Shamanism & Medicine for the Earth

Martha

I received an email from Bernie Quigley, who lives in Haverhill, NH. Bernie contacted me in response to a blog I wrote around the 25th anniversary of John Lennon’s death.

Bernie Quigley is a prize-winning writer and has worked more than 30 years as a book and magazine editor, political commentator and book, movie, music and art reviewer.

Bernie shared with me his blog that he wrote called “Life with the Lions: John Lennon’s Unfinished Journey - work in progress - Quigley in Exile: Notes from The Land of the Dead - The Thunder Gods, Pt. 2″.
In this article, the author draws parallels between John Lennon’s life, and the Journey of a Shaman.
I found this article to be very thought provoking.
http://quigleyinexile.blogspot.com/2005/12/life-with-lions-john-lennons.html

Imagine….. a planet with clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and an abundance of harmony and peace.

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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This weekend two-year advanced shamanism course participants gathered for some winter learning. Medicine for the Earth was the theme of this gathering. A ceremonial offering to the elements of the earth took place in a variety of settings including a stop at the snow-covered fire circle shown here. On Saturday morning all awoke to 20-30 cm of fresh snow that beckoned all to participate in an afternoon snowshoe hike!
Nice.

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It was the 25th anniversary of John Lennon’s death yesterday. After watching a documentary about the making of his album “Imagine” I thought if John Lennon was alive today, what would he be singing about? What would his message be? I decided to do a small Shamanic journey to ask this question.

In my journey I went to the upper world on my flying horse. We came to a jungle, with many palm trees. John Lennon was living amongst the trees, in a tree house. There was lush greenery all around, and he seemed to be about the same age as he was when he died. I asked him “if you were still alive in this present world, what would you be singing? What would your message be”?

He told me that he would still be singing the same message. This message is about speaking your truth, singing your truth, being your truth, no matter what other’s may think or what their reactions might be. Through his courage he helped bring his message of peace into the world.

He encouraged me to continue speaking even when I know the audience I am speaking to, or singing to might have their ears closed. Eventually, if what is true in our hearts is spoken the words will linger in the air for a long long time. I felt encouraged to continue to speak what is in my heart. I hope you do too!
Martha

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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My daughter and I made Christmas cookies today. The walnut cookie recipe was something passed onto me from my Hungarian Grandmother. As we began to bake I had a realization…..

Last week we gathered as a family over the dinner table discussing our Christmas plans. This discussion was inspired by my mother-in-law, who sent us a cheque to spend on a charity of choice for Christmas.

As a new grandmother myself, I have been thinking of the values and beliefs that I held as a young mother, and passed onto my children. Now I am seeing these same values and beliefs being taught to my grandson. This has made me reflect and ask myself important questions about my beliefs and attitudes.

At the dinner table that night I asked the same questions. “Why are we celebrating Christmas since we aren’t practicing Catholics any longer”? Why decorate a Christmas tree? Why exchange presents? What traditions do we want to continue and which ones no longer fit? What does this season of celebration really mean for us as a family? What are the values and beliefs we presently hold?

I no longer feel right about putting my energy into a custom or tradition, if it does not have personal meaning. What we explored that night was our beliefs, separate and apart from what society tells us we need to believe.

As my daughter and I began to roll out the cookie dough I made a connection to the choices we have around what we pass on to our children and what we don’t. We can choose to carry beliefs and attitudes even wounds of our fore-bearers or make different choices. We can carry on some of the beliefs, attitudes or traditions, and let go of the ones that no longer fit and weigh us down.

Even though the cookies have a pound of butter and a pound of Crisco in them, I feel lighter already!
Martha

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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This past week, on Dec. 6th I attended a Vigil to Commemorate the 16th Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre for the young women who were killed at Ecole Poly Technique in Montreal, Quebec. December 6th is a Canadian National Day of Remembrance on Violence Against Women.

I sat and listened as several women got up to speak after a candle was lit for each young woman that was gunned down. There were women representing the local women’s center, women who work directly with physically abused women, and even a woman politician representing the NDP who got up to speak.

Most of what I heard from the other women who spoke was about our need to change community, rules, laws, equality, the violence that happens to women, and that women’s issues fall on deaf ears by our government. What I was hearing was that change was something that was going to come from focusing outwardly, on rules, regulations and policies.

As I listened, my stomach began to get tight, and I felt the familiar butterflies begin to swim inside of me, urging me to speak. What would I have to say that would be relevant to this ceremony? I waited, until I could no longer contain the energy that grew within me. My whole body began to shake, saying to me “this is your chance to speak”. I reluctantly got up and walked to the front of the café, facing the gathering of people who were attending.

I began speaking by sharing a quote…. “How might your life have been different if there was a place for you…A place for you to go, a place of women…. a place where you were nurtured by an ancient flow sustaining you and steadying you as you sought to become yourself….How might your life be different”? (Circle of Stones by Judith Duerk)

When I first heard this quote 12 years ago I was attending a “Woman Within Weekend” (www.womanwithin.org) What I was seeking at that time was a circle of women where I felt accepted for who I was, supported as I discovered my gifts and encouraged to follow my dreams. What I received on that weekend was much more as I also had the opportunity to dig deep and connect with and heal what was keeping me from embracing and sharing my gifts, following my dreams, and speaking my truth.

As I shared this quote the shaking grew worse! I crossed my hands behind me, so that they wouldn’t be visible as I was a bit embarrassed. I began to share that from my perspective it is vitally important that women begin to dig. If women wish make change outwardly in our communities it is also vitally important to consider what needs to be changed inwardly. What thoughts, attitudes or beliefs do we hold that need changing? What ancestral wounds passed on through the generations need healing so that we don’t pass these wounds onto our children and grandchildren?

After I finished speaking and sat down, the shaking took quite some time to stop. In reflection, I felt I was being pushed to go outside of my comfort zone and speak on behalf of the Sacred Feminine. It is time for the Sacred Feminine to be honoured once again bringing balance back into the world. The Sacred Feminine lives within each of us, women and men and we can access her ancient voice by digging deep.

Martha

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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Sometimes I get a feeling in my gut that won’t go away. Usually it is triggered by something someone says or a choice someone makes that affects me. Deep within my gut is a feeling, an emotion that gets triggered. It sneaks up on me, just as winter sneaks up, cold and harsh.

I feel I am here to help release and transform this energy, emotions, pain that my ancestors carried. What are ancestral wounds? Who has them? Who doesn‘t? Do we all carry them, like old baggage? How do we release them, transform them, honour them? What do we do with them?

Sometimes it can be painful and difficult work. Sometimes I lack the energy that is needed. Sometimes I just don’t care anymore.
Yet this voice deep within says “you must do this for the children…. for the survival of humanity”.

Lately I have been thinking of women in my life. I have thought of how many of them felt they didn’t have choices. How many of them put aside their own dreams and desires to do what needed to be done to feed the children, tend the fires of the hearth. As they tended these fires, their own fire deep within them slowly burned away. They forgot about their magic: their gifts.

It is a difficult balance, tending fires of the home and the fire within. It is difficult to tend to the fires within when the outside world doesn’t honour them. The earth, and all of humanity desperately needs the voice and ways of the feminine at this time.

Hesitantly I go into my cave. Not this again…. I close the door, and begin a fire that will warm my bones. As I tend to the fire, my guts begin to speak. Listen…. They gurgle and bubble, and the now that I listen, the pain begins to dull. They soften as I hear the words I need to hear.

I listen as I tend the fire, and the fire within begins to burn once again. It grows, and crackles and I am once again reminded of the beauty of life that surrounds me. I am grateful that I have tasted my tears, and am ready now to depart my cave. Once again renewed, and full…. Ready to share my gifts once again.

Martha

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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We have been delighted by the response to the Two Year Shamanism Training beginning this month. Registration for the innaugural 2 year training is officially closed and the program is full. Please stay in touch by signing up for Martha’s e-mail newsletter on any page at ShamanismCanada.com. Subscribers receive early notification of upcoming basic and advanced shamanism trainings and inspirational home-study activities.

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I am getting ready to facilitate my first Advanced Two Year Shamanism Training at the Edge beginning in October. I am really excited, and am overwhelmed with the number of applicants, and interest.

One of the questions that I have been asked, is how this training might be different then other extended shamanic trainings that are offered.

The Edge is my home, where I invite many groups of people to come and practice shamanism. As visitors to my home, participants gain respect and understanding of how shamanism is lived out in my life.

Participants also have an opportunity to spend time in nature near beautiful Algonquin Park. Whether kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing or skiing, our mission is to provide experiences in nature that help us rediscover ourselves, empower one another and heal our connection to the earth.

Most of the other trainings that I am aware of take place in the United States. There are very few Canadians who participate in extended Shamanic trainings outside of Canada due to distance and cost.

Many of my peers in the U.S. live close to each other, where they can get together frequently. The Edge 2 Year Program is drawing participants from Ontario primarily and will be a small group of dedicated people, who will be a support system to one another during the training and once the training is completed. Due to the fact that we will be a small group, we will be able to provide experiences in nature that are difficult to achieve with a larger group.

To help maintain connections, besides meeting 4 times a year, I am providing online mentoring to participants in the 2 Year program for an extended period of time during and following the training.

I will be drawing from what I have learned in the F.S.S. 3 Year, as well as the training I am presently engaged in with Sandra Ingerman, to create a program that is enriching, empowering and healing.

The first year we will be working on developing our relationships with one another, and our spiritual allies. The second year we will be focusing on working on behalf of others, and learning various Shamanic Healing techniques.

If you are interested I invite you to follow the link provided to the 2 Year Application http://www.shamanismcanada.com/2%20Year%20Training%20Application.pdf

May the emerging fall colours reflect to you your own beauty and light. Blessings. Martha

Martha

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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Guests from four different Canadian provinces are visiting the Edge this weekend to take part in Medicine for the Earth, a gathering based on the teachings of Sandra Ingerman. A special welcome to those guests who are visiting from British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.
This is the second shamanism workshop of the season and Martha has been one busy facilitator, with a very busy summer schedule ahead of her including a shamanic canoe trip - Vision Quest that she leads in Algonquin Park this August (sorry there is no room left on this one). Martha’s new Two Year Training program begins this fall.

“It’s not what we do, but who we become that changes the world.”
~ Sandra Ingerman, Medicine for the Earth

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