attention at any decision point.  As a matter of fact, the wait in the shop was so short I was shocked when they called my name.  Somehow, such matters have left my attention available for more pleasant pursuits.  One of my mantras now is "it is what it is."  This has been a big help in avoiding over-thinking.  Do you ever over-think?  Some things simply do not warrant much thought.  Others do.  Like watching a bird building her nest or a deer coming for a drink from the Pond, the duck waddling up to the bird feeders for seeds that have fallen to the ground.

Sharing Space in Nature

Just ended yoga class with three beautiful people - Margaret, Celeste, and Sandra.  Before that, a doe was walking the labyrinth - at about ten o'clock - latest in the morning I've seen one out and about.  Perhaps the overcast sky fooled her into thinking it was still early?  She was a bit apprehensive--looking up and around toward our buildings occasionally, but even when Margaret drove up, she stayed and found something to her liking to eat just outside the entrance to the labyrinth.  Now she's back in the woods.  A couple days ago I established an Earth Painting in a spot among some pines near the labyrinth that was clear of vines and tiny spring shoots of various kinds.  A beautiful bed of pine needles that seemed perfect for my work.  Now I'm wondering if perhaps it was her bed space?

Switching Between Worlds

The Pond is quiet this morning.  There is a covering over most of it of a sort of gray material.  I see an occasional ripple when an insect hits the surface or perhaps a turtle is rising to the surface for a moment, but mostly there is stillness.  How lovely my surroundings!  Stillness is everywhere this morning making my morning meditation routine especially lovely.  I am now adding Breath of Fire routine to my practice and am introducing my yoga classes to it.  Not only a useful tool for quieting the mind but great for belly muscle toning.  After two weeks of intensive training and working with other like-minded people, it is a delight to now have quiet time alone.  My batteries certainly need recharging after exhausting, fulfilling, beautiful connecting with others on a spiritual journey.  How blessed I am to have this inspiring time and place to be.  Another couple days and I'll be ready for sharing space and time.  ......... Yesterday I began an Earth Painting out in the woods.   I'll visit it again today and add stones from my work at Omega last week.  I used stones from Joshua Tree, CA and Omega near Rhinebeck, NY to outline the circle painting....Back to the ordinary world - this morning to the Toyota shop to get new mirror installed - broke it backing out of friends' garage and duct-taped it to drive the 900 miles home.  The trick, I'm learning, is being able to switch easily back and forth between the ordinary and the Real (invisible) world.  As Jesus reportedly said, be in the world but not of it.  This is the work of the shaman.

Offerings to the Source

This morning's wisdom comes from the Bagavad Gita, the core text of the Hindu tradition.  Amazing how my spiritual development changes my perspective - I've been attempting to read this book for several years with little comprehension.  Now, it speaks to me clearly - at least some parts.  Here's what spoke to me this morning.  Any offering--a leaf, a flower or fruit , a cup of water--I will accept it if given with a loving heart.  Whatever you do, Arjuna, do it as an offering to me--whatever you say or eat or pray or enjoy or suffer.  In this way you will be freed from the results of all your actions.  Freeing myself from the outcomes of my actions is not easy, but clearly a worthy objective.  In our earth paintings these last two weeks, we have offered sticks and stones and leaves and pine cones, etc. Somehow these offerings seem far more meaningful than money.  Because they are offered with intention.  This word, intention, is worth contemplating.  What is your intention for today?

My body, my teacher

The Medicine Woman at work during Light Body School at Omega Institute last wek.  Wonder if any of my suggestions proved workable?  Found words of wisdom to share from Krishna to share this morning:  My body, My teacher.  The body is a teacher of mine, being the cause of dispassion and discernment and being subject to birth and death, which always are attendant with pain.  Even though it has a different destiny from my own, with its help I ponder the principles of existence and move about free from attachment.  Free from attachment?  A goal, not an accomplishment of mine.

Light Body School at Omega Institute - Almost Home

So, here I am almost to Statesville NC in a Hampton Inn with a nice long afternoon to while away!  Left Reading PA this morning at 6:30 and finally realized I might begin making mistakes in my driving and stopped - 8 hours of driving enough for one day.  It was somewhat stressful the evening before when I ran into a blocked and closed portion of I-81 suggesting alternate routes via radio signals which led me down to Reading.  Then this morning over to York through Gettysburg and eventually Chambersburg to pick up 81 again.  It was a beautiful drive through delightful farm country and little villages.  The past two weeks at the Light Body School East Direction (last of the four directions) followed by Reading the Signs of Destiny were so full it's hard to even begin to describe them, so I won't.  I will say a feeling of fulfillment and arriving occurred so that I am much more confident that I am on the right path and the learnings are much more secure in my body.  I spent the weekend in between with dear friends Harriet and Ed Thomas at their home in Delmar, NY after a short drive up the Taconic State Parkway - a lovely drive on the east side of the Hudson River that reminds me of our Blue Ridge Parkway.  I will enjoy doing that again in October when the leaves are colorful.  Actually they are colorful now - many, many shades of green.  Speaking of green - I ate more kale these last two weeks than ever before in my life - every lunch and dinner - all vegetarian except for the desserts on Tuesdays and Thursdays suppers.  Email still not functioning.  Hope to get it back up and running on Monday at the Apple Store in Greenville.  I'm sure I've simply pushed a wrong button!