If John Lennon was alive today, what would he be singing?

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

Pass the Walnut Cookies Please

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

The Sacred Feminine Within Us All

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