Ode to 2014...

                                                                          

2014

This was the year of being Fierce...

well

that was what I though 

when I received my word for the year. 

But looking back over the time that has past

I realized it was not about me being fierce

it was about the year itself, 

being fierce.

 *

 It began with stepping into the desert...

It was here

 that I allowed the Arizona sun to seep into my bones.

I hiked the rough terrain, 

as the sweat ran down my back...

biked in the cool morning desert

along side jack rabbits and 100+ year old cacti

and had a face to face with a lovely soul .

I have been blessed by the women I have met
in this world of blog
this dear one is one such blessing
These encounters go deep...
*

I had the immense privilege and honour

of gathering with other travelers

in a circle of great integrity

and SouLodge honour. 

here I unleashed the painter within...

and sat in sisterhood...

one that showed me what coming home feels like.
 *
There was an adventure of a life time...

as I returned to my beloved Colombia
this time with my Young Blood (my oldest son)
along with my brother and my niece.

*
And there was more sisterhood and gathering to be done...

Sacred Burning in Bellingham
with these two lovely creatures... 
The Umber Dove and The Word Alchemist
burning the old ways, to allow space for the new

Sacred women doing Sacred things...

letting go of the death of winter

to allow new life to spring

sitting in the sacred space or our selves

as we listened to the messages of now

 Bear Medicine was very fierce this year

showing up to me numerous times
and when I least expected it.
*
There was the fierce inner work of soul retrieval ...

and Vision Quest journeys
that reaped many a story

many a message...
 

the willingness to listen
to follow the call
to put myself out there
and let die 
that which did not serve me
anymore

* 
We said see you soon to our Young Blood 
as he moved to Vancouver Island...

taking his first step into independance
and living out his dreams...his life
*
there was a coming together
to create

  and create we did
these three spiritual doulas birthed in collabortaion
ReWilding Retreats
a journey of unfolding for each of us.

there was celebration...

with my dear, wise sister Pixie

 as one of our own moved from an old life
into a new...
*
more medicine came my way

a gorgeous medicine pouch

custom made for me

by this magical creature.

* 

I stepped deep into The Mud

cooling down from the fire of the previous year

 exposing myself to life
and her elements...

to fiercely bring back life that was asleep 

*

 *
I was honoured to hold space for two fierce warrior women
on their journey...

 and a new name arose for my "buisness"
Shaenalach Retreats came to be...
*

 *
celebrating birth and life with a dear friend and sister
who last year was told to say goodbye to her childern
due to a cancer diagnosis

 * 
meeting up with far away friends...

* 

And Sacred family time was spent...

this time together was one of our best
truly
so sacred and good
intimate moments that I will hold within my heart
remembering and knowing
who we are as a family...

so blessed
*

and on our way home
this
the unexpected sorrow
the unexpected gift
*
Time with my sister

 and biological mom

ocean side in Anacortes...
*

And then again I was privileged
to circle and create
with sisters
in the magical, sacred container of
Soul Craft

with my gentle bad-ass sister Nissa Howard

we crafted, sang, laughed and cried together...

 we made fierce Sacred Sound together...

*

There was fierce heartache and grief
as I said goodbye
to things that mattered...

 the circle I had been apart of for the last four years
*
goodbye to these two beautiful creatures

"kids" to sister-friends of mine...
angels from above
only to be here for a short time....
RIP
*

*
I opened my own circle
"The Well"

a place for women to come 
replenish, restore and renew
*
And another blessed time holding space for others
as they traverse through their own
spiritual journey

 Shaenalach Retreats
a place of listening, learning and healing.
*
Oh and there was fierce fun to be had
as The Wild Women of the West
met at a hotel room in Bellingham

to celebrate song and sisterhood!
*

 

*

And closing this year with a trip of a life time

for my family and I

as we fiercely traveled across the world

and then down under...

saying prayers in Taipei

meeting up with bloggy friends in New Zealand

The Shire

visiting an volcanic lake in Rotorua, New Zealnad

time with dear friends

crossing over 10 years in Australia

a Christmas far from home

 It indeed was a Fierce year.

So much richness experienced

So many truths uncovered

So many healing moments

Yes...

this year was fiercely wonderful

a balance of pleasure and pain

life and death

light and dark

as it is in this world

a spiritual being having and human experience

a human being having a spiritual experience

either way I look at it

2014 has been fierce

and I bow in gratitude to it all.

*

Into 2015 I walk with the word Honour

Mount Eden in Auckland

with that I believe
come big responsibility...

Piha Beach in North New Zealand

I am ready...

Love and Light