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It's that time of year when the harvest is rich and full. The brown cornstalks stand tall reaching to the heavens as the ears of corn point downward toward Mother. Soybeans are a wheat color as they offer their final product as a gift to the community.
With the sky a vivid blue dotted with white puffy clouds, Grandfather Sun brightly shines his bright yellow rays to warm the cool temps of Autumn. It is a welcome sight to those of us fortunate enough to live in the rural lands of the Midwest. At least those of us that live in such areas feel very fortunate to experience the richness of the farmlands. Shiny silos are buzzing with giant tractors pulling massive size wagons of the gifts gathered from the Earth. The sounds of the grain dryers provide a constant hum as the Farmers hurriedly work the land while the weather supports the Gathering. Semi-trailers are lined up ready to receive the dried goods to carry to market. Reminds me of the tremendous gifts received when dedicated people focus on the task at hand and stay the course so the community can be fed. Next time you go to the grocery store, consider the hands that planted, gathered, canned, froze, packaged, hauled and stocked the goods you see on the shelf. Consider all the effort and commitment required to bring that food to the shelves. You might send a quick prayer or whisper of gratitude to the human beings who brought these goods to your grocery, including the grocer and his/her employees. And while you're at it, include the land and soil of "mother earth" and the rain and warmth provided by "father sky." Above all, send much love and gratitude to the Gatherers of these goods, the Farmers! All of our lives are dependent on the collaborative efforts of all beings on earth to sustain us!
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Yes, it is "officially" Fall; however, Grandfather Sun continues to spread his warmth on us in the Midwest. Apparently, the purity of snow is cleansing the way to Fall for those in the upper Rockies. Whatever the climate shares with those on Earth Mother, it is, indeed, a glorious time of year. Time for things to continue along the Wheel of Life as we move into the beautiful time of Harvest. All the good work of planting seeds, tending the weeds in our garden of Life are about to bring forth the Harvest of our efforts. Whether it be vegetables, flowers, or a dream we've been tending, Fall provides us the opportunity to gather the "goods" of our efforts and take them with us into the Winter months. But let's not get ahead of ourselves with the cold winds of Winter; let's gather together around a crackling fire, cool temps, s'mores and hot dogs and enjoy the end of another summer of outdoor activities around a fire with family and friends. Keep a watchful eye for our next Gathering as we offer an opportunity for a warm fire, crisp air, a cup of hot cocoa and share a few stories from our summer adventures. Then maybe we'll share our dreams for what we want to germinate over the Winter season. It's my favorite time of year!! Here's to colorful leaves, giggles around the fire and a warm belly from our favorite cider or cocoa.
Summer is in full swing as the heat turns up, giggles abound from children playing from morning to night, and the smell of grilled foods fill the air! How quickly the warmth of summer adds to our memories that will carry us into the cool air of Fall and cold temps of Winter. Summer is, indeed, the smell of cotton candy, sound of carnival rides, and overall merriment that local Fairs bring to our communities.
As the fullness of summer offers opportunities for families and friends to stay up late and travel miles for annual vacation spots, I am reminded of the sweetness that comes from drinking lemonade, iced tea and favorite flavored popsicles. Let's enjoy this summer season and savor every opportunity to gather with friends, family, and neighbors, as we enjoy the elements of nature and breathe in all the fresh, crispness that comes from the Heat of Summer! Earth Mother was celebrated April 22, our human Mother's will be recognized this Sunday, May 12. Whatever relationship you have with your mother (biological, adopted, step) it is always respectful to acknowledge the gift they gave to you. Sometimes that "gift" was given in the form of a distant, unaffectionate Mother, or a loving, compassionate one, the truth is, you are who you are today because of your Mother. The Cherokee believe our parents often teach us in reverse. That means if they were distant, absent and emotionally unavailable, you simply flip the coin and use your experience to be the opposite when and if you become a parent. Flip the coin and see the distant, absent parent as a teacher to you of how to be independent, resourceful and supportive of your beautiful soul! Take this approach and you will know how to be the loving, supportive parent to your child that you wanted from your parent.
Most of us play that parent role in some way, shape and form during our life. It may be a neighbor child or young adult, or someone you mentor as a new employee. Whatever the form such a relationship takes that places you in the position of a role model, know that everything you think, say and do touches the lives of those around you. Those young souls looking for guidance, discipline, a listening ear may have their parent role filled through their interactions with you. Many of us have several women that have shown us what a Mother looks like. Acknowledge all of them, for you are today what you learned from them in your life. So, consider the "Mothers" in your life and write a note, pick a flower, make a call simply to acknowledge their presence and position in your life. Then look in the mirror and ask what sort of "Mother" you may be to someone who walks across you path. As Gandhi said, "Be the Change you wish to see in the World," so I say, Be the parent you wish to see in the world! And to my Mother who is now on the other side, I say, "Thank you for showing me what unconditional love looked like, and thank you for showing me how very grateful you were to have me as your daughter! It has carried me well in my life! From my heart to yours, Happy Mother's day to all your beautiful ladies! This Saturday a Sacred Pipe Ceremony will be held in Peru, IN. Please RSVP by noon on Thursday IF you plan to attend. Vicky at: vkwspirit@gmail.com or leave a message on this website.
What a gift available to the world when yet another book is published! Whatever genre calls to you, there are new publications on the topic daily. In this age of electronics, it's as simple as clicking a button on your phone or computer and magically the book appears within minutes.
This is a gift our ancestors did not always have the privilege to access. In an attempt to control the "thinking mind" of curious men and women, access was often limited or completely unavailable. History reports the burning of books, the stowing away of hopes, dreams, the great "wonderers" of life. It is a gift, honor and right available to everyone at this time in human history; and what a gift it is! When I was working on my book, I recall my mother prodding me along by telling me I better get my book written before someone else wrote it. While I found that rather humorous, I did understand her motives were to encourage me, and based on the time period she experienced, it was a big deal. Women were not often supported and nudged to do such things. It was self-centered to think of doing such a thing. What a wonderful time we live in now, where everyone, at any age is encouraged to go after whatever their heart calls. And, if you have always felt the desire to write a book and have held yourself back for any reason, listen to that call, sit in front of your computer, or pen your words onto a pad of paper, and simply begin! Somewhere, someone is waiting for your book to be written, your song to be sung or artwork to be visible. Someone is waiting for the perfect story or inspiration to give them hope, reassure them anything is possible, their life is ok despite their current situation, support their hypothesis on an interest they may have or simply to give them a much needed belly laugh or good cry. We are all one big community. Get busy feeding it in whatever way you are led. Books are written one page at a time. And if writing is not your calling, pick up a paintbrush, musical instrument, sketch pad and let your heart express itself! Birth/Rebirth
Now is the time to “take a peek” at our lives. What, through our winter dreaming time, is being birthed? Whether we consciously realize it or not, every winter our higher self, soul, whatever word fits, calls to us to grow. Much like the plants burrowed into Earth Mother lie dormant through the winter, so our hearts dream. It is the natural, innate instinct of all living species on Earth to evolve, and in the stillness of winter that precisely what our hearts do! Awareness is the key to noticing our dreams, and it is something that happens instinctively. Our task is to pay attention, pay attention, pay attention! This is best done by consciously choosing to wake up and be co-creators of our lives. This is often best done by joining like-minded people who; like you, are choosing to notice, pay attention and wake up! Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. a Sacred Pipe ceremony will be held in Peru, IN to provide an opportunity to begin, continue, and/or deepen our awareness to this “waking up” process. Wherever you are in your walk, check with your heart and see if participating in this gathering is calling to you, and if it is, please contact Vicky or Shakti at the email addresses on the attachment to sign up. (Those of us in Martinsville will be carpooling, so if you are in the area and would like to join us, please contact me, Vicky at vkwspirit@gmail.com or text (765) 721-0339.) Until then, remember our website: www.headtohearttalks.com has changed so if you would like to continue to know of upcoming events, read through some blogs and respond with your insights, you need to sign up on our site. We are small, so no worries about receiving massive mailings . . . I’m doing my best to post every week!! If you prefer to receive email notifications, please respond to this email with that request. In the darkness of night there is a stillness that only "night owls," such as myself can hear. It is in these whispers deep truths can be heard. The world feels uncluttered, peaceful and mysterious. I suppose that is why for centuries 2-3 a.m. have been referenced as the "bewitching hours."
Last evening as I sat in bed, enjoying the warmth in my heart from the Healing circle, I felt the magic that comes when life is witnessed by those we trust. There is a realness, a genuine, raw tenderness that comes from being heard. It takes great courage to learn to trust others enough to be willing to be so vulnerable. As we were nearing the end of our time together the candle in the center of the room became very dim, and within a few moments the flame went out. The candle still had a large portion of wax, so why it went out was a mystery. Nonetheless, we closed the evening in our usual manner and those traveling headed home. Sitting in my bed, savoring the tenderness of our small gathering, it occurred to me, that perhaps the candle was teaching us something. Perhaps in the verbal chattering of our human emotions our fire can become so dim it disappears. That is, until it is once again re-ignited. Through the darkness of our sad, painful experiences we can, if we are willing to be brave, rekindle the fire within. IF we are willing to reconnect to the light of knowing that comes from re-membering who we really are, beneath the sad moments, we can find our way home . . . to our authentic selves. For in the darkness of hurt, we learn what really makes us happy. It is then our task to begin to heal those old wounds as we travel through the "shadow of death" walking with those with whom we trust beside us. When we take that journey with those that love us unconditionally and without judgment, we find our way back to the light of forgiveness, which helps us gather the scattered pieces of selves and restore ourselves to wholeness. This is absolutely the first and most vital step. It begins within! This is no easy task; however, it is worth the effort to contribute another healed warrior into the world here on Earth. Then, and only then, can peace and mutual respect bring about the cooperation and collaboration needed to realign the spirit of unity rather then the divisiveness of separation that the world currently exhibits. How about becoming a bringer of light to help us move through this darkness of separation? It takes one person at a time to choose wisely, and to not choose is choosing to contribute to what we currently have. Ignite that heart, and stand strong, we're all in this together! Choices: What a gift and what a responsibility. As in all of life choices abound in nearly every breath. Whatever we are doing, reading, chatting about, observing, considering, choices are in front of us. With Spring yawning and stretching, exposing the new growth peeking through, we are reminded to consider what new opportunities and dreams within us are ready to be brought forth. Many times pondering such questions may seem a daunting task because it means things may change. Other times it is a welcome friend offering us an opportunity to "shake things up" in our life.
For today, pause for 5-10 minutes and ask yourself what "itch" needs scratched, what desire has been on the back burner, what old or new dream has/is waiting for the right time to emerge. You might consider writing down the first thoughts that come to you, then setting them aside and coming back to your list the next morning to see what still feels true. It is in the pondering we find our dreams, solutions to situations, new ways of doing our life that often brings the freshness of a new perspective. As the new growth of spring emerges at it's own unique pace, be patient with what stirrings within begin to offer you a peek into what's been brewing within the stillness of winter. You might be very surprised and amazed at the beauty that emerges from what's been pondering within. The next step is accepting responsibility for what has been birthed by taking actions . . . we'll chat about that next! What a fabulous time of year! The flowers are peeking through the ground, birds are returning to their nest from last year and the trees are yawning and stretching as green begins to emerge. What a time of growth, newness and hope! My heart is ready to bring forth the stirrings brought about through the sacred stillness of Winter. Let's hear it for our dreams!
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Vicky Kelm WilliamsI find people absolutely fascinating! Archives
September 2019
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