Here are two songs that were sung during sacred fires at Northern Edge Algonquin, Ontario Canada. Ashes from these fires will be brought to Greenland to be added to hundreds of ash bundles from around the world.
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In advance of our journey to Greenland next week, we are hosting Mandaza – Bhuntu Shaman from Zimbabwe at Northern Edge Algonquin in South River, Ontario, Canada.
Mandaza is journeying with us to the top of the world.
He gave a 90 minute talk to over 40 people at a gathering on July 9th. Watch the video here:
http://blip.tv/file/2345042/
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As the Sacred Fire Ceremony in Greenland approaches I find myself filled with anticipation. I know that Spirit has been helping me to prepare since the first day I met Angaangaq.
I regularly journey to the sacred fire and witness the flame igniting the hearts of many. I feel a great responsibility within myself to be as prepared as I can be, as I see the great impact that this ceremony will have on each one who participates and the whole.
This morning in a journey I went to the fire and was invited to step into the flame. The fire spoke to me and said that the best way that I can prepare myself for this ceremony is to be prepared to let go of everything…..let go of who I know myself to be…..let go of fear….and surrender. I became engulfed in the flames, surrendering to the fire and felt my energy and vibration rising higher and higher. This reminds me of a chant that I learned from my teacher Sandra Ingerman “Fire, fire rising higher….fire, fire, transforming me’.
These are some questions that I am journeying/reflecting on to help me prepare for the Sacred Fire Ceremony.
1. What is my purpose/intention in participating in the fire ceremony?
2. What am I prepared to leave behind?
3. What are my fears?
4. What are my dreams?
5. What am I prepared to let go of to achieve my dreams?
Whether you are participating in the ceremony in Greenland or elsewhere I invite you to join me in preparing for significant change and healing that is to come.
“Behold! The time has come! The time has come to Unite as One! Behold! The time has come to encircle the Earth with our LOVE”!
In light and love, Martha
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As the Sacred Fire Ceremony in Greenland approaches I find myself filled with anticipation. I know that Spirit has been helping me to prepare since the first day I met Angaangaq.
I regularly journey to the sacred fire and witness the flame igniting the hearts of many. I feel a great responsibility within myself to be as prepared as I can be, as I see the great impact that this ceremony will have on each one who participates and the whole.
This morning in a journey I went to the fire and was invited to step into the flame. The fire spoke to me and said that the best way that I can prepare myself for this ceremony is to be prepared to let go of everything…..let go of who I know myself to be…..let go of fear….and surrender. I became engulfed in the flames, surrendering to the fire and felt my energy and vibration rising higher and higher. This reminds me of a chant that I learned from my teacher Sandra Ingerman “Fire, fire rising higher….fire, fire, transforming me’.
These are some questions that I am journeying/reflecting on to help me prepare for the Sacred Fire Ceremony.
1. What is my purpose/intention in participating in the fire ceremony?
2. What am I prepared to leave behind?
3. What are my fears?
4. What are my dreams?
5. What am I prepared to let go of to achieve my dreams?
Whether you are participating in the ceremony in Greenland or elsewhere I invite you to join me in preparing for significant change and healing that is to come.
“Behold! The time has come! The time has come to Unite as One! Behold! The time has come to encircle the Earth with our LOVE”!
In light and love, Martha
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Greetings,
I invite you to view our latest May newsletter filled with information regarding Mandaza’s return to the Edge, The sacred fire ceremony this Summer taking place in Greenland, and more.
With love & light,
Martha
(please note, to view this newsletter in a larger format click May 2009)
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Awakening the Dreamer is an opportunity for everyone to understand what is happening and to consider how we can all play a part in addressing these problems and creating a world that works sustainable for us and for future generations.
Participants will explore our culture and how this contributes to these problems in a workshop that uses inspiring video, up-to-the-minute facts and figures and dynamic group interaction. We’ll hear from some of the world’s leading experts on topics as diverse as the current state of the Earth’s biodiversity and the reality of the socio-economic disparity throughout the world.
Through this inquiry each individual will discover the unique stand that they wish to take for a more just, sustainable, and fulfilling world.
Empowering participants with a new vision:
This is a unique opportunity to share your concerns about the state of the world with like-minded members of your community, and offer support to each other in taking steps to effect the changes that you wish to see. Participants will leave the Symposium empowered to take clear steps to embody their vision for a better world, and having established new connections to work with others on common issues.
The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium is an initiative of The Pachamama Alliance, a San Francisco-based non-profit whose mission is to preserve the Earth’s tropical rainforests by empowering the indigenous peoples who are its natural custodians, and to contribute to the creation of a new global vision of equity and sustainability for all.
The vision of the initiative is to generate widespread awakening at the grassroots level that leads to a transformation of our world view, such that humanity becomes committed to restoring and protecting the environment and moves towards social justice and spiritual fulfillment.
For more information, call 1 705 386-1595 or email northernedgealgonquin@gmail.com.
Suggested Donation of $20
Awakening the Dreamer
Changing the Dream Symposium
Changing the Dream of the Modern World
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Here is our latest Shamanism Canada-Medicine for the Earth newsletter! Enjoy…with love and light from Martha.
To view a larger version click “Medicine Spring 2009″ below.
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“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do it whatever way I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. i rejoice in life for it’s own sake. Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”- George Bernard Shaw
Are you interested in connecting with people who care about environmental sustainability, spirituality and social justice, the biggest challenges and opportunities of our time?
Last April while in Montreal I attended an Awakening the Dreamer Symposium (see post http://www.shamanismcanada.com/blog/2008/05/april-2008-news/) I did not know at the time that I would become much more involved in the symposium!
One of the outcomes for me attending the symposium, was a desire to share the information with my community: to inspire my community in “bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Planet Earth” the mission of the symposium.
If you are interested in creating New Dreams for your community and for our Planet please join us at 100 Ottawa Ave. at the Blue Canoe in South River, Ontario May 9th from 10-4 p.m. Participants are invited to contact our Northern Edge office 800-953-3343, northernedgealgonquin@gmail.com to register($20 suggested donation and bring your own paperless lunch:) There is also an Awaken the Dreamer facilitator training, at the end of April an hour from Toronto, that I will be participating in.
Martha and Leslie at Upaya
I recently had the pleasure of meeting ‘Lynne Twist‘, who is a co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance, the organization that offers the Awakening the Dreamer symposiums around the world. I was in Santa Fe, NM with my friend Leslie, at the Upaya Zen Center participating in a workshop with Lynne called ‘Fundraising from the Heart’. The workshop is based on her inspirational book ‘The Soul of Money‘ which is about transforming our relationship with money.
Lynne Twist is a phenomenal facilitator. In my experience, Spirit moves through her like the wind and her high energy and passion for life is infectious! She has inspired me to ensure my torch is burning as brightly as possible, like Bernard Shaw invites us to do !
May the energy of spring bring clarity of purpose as we begin planting seeds our new dreams. With love and gratitude. Martha
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‘From Dark Side of the Light Chasers’ by Debbie Ford
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light,” said Jung, “but by making the darkness conscious.”
Can you recall a time you were triggered by someone else’s behaviour? Intense feelings such as jealousy, anger, and resentment towards another are indications that the shadow is present. The shadow represents the aspects of ourselves that we do not wish to look at or claim. When we choose not to take ownership of our own ugliness, selfishness, greediness or laziness, we project these qualities onto others in the form of judgment. Many of us would rather run when in a conflict with another because this is where the many faces of the shadow show up. It is much easier to play the blame and shame game than it is to face our own shadow. I have witnessed many conflicts happening around me recently, and have been struggling with how I can be of assistance in bringing peace to these conflicts. I lay in bed one evening asking for guidance from the Helping Spirits around the conflicts that were presenting themselves.
This is the dream I had that night…
Shadow Dream: I was walking down a dark road at night in a busy city. There were other people with me. I saw a white van down the road, and a dark male abducting a woman, dragging her into the back of the van. No one else saw this but me, even though they were with me. My eyes met the abductor’s eyes, and I reached for my cell phone to call 911.
I continue walking down the same busy street and a gunshot is fired next to my face. The man had come up behind me and fired the shot as a warning, killing someone else. He whispered into my ear “I know you saw what I did and now I’m going to have to kill you”. He then disappeared.
I did not experience a deep sense of fear and continue walking down the same road. The man abducts me, and my hands are tied. I do not resist and surrender to the situation. Before bringing me into the van, we sit on a bench along the sidewalk. He begins to tell me his story, and how he is feeling empty and lost, as though something is missing. I look deep into his eyes and say “Do you know what I do? I work to help heal people’s souls”. Suddenly his dark shadowy face begins to melt exposing his innocence and vulnerability…and then I awoke!
What can we learn about the Shadow from a Shamanic perspective? The Helping Spirits can help us face our shadow and own the aspects of ourselves that we fear while embracing the gifts that lie beyond.
Home Practice
- Journey to the dark side of the moon, to learn about the nature of the shadow and what gifts lie beyond it.
- Journey with your Helping Spirit back through the threads of time bringing healing to an aspect of yourself that desires attention.
The Story of Uncle
I recently had the pleasure of meeting of Angaangaq an Eskimo-Kalaallit Elder (see photo to right) whose family belongs to the traditional healers of the Far North from Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland. His name means “the man who looks like his uncle” and he is affectionately called ‘Uncle’ by many. I attended an intensive weekend with Uncle called ‘Returning to the Sacred Fire’ in Orillia, Ontario where Uncle shared a teaching from the Eskimo-Kalaallit people about ‘Melting the Ice in the Heart of Man’. Uncle invites us to travel the distance from our minds to our hearts bringing about personal transformation and global healing for the times to come.
An ancient prophecy that is told by Uncle’s Elders is that one day the Sacred Fire will return home to the people on the Top of the World. July 16-19, 2009 there will be a Fire and Ice Ceremony in Greenland focusing on the significance of the melting of the Big Ice. Indigenous peoples from the Four Directions will ceremoniously bring ashes from their Sacred Fires to the people on the Top of the World and together with the newly grown trees of Greenland, a single fire will be lit melting the ice in the heart of man.
Other News
July 10-14th-Mandaza Augustine Kandemwa will be visiting the Edge (see photo to left). He will be available for private appointments and participating in various ceremonies. Please stay tuned for details on our website, http://www.ShamanismCanada.com.
March 6-8th-There is availability in our upcoming Journey Within: Basic Shamanism. Learn Shamanic Journeying for the purpose of problem solving and restoring spiritual health and power. Please call our office to register, toll free 800-953-3343 or local 705-386-1595!
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Things have been moving at ‘winters pace’ around here lately. Yesterday morning the mercury read -35 degrees and everything was laying pretty low waiting for the morning sun to break the deep freeze that has set in the last couple of days. Imagine being one of the many animals that live in the forests here, what would you be doing in these temperatures. It made me think of the Native Algonquin people who are the original habitants of this land. Traditionally this area including Algonquin Park was utilized by small family groups who would break from the larger villages and spread out across this bountiful land to hunt for the winter. Would they be ready for the winter to transition into spring? What kind of shelters would they be living in? What would thier daily routines be like? These people blended with the landscape and were a natural part of the eco-system. The original caretakers of this land. I was thankful for these people who went before us. How can we follow in thier footsteps? How thankful are we for the gifts and comforts that we have in this day and age? How can I be the most effective caretaker of this land? What gifts and visions do I have for the future? Just some of the questions that I asked myself as I walked across the frozen lake towards the Edge. Today is a beautiful day, a new day. May we walk our paths in a sacred manner for the future generations.
Alexis Burnett
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