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Joy and Abundance I am giving thanks for the Joy of this Solstice...the abundance, the gifts and the celebration of life. My partner's oldest friend in South Africa recently wrote to me saying: 'Strange things happening in the universe right now. Seems as things take time & dishearten people. Need to rid negative energies.' Shortly after, one of my best friends in Scotland sent me a link to www.thepresenceportal.com - the phrase that jumped out immediately was: 'Mounting earthly chaos and increasing outer human drama is a deliberately initiated and unfolding planetary cleanse intended to address our inauthentic, unconscious, and programmed approach to living.' My own process of change and cleansing, intensely amplified when I arrived back in BC, really kicked into high gear on the Day of the Dead, November 1st last year, when I lost a baby at 5 weeks. The process gave me the opportunity to connect with and delve into the darkness, to embrace scorpio aspects and find the strength to process the pain, grief and loss in many positive ways, as well as cleanse patterns that had been reoccurring for generations of women in my family. After the back to back double scorpio moons of April and May, I now feel the reawakening of joy and acceptance of self, as my cleansing period for this cycle is completed. I have learned many things, and am looking forward to the birth of July - nine months later! There seems to be a message to humanity about letting go and commitment. What we commit to should fulfil us on all levels and bring us Joy. Letting go of the parts of our lives that leave us joyless is so important for our health and wellbeing. Have you noticed the rise in stress related illness and corrosive cancers? Some of the things I have felt drawn to let go of have surprised me -a well paid contract, a much loved choir, my therapy centre. It became a standing joke that I gave up forward planning for Lent, and never took it back on again. In letting go, there has been an opening of new doors and much abundance. Most abundantly, there has been a great awareness of the things that truly bring me joy - freedom, music and my beloved. I am finding the song in wind, waves, campfires and soon...a new home and garden to enjoy with Ari. In spite of the unpredictable weather (more on that later), I feel life is flourishing, and we ARE allowed to be part of that - we are being encouraged to tune into our sacred heart, that part of us connected to the soul of the world, which experiences joy, the pleasure of being, and the playful exuberance that celebrates life and love of life. The cycle will turn again as it always does - for now...and especially at Solstice, let's celebrate. And it is that simple. Really. If you don't believe me, that's ok, but I would love for you take a minute or ten to watch this year's crop of birds in their amazing abundance. Have fun, and bright blessings for a happy Solstice love and light, Rasma Dates Salt Spring Island, BC By appointment - email or phone 931-2269. Victoria I come over to Victoria quite regularly, and can provide a session in the comfort of your own home. UK and elsewhere Sessions available by subspace. See Book an Appointment Page. Other Events Sekhem Training: If you have 4 or more people interested and would like me to teach in your area, please contact me for details and costs. Please check the 'Workshop' page on my website for updates to schedules for Salt Spring Island and nearby localities. My Qualifications
Phone: (250) 931 2269
Planet Earth - a delicate balance of chaos and order, death and rebirth, feast and famine, sadness and joy, calm and storm. We need to open to this - feel our way through the ups and downs; mourn our losses and enjoy our abundances - using our emotions openly to express our celebration of connectedness with all life. I noticed quite quickly this past year that my personal journey seemed to mirror our turbulent and unpredictable weather. I didn't think I was turning into a weather witch, but I was aware of my increasing openness to seasonal cycles and the cycles within those, particularly of weather patterns. And I developed a great sense of awe for the immensity of wind and water (the basis of all weather) while trying to rise above the depressions of the dark days, and the almost manic gladness of the sunny days. Weather does change us. Its ability to affect our physiology is not well known or understood in our scientific culture, but the fact remains that as it shifts and transforms, we respond by trying to shift and transform. Biometereology - a big word for how weather affects blood pressure, pH balance, water retention, joints and headaches. Did you know that our white blood cells increase with the arrival of cold polar fronts? Makes sense - we need all those WBCs to fight off the germs that also arrive in cold weather. Weather is responsible for shaping the Earth and Life as we know it. All life evolves with the changes of weather patterns - climate change is a grand cycle, and to thrive or even to continue existence requires a willingness to adapt and be aware of the cycles large and small. This will remain so forever, as it has always been. Everything has form. Form is an energetic pattern. Form is not permanent or fixed. As a child, did you ever lie on your back and identify shapes in the clouds? Sometimes the wind up there was blowing so fast that the shape was different before you even got the words from brain to mouth. Rocks push up and become mountains, erode and become seabeds. The sun's energy fluctuates; it is currently a life giving star, and will someday supernova. Humans ebb and flow, just as the moon pulls the tides. Our world is made up of sacred cycles - cycles within cycles expanding outwards to cosmic proportions. Without the smallest cycle, the largest would collapse. And think a moment on this...do you think the winds of Air are happy to be sending pollutants around the globe? Is Earth glad to be nutrient poor and toxin rich? Fire, meant to be a cleansing force is blamed as an incendiary, raging out of control due to chemical contaminants. And Water's job is made so much more complex due to global imbalances. The world cannot go back to a pre-industrial or pre-agricultural community, except through global catastrophe - and we would not want to go back in any event. Our plants, animals, habitats and air/water quality are too different; our population would have to be mostly eradicated (I believe the current figure touted for sustainable long term life on our planet is only 500,000!) - natural disasters are more than insurance claims and monetary loss. As a community, we need to collectively reconnect with Nature. We have at least five senses for a reason. Due to lifestyle choice and worldview, we are disconnected and out of touch with most of our sensual abilities. 'We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are.' (Talmud) If we can accept that our worldview - the ideas, ideals, definitions, descriptions and rules of our reality developed from early conditioning - is bondage as well as a support, and that it is not the only truth, or an entirely true reality, then we can be open to reconnection to our wider community - our planet. David Corbin channelling Great Bird: 'Weather is the circulation system of the Earth. Weather is the elimination system of the Earth. The seasons are its respiration. As blood has red and white blood cells, the Earth has high and low pressure systems. As blood has immune cells, the Earth has storms, hurricanes and tornadoes.' I have seen proof of this during Quantum Biofeedback sessions where a client's cell electrical scores have reflected hurricane or earthquake activity in a locality they are connected with. And before a thunderstorm, my own resonance frequency scores plummet as the barometric pressure soars. One of the Amazon tribes pays close attention to the weather that occurs with the birth of a child. Those born during 'bad' weather are monitored for behavioural problems - there is a belief that such future behaviour will call in bad weather patterns in turn. So not only are we affected by the weather, but our behaviour can manifest weather patterns. I remember my mother commenting: "my you've got a black cloud over your head". Those were the days I most often manifested temper tantrums - and it usually rained. Nan Moss (Weather Shamanism) writes: 'To survive as a species, we collectively have to alter our course. To do this we need to find that which inspires a change of heart. To change our hearts we have only to reach out to the natural world that is still available to us. We can start right where we are with an open heart and a desire for relatedness. To offer something in return, we begin simply with our presence, our willingness to show up. In this way we will tend those wild seeds of our internal garden.' Two of the best places to connect are where water meets land, or high up where the wind is fresh and the views divine. Tamra Andrews (Legends of the Earth, Sea and Sky) writes: Because life includes a cycle of up and down, no one is going to live without suffering. However, when there is no heartfelt connection with Nature, we cut ourselves off from our umbilical cord, our life support that is ALWAYS available to us. There are times when we truly cannot see the beauty - at this time we can gift ourselves the ability to step back and witness our state, acknowledging the process as a reflection of our inner turmoil. My winter journey bears testament to this, and in itself was liberating. I allowed myself to go into utter darkness and to rest there. When I was ready, I started seeing the beauty in the world again - the winter sunsets, birds at the feeder, and then was able to take myself out into Nature again and feel crunchy frost under my feet, see full moon sunrises on the beach, hear the owls and ravens, witness the birth of a hippo in South Africa. The Coast Salish people of BC have a lovely word - skalatitude, which means when people and Nature are in perfect harmony, magic and beauty are everywhere. Pure Joy exists within that harmony. Climate and weather are master teachers of the principles of change in our world. We are constantly asked to evolve, to create new responses to the state of the world. We must consciously participate in our evolution and set the intention to restore lost harmony in our lives and our world. We have an opportunity, through the development of a relationship with the forces and spirits of weather, to learn to live gracefully and successfully with the challenges and gifts of change. Song of Uvavnuk: Create a Safe Haven Life's pressures can be unrelenting - work, traffic, noise, pollution, the demands of our family and so on. To counteract the stress of daily living, make yourself a 'safe haven'; a special place where you can go to restore harmony for yourself. 1. Choose a place in your home, or outside where you would like to create your safe haven. Ideally, it should be a quiet area where you are unlikely to be disturbed. 2. If indoors, place some fresh flowers or any other natural objects that you find soothing. Add some soft cushions and perhaps a photograph from a time that was particularly special to you. 3. Try to spend at least 5 minutes alone in your safe haven each day - sit down, breathe deeply and simply let a sense of peace wash over you. 4. If outside, do the same as step 3; continue by listening to the sounds that are closest to you, then take your perceptions further and further away. You may find that you pick up a key, in which the sounds belong. If you feel comfortable, find the song within the sounds and join in with a hum, or a full voice harmony. SOLSTICE MESSAGE In keeping with the theme of connection between cycles, Nature and our human community, I used the shamanic Spirit of the Wheel card deck for this message. This is a beautiful deck created by Linda Ewashima and illustrated by Jody Bergsma. I asked for the knowledge of the harmony for this cycle. TRUST - personal space, openness and faith Each of us has an area around us we consider our personal space. Once violated, our ability to trust and love becomes compromised. Receiving and giving love is part of our very essence and is needed for our survival and growth. We need this gift of love with our land, as well as with our people. Begin to develop a relationship of trust within yourself and with the natural world around you. Look at the areas of your life where you are holding yourself back due to mistrust. Have courage to take the first step by learning to love and accept yourself for who you really are. Social invitations, Creative pursuits and Joy Its time to lighten up and have some fun. Drop your serious attitudes, release your many burdens, and PLAY. Joy is contagious, so spread the wealth of laughter. You will find yourself drawn to gifts of beauty and inspiration. Cultural, community and celebratory events and endeavours are uplifting to enjoy. There may be an abundance of social invitations. Accept and be prepared to be the centre of attention. Sparkle and shine! Your past may take on new significance. Hidden creative talents may surface and take voice. You will find anything creative pleasurable and rewarding. Others will be drawn to your exuberant energy. Joy abounds, so take this time to nurture your spirit and surround yourself with beauty. Cleansing, Release and Healing. You have probably been feeling like you have been swimming against the current - this is because you have been going against your own 'natural' connection, allowing worries to build and emotional baggage to stagnate. Release the pressure and heal yourself on all levels. Let the tears of sorrow and laughter wash away your pain and leave you feeling clean. By being empathetic and allowing others to freely express their emotions,you can offer healing support too. Never underestimate the power of compassion. Connect to the healing powers of water - the emotional flow within our lives. If the flow is dammed, the pressure will build. Allow your own emotions to flow freely and encourage the same in others.
Chicken and Broccoli Risotto Did you know that it is easier for your body to absorb the calcium from broccoli than from dairy? Broccoli is also a good source of vitamin K and vitamin C. Tofu can be substituted for chicken - marinade in tamari for a few hours before cooking or overnight, as desired. 3T olive oil 1. Heat the oil in a heavy, deep pan and gently cook onion, garlic, celery and red pepper for 15 mins until softish Can be served hot or cold POEM Mandlovu Mind by Deena Metzger (Mandlovu is the N'debele word for female elephant. It is connected with the resonance of MamboKadze, the deity that is both elephant, Virgin Mary and the Great Mother.) Suddenly, I am of a single mind extended I am drawn forward by the lattice, I am, we are, This is our grace: to be a note This is particle and wave. How simple. A common music, a singular heavy tread, I have always wanted to be with them, with you, so.
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