A Soul-full Journey...Days 17 & 18

Morning Meditation

"Finding Your Rythme"

6am

TRX

9am

Hot Flow Yoga

 

Asking myself these questions:

Who am I?

What is my purpose?

Where did I come from? 

Learning to:

Breathe

Relax

Allow

Surrender

Be

Giving myself:

Rest

Solitude

Down time

Remembering:

I am a precious child of God

I never walk alone

I have been given all that I need

I am loved.

Sacred Balance
by Pixie Campbell
"Wolves are known mostly as pack animals, 
but as a couple,
they represent a lifelong bond.
The protective front-running male is aware of the prospects and risks ahead,
while the playful, wild female frolics free-spiritedly nearby.
This piece wants to tell a story about the inner masculine and feminine, or in Jung's terms,
the animus and anima.
When there is a marriage of the two withing,
we can call upon the warrior or the nurturer when needed,

 and we can sense that we are whole. 
Because it would be a disservice to the maturity of Self to linger in one aspect unnecessarily, the two exist to divinely balance one another, 
bringing peace to the psyche.
There is a time for the sword, for action, for hunting, for closing the deal, for taking on the world, for digging the den, for soldiering through.
And equally there is a time for nesting, for comfort, for gathering, for weaving, for holding the emotions of others, for intuition, for creativity, for going within and for grieving.
One cannot survive without the other.
These two wild spirits offer up a reminder of that sacred harmony between the trusty king
and illuminated queen within."

Today took the energy down 
and sank into a time of rest
*

Morning Meditation
"Above the Clouds"
(last day of the 15 days meditation challenge)

everyday we encounter circumstances in life
that up-set us and disturb our inner happines
I have found these "things"are filled with 
great wisdom
gifts
messages
for us to learn from.

Here is a mantra to consider:
If there is a way to solution..then what is there to worry about?
If there is no way to solution...then what is the use of being upset?

I have seen many a person lay claim to 
enlightenment
a relationship with God
spiritual freedom
and yet they worry
yet they are fearful
yet I see no peace coming from
their being...
That has always confused me...

5:30 am
an early morning walk
dog and camera's
after a quick but intense summer storm
the night before...
It is these images
I find see Gods face

pigeons

hawk

beaver

slug...lol

robin

9:00am
Chakra Yoga

A beautiful dance and breathe
in which we opened each chakra-energy center
in our bodies
And where each soul percent connected
to form one body
each different
yet the same.

I came to class early.
Antje hands me a bowl
It holds a deck of card
"Wild Woman" cards
You are to ponder, ask a question
and then pull a card.

My question:
Am I to work on my books this summer?
and if so
How?
I want to work on them...maybe even finish one
I don't know how that is going to look
given school is out...
But
it is my hearts desire.
Is it the desire I should pursue during this season?

the card I pulled:
Voice 
"This card expresses a desire for you to tell your stories,
stories of your life, stories you've read, and wisdom you've learned through your journey on life's path.
Share your experiences and nourish others with your stories.
Touch others with your memories of life however big or small. They are a treasure found in the time capsule of your heart at the precise time and place required, waiting to share and acknowledge who we are in the scheme of things.
Lending an ear will help others to tell more stories.
Women need to tell more stories. Open the silent doors of wisdom and power within, and unleash the tales of magic in everyday life, the short profound moments of mystery,
 the everyday humour of our daily experiences,
the knowledge of our similar paths.
Show each other we are here,
ready to stand up and reveal who we are to one another. 
This will continue feeding our wisdom,
nourishing our souls,
empowering our beings so that others know that they too
walk a worthy and powerful life.
Never underestimate the power of a story.
Stories lead us to places of knowing within.
Let your stories be heard."
*

and now the day slows to an end
and again
my heart is full

a boy and his dog

my lovelies
what wonderful messages are you receiving?

Love and Light

A Soul-full Journey...Day 13,14,15

Day 13

Morning Meditation

"Connecting outside yourself"

 Solstice

 the entering of a new season

and the last day of 7 days of journeys with Eagle

this indeed is a new season

not just on the earth

but in my entire being 

as well.

*

I have a story to tell....

There once was a girl

she was born into a world of laws 

A world ruled by fear and condemnation

this world was full of disconnect

a world of confusion

a world of sadness

a world of constraint

But every so often

the sun would shine

or a spark would fly

the stars would twinkle

and a deep Love would wash over her

and when these things happened

it would give her strength to journey on

Often other views or thoughts 

would enter her sights

but she was told they were wrong

and every time she heard this said

another link was added to the chain

that hung around her neck

soon the chain be come heavy

so heavy she could barely keep her head up 

but she was told this was good

this was her burden to carry

"it ensures your humility"

she was told

"it keeps you the lowly creature

that you are"

and being young

she believed them....

*

 My last journey with Eagle

brought me face to face with my teacher

and friend

Jesus

not the "religious" Jesus

the true Jesus

A man of humble beginnings

whose spirit transcended the human realm

who spoke to Creator

and acknowledge their relationship

A man who embodied Love and Acceptance

of all peoples

in a time of great prejudice. 

A voice for the people

in a time when they had no voice

because church and government

had stripped them of it

as a means to

controlled them.

The story of Jesus goes deep

far deeper than the bible stories

I was fed as a child

being brought up in a religiously soaked home.

Those religious chains still linger

even though I have left that world

it was not the place for me

But those chains are hard to break

it has taken many years

many roads

many wounds

many fears faced

to find my way back home...

But as always

I was reached out to

with in my last journey

I was running through the forest

Wolf running with me

and there he was 

Jesus

standing in the path way

and as always

there is a multitude of teachers/prophets/spiritual leaders

that stand with and behind him

but today

I just see him

Jesus

 He is very solemn and at first I feel like he is upset with me...not angry per say but not happy, and very serious. I am like a little girl around him....I can’t remember how the conversation started but I am concerned that he is angry with me about the work I am doing. The residue of the religious chains lingering heavy around my neck. 

He held my face in his hand and smiled, 

He let me know I am doing good, that he was proud of me...

I am a bit panicky, defending myself  and he keeps calming me down...

This part of me is what he is concerned about. 

He wants me to let the “worry about doing the right thing” go. Eventually I calm down and we sit on the forest floor together and talk...he leans over and says to me,

"don't tell the religious people this

but I am not religous!" 

and then he winks at me and laughs

he has such a rich sense of humour.

Of course I know this, but with the way I was raised it can be a challenge to separate the two...

The conversation is hard to put to human words, 

It was an amazing time...

we sit and talk for hours...

he guides and councels me

all the time filling me with his divine love...

He is so loving, so warm and comforting

 I can here Pixie calling us back 

as  it comes time to leave I do not want it to end.

I want to sit with him forever

in this place of total acceptance and love

that he offers.

As I lay on my couch I started crying uncontrollably...sobbing sobbing sobbing...

 I told Jesus I did not want to leave him

and I begin to cry.

 Jesus keeps saying to me

" I am with you, Catherine

 I am always with you"

...and I know that ...

but I really realized how much the chains I once carried

had hurt me

how difficult it has been to shed that religious skin...

to see Spirit

to see Creator

to see God with my own eyes

not through the eyes of a man-made religion.

I sit up

still crying

and I hear Pixie say if we need grounding

to get our bare feet on the earth....

 I walk out to my back yard to ground myself...

it is early here and the world is still.

 I weep....letting go of many things as I do

I grieve those I have lost because of those chains

I greive my own wounds

but I also cry in gratitude

for the Deep Magic

and the Great Love

that holds me

and cares for me

in a way that is beyond

any of my hopes or expectations

 And then God speaks

and tells me to look up at the trees...

our yard backs on to a green belt full of trees

 God says to me,

 "See the trees Catherine, so many different kinds...this is how I meant it for you too, so many different kinds of people, not all the same, not all believing the same, not all experiencing Me in the same way...your are living my intention.”

Today was a big day
a day of renewal for my soul..
I spent time with my girlfriend Angela
I did my  TRX&Yoga classes
I ended my fast with a organic chicken dog
with ALL the fixens!!!
(weird I know, but I was really craving one!!!!)
But nothing was as important as that journey

I want to let it be known
I do not disclaim any of the positive things
religion brings
I have also seen what a church community
can do for those it loves
and it is beautiful
and powerful.
I know that most of the
do-good-people and organizations of the world
start in church
or with church going people.
I am of the mind
that everyone finds their own place
with God
which is unique to their life
and their story.
For me
where I had been brought up
was not the place for me
I learned what I needed 
and then
I was called somewhere else.
I have lost things
because of this call
but I have also gained 
so much more.

  Day 14
Morning Meditation
"Set your Intentions"

8:00am
a Gathering with my
Sisters of Light 
 

preparing for our gathering

This is our last gathering for our year

We re-convene after our fall retreat

which will be at the end of Sept.

 

today we set our visions

for the summer

visions that we hold up for one another

visions that set our intent

(one missing, having a weekend away with her hubby...tha'ts good medicine!)

this small tribe of women
are a very important part of my spiritual journey
they offer a place for me to come and BE
a place to lay my burdens down
a place to get insight and guidance
a place to celebrate success'
and grieve losses
They feed my spirit
and my soul
They are the faces of Goddess
and the vision of God
and for them
I am eternally grateful.

Day 15
(half way through my 30days of soulfullness)
Morning Meditation
"Taking a daily Supplement"

....taking time to check in here
...getting ready for my BFF to come over
with her family
for a wiener roast lunch
(yes a wiener roast my south hemosphere readers!!!)
and a walk around the lake
....dinner out tonight with two other couples 
at my favorite pub
....today is a day for family and friends
and this my  lovelies
is also
an important part
of my spiritual practice

where ever you are
my lovelies
I pray that your chains be light
I pray that Divine Love pours over you
I pray you hear the whispers of Creator  
I pray you know 
that you are treasured 

Love and Light
 

ps Are you seeing how my daily meditations always coincide with what is going on????
 I love how that happens!

A Soul-full Journey...Day 12

Morning Meditation

"Discover Gratitude"

and by doing so

experience your true self ...

what a gift!

8:15

dropping the little man off at school

and taking Ruger to the vet

to get a tooth pulled

yay! i get to ride in the car!!! Usually I am in the back of the truck...wonder where we are going???

we are going where???!!!???

I don't quite know how I feel about that!

9:00am

Hatha Yoga

I thought since I am taking you here

almost everyday

you should see where it is I go

(this is where I do the TRX as well)

Today we accessed the warriors within

working with our warrior one, two and three stances

awakening the Strength

awakening the Steadiness

awakening the Determination

all held together by Integrity.

These beautiful postures are named after the great hero warrior Virabhadra from Hindu mythology.  
(The legs and arms need to be strong and extended, the legs are straight forming a triangle, the hips flexible, the chest open and well-lifted, and the spine extended.)

Viraghadra was born out of the suffering and pain

of grief

that came to his father

when his wife was killed.

This is what makes the warrior posses unique

they encompass both life and death

embracing the full cycle

of life.

Viraghadra would destroy to save, 

and the philosophical implications of his exploits 

were to defeat the ego, 

teaching us to live a humble and grounded life.

 When we practice the Warrior Poses

 (Virabhadrasana I, II, or III) 

we are learning to cultivate the mind of the warrior, 

who must go into battle 

unattached to the fruits of his actions. 

Only by transcending the ego, 

and living completely in the present moment, 

can we learn to find the courage and determination 

to take on all of life’s challenges 

without losing our inner balance and calm. 

Virabhadrasana teaches us to go into the field of life

and stay in the center of our being, 

without being pulled in alldirections. 

These are some of the most valuable lessons 

needed in today’s fast paced world 

where we are faced daily with struggle 

to maintain balance between all of the 

demands and  stress life throws our way.

As it has been all this week during this time of fasting

my shamanic journeys have been

entering my yoga practice

This time it came in the form of a Griffon

He was firm with me.

Like Wolf has been he is firm with me...very loving but firm, challenging me

He said to me you are strong...

I feel myself shrink inside, just a little, because of doubt

....you are strong, you have an important purpose, it is time to stop thinking you are strong and time to BE strong...

wow

this hit me deep

like a corn kernel must feel like

when it is popped

 ...time to stop thinking I am strong and start being strong

my beautiful friend and gifted teacher Antje

I have been saturating in that

all day

and letting it seep into my being.

*

The puppy is home

he is a bit of a mess

poor thing

I just returned home from a 

Seeds of Love and Hope meeting

making plans for up coming events

We have a group leaving to go down in a week

Young people...ahhh youth

its a lovely thing....

Tomorrow is Solstice

and my last day of fasting

And as this new season descends

I feel grateful for all this life brings. 

my puppy needs a hug

my little man needs a snuggle

and my hubby needs some time

so goodnight my lovelies

Blessed Solstice to you

Love and Light