2010 Fall Newsletter

Good Morning Friends,
Ahhhhh, the air is cool this morning and the ground dewy soft as the autumn slowly breathes itself into this smoldering land. We planted a fall garden yesterday and the little baby plants are raising their morning faces to the sun as their roots begin digging deep into the warm soil drawing up into themselves the earth’s essence. The promise of life lives in them and in us as we face each day with love in our hearts and in our actions. We do this one interaction at a time, drawing the essence of life up through our feet and releasing it on our breath, with our words, touch and thoughts. My teacher reminds me that our thoughts are our prayers so let us keep our thoughts full of kindness, grace, abundance, gratitude, clarity, forgiveness, strength and love for all beings, but especially ourselves at this season of returning our gaze inward.

As the hummingbirds prepare for their flight south and the butterflies drink the last summer nectar, the peppers, tomatoes, basil, zinnias, okra, and eggplants fill our harvest baskets let us remember what is lush and vibrant in our lives, let us be grateful for this green home.
Miriam

FIRE CEREMONIES

Friday September 17th 7:00-9:30ish Yom Kippur Day of At-one-ment

Sunday October 31st 5:00-8:00ish Day of the Dead Ancestors Altar

Sunday December 19th 4:00-7:00ish Winter Solstice
This ceremony will take place as Yom Kippur begins, a time of holding oneself lovingly accountable for one’s deeds and actions the prior year. This is a time to get in right relations with ourselves and Creator, to seek and offer forgiveness to ourselves and others. It is also the season of the Green Corn Ceremony, to give away our excess, to clean out our cupboards and keep only what we need. In the old ways the previous year’s grain was offered up in flames as the new grain is brought in for another year of grateful abundance. We recommit to live our lives freshly with respect, gratitude, renewed vigor and trust that we always have what we need.

Join us for a Fire Ceremony to release what no longer serves you. You will have the opportunity to shed beliefs, feelings, thoughts, relationships or anything else that is hampering your ability to be fully and completely who you are by offering them to the fire. We will witness each other as we make new agreements with ourselves and dream our lives into being. We will feed the holies and ask their assistance in recreating ourselves, our thoughts and our lives as we wish them to be. The choice is always ours!

Bi-Weekly Shamanic Teaching Circle at Drumsong
Thursdays 9:45 am -11:45 am

Dates: 2010: Sept 9, 23, Oct 7, 21, Nov 4, 18, Dec 2, 16, 30

Explore the world of your dreams and partner with your spirit helpers to trek deep within and become a spiritual warrior on the path of peace. Each week’s skills will build upon the next, stalking our inner obstacles and finding our power through impeccable action. We will journey with the sacred drum each week. Learn to get out of your own way and bring spirit through serving as a hollow bone in all your endeavors. When we work with the guides and helpers that are available to us, invite our medicine ancestors and honor the old ways and our elders, the doors of spirit healing open to us. Come be a part of the magic.

A contribution of $20- $25 per circle is suggested. May spirit always be your guide.

Arapaho Little Boys and Girls Sweat Lodge Ceremony at Drumsong Sanctuary for the Soul led by Sharon Mitchell


Saturday, October 23 Sweat Lodge

Bring yourselves and your prayers to this lodge. As the water is poured over the sacred stones the steam will carry our blessings to creator and assist us to purify. The name of this lodge refers to an Arapaho tradition that is gentler and more flexible than some sweat lodge traditions but does not mean that is intended only for children as I have been asked this question often. This is a lodge for people of all ages to come and bask in the womb of the earth mother and the gentle teachings of our grandmother Sharon.

Rev. Sharon Mitchell has been honored with the passing down of the tradition of this Arapaho Nation sweat lodge. She has been on the Red Road, living Native American Spirituality for over twenty years.

Her experience will inspire you to discover the power that you carry within you to manifest Grandmother‘s Spirit in your personal life. Rev. Sharon is a Science of Mind Ordained Minister bringing together New Thought and Ancient Wisdom in a weekly circle. Rev. Sharon is part of the Pastoral Team at the Mt. Area Hospice. She creates sacred and traditional ceremonies in her business, Ceremonies From the Heart.

Workday options: October 10, 16, or let me know when you are available to help with cutting, splitting and gathering wood and stones, raking, moving blankets, etc. If you have WOOD or STONES to offer, we are so grateful and they can be brought anytime and stacked. The preparations are part of the ceremony and are a labor of love and communion with the land, the tall standing ones, the stone people, the water and enrich one’s experience of the ceremony greatly as we joyfully do this sacred work together. Let me know when you can help and we’ll make a plan.

Please contact Miriam (919) 304-5754 or melieber@mebtel.net ) to RSVP, find out protocols, directions and ask questions. We will potluck FEAST together afterwards. I’ll send more information to those planning on attending as to how to prepare and what to bring. Directions are also available on my website www.drumsongsanctuary.com.