Dream Lodge

  Grandmother Spider appeared to me in a dream one night many years ago.  She encouraged me to create (manifest) a Sacred Space for women to gather in a Dream Lodge.  I really wasn't sure about what I was doing but as Carl Jung, the great Master of the Unconscious, said: "Proceed from the dream outward."  I put "it" out there and as always a powerful group of women showed up ready to do the work of the Goddess.  Each month we met on the Full Moon and shared a dream with the circle.  After hearing the dream the group would act out the dream, silently, in front of the dreamer.  No one would "interpret the dream" but only would share their experience of being in the dream.  And the dreamer would provide insight into seeing the dream and how this was meaningful to her.  I still carry those dreams within a small medicine bundle made out of black velvet each of us created on the first night. The experience was transformative.

So now I shall share a dream with you. I hope you will carry it in a Sacred Way.  I was dreaming in a Sacred Way.  I was walking in the desert with a friendly Spirit Guide.  We walked up onto a high ridge and we were looking down at a green place.  He said: "Where is your Medicine Wheel?"  I answered: "It's down there in that green place."  I told him that I was concerned there were snakes in the tall grasses down there.

With that a snake was next to me and bit me on the leg and I woke up from the dream.

I knew the Dream was very significant.  So that morning I headed out to the desert and allowed my friendly Spirit Guide to show me where I should go.  I hiked a trail I had never been on before.  I went off the trail at a sign that said Trail Closed.  I walked up on a ridge and looked down.

I saw a green place; this circle of grass on the dry desert. 

I built the Medicine Wheel there on that spot. My friends I tell you I did this in a Sacred Manner.

My friends if you come upon this Place you will understand the Power of the Dream Lodge.

May this Full Moon bring you insight and wisdom.

Withdraw

"We need to become the sanctuary we seek".
Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

Create time and space to withdraw from the marketplace.

Settle the heart
Listen to your deepest intention

Zen wisdom

"Turn your whole life into an act of gratitude."

A Zen Master

And Live Rejoicing by Huston Smith

Meditation



Deleware Ducks picture by Annie

 The goal of meditation, as described by Sri Swami Satchidananda, is to keep a serene, peaceful, tranquil mind.  When the mind becomes calm and clear as a still lake you are able to see your True Nature; your original state.  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Sawa bona

Sawa bona is a South African greeting which means "I see you." The response is "Sikhona" which means "I am here."  I learned this from a mother who was sitting vigil at her young daughters hospital bed.  She taught me the power and importance of presence.  Our presence, simply being there with awareness, breathing, acknowledging what is happening in the present moment, sitting with whatever is presenting itself without a judging mind, without trying to fix anything. This presence, this "I see you" validates their humanity, which in turn validates our own humanity, "I am here." 

There is really nothing to "do".  Our being present, really present, is a practice that can open up the space between self and other.  And in that sacred space we value and honor one another-our shared humanity.  I thank all my teachers, this mother, her daughter, for the wisdom gifts. You never know when you will meet a living bodhisattva.

Fall Equinox

The greatest medicine is

to open the door of your own heart

And welcome yourself home

Enter the Sacred Silence

Make peace in your heart

You have returned

You stand in perfect balance

Fall Equinox: The Point of Return



El Mar de las Bellenas 2010

 Another turn of the Medicine Wheel as the Fall Equinox approaches. A cycle ends, a new cycle begins."The completed journey always ends with a return, a homecoming, to the ordinary world of conventional reality that was left behind. This world has been transformed if our journey has been successful, into a new world, seen with fresh eyes. The end of the journey is the beginning of a new, empowered way of life." Ralph Metzner Opening to the Light.

Nature

"Nature is here to give you experience and ultimately to liberate you from its bondage." The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali

Morning Meditation

The Moon and Venus early this morning brought peace and serenity

and beauty

Before dawn I awoke easily and listened to the quiet Earth

An owl, the crickets, a light breeze from the Southern Direction moving the trees

There was a Goodness in it All that I cannot fully form with words

But rather felt in the Center of me

Your story

Life Waits Patiently for Your Story

So Sing it

   Write it

       Dance it

          Paint it

Create it

Tolerance: 84,000 Dhamma Doors

In Buddhist teaching Dhamma doors is a metaphor used to state that there are innumerable paths (84,000 doors) to enlightenment, to Truth.  This represents Buddha's tolerance for other religions and spiritual practices.

I post this on the eve of September 11th to remind myself that the antidote or "medicine" that would be most beneficial is tolerance.  We all have a Universal responsibility to embody tolerance in our daily lives and to remember there are many pathways to the Ultimate Truth.



A simple Path

May Peace Prevail on Earth

Practicing compassion



Spontaneous altar along a hiking trail created by fellow dharma travelers



Friends I hope you are happy today. 

I awoke this morning to rededicate myself to practicing compassion.

Oh this self-cherishing mind

Release my compassionate heart

Be well, take care of yourselves my friends
Be happy
Be inspired to bring happiness to all sentient beings

Clear Mind

Open heart

Walking the labyrinth

"The labyrinth is a large, complex spiral circle, which is an ancient symbol for the Divine Mother, the God within, the Goddess, the Holy in all of Creation. Matriarchal spirituality celebrates the hidden and the unseen."Walking the Sacred Path:Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice. by Lauren Artress
My celebration of the Feminine Presence on Friday included walking this labyrinth at the Franciscan Renewal Center.  It was raining, and there was a visit by the Thunder Beings; a reason to celebrate here in the desert climate.  Walking and breathing, was a peaceful, centering experience. The labyrinth providing a mirror for my own spiritual path. I've posted a link so that you can find a labyrinth where you live. (See links at the bottom of this page)
Happy Trails.

Feminine Presence

Throughout human herstory the Wisdomkeepers acknowledged and honored the Feminine Presence or Energy that is part of the Whole.  She resides within every man and every woman. She permeates all of life.  Because we have human brains we use symbols to help us understand the Great Mystery. But symbols are meant to be used to bring us beyond them. So don't get stuck on the symbol.
Qey Practice: On Friday evenings perform a conscious ritual to invite Her into your home and into your heart. Light a candle, put some flowers out on the family table, clean the house to prepare a sweet dwelling place, smudge with sage or incense,whatever is meaningful to you. The ritual opens you up psychologically to that part of yourself.
In a sense you are simply welcoming yourself home.
One Friday night I wrote this:


"Is there a Goddess whom
when offerings made
will bless and heal this plundered heart?
We need to remember Her name
so we can build a temple in our hearts
and mourn at Her altar
Together."

Peace Friend

Growth

As I reflect on aging and saging I think the most important question to ask yourself is: 

Am I growing in compassion? 

She Who Brings Balance

Her names are Creativity and Intuition

Anima Mundi

By gazing with an empty mind I could see with an inner eye the Anima Mundi shining through this form, and all forms in this saha world. All indeed is this Brahman.  The Great Cosmic Force.  As Yoda says: " Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes."

May we all awaken from the Dream