~ PEACE POLE CEREMONY ~ May Peace Prevail Upon the Earth In 2010, I registered my intention with “The Peace Pole Project”, and created a World Peace Pole for the ceremonies, and celebrations for June Summer Solstice. I had not picked a location for the Peace Pole during the first phase of our event. It was during this first phase, that we as a spiritual group signed the base of the pole with our prayers and our names. We then planted the Peace Pole during ceremony in July at the Buckhorn Community Centre, where I was working as the festival’s Art Director.
During the Buckhorn Art Festival, I began a second project of a prayer mural. I invited children, seniors, and everyone, in-between to contribute to this artistic endeavour. Ceramic tile pieces of various greens and white, were applied in prayer, on a pre-drawn pattern on the backboard. The children were excited to be allowed to break the tiles with the hammer, and to lather the mortar on the back. They pressed the pieces into placed while saying a prayer for the earth, for the creatures of the earth, and for humankind.
MAY PEACE PREVAIL UPON THE EARTH
~ CHILDLIKE WONDER ~ “Be childlike in your wonder of it all that is” One day I found myself, while lost in wonder. During a Buddhist empowerment ceremony we were each given a daisy type flower to hold. I tried very hard to listen to the proceedings but I kept getting lost in wonder. My flower had several microscopic bugs crawling on its leaves and stem. I couldn't stop slipping into their tiny universe, as I watched them move about. I had to put the flower down, too many things to focus on at once. Later as I contemplated my experience, I understood.I have an expanded energy field and it was imperative that in this ceremony I pull myself in. To bring my energy field closer around me, so as not to interfere with the proceedings in such a tiny space. I was given the means to do this, by slipping into this tiny insect universe.
~ Feral Child ~ I believe I had a breakthrough with accepting my unusual childhood. While recalling the general nature of my upbringing, I was actually blessed that my family neglected me. I was not infused with their beliefs, cultural, religious or otherwise. With my family being totally self-absorbed, I was left alone to discover me. Growing up in a rural area I was able to spend all my time alone in the woods, up a tree or taste testing plants. I did not know anything other then what Spirit guided me to do. I connected to nature and all the energies around me, without a disbelieving world to tell me it wasn't real. The disbelieving world came later from outside sources. Thank you to my long passed and suffering Mom and Dad. This Feral Child is doing OK and realizes the importance and necessity of finding my own way in life, my own way in the Universe.
~ TEARDROP DRUM ~ So many parables manifested from my drum breakage, as I attempted to lace her back in 2010. It immediately felt comparable to how we are treating earth’s water. I attempted to forcibly lace her into an iron-maiden cage. Similarly, we attempt to force the world’s waters to do our bidding. The drum broke and shattered in what I perceived to be, my loving hands. The vision, which appeared later, reminded me to use a gentle touch. This can also be applied to our attitude toward the worlds’ sacred waters. It is shattering and falling to pieces in our hands. Do we need to stop and contemplate gentleness? The drum told me that day, her name was Drum Maiden. I called her my Water Goddess.
~ MESSAGE OF HOPE ~ Sacred Water Circle - Message of Hope: In 2012 I attended the Sacred Water Circle ceremony with the local area Elders, one spring day at the Peterborough Petroglyphs. Anishinaabe Elder Josephine Mandamin prayed and spoke of our need to heal the water. I witnessed a vision she had manifested within my minds eye, a vision of water bubbled up from deep within the earth. Water Spirits then rose up higher out of the ground, dancing above the sacred rock on which she stood. They sparkled and twinkled in the sunlight, sending joy to all who gathered. As I was feeling a little hopeless about the state of our global waters, I wondered if we were ever going to be able to heal the water.
The Spirits sent me a message of hope, "The water deep within the planet is pure clean and healthy, as it raises to the surface of the earth it will heal the sick waters above." In this minute of contemplation it must be like our own bodies, when we stop polluting our bodies with toxins, and send ourselves love, our body can heal it's self. The same goes for water it will heal with the aid of healthy waters from beneath, if we stop making the surface water sick.This in itself gives hope for the future of our water. The prayers we are sending to the surface waters, changes it's molecular structure, aiding the healing from above, like much-needed medicine. Keep praying and sending love, we shall heal water from above while the water will heal itself from below. Thank you “Sacred Water Circle” for spreading hope!
~ Introducing Elder Dan Creely ~ Dan Creely is a retired professor from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. I met him during a fire ceremony he was hosting for my friend Angaangaq, at that University. Dan had a passion for indigenous teachings and history and studied under the guidance of Ojibway Elder Grandmother Kee of Lake Michigan. Though Dan and I only met in person for a brief time, Spirit manifested and encouraged what would become, a long and deep friendship. Soon after we met, Dan would send me treasures of healing tools and gifts Spirit had guided him to send me. One of these gifts was a gift of water from 23 sacred sites around the world. Through this gift Spirit guided me to fulfill the tasks of continuing to share water from sacred sites around the world. Another of these gifts from Dan was the World Peace candle, which had travelled to the 5 continents of the world. Its flame contains the flames and energy of three World Peace Candles. The first World Peace candle was lit, from there it lit other candles making them part of the World Peace candle movement. These are no ordinary candles but are Living Flames of hope for all humanity.
When I began this book, Dan asked if I could include a message from his daughter Molly.
Messages From The Ancestors.
MOLLY’S MESSAGE
On September 10, 2019 my dear friend Elder Dan Creely and his lovely wife Kathy lost their daughter Molly to unforeseen circumstances. Molly left a message for ALL of us that is being shared around the world. I would like to share MOLLY’S MESSAGE with all of you.
“Be Positive, Be Kind, Be Loving… true heart of a warrior." Molly Kathleen Creely Ojibway Spirit Name: Ozawahn Animikiig Ogima – Yellow Thunder Chief September 8, 1975 – September 10, 2019 On each full moon people go outside, and say Molly’s Message out loud then practice it for the next month and repeat the process.
~ WATER & CANDLE CEREMONY ~ In 2016, in a small community on the outskirts of Ottawa, I hosted a Fall Equinox ceremony. I invited those I had met during my four months in my newly acquired environment. I had no expectations on who may show up. During my attendance to numerous networking events around Ottawa, I described the special ceremony I had planned. To my surprise the house filled with people, waiting to experience a mysterious and magical event.
I filled a crystal bowl with spring water, and added several drops of sacred and ancient water, that had been collected from around the world. I then had everyone with their purest intentions pray into the water, changing its molecular structure, and adding people’s sacred energy. All participants were then asked to drink from the bowl of water infusing themselves with the prayers and power of the world’s water. We each then took a tiny cup of the blessed water to begin the next phase of the ceremony.
I had also gifted each participant with a candle from a special case of candles that had been presented to me from an Algonquin tribe member. I then had the participants of the ceremony light their candle from my World Peace Candle.
As dusk settled on the magical woods behind my home, our troupe of nearly 30 people snaked our way through the trees, with candles and water in hand.
I drummed the pilgrimage to the nearby creek with everyone chanting. With intentions and prayers, we offered our blessed water to the creek, and Mother Earth. The candles then aided us in our journey back through the darkened woods, and down the winding path as the completion of the ceremony.
~ WATER SPIRIT PHOENIX ~ While attending an Earth Day Sunrise Ceremony one April morning at the water’s edge of Lakefield Park, I was witness to another most profound vision. My friend Dorothy Taylor, Ojibway Elder opened the ceremony with her beautiful voice and drum song, serenading the waters of the world. When Dorothy sings she creates visions, I merely witness them in all their beauty. As the drum echoed across the water and Dorothy’s voice filled the air, she summoned the Water Spirits from the river. The Spirits entered from the East Gate where a break was left in the circle, allowing them to enter the spiritual ceremony. As I stood at the doorway of the East Gate opening, the Water Spirits passed by me entering the center of the circle where a ceremonial fire burned. The Spirits danced around and around the fire to the beat of the drum, and the echoes of Dorothy’s voice. As they drew closer to the fire, the warmth of the flames turned the Water Spirits into vapour. Once the Spirits had become vapour, they were inhaled deep into the lungs of each and every person standing around the blessed circle. As I later shared my vision with the group, I reinforced the concept that we are now all and forever linked. We each share the same Water Consciousness from the Water Spirits of the river.
I often perform sacred water ceremonies with gifted water from 33 sacred sites around the world. I talk about all the thousands of prayers over thousands of years which are stored in the memory of the water. I also ask everyone to add his or her own prayers to the sacred water, changing its molecular structure. I often mention the groundbreaking insights by Dr. Emoto, and his proof that prayer changes the structure of water and heals it. That weekend I received an energy treatment from a dear friend in Ottawa, with a few visiting spirits showing themselves. One such spirit was Dr. Emoto reminding me to honour and bless the water within me. Setting everything else aside, such as doubt, and worthiness, and focusing only on prayers just to my own water, changed my inner perspective.
~ DAY OF REMEMBRANCE ~ My sunrise ceremony on this day of shared love, I sent prayers. I began with relatives within this life-walk then journeyed back through time. I remembered every ancestor from the beginning of family history and Pre-history. I watched as each Ancestor transcended to another level of understanding. I celebrate their efforts, their perceptions, and intent. I embrace the paradox and honour the dark as equal to the light
~ FIRST SWEAT LODGE CEREMONY ~ My first sweat lodge stands out as the most memorable sweat lodge ceremony I have ever experienced. I was invited by Celtic Shaman Fiona Newman to join her, and two elders from Curve Lake First Nations. The Elders conducting the ceremony that evening, were brothers Winston and Merritt Taylor. Winston and I sat and chatted as we waited for the ceremonial fire to be lit. He told me about his first sweat lodge ceremony, and what happened that night. Winston went on to tell me about growing up not knowing his own language and traditions, as a result of the inference of colonialism. On that fateful night, deep in ceremony he went on to tell me, he suddenly began singing in his people’s traditional language as Spirit moved him.
I did not realize he was preparing me for the most powerful experience I have had to date. As the two Elders drummed and sang their sweat lodge prayer, I slowly felt Spirit move me. I was told years earlier, that my long deceased Indigenous Grandfather, was watching me from a distance. I wondered why he did not come forth for me to communicate with him.
I was surprised as I felt his energy fill me, inspiring me to sit up and sing. I joined singing with the Elders in their language and in a man’s voice. I was singing in the voice of my Grandfather. In the back of my mind I thought, “girl you have overstepped the boundaries, you were not invited to join in, you are not an elder.”
Two other young men in the group later wondered who the third man’s voice was; “I said it was my grandfather.” The two elders grinned from ear to ear at the feast afterward. They were not surprised to hear me sing it seems. I never knew my Grandfather or knew of him until recent years, family tree is a shaky tree.
~ ILLUSION OF ILLUMINATION ~ I remember a meditation during a shamanic retreat weekend. We were instructed as to the intention of the meditation before we began. Usually I do not have issues with journeying in my mind. That day while in meditation I was lost in a white haze, I couldn't 't see or feel anything. I was frustrated, and confused. Then I received a message from Spirit to stand back from the haze. As I withdrew, I shape shifted into a baby white raven snuggled up to its mom. All I could see was her white-feathered chest. It was only after I stood back did I realize I wasn't lost in a haze. I was just too close to see her from my current perspective. Suddenly, a teaching manifested. I had been lost in my own illusion of expectations of how I thought enlightenment looked and felt. Illumination is all a matter of perspective or viewpoint ,and not getting too caught up in your own illusion of illumination. I needed to step back and see myself from a more distant perspective, to see a clearer view of myself.
~ BALANCING MICRO AND MACRO UNIVERSE ~ During a Hawaiian retreat with Harry Uhane Jim I journeyed to the Macro Universe, to the light beyond the void. I wanted to reconnect to the Council of Grandmothers, to which I was drawn. When I returned I did not fully return. My soul was still floating in the cosmos leaving my ego depressed.
I was able to ground myself by sitting with my feet planted on the earth. Most importantly, I sat and observed several tiny ants crawling around below me; remembering the teachings of my Andean mentor, about balancing the macro universe with the micro universe. I brought my attention to the micro universe of the ants’ existence. Ants also represent patience; I needed to be patient with myself, as I returned to this current dimension and reality.
~ 30 BREATHS ~ One night back in 2012, while I performed my 30 breaths exercise, I also did a visualization of a fitter Self. For some reason I was guided to do extreme breathing, similar to birthing. As I attempted to mold an image of the new me, a particular owl image appeared and stared deep into my eyes. As I continued with the deep breaths, the owls’ consciousness (along with a mentor connected to this owl and myself) began to blend with my own. This blending continued for the duration of the remaining breaths until eventually I was looking out through the eyes of the owl. You cannot fathom what an exhilarating experience this turned out to be. I have no idea what owl has in store for me now.
~ COSMIC NIGHT OWL ~ During A Blue Moon ceremony, a friend and I performed a late evening drum ceremony at her mom’s graveside. Intention was to honour our deceased mothers. As I drummed and chanted to the full moon, I could see multiple spirits going into the light of the moon. I felt them move through my heart as they found their way home. The graveyard suddenly contained nothing but empty grave markers. We surprised ourselves after unknowingly assisting a multitude of spirits into the light. We then heard an invisible owl cry out, from the vast open night sky above us.
~ BALANCING MICRO AND MACRO UNIVERSE ~ During a Hawaiian retreat with Harry Uhane Jim I journeyed to the Macro Universe, to the light beyond the void. I wanted to reconnect to the Council of Grandmothers, to which I was drawn. When I returned I did not fully return. My soul was still floating in the cosmos leaving my ego depressed.
I was able to ground myself by sitting with my feet planted on the earth. Most importantly, I sat and observed several tiny ants crawling around below me; remembering the teachings of my Andean mentor, about balancing the macro universe with the micro universe. I brought my attention to the micro universe of the ants’ existence. Ants also represent patience; I needed to be patient with myself, as I returned to this current dimension and reality.
~ CREATIVE MEDITATION ~ Many say that we come from the stars, this Star Seed Soul breathed life into a Sacred Ceremonial shawl as it was being created. It is fringed with the chakra colours of rainbow-light, and beaded with iridescent seed beads. The seed beads were counted in sacred groups of numbers. I had the revelation that it is a Butterfly Shawl. The sparkling shawl with colourful flowing ribbons, reminded me of one of my stories from ancient times.
A story about calling the butterflies to fly in unison. “The butterflies hung from my arms in unison forming a rainbow shawl flowing like giant wings”.
~ QUAMTUM VORTEX ~ While working in the crawl space under our old Victorian house, my husband found four unique stones. One of these stones could have been mistaken for a meteorite; therefore I called geologists to examine them. He explained that they were actually ancient lava from a volcano that once existed several miles away from our location. The 1 ½ billion years old stone was confirmed to be magnet while the other three stones (2 ½ billion years old), found in the same location, repelled the magnet. This was a fact that I found very interesting. I had watched a program about some ancient Stone Circles. These circles were made with stones that repelled magnets, meaning that the Stone Circles created an electro magnet energy field. For a group ceremony I decided to take our ancient lava stones to the next level of quantum energy, with an interesting experiment. I set up a similar arrangement with these 4 special stones, sitting in the four directions. With the push of the 3 repelling stones and the pull of the 4th stone I created a wormhole or vortex in my meditation room.
With drum in hand, and intentions set, we achieved launch! Linda Stewart, a participant of the ceremony, shared the experience she had while sitting in a chair over one of the stone’s. She shared with us the vortex spinning of the room reminded her of the vortex-ride at the fair. The one that spins very fast as the floor drops out from under you. The body is held in place by the mere speed in which you spin. Linda laughingly suggested that I install seat belts for my chairs. She was spinning so fast during the ceremony that she thought she would slide onto the floor.
Photo of ceremony room featuring one of the ancient lava stones.
~ REMEMBERING MY ANCIENT SELF ~ During a Self healing ceremony one night, I prayed to the universe deep within me. Help me! Help me remember my ancient Self and my ancient relations. Words of remembering, in an unknown dialect, stumbled from my lips. I know I won 't remember all that needs remembering, at once. Remembering will come in bite size bits for me to digest slowly. Remembering; myself as water connected to all, myself as energy from the universe and beyond. Myself as human across time on earth. *** I attended a drumming seminar hosted by Angaangaq, in Florida during the fall of 2015. It was the first and only drumming seminar he had ever offered, and I felt it was special for my path ahead. I had been floundering for quite some time. It was then that I made a promise of intentions to the Ancestors and to the Creator. Our fire drumming ceremony launched my intentions to the Ancestors. I sang my song of intention and declared to the Creator, as his servant, to travel where the winds blow me and awaken the Ancestors of the lands. I would pray to them in ceremony to come to the aid of their children, their descendants, and humanity. I would awaken their children (us), to be conscious and aware of our destiny, and of our purpose. Our purpose is to hope, and take action, as well as walk our new gained wisdom. I would bring back ceremony to those who have forgotten it along the way. I felt aware that I was coming from a place of an innocent newborn heart, what a better place to come from. Many insights, inventions, medical breakthroughs, and artistic creations were manifested by people who did not see the obstacles that would prevent actualization. Instead of seeing obstacles they see opportunities for growth. These are often people who believed so much, that they could not be stopped from just doing it. Thank you Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq for helping me remember myself. You could see the depth of me when no one else could. You accepted my faults and loved me anyway, as you do for so many others who walk with you on your path. Blessings on your continued journey of sharing your hope with humanity, may the Creator fulfill all your dreams.
~ WOMB MEMORIES ~ Remembering from within the womb, the devastating effects on my unborn Self when love is withheld. I have been down this road several times and it was worth another trip. I decided to heal my fetus-self by sending love to that unborn creation. I prepared a ceremony in my bathroom with candles, smudging and gentle flute music. Lying in my tub of bubbles and hot water, I visualized being in my mothers’ womb. In time I became my mother, and softly sang a loving lullaby to my unborn Self. I nurtured and loved that baby.
~ SACRED TREE ~ When the chainsaws stopped their destruction of my sacred Grandmother Tree, I drummed and chanted a crossing-over prayer for my old friend. As I watched her spirit spiral all around me, she surprised me with her own blessing. Instead of soaring out into the universe to connect with all that is, she spiraled into my own core, and connected with me. She blessed me with her Spirit, and with her wisdom. I will glean all that she had acquired over her long-long life span.
Thank you dear friend, my source of strength, and my nurturer.
~ CLEARING ANCESTRIAL DNA ~ While at a holistic show in the town of Cobourg near where my Ancestors had settled, I was given a message to perform a heal-my-ancestors drum song ceremony. This day was an important and memorable point in my evolution to internal grace. It was time to release from my heart, all shame and guilt past down through our DNA. I called all my Spirit Clans in the region, all my maternal ancestors, to witness my gratitude. I accepted their transgressions as the challenges, they were meant to face. I honour their courage for surviving many obstacles. I release the strong energy of negativity, which hung like a cloud over my home and in my heart. I release the wrongdoing of my ancestors, grandparents and their offspring. I cherish with gratitude their gifts of strength against adversity.
~ MY FORGIVENESS CEREMONY ~ Found in my mother’s papers long after her death, was an old poem she had saved. I wrote it as a very young and disillusioned child. My parents have both been gone for a very long time, and it is only recently that I have finally let go of the resentment of them. After finding the poem, it became clear to me that I needed to hold a ceremony of forgiveness. I set up an altar that included four world peace candles, in the four colours/directions. I also included a statue of the infinity symbol and my Ancestors Drum. I read the hurtful poem out loud and then I lit the poem from the peace candles. While watching the flames turn that hurtful poem to ash my made my statement of forgiveness. I prayed that the Creator would receive my innocent poem of pain with gratitude.
I forgive you Mom for attempting to instill hate in my heart toward my father. I forgive you for saving this hurtful poem that you most assuredly showed to Dad, as a way to continue to hurt him through me. I now understand why he was always so disappointed in me. Dad I forgive you for your neglect and hurtful words. In hindsight Mom was always there poking at us with her own pain and malice. I forgive myself for the guilt I carried for not being able to truly love either of you. Hate was never part of my heart, I only wished to love and be loved. I know the Creator never judges.
~ HIBERNATING & PROCESSING ~ During a vision I journeyed out of the darkness of my winter season of life. After a year in the darkness of the ice cave of my mind, hibernating and processing, I reached its entrance. I found my lost Self, and now I see light within the darkness. I moved forward to rescue my human Self. It has always been easy for me to step into the observation mode of my Higher Mind. That ability has always been my savior, but it did not appear to do anything other than prolong my inevitable darkness. I had to step into myself, my human Self, to acknowledge and feel the experiences and the memories. I knew the spring of my life had not yet arrived, but it eventually bloomed with such joy, abundance of love, and tranquility.
~ TWELVE OF NEVER ~ Tragically a dear friend to my husband and I passed away suddenly and alone. In his youth while driving home, he was in a major accident involving a train. This accident should have killed him, and though he survived it left him with brain damage. This accident forever changed him and his personality, and in my opinion a fragment of his soul was left behind on the tracks that day. One day while my husband and I drank our morning coffee listening to the radio, our deceased friends’ favourtite song The Twelve of Never played. Hearing this song brought back many memories and triggered my husband to voice his concern, “do you think he made it safely to the other side”? It was said he should have died that day. It is my opinion, that a piece of him did die that day. As we sat and honoured our friends’ life through the sharing stories about him, our friend came to say goodbye. He did it in such a way that will live in our hearts for all time. His Spirit appeared to me showing himself standing on the old railway tracks, and nodded his farewell. His aged face got younger and younger as he began his journey down the train tracks. He smiled and waved goodbye. He continued to get younger and younger until he was just a child disappearing down the tracks. He quoted this line from this favourite song,” "I will love you to The Twelve of Never, and that is a long, long time”. His lost piece of Self from his tragic life altering accident, is now reunited and complete, as they journey home together. Farewell old friend, we always saw the true you. Twelfth of Never - Johny Mathis https://youtu.be/nNNRGa3pKyw?si=aabWmx6DlRvjvTtB
~ JOURNEY INTO THE CENTRAL SUN ~
During my time living on the outskirts of Ottawa I would often go for a morning walk. One wet spring morning while attempting to climb a steep embankment in the woods behind my home, I had to turn around. The combination of my fragile knee and the slippery muddy ground of the embankment made impossible to continue my walk.
The following day I felt the forest call and guide me to follow the stream for my morning walk. Down-stream, I found a fallen tree laid out like a handrail as if set out by the forest for me, to aid my climb up the embankment. This conveniently fallen tree filled me with joy as I sang my many thanks to the trees. I didn't want to over stress my crippled knee, after walking for about twenty minutes I asked the trees if I should turn around now. The trees urged me on and within ten minutes I discovered I had made it through the woods all the way over to the hard packed gravel trail and the bridge spanning the stream.
From the bridge I took some pictures of the beautiful scenery, and the opportunity to rest my increasingly sore knee. Due to the pain I was experiencing I would have normally headed back home, but I felt the trees continue to urge me to follow the hard-packed trail, and pushed through the agony. I had no idea why the trees pushed me to continue on this physically painful walk in a particular direction, when suddenly I found myself at the local graveyard. I stopped to rest my knee hanging onto the fence surrounding the graveyard. The Spirits started to show themselves to me. It became clear to me that this was where I was meant to be, and that the trees had sent a message on ahead that I was coming.
I was guided toward this location to introduce myself and offer my unique services. Many new Spirit friends were wandering about, I called them to me and together we began the passage home. I faced the radiance of the sun and helped journey my new Spirit friends into its solar flares helping them discovered the window to home. We travelled beyond the Central Sun of the Universe, the sun beyond the sun beyond the sun and into the light at the end of the dark tunnel. It is done.
You are welcome dear friends; I am privileged to be in service.
~ BLACK PLAGUE ~
I met a young man at one of my lectures in Munich. He invited me to perform a Summer Solstice ceremony at his teepee in downtown Munich. It turned out that his teepee was right next to one of the oldest graveyards in Munich. As many as 10 thousand Ancestors attended our Summer Solstice ceremony from that nearby graveyard, a crossing-over ceremony was spontaneously created. Its intensity affected all participants in attendance. I found myself being pulled into the black abyss, which opened in the ground below my feet. Fortunately my host and my translator sitting on either side of me held on tight. They kept me grounded in the present, preventing me from falling into the unknown. Later, my translators’ research uncovered that this particular cemetery was the last un-resting place of the victims of the Black Plague. Buried in mass shallow graves without ceremony. They finally found their way home.
This is the actual fire and my Siberian Teardrop drum that signalled the spirits to go into the light on this power night of ceremony
~ FLANDERS FIELD ~ During one of my various trips to Europe I was hosted by my Gypsy friend in Belgium. She asked me if I would be willing to do a special ceremony at a nearby site. Though I did not know which nearby site she was referring to, I was immediately curious to what I may encounter and agreed. It wasn’t until an hour or two later that I asked, “What is the name of the place where you wish me to do the ceremony”? I felt my face drop when I heard the words Flanders Field.
I had not realized until that moment the immensity of what I was about to undertake. In preparation for the ceremony at Flanders Field, I asked my hostess to a ceremonial session with me the night before. During our session I journeyed back to World War 1 into a past Self, a soldier in the trenches. It was dark, cold and pouring down rain, so much rain that the walls of the trenches weakened. As I lay in the trenches bloody and torn up I could feel the pain of my arm mostly blown from my body. I could see the bare jagged bone of my upper arm where it was detached from my shoulder. In that moment I thought this would surely kill me. The memory of my past Self flashed to the watered logged walls of the trench as they gave way and buried me alive. I knew in that moment that this was the death of my past Self. The next morning my Gypsy friend, myself, and a friend of hers headed out to the infamous Flanders Field. As we drove the narrow roads through the farmlands of Belgium I noticed a couple of transport trucks parked along a turnip field. The trailers of each truck were made of wood with an open top, and I noticed a few turnips scattered on the road. I also noticed a large pile of turnips at the edge of the field with a conveyor belt waiting to load the trucks. As we drove on around the corner I put the thoughts of them out of my mind.
We pulled into a small museum type park with a small graveyard nearby. I wondered out loud where we were, and it was revealed that my two friends were taking me to the Canadian trenches and nearby graveyard. Unbeknownst to me they had presumed that I would want to take care of my countrymen first, and then we would go to the huge memorial park Flanders Field afterward. I agreed to this importuned ceremony and walked the length of the trenches, offering ancient tobacco from my personal stash and chanted a song to call the spirits. I walked over culvert bridges, allowing me to cross to the other side of the trench. I discovered spots where the walls had fallen, and I was able to go right into the trench itself. At one end of the snake-like trench I buried a bottle of sacred water and began my path back. As an offering to the Creator, I stood in the trenches holding tobacco in my left-hand, reaching to the sky with my prayers. I called out to all the Spirits left behind in the trenches that could see my light or hear my voice, to come to me, and I would help them find their way home. I felt a piece of myself return as hundreds of spirits filled me. In that moment I realized this was the location of the death of my past solder Self, and that I was meant here to reconnect with my missing soul fragment and help my old comrades.
My body shook from the shear power of the energy moving through me. In my mind I called out to powerful Healers and Shamans to assist me with their long distance energy. I shook and cried from the immense force of energy within me, with my gypsy friend holding on to my arm to support me, and my energy. We heard what sounded like bombs and machine guns blasting all around us. When we finally settled down and the sounds of war halted, we stood and held each other in tears. I looked at her and asked, “Did you hear the bombs and machine guns”? My Gypsy friend looked back at me, her face clearly distraught we wondered aloud how we both heard the gunfire. It that moment it finally occurred to me that the sounds we had heard were the sounds of the hard turnips bouncing and smashing off the wooden trailer. What are the chances that turnips trucks would be loaded exactly when we were performing our sacred ceremony?
The actual Flanders Field memorial site had very little activity on our arrival; I believe many ceremonies performed there over the years, had cleared out most of the lost souls. We spent hours wandering the land of war and death, and it shifted me to another level of consciousness, another level of awareness and ability. The day had been both spiritually and physically exhausting.
We returned to the city long after dark and decided we would stop at a restaurant for dinner. The chosen restaurant was on the other side of a four-lane highway with no nearby crosswalks. I decided to wait for the light up the street to turn red, before crossing the first two lanes to the center medium. I felt assured that I would make it across but to my surprise the light turned green before I made it to the center medium. Two lanes of cars were coming toward me at a high rate of speed, and with no nearby streetlights the drivers could not see me. I knew I would not be able to get my crippled tired body out of the way in time. I am sure I looked like the Wizard Merlin with my long blue coat flapping at my ankles, long wind-blown hair standing on end as I raised my cane high above my head. Telepathically I spoke to the drivers of the cars demanding, “You are not going to run down an old woman with a cane”!
It was as if time slowed down, the cars seemed to be coming toward me in slow motion. I continued to make my way to the medium, all the while my Gypsy friend was staring in terror thinking for a moment I would to get run over. Her thoughts quickly changed to, “no, its Gayle they won’t hit her”. She was right, the second my foot hit the medium the two cars whizzed by me with just inches to spare. In that moment I had no fear and that I was more annoyed then anything else. I had just freed thousands of souls from the bloodstains of war and no car is going to take me down. I shall never quit. May the Creator be my strength, may the Creator be my guide, may the Creator reveal the Master Plan. *** These types of honours take an emotional toll on me and I wondered why. It was not sadness, for I am happy to witness their journey home. When we are standing in the light that is the purest of pure. The light of home, how can you not be affected just by its immensity alone? Now I shall bask.
~ ELDEST GATHERING GIFT BUNDLES ~
In 2017 I had the honour of meeting Elder Tacan’sina in Greenland at the Elders Gathering hosted by Angaangaq. I had taken the eagle feather gifted to me, which I was told, once belonged to Sitting Bull. Sitting Bulls’ Spirit accompanied me to the gathering and projected his energy to the other Elders in ceremony. I sat down with Tacan’sina allowing him to hold the feather as I shared its’ story. As I told the story to Tacan’sina, a tall robust man, he wept tears of reverence. Tacan’sina is a blood relative to one of the Lakota sub-tribes, and felt a strong connection to the story I had shared with him. It was then that he invited me to attend his Eldest Gathering in Bavaria the following year as White Raven. In the spring of 2018 I was invited to attend the Ojibway Elders annual Earth Day sunrise ceremony that was being held at the Otonabee College Nature Area Wetlands near Peterborough. This wildlife nature area was facing challenging times ahead as the powers-at-be were determined to develop it on a grand scale. I attended with the intention to gather sacred earth in ceremony. The earth and ash I collected was to become part of a bundle of gifts. My intention was to present bundles of these gifts to international elders attending the Eldest Gathering in Bavaria, to demonstrate to them that they are not alone in their quest to protect the earth. To honour the earth this gift bundle contains the items to create a ceremony with this little tobacco plant ceremonial bundle. A variety of wood chips for the altar and ingredients to plant and grow ancient tobacco. Contained within these bundles are the following: Slivers of wood from a tree struck by lighting where I grew up as a child. A bundle of beaver chips added to the gift package represented not just the protection of the water but engineering flood control for the impending future. The current melting of the polar icecaps causes the uncertainty of our future, which lies ahead. How will we survive? We shall survive by working with Mother Earth and with each other. There was woodpecker chips represent speaking in a good way. By wrapping our tongue around our brains before we speak such as the woodpecker before it pecks, we ensure our words are from our hearts and from the Ancestors themselves. Ash and fire coals I gathered in ceremony the previous spring at Shaman Angaangaq’s Tuukkaq Circle hosted in Germany. These were the remains of the sacred fire circle of solidarity. Ancient tobacco - previous growth from this ancient seed provided a tiny amount of tobacco to make the offering to the Creator, asking for an abundant healthy tobacco plant. Tobacco held up to the Creator and blessed to Mother Earth in ceremony. When this tiny seed grows, matures and then is harvested, it can then be used in ceremony. Earth from this sacred wetland will provide the tiny nest into which a descendant-seed of ancient tobacco can be planted. With this earth I also added ash from the Earth Day ceremonial fire. Tobacco seed that was discovered on an ancient Anishinaabe sacred site in a clay jar sealed with resin, a sacred site that is still undisclosed by its Elders. Water from over 28 sacred sites from around the world, where ceremonies have been performed for thousands of years and blessed by millions of people. This portion of the gift, the gift of water was intended to be used to water the tobacco seed. Most of all this little tobacco plant ceremonial bundle represents action. We can all come together with good intentions and fine words, but unless we actually do the work nothing will change. The same goes for the little tobacco plant ceremonial bundle, it will not grow if it is left in the bundle, it will need nurturing, focus and work. This gesture of mine may not change anything politically or environmentally, but perhaps it will create change spiritually. * * * Receiving the invitation, attending this gathering and meeting the people from around the world, had a life changing and profound affect on me. When I was in Bavaria a large group of healers did a healing ceremony for me. During which, I returned to several lifetimes at the moment when my life was taken violently by Mother Earth herself. Each death by her hands brought her and I closer and closer together.
I remembered being crushed under an arctic glacier I remember being crushed under a mountain cave-in I remembered being thrown into an active volcano I remembered freezing in a cave in Iceland I remembered being eaten by a polar bear I remembered being burned alive at the stake I remembered drowning in the ocean and being eaten by the sea creatures
The ceremony gave me clarity on, my strong connections Of this World, our collective joint consciousness with Mother Earth, her elements and her creatures. *** During my time at the Eldest Gathering in Bavaria I presented the teachings the Ancient Ancestors wish me to share, the message to encourage people to stop talking about action and start taking action. This message was received with mixed results and at times I felt discouraged. At the weeks end, fellow Canadian elder stopped me, as we were about to take our ride to the airport. Elder Helmer Twoyoungmen shared these words, “ Not everyone will believe what you say or believe what you do. The Creator knows… so keeping doing it”. These final moments shared with Helmer Twoyoungmen touched my heart.
Photo: Oyate Tha Tacan’sina Kalagin and Eldest Gathering 2018 Bavaria
~ CHANGE IS IN THE WIND ~
Let the gale force winds of change blow away all that disguise the truth. The truth was always there, we just could not see it through the mist of illusion; the illusion that we cannot change. We have the means and the ability to manifest and change anything and everything around us. We need to believe that we can change, holding our hearts open and true to all that is pure, and share that with all who will listen. Ceremony and intention are the two most powerful forces in the universe. Holding a ceremony with intention can change and shift all in the right direction, the direction of positive change. There are many people working behind the scenes doing their small part, all over the world. There are people who are just doing what they can from where they are, without shaking their stick for acknowledgement. We can all be one of those people, people who are the change they want to see in the world, and make that change. We all have the potential do this together in a unified way, through collective love, purity and intention it all starts with ceremony. * * * We are the Ancient Ancestors of the grandchildren yet to come. What legacy will you be remembered for? Will you be remembered for walking in a good way? Will you be remembered for loving unconditionally? Will you be remembered?
~ Keewaydinoquay – Ojibway – Mide, Wisdom Keeper ~ * When she was a little girl she went out 25 miles with her parents by canoe, to a little island in Lake Michigan, for Summer Solstice. There were canoes as far as she could see on both sides of the Offering Rock. Each year an Elder would stand all day from sunrise to sunset to listen to messages from Spirit for the people for the coming year. That year the elder staggered from the Offering Rock, at sunset, tired from a day of fasting and praying. He moved slowly through the crowd. Then stopped, turned and walked directly over to Kee who was standing next to her mother. He put his hand on her head and said, “Someday you too will stand for The People.” People responded, “No woman has ever stood for The People.” Later they learned that is what “the Blessed Ones told him,” this WAS the message for The People. Fifty years later she went back to the island but there were no people, no prayers, no ceremony. There was nothing to identify that her people had been there for over 10,000 years. The voice came and said; “Now it is your turn to bring the people back to the old ways.” NO woman had ever STOOD for the people. She was terrified, but for the next 25 years she stood at Summer Solstice, and the people came from all over the world. Most were Kee’s university students from Wisconsin and Michigan who were in her Native American Studies courses, but few were Native. Kee was not fully accepted by her own people for sharing and teaching non-natives, but she was honouring the request from her Grandfather MideOgema, the village chief. He said, “You must help whoever comes to your doorstep to learn our ways.” She was the keeper of the ancient teachings, plant medicines and ceremonies from the time she was a young girl. Grandmother Kee, as she was called by those that knew, loved and honoured her, was an Anishinaabeg Elder of the Crane Clan. Anishinaabe means “The People Who Came From Where the Sun Rises.” The Ossinagon Stone Pipe ceremony is just one of many gifts of wisdom that Kee shared with the world. Ossinagon Stone Pipe Ceremony is a ceremony offering prayers to the 7 directions and blessings to each individual participating in the ceremony. This act is a physical rendition of a mental process of a metaphysical reality. It is prayer made physical. It is a communication with the divine rendered into a form in which it is perceivable by all five of the senses. The Ossinagon is a dish of stone. The stone is the Abiding Rock, the rib of our Mother of Earth. It is the bedrock of our physical reality. The Kinnickinnick is a mixture of pleasant-scented herbs. The fire that lights the herbs is symbolic of the Sun, which in turn is symbolic of the Great Mystery. The breath of the supplicant that fans the fire is the Prayer; but the continued blowing of the breath is dependent on the person inhaling. Thus the blessing is both blown in and then returned to the person inhaling and expelling again in the Circle of Honour and Love. “Creator for Person and Person for Creator. “ By the act of lighting an Ossinagon and burning the Sacred herbs, the person makes physical and mental prayer, and sends if off and out to the metaphysical, the world of the Spirit and ultimately to the Great Mystery. * These exerts were taken from papers written by Dan Creely and Mary Seeseep Geniusz In Greenland July 2017, Angaangaq hosted an elders gathering on his sacred land with over 100 participants from 11 countries. While members of the gathering had broken from the circle to rest and eat, Mitig Dan Creely, one of Kees’ adopted grandchildren, called me over to him. Mitig Dan Creely reached into his duffle bag and pulled out his Ossinagon Stone Pipe, and said he would like to teach me the ceremony of this pipe. I felt honoured that he would share the knowledge of the Ossinagon Stone Pipe Ceremony, and guide me in leading the ceremony. A small group of people started to gather including our host Angaangaq and his wife, each participating in the ceremony. It was the first time any of us in this small group had participated in an Ossinagon Stone Pipe Ceremony, and resulted in our host requesting Mitig Dan Creely lead closing ceremony. For the final ceremony of our weeklong elders gathering, all of the participants gathered around the sacred fire. Mitig Dan Creely performed the stone pipe ceremony blessing each of the elders and participants. While writing this book I reached out to Mitig Dan Creely as to whether I should include this story of the pipe. I was unsure to whether or not I was allowed to share this story. Mitig Dan Creely reassured me that is was Kees’ wish to share the knowledge of the Ossinagon Stone Pipe Ceremony with all who wish to receive and honour that knowledge with respect and love. I look forward to one day sharing this sacred ceremony and prayers with you.
~ LAKOTA WOMAN’S SACRED PIPE ~ In the 2018 Eldest Gathering in Bavaria I met Elder Dirk Schröder, who leads a Wilderness Group in rural woods of Bavaria. His wilderness group consisted of men, women, children, and families from the surrounding towns and cities. Dirk is drawn to the Lakota teachings, patriarchal society and shares what he has learned over the years from those teachings. In his rural area, Dirk takes people from all walks of life into the wilderness to learn from Mother Earth. They learn to build a shelter from nature, how to build a fire in the traditional way and gather wild edible plants for meals. Dirk teaches them about communicating with the Beings and elements of Mother Earth. One of the women in his circle asked, “where are the women teachers’? Dirk replied, “When I come across a powerful woman teacher I will invite her to come and teach us”.
During the eldest gathering I invited the women attending the gathering to join me in a drum circle after dinner, over 25 women showed up. The seminar room located on the second floor of the retreat centre had open windows on the 3 walls surrounding the entire room, allowing our ceremony to be heard across the fields and woods. Dirk heard and felt our powerful ceremony from the dining room below our seminar room. The very next morning he approached me and told me of his search for a powerful woman teacher and felt that I fit the bill. It was at this time that he invited me to return to Bavaria and facilitate several retreats for his wilderness group, for both men and women. I shared my stories, and my insights from the Ancestors and from Mother Earth.
Over the next couple of years Dirk and I participated and shared in lectures, ceremonies and practiced many techniques for healing. It is indigenous tradition that a person must be gifted their sacred pipe; and it is an honour to be given such a gifted. Dirk honoured me by gifting me a Lakota ‘Womans’ Sacred Pipe’ made in 2005 by a Lakota elder named Guy Dull Knife who lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. It is a greater honour to be gifted with a sacred pipe crafted by this elder, a descendant of the chief of village of Crazy Horse. During the presentation of my sacred womans’ pipe at the end of my retreat weekend with Dirks’ wilderness group, I was also taught the ceremony of the Lakota Pipe.
I immediately identified with the name of the reservation from which my pipe was created, Pine Ridge Reservation. Our connection of the name is, I grew up on what is known as the Great Pine Ridge running parallel on north side of Lake Ontario.
~ GATEWAY HEART BONE DRUM ~
My story of the Gateway Heart Bone Drum began in 2011 when I first opened my healing studio in Peterborough. The drum started its journey as a message from the Ancestors in a vision dream, although I was not aware at the time that what I was creating was a drum. I saw faint images and my first interpretations of these images was the creation of a bamboo wall hanging. It hung on the door of my new healing studio welcoming visitors for almost two years. My first grandson was born and he joined us here on earth on the light of the May full moon and lunar eclipse, that year they called it the Supper Moon. I had been previously asked to perform a full moon fire ceremony with friends and it appeared we were also going to be celebrating the birth of my grandson.
As I prepared my drums and sacred tools for my ceremony, Spirit spoke to me and instructed me to take the bamboo wall hanging. I packed up the wall hanging and my easel, thinking it would make a great backdrop for my ceremony. Part way through my ceremony I heard the Ancestors speak to me again, they instructed me to play the wall hanging. I answered with, “it’s a instrument’? I still did not know what I had built, but I was about to discover I had built an ancient drum that I never knew existed.
There were a few false starts, I did not know how to play this ancient instrument that I was guided to build. I demanded that the ancestors come and take control of my hand and guide the playing of the drum. The bamboo drum was played with a tipper stick, much like the Celtic drum. I was completely amazed at the sound that this drum made. Later that same year my Buddhist friend Lama Tashi invited me to her house blessing ceremony. For this ceremony I was guided to take the bamboo drum. There was a small group of us gathered for her personal blessing ceremony, and I was invited to perform. During the meditation of my bamboo drum solo Lama Tashi had a vision that she later shared with me. She told me that in her vision she saw the drum I played was made, not from bamboo but with bones. Since that day I wondered if I would ever have the opportunity to make this drum with bones.
In 2017 I shared the story of the bamboo/bone drum while teaching a seminar in Iceland with those I have come to know and love as my Dragon Sisters. It was expressed then and there that I must return to Iceland and teach them how to make and play the drum of bones, in ceremony. One of my participants in the seminar was the Icelandic keeper and processor of animal and bird bones, for all those wishing to posses these sacred objects. In the spring of 2018 I returned to Iceland, and together we each created the ancient Gateway Heart - Bone Drum of my ancestors. After the first day of creating I asked everyone including myself, to sleep with the bone drums we had created and see what insights are gained. As it turned out, all those attending the seminar had the same vision as my own. We all walked across the tundra in some long ago time carrying our ancient bone drums. It is my belief and my remembering that this type of drum was used across the Arctic tundra in ancient-ancient times as a portable altar of ancestral bones. It was once played it with a stick or a bone and you could call down the spirit of the ancestors to receive guidance and messages. These particular bones are cow bones, but after this bone drum was built the Ancestors showed me that in ancient times it would have been created over time with a collection of bones from individual ancestors, carrying their wisdom for all times. *** I knew since the time of its creation in bone that I wanted to put my personal design on my drum in scrimshaw, carving the fine lines into the bone creating designs, which are filled in with life over time. I instead painted the fine lines to symbolize the story of my existence, the symbols of my heart knowledge. It feels like balancing and harmonizing all wisdom through the ages. Harmonic healing through chanting and drumming, find your Soul Voice and heal within by raising your internal vibration. It is said disease cannot exist in a high vibrational body, keep your vibration high through the sound of your own voice
~WORLD THROUGH GRANDMOTHERS’ EYES~
One early morning I held a sunrise ceremony where I connected with an ancient loved one. She acted as a conduit of love to and from my heart. I rode the waves of her gentle voice chanting,
Our hearts are one, Little One Our hearts are one Our hearts are one, Little One Our hearts are one
As she chanted, I both released and absorbed, unexpressed love. Images of everyone, every place, and everything that I have ever come into contact with, circulated the energy of love and gratitude. As the ceremony continued I stated my own intentions to transcend my mannerisms of unfiltered love. I wished to learn to express my love in a gentle way, which does not overwhelm or offend the receiver of that love. Another of my intentions was to express my words with clarity. I feel that I can now see the world through Grandmothers eyes, and I pray one day I can express myself as honourably as she.
Thank you.... Ancient one.~WORLD THROUGH GRANDMOTHERS’ EYES~
One early morning I held a sunrise ceremony where I connected with an ancient loved one. She acted as a conduit of love to and from my heart. I rode the waves of her gentle voice chanting,
Our hearts are one, Little One Our hearts are one Our hearts are one, Little One Our hearts are one
As she chanted, I both released and absorbed, unexpressed love. Images of everyone, every place, and everything that I have ever come into contact with, circulated the energy of love and gratitude. As the ceremony continued I stated my own intentions to transcend my mannerisms of unfiltered love. I wished to learn to express my love in a gentle way, which does not overwhelm or offend the receiver of that love. Another of my intentions was to express my words with clarity. I feel that I can now see the world through Grandmothers eyes, and I pray one day I can express myself as honourably as she.
Thank you.... Ancient one.
~ SACRED SISTERS ~
“SACRED SISTERS” Ceremonial Painting, Sacred Valley Greenland, an image that touched me deep in my heart. The impact of its meaning for me goes back to previous and current teachings from my mentors. The first teaching came in 2012 when it was shared with the world that the Earths energy had shifted after several thousands of years. It shifted from masculine energy stored in the mountains of Tibet to the feminine energy now in the mountain range of the Andes. This shift of earth’s energy is known around the world as the Serpent of Light. The second teaching I am reminded of is from Angaangaq, as he constantly shares with the world the urgent need for the women of the world to stand up and be strong. It is the women who must take their power back, and it is they who will heal the world.
In 2019 I was in Greenland at our bi-annual summer camp gathering of Angaangaqs’ European spiritual Tuukkaq Circle. I was especially excited because I was to receive my graduation ceremony at this event. Elisabeth and I both were honoured at the gathering; she was made an female Elder for Angaangaqs’ spiritual organization. I was graduating from his 3-year Tuukkaq Circle program, and was surprised by an additional honour. I also received the only shamanic initiation ceremony Angaangaq had ever given to that date; I was initiated to accept the spiritual responsibilities of a Shaman walking the shamanic path.
I was drawn to the photo taken by Elisabeth Petrussen Rosing when she attended the summer camp that year. She and some of the other ladies went for a shamanic walk on the tundra. The powerful photo drew me in as these 6 women stood on a low ridge with the sun at their backs, casting their shadows across the land. Number 6 for the six directions, North, East, South & West, Up to the Sky and Down to the Earth. Casting their feminine shadows across the land tells the future of our women, not just in Greenland but also around the world. The earth will be healed by the powerful wisdom and intention of the women across the lands of this world. We are now in the feminine consciousness of Mother Earth.
We stand with our men as they transition into their own natural balance and harmony with the earth and with us. They are here to support us in our journey and we are here to encourage them on theirs.
~ TURN KNOWLEDGE INTO WISDOM ~ The rare Black Moon, which usually only occurs once every 2-3 years, is a perfect time for a special ceremony. It is believed by some that the Black Moon will pull out our darkest feelings, everything we keep hidden from the world. I invite everyone to gather at the sacred fire, to share stories and inspirations. The Black Moon is here to help with the purging process. By drumming to the Black Moon and examining our dark side, we then can release those dark thoughts and perceptions back into the universe. During the ceremony, we visit the black void out in the cosmos of the Macro Universe as well as the Micro Universe within us. Within in this void we bath in its intense energies of transmuting our negative dark energies and transforming that energy into light. When I am in a dark place on my path, I journey to the void within my mind and soul to find answers to my queries.
Many transformations have taken place since that visit to the black void. I asked for guidance in my journey ahead. I was lost in the sea of knowledge and did not know how to turn that knowledge into wisdom. My mentor Angaangaq telepathically guided to me away from this void, from the Ancestors themselves for the time being. Not long after this experience I messaged and I asked him why he wanted me to pull away from the ancestors. Angaangaq explained that I sat too close to the doorway of death, and if I am not careful I would fall in.
I had entered yet another major transformation within this void and I thank Angaangaq for his patience with my many challenges. As my most precious mentor in the telepathic realm I will get through this next transition as well. Blessings to everyone experiencing their own difficult transitions may we preserver, united in awareness and in love. We shall recognize ourselves in the Great Mind otherwise known as the void and let go of our self-imposed limitations. On the next black moon join it in spirit and consciousness and feel the meditative powers of unity and community.
~ CALL YOURSELF BACK CEREMONY ~
Soul fragmentation is a complex concept with many interpretations across many cultures. A soul can become fragmented in many ways; the most commonly known way, is from past lives. When a person dies tragically or expectantly, a piece of that persons’ soul can fragment and remain trapped in that particular moment of time. The soul moves on, but a piece/fragment of the soul is left behind, and this is where we can call ourselves back in ceremony. I had always believed when we journeyed to a past life that needed healing, we could call that piece home.
I was taught a couple of variations of calling soul fragments home to Self, from both my Hawaiian and Andean mentors. I learned from my Andean mentor that even within in our current life, we loose pieces of Self through trauma and the like. It was also explained that we could loose tiny fragments of Self, through bullying or surgery, etc. I decided that we could also take the approach of prevention. I have had several surgeries over the years and was soon due for major surgery. The ancestors guided me to created a pre-surgical prayer to keep from loosing pieces of myself, asking those ancestors and the ancestors of my surgeon, to safely guide the operation.
We can also loose pieces through love, when we give away a piece of ourselves to another. The shared insights of my mentors, plus my own interpretation from personal experiences, inspired me to create a teaching and a ceremony. The ceremony did not come to me with ease and grace it was awkward and unfamiliar. Over time the ceremony eventually evolved into what it is today.
This is my ‘call yourself back ceremony’, I closed my eyes and I repeat this prayer ceremony several times until it felt complete. Looking into my inner Self, I allow the feelings and perhaps even visions of soul fragments coming home. Taking a moment to note any changes in my body and breathed in the completeness of Spirit returning. I repeat this ceremony whenever it feels necessary to regain newly lost and/or ancient pieces of Self. I call myself back I call myself back here and now I call myself back from across time and space I call ALL of me back I call myself back * * * Nubian tribesmen showed up in my dreamtime one night leaving me confused as to their message. The dream weighed heavy on my mind as unfinished business. A few evenings later I sat down to perform a drum meditation asking the question to the Universe, “What do the Nubians want”? As I played my drum and visualized the Nubians from my dream, I called them back to me in a vision.
They showed up once again, this time escorting a female soul fragment, it was one of my soul fragments. As I sang, she sang, there were two of us yet we were the same person. I do not remember what trauma had caused this distant Nubian soul fragment to break away; it was evident that it was time for us to reunite. The tribesmen encircled us using only their hands as instruments. Slapping the front and back of their hands quickly in unison as they chanted and bounced on the spot, I called myself back…. here and now!
Each time I perform a back myself back ceremony I feel powerful energy fill my body and gives clarity of mind.
~ CHANGING OF THE SEASONS CEREMONIES ~
There are four ceremonies that are celebrated every year, on the same day, by cultures all over the world each in their own way. These ceremonies are the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice. The difference between the equinox and the solstice is the positions of the sun and earth. The Equinoxes’ ceremonies line up with earths’ orbit around the sun, when it’s the closest distance to the equator. The Solstices’ ceremonies line up with earth’s orbit around the sun, when it is at its greatest distance from the equator. These four ceremonies mark the change in seasons.
Spring Equinox is celebrated every year on March 20th with prayers and ceremony as the first day of spring. This ceremony can help to shift the energies for a positive fresh start on the changing season. In doing so, we heal each other and our Mother Earth. We do this with unconditional love and acceptance, giving gratitude for the abundance we already posses. During this ceremony we honour the Devine Feminine of earth releasing the negative past while helping give birth to a positive future. Spring Equinox is often celebrated with water ceremonies around the world.
Summer Solstice is celebrated every year on June 20th with prayers and ceremony as the first day of summer. Summer is a time of patience and perseverance, as the abundance we prayed for in the spring, begins to take root and grow. We tend our gardens, not only in nature but also in our hearts. It is a good time to clean the roots of our ancestors, releasing their pain and sorrow that we carry within our cellular memories. When we release the dark energy of our ancestors we heal them, our descendants and ourselves.
Fall Equinox is celebrated every year on September 21st with prayers and ceremony as the first day of autumn. Fall is the time to give thanks for the abundance that we receive, both from Mother Earth and from the Creator. A fire ceremony best depicts the burning away of old negative patterns in our hearts and our minds, allowing harvesting of wisdom and clarity.
Winter Solstice is celebrated every year on December 21st with prayers and ceremony as the first day of winter. Winter is a time of hibernation and reflections, learning to explore our deepest emotions, ultimately discovering the possibilities of life. We can become stronger, when we begin to believe in ourselves again. Believing in ourselves is the most effective method in which to take our power back. CEREMONIES THAT I HAVE COME TO EXPERIENCE Moon ceremony Sunrise ceremony Sweat lodge ceremony Water ceremony Sacred Pipe ceremony Fire ceremony Drum Ceremony Creating Smoke ceremony Aura Protection ceremony Solstice ceremonies (June & December) Equinox ceremonies (March & September) International Earth Day ceremony (April 22) International Prayer Day ceremony (June 21) Vision Quest Ceremony Crossing Over ceremony (helping souls into the light) Property and/or house clearing ceremony Sacred Site ceremony Tea ceremony Forgiveness ceremony Call Yourself Back ceremony
Chapter Two: PRAYERS
This chapter on prayers is about the prayers that the ancestors have guided me to voice. Some are familiar prayers that are shared by Elders of various nations, some prayers are ones used for the creation of my ceremonial drums and some prayers are done with creating smoke with sacred plants. We send our prayers up to the Creator carried on the smoke of the sacred plant. Each different species of plant has a specific medicine and purpose in a prayer.
~ CREATING SMOKE PRAYER ~
Often we send our prayers on the smoke of Sister Sage, prayers for ourselves, prayers to clear the energy in an environment and/or we can send prayers out to others long distance. Sage is often selected to clear heavy and/or dark energy that may surround an event, a place or a person. During our time of pandemic isolation in 2020 and everyone is finding themselves going within, I changed up the some of the wording of the usual smoke prayer to create a love yourself prayer.
~ SMOKE PRAYER FOR LOVING YOURSELF ~
I wash my hands in smoke and raise them up to the Creator. Dear Creator hear my prayer as it comes from my heart. When the smoke clears, may I feel your love within me.
I wash my hands with smoke and raise them to my eyes. When the smoke clears, may I see my own beauty.
I wash my hands in smoke and raise them to my ears. When the smoke clears, may I hear only positive encouragement from myself.
I wash my hands in smoke and raise them to my mouth. When the smoke clears, may I only say loving things to myself.
I wash my hands in smoke and I bring them to my heart. When the smoke clears, may I love myself.