Retreat Reflections#3...A Walk with Mother Nature

reflections from my sister of Lights Retreat

Stillness and Prayer

more reflections found here

On this beautiful afternoon 

it was she who lead us

into the forest

walking by water

breathing in Mother Nature 

and the stories She tells

May the Great Spirit bless you

may the Great Spirit guide you

may the Great Spirit be with you

As you walk your way...

Walking allows you to contemplate Life

It gives you time

precious time

to go deeper and consider fundamental questions...

What is the purpose of Life?

Am I fulfilling my purpose in Live?

What have I done that has made the world

a better place?

What ought I do?

What comes after life?

What is the best way to live the rest of my life?

*

As we walked

she asked us to me mindful of our surroundings

the purpose was to be quiet

and really listen

and see the beauty of nature around us.

She said,

"Consider the age of all that is around you...

all this came before you, 

before your forefathers, 

before the indigenous human species,

all this was already here."

We stood

in stillness

within Nature

that blessed us with 

the wisdom of the ages.

We let that wisdom wash through us

as we let ourselves rest and relax

in the knowledge

that we were

exactly where we were

supposed to be.

*

And I felt the release continue within

I felt the unraveling of the journey I walked

I felt the Love of that which walks with me

Of the Great Spirit

God

Love

The Universe

Divinity

The one

who never leaves me

*

The Water

The Forest

They call to me

At the pool of water
 Mother is waiting for me

The Feminine Divine

Her voice is soft and gentle

She says my name

And in Her eyes I see myself

She is rooted with strength and grace

Knowing her place

She is speaking to me with no words

Deep within me she has places a message...

one I am not able to hear right now

But I feel loved and connected

she comes closer

"You are chosen"

I am at peace

I am okay

I am

~Catherine Beerda Basso

copyright 2012

*

Do you feel  The Feminine Divine speak to you
my lovelies?
What does she say?

Love and Light

Monday Offering...a little late

This offering comes to you late...

sorry my lovelies

I so wanted to tell you about a great man

who I had the pleasure of listening to

and spending time with

last weekend 

Stephen Jenkinson

founder of  The Orphan Wisdom School

There is so much I want to share with you

that I learnt

but my body has been taken over with a cold

and my energy has been sapped

So instead I offer you and chance to get familiar

with Stephen yourself

by watching his very moving

Documentary

"Grief Walker"

(just click on Documentary or Grief Walker)

"Not success

Not growth

Not happiness.

The cradle of your 

Love of Life

is Death."

~Stephen Jenkinson

"If I had a chance

I would rather be whole than good"

~Jung

If you watch the documentary

I would love to hear your thoughts....

 my lovelies

as we love the flower that blooms

knowing it will not last forever

as we watch the season change

knowing they do not last for ever

as we watch the moon wax and wane

and appreciate each stage of its light

so it is with our lives...

live well

my lovelies

for one day it will end.

I do not say this is sadness or denial

everything comes to and end

I am a human being

that will not live forever

so before my time comes

I will live as fully as I can

in each moment

in each breathe

grateful to be alive

xo

Love and Light

(images captured today out front of my home)

Mask Wearing...SouLodge

This week has been deep , churning, awakening.

Between the Grief WalkingWorkshop 

I attended at the beginning of the week

and the soul-work in SouLodge

I have been flying in the heavens 

and walking through the underworld.

I wanted to put to words my week

but seem to be struggling 

so I will keep it simple...

This week in SouLodge the big question was 

WHAT MASKS ARE YOU WEARING?

I pondered this question for a couple days...

Sometimes there is a mask of being 

in a better place

than I am

Sometimes there is the mask of 

down playing my light, my joy...

I make myself smaller...

And then there are times when I put on a mask

just for the comfort of it

sometimes I want a break from 

"Being seen"

Sometimes I just want to blend in...

none of these mask are worn for long...

but they exist

they are real.

And

there was something else

Something else came up...

and it is not the first time

"this"

often comes up when I am doing soul-work...

sometimes,

when I am "going in"

I think to myself

"What if I am not as wonderful as I think?

What then?"

So I journeyed in

I journeyed deep with Raccoon

Panther, Owl, Bear and Wolf

I journeyed for three days inside

forest, underworld and jungle

to find my answers as to 

How these masks came to be?

What would happen if I took them off?

What help do I need to enlist?

the masks are there sometimes for survival

and as soon as I take them off

the light shines

the Light Shines so Bright

and all that Light reflects in my life

which to me says 

FREEDOM!

The Help came in the form of a butterfly...

a symbol of change, joy and colour

a symbol of the Soul

Butterflies remind us that life is a dance

not to take things quite so seriously

they remind us to get up and Dance!

THAT I can do...

remembering the joy that is my life!

Growth and Transformation do not have to be 

traumatic

it can occur gently, sweetly.

*

One more thing I want to share...

When I was walking in my underworld...

the darkest place with in myself

it was dark,

other than the lava rivers and lakes that were all around

there was a slight smell of sulphur 

and it was very very warm

not unbearably hot, 

but definitely warm

The earth below my feet was dark and rich

and soft to the step

when I was there 

I could feel the physical burning sensation

within my body

making me feel that I needed to treat this area

with a healing balm of some sort

but it would not let me

I discovered

that this place of heat and darkness

is an important part of who I am

there is no need to fix it...

not even heal it

it is a part of me that nourishes my soul

(remember the rich soil?)

it keeps the heat of passion going

and it even offers a place of refuge

when the world turns cold...

*

I share this with you

because sometimes there can be a fear of going inside

the fear of looking at our masks

and our dark places

maybe my experience might give you

a shifted perspective

make you feel less afraid

of those darker parts of your heart

maybe it will give you the courage

to ask you the questions I asked myself this week

my lovelies

what masks are you wearing?

why do you wear them?

and what would happen if you stopped?

you are as wonderful as you think

have a beautiful weekend

Love and Light

This post is dedicated to 
Russell Means
of the Lakota Sioux Nation.
Russell entered his canoe
to travel to the village of his ancestors on Monday
this world grieves a great man...
~your spirit remains with us
and those to come
thank you for the gift of 
your voice
your passion
your truth
your love~

"Freedom means
Freedom to take responsibility"
~Russell Means

Retreat Reflections#2...Lover and Beloved

a time of retreat with my Sisters of Light

*

My lover spoke and said to me,

"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,

And come with me. see the winter is past;

The rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

The season of singing has come."

~Song of Songs 2

*You have called*

*I am coming*

You see me as beautiful

You call me darling

those words quench my dry heart

For it has been too long in the sun

I don't feel beautiful

I feel worn and fat

I feel stretched and thin

I know the rains have past

and I see the flowers bloom

They put a smile on my face

And them

them I call beautiful

My darling, my beautiful one

Words that sound good to my ears

But I am feeling the differ...

Yet on the wind 

I hear your words

In the sun

I feel your warmth

In the mountains 

I see your majesty

And indeed, I will sing

I will sing for all who will hear

Your praises and stories of Your Love

I may be unkept

with branches in my hair

Dirt under my nails

And the smell of earth on my body

But I will sing

Because you Love me

And this I know

to be true

As the moon and stars

Hold space in the sky each night

As the sun

Rises in the east and sets in the west

So it is with your Love for me...

Even though

I walk through my valley of death

I fear nothing

For you walk with me

Your rod and Your staff comfort me

And I will walk with you

all the days of my life....

Even though I am feeling low

I know you are still there

*

And sometimes my lovelies 

there are times 

when knowing

 just has to be enough...

*

My lover spoke and said to me,

"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,

And come with me. see the winter is past;

The rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

The season of singing has come."

~Song of Songs 2

Imagine God/Spirit/The Universe 

calling these words to you

How does this make you feel my lovelies?

Love and Light

ps don't worry my lovelies

it is a happy ending....stay tuned