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Monday, November 10, 2008
What is Prayer?
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People who know me know that I pray a lot. With many of my friends, I pray every time we talk. In fact, I pray with anyone who will let me! So it's only natural that I often get asked about prayer.
 So, what is prayer? Well, that’s a big question! One with answers enough to fill volumes. What I’m interested in here, however, is prayer as it relates to my field, lightwork. We know that prayer is effective. If you don’t believe it, there is an ever-growing body of scientific research now available to show the data on this. But, what most of us want to know, is how do we enact effective prayer?
Some people think of prayer as the petitioning of some god or deity who, out love or other benevolence, answers. Research, however, reveals that “prayers” sent out in the form of healing intentions for the higher good are equally as effective as religious prayers. This leads us to conclude that the results of prayer are not so much due to God(s) directly intervening with specific action as it is a means of our accessing our own godlike abilities, or godliness. Now -- hold on minute before you stone me -- this is not heresy. Far from it! If you’re a devout Christian, consider this: did God ever say that S/He was directly responsible for the outcome of prayer? Or are we told instead, as Jesus says in the New Testament, that if we have faith as a mustard seed we will say to the mountain “move” and it will be so? “Move” is a order, not a request. We are told to command that which we would have done, not beg for it. And in what, exactly, are we to have “faith?” Are we supposed to have faith in God to move the mountain? That question is answered elsewhere in scripture. “When you ask something, believe that you receive it, and it shall be done.” Jesus instructed us to believe, not in God to do the thing requested, but in the manifestation, the result. As the Bible later says, “Faith is the belief in things hoped for, the assurance [affirmation] of things not [yet] seen.” Is God/dess left out of the picture then? Not at all.
Divine Consciousness set everything in motion -- perpetual motion as it were – which has continued to work through all the ages. Do we need to pray for the sun – without which all things would die – to come up every day? Do we pray for our  heart to beat, our food to digest; our cells to oxygenate? Of course not. All things necessary for life have been put into action and continue to work according to Divine Order. And we – as well as our lives – intersect with and are permeated by that great Divine Matrix which comprises All. Do not doubt that you are part of God for even a moment. In the same way that Divine Intelligence created all things to work in a perfectly coordinated way, likewise have we been orchestrated to access and create all that we need according to that Plan. We have been taught to pray, not because we need God’s blessing --which is with us always -- but because we needed a means by which to focus our faith – our assurance – on that which we wish to manifest. Hence we arrive at a definition of prayer accessible to Christian, Muslims, Hindus, shamans, lightworkers, and atheists alike.
Prayer is the distribution into the world, via focused thought- or feeling-wave forms" through the energetic Matrix, of benevolent intent for any person, being, place, situation, etc.
Belief in God is not a requirement. Yet, if you personally know or believe in a Higher Power, as do I, then you can resolve the dilemma of prayer by accepting that you are created in the image of that Being and hold some of His/her Power within you. We are meant, not only to reflect the Brilliance of Source, but to participate in the full Glory of the One. We are a PART of the Great Central Sun. It is within our very cells. The ability to have your prayers answered was put into effect at your creation, built into you as surely as the cycles of the sun and moon and the changing of the seasons was built into nature. The engine’s already built and perfect. This is our God-liness, or God-like-ness. We need only turn a key in the ignition for it to start right up. And that Key is prayer. Prayer is God’s way of reminding us we have the Divine Power within us to do good. Primary Creator desires we understand and use that Power, through our own Intent. God built the system perfectly and it works!
I’ve heard some people actually say they don’t want to “bother God” with their trivial needs and concerns and desires; that God has “better things to do.” Such thoughts, though humble, stem from a lack of understanding of what God is, how prayer works and how much we are truly loved. God is All Things, in Every Thing. God is our breath, our life,  our heart beat. We cannot escape the throbbing, thriving, eternal, Interlligent Pulse of Life, even if we try. God desires us to have all things we need and desire and has built the potential into the system for us to experience those things. Through this means millions – billions – can access God at once, and we don’t have to wait around for Him/Her to “be bothered” to answer. The whole thing’s on Autopilot. If you are devout, then you can understand this as God’s way of providing for everyone forevermore. Through our own free will, we are partakers of Infinite Divine Love. To me, that’s an even better definition of prayer
Prayer is the act of acknowledging, receiving, and sending Infinite Divine Love through the participation in Divine Order facilitated by your own free will, or intent. Faith is utilizing your own free will to agree to access that which is already prepared for you since before time began.
I want to make clear that this is not intended to be a theological treatise, or a complete exposition on prayer. Nor is it my intent to invalidate any form of prayer known to humankind. Some prayer has as its intent the goal to simply “draw near” to God, to touch upon and experience that Infinite and Supremely Loving Consciousness. Therefore, if done with intent, everything from toning to twirling to hiking in the woods can become prayer. So please, do not take offense. I share this article so that we can all expand our awareness and effectiveness of prayer.
You can pray anywhere, anytime. Just quiet your mind, open your heart, and feel the Love. It’s important that we receive. The more we want to give and serve, the more we need to learn to receive. Then, when you feel it, send it out to others. It can be as easy as that. If you ask for specific things for yourself and others, send  out that intent, then believe it is done and forget it. If you want to hold a frequency, hold your intent for the Highest Good for that person, situation, etc. Research shows that the more we are willing to release our ideas of what should happen and intend, instead, for the greatest outcome for the highest good, the more dramatic and effective the outcome of prayer. And the intended recipient of the blessing does not need to know of the prayer for it to be effective.
So why pray aloud, or with others? Two reasons. One is for the powerful effect of combined intent. To put it in terms of physics, this establishes a stronger standing wave, each person’s intent reinforcing the field. The second reason is because your love and intent can inspire, encourage, and strengthen the will and intent of others. This gift, which keeps on giving, is sometimes the answer to prayer itself.
So, the next time you think of prayer as a “chore” and can’t whip up enthusiasm, or find yourself thinking you're unworthy, try reframing it in this way. On your drive to work, while you’re cooking dinner; as you perform your various tasks, just intend things. Intend Good Things. For yourself and others.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
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Sunday, July 20, 2008
Spin your Way to Health
My previous article, 7 Practices for Spiritual Actualization, provides a list of powerful practices which can be used to dramatically change your reality. In that article -- primarily a list to get you thinking and exploring -- I stated, “If the list is too much to tackle at once, pick two or three things to focus upon at a time, moving forward as you master or incorporate each into your life.” So let’s do just that, covering one spiritual tool at a time until you have a toolkit that’s brimming full with wonderful ways to heal and expand.
 The subject I want to discuss today is listed in Section Five on taking care of your body. This practice has so much to offer it could have been placed under several headings, but I put it under the body care heading because of its potentially strong benefit to physical health. And just what is this wonderful practice to which I’m referring? You may be surprised to read it is Spinning.
Yes, you read correctly: spinning. Anyone who spends time around children will probably observe at some point kids spinning just for the fun of it. Children are naturals at exploring sensation and altering their state of consciousness and, for toddlers, getting dizzy and falling down is a hoot. After the initial novelty of getting woozy wanes, however, who would keep doing such a seemingly crazy thing? Everyone, if they’re smart.
Used for everything from promoting longevity to eliciting mystical experiences, the art of spinning has been practiced for centuries by diverse spiritual traditions the world over. The power of the practice lies in the effect it has on the chakras. If you’re reading this, you probably already know about the chakras but I’ll say it just briefly here to illustrate the significance of the practice. The chakras are energy vortexes, many located along the vertical midline axis of the body, that draw energy into the system, distributing it along energy channels which feed directly into organs and systems of the body. To maintain vibrant health and youthful appearance, fully-functioning chakras are essential. And that’s where spinning comes in.
Although western medicine would have us believe that sickness is caused by  mysterious “disease” processes, the origins of which are rarely known or understood, eastern traditions have long held that it is the quantity of energy and the efficacy of its distribution in the body that determines health. That is why I recommend spinning on a daily basis.
Spinning is one of the easiest and most powerful ways known to increase the rate at which your chakras spin. Equally important, regular spinning also helps the chakras expand outward from the body and assists energy in circulating through the nervous system. In a truly healthy being, the chakras spin quite fast and extend as much as three to five feet from the body. Few people today have such optimally functioning energy systems, and those who do are invariably people who consciously cultivate it, such as practitioners of Chi Gung. Most people I see, and nearly all my clients, have chakras that are clogged, spin too slowly, and/or are very close to the body. Some people’s chakras are so small they are nearly flat on the body and so weak they can be difficult to test. This is a sure sign of sickness and aging but, thankfully, it can be reversed. We simply need to start paying attention to our energy bodies. With that in mind, here is how to properly spin…
How to Properly Spin
The first thing, as with any energy practice, is to do this on an empty stomach. Stand in a safe, level place with your arms outstretched in line with your shoulders, parallel to the floor. Hands should be facing downward. You will only be doing this a few seconds so, if your arm muscles burn, grin and bear it. If you have serious neck and shoulder issues, however, that cause too much pain to do this, then it’s okay to bend your elbows slightly to take the pressure off your shoulders. Now picture a clock on the floor under your feet, with 12:00 facing straight ahead, and begin spinning slowly in a clockwise direction (from left to right). Begin and end slowly, picking up speed toward the middle before slowing again toward the end. When finished, relax, taking a few deep breaths in and out before moving on with your day.
Spotting
Just as some of us get more air or sea sick than others, some find it very difficult to spin. If you fall into that category (or anyone else for that matter), use the technique dancers call “spotting” to help you get comfortably spinning. Here’s how to do it.
Before you begin to spin, fix your eyes on something in front of you, in the 12 o’clock position. Make sure it’s at eye level. (You don’t want to be spinning with  your head up or down; you want your spine aligned.) Then, begin to spin, holding you eyes on that object as the rest of your body leads the way. When you’ve turned so far that head has to go with it, snap it around immediately so it is again fixed on your object. Repeat with the next spin, and so on. Now, if you’re one of those rare individuals who really has no balance and gets dizzy exceedingly easy, you can also spot a second position at 6 o’clock, or even four positions, one at every quarter turn. The easiest way for most, however, is just “spot” 12 o’clock.
Important Points when Spinning
- Never allow yourself to get too dizzy. Only spin ‘til slightly dizzy, then stop.
- Don’t overdo. Too much spinning can be as detrimental as not enough. Start slowly, with 3 to 6 spins, adding one or two more per week, up to a maximum of 12 - 21 spins per day.
- Only spin once a day.
- ALWAYS spin clockwise.
Contra-indications of Spinning
Spinning can cause dizziness, nausea and/or a loss of balance. These are generally temporary and not of concern for most of us. However, please be aware that according to medical experts, spinning may aggravate certain conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s, vertigo, and some seizure disorders. It may also not be advisable for persons on certain drugs and those with certain heart conditions. If in doubt about your health condition, please do consult your physician before embarking on a program of spinning.
Benefits of Spinning
Spinning increases the energy flow through all the vortexes, especially the upper chakras and knees, enhances blood circulation, and aids the flow of cerebrospinal  fluid. It is believed to stimulate the revitalization of cells, provide relief from varicose veins, help prevent headaches (don’t do it while you have one though), tone the arms, contribute to mental clarity, and spark a process of rejuvenation in the whole body. There’s really no limit to the effects getting sufficient energy can have. The lamas of Tibet both halted and reversed aging using this, among other, methods. So, if you want to stimulate your chakras and start feeling vibrantly healthy, consider adding spinning to your daily regimen of exercise
or spiritual practice.
Thanks for reading and, as always, feel free to let me know what you think!
copyright 2008 Ashandra-Aah
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Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Find the Beat: Jun 21 - Jul 22
The Long Days Time, also called Strong Sun Moon, is the first of the three cycles of summer. During this time, the ground warms, the clouds part, and the earth is enlivened with lush vegetation, wondrous fragrances and the expectation of fulfillment of the promises of spring. The totems for this month are flicker -- a type of woodpecker -- rose quartz and wild rose. The element for this cycle is water and the clan is frog clan.
Influences of the South
The solar influence of this cycle is the south-east and people born in this time are carried into the world on strong south winds. These warm currents are very maturing and operate in a spirit of innocence and trust. Innocence, in this context, is an awareness of Unity and is a condition of the Higher Nature which enables them to trust that they will develop and mature according to the Divine Seed within them. These people can easily develop the traits of impartiality, objectivity and non-attachment, and have the potential to manifest the kind of deep wisdom and divine love that can change the world.
Individuals born in this cycle learn best “up close and personal” and, hence, value and learn well from direct experience. Guided by their feelings, getting close to people and things is their natural way. Because of this characteristic, some natives used the mouse as a totem for the south due to the powerful sensing ability they have in their whiskers.
Animal Totem
The animal totem for this cycle is Flicker, which represent rapid growth, trust, and the ability to manifest all-healing love.
Flickers, like all woodpeckers, tap out a rhythm, connecting us to our heartbeat; to our own dance of life. And, like the drummers of old, they can also usher in altered states, allowing us to perceive things differently.
People with Flicker medicine have natural music abilities and are very good at shifting perceptual states from one level to another. If you feel “out of sync” with the earth, with others, or the rhythm of life, call on flicker to help you find the beat.
Flickers have powerful bills and long tongues, with which to extract bugs and other nourishment from the trees. Likewise, Flicker can help you extract nourishment for your own soul out of the things around you. Another application of their skilled mouths is the ability to heal through words. Flicker medicine can help pastors, counselors, or anyone who needs assistance in using their mouths and words in a more productive or healing manner.
Flicker also has feet that differ from most birds. With two toes in front and two toes in the back of each foot, they are particularly adept at maintaining balance on the side of trees. If you have any lop-sided viewpoints or feel out of balance in any way, Flicker can help you find or regain your balance. Flicker can also help you hold tight and stay focused on the goals and tasks you wish to accomplish. So if you have trouble sticking with one thing very long or feel that you never get ahead, call on flicker to lend you its ability to grab tight.
This powerful grip, however, can also cause one to cling too tightly to people, things -- even beliefs and concepts. So those with Flicker medicine would do well to work toward consciously maintaining a state of open-mindedness and non-attachment.
Woodpecker people have powerful instincts and a sensitive emotional nature. Their primary life function is to assimilate experience, drawing wisdom and knowledge to themselves. By doing so, they learn to harness the intense powers within and obtain emotional balance. Those who succeed are among the most powerful of healers. If they fail, however, their strong drive toward love and emphasis on commitment can lead to feelings of turbulence and great unhappiness, even causing some individuals to become twisted.
Mineral Totem
The mineral for this month is rose quartz. Rose Quartz is a gentle pink color which brings a soothing feeling like a soft and fluffy cloud. Rose Quartz is best known for strengthening the heart chakra, easing the troubled heart, and removing barriers to love. It is also said to enhance one’s appreciation of beauty in all forms.
Plant Totem
The Wild Rose blossoms from May through July and has been accessed for  centuries for its medicinal properties. Wild Rose may be taken for headaches, as well as a tonic and blood purifier. High in Vitamin C, it can also be used in the treatment of colds, flu, and sore throats. Wild Rose is a gift to the senses. Beautiful to behold, it can also be made into an oil and used as a perfume or air freshener. Most importantly to my own work, Roses have agreed to be energy clearers and, as such, have been used by practitioners of magical arts and lightwork for centuries.
Like the rose, people with this plant totem bring beauty, harmony and freshness into the lives of others, but be careful for their prickly side!
Please feel free to ask questions or present issues for future blogs by using the Contact form. Peace be with you always, Ashandra-Aah
copyright 2008 Ashandra-Aah
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Sunday, July 06, 2008
Message from the Devas
Channeled by Ashandra-Aah
We elements of nature –
Collective consciousnesses that have traveled from afar,
Through secret gates
from other dimensions
Traversing portals from divers stars.
We come to you now,
In your Ultimate Hour,
With wisdom, love, grace, and power
To support your work
Enhance your essence
Lead you to your highest Presence.
Teach you lessons
lead you into higher vibrations
Guide you to drink of your own
Soul’s libation.
Prosperity, Abundance, Love…
These things are all so Ready
Willing; Able to come from above
From Within and Through
Not outside,
but Inside of You.
Wisdom spirits,
mineral elders
Holding frequency for eons
upon the earth mother
Watching in the wings
waiting for none other
Than your divine Self to arrive on the scene.
Will you speak with us?
Sense our essence, our energy;
Retrieve all that you can be?
There is power
for those who can see it,
Who choose to Be it.
We are but a helper
You are the Master
Draw us in
Make us One
Move ahead, beyond the past
Gather to you what will last.
You have the power
It is yours for the asking
Stop the braking
Put on the gas
Manifest desires
Create your dreams
Be free at last.
We are the mineral function
And plant devas of earth
We come to you from afar
We bring rebirth.
We hold in our hand
keys of knowledge
Healing we extend…
Challenge your mind
to drift around the bend
Throw in your heart
for extra good measure
We assist in peace, health,
prosperity and leisure.
So use us now
Take us into your spirit and body
Hold us in high esteem
Trust in yourself; begin to allow
Believe in the magic
Manifest the NOW.
All is One
And One is All
And we are Free
Inside the Whole
Luminous, Eternal Beings
are We
Unlimited, unstoppable
Free to BE
Play with us, use us –
Dare to Believe…
And you will See.
Copyright 2005 by Ashandra-Aah
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Monday, June 30, 2008
Poem: Activation
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Old wounds spun away;
Christ energy flowing in.
Feeling every stage, every dimension,
as energies dance with my being.
I burn with light
DNA pulsing
in goodness; love.
So excited, so ignited.
Ancient memories surface,
long-forgotten codes remembered,
disabled functions activate.
Eternal being am I,
forever young, self-renewing;
perfection in my bodily form.
Quantum flowing, ever growing Infinite poetry in breathing, being,
living light.
copyright 2008 Ashandra-Aah
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Saturday, June 21, 2008
Fight for your Life!
The Spider and the Wasp
Outside my bathroom window is a little alcove which, because of all its corners, is a favorite spot for spiders. The alcove – and often my windowpanes as well – are filled with all manner of silvery, glistening webs meant to catch meaty delights to satiate hungry arachnids. Yesterday, as I sat by the window, I witnessed something I’d never seen before. A yellow jacket flew into a web, catching itself in the sticky prison. The wasp panicked, thrashing itself about. And, as one thread broke in the violence to escape capture, several others took its place. For a moment, I pondered if the wasp was doing itself more harm than good with all its tossing about.
Then – dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun – out came the spider from its hidey-hole, the crack between the wall and finish moulding. It scurried along the bouncing snare with ease, trouncing upon the tail-end of the trapped insect. I’m engrossed. What will happen next? I wondered at the size of the spider – only half that of the yellow jacket – and the fact that he chose the stinging end to jump on. Who will be the victor in this glorious battle -- the spider or the wasp?
In an instant, I had my answer. Either the spider made a strategic error and was stung (though it didn’t appear to be), or it just decided it was too much trouble and opted to wait for the wasp to die down. At any rate, the arachnid retreated, leaving yellow jacket once again alone in its desperate mission.
It continued its struggle, flinging itself this way and that. A thread snapped – yes! But then others quickly stuck, wrapping about him like a sickly cocoon. But yellow jacket didn’t give up. Clearly, he would not go down easy. He trashed and bashed himself about like a storm-tossed frigate on the great seas. How would it end? I was greatly curious.
Then the magical moment happened. One tread broke, and another, and another as he yanked himself out. And suddenly he was FREE! Dis-ensnared, he dashed away without looking back and was gone in an instant. I celebrated his escape and took to heart the lessons.
Fighting for Your Life
We are often struck, in observing nature, with the violence of the struggle for life. With some notable exceptions, such as war, few humans face imminent threat on a daily basis. So, when we do witness the violent struggle for survival, we are often abhorred and have to look away. It is too much to watch a snow leopard or wild dog tearing apart its prey.
As humans, we live sheltered lives, while this quest for survival goes on silently about us with barely our notice. In industrialized and technologized society, we live in the land of Comfort and sit at the table of Plenty. Yet, there are other threats to our lives…
Moment by moment our ability to experience peace, joy and fulfillment – in other words, to awaken our minds to the knowledge of our True Selves -- is threatened. Danger stalks by way of self-induced pressure, fear resulting from the separation-mind, complacency, distraction and _______ (fill in the blank).  So the question that arises is, “How is your life threatened?” Are you filled with peace and joy every moment of your day? Do you live in a state of perpetual plenty, where the fulfillment of need is spontaneously manifest? Do you walk in Power? Are you as happy as you would like to be? Do you love yourself? If you can say “no” to any of these things, it may be time to assess your priorities and sniff out what is threatening YOU. Then, take a lesson from Yellow Jacket and FIGHT!
The Valiant Struggle
In observing Yellow Jacket, I was amazed at its tenacity, determination; at its very will to live. Animals fight for their lives. If they notice a need, they do something about it. If they’re hungry, they hunt. If they’re sick, they look for the cure by eating herbs or grasses, rubbing their bodies on something, etc. They don’t numb their minds on drugs, distract themselves with sex, shopping, partying or whatever, then walk around in a dream state, pretending everything’s okay. Yet, as humans, we do this all the time.
I’m not saying this from any judgmental standpoint. Not at
all. We all chose to enter the valiant struggle of 3rd dimensional density for
a reason, to experience certain lessons. We are here by choice and we
have power to learn and change and grow. If we feel we aren't fully
awake, it is time to escape the web of illusion and go about learning our
lessons. So take one from the book of Yellow Jacket -- and FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!
copyright 2008 by Ashandra-Aah
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Flowering Time: May 21 - Jun 20
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Greetings Friends, and welcome to the last cycle of spring:
the Flowering Time. This is a time of expanding awareness and an influx of
knowledge but also one of  immaturity. Like the seedlings in a garden, which have
grown enough to approximate the form of adult plants but are not yet fully
grown, so, too, is this a time when true understanding, though on its way, can
seem blocked and not yet here. Hence, it is time to redouble our efforts,
taking care to water the young plants and nurture the soil so they may grow to
full stature, bearing fruit. Use every opportunity that presents itself to
extend your vision, exercise your intuition and expand the stretch of your
senses so that you, too, can grow to produce fruit in the coming season.
During this month, solar influences are strengthening,
growing toward summer solstice, and people born in this cycle feel the need for
increasing and intensifying their creative expression. It is also a time of
powerful East Winds, bursting forth with an energizing force that moves beyond
the awakening and activating of spring into full transformation. Because it is
a time of air and fire, things tend to happen quickly and radical changes may
occur to those who yield to the winds blowing about them. If you feel you have
only got so far and desire true change or breakthroughs in your life, now is a
good time to water your own garden. Concentrate on self-development, hold an
openness of spirit, and maintain a broad vision, looking beyond the immediate
trees to the greater forest. In due season, you will reap the harvest.
The totems for the Flowering Time are Deer, Agate and
Mullein. The elemental influence is Air with Fire, the direction is South-east,
and the clan is Butterfly. More about these later. :-)
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Butterfly Clan
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People born May 21 – June 20, September 22 – October 22, and
January 20 – February 18 are part of the Butterfly Clan.
People of this clan, ruled by the element of air, are very
much like the symbol which represents them. Curious and constantly moving, they
flutter from place to place, situation to situation, ever searching for beauty
and new things. Real explorers, they are fascinated with new places, new ideas,
and new ways to do things, but they rarely stay put very long. Like the element
of air, they shift constantly, bringing about change like the winds. And this
is their strength.
The gift of Butterfly people is much the same as the
beautiful butterfly itself, which pollinates the flowers as it flutters about,
making the blossoming of continued beauty possible. Just as the butterfly
carries pollen from plant to plant, Butterfly people bring new ideas and fresh
energy to help others in their path.
The weakness of Butterfly people is their inconstance. Their
strong tendency toward mobility and their drive to explore can cause them to become
easily bored, impatient and unreliable, if they are not careful. And, like the
wind, which can bend the trees to its will, they can be manipulative if they so
choose. Their need to find constantly new things can also interfere with their
ability to be faithful to a mate or to deepen relationships of every kind.
Hence, people of the Butterfly Clan face the life challenge
of finding contentment. Since they rarely stick with things or stay in one
place long enough to go deep, the contentment they seek often eludes them. Because of this, Butterfly Clan people may often feel directionless or depressed. This
issue can only be effectively addressed by recognizing their true nature.
Butterfly people must first learn to accept their transient nature and not fall into
the trap of judging themselves by another standard. If they can learn to
appreciate their true strengths -- to bring beauty and energy and freshness to
people and situations around them -- then they can come to appreciate all that
life offers. In service, albeit temporary or short-term, they can form bonds
with others around common needs and concerns while simultaneously bringing
their beauty and vitality to bear on problems and situations in need of their
freshness. In this way, they help the world be a much better, richer, more
fertile place and can find true satisfaction in their accomplishments.
If you love butterflies, click here to view more photos.
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Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sacred Mothers
On this day, may we realize the efforts, the love, the nurturing, the teaching and sacrifices of all Mothers everywhere, including Pachamana, Earth Mother who bore us all. May we be truly grateful for the life we have been given, and may we each give back abundantly more than we have taken. Ho!
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Friday, May 09, 2008
Growing Time: Apr. 20 - May 20
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Hello beloveds.
In spite of good intentions, it seems I am still not finding
the time to complete my write-up for this month. So, in order for you to at
least have a focus, I offer you this brief overview for the monthly
totems. Hopefully, I’ll get back to finishing this in a few days. If not, you
will at least have the basic info.
Growing Time
This month is the second in the spring cycles and marks a
time of dramatic growth and change. It is also a time for putting down roots
for new life and securing stability for the transformations ahead.
Totems
- Animal
totem for this month is Beaver – practical, methodical, adaptable,
 affectionate,
creative, patient and preserving. The tendency of this totem is to seek
stability and security, so it is a good totem to access for those who feel
directionless and adrift. The flip side is that those with beaver medicine
may cling too tightly to material things, forming attachments so strong
they can even form addictions. The challenge is to learn to tread the
material path without becoming forming dependencies.
- The totem
mineral is Jasper Bloodstone, the green variety flecked with red, brown
and yellow colorations. This stone was believed by ancients to aid in
uplifting human consciousness to the spiritual Sun, and was used by Native
Americans to stem bleeding, ward off insect bites, and soaked in water as
a general tonic. (The stone contains iron, which may be what made people
stronger by drinking it.)
- The
plant totem is wild (red) clover. A favorite of organic gardeners for
fixing nitrogen in the soil, this plant has traditionally been used as a
tonic for liver and gall bladder, a curative for constipation, and to
increase appetite. Its flowers are also used by bees to make a light, sweet
honey.
- The Elemental Clan for this month is turtle, an animal which represents the earth for many native peoples. Turtle clan people feel the need to establish a stable base and to be surrounded by solid and constructive things. Like beaver people, they progress slowly and methodically, with persistance and tenacity. Their challenge is to keep the earth energies in balance. Otherwise, they may become stubborn and inflexible and their tenacity -- though usually a strength -- may cause them to have trouble letting go when appropriate.
- Influencing
elements: Earth and fire
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