all images and stories are the property of Catherine Beerda-Basso and are not to be used without given permission...thank you

Wednesday 31 October 2012

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




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 29 October 2012

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 
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
(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)




Friday 26 October 2012

Mask Wearing...SouLodge


This week has been deep , churning, awakening.
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

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Retreat Reflections#2...Lover and Beloved


*


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