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I experienced many mystical visits from the Dragonfly this fall. One afternoon, a Dragonfly landed on my arm, and right on top of my Owl tattoo, resting there for quite a while staring right at me. The following morning, a song arrived, and I soon learned that it was a Dragonfly Medicine Song. The Dragonfly had quite a few things to teach me about letting go, transitions, and not resisting life’s flow. In the process of composing this song, I became a student of Dragonfly medicine. I was also being prepared for some big transitions unfolding. WINDS OF CHANGE.. Sometimes seeing a Dragonfly may foretell a time of great change and transition. The first thing that usually happens when a big change is due, is that we put up lot of emotional energy into resisting what’s coming, even though on a mental level we may understand that change is very much needed. Dragonfly is an especially helpful guide and ally for those who are resisting change that is overdue, and can teach us to go through change without kicking and screaming. IN BETWEEN TWO REALMS Dragonflies mature in water, in a nymph like state before they go through a magical […]
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To incorporate more mindfulness in my life, I began applying this awareness practice to eating food. Those times when I was actually sitting at table and focusing on my meal, which I must confess isn’t always, I began to focus on what I was actually putting into my mouth. For example, if I was drinking my typical morning shake, I would thank the hen for her eggs; the cow for her milk, the berry bushes for their fruits and the banana tree and coffee bean plants for their bounty. Sometimes I would go further and thank the pickers, packers, drivers, distributors and markets from which the food came. FOUND A PEANUT One time as I was munching on peanuts I realized I didn’t know what a peanut plant looked like, and though I knew almonds and walnuts come from trees, I had never seen a peanut plant. I didn’t know that the peanut plant produces beautiful yellow flowers and that it is not a true nut; rather it is a legume. Not knowing where our food comes from is unfortunately and unbelievably becoming common. One BBC news writer reported that “Almost a third of UK primary pupils think cheese is […]
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Today, September 20, 2017 the Sami Brothers, Alex & Madhu, release there 2nd studio album, Ch’aska Punku. Ch’aska Punku means Star Portal in Quechua, a language of the high Andean indigenous peoples, and refers to stellar alignments which we experience on Solstices, Equinoxes, and Solar and Lunar Eclipses. This album was created with the intention to support humanity during this time of personal and planetary restoration. With deepest gratitude to don Oscar and the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, which inspired the creation of these songs, we, the Sāmi Brothers thank you for being on this joyful journey of re-membering with us. Listen to the tracks.
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The Q’ero, a Quechua-speaking indigenous people of south central Peru, believe that everything in nature is animate and in the concept of ayni, or reciprocity. Andeans practice this principle within their communities, as well as in their interaction with the energies of nature. The two major energies of the natural realm are the Apus, the spirits of the mountains, and Pachamama, the spirit of the Earth. The Q’ero call upon the Apus for guidance and assistance, and rely upon the Pachamama for sustenance and livelihood. One of the ways the Q’ero reciprocate the generosity and guidance given them by a nature spirit is through a despacho ceremony, a perfect expression of ayni. Despacho bundles, or kits, contain all the ingredients one needs for creating this prayer offering -sacred items-wrapped in small pieces of paper including candy, cookies, seeds, stones, plant material, llama fat, tiny squares of metallic paper, starfish arms, metal charms, and more. The bundles are prepared for both general and specific purposes, such as attracting love or prosperity or for healing.We can make our own despachos, or prayer bundles by substituting similar items from our own culture. Simply choose items that hold special significance for oneself. What You […]
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Those of us who have been walking our spiritual paths for many moons understand the significance of the equinox as a cosmic-spiritual event, the equal duration of day and night, as a time for bringing ourselves into balance: the “as without-there-in-the-universe, so within-our-human-body-selves.” I’d like to draw attention to yet another magnificent way humans balance themselves every day without even knowing it: by using of the two hemispheres of their brains. In the interest of full disclosure I must state that I am just coming off reading a book called A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink and am still under its influence. He asserts that after having been under the thrall of number crunchers, contract crafters and code crankers so prevalent and revered in the Information Age, the world is moving from the logical and linear left brain thinker to more of a creative and empathetic right brain feeler/senser, and ushering in what he calls the Conceptual Age. So even our culture and economies seek balance. All About the Balance Our two brain hemispheres would seem to be opposites: left hemisphere sequential, logical and analytical; right hemisphere nonlinear, intuitive and holistic. Yet in reality they are the perfect complements […]
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On Aug. 21, the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, casting much of its dark shadow over the United States. People around the world and through time have come up with many a tale to explain the sun’s disappearance. Viking sky wolves, Korean fire dogs, and African versions of celestial reconciliation—these are only some of the many ways people around the world…have sought to explain solar eclipses. “If you do a worldwide survey of eclipse lore, the theme that constantly appears, with few exceptions, is it’s always a disruption of the established order,” said E. C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California. That’s true of both solar and lunar eclipses. “People depend on the sun’s movement,” Krupp said. “[It’s] regular, dependable, you can’t tamper with it. And then, all of a sudden, Shakespearean tragedy arrives and time is out of joint. The sun and moon do something that they shouldn’t be doing.” What that disruption means depends on the culture, and not everyone views an eclipse as a bad thing, said Jarita Holbrook, a cultural astronomer at the University of the Western Cape in Bellville, South Africa. Some see it as a time […]
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Meet Adrianna Sesi. She shines her passion for holistic healing in every part of her life, both professionally and personally. She is a true healer that practices what she teaches, believing that everybody has the ability to come into their body and heal themselves. Believing in the collective power of healing together and growing together. And believing in the value of anything that enhances the quality of life. We’ve been partnering with her and some of her events in Detroit. Adrianna is based out of the Metro Detroit area and has manifested a series of events she had been yearning for. “I love music and to socially connect, but I don’t love the typical club vibe. So I wanted to create an outing the revolves around consciously creating a space that allows people to come into their body. An alternative to the average club that can encourage actions of taking yourself out of yourself.” These events revolve around connecting, creativity, and wellness with a focus on coming back into and starting again. She’s in the middle of her “re:” series, naming all of her events with words that evoke the feeling of refreshing, recharging, revitalizing, rejuvenating, etc. Next up is […]
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BRIEF HISTORY Tibetan singing bowls are an ancient tool for healing and meditation. The history of Tibetan singing bowls dates back to 10th century B.C, and they have been used by Buddhist monks for at least 2500 years, making them one of the oldest known tools for meditation practice and ceremonial work. Among the high Lamas of Tibet the ritual use of singing bowls still remains a closely guarded secret – a heritage reserved only for acknowledged masters of sound. It is believed that the knowledge of sound carries with it a great power and responsibility. Therefore, the Lamas would only use singing bowls for themselves and never in public. It has been said that Tibetan singing bowls produce “the sound of nothingness”, or “Om”, considered by Buddhists and Hindus to be the primordial sound of creation. The veil of mystery that surrounds the ritual use of singing bowls in Tibet has been slowly lifting, and in the past 20 years or so, more and more knowledge about their use has started spreading out to the western world. HOW TO USE Tibetan singing bowls come in various tones or keys, corresponding to the 7 Chakras in the body. Certain bowls […]
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Summertime and the living’ is easy, or at least, spent in the garden. In my corner of the world my lot is wooded and a creek runs through it. I see my share of wild life and appreciate Pachamama for all her glorious gifts, gladly taking on the role of steward at this intersection of latitude and longitude on our planet. I know if one lives in nature, one often has to beat back nature. In all its fecund beauty, nature is programmed to multiply and grow. I head outside and start getting my yard into shape again. Yet my shamanic lifestyle and mindset does present challenges in the garden. PRINCIPLES OF RHYTHM & CYCLES The way I approach my garden work is important. For example, weed-pulling. This task actually consists of killing plants. If I am really present in my gardening moments, I know that everything is alive, everything is vibration, so in order to make peace with the weeding part of yardening, I thank the plant for its service before I remove it from the earth. Of course, it goes back to the earth eventually when the yard bags are taken away, so I keep mindful that even though […]
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Our roots are in Metro Detroit. And, if you haven’t heard, Detroit is booming with talented artists and creatives. In one of our neighborhoods, Ferndale, there is a market known as The Rust Belt. It features traveling artist but has an emphasis on local talent. It was a busy Saturday afternoon near the holidays and I was searching for gifts for my loved ones. I was immediately ‘hyknotized’ by the work of Cris Borowski. She is the createtress behind the jewelry of Hyknotica. She was surrounded by beautiful stones and handmade leather bags as she worked on a piece behind her booth and I was so captivated by her work that afternoon. I immediately felt her traveler vibe through her knotted bracelets. I had the chance to talk with Cris and ask her some questions. Here is her story in her words… “The year was 2000 and I had gone on vacation to Costa Rica to get far away from the noise and concrete chaos of NYC. On day one, at the campground I met the love of my life! His goal was to travel to the Patagonia and he invited me to go with him! I said yes. From […]
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With long dark winters in Scandinavia, the arrival of summer solstice is the most important event of the year. In the northern hemisphere, near the arctic circle, the midsummer night marks a time when the sun doesn’t set and when night and day unite. The midsummer solstice ceremony in Finland and other Scandinavian countries is a celebration of victory of light over a long period of darkness. Fire/Sun is an universal symbol of life force, energy, purification, rebirth, and fertility. In Finland and Northern Europe the summer solstice marks an astrologically significant turning point in the year, a cosmic portal of light opening in the sky, when the veils between worlds are thin, and the spirits become restless. In the old days it was believed that by making loud noises, singing, and lighting a big fire, any malevolent spirits would be scared away during the opening of the sky. Growing up in Finland, I attended traditional midsummer fire ceremonies every year. I remember the tingling feeling of anticipation that always preceded the ceremony. Important spells and intentions were to be placed on this “nightless night”. The Finnish midsummer ceremony is celebrated by lighting a bonfire several feet high at midnight, […]
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All plants are our brothers and sisters. They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them. — Arapaho Proverb smudge stick form of incense frequently is associated with North American culture. To discuss the act of smudging and use of smudge sticks is tricky business. It’s safe to say that native cultures across North America use smoke in their ceremonies, yet many myths surrounding smudging persist. Burning Plants to Create Ceremonial Smoke A popular belief is that the act of smudging using smudge sticks of white sage for purification and cleansing originated in the Americas by Native North Americans. Not so. While they may have burned plant material to create smoke, they did not invent the act of smudging, nor did they only burn white sage. And while it’s hard to say who invented smudging or the first smudge stick, it cannot be attributed to Native North Americans. They did burn herbs for purification and cleansing. And so did others. According to Jon Hanna, expert on language usage, “Burning or otherwise using common sage, and other plants called sage…for purification or warding off evil or sickness is a very old European tradition.” The Himalayan cultures have a […]
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