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Hearts, flowers, chocolate . . . those are the words most associated with the month of February. If you are a "northerner," snow is another descriptor for the second month of a new calendar year. Love it or not, all of those words best describe February. Of course, we have President's Day, Lincoln's birthday, the astrological family of Aquarius and Pisces, and this year Ash Wednesday will be celebrated Wednesday, February 22. For me, personally, a number is added to my years on Earth Mother . . . whew, there sure are piling up!
Sunday, February 5 at 1:59 p.m. the next Full Moon, often referred to as Snow Moon, will offer us the opportunity to Reflect and Release what has occurred in your life since the New Moon on January 21. The Full Moon invites us to surrender to a heightened sense of emotionality. Relationships may close, old habits and cycles may change and shift. Of course, whatever happens is completely up to You! Everything is about our intentions! Remember, after reflection and releasing comes your opportunity to Receive whatever your heart desires. Be mindful and pay attention to your thoughts, they do create your reality! Then on Sunday, February 19 at 2:06 a.m. when the New Moon appears, you can have a clear sense of what you want to plan and plant to replace what has been released. The Clan Mother for February is Wisdom Keeper, and she offers ways for us to consider what our experiences have taught us in order to grow in wisdom. All too often we stare at our past and carry those memories; that can become a real burden to carry. The important teaching is to Honor the Truth of your lifetime and use the teachings you receive as your walk along the Sacred Path of Life. Deepening into Wisdom Circle: As a reminder, each month this year we will be focusing on how to "Claim our Gifts." Last month we learned how to "Learn the Truth" with the Clan Mother, Talks with Relations. We shared some stories of how nature can be some of our greatest teachers. By utilizing these teachers, we can become clear in order to learn and identify our gifts are. On Thursday, February 16 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Using the teachings of Wisdom Keeper, we will learn how to Honor the Truth, and claim our gifts, in order to grow in Wisdom. We hope you will join us on this journey! All you need is an open heart, blanket for your lap, a journal, and willingness to grow in Wisdom! Community Event: As promised last Spring, we are offering an afternoon retreat to learn more of the ways to use the Mandala to better understand the "workings" of life. On Saturday, March 4, from 1-4:00 p.m. we will gather at the Dancing Flame Medicine Lodge to glean a clear understanding of what and how each of the seven sacred directions can be used to provide a rhythm by which all inhabitants of Earth Mother can live in harmony. Whether you have read either book or not, this retreat will provide the framework for beginning a new round on the Medicine Wheel of Life. Read more about this on our Community Events link: Using the Mandala to Walk a sacred Path with intention and purpose, will equip you with some tools to make 2023 a year full of richness and meaning! Now, go get that chocolate, flowers and cards for someone you love, and make certain you are on that list! From my heart to yours, Vicky
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Within each of our hearts dreams reside, our task is to bring them forth. Sounds fairly simple; however, most of us know it is not. We wait for the perfect time to give those dreams our full attention, and whammy, our 30th and 40th birthday happen. For most of us, the 40th is the beginning of really "waking up" to the fact nearly half our life is behind us. As we round near 50 is when the itch we've felt finally needs scratched.
Fortunately, this is the time when most of the parenting, career climbing, and overall urge to "make something of ourselves," begins to lessen. The dreams we carried up to that point were earthly, human ones that helped us define our purpose and accomplish the goals we set when we were young adults. They helped us find our place in the world. During this time of hibernation and dreaming, now is a perfect time to really go into your heart and ask some important questions such as: What did I love doing as a child, What brought joy to my heart, and What happen to those heartfelt curiosities and wonderings? Most of you immediately know the answer to those questions, now is the time to "think some more" about them. Only this time, use your heart as your resource rather then your thinking head. That said, we need both! We need our thinking mind that has helped us maneuver our way through the human understanding of life to get us this far. However, consider the ever patient, creative, and passionate heart that holds the dreams of our soul that has waited to be fully seen and accessed. No doubt some deep wounds throughout our life led us to put that beautiful heart on a top shelf. Perhaps if we can truly take 10, 20 minutes per day to rest in a comfortable spot in our homes and give our heart our full attention we will begin to actually feel the tender, loving soul that resides within the center of our body. No doubt those that take this time will feel the familiar warmth they felt as a young child, and allow that innocent, child within to resuscitate our heart and give it a voice. Then our thinking mind will have to quiet the incessant chatter and turn on it's loving ears, to allow the relationship between our Head and Heart to reconnect and deepen. It is at this point the dreams of our heart will show themselves, and the new direction of our life will be made clear. It is then we can proclaim the infamous words spoken by Martin Luther King, "I have a Dream!" The Deepening into Wisdom circle is this Thursday, January 19, 6:30 - 8 p.m. What a perfect time to begin a new calendar year with purpose and intention. Our theme for this year is "Claiming our Gifts." To begin that journey, we need to have a clear understanding of our personal Truths. Therefore, with the assistance of the teachers of Truth, the 13 Original Clan Mothers, each month we will carefully exam what is true for us, so we may clearly identify and strengthen our Gifts. Join us this Thursday as we begin the journey. Bring an open heart, cover for your lap, a friend, and a pine cone. Yep, that's correct, a pine cone, and let the journey begin! As a reminder, this circle does not require a commitment, attend as your heart guides you. Also, there is no set charge for this circle, there, however, is a gifting bowl to accept your energy exchange for what you received. Finally, in case of inclement weather, a zoom link will be sent to those planning to attend. Therefore, please notify Vicky (vickykelmwilliams@gmail.com) by noon, Thursday, if you plan to attend. The holidays are gearing down as we greet a brand new year. Only a few colored lights still adorn the streets in our neighborhood as we all begin to settle into the fullness of winter. Hopefully, your cave is prepared; the decorations are put away, the refrigerator is full and for us "northerners" plenty of candles, canned goods, water and some source of back-up heat is on stand-by. Now is the perfect time to crack open your favorite book, or maybe a new one you received during the Holidays, and settle into your favorite cushiony chair. Or perhaps you will choose to use the quiet stillness of winter to catch up on all your favorite TV series. Whatever calls to your heart, the winter is a grand time to explore the world within and around you. Everyone has some sort of dream, some passion that feeds their curiosity, and/or touches their heart. Winter is the perfect time to rest in the comforts of less activity and busyness to ponder, explore, and dream. The first full moon of 2023, often referred to as the Wolf Moon, is Friday, January 6. What a powerful way to begin a new calendar year; exploring places, ideas, considering options or new topics you haven't had the time to dig into and seriously examine. The fullness of the Moon offers it's brilliant light to shed light on a new adventure you might like to see birthed in the Spring. If you allow yourself this precious time to examine your life, you may just discover, the only thing that has been in your way of realizing a dream is YOU! Despite our ever doubting mind that offers reasons why that new or old hidden dream is not possible, the Truth is, "We are captains of our own destiny." Here's a challenge: try dreaming this winter and see what shows up with the new sprouts of plants and foliage in the Spring. It may take baby steps to see the dream come to fruition, but as the saying goes, "Rome wasn't build in a day!" Everything begins with a deep desire within, whether it comes into form, is entirely up to you.
Deepening into Wisdom Circle: Our first gathering will be Thursday, January 19, 6:30 - 8 p.m. If you read the newsletter, you already know this circle has a theme this year, "Claiming our Gifts." Each month we will explore various aspects of the gifts we already have, and learn ways to deepen into those gifts so we continue to live life with purpose, and to be of service to those around us. Through the sharing of stories from participants, a few tips for some unique ways that have helped enrich their lives, we will learn how others developed their gifts. We will also learn a bit more about meditation, prayer, body work, and other unique and powerful ways that can help us become all we are capable of being. Check out the Events link for monthly dates and more information about the Deepening into Wisdom Circle. If you have a specialty you would like to share one month, go to the contact page and let Vicky know. You never know what your experience can do to help someone else on their Sacred Walk around the Medicine Wheel we call Life! How about it? Are you up to the Adventure? As we leave the season of fall, we take with us what we "harvested" from 2022. Hopefully you spent some time last month carefully examining your harvest, to determine what projects, goals, spontaneous adventures, and unexpected events would you like to take into the contemplative cave of winter. No doubt some goals you set for yourself were accomplished and you were able to check them off your "to-do" lists for the year. As you examined your "harvest," there were probably several items remaining. Those are the items to take with you Into the Cave of winter.
Wednesday, December 21, winter officially begins. With Thanksgiving in our rearview mirror and religious Holidays in front of us, take a few days to look over the remaining items and determine the ones that are still pertinent in your life. Sometimes as the "to-do" list is completed, the remaining items may become less important. An example would be, that in January you decided to spend some money getting your old car in tip top shape, and after consulting your trusted mechanic, it was determined a newer car would be more cost effective. Walking a Sacred Path requires us to pay attention and take action according to what we determine is truly important in our life, and/or the lives of those that reside with us. It means being responsible for our actions by becoming conscious co-creators in our lives. When you see life as a circular path, you realize one step leads to the next, it begins with spring, and concludes with winter. (This is not to confuse the calendar year created by humans that begins in January and concludes with December.) As the colorful lights of the Holiday Season draw our attention to the end of another calendar year, now is a perfect time to gather the gifts of 2022 and determine what dreams and possibilities you would like to take Into the Cave, and contemplate some more on. The quiet stillness of winter offers us a time to create a cleaner version of items still waiting to manifest, and remove those that are no longer relevant. As the snow flies this winter (December through March 20) additional ideas and dreams may be birthed. Add those to your "to-do" list for 2023. Be as the bear, slumber through the long dark nights of winter and see what new and exciting dreams this winter will bring. Then when spring begins, a rested bear (not a grumpy one) will re-emerge ready for a new Walk around the Medicine Wheel of life! REMINDER: The Wisdom Circle concluded in November, and will begin again on the third Thursday of each month in 2023. We're making some changes to the Wisdom Circle format that we know will offer a new depth of teaching and sharing. A complete list of meeting dates along with more information about the revised Wisdom Circle will be available on the website by January 1, 2023. In the meanwhile, watch for our newsletter in a couple of weeks for more information and updates. Until then, listen to your heart as the holidays fast approach and remember, both Giving and Receiving bring balance to our lives. And, giving to those you do may not know that are in need, will bring joy to your heart and a renewed hope to the lives of those less fortunate than you! Have a joyous holiday season. From my heart to yours, Vicky T'was the day before Thanksgiving and all through the house,
everyone was stirring, except a mouse. After the family carried their food dishes to the car with care, Mother asked, "Did you remember your pajamas, your toothbrush and clean underwear?" With giggles and excitement they settled into their car, Brother began to sing, "Over the river and through the woods," When sister rolled her eyes and said, "I hope this isn't far!" Thanksgiving is a time to remember the blessings that are often overlooked with the busyness of life. It is a time to retell stories of years gone by, that somehow includes silly shenanigans most of us have done. It is a time to enjoy favorite foods that are packed with calories, yet delicious to eat. We can "justify" the extra calories as being cordial to our family members that created the dishes, and if all else fails, we excuse our overindulgence as "fueling up for the winter!" In my book, a good meal shared with loved ones needs no excuses; it's food for our soul! As you gather around the family table, take a few moments to look in the eyes of each person. There's no need to stare, just a glance will do. My hunch is you may notice something that has changed about them. It may be the same face, same hair, same tone of voice; but something "feels" different. It is that energy that is important to notice. The circumstances of our world has offered many challenges the past several years that have effected each of every one of us in some way or another. Perhaps this Thanksgiving, you might suggest each person state one or two things for which they are grateful. It just may shift the energy in the room to notice what good things have happened rather than discuss the crazymaking going on. We're changing, and with change comes a bit of discomfort, if not down right pain. Let this Thanksgiving be the year everyone around the table mentions something positive they have noticed and/or experienced. With that, I wish to say, "Thank YOU," for seeking the goodness in life, for stretching beyond your "comfort zone," and participating in events that support your growth. Just as important, for your willingness to share your life, your experiences so others may glean wisdom from yours. Remember the words of Gandhi, "Be the change you wish to see in the world!" And from book two, the old woman's words, "When we are grateful, we free our hearts to create new dreams and visions for our lives and for the world!" This is a reminder our last Wisdom Circle for 2022 is Thursday, November 17, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please join us as we share the stories that inspired and moved us along our Sacred Walk in 2022. With Thanksgiving next Thursday, we will also speak of the things for which we are grateful. If we take the time to look around we will notice all the abundant gifts available for us to enjoy. Some of those gifts may not have been purchased in shopping malls, online, or through social media. It may have been outside your front door, or at the local park in your area. How about today, you step outside your door, pause and look up! Notice what birds fly above you, and the clouds that form various sizes and shapes. Wednesday was a day to notice the different stages of precipitation that fell from the sky and offered moisture to your face. If you missed it yesterday, today may be another opportunity to receive those gifts from above. My experience is snow brings out the child within that remembers the wonder of such simple, free gifts from above.
Join us for our last Wisdom Circle for 2022, and share the many gifts you received this year that cost you nothing but your time and attention! There's a new movie coming out this month titled, "Devotion." The movie is based on a true story, my favorite type of movie. To me, it's worth seeing something that tells a story based on actual events. No doubt some of the story is tweaked to add a bit more interest; however, overall the basic storyline is factual. It certainly looks very heartwarming, it might be something to check out on a cold, damp day this month.
The word, Devotion, felt like the perfect one word descriptor for the month of November. Many events this month require devotion. Webster uses, "loyalty" as the key word to describe devotion since it is something you "give time to." Tuesday, November 8 is Election day. That certainly is something to give your time and devotion to; otherwise, you can't really complain about who gets in office. Oh, sure, you can complain, but that only pollutes the air and makes you a hypocrite. If you ignore voting, you're really saying, "I don't care who gets in," because to not vote is to vote for the person you may distrust or really not respect the most. And, speaking of November 8, we'll have the Full "Beaver Blood Moon" that evening. It is referred to a blood moon since a lunar eclipse will also occur making the moon appear red. It is unlikely to be visually spectacular as the total lunar eclipse is set to play out in the sky hours earlier. It will be another two years before our next blood moon on March 14, 2025. What is a blood moon? It is when the moon, Earth and sun align in such a way that the moon, in its full phase, passes through the Earth's shadow. The Earth's atmosphere refracts ( bends) the sun's light, causing the moon to take on a copper red appearance. As every Full Moon offers; it is a good time to surrender to a heightened sense of emotionality and close or end a habit, cycle, or relationship. It also provides an opportunity to release negative or stagnant energy. Friday, November 11 is Veteran's Day. It makes my heart most happy to see the recognition and respect given by the citizens of this country to those that honored the call of duty to serve and protect our country. Just as important is the devotion of those brave men and women who were willing to sacrifice so people in other countries can become free from the tyranny and control of those in power. Let's also remember, the military men and women who help during environmental disasters and domestic chaos. Truly they deserve our utmost respect! And, of course, Thursday, November 24 we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day with those we love. Again, my heart is full of love and respect for the many men, women and children that help feed the hungry. It is those random acts of kindness that assures me we are a nation of loving human beings. And, that we are teaching our children to be grateful for what they have and to feel compassion for those less fortunate. Even more importantly, they are learning, that action is how we show compassion! In 2020, President Trump proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month which recognized the "self-determination and economic self-sufficiency of the nation's 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes." On October 31, 2022, President Biden also signed a "Proclamation recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month." It is good to see a President from each party demonstrate the same respect and Devotion to a peaceful coexistence. Since Thanksgiving Day represents the peace agreement between the new foreign settlers and the indigenous people of this land, it seems like a very appropriate and long overdue recognition. No doubt it has taken much forgiveness and Devotion to this country to acknowledge an injustice that is finally being addressed. There are still many wounds among the people migrating to this country and our citizens; my hope is we will find a way to heal those strong beliefs on both sides so that our country can become a cohesive "Melting Pot!" The Wisdom Circle will meet on Thursday, November 17 from 6:30-8 p.m. This month we will share what we considered in October about the "applied learning based on sensible judgment," or Wisdom, we have gleaned from our life experiences. This will be the last Wisdom Circle for 2022, so come and join us as we bring the teachings we received this year. I am confident the experiences you have had this year will enrich your sense of Devotion to the path you have chosen for your life. Walks Tall Women is the Clan Mother for the month of November. She teaches us how to "Walk our Talk." Read about her on our website and learn ways to call to her for assistance with "Walking the Truth" in your life. As we began this blog, it takes Devotion to live your life with focus and clear intention to truly be a trustworthy, responsible person of integrity. Many blessings and much gratitude for each of you! From my heart to yours, Vicky Autumn is my most favorite time of year. The colorful array of golds, browns, oranges, reds, and yellows are beyond beautiful! While each season has it's unique beauty that offers a new "perspective," Fall seems to warm my heart the most. Living in the farmland of Indiana adds to the richness of the season by offering people the opportunity to witness the planting, growing and harvesting of the various crops. What a gift to observe such a life-giving evolution in a short six months. Imagine, if you will, how it must feel to have a profession that feeds so many bellies, as well as contributes to the production of goods and services made from the various grains. With a deep respect and admiration for the hard work and devotion required by those who farm the land, I recommend the readers take a drive through the farmlands and observe the harvest in the next few weeks.
While you are driving out of the cities be a "Sunday driver" and really observe the homes decorated for the Fall season, check out the ones with "Spooky" themes and take in the wonder of the magnificent trees in full color! Truly, it's something your family can do that will offer a breath of fresh air, and a renewed appreciation for this beautiful state. Yes, gas prices are high; and yet, the cost pales to the connection offered to you and your families hearts. So, roll down the windows, smell the scent of Fall, and listen to the leaves as they begin their annual release to Earth Mother. They are not only beautiful, they serve a purpose. They blanket Earth Mother and offer her inhabitants a place to nestle during the winter ahead. Then with Spring, they will serve as mulch to enrich the soil and ensure a bounty of color as plants begin to emerge. If you really want to make a connection with nature, hike a trail at one of the local parks. It has been said no two snowflakes look alike; I challenge you to find two leaves that look exactly the same. Such a heartwarming opportunity for the family to really see, feel and smell nature at its best. I promise nature will be as pleased to see you as you will be to experience the peacefulness and connection that a walk through nature can provide. Somehow it brings out the inner child that remembers the joy of jumping in a pile of colorful leaves! Better get out there soon, the Leaves are Falling! The Wisdom circle scheduled for Thursday, Oct 20 has been cancelled. Instead, how about you sit in your sacred space at home and consider a few things. First, consider what the word wisdom means to you. A simple definition by Webster states wisdom as: "applied learning based on sensible judgment." Another reference may use different words, what we are asking is for you to consider what your understanding of wisdom means. As the English language goes, words often have many different interpretations based on an individual's understanding; what and how they were taught, and, what they witnessed and experienced first hand.
What we offer through this Monthly circle is an opportunity to grow and expand our understanding based on what is shared. Not only from another individual's personal perception, but through the recanting of our own personal stories. As storytelling often offers, we learn from those memories that have been squirreled away. It is in the retelling of our experience we have the opportunity to see the connection, the deeper meaning once we are separate from the event. That said, chances are there will be others with similar stories that had a completely different "take away!" Most recently we held a Sweat Lodge, followed by a Dreaming and Visioning ceremony. Can you imagine the depth of wisdom that grew for those who participated? We can hear stories and read about such adventures, however, it is when we experience life first hand, that we truly grow in wisdom. Of course, life provides us ample opportunity to gain knowledge, if we will pay attention and truly examine what we have learned. Tomorrow evening, grab a pen, some paper, and list as many experiences as you can recall that stand out in your memory bank. My hunch is many of you are richly abundant with opportunities that, if you will take the time to consider, have actually offered your a plethora of experiences from which to grow in wisdom. Then next month, on Thursday, November 17, 6:30-8 p.m. share some of those wisdoms with other like-minded people and watch your life expand! As we near the Fall Equinox farmers begin to scurry about preparing to gather the harvest from their spring plantings. It is a time to organize the necessary equipment needed to insure the combines are in full working capacity. Of course, fingers are crossed the weather cooperates with this annual event to ensure an abundance is retrieved from the fields. The farmers know all too well that the harvest feeds more than their families, it provides the grains necessary to make other products and to supply other countries with goods and services. This event happens once a year; therefore, the quality and quantity is imperative to the overall well-being of many.
Much like life, we can only do our best to learn from what happens in our life. Sometimes things are completely out of our control. We simply have to rely on doing our best and learning from our experiences. Last spring you planted a few new ideas or intentions after the long months of winter, now is the time to look at your "yield." Of course, do this with gentle eyes, there are some things, we have little control over. Much as the farmer cannot change weather patterns, we often have circumstances that are beyond our reach. Instead of complaining, feeling sorry for ourselves, or blaming others, the only way to retrieve some sense of understanding is to learn from our experiences. Take a few moments this next week to examine the growth of your intentions in 2022. If your yield looks a bit puny, what could you have done differently? Or, consider if there is something else you can do to support it's growth that may take a bit more time. Perhaps tending those areas with more diligence or from a different perspective may be precisely what that intention needs to advance to place that brings a more abundant yield. It may mean the the harvest will be gathered at another time rather than this fall. This is how we learn to have patience, to be committed to a goal, and ultimately develop self-confidence that will help us gain wisdom throughout our lives. This, is what "Tending the Harvest" is all about! Carefully examining our actions or the steps we took, then consciously choose something different. Wisdom Circle, Thursday, 9/15 from 6:30-8p. We will be sharing the current status of our personal harvest and the ways in which we tended our plantings in 2022. If you would like to join us, email Vicky at vickykelmwilliams@gmail.com Thursday morning. Since I was exposed to someone with Covid Sunday, the circle will be done via Zoom. A link will be sent to those who indicate a desire to participate. |
Vicky Kelm WilliamsI find people absolutely fascinating! Archives
January 2023
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