April 2022

In the northern hemisphere, today marks Beltane, an ancient celebration of spring, fertility and growth. Often referred to as the “greening”, it infers new beginnings, abundance, awakenings, creativity and creation.

This celebration of the seasons occurs halfway between the spring and summer equinox/solstice and is a time of increasing light and lightness. The word Beltane is derived from the ancient Celtics’ Beltaine, which translates to “bright fire”. The timing of this festival of light corresponds to Taurus in the astrological chart, and this particular sign also tends to be one of clearing out the old to see a new path to the future. It is the perfect time to put plans into action.

I have had an interesting April, and frankly, a few months now of some interesting circumstances. We had a very poorly cat, now healthy. We have had two floods in our basement, both resolved. We have all had Covid, which is mostly resolved. We have had water well problems, also now resolved.

Although all these circumstances have been resolved, they were challenging to go through. Lots of sleepless nights or, with Covid, barely able to get out of bed for days have been exhausting. The mental and physical fatigue has been unbelievable.

All this and more has prompted me to re-evaluate my own energy at this time, and I have recognized that I need time to rebalance myself.

I will be closing my practice temporarily May 31st through August 31st.

During my time away from the clinic, I will be deepening my personal practice and aligning with the energy of Beltane to allow me to find a way forward with balance and integrity. I will be stoking my personal fire with compassion and health to brighten and lighten myself.

Please consider deepening your personal work during this potent time of the year. We have been moving through such unprecedented times! I do believe if we can create calmness, balance, self-love and kindness within, we will create the world in which we do want to live.

Practice journeying to your helping spirits and the Spirit of Beltane to explore your best path forward. What might you need to purge to clear the way forward? What would you like to fertilize, nurture and grow in this season of “greening”? Notice what comes up. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

My practice will be closed temporarily from May 31st through August 31st, 2022.

Stay safe and healthy.

All healing sessions are $150.00/hour.

Ave

March 2022

As I write this, the struggle in the Ukraine has been going on for over 100 hours. I was quite affected by the news of the Russian choice to invade and was saddened by yet another political and economic move for external power and control. The world doesn’t feel very peaceful at all.

What can those of us that do not want to participate in this ancient struggle of mankind do? Ho can we stop the struggle for power, wealth and control over others?

I know people who don’t watch the news, and I must confess I am one of them. I don’t appreciate our media: “news” is mostly offered to us as some sort of entertainment, or, at best, attempting to influence popular opinion. I have observed that this type of reporting causes divisiveness and separation.

I watch the flow of energies, and also the impact global events are having on people around me. I am also aware of how this energy influences how my body is feeling.

I have felt restlessness and worry in many people. We have been worn down by nearly two years of Covid fear. Many people that I am know are at the end of their rope, and now that restrictions are about to be lifted here, we have an underlying fear of another global event unfolding playing on our emotions. Many people are very fragile.

We typically don’t make healthy or loving choices in times of fear and fragmentation.

What my Guidance is sharing with me is to continue to do our inner work: shine your light as brightly as possible. Seek support if you need it. Build community. We’re never alone. We’re so much better when we work together.

There is no better time to do your deepest work. Remembering your soul’s equality with all souls and acting with compassion in this world can be a challenge, but it is absolutely vital that we begin to make this loving choice, beginning with being compassionate with oneself. We have spread so much fearful energy out into the world.

Perhaps we cannot envision a world with peace. I journeyed on this possibility yesterday. If we cannot see or feel peace in our life, how can we draw more of it to ourselves and all beings? All healing work is precipitated by envisioning the subject in its perfection and wholeness. If we cannot envision our Earth, our home, in peace, how can we possibly embody it?

In my own journey, I asked the Unseen about Peace. The word. The emotion. The feeling. I was gifted a moment of grace – to feel Peace within. This I can work with.

Practice journeying to your helping spirits to explore Peace. What energy does peace hold? Where is it felt in your body? How can you create peace within your own being, so that more will flow your way? Notice what comes up. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I have shifted my practice to a Covid flexible format: New clients will only be offered a virtual first session. Any subsequent sessions will be tailored to the client’s needs. If an in-person session is required, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

February 2022 Newsletter

The image below was in my Facebook feed and stopped me in my tracks.

For me, the first thing to look at was my own reaction. I felt such a strange sensation in my heart centre and became curious about that. I realized that this statement triggered my own fearful parts that caretake.

I chose to explore that more deeply. What came up for me was amazing!

I was reminded that I cannot affect someone else’s light directly, but that I could perhaps inspire another to shine their brightest. I must be clear that I do not have an attachment to an outcome.

I was reminded that I am not responsible for someone else’s light, or to remind them to shine it. If I am attempting to manipulate or convince another, I am out of my integrity; acting from a fearful part of myself.

I was also reminded that it is always my choice to shine my brightest light, however bright my light is in that moment. I must be clear that, faced with choices in every moment, it is possible to choose the most loving of those choices.

To make the most loving choice in the moment and shine that brightest light

That, we all can do. Do our best to be love.

Do our make the most loving choice for ourselves in every moment. Be clear of intention when interacting with others, especially now, when there are so many that have suffered, or are suffering now. These are extraordinary times.

We can be kind and compassionate to all beings. That raises our vibration and this, in consort will also raise the vibration on the planet.

Transfiguration is a great way to shine your divine light without directing it to anyone or anything in particular. Shapeshift into your divine self without attachment to the outcome!

The message that was offered on Facebook could clearly be the most loving and wonderful thing: to support and help others on their healing path. They may be in so much fear right now that their light appears to be dimmed.

Love yourself. Shine your light. Be Love, and that will be this world’s greatest medicine.

Practice journeying to your helping spirits to discover your true intention when you are with others, no matter what your relationship is with them. Are you clear that you are responsible for your own light, choices, and healing? Are you clear about your intention of support? Any attachments? Notice what comes up. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I'm a par

January 2022 Newsletter

com·mu·ni·ty: noun

a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Community Part 3:

Now, more than ever, we must choose love. If you are, or if you know of anyone who is feeling alone, isolated or withdrawn, please hold them in their highest light. If each of us holds ourselves to our highest light, we will be supporting other beings in the Earth School.

I am choosing to shine my best and brightest light as the sun returns in the northern hemisphere. We have gone through the darkest and longest night. Let us use this metaphor to help raise the vibration on the Earth. As mentioned in my December newsletter: If you are feeling able to support, reach out to a local healing circle to see how you can help. Perhaps you will find additional benefits for yourself in sharing your best self unconditionally and compassionately. Seek help if you are depressed, angry, or overwhelmed in any way.

Healers are needed now more than ever. If you have ever considered doing healing work, or if you are a healer, remind your clients that they have a community. I have been given a very strong message by Spirit that we are going to be needed very badly over the next while, as humanity works through this stage of evolution.

From last month’s newsletter, I reiterate: I encourage all of us to reach out with open hearts to those you resonate with in a heartfelt and loving way, rather than through your fear. Reach out to those who are inclusive and compassionate, rather than opinionated and righteous. Find your common ground(s). Find your spiritual common ground. Not everyone is “Christian” or “Hindu” or “Buddhist”, etc., but they are kind, generous and caring toward others. Although the religious beliefs, colour of skin, or manner of dress may be different, there may be incredible bridges to be crossed if we look for our similarities.

What will we find when we look past the surface, the opinions, and the fear? Perhaps our hearts will rejoice in inclusivity, equality, and joy. What would the world look like if we call could come together and share with love and caring for all beings?

What community will you create?

I am shifting my practice to a Covid flexible format: New clients will only be offered a virtual first session, with subsequent sessions tailored to the client’s needs. If an in-person session is required, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Continue practicing journeying to your helping spirits to discover answers surrounding your beliefs regarding community. Are you creating community in a healthy and loving way? Are you fearful of not belonging? Notice what comes up. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

As I mentioned in my previous newsletters during these challenging times, I offer all my friends and family this suggestion: Do your inner work: drum or rattle with healing intentions, transfigure often, take time to reflect and nurture compassion. Be with nature. Choose love, not fear. This is not only guidance for these times, but for always.

Stay safe and healthy.

December 2021 Newsletter

com·mu·ni·ty: noun

a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Community Part 2:

Continuing on the theme of my November newsletter, I am deepening the discussion of community. I have seen so many people feeling separate, feeling as though they have no tribe; no support. I am so saddened by the levels of separation that the recent times have seemingly created. I do know that it is not the actual pandemic or virus itself causing this in us, but instead it is our deep-rooted fears; whatever they may be. I am also very aware of the far-reaching mental health implications of the situation we find ourselves in after months of restrictions and isolation.

I am currently working with several clients who are suffering in isolation. Some have manifested serious physical disease. Some have called me in desperation after finding themselves very depressed and lonely. I remind each of them that our mental health is linked inexorably with our emotional state, and the state of our planet. Many of my clients are well aware of their multi-sensory capabilities. They feel so much of the pain and suffering in the world.

It’s our job as community members of the Earth School to support with love. I encourage you to reach out to friends, family, even coworkers, if you are feeling unwell in any way. If you are feeling able to support, reach out to a local healing circle to see how you can help. Perhaps you will find additional benefits for yourself in sharing your best self unconditionally and compassionately. Seek help if you are depressed, angry, or overwhelmed in any way.

What community will you create?

November 2021

Community: com·mu·ni·ty: noun

a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

In the world of isolation, restrictions, and lockdowns, it has been difficult for me to remember that we need community. I had a realization a couple of weeks ago that during the Covid situation, there have been many communities created: a lot of which are cliques or groups of people who believe the same things. Unfortunately, the common feeling that is present in many of these newly created communities is that of fear; fear of getting sick, fear of spreading illness, fear of others who think differently, fear of not belonging, fear of being in the wrong community, fear of being wrong, fear of being right, fear of the future….It goes on and on.

One thing is for certain, communities created in fear will likely create more fear.

I have taught in circle for many years. One of the reasons that I teach in a circle is that everyone in a circle is equal. We look at each other’s faces. No one is unequal. There is no beginning or end to a circle, and I feel that there is an enhanced level of safety when we feel equal and safe in a compassionate and loving circle. When I teach in circle, even though I am the “teacher”, I feel that the energy of the circle offers me opportunities to learn as well, given the equanimity and safety.

A circle of equals interested in spiritual growth, kindness and compassion, is a community that I can get my heart around.

I encourage all of us to reach out with open hearts to those you resonate with in a heartfelt and loving way, rather than fearful. Reach out to those who are inclusive and compassionate, rather than opinionated and righteous. Find your common ground(s). Find your spiritual common ground. Not everyone is “Christian” or “Hindu” or “Buddhist”, etc., but they are kind, generous and caring toward others. Although the religious beliefs, colour of skin, or manner of dress may be different, there may be incredible bridges to be crossed if we look for our similarities.

What will we find when we look past the surface, the opinions, and the fear? Perhaps our hearts will rejoice in inclusivity, acceptance, equality, and joy. What would the world look like if we call could come together and share with love and caring for all beings?

What community will you create?

I am continuing my sabbatical into November. I do have some sessions booked with clients, and I am now considering November fully booked. I will consider reopening in December. I will not be checking email regularly but will answer your inquiries as soon as I am able. Please look after yourself and those you care about.

Journey to your helping spirits to discover answers surrounding your beliefs regarding community. Are you creating community in a healthy and loving way? Are you fearful of not belonging? Notice what comes up. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

October 2021 Newsletter

“My superpower is kindness.”

Edithe (4½ years old)

Recently, we were privileged to have a visit with our granddaughter, Edithe. Even the thought of having our kids and grandkids with us brings a smile to a (grand)parent’s face! Separation through Covid has created some challenges to family relationships. To have real contact after months of Facetime refueled something in me.

I am always amazed by the wisdom of children.

Playing with our granddaughter reminded me of the depth of her insights. Her direct communication without any filters or hesitation was refreshing. She only spoke her truth. Even the games we played were imaginative, filled with detail, and created so much joy. We laughed, sang, played outside, read, went on nature walks and talked for ages when we were going to bed.

One of our games was superheroes. We imagined and created a character and, of course, had a superpower. Before I even had a chance to share mine, Edithe told me hers: kindness.

I asked her why this superpower was so necessary. She told me that we all needed more love and kindness right now.

As I reflect on our current situation with more restrictions, with proof of vaccine required for entrance to venues and restaurants, I feel we can all be kinder to each other. More divisiveness, more anger, more blaming isn’t going to help us through this situation. We can choose kindness and acceptance.

With the next new moon on the 6th of October, I encourage you to start a new cycle: one of self-compassion, kindness, inclusivity, understanding and peace. What will your superpower be?

I have temporarily closed my practice for the month of October and am now booking sessions into November. I will not be checking email regularly, but will answer your inquiries as soon as I am able. Please look after yourself and those you care about.

Journey to your helping spirits to discover answers surrounding your superpower. What positive, high frequency aspect of yourself will you nurture going forward? Ask your helping spirits how to nurture yourself with compassion. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

Stay safe and healthy.

September 2021

As we head into the fall in the Northern Hemisphere, I am reminded about how important balance is in our lives. The Fall Equinox occurs this month, and aside from being my absolute favourite time of year, it is indicative of not only a need for balance but is a also a reminder of the importance of looking at things through a lens of equality, compassion, and inclusivity. There is so much division and separateness at the moment, and I have been doing a lot of personal work on how to bring balance back into my own life and practice.

Something that I discovered in journeying to find areas of my life that were out of balance, was clearly around work, and my healing practice. I recognized that I was accommodating clients on days I normally don’t work, having very long sessions with some clients, and also taking many follow-upcalls and emails in between appointments as I was endeavouring to support people during these troubled times. The issues and problems that people are working through during the pandemic have been challenging and difficult for some to manage. I do intend to support in the best possible way, but didn’t realize the physical and emotional toil until I took a short vacation.

Although my work is what I love, and I absolutely want to support my clients in the best possible way, my own personal practice was not as robust or consistent as I like.

Things had fallen out of balance for me, and it is now my intention to allow balance back into my life.

I have been guided to take some time off, which I will do beginning October 1st. I’m taking a leave of absence for a month, because I am choosing to be more compassionate to myself.

Journey to your helping spirits to discover answers surrounding your life balance Are you inviting balance into your life, and where do you resist it? Do you need some more time to be present in your own personal practice? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

August 2021 Newsletter

The Covid situation seems to be lessening in intensity with the reopening of services and loosening of restrictions.

For my own practice here in my home, I have decided to wait to reopen fully. The way that I have worked in the past shifted quite dramatically during Covid. I have been only doing remote healings. I have found the clients who are open to distance work are also open to being responsible for their own healing.

Taking responsibility for one’s own self- healing is imperative, as we are the only ones who can affect change within ourselves. When I am working remotely with a client, it appears that they are more willing to be accountable for doing the homework that Spirit suggests. Generally, clients are more open to talking about their issues, as they can be more objective with a “voice on the phone”. Typically, I find that they are not projecting onto me or worried about my reactions or possible judgements. These clients do not have the expectation that someone or something outside of themselves will fix them.

A remote session is a safe place, as I don’t know what the client even looks like, nor do they me. It is completely impartial and allows for deeper connection with their own helping spirits, more complete integration of the work, and more openness to change. As the practitioner, I am not tempted to put messages from Spirit through my own filters when I am not watching the client. Body language can be distracting!

The sessions have been quite amazing.

What I have realized without doubt is that as all of us evolve, the work is also evolving. We are remembering and embracing our energetic connection and oneness, which, in times of such divisiveness, is remarkable.

I am therefore going to continue only remote sessions at this time, and trust that Spirit will guide just the right clients to me to support. My own spirit is being rejuvenated by these sessions, and the freedom that I enjoy by not having to clear my treatment room (other than energetically) helps me stay balanced in a year and a half that has been very challenging on so many levels.

The healings that are required after the Covid lockdowns are intense, deep, and meaningful. Isolation has brought up many painful feelings for people, causing trauma of varying degrees. Our work together is possibly more important than it has ever been, and it is my intention to support my clients in the best way that I can.

The decision to continue working remotely has not been made lightly. I have journeyed and journeyed on this. Many people want to see me. It triggers a lot of feelings in me, but I am challenging the fearful parts of me that would choose to be overwhelmed by other’s needs and put them ahead of my own.

I am seeking a more balanced and compassionate approach to my own wellbeing, which helps me support yours.

Journey to your helping spirits to discover answers surrounding your choices. Are you making any choices from fearful parts of you? What will your helping spirits show you that might clarify your future? Are you creating the dream in which your future self would like to live? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

and edit me. It's easy.

July 2021 Newsletter

As I write this month’s newsletter, it is oppressively warm here in Southern Alberta. I don’t recall ever having temperatures like we are experiencing right now. Every day, there are warnings about the heat.

Someone said to me recently that Mother Earth is angry with us, and showing us her anger with natural disasters, extreme weather and, of course, a global pandemic.

I heard this comment and I felt the sensations that I experienced in my body. The statement didn’t ring true, but I did what I normally do when I am curious with a question.

I journeyed.

I journeyed to the Spirit of Mother Earth.

First off, I experienced her as a very compassionate, divine feminine energy. I felt nurtured in her presence.

She spoke to me with kindness. She was gentle but firm. She is not human and does not judge or blame. She does not retaliate. She does not get angry. Her love is unconditional.

I observed that she has done what many of us do to regain balance and wellness in our own lives. She has the elements to support her: Earth, Water, Fire and Air.

She has strengthened herself by flooding herself with water, much as we would take a shower to cool off or perhaps even to make ourselves more aware and awake. She has had fire clear large areas for regrowth, as we have done with gardens and fields after harvest or crops have failed to mature. She bolsters her own Earth energy by being solid in herself. Perhaps volcanoes are an indicator of her internal fire and fluidity overflowing for all to see. She has weather that clears with strong winds, tornadoes and hurricanes.

In other words, she is doing her own healing work. Just like so many of us are doing.

The one difference is she is unconditional in her support of us. She does nothing with the harm that we are doing to her, except to heal herself. She doesn’t blame.

She is a true metaphor for how we can be more universal, more caring, more unconditional, more loving to ourselves and others.

No blaming. No judgement, Just love.

Let’s try that on for ourselves.

Journey to The Spirit of Mother Earth to discover your relationship with her consciousness. What will she share with you regarding your healing, how she supports you and how you can support her. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

June 2021 Newsletter

Most weekdays, I get a personalized email from “the Universe”; great little messages that are generated by the brilliant Mike Dooley, who coined the phrase “thoughts become things”. This morning’s was quite poignant:

You know those folks who push your buttons, Jan?

Here’s the deal: Once you love your life and yourself so much that you no longer care about their behavior… they disappear.

Spiritual housekeeping,

The Universe

The power of self-love, Jan, is all of that and so much more.

(Remember, these messages are “personalized”, so insert your name where you see mine.)

So many people are at the edge or their tolerance with lockdowns and all of the challenges that go with it. I’m sure that there is at least one person that you encounter regularly, or have encountered during these interesting times that has pushed your buttons. Have they managed to unhinge you? Trigger you into being angry or feeling like a victim in their presence? Have you felt bullied?

One of the greatest gifts of challenging our own fears of feelings of inadequacy or powerlessness is that we learn so much about ourselves if we intend and allow it. We can gain wisdom about our own truth and what is meaningful for us, if we care enough about ourselves to explore these triggers, take the blame from the one holding the gun, and really delve into how we can best heal ourselves. That is self-love. The person triggering you offers an opportunity to choose: to engage in fear and feeling less than… or stepping toward your own authenticity and truth.

If we love ourselves enough and are clearly intending to heal by observing and feeling our fears without acting on them, there is such potential to find peace and harmony within. Choose to not let things outside of you trigger you into doubting yourself and/or your value.

Inner peace seems to me to allude to valuing oneself within. The second that I allow another to determine my worth, I am indulging my fear of unworthiness.

I do have great gratitude for the times that we are in, and am intending peace and harmony in my life, here in the present moment.

Journey to Your Wisest Self and your spiritual allies to glean information on your triggers, and how they may be trapping you into fear. Explore any people who you allow to exert power over you, and how to see this situation in a different light. Can you see this relationship from a different perspective? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

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May 2021

Over a year has gone by now with lockdowns and restrictions. I hear a lot of people referring to these times as “the new normal” or perhaps wondering “when we will return to normal.”

I know that when I am holding onto something looking a certain way, or that things should resolve in a certain way, that I have an attachment to an outcome; I have an expectation that things will turn out the way that I want them or need them to be.

I recall a workshop that we hosted, led by my friend, Andrew Steed. At one point, he asked the group “what is the shape of a rainbow?” In the journey that followed, the Spirit of Rainbows shared with me that a rainbow is a circle - the same shape as the Earth that it shines over. There is just a portion of the rainbow visible to the viewer. The rest is hidden from us.

Recently, I have journeyed to this colourful Spirit again. The Rainbow was clear that if I was looking for a pot at the end of the rainbow, then I was attached to a certain outcome. I realized what a beautiful metaphor the Rainbow Spirit was sharing with me.

If the rainbow is indeed a circle, it has no end. There is no pot sitting at the end of the rainbow that I can see. That would infer that there is an end.

Just like in the rainstorm that provided the moisture for the rainbow, nothing is visible until there is light, in this case from our dear Sun. Until Father Sun breaks through the stormy sky and lights up the raindrops so that their beauty is reflected on the dark clouds on the opposite horizon, their colours aren’t visible.

How like our future this metaphor is. Until we find our way through any darkness, fear, upsets, or sadness that we may currently find ourselves in, we will not see the colours of the rainbow. The light that is required to lift me from any darkness I might be experiencing is my own light. I am reminded that all light heals. Remember the empowerment of transfiguration: Even in the darkness, we can each shine our own divine light and shapeshift into the loving, compassionate beings we are meant to be.

Journey to Spirit of the Rainbow and to see what wisdom this being holds for you. Explore any attachments or expectations you may have in your life. Ask the Rainbow how you might create differently. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

April 2021

Today, I had an amazing experience, which has offered some insight into the calmness that I am feeling, even though there is still a lot of healing work to be done in the world.

On my drive to Calgary for an appointment this morning, two ravens in a tree off the side of the road caught my eye. I love ravens…they always seem to be observing and commenting on what is going on around them. These two were watching something below them at the base of the tree. The tree was only about twenty meters from the road, and I could see a deer getting up from the ground, first on her back legs, then her front. She turned and bent down again.

I was concerned that she may have been hit on the nearby road, and that the ravens were just waiting for her to die. Whenever I see something hurt or injured on the road, I say a little prayer for them, thanking them for their time here, offering gratitude that they shared their beauty and spirit with us, and witness the completion of their life’s circle as they return their body to the land.

Then I realized she had bent to lick a newborn baby! The new one was trying to stand but was pretty shaky.

I was moved that the ravens were witnessing this marvel of life and that every day is such an amazing time to learn, be reawakened, learn, grow and shift.

I was also moved that I was able to share this precious time with this mom, the amazing ravens and the beauty of the land and sky.

There is a good chance that the mother deer was born close to where she gave birth. So many circles, infinitely turning. We can always trust that nature will carry on.

I was also very aware that it is Easter this weekend. This is such a huge reminder of death and rebirth. I wonder how many circles and cycles the ravens have witnessed over the millennia?

Journey to the circles of life and what this medicine holds for you. What marvels have you witnessed? What has nature taught you about trust and possibility? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

March 2021

Resilience

rəˈzilyənc/ noun

The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Similar: strength, toughness, hardiness, buoyancy, durability, adaptability, flexibility

Opposite: vulnerability, weakness, fragility,

The ability to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.

Oxford Online Dictionary

I have had several conversations recently, talking about resilience, and what my friends, clients, or colleagues are learning about their own strength and abilities to cope. During the past year of Covid, many are realizing that they are much stronger than they thought. Some have realized where they might require more work to be healthier emotionally, physically and spiritually. Words like flexibility, vulnerability and trust come up a lot in conversation.

I feel it is important to acknowledge that to be flexible and vulnerable seems to me to be a healthy thing, even though, in the definition above, the dictionary declares vulnerability is opposite to resilience. If I looked at resilience as a positive attribute, then why would I be resistant, unmoving, or untrusting? I started down an intellectual rabbit hole.

As is my practice, I like to journey to the meaning and feeling of words and find out what it might be teaching me.

My journey to “resilience” was very interesting.

Spirit showed me that resilience is like much of our language: offering descriptors of attributes of the personality. These nouns are effectively naming parts of our humanness. I was shown that these aspects are not of the soul, but parts of our personality, which may or may not be in alignment with the infinitely and always resilient soul.

I was then guided to remember that bringing these aspects of my humanness into alignment with my soul and my soul’s purpose, is, of course, my work in this lifetime.

Covid is bringing up a lot for all of us. I am choosing to do my best to navigate the storm with love and compassion. The second part of the definition above seems apt, when we have all been stretched and triggered on so many levels during these times, but this stretching has been and continues to be a huge opportunity to learn, heal, grow and find meaning in our lives.

Journey to resilience and what it holds for you. Can you embrace and embody the perfection of your soul and your soul’s intent and bring your personality into alignment? What parts of you are resilient and healthy, and where will your helping spirits show you need some loving attention? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

Stay safe and healthy.

My practice is still closed for physical one-on one or group sessions. I am only setting up remote (distance) appointments at this time.

We continue to be in lockdown. I will re-evaluate my practice once restrictions are lifted completely,

If you have been one of those who has lost your source of income due to lay-offs or your business has been forced to close, I will not charge for your session. I trust that this will all resolve and rebalance with the times to come.

After several years of maintaining the same rates for sessions, I revised my pricing January 1st, 2021: All healing sessions are $150.00/hour.

February 2021 Newsletter

In my part of the world, we are in the mid-point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Our ancestors, depending on our religious beliefs and indigenous lands might have called this Imbolc, Candlemas, the Feast of Brigid, and even Ground Hog Day. It is also the Dead of Winter.

I love to look at all these various sacred days and celebrations, seeking their similarities and even noting their differences. I also enjoy seeing how many different belief systems have celebrations at similar times. I always journey to find out if there might be another or an additional meaning, an insight or bit of wisdom that will be offered to me by my helping spirits.

For me, through journey work, I have found this time of year to be likened to a seed nestled deeply in the Earth, or an egg in the womb. It is a dark place, but a place of great potential. Who knows what may come from the darkness? How am I creating and manifesting in this dark time?

I was inspired to be given the phrase “The light is ever increasing. Create with that light”.

I always reflect on my journey when I come back to the room from non-ordinary reality. I saw and felt the increasing light that Spirit was speaking about. I felt that light outside of me, but I also knew that same light was in me. I felt at peace, even though we remain in a lockdown. I felt a sense of comfort with any worries that I might not know what is going on or why, and I don’t need to have all the answers, either. I feel like I am being remembered with Trust. (Please see my January newsletter for definitions of dismemberment and/or rememberment).

What I would share with you in the Dead of Winter, is that we are absolutely continuing on a healing path of re-memberment not only individually, but on a planetary level as well. Together, in remembering our highest selves, and creating with the most loving choices that we can make in the moment, we can create a world in which our future selves and decedents can be inclusive, peaceful, and compassionate. We can believe in our own ability to heal and affect healing!

Let us all be the brightest lights as we move toward the Spring and allow the seeds and the eggs to thrive. Let us open our hearts fully to this light to fuel the re-memberment.

Journey to believe and trust in supporting and affecting the loving re-memberment of our planet and all who live on her. Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey for healing for the Earth. In the dark dead of winter, can you embrace your own light and shine it to affect healing? See Mother Earth and all Beings in their perfection and best light. Can you hold that beautiful vision into manifestation? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

After several years of maintaining the same rates for sessions, I have revised my pricing for January: All sessions will be $150.00/hour.

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January 2021

dismemberment; noun

the action of cutting off a person's or animal's limbs.

"graphic pictures of torture and dismemberment"

the action of partitioning or dividing up a territory or organization.

"the dissolution and dismemberment of the British empire" Google Dictionary

Many times in this very strange year, I have been given a similar message from my spirit helpers and guides: the Earth, and all who reside on her are going through a dismemberment. I feel the second part of the definition is very apt, as this dismemberment affects not only living beings, but also systems, governments, countries, etc.

In shamanic terms, dismemberment is a specific healing ceremony that reduces the client to dust or something essentially primordial. All that we know of the person’s personality is removed, reducing them to their pure essence. All that we recognize about the person’s personality is gone. All aspects of the personality and ego no longer exist in the way that they had previously. In the ceremony, the practitioner might see the client being ripped apart by an animal, or blown up in a volcano, or even shattered like the glass in a mirror. The methods of dismemberment are specific to the person receiving the healing and are as varied and unique as are each of us.

I do dismemberment journeys for myself often, especially when I am working a lot with difficult or complex healings, making sure that I am not carrying around energy that doesn’t belong to me, and for the clearing of my own energetic body.

A crucial part of a dismemberment healing is the re-memberment. The practitioner must remind the client to re-member. Some see themselves re-membered with crystal or rainbow-like bones, bright lights within them, the colours of compassion and love forming on their skin and features. Whatever the result, the re-memberment is an amazing transformation to a higher frequency, more loving, more beautiful self.

It is the rememberment part of the ceremony that I wish to set strong intent around, and I will be doing that work most deeply on Monday, December 21st, 2020, which is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. It is the darkest day of the year.

Please join me in setting a strong intent for the best and highest re-memberment for our dear Mother Earth and all those she holds. Let us see her in her greatest and most divine self. Let us embrace our humanity in its best form with sharing, equality, compassion, love and healing for all.

This solstice is a particularly powerful one. We are entering the age of Aquarius. Saturn entered Aquarius on the 16th, Jupiter on the 19th, culminating on the solstice on the 21st. This age signifies a global community that has an opportunity for healing. The other wonderful aspect of the darkest night is that the very next day marks the return of the light. Let us open our hearts fully to this light to fuel the re-memberment.

Journey on the solstice to explore re-memberment of Mother Earth and all who live on her. Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey for healing for the Earth. How do you envision a healed and healthy Mother Earth? What does it feel like to live in peace, harmony, love and compassion? Can you hold that beautiful vision into manifestation? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I am allowing myself some rest over the holidays, but can be reached if necessary during the hours of 10 am and 6 pm weekdays.

I wish you and yours the most wonderful holiday season. Stay safe and healthy.

My practice is still closed for physical one-on one or group sessions. I am only setting up remote (distance) appointments at this time.

As we are now in a new phase of lockdown in Alberta, I will be reviewing my practice later in January, if restrictions are lifted.

After several years of maintaining the same rates for sessions, I have revised my pricing for January: All sessions will be $150.00/hour.

December 2020 Newsletter

Creative work is…a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.

Steven Pressfield: The War of Art 2002

I am currently reading an amazing book called the War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It isn’t a big book; it’s rather small, but it is very powerful, and I have been reading it at the perfect time for me.

When my dear friend, Laini Risto and I embarked on a creative project to produce healing music together a few years ago, I could not have predicted the healing, learning or challenges that would show up for me.

Our first project, Spirit Bear, was created in a fantastic studio in Las Vegas with Talbot Snow of Las Vegas Sound Masters. Talbot is a great producer, and really supported me with finding comfort in listening to my own voice on a recording: Believe me this was no small feat. I have lived in morbid fear of hearing my own voice and had managed to avoid that for a very long time.

Being in the studio with a season professional like Laini further escalated my fears: would she hate the sound of my voice as much as I did? Would she want to see the project through to its completion? I was beginning to sense all the ways that my own fears and self-judgement were creating resistance and attempting to put the project on a permanent hiatus.

As you know, that first cd did get finished. I learned a LOT about myself. I can listen to the music and my voice with a lot less judgement, and actually feel very good when people find the cd helpful in their shamanic or meditation practice. I’m also able to take constructive criticism SO much better than I have before and have been able to hear the improvements I might offer in our second cd.

Snow Raven is finally released! There were a number of challenges with this music project too! Of course!!! We worked diligently in the studio. Again, Talbot was great, providing good feedback and fantastic support. We had several incidents along the way: software issues, hardware issues, and then Covid. We had originally thought that we would be able to release the cd a year ago, but it has taken a lot of 2020 to get our ducks in a row over the internet and, with borders closed, technology has had to play an even bigger role in the process than before.

Then there were the personal challenges that came up for each of us. Laini and I both experienced loss: Laini with her daughter, and me with my dad.

We also butted heads with our old friend, resistance. Covid has played a part with all of the fatigue associated with the global pandemic. There seemed to be many roadblocks. These roadblocks were feeding a lot of my fears.

Laini and I speak to each other most days, and we have also been support to eachother. It seemed as if when one of us was going through something that would affect us deeply, then the other wouldn’t be far behind with a similar challenge.

Through this, I have certainly learned how to be compassionate towards myself and others to a depth I hadn’t perceived previously. I learned a lot about how to support without fear or caretaking. I have learned incredible lessons about how I am lovingly supported always.

I am so happy to share with you that Snow Raven is now available as a download, music streaming, or cd. Alongside, Spirit Bear, you can access this music via the dedicated website: https://lainiristo.hearnow.com/spirit-bear

On this website, you can order the digital download, hear it on streaming platforms, or order a cd. I have been promised my package of cd’s for distribution the week of December 8th, for those in my area who can pop by or have it mailed to them.

Snow Raven contains rhythms and tones for transformation and reconnection to your highest self and deeper connections with your spirit allies.

An invocation calls Snow Raven and all our spirit allies closer.

Snow Raven invites the listener on a journey of alchemy. The raven offers an elixir of transformation - gently weaving magic and mystery through the bodies, raising frequencies by releasing the old, and inviting the new. Raven encourages transmutation of the shadow to increase love's light. By embracing the higher vibration, we are transported toward a bolder potential, filled with meaning and compassionate growth. The raven’s call “Keerah" and “Keeroh" honours the relationship between black and white: shifting and transmuting darkness into light. Dismemberment and rememberment. The ravens triumphantly call in the Spirits of Alchemy: The Master of Transmutation, The Mistress of Reweaving Stories, The Blue Sky Warriors and the Mistress of the Storms. With Snow Raven as your guide and ally, each journey is one of deep clearing and renewal.

Moon Journey offers an opportunity to fly free with the Snow Raven in the intention of the listener’s choice. Invite your own allies to come close and allow healings, blessing and messages to come through in direct revelation. Open your wings and soar.

Laini and I invite you to listen to the invocation and set your intention, then allow the Snow Raven to weave magic and wisdom through you as you journey through the realms of understanding.

Enjoy the journey.

Journey to explore transformation with this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey of understanding what you choose to transform in your life. What needs to be released within you, so that something new can emerge? What will raise your frequency? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

My practice is still closed for physical one-on one or group sessions. I am only setting up remote (distance) appointments at this time. I will reevaluate the COVID practices and requirements in January 2021.

After several years of maintaining the same rates for sessions, I will be shifting to a new structure in January: All sessions will be $150.00/hour.

November 2020 Newsletter

Everything can change, and everything will change. It just takes time.

don Miguel Ruiz, MD Daily message 10/18/20

Again, I have turned to Dr. Ruiz to illuminate something that I have been working through in my own life.

Change seems to be the order of the day, month and year as we wade through 2020. COVID has forced many changes, not least of all, our personal perspectives on the state of our world at this moment. What I intend with this newsletter every month is to offer a slightly different viewpoint on things, and perhaps plant a seed or two.

October was a month filled with changes for me.

My dad passed away on October 4th, and his passing has given me a lot of insights into aspects of my life that I’d really like to share with you.

I had a lot of feelings when my dad passed. Some were expected – the emotions of loss felt when the phone rings and I know it’s not him, the quietness that I experience when I don’t hear from him each day, the visits that we had together two or three times a week. One of the earliest feelings I had was relief: Relief that his suffering was over and that he was now at peace, but also relief that I wouldn’t get any more calls from him about things that I couldn’t fix for him, or that he had fallen yet again. Then I felt guilt. I felt guilty that I felt relieved. Within a couple days of his passing, after the funeral home visit, after the paperwork was done, I began to fill my time with things that I had been putting off. I cleaned closets. After the second closet I knew that there was a possibility that I was distracting myself from feeling some of my emotions and challenging any fears or doubts they may contain. I then regrouped and set an intention to continue my tasks with presence and allow healing to occur when it was able. That felt right.

Stuff came up.

I began to see the perfection of my dad’s life, even at the end. For example, the day after his passing, the Long Term Care facility went into COVID lockdown. For us, that could have meant a very different end for my family, as we would probably not have been able to sit with him. I was also very aware of the deep lessons about myself that he helped me with. I may have been a bit of a slow learner with the bigger ones, to be sure! In the many times he was hospitalized over the past three years, I wondered why he kept rallying. I sense now that he was fulfilling his lifelong contract of teaching me some of my biggest life lessons.

There was a sense of completion a few days after his transition. The next emotion to feel was gratitude, and I am feeling this every day since.

Death is the ultimate change, not only for the person transitioning, but for those around them. Everything will change. COVID will change. We will change. Change is a death: death of something that has been before, so that something new can occur.

Journey to explore change this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to understanding changes in your life. What needs to die within you, so that something new can emerge? A belief? A perspective? A relationship? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

October 2020 Newsletter

Most of the battles we fight are in our heads.

don Miguel Ruiz, MD Daily message 09/30/20

I have quoted Dr. Ruiz before in my newsletters because I often find myself reflecting on the words offered in his daily message. The first line of his email is “take a few moments to quiet your mind, open your heart, and reflect on the words being offered to you today.”

With this particular message being about being in our heads, thinking, I felt his direction to first quiet the mind was essential advice.

During the pandemic, it has become abundantly clear to me how we are not able to navigate this storm in our heads. For one thing, I’m pretty sure we don’t have enough accurate information to take appropriate action. What we do know, however, is how we feel.

I’ve shared with you before that our bodies tell us so much about ourselves and offer guidance as to whether we are processing the energy around us in love or fear.

These uncertain times have created a lot of fear within us all. How is this affecting our perceptions, actions and choices? Are we embodying love or fear?

To answer this question for myself, I do my daily work: I set intentions, I have daily rituals and spiritual practices, which have certainly deepened with the times in which we are living. These practices have deepened because that is what I have chosen to do to support myself. On days that I get “in my head” or overthinking, I recognize that my day is often more stressful and I am distracted and ungrounded. I find myself more able to reflect on those days with more compassion with myself, as I know that I am a work in progress. I reflect on what I have learned about myself and what triggers those kinds of days for me. I get to feel what it is to be distracted and ungrounded.

I also know that I am so much surer that nature is our greatest healer. This autumn has been so beautiful here! I know I have told you before that is my favourite season, but this year the leaves are so much more vibrant with colour. The textures of the land are more vivid and alive. I feel so blessed to be able to see this every day! Is this because the fall is so much more vibrant than in previous years, or am I able to truly “see” it and embody the beauty this year? I am sensing it is the latter.

I invite you to feel more, embody your truth and the beauty that is around you.

This month, we have two full moons: October 1st and 31st, with the latter being called a blue moon. If you have never started a spiritual practice, or wish to deepen the one you currently have, what a great time to consider choosing this loving way to support yourself, the planet and all who live on her!

Journey to explore the wisdom of your body with this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to understanding the amazing wisdom and messages your body shares with you. Connect deeply with your helping spirits as they offer insight into embodying the divine being that is you. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

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September 2020

I feel one of the greatest gifts we have been given during the Covid pandemic has been an opportunity to reflect and reconnect. We have the time to reflect on where we are at with our human evolution. We can reflect on the issues of the day: equality, diversity, connection, compassion and kindness. These seem to be the top five that surface for me, anyway. Your focus may be different.

I don’t watch the news, but I hear what I need to hear, so that I can assimilate and process the information and energy behind the news without being influenced by outside “services” like the media. They all have opinions and bias, and that is ok. I choose to look at the various events and circumstances from my own perspective, and what lessons each of these instances might hold for me.

How do I process? How do I reflect? For me, my spiritual practice is one of journeying, meditation and connection with Nature. I have been called to spend more time out of doors. I see the value and feel the healing of the Earth, Air, Fire and Water Spirits. I do yoga outside in the sunshine as much as possible. I will miss those times out on the deck once the weather breaks and we head into winter, but I can still connect with the spirit of Father Sun and Mother Earth as I continue my practice indoors.

On September 1st, we enjoy a full moon. It is the Full Corn Moon, which begins to illuminate the importance of the harvest in the northern hemisphere. 2020 has planted a lot of seeds for us during the pandemic; seeds of political unrest, human inequity, fear of illness for ourselves or loved ones, isolation, to name a few. There are also seeds of connection, reconnection, trust, truth and compassion being sown, too! What have we been nurturing in our metaphoric gardens during the year? What will you choose to harvest in this potent time?

We experience an equinox on September 22nd. Equinoxes are a time of balance in light and dark. There are equal amounts of sunlight and darkness. This metaphor is very important right now. How are we balancing in what some are terming “the new normal?”. I’m not sure I really like that term, because I think every day is a new reweaving. I’m not sure we are ever at the end point of what might be considered normal, but so be it…. are we balancing and rebalancing in connection and compassion for ourselves and others? That is a new normal I would like to experience.

I choose to do my spiritual work through ceremony and ritual. I set intention, invite all the unseen helpers, and embrace my divine connection with Earth and Sky. We can all do this in our own way, and there are even some online ceremonies available for us to join. I encourage you, in these auspicious times, to explore these possibilities to reweave balance, peace and love in your life and for those in your sacred circles.

Journey to explore the seeds that I will harvest with this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to understanding what and how you are creating in these interesting times. Connect deeply with your helping spirits as they offer insight into balance and connection. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

August 2020 Newsletter

There are a lot of catch phrases that are being bantered around during this pandemic. One of the more common ones that I have heard has been that “we are all in the same boat.”

On the surface, this makes total sense to me: We have been grouped in this metaphoric boat of isolation, distancing, masks, illness, and unprecedented emotions. It has left many out of work, fearful, emotional, and some even sick. We are certainly well out of our comfort zones. Some people are in dangerous or toxic situations – unhealthy relationships, addictive partners or perhaps even living in their own patterns of addictions, seemingly without a way out. Some are creating deeper relationships with family in isolation and have even found new ways to connect electronically. There are those that are having very profound periods of growth and insight, exploring their passions, looking after themselves, and thriving. These diverse experiences limited the “same boat” metaphor for me. In fact, I observed even more so, how separate and distanced we can become if we look at our differences. There are so many, many boats.

I work on my own growth pretty diligently. I look at all situations with the intention of what it might be teaching me. How am I responding? What am I feeling?

My boat is not the same boat as some others….

But we are in the same storm.

I heard this phrase somewhere, and I honestly wish I could acknowledge the person who coined it, because it accurately reflects what I feel we are truly experiencing these days: a storm that is triggering so many things in so many people.

What an incredible opportunity we are experiencing. If I think of it as a storm that is playing out around me, how am I able to support myself and others in finding a way through this, without knowing when the storm will be over, how intense it may or may not become, and what will things look like at the end? Will we even know when it is over? Perhaps it is the storm that has the ability to connect us; help us find some common ground on which to stand together in kindness and compassion.

Where is the eye in this storm? The calm centre of the raging unknown that is all around us?

My answers will come by doing my work, in my boat, navigating the storm with my own truth.

Journey to explore the spirit of this pandemic storm with this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to understanding this global storm. What is your boat like, and are you finding a way to navigate this storm? Can you find connection in this storm? What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

July 2020

Truth : the body of real events or facts He'll keep investigating until he finds the truth. 2 : the quality or state of being true There is no truth in what she told you. 3 : a true or accepted statement or idea I learned some hard truths about life. Mirriam Webster Dictionary

During our recent isolation, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the word truth. I am not sure if what we have been seeing on the news is the truth. I am not sure what I hear discussed with colleagues or offered on social media is based in fact. I’m not really sure about the intentions of those offering the information, and ergo, don’t know if it is biased by that intent, or indeed is real and truthful. At best presenters may be responding to their perceptions of given situations or information.

So, what is truth? I have often found that, in session, people will share with me very deep and meaningful instances in their life. I know enough through my own experiences that any retelling of events holds a bias, based on perspective. This perspective forms that person’s truth in the retelling of the event. Although the sharing may seem like the truth, certainly to the teller, it may not be factually correct or true from another onlooker’s perspective.

I also know that we are not always very truthful with some friends or family. If, for instance, what I feel I have to tell someone will make them feel badly, will I have enough courage to tell them? I have to be very clear of my intention – clearly, I am not telling my friend something to deliberately hurt them. I must be clear that I don’t have a second agenda. I can’t be worried that if I share this important thing that may be painful that they will sever the friendship. If it is the truth, then I trust that I will have the courage to tell the truth. This courage requires great compassion and no attachment to a certain outcome. It requires us to be willing to be more than what we think we are.

During these times that we are navigating, what is the truth? Again, I’m pretty sure there are some speculations, biased opinions, rushed or incomplete data, second agendas, and a myriad of other factors that are impacting the “truth” we are being offered by the media.

What I do know is the truth is that this pandemic deeply affects people: it is triggering traumatic memories, fears, anger, and reactions. Some people are being offered more closeness and deepening relationships with their families, and even though that closeness might seem like a great gift (and it is!), it can bring up fear, pain and discomfort! For example, we can all question or self-judge our skills as a parent or partner! (And let’s face it, we all have.) I think this might be the underlying meaning behind the Greek playwright, Aeschylus when he wrote “we suffer into truth”.

During this time of isolation and uncertainty, maybe there is only one truth for each of us, and that is our own individual truth: This pandemic gives us an opportunity to excavate, evaluate, feel and reflect on that.

As I mentioned in my previous newsletters during these challenging times, I offer all my friends and family this suggestion: Do your inner work: drum or rattle with healing intentions, transfigure often, take time to reflect and nurture compassion. Choose love, not fear. This is not only guidance for these times, but for always.

Journey to explore truth with this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to understand your deepest truths. Are you courageous enough to be honest and truthful, without attachment? Are there times when this comes into question? What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

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June 2020

Wisdom keepers share with us that there is a union between body, mind and soul: that there is a deep and profound connection between the physical body, the mind body and the spiritual body. I see the weaving of these bodies not only in my own self, but the collective, the planet, and in all healings: all things are connected. The situation in which we find ourselves offers us the same connections.

We have certainly experienced physical illness and a physical aspect regarding the isolation. Some people are getting sick with COVID, and some are physically leaving the earth. We are physically “social distancing”. I am observing many more layers of separation than ever before: those who are wearing masks, those who choose not to. Those who are staying home or following the distancing recommendations and those who do not.

This pandemic has created even more layers for us to consider our differences and perhaps judge those who are not the same as us. It has also created an opportunity to see our similarities.

Social distancing is leading into an emotional reaction and/or response. Many are in fear of the unknown, or fear the virus, either contracting it or spreading it. Many are accepting of the risks and are doing their best to support with compassion. Some are very isolated and afraid. Everyone's “stuff” is coming up and it can be terrifying, and some will not wish to confront this shadow part of themselves. Some are finding the isolation a healing time – a time to do their deep work and find their truth, centre, self- compassion and sovereignty.

I feel that these two parts of the formula are pushing us into a further level of separation: that of those who will remain in their heads or ego, without insight, self-compassion , or willingness to consider their divine spirit. These people will be even further distanced from those who are curious, open, embracing or deepening into their divine nature. This is the spiritual level that could uniteus all.

Let us reconsider our dream. Can we put aside our physical differences, religious diversity, status, beliefs, fears, or whatever keeps us separate from one another, and dream of a planet filled with peace, understanding, equality and compassion?

As I mentioned in my previous newsletters during these changing times, I offer all my friends and family this suggestion: Do your inner work: drum or rattle with healing intentions, transfigure often, take time to reflect and nurture compassion. Choose love, not fear. This is not only guidance for these times, but for always.

Journey to explore connection with this intention: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to understand how you might close the gap of distance and separation on ANY and EVERY level. What bridges of connection will you build? What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

My practice is still closed for physical one-on one or group sessions. As I continue to recover from shingles, I am only setting up remote (distance) appointments, with the proviso that if I am not well, I may have to reschedule your session.

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May 2020

A dream master creates a masterpiece of life.

Don Miguel Ruiz

We are all dream masters. Whatever we are dreaming with or without a clear intention, we are creating.

How are we dreaming in these “new” and strange times? Are we dreaming in fear – letting others have power over us, encouraging fear and anxiety as we isolate? Or can we consider that these times are teaching us so much about ourselves and how to prepare this world for our own future, and one that will be lived in by our descendants? Perhaps it is teaching us to be kind and compassionate to ourselves and others as we dream a new dream.

I would ask you to set an intention upon rising in the morning. It can be as simple as “today I will breathe with awareness”, or perhaps you have a very specific intention or dream that is meaningful for you. Check in during the day to see what is lining up with your intention and what might not be. For example, when have you not been breathing with awareness? This is not to beat yourself up, but for you to allow the Universe to support in returning you to a state of “being” throughout your day with more conscious awareness. The Universe will support you in being more empowered in your own life.

Notice how you feel when you set your intention. This will help you determine whether your intention might be fearful or loving. Notice sensations in your body. Embrace your intention and trust it as you move throughout your day. Open to receiving guidance on how to live in a more loving and connected way.

Continue to explore personal and global healing with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to a meadow filled with beautiful flowers in non-ordinary reality that is healing, safe, and quiet. Lie down on Mother Earth in this beautiful place. This is a meadow where you will receive healing and blessings for yourself. Each flower offers love for you. Breathe that love in and let it fill you. Ask your helping spirits how to cultivate and grow this love and to guide you in to how to offer love and healing for the planet and all beings. You are a recipient of love in this place and you are a source of love to feed a beautiful dream for the Earth. What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

It is with a heavy heart that I have chosen to temporarily close my practice effective immediately. For those clients who are booked in over the next while, I have made sure that you are on this mailing list. I look forward to hearing from you directly to offer a distance healing or rescheduling, whichever you prefer.

As I am still recovering from shingles, I am not setting up appointments of any type until I can have some consistency in feeling well enough to work.

Laini Risto and I are expecting our second cd, Snow Raven, to be released very soon. Please watch here for the release date!

The cd Spirit Bear has its own webpage to make your purchase of this music easier: https://lainiristo.hearnow.com/spirit-bear

April 2020 Newsletter.

Love is the strength that binds people together.

Billy Mills (Dakota) with Nicholas Sparks, from “Wokini”

These are very strange times, indeed. Since returning from England a week ago, Mike and I have been in self-isolation. Last Friday, I developed shingles, which is a very painful disease, and something I would not wish on anyone. Although I am always looking for the gift or lesson in all my experiences, this one has been tough to navigate. What I have realized is that there are amazing angels out there: those who will help people in need and offer their wisdom in practical and spiritual ways. I am very grateful to be the recipient of these gifts from the very special people in my life! I have been blessed with many wonderful souls reaching out to help. I am learning to receive.

I have seen tremendous acts of kindness during the COVID crisis. I have also seen a more positive trend happening on social media. Just before all this began, I was considering removing myself from FaceBook, as I saw so much shaming and bullying. Now I am seeing people helping people. This was what I always thought the internet would be useful for, and I am choosing to believe that it is beginning to happen: that we can work together to support this planet and all who live on her.

Many of my colleagues are finding creative ways to share their brilliance virtually. Perhaps we are seeing firsthand that love and energy is not restricted by time and space, and that we can connect through love with each other, even though we cannot be in another’s physical presence.

As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I offer all my friends and family this suggestion: Do your inner work: drum or rattle with healing intentions, transfigure often, take time to reflect and nurture compassion. Choose love, not fear.

Continue to explore personal and global healing with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to a sanctuary in non-ordinary reality that is healing, safe, and quiet to receive healing for yourself. Ask them how to cultivate love, and offer insight into healing the planet and all beings. What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

March 2020

I enjoy listening to music when I drive. Sometimes it’s just in the background, and I’m not really listening, but other times, like yesterday, something catches my ear. On this occasion, I was humming along, as I wasn’t familiar with the song – this is not my usual music. It’s that “coffee station” and the acoustic arrangements help keep me calmer in traffic. I suddenly heard a line which was particularly interesting:

You're the medicine and the pain (Jonas Bros).

What an interesting thought: that someone could be both the pain the writer felt when near them, but also that they could be medicine for him. How could this be? I thought about this lyric on my drive home. How often we might feel the pain of powerlessness in a situation or feel less worthy than someone else. We forget that if we applied the wisdom of our emotions and body, this circumstance could offer insights into how to challenge the fear that might be being triggered, or even learn to nurture the joy felt upon tender reflection. It was not only illustrating concepts of perspective, but an opportunity to heal! It is almost the perfect statement illuminating that things happen for us not to us! As I have discussed in previous blogs, we always have the choice to see a situation from an empowered and loving place or from that of a fearful victim.

Today, I watched a recording of the Tonight Show while I was in between clients and having my lunch. One of the Jonas Brothers was on the show, and he and Jimmy Fallon played a game which involved knowing the lyrics to a song. Wouldn’t you know, this lyric came up. I mentioned to my husband Mike that I was writing this month’s blog about this line in the song. His response was “wow, that is an interesting lyric. It’s brilliant”. I felt that guidance had confirmed that this was indeed a topic that required more in-depth exploration.

This, for me, what medicine really is: the opportunity to integrate wisdom through the experiences we are facing. We can apply the learning offered from the experience or wallow in our victimhood. Sometimes we don’t see how these circumstances could possibly be offering anything positive, and the world doesn’t look how we want to. Can we possibly consider trusting that the Universe knows best…we get just what we need to grow, shift and change? In fact, we have probably asked for it through intention, whether conscious or unconscious. The Universe surely supports us.

Explore your perspective of medicine or pain with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you as you journey to a particular circumstance in your life with an open heart. Are you open to seeing the medicine that is being offered in this instance? Can the pain you may be feeling be part of your healing? What lessons are you being guided to learn? What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

February 2020 Newsletter.

Throughout my adult life, I have been made aware of my tendency to caretake. It is one of my biggest challenges and is a tactic I employ due to acting on the fear within me that I am not enough. Specifically, if I am not “helping” someone get through some unfavourable circumstance in their life, or making them feel better about themselves, I am not worthy. The caretaker in me always feels better if I make someone else feel better. That is the expectation of my fear of not being enough.

Through taking action based on that fear feeds and strengthens that caretaker part of me. In other words, I have been feeding the fearful dog in me. You probably know the story of the old man who has two dogs: one that is kind and gentle and the other is mean and snarling. If they get in a fight together, who would win? The old man says, “whichever one I feed will win.” Recently, I have been feeding the caretaker in me. I have been feeding the snarling dog.

Most of the time, I am able to challenge this part of me, but one of my biggest lessons recently has been becoming aware of how much I caretake my dad. He has been in hospital since the middle of December. He has been very ill but is now stabilizing.

I have justified my caretaking: my dad is 93 and has come to expect me to manage his circumstances, emotions and fears. In the meantime, I am stifling my own growth, and frankly, putting more fear out into the world.

One of my strongest intentions is to continue challenging my caretaking, so the Universe has offered this personalized lesson for me to deepen my work. I am very fortunate that I have incredibly wise friends, and also a very supportive partner. Recently, my caretaking was pointed out to me, and I am grateful.

This is a huge lesson in supporting my spiritual growth and I welcome that. I am extremely grateful to the honest and courageous people who shared their observation! I have shifted my perspective with my dad, and although I will always care for him, I will not let myself feel less than, resentful, or exhausted by the care that I offer to him. I will offer my support in a loving way. I am seeing and embracing the lessons that this shift provides me. I am caring for myself as well, which has been an amazing gift of understanding, self-compassion and healing.

Explore your biggest fears with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by journeying with the intention of accessing your biggest fears and the potential actions that might be feeding them. What dog are you feeding? What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

January 2020

“Keep your attention on today and stay in the present moment.” Don Miguel Ruiz, MD.

The dark half of the year continues to be a challenge. My dad, who is 93, has been in hospital since the middle of December, so we have spent every day visiting and endeavouring to support him through whatever his next steps might be. It has been up and down: some visits were very stressful, as Dad was anxious and very sick. Other visits were peaceful and quiet with Dad having lots of sleepy interludes. Then there were days in between those two extremes.

I have been learning a lot about presence. No matter how his day is going, I have set the intention to be present with him, allowing him to talk, sleep or just be, while I sit with him. Who knows how long his presence will be available to me?

I have also been very aware of the “one day at a time” concept. Each day is different, and I am doing my best not to get attached to him being the same or better than yesterday, and I accepting that tomorrow will be its own day too.

To allow each day to be its own, with its lessons and wisdom, and no matter what circumstances are unfolding, is a pathway to peace. I have let go of any expectations for his recovery, but lovingly await his next chapter, whatever that is. It’s just been good to have the time to be with him. He is frightened and anxious sometimes, reticent in others, and even has a sense of humour once in a while! By living one day at a time, I am also deeply aware of my need for self-care and balancing my needs with those of others.

When continuing to journey to discover the meaning for these experiences, I have been deepening and employing my understanding of the insights I was offered: I am allowing others to help and support me. I have found solace in their kindness and compassion. I continue to see the magic and wisdom that is all around me. I encourage my heart to open even wider to allow love to flow, and I get to feel that flow through the wisdom of this body.

Initiations are certainly interesting.

Explore presence with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by journeying with the intention of bringing yourself more present in your life. What will your spirits share with you? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

Laini Risto and I are expecting our second cd, Snow Raven, to be released very soon. Please watch here for the release date!

The cd Spirit Bear has its own webpage to make your purchase of this music easier: https://lainiristo.hearnow.com/spirit-bear

I will be closing my clinic from December 14th, 2019 through January 11th, 2020. Please be sure to book your appointment to avoid disappointment or delays. I am currently booking into late January.

Din is

December 2019 Newsletter

“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”― Jamie Anderson

This past few weeks have been ones of letting go for me. This sense of loss has prompted me to look into the experience of grief that we all face at some point in our lives.

We grieve many things – deaths of loved ones, letting go of relationships that aren’t working out, old beliefs or habits that we choose to change. I know that I have shared before in this newsletter that all change requires a death, so perhaps this is why we fear change so much: the grieving of the old is often painful.

This past week, I have lost two precious friends – cats that we had for over 13 years. Petey passed away very peacefully on Tuesday and Dexter joined his lifelong friend in spirit on Thursday. It was a most painful week, sharing my grief with my family and friends, but feeling powerless to have a different outcome for these two loving fur babies. I knew that change was inevitable and that we would carry on without them.

The statement from Jamie Anderson above summed up how I have felt about these and other losses – last week, my love had no place to go, except to love them enough to keen their loss, celebrate their lives, and sing their souls home. That ceremony was healing for me; to let them go with love.

I was also moved to keen some other losses – relationships that have changed, people that are no longer nearby, and the fearful situations, old toxic patterns, or negative emotions that are no longer controlling me.

When journeying to discover the meaning for all the experiences I have had recently, I was offered some amazing insights, for which I am very grateful. I learned that I can allow others to help and support me, and that there are many kind and loving people that understand and share their love without conditions. They didn’t sympathize or caretake me, but offered true support. It was through their support that I could see the magic and wisdom that was apparent all around me. I was able to let my own heart be the place to which love could flow: Grief could facilitate the replenishing of love in my heart.

Explore grief and loss with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by journeying to the Land of Grief and Loss. What will your spirits share with you? Can you let love flow even through loss? Can grief refill your heart? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

Laini Risto and I are expecting our second cd, Snow Raven, to be released very soon. Please watch here for the release date!

The cd Spirit Bear has its own webpage to make your purchase of this music easier: https://lainiristo.hearnow.com/spirit-bear

Should you be looking for a gift for a loved one or a special treat for yourself, I do have gift certificates for sessions with me. Please contact me for details.

With the holiday season approaching, I will be closing my clinic from December 14th, 2019 through January 11th, 2020. Please be sure to book your appointment to avoid disappointment or delays.

November 2019

What is hope? Wikipedia defines it as is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation."

I am always exploring the deeper meanings of words and the energy that they hold. During the recent Wild Hunt held at our place, the participants were offered the opportunity to journey to what kept them stuck from moving forward in their life. Guidance offered me the word hope. I was confused by that, as I felt hope offered optimism, positivity and goodness, but was quickly shown that there was a large anchor at the end of a thread of hope. That anchor was expectation and attachment.

In specific circumstances where I have found myself in a state of hope, I am holding onto an outcome of resolution. This might simply be for good health or well -being – I hope you are feeling better soon! It might be for a specific outcome currently in conflict or chaos – I hope things settle down after the election, or I hope that person could see their way to settling their argument with their spouse. In most scenarios, I have come to realize that I want things to be a certain way, and hope gives me that mistaken idea that I have the ability to change a person’s behaviour or actions. It has certainly come to light that I want them to behave differently, so that I can feel better, too.

Hope is a tool of the caretaker: innocuously hiding behind an intention that holds an expectation which has a certain agenda. It holds this outcome solely to help the caretaker feel like they are more worthy than they believe they are themselves. It places conditions on the receiver of the hope – to change or to act differently so that they are “better”. When I am caretaking and attached to another changing, I have placed a condition on them, and I have stepped out of being truly compassionate and accepting of them.

Hope also harms me and feeds fear, as I am stuck in the moment of needing the person or circumstance to be different or I cannot move forward. I have given that scenario power over me. To let go of hope with attachment sets me free.

Part of the essence of the dark half of the year, in which we currently sit, is the concept of truth. Hope takes me away from my truth as I am focusing on someone or something else outside of me.

I am setting an intention to notice when I use the word hope, and whether I am hoping with attachment and fear. What is a better word? I am choosing to journey to trust.

Explore hope with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by journeying to the Spirit of Hope. What will this spirit share with you? Are you holding a certain circumstance with hope and attachment with fear? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

October 2019 Newsletter

The Autumnal Equinox is meant to remind us about balance: how to create it in our lives as we look at the equal amounts of light and dark that are evident on the day of the equinox. It also encourages us to look within and see how to elevate the “darker” parts of us and transmute those emotions into “lighter” emotions.

What I have come to understand during this time of supposed balance, is that we are always navigating through change. We constantly have the opportunity to initiate healing within us, and, if we truly embrace the alchemist inside each of us, we can affect great dreams for us to live within.

This year seems to have been challenging for many. Where I live, we experienced a dull, rainy summer, relatively speaking. We had a lot of moisture and overcast skies, which is not our norm. The great thing about this was that our ponds have regenerated, our trees and land are thriving, and the fruit on our apple tree was more abundant than I ever remember it. Farmers are, however, struggling to get crops off the ground because of the rain, and today, well, today, it is snowing.

So how does this analogy of our local weather apply to our alchemic abilities?

I have wondered how some of us will cope with the winter when we enter the season without our summer “dose” of sunlight? How can I trust this circumstance is supporting my highest good?

In a journey the other day, I was able to speak with a wise and generous spirit. She reminded me that although the clouds have shielded us from the sun’s light for much of this past season, we still know that it is shining above us. She asked me if I believed in my own light as strongly. In other words, can I trust that my light is always shining, no matter how cloudy the skies are around me? Can I embrace my own divine light and let it shine? Can I believe that I am a bright light in an otherwise dark and dull place? Can I shift that darkness by shining my light as brightly as I can?

It is my dream that we can all begin to see, embrace and shine our brightest light, and to do that, we embrace our inner alchemist: Always intending to be my most authentic self, challenge fears so that they are not controlling me, and remembering my wholeness. In other words, I am shifting my perspective to change my lower frequency doubts into a more highly vibrating sense of empowerment.

Explore alchemy with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by journeying to the Spirit of Alchemy. What will this spirit share with you? How can you embrace the empowerment of your own alchemic self and your abilities to create a life of joy and meaning? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

September 2019 Newsletter

I closed my eyes and asked a power animal to step into the sacred space and support me. I offered gratitude for its presence and began to hear her music. I felt the spirit of a giant bear fill me; merge with me and fill me with healing medicine, strength and empowerment. Although my physical body felt a little shaky, I began to speak an invocation. I welcomed all the Helping Spirits to come in closer. I honoured the elements, and the sacred directions. I offered my gratitude to the Spirits of the Land, the Ancestors, Angels and Ascended Masters. I offered love and opened to guidance from the Creator. I was filled with joy and peace in the moment. I felt the magic and I felt magical myself. I felt present, authentic and empowered.

There is a great deal of magic in our world, if we open ourselves to seeing it. We all have non-physical guidance… helping spirits that encourage and support us. When I have opened up fully to Spirit, I have been given magical gifts that have challenged me and taken me way out of my comfort zone. They have kept me safe.

One example of this medicine has resulted in the co-creation of a music cd, with my dear friend and fellow shamanic practitioner, Laini Risto. I had always thought and dreamt about working together to create meditation or journeying cd’s, and together, we allowed ourselves to open fully to the Spirit of Creative Expression. I made a few trips to Las Vegas, where Laini lives and we worked together with our brilliant producer, Talbot Snow, to create this music.

I had heard the melody in the shower one day. I often sing or chant as I shower, as I know a lot of people do. The acoustics are pretty good in there. I heard the words, “this melody is to share. It is a healing song”. When I was finished the shower, I quickly recorded the tune on my phone, so that I wouldn’t forget it. It felt like I had been given an amazing gift somehow. There was a knowing on some level that I needed to share this with Laini. It was at that time that we knew we had the beginnings of something special.

The first time we went into the studio, I must admit that I was overwhelmed. I am grateful for Laini, who has spent lots of time in the studio recording her beautiful voice. She helped me by pushing me out of my comfort zone. The first thing she said was to stand in front of the mic and do an invocation. This is where the magic entered. I am terrified of speaking on a mic and I probably looked at her like a deer caught in the headlights. I felt like running out of the studio; a feeling that I have had many times when asked to speak in front of others. I challenged myself to explore my options. I stepped in from of the mic and experienced what I shared in the first paragraph above. I stepped into magic, fully supported by Spirit and Guidance.

I was challenged a lot throughout this creative process, but I have to tell you that it has opened up something huge in me. There is a depth of knowing what my gifts are and how to share them with my fellow souls in the Earth school. There has been a depth of learning about myself that I didn’t think possible. I have experienced authenticity as I express myself creatively. There is magic in that.

Explore inviting magic into your life with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by exploring the word magic, and where it is present in your life. Let them show you where you have been in doubt that you are magical and a miracle who is empowered to create. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

August 2019 Newsletter

“You can still change your story.”

Every day, I get inspirational messages from Don Miguel Ruiz. The above statement was today’s message. The reader is asked to reflect on these words and see what the message offers.

I reflected on these words today and realized that there were many private healing sessions this past few weeks that have offered insights into “story” for my clients and for myself. We have talked at length about the energy that we carry regarding our stories, and how we feed them.

Why would I want to change my story?

For me, story is when circumstances that have happened for me in my life carry a charge of energy. This charge may be indicated by a sudden shift in mood, it may trigger a reaction, and, more often than not, creates distance or separation from others. The “others” may or may not be part of the old story, but current people in our lives might bring up memories of these stories and trigger the same fearful parts within us.

I like to look my life as an experiment. The circumstances in which I find myself are opportunities to heal lower vibrational aspects of myself. These stories and the underlying fear that is being triggered can then stop controlling my choices, actions and reactions.

My own stories have been devised by my fearful parts to create separation from others, as I have historically had a hard time asking for help. My story was that I had to do everything myself, because no one would want to help me. Or they wouldn’t do whatever it was I needed help with correctly. Perhaps they would run away from me because I should always know what to do and how to do it….I was projecting my own fears onto these people, and pushing them away energetically with my thoughts and beliefs. A strong antagonist in my stories has been the ever-present fear that I am not good enough.

I have done a lot of personal work, and have been blessed with amazing teachers, loving family and true friends who will always support me in challenging these strong parts of me. They share with me what they observe in me in a way that invites conversation and discussion. I have journeyed to find the root of my stories and have had incredible insights given from my helping spirits on how to rewrite these stories without the energetic charge. In other words, I have had fantastic support in how to stop feeding fear within me.

Explore your stories with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by showing you where you have been feeding a limiting or fearful story in your life. How would your helping spirits support you in rewriting this story from a more loving perspective? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

July 2019 Newsletter

July looks like it might be a very interesting month, fueled by eclipses and Mercury retrograde, creating the perfect “storm” for emotional rollercoasters and unease. How do we cope with these astrological and energetic challenges?

One thing that I do know is that I cope much better with these troubling times when I am seriously doing my own work. I have rituals that I enjoy nearlyevery day (I’m not perfect), and these help me find solace and resolve to face the day. This gift of time and presence for myself honours my bodies (emotional, physical and spiritual bodies) and helps me create from a more loving place within.

The other thing that I honour when I am faced with these and other challenges is the lesson that I am being offered. This can be as simple as remembering that I am safe, no matter what, or that I am connected to the fabric of all life. This remembering can help guide me through difficulty and unease.

I also talk with my friends and family when I find myself requiring a bit more understanding. My friends don’t sugar coat anything and are truly in support of me, so I know that when I reach out, I might hear things that I don’t like, but I know they are for my best good. I can sit in a place of discernment and contemplate what has been offered to me and see what fits and what doesn’t. I know that what was said to me is their own observation and opinion, but there is more than likely something that I could look at in myself. This is such a loving act, as we are honest and authentic in our interactions.

Sometimes I just breathe. When life gets challenging, and we are in the midst of turbulence, likely in fear or doubt, I hope I have the presence to take a cleansing and grounding breath. Even if I still go into reaction or fear, I have shifted energy a lot with my awareness. I can scan my bodies, get out of my thoughts (which is often a very scary place) and gain some objectivity on the circumstances in which I find myself.

Explore a healing ritual or ceremony with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you by showing you a ceremony to find peace as you create your day. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

June Newsletter

In my May newsletter, I talked about transfiguration with respect to shapeshifting into our divine light. I have been working with this in my personal practice, as I am passionate about supporting the healing of the Earth and all who live on her. I am convinced that this is a profound and powerful tool for that!

The other aspect of practicing transfiguration that has come up for me over time is the understanding of our relationship to all beings. I know that the First Nations people believe that all things are our relations: the trees, the rocks, the sky, the water….all beings, no matter how big or small. When I have transfigured given this understanding, I have sensed and experienced the divine nature of all LIFE and am also understanding how I am part of that.

I love to journey with this divine understanding as I feel the expansiveness. I also feel the support of the unseen as I allow the wisdom to percolate within me. They have guided me to understanding the trees more deeply, and that has led me to consider better communication and connection with others. Guidance has shown me that the mountains help me feel grounded and strong as I maintain firm roots in the earth and reach to the sky to solidify my partnership with the Universe.

My sense is that we are developing our multi-sensory selves rapidly, and all of nature is the best support in this endeavor. Nature reminds me daily of our multi-dimensionality. Change is happening with increased intensity each and every day. Our divine nature is the key to connection with all beings on a deep and empowering level. I will continue to practice transfiguration and invite you to do the same.

Explore your divine relationship with all beings with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in opening to your divine nature even more deeply. What aspects of nature support your understanding of this divine self? Do you resonate with a certain element more than another? Does this resonance change or deepen over time? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery. After this journey, I encourage you to practice transfiguration, using the directions from Sandra at www.sandraingerman.com

May 2019 Newsletter

My healing practice has reopened! After our fantastic holiday, and a good rest, I feel so much more able to support my dear clients. It was weird having the clinic closed for two months, but it was certainly necessary for me.

I had many insights about how to expand the work that I do and had dreams with specific ceremonies or rituals to share with certain clients. It’s amazing that when I allow myself to be quiet, stay in my body with clear intentions, and open to guidance, so much information and healing comes through!

One of the most profound realizations that I had while travelling was how much support the Earth needs. There are many places where she has not been well cared for and the impact of man on the land and water is tangible, obvious, and frankly, frightening. I have been holding a strong intention for healing for all beings and for the planet that we live on and I am diligently working with my allies to affect change. Some of this work can be achieved through transfiguration. This word literally means shapeshifting and is the process of shapeshifting from our physical selves into our divine selves. By allowing yourself to open up to your divine nature, you raise your vibration, therefore raising the vibration on the Earth. This is a profound and powerful tool for change! For more information on transfiguration and how to bring this into your personal practice, please visitwww.sandraingerman.com Sandra shares many examples of the power of this work, and the impact that it can have on people, places and things.

Another realization that I had while away was how some other countries seem to be able to have many cultures and religious beliefs living side by side. They co-operate. There is a sense of equality and acceptance. This invites me to look at how accepting I am. All incredible learnings!

Explore transfiguration with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in opening to your divine nature. How does this feel? Do you resist your own higher vibration? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery. After this journey, I encourage you to practice transfiguration, using the directions from Sandra at www.sandraingerman.com

April 2019 Newsletter

As I write this newsletter, I am beginning to prepare for a dream vacation. Mike and I are travelling with dear friends through the UAE, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore. I have never been to these lands before, and I am so excited that we are able to make this trip now!

I will be offline for approximately three weeks.

I’m excited to be taking this time away, but it doesn’t mean that I won’t be doing my personal work. We can’t really take a vacation from ourselves. I look at this opportunity to modify some of my daily meditative work, alter some of my personal ceremonies and honour the moon, the earth, the sky and all beings while I visit these amazing places! I love seeing other cultures and their customs, and who knows how this might contribute to my practice? I will be open to receiving all possible information as I journey and meditate during this rich time.

Explore your own personal practice with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in being open to new possibilities. Are there opportunities for you to be more open? Where do you resist guidance or get stuck in your thoughts? Are there changes that you could make to your personal practice that would enhance your learning? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

Remember that I have decided to temporarily close my healing practice until April 17th, 2019. I will be updating my website and will also offer my newsletter each month. Please consider contacting me to book your session when I reopen, as spots are already filling up!

I do hope to see you soon!

March 2019

This is the first time that I have taken a sabbatical. At first, I was concerned about taking time off: would I have a practice to come back to? Can I support the clients that I love so much while I am not working? Was I being selfish? Was I deserving of such a break? So many thoughts ran through my mind. I soon realized that these thoughts were from fearful parts of me and that I could choose not to act on them.

Something that I have recognized in the first couple of weeks of my sabbatical is that this time was absolutely necessary for me for my own well-being. Then I realized that in looking after myself in a more loving way, I could support my clients so much better! I started to hear from other colleagues; some who work nine or ten months of the year, with regular times off that support their own natural rhythms. I have been exploring my own patterns and rhythms and more deeply understood that I am not always “at my best” during the darker parts of the year. I have attempted to slow my practice over the winter months before. Typically, I get sick if I don’t slow down (something I talk to my clients about a LOT, but apparently haven’t taken my own advice)! I have been told many times that there are good days to journey and some days are not as good. I have honoured this in my own life and healing practice, but in our modern society, sometimes it just didn’t feel appropriate, especially if a person was driving a long distance to see me. I began to not honour my own ebbs and flows of energy, and always saw my clients at their appointed time. I am now seeing the results of this in my own health, and because I absolutely love my work, I will take the time needed to rejuvenate and heal. During the past two weeks I have had a chance to look at and deepen my own spiritual practice, which has been amazing. During the last full moon, I was to be on the top of a mountain in Maui to see the transition from darkness to light (i.e.: dawn). During this time, I was to connect through time and space with a dear friend and colleague in Jamaica, who was doing deep work there. Severe weather in the form of snow in Maui closed the road to the sacred site. I found myself having to explore a different way to connect. I lay awake quietly in our room. I was unable to sleep and experienced a number of visions. The one I wish to share with you is one that I saw many people walking together in the same direction. Spirit told me this was a new spiritual awakening – one that sees us standing together in compassion and love, moving toward a new sense of wholeness as a species. There was an amazing feeling of love and peace, and that we were being held in such an incredible space of healing.

Explore our futurewith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in visioning a new dream – one of unity, understanding and compassion. How can you contribute? Do they offer a pathway forward? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

February 2019 Newsletter

There is a lot to share with you in this newsletter. Details for the Wild Hunt with Andrew Steed are below. I do hope that you will be able to attend this year. These are powerful events with amazing results for individuals, communities and the planet.

Some of you know that I have been working through some health issues of my own, so, with our vacation coming up in February, I have decided to temporarily close my healing practice until April 17th, 2019. I will be enjoying my first-ever sabbatical! I will be updating my website and will also offer my newsletter each month. Please consider contacting me to book your session when I reopen, as spots are already filling up!

I have noticed with some colleagues and clients that people are being asked to continually reweave balanceinto their lives. Sometimes, we are working too hard. Sometimes we have chosen to look after too many things at once, sacrificing balance of well-being and personal health. Even too much time off can be a problem, apparently!

I have been looking into the imbalances in my own life. I have chosen to not blame others for the choices that I made that contributed to my own imbalance. I was guided to take a firm stance on looking after myself. Self-healing has been a theme that has come up a lot recently, and it is a vital part of moving towards mastery.

Explore balancewith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing what areas in your life are out of balance. Their answers might surprise you! Be mindful that you are not blaming another or a circumstance that appears out of your control, but may be influencing the balance in your life. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

January 2019

2018 is coming to a close, at least in the Gregorian Calendar. Many people will be happy to see the end of it. It has been a challenging year for a lot of people.

2019 is a “3” year. The number three is a sacred number in many mythologies. I am reminded about things like “body, mind, soul”, “past, present, future”, “earth, sea, sky”, “birth, life, death”, to name a few of these sacred relationships of three. A three year is one of creating and creation. Some research that I have been doing infers that 2019 will be a “lucky” year. Since we will also be entering the the Chinese Year of the Pig, which is considered to be a very “lucky” animal, I thought it might be interesting to explore what “lucky” means.

I have found myself in discussion with clients or friends about people who feel they are either very lucky or have a series of bad luck. Luck is defined as “ a force that causes things, especially good things to happen to you by chance”. I asked myself what this “force” could be….was it possible that my own ability to create and manifest might be a part of it? In A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams wrote, “Luck is believing you are lucky”. Somehow, I think he might have been on the right track. In a parallel with what shamans have been saying about our dreams – that we are dreaming the wrong dream – what would a “lucky” dream look like? I decided to journey on this.

I was shown how so many have worked so hard over the past few years to rise up to the challenges around them. I saw examples of how people have moved out of their comfort zones to challenge their biggest fears and make incredible shifts and changes in their lives. My helping spirits asked me to consider if these examples really illustrated how seeds of change were being planted by these brave individuals. Maybe the lucky part is to be living in the dream that was being created by all this hard work and commitment. In a gardener’s metaphor, many were planting incredible seeds and nurturing their own luck. Perhaps 2019 will be the year to reap the benefits.

I wish you strong dreams for 2019!

Exploreluckwith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing what seeds you are planting for your future dream. Are they seeds of courage and commitment, or do you expect others to tend your garden for you? The dream that you are creating today is the one you will be living in tomorrow. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

Andrew Steedreturns in October 2019! Watch this space for details, and mark October 10ththrough 13th in your diary!

Due to my dad being ill and in the hospital, I feel I cannot commit to a firm date for our Shamanic Celebrations for January. I will keep you updated on any changes to this situation.

Please contact me if there is any individual (or group) work that you would like to explore during regular clinic hours.

December 2018 Newsletter

Last week, we went to see the newest “Fantastic Beasts” movie. I really liked this movie, probably even more than the first one.

In preparation for the first movie, I had read the book (which was written as a play) and I know that I had some resistance to the book. I had enjoyed the Harry Potter series so much, because of the magnificent writing and how Ms. Rawlings created the magical world in a wonder-filled way. I applauded her for getting kids reading again. What a gift! My resistance in the writing of the Fantastic Beasts surrounded the lack of this wonder and vivid description of the magic and the magical world. I also felt that the book wouldn’t engage younger people as the Harry Potter Books surely did.

I know that I went to the first movie with expectations of it not being a “good” as Harry Potter. So it wasn’t. For me, anyway. I chose not to read the book for the second movie, and I enjoyed that movie so much more.

I think my enjoyment was increased because I was absolutely present in the second movie, and I held no attachment for how it “should” be and had no expectations as we entered the theatre. I was able to embrace the magic and the mystery without inflicting my expectations onto the film. I was in it. I was enthralled. I was entertained.

How often in life have my attachments affected my perceptions? How have my expectations clouded the potential outcome of a certain opportunity? I imagine this happens a lot.

Attachment is limiting. If I expect something to end a certain way, it will colour the situation with my expectations. It may limit my thinking. It limits the manner in which the Universe can support me. Perhaps I have not even thought about some of the potential outcomes that could even be better than the ones I have thought about! How often have I limited myself with that thinking?

Explore the attachmentswith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing where you might have attachments to something being a certain way. Does this limiting thought limit your potential? How do these expectations offer opportunities for you to heal? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

Andrew Steed returns in October 2019! Watch this space for details, and mark October 10ththrough 13th in your diary!

I have not updated my rates for service since September 2013. I have made some changes to my rates, effective September 1st, 2018. Please see my website for specifics.

I have added the calendar back on the newsletter to highlight the monthly Shamanic Sundays, which returned in November. For December, this gathering will shift to Friday, December 21st so that we can share in a solstice ceremony.

I hope you can join us!

Please contact me if there is any individual (or group) work that you would like to explore during regular clinic hours.

I do wish you all the very best for the holiday season. If you are looking for a gift for yourself or a loved one, consider a gift certificate for a session with me. I also have several books, including my own and, of course, some by Andrew Steed. Call me if you would like to do some Christmas shopping at my house.

November 2018 Newsletter

I have spent the better part of the last two weeks in Seattle, studying with a brilliant shamanic teacher, Betsy Bergstrom. We did some very interesting and deep work with practitioners from around the States and Canada. One of the biggest takeaways from the workshop was a much deeper understanding and integration of compassionin me.

What is the essence of compassion? We profoundly explored our compassion toward our clients and how to inspire healing within them, but also, I learned a about having compassion for their fears, their circumstances, both with the seen and the unseen.

I am human, and there are times when I fall into judgements about myself and others. As I watched Betsy work with clients as demonstrations, I could feel her caring for them deeply, and offering respect and truthful curiousity as she compassionately released (psychopomped) any suffering beings that might be overshadowing the client. Her heartfelt work was a joy to watch, and certainly melted my heart as I noticed the impact this had on the clients.

I found, experienced and embraced a new level of caring for the client that is in a state of fear for whatever reason, and I did feel that in raising compassion in the world was a source of great possibility, potential, and wellbeing in the world in which we are living. I know that we have a great deal of fear in the world, and I do not wish to be contributing to that. Therefore, it is always my intention to do my best to be choosing to act from the most loving parts of me. When I am in session with a client for healing work, I do my utmost not to allow my own triggers or fears to rise up in judgement or conditional attachment. I talk about it honestly if I feel it rising up in me.

This constant diligence and awareness are part of my daily self-care, and I believe that if we are all endeavouring to do our best to be our true and best selves, this will become the heaven on Earth that we are meant to be experiencing.

At the end of October, we enter Samhain(also celebrated as Hallowe’en or Hallowmas). This is when the veils between our reality and the next are at their thinnest. It is a season of mourning and honouring those spirits who have departed this life. Perhaps this is another area where we can exercise compassion: mourning and keening with unconditional love for all beings; the seen and the unseen. This compassion creates a space for more love to exist on this plane. Let’s open our hearts to honouring all with joyful celebration and embrace the blessings that compassion initiates.

Explore the power of compassionwith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing where you might find more compassion with yourself and others. Where do you fall into judgement or attach expectations or attachments, and how do these circumstances offer opportunities for you to heal? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

I will be returning to Manitoba on October 25th to teach two workshops: one for adults and one for children. Please see below for details, should you be in the area at that time. I would love to see you there!

I have not updated my rates for service since September 2013. I have made some changes to my rates, effective September 1st, 2018. Please see my website for specifics.

I have added the calendar back on the newsletter to highlight the monthly Shamanic Sundays, returning November 18th. These afternoon gatherings will allow us to create community as we journey in self exploration.

October 2018

Music has always been very important to me. In school, I loved music class. I was given great teachers who were passionate about this subject, and exposed us to many types of music, and always encouraged the students to embrace the feelings that the music inspired in their bodies. I rarely stand still; I typically sway or rock to the tunes in my head, which I have likened to the rhythms of the world. Sometimes, I have been in a store or coffee shop and realize that I am humming or singing along with the music playing in the background. I find music in a lot of places. Today, we have a lot of frost and rime ice on the trees, which tinkles like tiny faery bells as the warmth of the day releases their hold on the leaves, and the ice falls to the ground. When I drum for a client or in my own journeying practice, I might hear a choir of voices contributing to the ensemble. I listen for changes in the sounds of the drum when I am working with a client or a group, as it indicates the depth of their journeys and offers insight into their healing. Sometimes, I am told by my helping spirits to play a crystal bowl or a tuning fork for a client. They might receive a beautiful sound bath, orchestrated by the Divine.

Sound is an amazing tool for healing work. Our chakra system is a full spectrum of vibratory frequencies, that sometimes needs “retuning”. I find that by using specific notes, this fine tuning is very accessible and allows healing to be deeply received by the client. I have used the tuning forks, bowls, rattles and drums to gently extract misplaced energies in my clients. The vibrations coax dissonant frequencies to the surface for removal.

Certain songs affect our psyche. Some songs make me feel very happy and encourage movements in my body. Others might make me feel sad or introspective. Whatever the case, I know this medium is a powerful and amazing tool. I am also aware that music is a universal language; unimpeded by ancestry, race or beliefs. I have felt the call of the drum, which is an ancient instrument. It inspires connections of an ancestral nature for me, and often brings visions of times sitting around a fire, singing with joy, offering healing to the ill, or singing a loved one home.

I am often struck by the tune playing on the radio when I turn on the car, especially if I have been thinking about a specific problem or needing support in the moment. The perfect song will come on, pulling me out of my dilemma or offering a new perspective. I believe that music is a reflection of our divine nature.

Explore the power of musicwith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing where you might find solace or healing with music or sound. What sounds are offered to you by your helping spirits? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

I will be going to Seattle to study with Betsy Bergstrom at the beginning of October. Please know that all clinic days are completely filled for October, and I am currently booking into November.

September 2018

Something that I am very aware of is that we never stop learning…and that is a good thing. We never stop learning about ourselves through our relationships with friends and families, our communities, and our planet. Just when we think we have ourselves figured out, something will come up that causes us a moment of confusion or overwhelm. Sometimes a friend will act differently from their normal behaviours, and we might become jealous or apprehensive around that person, perhaps causing us to question our friendship. Sometimes the world doesn’t look the way that we would like it to, and we feel angry. When we observe these situations, the overwhelm, confusion, jealousy, apprehension, anger or hurt are experiences of being in a fearful part of our personality. In these simple examples, the Universe is offering us an opportunity to look at how we are relating to ourselvesand others.

Why does it cause us so much pain when we are learning? Why does the Universe give us what appears to be such cryptic opportunities to look at ourselves and what we think we know?

The human experience is so interesting, really. What I have noticed is that often we make a choice to suffer. For example, if we are experiencing anger, jealousy, or overwhelm, we are most likely experiencing the consequences of a choice that we have made in fear. We are choosingto suffer. When we continue to make choices that take us away from our grounded centre, or out of alignment with our purpose, we are choosing to suffer. It is a very familiar choice for most of us, often made without awareness, as it feels very comfortable to do this. In my experience, there has been only one way for me to know whether I am choosing from fear or from a loving intention, and that is to be aware of what is happening in my body. I was grateful to have been introduced to emotional awareness through Gary Zukav, and highly recommend his books and workshops. In continually working on myself and gaining a deeper understanding of the messages my body was giving me, I have managed to become pretty aware of my own limiting beliefs (fears) and have found through shamanic journeying, incredible guidance with respect to choosing more lovingly for myself. In other words, I am choosing joy over suffering, at least more often than I used to.

For a person who has suffered from SAD and bouts of depression, this is huge for me! I am so grateful for the wisdom of my guidance and the support of the Universe in offering opportunities for my continual growth. I know that nature’s spirits always assist me in seeing a more loving perspective, and that leads me to a more loving choice.

Explore the word suffering with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing where you may be choosing to suffer. What fearful or limiting beliefs are so familiar, that they are making your choice from a familiar old pattern? Ask your allies how to decipher the messages that your body is giving you. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

August 2018 Newsletter

We are currently moving toward the celebration of Lughnasad or Lammas. This is the celebration of the first grains harvested in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs on August 2ndthis year and also marks the beginning of the month that is dedicated to Lugh, the Sun God.

What our ancient ancestors remind us about in this celebration surrounds gratitude: everything in the yearly cycle of planting, nurturing, harvesting and sharing was celebrated by our forefathers with gratitude. They gratefully marked the yearly cycle of abundance and the love and generousity of Mother Earth’s gifts for her children.

In our modern world, we are generally not as aware of these beautiful rhythms of nature, and what wonderful gifts the Earth offers us. Our ancestors understood the balance of giving and receiving from our bountiful Earth, and they created ritual and ceremony around it. Today, we can buy fruit and vegetables out of season, grown and shipped from across the world, or forcibly grown in a commercial greenhouse. We have become expectant that our culinary desires can always be filled, no matter what time of year. We typically don’t make a practice of blessing our food or offering our gratitude for it being placed in front of us for us to enjoy. In our fast paced world, many just drive through the take out restaurant, and might even eat in our car.

I wonder how this entitlement or indifference can parallel our views on our spiritual growth and the relationships that we have with each other and all Life on this planet?

I also wonder if this tiny nudge or flash in the corner of our eyes might be the ancestors attempting to remind us that reciprocity is a natural form of balancing energy? The resurgence of interest in shamanic ways of being, or a curiousity while stepping onto a more spiritual path might be a response to that nudge or that ghostly flash that catches our attention for a second. Are we being asked to take stock of what we might be taking for granted?

I know in my own life that Spirit has given me many nudges, encouraging me to remember, consider and embrace a more meaningful life. I am fortunate to live in a beautiful place in nature and I endeavor to offer my gratitude often. I know that I can always bring more and more of this appreciation into my life. In response to my gratitude, Mother Earth and all the unseen allies offer more for me to be grateful for.

Explore the word gratitudewith this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing where you may be taking Nature’s gifts for granted. How can you be more grateful, and how can you offer your gratitude to the Seen and the Unseen? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

Andrew Steedreturns this fall to delve into Celtic Mythology and Medicine. Please see below for all the details on how to register for this great course! It is filling fast, so if you are called to this work, please be sure and register, so that you are not disappointed.

I will be returning to Manitobain October to teach two workshops: one for adults and one for children. Please see below for details, should you be in the area at that time. I would love to see you there!

I have not updated my rates for service since September 2013. I have made some changes to my rates, effective September 1st, 2018. Please see my website for specifics.

Watch this space for updates. I am taking more time for my own personal work, focusing on private healing sessions and teach small groups in ceremony. I have taken the calendar off the newsletter for now. Please contact me if there is any individual (or group) work that you would like to explore during regular clinic hours.

I do look forward to seeing you soon, either at an upcoming class or for a private session.

July 2018 Newsletter

As I write this, I have been in Las Vegas. I have visited here many times, but not in the height of summer, when it is excessively hot, and the sun shines brightly all day. It offers many insights into the extremes that are metaphors of the polarities and paradigms in our thoughts and ways of being. Many interesting experiences have unfolded while I was here, offering many opportunities for growth and meaning for me.

When I journey on the extremes and what insights they offer, I was shown how light and shadow are not really extremes. When we speak about the difference between black and white, from the perspective of the soul, for instance, I see a distinct spectrum of light. These two are really not polar opposites, but perhaps the ends of a spectrum, joined through vibrant colors and frequencies throughout. I don’t see the disconnect between black and white, but the connection between them. And the connection is that wonderful rainbow of colour!

How often we are blinded by the polarization of thought, belief and actions; unaware of the forces and vibrations that actually connect them. There is a beach or shoreline break that joins the sea and land. There is a vast land mass between where I am today, in +44C in Las Vegas to the +16C in my home town near Calgary. There are many shades of skin between my brothers and sisters from Africa to my fair British skin. There are slower waters between the rapids and the quiet pools. Where is the bridge between the turbulence and peace? Rather than looking at our differences, how can we see the possibilities, the connections, the oneness and our infinite light?

Fear often wants us to see only the extremes: one or two answers to our questions or problems, never allowing the full picture or limitless possibilities that might be available. Love sees everything, including the beauty of our shadow.

Explore the concept of extremes and polarity with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing the wisdom between the opposites; the space between the words, or the “between places” that might be the bridges between perceived extremities. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

June 2018

We are heading into the brightest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Where I live, it is often still quite light out after 10 pm, and by June 21st, the summer solstice, we will be light til well after 11pm. As we move toward the midpoint of this, well, challengingyear, let us shine a light on what we were intending at the beginning of the year and check in on how we are manifesting thus far?

At the beginning of the year, I shared with you that 2018 would be a year of intense change, specifically with relationships and fundamental structures, such as governments, financial institutions and other socio-economic foundations. 2018 was calculated as either an 11 or a 2 (2+0+1+8=11 or 1+1=2). In a journey, I was shown gates that formed the number 11. I was informed that we would be constantly challenged to walk through these gates with courage and commitment. These gates signified great shifts in the way that we were seeing ourselves and being in this world.

I’m sure that you would agree that there have been many challenges thus far. I have had clients that are facing great changes in their lives through their jobs, home life, personal growth and relationships, and I have not been immune to some myself! I have been asked by clients, friends and even asked the question myself: when will this intensity be over? When can we take a break from this?

The simple answer is that we can all take a break if we choose, but let’s look at the possible intention for that. If I look at these gates as points of initiation – i.e., points along my path that signify stepping into expansive potential, why would I choose to take a break? The only reason I would be turning away from my path, however intense or painful, would be a fearful one. For me, it is often challenging for me to relax and trust the process. My fears around control might be triggered, resulting in fatigue, feelings of overwhelm, or allowing myself to be distracted by outside “forces”. I might feel that I haven’t got the strength today to participate in my daily practice. My intention, therefor has been tainted by fear. Believe me, I am not perfect, and I have indulged those fearful parts in me, but I do chip away at them as best I can by allowing myself to feelthe fear around lack of control. I generally feel a tightness across my upper back and an ache in my gut. I am pretty aware of these sensations and it is always my intention to acknowledge the fear and do the best I can to challenge it. This year, I feel that the work is deeper, and I am able to understand more easily the choices that I have in every situation, no matter how intense.

Explore the roots of your intentions with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to assist you in seeing the source of your intentions: are they void of expectations or attachments? Are you clear that your intentions are from loving parts of you, or does fear have a second agenda? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

It is the new moon on June 13th, summer solstice on June 21st, and the full moon on June 27th. This would be a great journey to do on these auspicious days!

May 2018

The first thing I do when I sit down to write is to set sacred space. I might smudge and/or invoke my helping spirits to come in closer. I set intentions and offer thanks for the guidance that I have been given and for what will be given in the future.

When I sit down to write this monthly newsletter, the process is the same. Once I set space, I open the previous month’s file and begin to create the new newsletter. When I read the blog from last month, I realized that I am still working with dismemberment and rememberment. Many of my clients have experienced dismemberment in our sessions together. In my own practice, I have dismembered several times, and what is even more apparent, is that the rememberments have been, well, interesting, to say the least. Sometimes, I have found myself remembered very differently from how I have felt going into the journey. Sometimes, I wondered if I had been remembered at all. When I have consulted Guidance about these strange feelings I was told “There is no hard beginning, and no hard ending. You are in a flow of change.”

This message from Spirit really impacted me. I was shown how we celebrate certain days, like birthdays, anniversaries, new moons and full moons, solstices, equinoxes and the like, but that there is also the flow betweenthese “markers”. Like reading a book, new chapters flow from the last chapter, and when joined together, the story is told.

I brought this message into what I was experiencing with dismemberment. We are in such a flow of change, and of course, a dismemberment would be impacted. The process of dismemberment and rememberment, which can be likened to a birth and death will be part of this flow. Of course, my experiences will be different every time, and yes, an evolution is happening. We are all different than we were yesterday. How can we invite and embrace this flow into our daily spiritual work?

Explore the concept of the flow of change through dismemberment and rememberment with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to dismember and remember you. How will the dismemberment feel if you truly embrace the flow of change? Does your rememberment allow you to embrace change and evolution of spirit? Do you feel strange, curious, fearful or can you trust in the flow? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

Watch this space for updates. I am no longer teaching the Shamanic Journeying classes at Alchemy, to give more time for my own personal work and to focus on private healing sessions and teach small groups in ceremony. I have taken the calendar off the newsletter just for now. Please contact me if there is any individual (or group) work that you would like to explore during regular clinic hours.

April 2018

Today in my weekly journeying class, we set the intention for a dismemberment. During Easter, we are remembering a time in the Christian belief system, that it was possible for Christ to die on the cross and then be reborn. If we were to look at this story from a shamanic perspective, did He go through a dismemberment and rememberment? Is this rebirth and transformation possible for all of us?

I like to look at the stories from the wisdom traditions without literal translation, but rather the lessons offered through the metaphors used in the telling. I’m not sure that I can literally die a physical death and be reborn like the miracle that Jesus experienced. (It’s not to say that it is not possible, but that I haven’t had the courage or trust to test that theory for myself.) However, I do think that we experience a metaphoric “death” each time we facilitate change within ourselves – when we really exercise our ability for alchemic change. The concept of changing lead into gold, or water into wine speaks to me of the possibility of facilitating great change, and that the result is a lighter, more luminous, more aware or en-light-ened self.

In the journey for dismemberment, we allow a helping spirit, or team of helping spirits to pull us apart. All personality, all ego, all recognizable aspects of one’s self is wiped away, like clearing the writing on a blackboard, resulting in a pile of chalk dust in the ledge below. Perhaps a helping spirit puts you into a great cauldron, and you are reduced to a formless soup. Perhaps a helping spirit in bird form pecks away your physical appearance, leaving a pile of dusty bones on the ground. Although I do these types of journeys fairly regularly, so that I can be as clear and clean as possible when working on others, I am always amazed at the varying ways that my helping spirits creatively dismember me!

The rememberment is as equally magical. Sometimes, I am put back together with crystals and light. Sometimes vivid colours, filled with intense beauty, re-form me. In my journey today, my heart was ripped from my chest and a huge ruby heart was gently put back into its place. The meaning of this journey is specifically for me, but suffice to say that navigating with this new heart will form many of my upcoming journeys as I learn more about myself.

Explore the concept of dismemberment and rememberment with this journey: Ask your helping spirits (and these may be new spirit allies for you!) to dismember and remember you. How will the dismemberment feel? Will the process be fast or slow, likened to ripping off a bandaid? Will your ally employ the use of an element such as fire, air, water or earth to assist in your dismemberment? What does it feel like to be remembered? Do you see, feel or know that you are changed? Do you feel renewed, or does this alchemic process feel uncomfortable or frightening? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

March 2018 Newsletter

Solace: What does it mean? When is solace required with respect to a spiritual practice? When we seek solace, are we clear that it is something required by a healthy part of us, or are we avoiding, distracting, or resisting growth, meaning, or healing in some way? Can we shift the focus of our spiritual work and intentionally invite and embrace peace and joy? Is there a cost for finding solace in our heart and spirit?

Many people take time away from their jobs to rest and rejuvenate. Weeks of vacation are looked forward to as time away from the daily grind, and the repetitive activities in which we are engaged. Our southern Alberta winter has dragged on a bit, and the winter weather and lack of sunlight can be a motivator for a warm weather getaway.

What I do know is that I cannot take a vacation from myself. If I can feel peace and joy within myself walking on a sunny beach, I should be able to draw that feeling in when I am sitting at my computer, stuck in traffic, or even having a tough interaction with a colleague. I should be able to feel presence, peace and joy as easily as I feel anger, frustration or judgement.

We are being encouraged in these weird and wonderful times to step into our potential and fullness. To me, this means that I will be challenged to feel and experience the full gamut of my emotional, spiritual and physical bodies, and how they are woven together. My physical body offers so many different messages for my learning, and since I have become so aware of those messages through physical sensations, I can’t see a reason or excuse to try and ignore them or take a vacation from them. Therefore, it is my intention to be as present, authentic and self-compassionate as possible. I set this intention with a further intention to heal, so that I can meet my potential in this lifetime. In doing this work, I bring comfort to my soul. In being present, even in times of pain or discomfort, this work offers solace for my heart and spirit!

Explore the concept of solace with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to explore how you might open your heart and spirit to solace. Ask this helper to show you ways to “be” in a state of solace or peace. Is there a way for you to invite this state of being into you more often? (For example, through a ritual or ceremony). How does solace support your spiritual practice? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

Andrew Steed returns this fall to delve into Celtic Mythology and Medicine. Please see below for all the details on how to register for this great course!

I will be travelling back to Las Vegas in April to finish the cd that I am co-creating with my dear shamanic sister, Laini Risto. I hope to have copies available for sale as soon as possible.

The Shamanic Journey classes at Alchemy are back every Friday at 12:15pm.

Watch this space for updates. I am taking more time for personal work and to focus on private healing sessions and teaching small groups in ceremony. I have taken the calendar off the newsletter just for now. Please contact me if there is any individual (or group) work that you would like to explore during regular clinic hours.

February 2018 Newsletter

January 31st will mark the first of two blue moons in 2018. This blue moon will also be a super moon (close to the Earth, so it appears very large), a blood moon (looks red as the moon is between the Sun and Earth) and there will also be a lunar eclipse! This will be a powerful celestial event! The concept of experiencing the Earth obscuring the moon, who is reflecting the sun’s light opens up a lot of questions for me as I ponder this phenomenon from a metaphoric standpoint.

When we experience this kind of synchronicity in the skies, I am always reminded about how much we are connected to these heavenly beings, and also the metaphors that are offered to each of us for us to learn about ourselves. This year is certainly all about change and this particular moon in Capricorn offers us a message about getting things in order. It is also obvious that we are being encouraged to look at ourselves differently. We have not necessarily thought of ourselves in our divine nature: that is, we are not being compassionate towards ourselves and seeing us in our truth. We are divine and precious, and this message is getting stronger and louder in all of the work that I have been doing with clients and circles recently.

February will be void of a full moon: a dark month. This seems then to be a time of moving through the darkness and emerging from this tunnel reborn. What will that look like, if we embrace our divine nature, connect with others on a deeper level, and really have compassion and understanding for all beings? That is my dream, and I am certainly striving to create that understanding within my own personal practice. I have had many visions of rebirth and renewed understanding in some of the journeys that I have done since the new moon. I have been encouraged by my helping sprits to look upon myself with different eyes – without judgement and inequality, but to remember my own gifts and share them with all beings.

Explore the power of the moon with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to introduce you to the spirit of the moon. How can you embrace your divine nature, and see the truth of who you are? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

The Shamanic Journey classes at Alchemy are returning February 2nd! It is an auspicious day to be journeying – the sacred celebration of Imbolc, Candlemass, or even Ground Hog Day. Come and join us for 45 minutes of journeying and connecting.

January 2018

2017 is about to come to a close. How will you create in 2018?

I have journeyed to establish meaning in terms of what 2018 offers as support for my own personal path forward. I was shown that there were two pillars in front of me, forming a gateway. I was reminded that I have a choice as to whether I will walk through that gate or not. I won’t share the personal guidance that I was afforded, but I will share with you some of the more general information that I was given.

The two pillars awarded an invitation to explore possibilities. What lies beyond the gates is a complete unknown, although I know that I am responsible for my own creating. I was told that, in no uncertain terms, this is the most critical time for self-compassion and compassion for others. As we consider how to relate to one another, can we offer compassion to those who don’t share our views, make us feel angry or annoyed, or otherwise taking action based in fear? For me, that is one of the most challenging things to contemplate: holding compassionate space for someone who triggers me. Another big challenge for me is that I recognize where I still judge myself or compare myself to others. Again…can I find compassion for myself if I continue to deepen my awareness and learnings about myself? I think it is the only way. I must continue to deepen my own practice to pull out the roots of my own self judgement.

Explore the possibilities for 2018 with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to show you what might lie beyond the gates. What intention will you bring into your dream as you step into this new year with compassion? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

I will be going to Las Vegas on January 9th to the 19th for a book signing for the Rush Hour Shaman on the 13th. I will be co-facilitating a small workshop with my dear shamanic sister, Laini Risto on the 17th, and Laini and I will be working in the studio on our meditation cd. If you are going to be in the area, let me know, and if you are wanting to have your own personalized session with me here, please call to book around these dates.

The Shamanic Journey and Shamanic Restorative yoga classes at Alchemy are taking time off for now. Watch this space for updates. I am taking more time for personal work and to focus on private healing sessions and teaching small groups in ceremony. I have taken the calendar off the newsletter just for now. Please contact me if there is any individual (or group) work that you would like to explore during regular clinic hours.

I would be remiss if I did not honour the passing of our little cat, Polly. On December 30th, we said "goodbye for now" to our little girl. She was our quirky little polydactyl cat, who was a very sweet girl, despite her little idiosyncrasies. She lived most of her life in our bedroom. It was her sanctuary - her safe place. She slept with me at night, but only if I was laying on my right side, and she could curl in near my face. She often scratched on the closet doors, and Mike and I would surmise that she wanted to go through the wardrobe to Narnia. She had the best summer this past year...she was outdoors in the sunshine and even caught a bird! It was like she realized that she was actually a cat! She passed in my arms, wrapped in love in her bedroom sanctuary yesterday. I am grateful that Dr. Kristi could come out to support Polly's passing. We will miss Polly’s curious little actions, her beautiful sage coloured eyes, and her sweet face. Homeward bound, my little one.

December 2017

We are now approaching the season that many of us celebrate Solstice, Christmas, and other wintertime festivities. Traditionally, it is a time of giving and receiving: a wonderful time for many.

Earlier this week, I was talking with a dear friend about relationships. She had recently heard an old adage about how to maintain a long and happy relationship. It was called the Four T’s. These T’s were: Time, Tenderness, Touch, and Talk. I had never heard this adage before, and followed through with some research. Some of the descriptions seemed very external, for example Time was that “she needs your time and attention”, Talk revolved around “she needs your approval and admiration”, Touch revolved around “rubbing backs and holding hands”, and Tenderness revolved around “being kind and not critical.” Nearly every article was geared towards the “wife” or what “every woman” wants.

I know that this adage was an old one. I am a wife, and I am certainly a woman, but cannot speak on behalf of “every woman”, but as we are evolving, I thought I would throw in my two cents on this subject.

As many of us are striving to be more authentic in our lives, and have meaningful connections with others, I wondered if, during this season of giving and receiving, if we could look at the four T’s a little differently. Perhaps Time could be about having an open heart when we are with someone: being with them without judgements against them or ourselves. Not needing to have time with someone, but truly wanting to be with them in the most loving way, even if it was with ourselves. After all, the most fundamental relationship is the one we have with ourselves.

Then, with regard to Tenderness, could we consider really caring about someone (or again, ourselves), without caretaking? Not needing another’s approval, but giving of ourselves without any expectation of acknowledgement or attachment to a certain outcome.

Touch can be quite a time bomb in our society, especially right now, with all kinds of allegations of inappropriate touching, but there is so much more than our physical touch. Can we touch another’s heart with our energy? Or actions? Our words? Again, let’s consider this touch without attachment, expectation, or need.

Talk is a huge topic. Can we truly talk with another with honesty, integrity, equality and openness. Integrity, or wholeness would never intimate that either party is in need of approval or admiration, but requires truth and a willingness to support ourselves and others with compassion and love.

I suggest there is a fifth T, and that is Trust. Trust is the foundation for all relationships, I believe. We can choose to trust in the support of the Universe, trust in ourselves and our own sovereignty, and we can trust that we will create the perfect opportunities to align with our intentions.

This holiday season, can we consider that we could hold an intention of true intimacy with others: being vulnerable, trusting in the truth of who we really are, and give the most wonder-filled gift – an open heart, and honest, genuine compassion.

Explore the T’s with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to show you the true meaning of these words. How will you share your gifts this holiday season? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

November 2017

Sometimes it is hard to decide what to talk about in my monthly newsletter. There are so many “bad” things happening in the world it seems like they will never end: that there is no more hope or good in the world. When I struggle with what I should talk about, I meditate or journey, and ask for guidance. Today, when I sat down to write, the screen stared back at me and I had nothing to write about. I began my journey for guidance on what to say.

When I came back from that journey, I glanced out of our window and watched a bald eagle flying in the strong and turbulent winds that we are experiencing today. It is often very windy here and the noise and intensity of the wind sometimes makes me feel tired, irritable or restless. I watched small birds trying to fly against the wind and being thrown about like dried leaves. I see that they have hunkered down now in the eaves or other sheltered areas. The magpies and ravens have made a couple of attempts to make progress against the wind, but, for the most part, there is not a lot flying in the skies, except this lone eagle. He is using the wind to his advantage, lazily curling and dipping as he rides the wind, just like an experienced sailor on rough seas.

The guidance that I received in my journey was to “surrender”.

When I watched the eagle flying, I saw how he surrendered to the wind. As he surrendered, he could then co-operate skillfully with this force and let it assist him to get where he needed to go. He didn’t resist the wind. He partnered with it. I got an insight into surrendering. For me, it is not about giving up, or relinquishing responsibilities, but learning what is truly my responsibility, having healthy boundaries, and allowing myself to be supported. To allow and receive is challenging the fear that I have that I must do everything myself, fix things, or I am a failure.

In what areas of your life can you choose to surrender and allow? Where are you fighting against the wind or swimming upstream?

Explore resistance with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to show you where you are flying into the wind. What are you resisting that you can now surrender to and allow your life to be more expansive and meaningful? Can you allow yourself to receive and allow? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

October 2017

Over the past couple of months, I have been seeing clients, reading articles, and hearing friends and colleagues talk about what is happening in the world. The weather, the political climate, the nuclear threats, and the threats to Mother Earth have been some of the topics that have cropped up, and these circumstances are instilling fear, hopelessness and powerlessness in many. I have done many journeys and delved into my own fears and concerns with these events.

What can we do as individuals to find our way through all of this trauma?

Something that I do know is that we all have so much to offer! Each of us has amazing gifts to share with all of humanity! When I am asked what we can do during these times, I have been guided to remind people of their own abilities to create and each person is offered guidance as to how they can contribute. But this surely means that we must be doing our own deep, spiritual work! That means that as we align ourselves with the truth of who we are; as we challenge our deepest fears; as we keep putting one foot in front of the other with the most love and compassion we can, we are raising our own vibration, and that of the planet.

Doing our own personal work is so critical! We can no longer look to others to fix us, or continue to search for the next guru. We are our own guru, with all the wisdom, tools and energy to continue to light our own way on our journey to mastery.

Should you require further support with this, I quote my own brilliant teacher, Sandra Ingerman in her most recent Transmutational News (see http://www.sandraingerman.com): “This month listen to some shamanic music or meditative music or spend some time in nature. Imagine traveling right behind your physical heart to your spiritual heart. It is the place where divine love, light, and bliss emanate from. Bring your burdens to your spiritual heart and experience how quickly they are transmuted and transformed into light.Perform your transfiguration work and radiate light from your spiritual heart. Be a presence of love as your heart emanates pure and non-personal unconditional love. “

Explore your spiritual heart with this journey: Ask your helping spirits to show you the path to your spiritual heart. Experience your divine light (transfigure!) and allow your light to shine. What are the gifts you bring to Earth in this lifetime? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon

September 2017 Newsletter

It seems incredible to me that the leaves have been changing for over three weeks here. The dryness, heat and stress from the smoke of the BC wild fires has been casting a strange hue on the land, and causing the trees to go into an early winter mode. I usually love September. Fall is my favourite time of year, but this year it is coming too soon for me.

We have had very intense and trying times through the last couple of moon cycles. The highly anticipated eclipse was very interesting – such a wonderful event for people to connect together and compare feelings and emotions. Large solar flares have offered up the northern lights as a spectacle on clear nights. Unfortunately for some of these wonders, we have been under very smoky skies, but I have seen the northern lights a couple of nights over the past month.

All these events and spectacles have been such incredible gifts in terms of their ability to create connection and open conversation. We all seem to be grasping onto to anything that helps us find common ground to speak and connect with one another. On some level, I do know that we crave that. It allows us an opportunity to share our feelings and get to know each other better. We can bring up these phenomena with complete strangers! If we step out of our comfort zone, where could we take these conversations? Could we share some of the feelings that came up as we sat outside in the eclipse? Could we talk about the incredible experiences people shared on Facebook during the eclipse across America? Could we connect through Facebook and experience the eclipse through the eyes of friends and family around the world? Do the northern lights wake up others, like they do me?

So our interactions, perhaps by starting the discussion with the magic of the eclipse or the beauty of the northern lights are just the beginnings of the possibilities of deep and amazing explorations into our own truth.

We are remembering that we are all connected and I love these opportunities to explore our similarities. It certainly does a lot more for our humanity than ignoring our fellow brothers and sisters.

Explore the concept of connection with this journey: Ask the helping spirits where you might be stuck in creating distance from others. Is there a part of you that might be willing to step out of your comfort zone and speak with someone that you may have been avoiding? Is there a way for you to connect more deeply with others, even a stranger, to strengthen the fabric of our humanity? As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

The annual Nakota Cochrane Pickin Party Music Festival is September 30th from 1 – 6 at Frank Wills Hall in Cochrane. It is a free event. Please come and see how many wonderful musicians live in our beautiful communities!

August 2017 Newsletter

Today, I was intrigued by the word conflict. I have noticed that there seems to be a significant amount of conflict in the lives of some of my clients, and I do sense that if we look deeply into the meaning of conflict, that there might be more than a little conflict in everyone’s life!

One definition of conflict revolves around a lack of harmony, resulting in quarrelling or antagonistic behaviour. This is interesting, as I was taken into the teachings of Gary Zukav, in which he shared that harmony was one of the primary intentions of the soul. So what would the soul be learning or experiencing during a time of dissonance or disharmony? I thought this was an excellent topic for a journey!

Another definition for conflict is “a struggle for superiority” (Mirriam-Webster online dictionary). Again, I was quite taken aback by the simplicity of this illustration of when we might be out of our authenticity: feeling unequal or powerless, and perhaps engaged in exerting external power over another person. How many times have I felt inferior, or unworthy, or even just assumed I was right or felt righteous, and have engaged in a power struggle? I sense this might happen a lot more if I was not at least sometimes aware of my own feelings or state of being. The more I can be aware, the more I can learn about myself in these situations. Another great journey for exploring!

The online dictionary offered another aspect of conflict to consider: implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions. This seemed almost more of a result of conflict to me, but I decided to explore further, and was given so much more understanding as to how we as humans often create more and more distance when we are acting in fear. We seem very skilled in creating separation from others when we feel unequal and/or powerless, that is for sure!

The wider the gap or distance created, the harder it can be to regain harmony, or remember our own wholeness. Conflict resolution really appears to me to be taking responsibility for my own healing, and doing my best to remember the equality that exists on a soul level, being in integrity (aka wholeness), and creating with the most loving parts of me. The loving parts know my equality and wholeness, and desire connection and fulfillment. In other words, I can create authentically, with compassion for myself and others.

Explore the concept of conflict with this journey: Ask the helping spirits where you might be in conflict with your highest self or another person. As always, remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

July 2017 Newsletter

What is speaking your truth? There are a lot of instances where we see or hear people talking, yelling, or even raging about their opinions. We are lucky to live in a free country where it is legal and relatively safe to speak our opinions, but is that speaking our truth?

What I notice in my life and practice is that there are many of us who are used to saying what we think others want to hear. Or we say things with an agenda to try to make someone else change their opinion or belief. Sometimes we will not verbalise what we truly feel, again, because it might displease, hurt someone’s feelings or would create conflict. Perhaps we don’t feel worthy to say out loud what it is we are thinking or observing, or might fear persecution or ridicule if we do speak out. Instead, we swallow our truth.

Again, in the context of my practice and personal experiences, I find it takes a lot of awareness to firstly know where our voice is coming from. Are we clear about our intentions and detached from the outcome when we share something? Then, if we are willing to experiment with our life, do we have the courage to share something that may not be viewed with favour or accepted by another? The courage to detach from these possible outcomes is paramount. Sometimes we feel like we are walking through a minefield, embroiled on a battlefield. We in modern times are inundated with information and other’s opinions in varying forms. I sense we might, on one hand, feel meaningless or invisible, or on the other hand, entitled to yell it from the mountaintops. Obviously, the same fears might be active if we are feeling unworthy or entitled. Even though entitlement often looks brave or assertive, it is usually borne from a fear of unworthiness – needing to be overtly loud or aggressive to defend one’s point of view.

What I do know is that when we feel worthy and whole, we can stop defending ourselves. There is no need to prove oneself to anyone. (This need to prove is actually a manipulation and very externally and fearfully motivated!) What we can choose is to approve of ourselves, honour who we are to the core, and share what is going on in our hearts. As we evolve and grown, this journey through the heart is one of healing and wholeness, and serves not only each of us as individuals, but the communities and the planet we live on.

Experiment with the concept of your own truth with this journey: Ask the helping spirits where you mute the voice of your truth. Ask them to show you a situation where you have not honoured yourself and the truth of who you are and how you might have handled this differently. Remember, no judgements! What will you discover? I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

The Shamanic Journey and Shamanic Restorative yoga classes at Alchemy are taking time off for summer. They will return in September, and I hope to see you there! I am teaching 3 mini workshops at Alchemy during the summer and would love to connect with you there. Please see workshop details below. I am excited to share with you that I will be returning to Elkhorn, Manitoba in August. If you are going to be in that area, please consider joining us. The community there is amazing!

June 2017 Newsletter

In the Northern Hemisphere, we are entering the part of the year with the most light. On the Summer Solstice this June 20th, we will experience the longest day; the day with the most light.

I am noticing in my life and in my practice that this year the gradual increase in light is shining on a lot of things that we need to look at. I don’t like to focus on the negative, but I am certainly seeing some of the shadow aspects of clients and myself emerging so that they can be addressed. Without exception, sessions that have been directed to healing a client’s rage, anger, jealousy, or other negative emotions have been more intense than usual. People are certainly being exposed to their “dark side”. It is such a great opportunity to learn about ourselves.

It was interesting that in one of the recent journey classes, I was given the topic of blessings for the group to journey on. When I heard this message from Guidance, I was interested what might come up in the circle.

I am always glad when I am drumming for the group I am able to journey myself. What came in this particular journey for me was so interesting! At first, it seemed difficult to journey to my guides to ask them about blessings. The intention was to ask about blessings and specifically for a blessing for ourselves. What I learned was that I was resisting the part about offering an appropriate blessing for myself.

When we shared as a group, it was not just a problem for me! Others said the same thing: they had struggled when a blessing was suggested for them.

I wonder how often we resist blessing our own journey and moving forward in our lives with compassion and self-love. In these powerful times, perhaps this would be an interesting focus to experiment with. As we move toward the brightest day, can we consider our own light as a blessing? This would probably go a long way in our understanding of our shadow side…perhaps even finding the blessing held within the shadow. What other blessings will you discover?

I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

I am excited to share with you that I will be returning to Elkhorn Manitoba in August. If you are going to be in that area, please consider joining us. The community there is amazing!

May 2017 Newsletter

In many of my recent client sessions, a common thread has been emerging: trust. It comes up in many ways. Some people are not happy when their circumstances haven’t met their expectations: life doesn’t look the way they want it to. Some feel that manifestation of dreams works for some, but not for them, and yet others might feel unworthy of even asking the Universe to support them in some way.

The Universe always supports us. We do need to be very careful and aware of how we are 1) requesting the support and 2) opening up to receive the support. We can choose to trust that the Universe is always behind us 100% and gives us exactly what we have intended. Doubt is such a powerful emotion and plays an important role in how our dreams manifest. If we doubt our own ability to create wellness in our own being, these dreams may begin to look more like nightmares. How many times have we asked why bad things happen to good people? How many times have we been shocked that something awful has happened to someone we love? If we were to look at the person and their circumstance from a multi-layered perspective, we might find that chink in their armour that was forged with doubt.

The “trick” is finding the truth in the intention: how and why we are creating in the way that we are, and then trusting that the Universe will support in co-creation. Many people understand intention, but for most of us (and I include myself in this), I am not consciously intending 100% of the time. In other words, I am not always aware of my intention, and certainly not aware of the energy behind my intention. I am sometimes caught up the in the wave of consciousness in the moment, buying in to the global dream. This dream is not always my dream, but I have unconsciously been swept up into the energy. I am not conscious or aware. Intentions that are unconscious are just as powerful as the ones we state in awareness.

The best thing that I can do is be as aware and present as I can, and once I set intentions in that state, I must then open my “arms”, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to receive the fruits of my intention. I can take responsibility for what I create always, and that level of empowerment usually reminds me to be as present as possible, remembering that life is unfolding as it should. I am not a victim of circumstance.

A couple of weeks ago, a group that I host journeyed with regard to trust. We held the intention to journey to our helping spirits to determine in what areas of my life did I still hold doubt? In what do I not trust?

This journey brought up some interesting and powerful insights for the participants. I invite you to journey with this intention and see where it takes you on your path to self-mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

April 2017 Newsletter

The astrological focus over the past month or so seems to have centered on relationships. Although I don’t know a whole lot about astrology, I do see a number of the effects that these magical energies hold for clients in my healing practice and indeed for myself, too. Since Venus went into retrograde in early March, I have seen many relationships shift. I have friends, colleagues and clients who have left their relationships. Some partnerships and friendships have been very long-standing. The dissolution of the relationship may have been coming for some time, but it appears that this was the time and circumstance to initiate change. Some breakups were subtle and gentle, each participant drifting away quietly. Some were not. Chaos and turmoil ensued. Not all relationships ended. They shifted in varying degrees. Something in each of these relationships died, so that something new could be reborn.

This is all very natural, of course, when we consider the emotions, attachments and energies that can be part of being in a relationship. Any change, any death and rebirth can offer incredible shifts in us personally. There were some major opportunities for growth. Some participants might still be seeking the wisdom in the lesson.

When we stand back from the circumstances of change, a light can be shone on another relationship: that relationship that we have with ourselves. Each of the opportunities created in these relationships offered information on our own personal relationship. Were the partners looking at themselves as equals in the relationship? Did they have an attachment to the other partner or friend that impacted the relationship, or limited it’s potential? Did they stretch themselves courageously to push the boundaries of the relationship? Did they have unrealistic expectations of the other person or themselves? Did they offer themselves compassion, or self love? Fundamentally, what did they learn about themselves in the process? These are the just some of the insights that might be offered as we walk through life.

I invite you to consider this journey as you walk on the path to mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

March 2017 Newsletter

Anyone who thought that 2017 was going to be “easier” or less chaotic than 2016 has probably had what my mother would have called, another think coming. There have been a lot of indicators that this year will be very deep and powerful in terms of learning and opportunities for growth, and really, who would have thought the path to mastery would be any other way? Why would we think it would be easy to rebirth, shift, change or let go of old beliefs and welcome new ways of being? What I have noticed in my healing practice is that those who are focused, diligent, committed and courageous are having profound and deep experiences. The sessions that I am privileged to take part in with my clients have been moving and fulfilling.

I have noticed as well, in some clients, that resistance to change has also been intense. I have noticed my own resistance as well. This inspired me to deepen my spiritual practice; being clear with intention and to consistently increase my emotional awareness. Even a spiritual practice can begin to become very “heady” or intellectual if we are not clear on intention, or unaware of whether we are creating in fearful or loving energy. It behooves us to be consciously aware and embody our commitment to our spiritual growth. This awareness is most accurate and accessible when we are not only aware of our true intention, but prepared to process information and energy within our being. In short, this means being in my body fully, in the present moment, grounded in awareness, and open to Guidance.

Therefore, on the path to mastery, I have been reminded to be aware of the messages that I receive from Spirit through my physical body, and stay present with a clear intention. Pretty basic stuff, but super important. Staying in the head is limiting at best.

This month, I have been journeying to deepen my communications between my physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies. I invite you to consider this journey as you walk on the path to mastery.

I do hope to see you soon!

February 2017 Newsletter

The days are getting longer and I am really quite pleased about that! In the last days of January some important things happened. On Friday, we had our first new moon of 2017 (Lunar Imbolc). This coincided quite nicely with Chinese New Year on Saturday, the 28th. This year is the year of the Rooster, however some experts have likened the image of the Rooster to more of a Phoenix. The previous year has been a fiery year (the Fire Monkey), which was one of intense learning and letting go, often leaving us feeling like we are literally a pile of ash. Can we arise from the ash this New Year as the Phoenix? As I wrote last month, 2017 is a year of rebirth and renewal. It is a year to live in a new way, with renewed perspectives. I will be talking a lot this year about how this will be a time of becoming masters in our own lives. Again, mastery is not a state of superiority, but one of humility; open to learning more, listening more, and having more compassion. To repeat what I alluded to in January’s newsletter, your openness is first to learning about yourself, listening to Guidance, and opening to love.

One of the first concepts that was been offered to me with respect to mastery is that of mystery and magic. If we are not able to consider how our lives and life on Earth is a mystery and magical, how can I consider that I am creating my reality? Do I consider my own empowerment, my own magic and my connection to the seen and unseen as the limitless potential that exists within me? Can I look at the possibilities with wonder and curiousity? We are encouraged through movies and stories to consider mystery as something dark and sinister, and magic as potentially evil witchery or dark spells, but what of the mystery of the Universe, or the magic of infectious laughter? I feel that mastery is looking at all things from many perspectives: we create as we think. If we broaden the scope of our perspective, how would magic and mystery affect us?

I have been journeying on these words and concepts and have had some amazing insights into the expansiveness of my own creating that inviting mystery and magic might support. I invite you to consider this journey as you walk on the path to mastery.

January 2017 Newsletter

As I write this, it is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. We have just experienced the darkest day: the day with the least amount of light, the shortest day.

Sometimes I feel that we focus a lot on our darkness, our shadows and our issues. What we focus on does tend to flourish and grow within us. 2016 has been a very intense year of facing our fears, working on our issues and making changes. It has been a year of chaos, incredible change, and high emotions. It has also been a year of learning, deep transformation that exposes our greatest opportunities for growth and our most unique gifts.

As we move through the last days of 2016, we are encouraged to truly scrape clean the remaining fearful energies that may linger from the purging that we have done throughout this year thus far. What has been released may have left you feeling other fearful emotions, such as shame (I should never have had that happen in my life! I am such a bad person!), guilt (I should have let that issue go a long time ago!) or other doubts (do I really deserve to feel better about myself?). These can be cleared away also! 2016 is the year of completion. What needs to be addressed to completely clear all the residual fear that might have been controlling you and influencing your choices? Since this is the time that the light is increasing, starting today, consider journeying to your spirit guides to ask them for assistance on letting go of any residual energy that is no longer serving you,

This final clearing will help you enter into 2017 in a state of newness. 2017 is a year of rebirth and renewal. It is a year to live in a new way, and I feel that for many, it will be a year of experiencing mastery.

Mastery is not a state of superiority. It does not infer that one knows everything. In fact, mastery is a humble state: the master is always open to learning more, listening more, and having more compassion. This openness is firstly to self, as there is always more to learn about oneself, more to hear from Guidance, and more to love about Life.

I hope that you will consider entering 2017 with an intention to explore your own mastery, with self-compassion and openness.

I wish you a light filled solstice, wonder filled Christmas, and a Very Happy New Year!

I do hope to see you soon!

December 2016

This week, I witnessed a miracle. Life emerging through the waters. Our first grandchild was born on November 25th; a beautiful baby that continues to offer us such joy in every moment. Edith Grace has only been with us for a couple of days now, but she brings out the very best in me, and has given me the auspicious honour of being her grandmother. She is the first of our descendants, a person who will be living in the dream that we are creating right now. This offers me an incredible window into my own dream, and how I wish to create going forward. It is my hope that I will be dreaming a dream in which Edith wishes to live. When new life enters the world, it sometimes stops us in our tracks, recognizing what is important and what is not. To hold the vibrant energy of life in our arms is cause for joy and wonder. What I love when I look at her is seeing pure presence and pure light. And this can remind each of us that we are too. It is beautiful to see our daughter recognizing her own perfection and light as she gazes on what she has created. Because of this amazing event, I will not be offering my full newsletter. I do not have wifi at our daughters and using the phone is proving to be quite a challenge. I will be posting my 2017 teaching schedule as soon as I return home, and will update my website at that time. As I mentioned last month, I will not be scheduling much in terms of classes or sessions during December, with the exceptions of the classes at Amaryllis, which will be held throughout the month. (Note: no classes on December 2nd and 3rd). Should you wish to set up and appointment with me, I am booking into January, but can add you to the cancellation list for the limited spots in early December. I do wish you an amazing holiday season. Please remember that I do offer gift certificates and have books and essences that would make great presents too!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year

Michael Stone's radio interview with me is available at: arewelistening.net

November 2016 Newsletter

Earlier this week, we finished our 2-year Celtic Shamanism Training with Andrew Steed. This training was deep and I learned so much about myself! I do love to host these trainings and events, and, even though there is some extra work involved before and after the events, preparing and clearing up, I love the energy that is infused into the house and the land. I am so lucky to live in such a richly spirited place! I also recognized that although the events are over, there is so much to be done going forward. I see a lot of potentials for healing work, and I also know that the end of this particular event marks many new beginnings.

We continue to move through the dark part of the year. At this particular time, the indigenous ancestors would tell us that spirits are able to move easily through the veils: That this is a time for much movement in the unseen realms. Our own Halloween is loosely based on this concept of spiritual movement, tying in to the Celtic Samhain, the Day of the Dead, and many rituals and ceremonies honouring the ancestors. It is a time when I am journeying a lot regarding the concept of death and rebirth, and the many layers that are contained in that concept. For example, I have spoken in this newsletter about change, which requires a death. I have spoken about letting go of old, fear based beliefs and patterns that do not serve us, and inviting and embracing compassionate and loving ways to be.

A very potent and intense example of the concept of change, death and rebirth is being mirrored to the world through the drama of the US election. It is very clear to me that fear is BIG right now, but there are some who are willing to look beyond the surface and see what is being offered on a more spiritual level. For example, I read an article written by Deepak Chopra regarding Trump, and was fascinated by his take. In his article in the Huffington Post (June 6th, 2016) he talks about Trump as a representation of the shadow: “The shadow compounds all the dark impulses—hatred, aggression, sadism, selfishness, jealousy, resentment, sexual transgression—that are hidden out of sight. The name originated with Carl Jung, but its basic origin came from Freud’s insight that our psyches are dualistic, sharply divided between the conscious and unconscious. The rise of civilization is a tribute to how well we obey our conscious mind and suppress our unconscious side. But what hides in the shadows will out.” I love that on some level, we are being asked to look at the shadow that is in all of us.

On this new moon (October 30th) what can we offer to ourselves in embracing the shadow that is in all of us, and using the awareness that it is truly IN us, to act from the most loving, light filled part of us in the moment? Sometimes, the most loving action is being clear on intention. Sometimes it is just to breathe a conscious breath.

Let us connect through this new moon in a new and more aware manner, recognizing our connections, our true selves, and perhaps we can embrace that all beings are our relations, rather than creating more distance between us. If we allow ourselves, through ritual and celebration to embrace our truth; to celebrate our lives and growth, then, as the moon waxes, we bring more light into the world. The more light I shine within myself, the more I recognize my own shadows, and can make more loving choices for healing within myself. That is the dream that I intend to create.

I will be offering very few openings for client appointments in the month of December, as I feel that this honours my own rhythms of creativity and reflection, so please be sure to contact me should you wish to see me before my break. I’m also going to become a grandmother in December, and have opened up some space to travel to see the new arrival, whenever she makes her appearance! I will continue to be at Amaryllis Yoga Centre in Cochrane for Shamanic Journeying every Friday, and for Shamanic Restorative Yoga on Saturdays throughout December. My 2017 teaching calendar will be available in my next newsletter, so watch this space!

My friend and colleague, Michael Stone’s Embodied Shamanism: Shapeshifting into Living a Life You Love starts on Wednesday, November 2nd, so there’s still time to enroll and join us for this powerful transformation experience. For more information about the course, including bonus materials and how to register, please use this link: https://im332.isrefer.com/go/EmbodiedShamanism/wol235 Michael’s radio interview with me is available at: http://www.arewelistening.net/ http://www.arewelistening.net

October 2016 Newsletter

As I write this, it is the new moon. I teach a shamanic journeying class in Cochrane every Friday, and today’s class happened to fall on this particular phase of the moon’s cycle. This moon is apparently a black new moon – the second new moon in a calendar month. It seems to me that is such a great opportunity to delve deeply into what we wish to let go of and what new energy we wish to draw into our lives during this time of newness of the moon. This new energy then waxes with the moon until it’s fullness on October 16th. As I have mentioned in this newsletter before, 2016 has proven to be a very intense year, one of completions, which encourages us to let go of the deepest and oldest patterns to allow for the new and more evolved ways of being in 2017.

What came up for us to journey on in this particular class was about our stories. What stories have we held on to that literally hold us in a place of fear, stagnation or limited potential?

The journeys that were shared were moving and powerful, and I am sure will deepen with insight and meaning over the next lunar cycle.

We are so influenced by the moon! Explained, of course, because of our body’s high content of water, but I also feel that the moon is reminding us to look at what we are reflecting into the world. The moon is a powerful metaphor for reflection since she has no light of her own, but shines back to us the light of the sun like a mirror. I connect passionately to the cycles of the moon, as these metaphors are so supportive for my own growth and understanding. As we have entered the dark half of the year here in North America, I feel that this reflective light is enhanced by the reflective nature of the season.

On a deep level, I have held on to an old story or two myself! I have always tried to find ways of being somewhat invisible, and always endeavoured to fly slightly under the radar. As I embrace my gifts and share more and more love in the world, the Universe is, of course supporting me by offering opportunities that are somewhat scary for me.

In challenging myself to release some of my old stories, I wish to share with you something that is quite scary for me but really very exciting. My dear shamanic colleague and fellow teacher, Michael Stone is going to interview me in October! We are going to talk about my book, The Rush Hour Shaman: Shamanic Practices for Urban Living. Michael will air this interview through his WellofLight.com platform, and may use it in his new teaching platform. I will keep you posted as more information becomes available. Michael has created a Free live on-line event: Living A Shamanic Way Of Life: 3 Core Lessons From the Heart Of Nature with Michael Stone October 12th 5-6:15 pm PST. Here is a link to register: https://im332.isrefer.com/go/laswof/jangale Michael has also been designing an on-line teaching platform with the intention of creating an inclusive and varied curriculum for an on line school. If you are interested in participating with him or have any questions, please contact him via his email: support@WellofLight.com I think what he is doing is very much needed right now, and offers great opportunities for us to create community with compassionate and healing intentions.

This new moon, what old, limiting stories will you release to make room for your potential?

I am excited to be welcoming Andrew Steed and Joyce Helen back for the final installment of our two year Celtic Shamanic training October 19th through 23rd. Please note that my clinic will be closed during their stay here and will reopen on October 26th. Please book your appointments accordingly.

September 2016 Newsletter

I know that I have shared previously in this newsletter that September is my favourite month, and that fall is my favourite season. I particularly love the transitional seasons, as they hold such interesting energies, filled with the possibilities of change and transformation. Although I didn’t have the words or understanding regarding change and its all its ramifications as a child, and even as a young adult, I was always excited and filled with energy during spring and fall. Each of these wonder-filled seasons offered an increase in my physical and creative energy, and they still do to this day.

I had an amazing time in Manitoba, with fantastic, open-hearted, and insightful people in the workshop and for private sessions. We also had a magnificent time hiking through a magical place called Spirit Sands. I found myself thinking what an amazing world we live in and I wonder if I will ever see all the awe inspiring places on this planet! Spirit Sands has a varied landscape with thick pine and deciduous forest as we entered the park, then opens up to miles and miles of sand dunes! This in the centre of Canada, with no oceans in sight for at least a thousand miles! The sands were created from as a great delta from the origins of the Assiniboine River, and the retreat of the glaciers, which makes for such a magical and interesting vista from the top of the surrounding hills. Of course, the native peoples consider the area sacred, as we all should really, for the spirits of all lands are conscious and alive. The spirits of this land in Manitoba are tied so deeply to the extremes of the elements here. It felt amazing to walk with such powerful energy all around me! We walked for hours. It was hot and humid, but I felt very rejuvenated at the end of our trek. I had seen something I had not experienced before, and had walked with people that I care about deeply.

All days might not be this filled with beauty and loving energy, but I do feel that there is an opportunity to create this magic every day of our lives if we choose. I do know very deeply that we have cycles of creativity, periods of rest and rejuvenation, moments of possibility and growth, and time for reflection on our achievements. Therefore, I accept that some days or some seasons or some times I will not feel as excited and wonder-filled as others, but on those “less excited days” it is my joy to reflect on the wonder of the days, seasons, or times that were “more”.

The other aspect that is coming so much more deeply to me is our connection to all beings. I have experienced in my own journeying work and meditation, the ongoing understanding that we are made up of the elements. I am reminded constantly that earth is my bones, air is my breath, water is my blood, and fire is my spirit. When I journey on this, I see that all things are these elements, and that all things are spirit. Although I feel that I know this, I am recognizing and knowing the truth that this offers on a much more profound level. I also know that if I know this, that all of us truly do, too. I experience much more awe of nature. I experience deeper and different connections with people that I meet. My client sessions are shifting and changing constantly. Life truly is “more” than what I have previously experienced, “more” and “more” each day.

August 2016 Newsletter

I could begin my newsletter the same every month: we are living in very intense and changing times. There have been many catastrophic occurrences. We certainly are living with a lot of uncertainty.

It appears that uncertainty; change and intense emotions and reactions are the “new normal.”

I have had the opportunity to work with some astounding people over the past month, and it has offered me some interesting insights in what is going on for me, and also how we might allow for these changes to support us all in these times.

I was blessed to work with fourteen amazing young people during the Children’s Shamanic Toolkit workshop in Cochrane. They were all part of a weeklong yoga and art camp, hosted by Amaryllis Yoga Studio. I was taken aback by the sharing of these great kids.

Something that is always very clear to me is that we come into this world with so much wisdom. When I work with young people, they seem to access this wisdom with relative ease. For example, we journeyed during our workshop. Journeying allows us to be taken out of the alpha brainwave state in which we spend a lot of our time. We begin to work outside of time and space, which can be challenging for some adults. Not so for my natural born shaman! They were tasked with drawing their journeys: what they saw, who they met and what information they received. The artwork was detailed, deep and truly inspiring! The drawings took much longer than the actual journey! The sharings were profound and moving. At some point, someone asked me how long had I drummed for their journeying? I asked them how long they felt they were journeying. One fellow said “48 days?” Um no. Anybody else? “An hour?” “Two hours?” All of them really felt that they had been journeying for such a long time! In actuality, it was less than five minutes! The level of detail in the artwork, and what they remembered was so astounding! Some were like the storyboards for a movie!

I was reminded that these young people had been working with yoga and movement. They had been using their imaginations through artwork for a couple of days before our time together. They had been creating and creative the whole time they were in the camp. (And I am sure that they had been practicing that much longer than that.)

As we go through our lives, we forget how important this invisible realm is, whether we believe fully in the realm itself, or whether it might be a product of our imagination. I’m not worried about whether it is an imagined place or whether it truly exists for others. I have my own beliefs on that subject, but I do know that whatever those kids were experiencing was very real for them. They brought back amazing insights to share with everyone in the circle, and I, for one, was so grateful to hear their wisdom!

I hope that we, through ceremony, meditation, ritual, yoga or just being with others who stimulate our imagination, will begin to connect with love and compassion. That is the world I want to live in!

July 2016 Newsletter

I am writing this in the “wake” of yet another month of intense events: the shootings in Orlando, more extreme weather in the world, ongoing wildfires, the US Presidential candidate rivalries, and the recent decision in the UK to leave the European Union. We are certainly living in interesting times.

Following the shootings in Orlando, I was moved by several of the comments made by people on TV and even on Facebook. It appeared that some people were seeing the events in a deep way; looking at the possibilities for healing, and not reacting in judgement or finding blame. I believe that there were clear intentions to learn about themselves and find some deeper truth as we evolve and negotiate in our journey of change.

Change in itself can be a challenge. Any change requires a death of something. To change a belief an old one must die. To change a lifestyle, we must let something go to allow for a new behaviour. Change requires trust in the Universe: that It is supporting us always.

I was born in the UK. I have family and friends there. I have seen a number of strong reactions to the outcome of the referendum. I see the UK splitting from the EU, and creating even further division within their own borders. There is divisiveness now within the country’s population: those who wanted to stay versus those who voted to leave. I wonder who the puppeteers of this drama are, and what their dream is? Is there an opportunity to dream a different dream?

I see the shootings in Orlando, and how this is fuelling huge fear and entitlement in the US: those who feel gun control is needed versus those who feel completely entitled to have these powerful weapons at their personal disposal. Is this an underlying misunderstanding in the concept of free speech, in that those who have differing opinions seemingly need to force their opinions on others, sometimes very violently? If we weren’t afraid of or resistant to change, or, more precisely, if we weren’t afraid of the death of some “old dream”, perhaps things might look differently?

I am also reminded of and pay attention to the feelings and the thoughts that I am having in my own self. Rather than seeing and dwelling in the tragedy or fear in these situations, finding a reason to blame someone or something outside of me, can I go more deeply within myself and see what the Universe might be offering for me to learn about myself? I first recognize that I am living in very important times with respect to the human evolution. I am reminded that I have choice. When I breathe consciously and feel the feelings that are occurring within me, I have had some incredible insights! I have been offered a sense of calm and peace, knowing that I am safe and supported. I get a glimpse into the possibilities and opportunities that these situations may hold. Perhaps by noticing that others are choosing love and peace and sharing those thoughts as happened on the TV more people can consider a similar choice? If I were to consider looking at the EU situation from a different perspective, stripping away the financial, economic or externally powered view is there a pathway being created for a new community of acceptance and equality? Are we being offered an opportunity to share our lives on Earth in compassion for ourselves and eachother? Are we remembering our connections with eachother and the possibility for a global community of healing and caring? Is the Universe responding to a newly emerging collective dream?

I was gifted with a beautiful letter from a dear colleague and friend in Brussels. Of course, Brussels has had it’s fair share of turmoil recently, and I was very touched by this person taking time to write to me during these times! I had asked a virtual circle of shamanic practitioners for support with the Fort McMurray fires. Many responded that they would add this request to their healing altars and circles in which they were facilitating or participating. A most moving response was received in the aforementioned letter. In a series of personal journeying meditations my friend learned a lot about a place halfway around the world from him. For instance, he was shown by a non-physical ally the oil that was on and in the ground. He could actually smell it! He didn’t at first understand what he was being shown as he was not aware at that time that the fires were near the tar sands. He further journeyed and met with the spirit of the fire and learned about human greed and responsibility. One of the most poignant lines for me was when he spoke to the spirit of the fire and it retorted, “When things have come this far, humanity should unite and joint the forces of common sense.” He went on to share that “the fire continued to gnaw as a wild beast. We (his spirit ally and he) looked in awe at this display of raw power. Then came the final message “be responsible”.”

When I read and reread this letter, I felt my friend’s authenticity. I felt his love for the planet and all the beings on it. I felt his strong connection with Spirit and his spirit allies. I felt our connection. I felt oneness.

I am sharing this with you because I know at a very deep level that we are connected: That we are remembering who we are as people living on this huge planet. We are being offered an opportunity to choose love. We are being offered an opportunity to see eachother as equals in a circle of unity around a beautiful fire. We are being an offered an opportunity to share our opinions without fear of judgement, or a need to blame, feel unequal or fearful to speak our truth.

We are living in important times.

June 2016 Newsletter

Again, throughout the month of May, we have been experiencing more intense times, deeper healing, and the unearthing of core beliefs, stories and issues that are coming up to be released and healed. These oldest and deepest wounds seem to create chaos around us, but, from what I am observing, the healings that we receive when we get to the “other side” of the chaos seem to be incredible. I can share from personal experience that I am feeling more peaceful and empowered as I move through my own stuff. And this, as they say, is all good.

A very powerful theme arose last week, when I realized that many of my clients had mirrored back to me the need to look at where we are truly accepting others unconditionally, and where we might be merely tolerating. We might say something to ourselves such as “well, I accept this person’s behaviour, but…I sure think he was wrong in what he said” or “well, I accept that this person is the way she is, but…I don’t need to see her anymore…” Or perhaps “well I will accept him as he is, but he’d better not do that to me again!” These types of statements (especially when they have the big “but” in them) are not illustrations of accepting a person unconditionally; rather we are tolerating a person or situation. By tolerating them, we have placed a condition on them: A “but” if you will. To tolerate someone or something, we are still holding a judgement. We have an attachment to them changing or we have an expectation that a situation should look differently than it does. We want the person or the situation to be different, but we feel powerless to change them. Of course, we cannot make a person or situation change. Our perspective when we feel powerless in a situation is not necessarily healthy, and we are attaching strings or conditions to make ourselves feel more powerful. When others have tried to place conditions on us – not accepting us unconditionally, we can also be pulled off our centre and out of our integrity. We are not empowered; in fact we are giving our power away in fear.

These people and/or situations have been offered by the Universe for us to learn about ourselves. Remember that your life happens for you not to you.

Take the time to journey or meditate during these turbulent times. Set an intention for your journey: To ask your helping spirits to help you remember a time when you felt unconditionally loved, and then to apply what you feel about that unconditional love toward a situation or person that you are experiencing difficulty with truly accepting now. See what comes up for your great learning. Enjoy your journey.

May 2016

The theme of change and release is ongoing in 2016. We are letting go of deeply ingrained patterns to make room for the more loving aspects of ourselves. My personal journey has been quite intense as I continue to release very old and unhealthy patterns within me.

I found that I had to look at myself differently, and notice what I was allowing to take me off centre. For example, I have had some back issues since late in March. Instead of blundering through in pain, I chose to release that part of me that puts myself after everyone else and saw my chiropractor and my DCM right away. This opened the floodgates to observe other things that needed to shift in terms with respect to the importance that I put on my own wellness. I was fascinated to experience the Celtic Shamanism training with no pain at all, and as soon as the training ended, I was in intense pain. I knew that there was a significant lesson there for me! I recognized that when I am fully engaged in my growth, creating in authenticity, partnering with Spirit, and looking after myself in a loving way, I am on centre, and I am supported. Once I released even a part of that connection, and fearful parts of me thought that my day-to-day life was separate from that connection, I was in pain again. I understand now that there is no need to separate from that partnership, as I AM that connection. It was merely a frightened part of me that has separated the two: that somehow that there had to be a tangible transition from the workshop to my daily life, which couldn’t possibly be spirit led. In my heart, I know that is not true, but it is very telling how strong these old patterns are within all of us. I am fully committed to being aware of when these old and fearful patterns are trying to control me, and am making some significant shifts in a more loving direction!

By making these loving changes for myself, I recognize that I am able to support my clients in an even deeper way! Growth is constant and deep, and I feel that we are evolving together towards a more inspired and higher frequency in all ways.

To support my wellness, and my own inner work, which must be my priority, I have changed my work schedule slightly, working from home exclusively now. I have adjusted my clinic hours (below) to reflect this change. I have dearly loved working at On Centre Chiropractic for the past 10 years! I am so grateful for the support of Dr. Bob and his staff, and couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to work. I have loved facilitating the meditation class there, and have so enjoyed the wonderful participants in that class! They have been an inspiration to me as I am in awe of their commitment. I will miss the time we spent together, and hope that they will join me in some classes or events that I will have at my home.

April 2016

Many of my clients have heard me talk about bringing ceremony and ritual into their lives. I find that not only does it bring my life into more intentional focus, but I am really understanding gratitude, empowerment and preciousness on a deeper level. I recognize that the Universe supports me, and, through my meditations and journeys, I see how that partnership is deepening as I allow that support in.

I had a big reminder last week to be very clear about my intentions and words. I was facilitating a journeying circle. At the beginning of the evening, I had everyone smudge and set intentions. My own prayer for the smudge was a request to release whatever was not serving me. I inadvertently took a big breath in as this intention was moving through my mind, and I inhaled a bunch of the smoke from the smudge. Surprisingly, I didn’t cough or splutter, which I found interesting. I’m usually pretty sensitive to smoke, and I was given cause to recall that later that evening. When I returned home, I had a bath and got ready for bed. Five minute after getting out of the bath, I began a twelve-hour “cleanse”, with violent stomach flu.

I was reminded about my request several times that night. In spite of the way that I felt, I did find myself quite awestruck at the speed at which the Universe offered my healing! And I had to smile a couple of times because I was getting exactly what I asked for, literally. I did my best to remain present with what was happening and what lessons it was offering me. Aside from personal healing that was being offered for me, there was an overwhelming remembering of my preciousness and the importance and beauty of the connection that I have with Spirit. That is important for all of us to remember.

Like all good ceremonies, there should be a beginning, middle, and an end. My “flu ceremony” ended with a beautiful crystal bowl meditation in Cochrane two days later, which offered clarity around what great new information is being given to me from Guidance, now that some space has been cleared within me.

The great thing about this whole experience is it offers two great themes: one that we are so graciously supported by the Universe, just be careful what you ask for, and two; that we are so loved by this Universe that it will offer exactly what we require for our growth.

I’m glad to be over the flu, and excited about what I will co-create with the Universe going forward.

March 2016 Newsletter

As you know, I have just returned from a vacation in the Caribbean. I had an amazing time! It was my first cruise, and my first time to the Caribbean. Before I left, I began journeying to the Spirits of the Oceans and asked several questions about what I might learn from the element of water. I was offered some amazing insights into the element itself, but was also told to observe and feel the seas to learn more. So I went into the vacation open to learning about the element of water.

I was nervous about being on the water. I’m not a great swimmer and I was also worried about being seasick.

The first night at sea, we sat out on our patio and watched and felt the ocean. I was immediately entranced by it! I felt the movement; so rhythmic and powerful. I felt the rhythm relaxing but also very familiar. It was as if Mother Earth was orchestrating a beautiful and moving song. I was rocked to sleep at night, and was also amazed that my sea legs came to me almost immediately! What is quite humorous about the sea legs is that they haven’t really left yet, although the times I feel the earth moving like the ocean is lessening over time.

I found peace in the element of water, watching it flow, move in the tides, noticed how it eroded rocks and shaped the shorelines. What beauty it created, with such undertones of immense power and incredible abilities to reshape or destroy.

We have this element within us of course: in our cells as water, but also in metaphor as the rivers of veins and arteries. All waters are connected. I sense that this can impact our own being: as we see the connectedness of our body, mind and soul through the waters. Then if I expand this metaphor, I see how each of us is connected. We all have water within us, connecting to the waters outside of us and therefore to eachother.

I am so grateful for the experience that I had on this vacation, and the wisdom that was imparted to me.

February 2016 Newsletter

2016 has been an intensely emotional time for many of us. There have been some very sobering thoughts coming up for me, as peers that are my own age have passed, and of course, I have had some deep reflections as the creators of the music of my youth have also transitioned. I have chosen to look deep within myself as I think about those who have passed, and I have had some interesting insights about life.

With the death of David Bowie, I saw how he apparently embraced the last few months of his life, still creating from what appeared to be a fearless place. His music was always cutting edge, and his appearance very much outside the box. A British cousin gave me the Ziggy Stardust album in the 70’s. It was so different from any of the music that I was listening to at the time, but I was charged with excitement by the different sounds of his music and the vibrant pictures it painted in my imagination. At his passing, I was reminded of that excitement, and I was also quite melancholy that that part of my life was so long ago. The cousin that had given me that album passed away from cancer not long ago, and I have realized that many souls are leaving the planet.

I was also reflective when others passed. A former boss, who was just a week older than me chose to end his life on the last day of 2015. At his funeral, I wondered if, like David Bowie, this man might have been making his plans for death? His plans were possibly in such a different manner, but plans nonetheless. What of Glenn Frey? Had he made plans or used his last months in a way that he chose, or was his death a huge surprise? When I saw the Eagles last year, I noticed how arthritis had deformed his hands, and I wondered how he could continue through what must have been significant pain? Had he then made some sort of choice?

We seem to understand so little about death, really. In the shamanic work that I do, I have journeyed to ancestors and also to descendants, who share their experiences with this chapter in our existence. I have psychopomped souls home, and I do feel a distinct sense of gratitude and peace at the completion of the work. It is something that I do love to do. I wonder too, if those who have left this physical plane recently have reached their peace yet? I suspect if not yet, that they will soon.

January 2016 Newsletter

As I write this, it is Christmas Eve. I do hope that you have a wonderful and magical holiday season!

This time of year can bring up many emotions for people. I hope that you have found ways of bringing joy into your life as you prepare for the holidays.

This newsletter will reach you just before the end of 2015. It has been quite a year. Many extraordinary things happened throughout the world. In my last newsletter, I asked you what dream you wanted to create, remembering that shamans throughout the centuries have been telling us that we are dreaming the wrong dream. As we celebrate the solstice that marks the beginning of winter, and the return of the light in the northern hemisphere, what dream do you want to bring into the light as we inch toward the beginning of a new calendar year? Many set New Year resolutions. I begin this celebration on the solstice. My dream is to continue to remember who I am, and inspire others to do the same: to walk in my truth and authenticity to the best of my ability.

To continue to remember my dream and feed it with energy, I perform ceremonies. As a reminder and for inspiration for you to perhaps do the same, I invite you to have ritual and ceremony in your own life. We are in a holiday season right now. I feel this is a good time to remember to take time for yourself and honour the seen and the unseen helpers in your life. Consider how your day might look if you opened every day with an intention – a dream for the day. For example: “Today I dream peace for myself and my loved ones.” What does this intention feel like in your body? Do any emotions come up for you? Any doubts? It’s so good to be able to feel all these things and potentially learn about ourselves! If we would only spend more time in consciousness and presence, what a difference we might make in creating our day! What a true gift we would be giving to ourselves and to the planet!

December 2015 Newsletter

Last month’s blog about integrity has brought up some further questions from clients and readers. One very good questions was “Can’t a person just do nice things for someone else, without it being fearful or out of integrity?” In this season of giving and receiving, I thought this would be great question to explore.

First of all, the obvious answer is yes…we can do nice things for one another. However, if we are committed to our spiritual growth, it is also important to consider the intention behind these gifts or actions. If we are acting on our insecurities or fears of unworthiness, we continue to feed fear in the world.

Think for a moment. Have you ever given a Christmas gift because you worried about what that person would think of you if you didn’t? How did that feel in your body? Do you often worry about what others think about you, and let this worry take you out of your integrity? Have you found yourself remembering what a certain person gave you as a gift previously, and now match the dollar value of that gift to the value of the one you buy for them? How does it feel when you do not think things are equal or fair? Do you place the value of this person…or yourself…on the dollar value of the gifts exchanged? Have you ever bought a gift or done something nice for someone so that you would feel better about yourself? Would gift giving feel different if you were to sign all your gifts anonymously? No one would know you gave them, and you would not be thanked or offered appreciation? How would it feel not to have that expectation? Have a look deeply within when you ask yourself these questions. What would be your true intention?

This season, I encourage you to deeply explore and feel the intentions behind your gift giving and actions. Perhaps this year, we can all have a season of true equanimity, love, and compassion, without fearing our worthiness or valuing ourselves via external means. Give gifts or do nice things for others with compassion, equality and without expectations or attachment.

In the wake of the incidents in Paris, Belgium and many other places around the world, I offer these words for a new dream. I first shared this dream with shamanic practitioners who are doing brilliant work all over the world. Shamans for many, many years now have been warning us that we are dreaming the wrong dream. I feel that we are all contributing to a new dream, and support that with all my heart. What has happened over the past weeks has touched me deeply, and I have been moved that people from all over the world have come together in peace and support. I know that someday, this light force will shine on the darkness, lifting it. That is my dream.

Until that day, I keep my heart open to everyone who is doing their best to grow, shift, connect, love, support, and focus on the brilliance and perfection of the Universe.

I read a brilliant statement on Facebook the other day: When the power of love is greater than the love of power, we will know peace. I am grateful for this person sharing this dream!

To all my valued clients, friends, relatives, and to any of you that I am yet to meet, thank you all for being part of this dream and inspiring me to be my best. Thank you all for having the courage to continue to shine your light brightly in the world. I wish you joy and peace during this season, and for all times.

November 2015 Newsletter

What does “being in integrity,” mean? Being a bit of a stickler for words and their true meaning, I am always given pause when someone uses this phrase. By definition, integrity means 1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles: moral uprightness and 2. the state of being whole and undivided. (Wikipedia)When we talk about integrity in the spiritual sense, which of these definitions is the most accurate or meaningful?In my practice, my client and I might talk about integrity in our sessions. We discuss many aspects of integrity, which, for me, means this person is being and acting from their wholeness, being true to themselves and having a strong moral compass – especially when it comes to treating themselves with compassion, truth, and harmony. In our wholeness, we know that we are precious beings, and when that preciousness is being embraced, we seem more able to act lovingly and compassionately toward ourselves. In that state of wholeness, love and compassion, we are also more likely to treat others in the same way.When are we out of our integrity? I feel the common thread of being out of integrity lies when we allow our fears, whatever they may be, to control our actions. Sometimes it is obvious when we are indulging fear: A friend is not able to say that they do not want to meet for lunch, so they fain sickness. A husband doesn’t want to disappoint his wife, so he fibs about having to work late, so that he can’t go to the ballet. In these more blatant examples it’s quite easy to spot the lack of wholeness. But what about a situation where someone is being manipulated by a “nice” bully – one who speaks softly (even “spiritually”) but wants his own way, no matter what? The bully might say all the right things – that he is “listening”, open to hearing your views, but will continue to play to your fears. What if you wish to avoid conflict in this situation? Can you remain in your wholeness, speaking your truth, recognizing that fear might be triggered in you in the moment, and still do your best to be present and aware? If your knees start to shake, can you maintain your presence? Do your doubts start to arise? If doubt starts to affect your ability to speak your truth, you may fall out of integrity. If you are silently judging yourself or the other person, you have also fallen out of wholeness. Even more subtly, if you start to agree with the bully, in opposition to your truth, you are out of alignment with your integrity. The bully is out of his integrity too. He may need agreement from you to make himself feel better or valued. He looks outside of himself for this value. He wants to be right. He is looking for you, or this circumstance, to value his importance. He has not embraced his own preciousness with compassion or truth. He is looking to feel superior, perhaps because he feels inferior. We are all equal from a soul’s perspective. We are all part of the whole, and the whole is part of us. Anytime we are not in alignment with this, we may be out of our integrity.In my life, being in my integrity means doing my own personal work, and really embracing this work in its fullness: living it and being it. I cannot “turn it on and off”, as this is not a job for me – it is a way of life. The best work that I can facilitate with a client is to inspire them in remembering their truth and preciousness. In embracing this, they embrace their wholeness. They get a glimpse, a knowing or a feeling of what it means to stand in their empowerment – their wholeness – in integrity.

October 2015 Newsletter

Nature’s spirits have been incredibly generous this fall! We have enjoyed a beautiful season with blue skies and stunning colours on the landscapes around us. We have had breathtaking skies day and night: clear sunny days, and nights with eclipses, awe-inspiring northern lights and endless stars.

With all this beauty around us, perhaps it seems surprising that people are still feeling overwhelmed, depressed, angry, or otherwise emotional, with headaches and fatigue, sore muscles, flu-like symptoms or colds. How can we be feeling so rocky when Nature is showing us such splendor?

Energetically and spiritually, we are still going through major initiations and shifts. As we continue to let go of deep and old patterning and limiting thoughts, we must remember to fill the spaces created by these releases with the light and beauty that Mother Nature is painting around us! We can so easily fall back into old patterns and limiting thoughts if we don’t train ourselves to adopt change. We are great alchemists, but the formula doesn’t always hold fast without continual practice! Of course, we must also consider opening ourselves to the support of others, too. I am always doing my best to create community, so that all of us, including me, have someone to bounce ideas off, or to encourage us should the way forward become foggy with fear. Just having someone remind us that we have choice is often enough.

We really do have all the tools and wisdom we need, however, it is helpful for each and every one of us to remember that we are a bright light, and can sometimes use this light to support another with compassion. Don’t forget, we can also be of support by reflecting our self-compassion and our own way of dealing with the shadows. As we head into winter, will you choose to see the darkness and bleak weather, or use the quieter winter for reflection and rebalancing?

Healers really are those that inspire others to take responsibility for their own healing.

September 2015 Newsletter

Expectations. Attachment. I have learned a lot about these words recently: their power to take us out of the present moment and to feed fear. Through personal experience and from working with my wonderful clients, I have recognized that the current stage of our evolution is requiring of us to let go of all emotions, circumstances, and people who are not supporting our highest good. Our core patterning, created from our deepest fear is often reflected in our expectations. These expectations might be for ourselves, family members, or friends, and they form attachment toward specific outcomes; our life doesn't always look the way we want it to, or the lives of others don't look the way we think they should. I liken expectations and attachment to caretaking, pleasing and fixing. When I am focussed on someone outside of me, projecting my expectations on them, I am not allowing them to have their full experience on the Earth school. I am not honoring their choices, nor am I allowing them to reap the benefits of the consequences of these choices. Consequences are never “bad”, but no matter the outcome, there are valuable lessons that support our spiritual and emotional growth.

When I have attachments to how things should look in my own life, it is highly likely that I am creating from frightened parts of me, setting myself up for self-judgement and criticism. When I am indulging these fearful aspects of me, I set unrealistic goals or expectations for myself, and then choose to suffer if the outcome does not look like I wanted it to. Deep down, I knew the expectation was unrealistic, but I was feeding a fear within me, probably one that wanted me to feel unworthy. It is my intention to nurture myself with compassion; so clearly, these unrealistic expectations are not honoring that intention. I have done some serious self-work to release my own emotional attachments! I have done this through journeying, rituals and celebration, and also through being present with my intentions with gratitude. I reweave the tapestry of my wholeness with every insight gained. There is always so much to learn as we continually evolve spiritually and emotionally!

August 2015 Newsletter

I love working with kids, as we talk about the most amazing things together! Children don’t question what they see in a journey: new power animals or allies are instantly welcomed as friends. When we shared about the purpose this new ally might be affording, there was really no hesitation. They drew pictures of their new and old friends, and these pictures, and their stories were precious. We went on an omen walk. We were looking for omens to answer some very interesting questions, like “where does the faery realm begin?” and “how do dragons live?” It was so much fun seeing what they discovered!

I get such a thrill out of watching and learning with these young people, as they are our future, and that affords me a lot of hope! I do learn lots from them as well, which is such a treat!

The ancestral workshop in Manitoba was wonderful, with open and willing participants. Ancestral wounds can run deep, with limiting thoughts and beliefs acting like curses through the generations. Participants worked diligently to uproot these thoughts and thought forms that blocked them from moving forward. Some were through ancient bloodlines, others karmic, from previous lifetimes, and others were energetic, but the work was powerful and inspiring.

I have travelled about 15,000 km since the last week in May, and although I am physically quite tired, I am so awestruck by the people that I have met and worked with! It honestly does feel like we are shifting the collective dream in a very positive way!

July 2015 Newsletter

I had the most amazing time in England, Wales and Italy! I was blessed with eager and committed students at the workshop in England. I am so grateful for that!

My friend Hara and I had a very successful workshop at the Transpersonal Psychology event near Milan: so well received that we were asked to do more! We celebrated the solstice with a circle of about 150 people! It was so exciting to meet people from all over Europe and exchange ideas and thoughts about healing. I do hope that we will be asked back to do this work again!

What was extremely moving at the Milan event was that there are so many young people so hungry for this work. As they make sense of the world around them, they are being initiated into adulthood in very different ways that many of the people my age were. I was thrilled to see how open many of the younger people are. They are thirsting for understanding their own limitlessness through connection with others. They seem to understand so early that we are better together, and they seem so willing to share their thoughts and ideas without the level of self-judgement that I have imposed upon myself over the years. It truly feels like a world of change, and that change is positive and hopeful on so many levels!

I also loved hearing about the many and varied customs of other countries. One Latvian fellow shared with me that in their country, the solstice is a holiday. It is a celebration of the change of season, and there are many initiations during the night before the solstice. It was fascinating to hear how the natural cycles were celebrated!

We stayed in simple but beautiful rooms. There were no TV’s or radio. The beds were single cot-like beds with a single pillow and duvet. It was clean and quiet, and so unlike the hotel rooms that so many of us feel necessary when travelling. It was a treat to have these somewhat meager amenities, as it supported me to not become distracted with the Internet or TV. Some nights, my friend Hara and I would talk about the day, or process something that occurred. It felt so authentic to stay in the energy of the event and learn about myself! At the end of the week, I felt rejuvenated and very inspired! I really noticed how good it was to stay away from the distractions of our modern world, and have set an intention to do that more and more each day.

June 2015 Newsletter

Recently, there have been some very intense and tragic events in the world. Nepal has suffered with earthquakes. The US has experienced extremely severe weather and there have been other devastating events, too. There is such a need for healing in the world, and it is important that we all understand the best way to support in the most healthy and compassionate way possible.

When we are interested or compelled to help others who have been affected by tragic circumstances, we might be triggered into feeling sympathy for them. We may have a hidden or unconscious agenda to feel better about ourselves by helping others. By assisting others, we might need to validate ourselves, feel more worthy or useful. Think about times when you have donated money to a cause, and felt good about seeing your name on the donors list; knowing that others have seen it as well. Did you need a pat on the back for helping a neighbour in need? These examples are the actions of fearful parts of us. As we are all evolving, we become increasingly aware that the need for external validation is fearful. Fearful intentions, fearful actions or fearful energies are not helpful in raising the vibration here on the Earth!

Whether our healing work is performed one on one, or in a healing circle or group, we must be very clear of our intention. In my healing practice, I am very clear about setting the intention to see my client in their divine perfection: I do not focus on their tragic circumstances or the disease in their body. I have my client set a verbal intention. Because of the power and energy of our words, we may need to “edit” the intention to empower the healing. I might have my client repeat the intention until we both feel their belief in the power of these important words is filled with courage and conviction.

In supporting tragedies in the world, we must choose to do the same: see the area affected in its perfection – not focused on the destruction, for what are we doing if we do focus on the negative? We are increasing its ability to grow in momentum and intensity! If I focus on the disease in my client, energy goes into the disease. If we focus on the devastation of the earthquake in Nepal, we see more devastation, and that is what grows in our thoughts.

What I encourage you to do when supporting others in any tragic event is to focus on the perfection of every circumstance. See the land in Nepal in its beauty and tranquility, completely whole and healed. Know that Mother Earth is wise, compassionate and nurturing: she does know what she is doing. For some of us, any people who have perished may need some assistance in returning “home”. We will do this work with passion and compassion, supporting them with love on their journeys.

We can work together effectively to bring about the true healing in ourselves and for the planet we live on!

May 2015

The recent Celtic Shamanism workshop was powerful with a lot of deep work. I am looking forward for Andrew and Joyce’s return in October!

I have been busy with clients, and working on the presentations and workshops that I will be doing in the UK and Italy in June and Manitoba in July. I will be doing a book signing on May 2nd at Practice of Ma’at in the North Hill Mall, beginning at 1 pm. I have also been asked to attend the Wild land Firefighter Foundation Family Day again this year. From May 14th through 19th I will be in Boise, Idaho to support families who have lost loved ones to wild land fires. This was a very powerful experience for me when I attended two years ago. There is a tremendous amount of healing work to be done in a community that has suffered so much loss. Because of this event, there will be no meditation class on May 16th.

I have scheduled a “Shamanic Sunday” session on May 24th, from 1 to 3 pm. We will be looking at the power of our words and creating our own healing stories.

We are certainly living in amazing times! A theme that has been coming up in my practice lately is commitment. I am very moved by the level of commitment to growth that I see in my clients, and it mirrors to me the commitment that I have for my own healing and growth. We all need to be doing our work!

I have also found that there seems to be an increasing number of people open to doing deep work; challenging their fears and nurturing their authenticity. I see this depth of commitment in possibly the strangest places! I love seeing authentic, insightful and creative posts on Facebook! It seems there may be a shift towards purposing social media to offer some unique and positive experiences for us and creating communities of like minded people! It certainly is a great way to spread the word, inspire others and connect with people from all over this beautiful planet! Please be sure to follow Sulis Healing on Facebook.

April 2015 Newsletter

I know that I probably say this a lot, but honestly, I cannot believe how fast time is spinning by us, especially as we have recently experienced the borrowing of our hour as we spring forth. I used to say that “they” stole an hour, but I realized not only was I giving “they” a lot of power, but also the truth is that we do get the hour back in the fall. Also, I choose not to be in fear of losing this hour, as I do know that I am in control of my choices and my words, so it seems more loving to share this time, and let the collective “they” borrow it for now. This concept makes me smile and it feels somewhat expansive rather than the very constrictive feelings created in my body when I consider the theft of the hour.

I really think that this simple little discussion is illustrating the importance of perspective, and how any particular perspective shapes how I am creating my own personal journey through this reality. As I feel the difference in my energy when I consider ‘theft’ vs. ‘borrowing’, I recognize that I perceive the collective “they” and my reality as not mean, grim or manipulative, but rather an opportunity of learning, choice and possibility. I am reminded of the compassion and wisdom of the Universe.

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March 2015 Newsletter

I am constantly in awe of the courage that people exhibit as they navigate their spiritual path. Life is not always easy, and we inevitably face challenging circumstances. The Universe is constantly supporting us, offering the perfect opportunities to face our fears; be it speaking in front of a roomful of people or facing up to a bully, having a frank discussion with our spouse or family member, or joining a fitness class. Does it require any more courage to choose to be patient rather than angry when standing in a long lineup than it does to step onto a suspension bridge to cross a deep chasm? I know that courage is required to do either, especially if anger and impatience has been forming the choices of that person in the lineup! Can you imagine how different life could be if fear was not the driving force? Anger is a fearful emotion, and it is present sometimes without our awareness. How many times have you made a choice in anger to later deeply regret that choice? Choices made in the heat of the moment, in reaction, without presence or awareness, can require remarkable and often life changing personal shifts to overcome…if we desire to live a life of joy, peace and empowerment.

Out of life long habit, or a reaction triggered from our perceived unworthiness, we give up our personal power to these familiar old fears. Courage is required to be present with this sense of unworthiness to feel the powerlessness in that moment. Our bodies are a gift for us! We learn so much about ourselves as we feel the sensations created through our emotions. Courage is required to commit to an intention to be with these sensations to uproot the underlying cause.

I have been so inspired by my clients, friends and colleagues who embrace this path, and continue to delve deeply within to grow and experience their most authentic selves!

February 2015 Newsletter

So far, 2015 has been a busy and interesting year for me. As this is an eight year, I am not surprised that people are taking some action in looking after themselves, after the chaotic times experienced in 2014! I am pleased that this leads to some people actively exploring their own healing and remembering their wholeness, and I am devoted to supporting them!

I have been very blessed to have amazing clients. People of varied ethnicities, cultures and beliefs are coming to see me, and my own life is enriched by working with so many delightful people. What is very apparent when working with so many different people is that we are more similar than different. I feel that more people are seeking connection and community than ever before, and choosing healthier ways to achieve this. It is no longer acceptable to “fit in”, compromising our integrity or indulging fear to do so. We are seeking meaningful connection, and heartfelt relationships, and offering our true compassion for others.

As I mentioned last month, those who are not able to relinquish their old paradigms of belief, or are not able to challenge their fears continue to create distance and separation from others, and the gap is getting wider and wider all the time. Some will recognize their fearful creating, and some will not. That is the beauty of the balance of the Universe. I hold them in compassion.

What has impressed me so much about the people that I have been connecting with lately is their courage: The courage to explore deeply within and choose to empower themselves. This has required diligence and patience, tenacity and self-love. It has required gentleness as well, and sometimes this quality has been the most powerful in their transformation. There is a balance to be struck in healing work, and to truly allow healing and support from our highest selves, we can choose to “soften” and nurture ourselves to allow integration and processing. We use these moments of self-compassion to reassess our intentions, and recommit to them. We take time to notice our progress on the path. We gently look at how we are transforming, and reset our path if required. This balanced growth is supported by the Universe and mirrored to us by Nature.

The changing seasons remind us that not all seasons are for growth: sometimes the Earth takes a rest. Winter is such a time. Plants are in a state of dormancy, waiting for the earth to warm and the snow to melt. Animals sleep more, some in deep states of hibernation.

In our own spiritual growth, we need time for processing and reflection too. Have the courage to trust this time of rebalancing and processing, and trust your own process!

January 2015 Newsletter

Hello!

2014 is coming to an end. What are we to look forward to in the upcoming year?

It seemed like 2014 offered extremes: Extremes in the weather, the polarity of war and peace, polarity of wealth and poverty, extremes in terms of far-reaching capabilities and influences of technology. There were other extremes, for I feel that the gap between those who are growing with awareness and raising their own frequencies and those who aren’t is becoming wider. This is not a judgement. I am observing that there are those who seem to be growing in leaps and bounds. Their vibration is emanating a brighter light every day. They are very clear in their intentions surrounding their personal and spiritual development. These people are more apt to face change and explore new beliefs. Those who have left their heads in the sand, and, for whatever reason are not interested in exploring their potential have remained stagnant. And this has created an ever-increasing gap.

I have incredible compassion for everyone in both camps. I know how scary it is to face my own shadow and continue to delve more deeply. I have unearthed many parts of my own personality that have caused me to feel quite unworthy and self-judgemental. These were powerful lessons offered during the latter part of this 2014 year for me! I thought I had “dealt” with my self-judgement, only to find a deeper level. I thought I had considered my equality only to find that there were still very active parts of me that felt unequal. So…more work was done. I felt my own pain of powerlessness around my unworthiness again. In my dreams, thoughts and situations that I haven’t thought about in years came flooding in. I had one remembrance of a time in my childhood that I had forgotten about. It was woven into my story of self-judgement tightly, but was able to feel the emotions clearly, the sensations that were caused by those emotions, and my own powerlessness. I wrote about this experience in my journal and found out that I could now, after over 50 years, put that story to bed.

So I know that this work can be difficult, painful and ongoing. It takes patience and tenacity. Is it ever done? I guess that depends on my definition of “done”. Perhaps it is complete upon my exit from this earth school. Then again, I am convinced that on some levels the work is done, and then deeper work is required. Then that gets done, and more excavation is needed, as new roots are exposed. That is life in the earth school, I think!

For those who have no desire or need to look within, I have compassion for you too! Without judgement.

What does cause concern for me is what may occur in these extreme times if compassion is not considered, and re-actions from judgement and fear prevail. I’ve set an intention to create my world from a place of compassion and hope that others will also. It’s time to do this differently now.

I know that this trip around the sun for me is about finding my own truth, whatever it takes, and I honour all those on the planet who are making this trip with me. I offer my compassion to us all.

Happy New Year!

December 2014 Newsletter

Hello!

I have just finished a wonderful 5-day workshop teaching a sincere and compassionate group about soul retrieval. I was thinking during the workshop that this past week was the season of thanksgiving in the US. It got me thinking about the brilliant things that I am grateful for: I particularly loved sharing the gift of this powerful aspect of shamanic healing, as it is one of the most amazing way that I can be of service to another person. I dearly love to see the shifts in a client when parts of their essence are returned to them. They are then reminded them of their wholeness and their preciousness. It is gratifying and amazing for me to have this intimate connection with spirit allies so that people are assisted on their healing path. The follow-up work that we can do together as practitioner and client, along with the wisdom of our guides and teachers allows me to support my client in such a practical and deep way, and I feel that they are truly empowered by their reconnection to their helping spirit allies and to their true selves. It is a cause for celebration.

I was also moved by the compassion and the caring of the participants in the workshop, who were dedicated in supporting each other in community. It really warms my heart to be part of that evolution of spirit.

December is the time of year when I am moving into my time of reflection. Although I feel the light closing in with the shortened days, I feel a sense of hope and wellbeing for the future. I have begun to reflect on the work that I have done this year and I can feel good about the contribution that I am making. As I reflect on my work, I am inspired about what I might create in the year to come.

I have a sense that even though I feel like time is speeding up, and the energies around us seem more and more hectic as we leap frog in our spiritual evolution, 2015 might be offering even more rapid growth! It takes spiritual strength to “stay afloat” in these times. For me, I know that I need to have some quiet time to reflect and rebalance to maintain my strength and courage. The “job” that I do is one of encouraging my clients to seek their own light and healing, and I am always reminding them to be gentle with themselves as they challenge their old patterns and transform. I do have to listen to my own words as I do the very same thing!

So be gentle with yourselves over the holidays. Take time to reflect and rebalance your own energy. Do your best to remain present and go within. On the 21st, we celebrate the winter solstice: the shortest day in the northern hemisphere. It also means that the very next day, there is, albeit almost imperceptibly, a return of the light: the next day, a little lighter.

Use this time to celebrate this past year, notice and reflect on your challenges, your courage, your compassion and your successes. Meet 2015 with the best you that you can be. The solstice is a great time for a ceremony to set intentions!

I wish you love and best wishes in celebration of this magical season. I hope that I will see you very soon!

November 2014 Newsletter

Hello!

Our life happens for us, not to us.

All the events, circumstances, relationships, dreams, visions, and experiences are opportunities for learning about yourself. The Universe supports you unconditionally, and co-creates with you the perfect classroom and curriculum for your time here on the Earth School. Sometimes, the lessons seem fantastic – we meet a new love, or we see the perfect shoes to match the outfit. Sometimes, the situations are painful, as we fight with our spouse, or have a fender bender on the way to work.

All these situations, however, are fantastic opportunities for learning.

With respect to relationships, we are creating powerfully to learn about ourselves, and we will attract the perfect person in whatever context to help us grow. Perhaps the challenge for one person in the relationship is to find and use their voice. This person might attract someone who is also learning to use their own voice, or, even more challenging, someone who is not able to listen or be present with them. The challenge is to use the voice with courage, without attachment, not expecting to change or manipulate the other person. The challenge is to empower themselves while being supported fully in this task by the perfect person.

Circumstances are created similarly. In my house, we have been challenged by a bathroom renovation. The situation was perfect for my husband, Mike, and I to learn incredible things about ourselves. We co-created this situation for our own individual personal growth. For me, I learned a lot about patience and self judgement. I felt very inadequate at times, since I am not adept at construction. I learned more deeply that the foundation work in any project is extremely important, and that stage of the process is painfully slow for me. This is not unlike my own process of self-growth, and became a great metaphor for me. I learned a lot about co-operation, trust, and harmony, as our relationship of more than 35 years was taken to task a few times! I even learned more about my own tendency to caretake, and was gratefully aware of that! Mike had his own lessons in the process, and we have had loads of time to speak with eachother and support one another through these learnings. It has been a rich time!

Even our dreams offer great insights into ourselves! I have had many dreams recently that revolve around trust and patience. I am so grateful that I have remembered these dreams upon waking in the morning, and have been able to tie them into my ongoing process.

What makes these situations, relationships, and dreams most powerful tools for learning being aware. Not only do we need to be present, but we must also be aware of our intention. Intentions can be made with consciousness and awareness…or we might not have any awareness surrounding our intentions at all! Many people spend their lives sleeping: unaware of their potential to create. Once awakened, we begin to understand how much power our thoughts, words and energy have.

We literally are creating our own reality, and the Earth our classroom.

Happy Halloween!

October 2014

When I find myself in times of trouble…” The first line of the Beatles magnificent song, Let it Be. What do we do when we are in times of trouble? Do we focus on the problem, experience a lot of pain, frustration and anger, and let our circumstances affect us deeply?

Often, through habit and conditioning and feeling powerless in the situation, we create in fear. My adopted Stony brother had a great analogy for how and why we focus on certain things in fear, and forget about our power of choice. He talked to me about having a sliver in a finger. It hurts, and we are reminded of the hurt every time we bump or brush against it, or even when we take a look at it. It throbs, reminding us of this hurtful occurrence. We focus on just how much we don’t like this circumstance. We focus on it so much that we often forget that there might be great potential for personal and spiritual growth by learning about this little sliver, and take advantage of this opportunity.

We are very good at focusing on what we don’t want. By focusing on these unwanted circumstances, situations, people, interactions or even our unwanted life, we forget how powerfully we are creating. We are feeding this unwanted situation. We are feeding what we do not want.

We are feeding our fear.

By shifting our perspective, can we look at our little sliver differently? I remember when my husband had cut the top of his finger off at work. After doctors skillfully repaired the injury, Mike had some choices to make: he could focus on the pain of this injury. He could focus on the incident that resulted in the injury, blaming and feeling like a victim. H could focus on the incident and what he might learn from it. He chose to feel the pain in his hand and consider that the sensations were the feelings of accelerated healing. He rarely took a painkiller. He did fall into focusing on the pain sometimes, but mostly he enjoyed accelerated healing. He was able to remember his ability to create in love, and his finger healed remarkably well. He learned a lot about himself and the healing was much more than skin deep.

So what will you choose when your sliver gets your attention? Will you let it fester? Will you become frustrated, and feel victimized? Will you enjoy accelerated healing?

This tiny sliver might shine a light on how you are creating in other aspects of your life.

Let it Be.

September 2014

We continue to experience a time of turmoil, chaos and apparent confusion. The suicide of Robin Williams has affected many people deeply, and brought discussions about and awareness to depression. I feel that strong emotional and challenging times are increasing, offering each and every one of us opportunities to choose differently. How do we cope? From my book, the Rush Hour Shaman: I have also encountered in my practice and through teaching, some people who desperately think they wanted to learn to live shamanically. They have created their own definition of what living shamanically really means. They wanted to gaze at the stars, travel through the vast cosmos and leave the Earth plane. When working with people who express these dreamlike states of being, and unclear intentions, I ask a lot of questions to gain clarity on what their true intention is. Sometimes these perpetual dreamers, stargazers, or idealists merely want to leave the planet or their unfortunate circumstances, as they see themselves in the moment. They are not happy in their life, and they feel that shamanism is the great escape from that reality. They have just about enough information to be dangerous to themselves.

Some people do not feel happy or hopeful in this reality. They are continuously looking for ways to escape it. Dis-ease has manifested in their bodies through fear-based emotional causes, and they have created dull, lackluster lives, or worse, physical or mental illness. Or they may be thrill seekers, always looking for the next exhilarating sport or dangerous activity. I find that some of these dreamers are the ones that seek out the hallucinogens or medicine plants without a clear intention. They are looking so far outside of themselves for validation, worthiness, excitement or a thrill that they cannot imagine exploring their own inner world. They imagine their inner world as being as dull and lifeless as they perceive their outward existence, and literally wish to leave this present reality through whatever means available.

These frustrated, frightened people are lost, but think that they have found a way to circumvent the inner work that is required for growth. Perhaps they think that some mind expanding hallucinogenic drug will save them from feeling the pain of powerlessness that is so present in them, and this shamanic path looks like a legitimate or justifiable way to do that! Perhaps they think that journeying to another reality will take the problems they are encountering in this reality away.

These unhappy people need to actually practice more inner work, and would benefit from working with a shamanic practitioner so that they are being facilitated in a loving way toward a more self-compassionate path. Just as with all of us, they have choice, and they may not choose that path in this lifetime.

I cannot stress enough that the true shaman, and to live in a shamanic way, with compassion, self-love, honesty, integrity, respect and reverence requires continuous inner work. It requires constant diligence in unearthing your fears so you are aware of them, no matter how painful, and having a clear intention to heal what might be lurking below the fear. There is no short cut, and the really amazing healers that have come into my life as teachers, mentors and peers have all done their share of their own personal work. This inner work has made them into the fantastic healers that they are.

The wonderful thing about Life is that you will be given another opportunity to explore the fearful aspects in you and to explore the choices in the moment… Talk about the perfection of the Universe! That is compassionate support!

August 2014

This month, I have been using transfiguration and working with spiritual light to continue to deepen my practical work with clients, and in my teachings to students. This process, as I discussed in last month’s newsletter, is such a profound experience for people, offering them not only a deeper understanding of their own ability to create, but to also experience their preciousness and importance in the universe. For me, I receive such a wonderful knowing that I am creating my own reality, and this encourages me to be as aware as I can possibly be in the moment, and do my best to create this reality with healthy, loving parts of my personality. I am so grateful to be having this experience on the Earth School, even if some days don’t look exactly how I want them to. Each moment is a profound opportunity for me to shift perspective, and create with courage and compassion.

Only my ego or frightened parts of me would think that some circumstance in my life is not the way that I want it to look or be, for the Universe is conspiring to offer me the perfect situation for healing and wholeness in myself. If I have set an intention for the day, and remained aware of that intention, that thought has put certain energy into the ether, and I have only to wait for the Universe to support that intention. As I say, or I think, so I will create. I am sure that the Universe is not going to care take me, so simply put, if I set an intention to be patient and understanding, in the loving manner of the Universe, the first experience I might have is the biggest line up I have ever seen at the bank. Then I can feel the impatient parts of rising up. I might choose in that moment to exercise patience and understanding. Perhaps I will feed my impatience and entitlement, or become angry. I may choose to nurture my soul, or I may choose to indulge my ego and feed fear. Whatever happens, if I am aware, I will learn about myself.

To support you in releasing your ego, and recognizing the light of your soul essence, I am offering this month’s shamanic class, “Releasing Ego, a Journey of Dismemberment and Light” on August 17th, from 1 to 3 pm at my house. We will be journeying to find a spirit helper or helpers who will dismember you, and then we will be experiencing the empowerment of being remembered with spiritual and divine light. I hope to see you there.

July 2014 Newsletter

Hello!

My experience in the UK was amazing! I was lucky to have lovely groups of people for both of the talks before the workshop, and also to have the perfect group for the five-day retreat! Everyone was so warm and welcoming!

One of the important lessons that I learned for myself is the powerful influence this work has for participants. I was reminded at the two-hour talks that there is some very empowering work that can be done in a short period of time. I offered a brief explanation of shamanism, a journey, a guided meditation, and then a group healing with transfiguration. The transfiguration work was extremely well received! It was a potent reminder for me to keep things very simple, and allow people to feel their own empowerment. Experiencing that feeling of empowerment through transfiguration is the single, most impactful way for people to recognize their own ability to create the life that they want, and affect change in the world.

Sandra Ingerman talks about transfiguration in her brilliant book, edicine for the Earth. She shares her discovery of this dynamic state of being through a dream. Transfiguration literally means shape-shifting, and after researching the definition through several religious, shamanic and scientific writings, Sandra shares her understanding that transfiguration was to “to become the light of the absolute…to remember our true identity…to embody the luminosity of the divine through transfiguration while you are here…” Sandra devotes an entire chapter to this subject in Medicine for the Earth and there are many very powerful examples of the influence of this work affecting physical items on her website www.sandraingerman.com.

To remind people of their ability to be their most radiant light, I offer a guided meditation. Then we practice tranfiguration in a large circle. I encourage them to place their bottle of drinking water in the centre of the circle, after taking a sip. After the first transfiguration journey, they are astounded by the change in the taste of the water. This discovery is so wonderful to watch: participants begin to understand the power of intention, the ability to create, and taste their own brilliance! Through healing transfiguration circles, we delve deeper into our innate healing abilities!

I encourage you to explore your divine state of being, and I would be happy to guide you through this journey! I feel this is the way that we are going to heal the damage that we have afflicted on Mother Earth, and be the change that we wish to see!

Therefore, I have created this month’s shamanic afternoon, “Transfiguration: Experiencing Your Light” at my home on July 27th, from 1-3 pm. I hope to see you there.

June 2014

Hello!

This month’s newsletter continues on the theme of transformation: Change, death, and rebirth. At a recent gathering, I was asked if transmutation is the same as transformation. I was shown immediately that yes, the terms are both interchangeable, however, I felt there was more depth to the question, and therefore, more depth possible in the answer.

I journeyed on the similarities and differences of these terms. The first thing that I was reminded about was that all of us travelling on this spiritual path, attempting to grow and shift and change are alchemists. When we grow spiritually, we are changing lead into gold, just like the ancient alchemists. From a spiritual or energetic perspective, we are shifting our darker, denser energy into a lighter or higher vibration of energy.

What do we do to shift from our darker or lower vibrational selves to allow our remembering of our divine light, our highest potential, or our lightest vibration?

This is where transformation or transmutation happens. We choose to let go of old beliefs that no longer serve. We open our hearts to the possibilities of expansion and connection. In other words, we do our work. Whatever method you adopt to gain self-awareness and shift consciousness, be it meditation, work with an energy or shamanic practitioner, study yoga, or philosophy, or find a teacher or mentor that resonates with your purpose, you start on the path of raising your vibration. You begin to align the body, mind and soul. You begin to deepen and expand your experience here on the earth school. You begin to recognize your preciousness in the Universe and the joy that can be felt when our spirit experiences life in human form. We remember our ability to choose, and we remember that we are powerful creators.

We tend to compartmentalize a great deal, and I wonder sometimes if our use of language is somewhat limiting when it comes to spiritual growth? As I work closely with clients, I am recognizing that we attempt to label and define everything. I feel that sometimes, in trying so hard to put words around the feelings or experiences, we are limiting the possibilities of healing and shifting. I think we can get stuck on words, and sometimes that might hold us stuck in a pattern or story about our past, not allowing us to move forward. So I am going to state that yes, the transmutation of energy leads to the transformation of our lives… And leave it at that.

May 2014

A phrase that I hear sometimes is “that was so transformative!” I often hear this after a particularly moving session or powerful workshop. I have begun to ask myself what this “transformation” really means for a person. What has been transformed? By definition, transformation is change, alteration, or renovation. When we are intending to grow and heal spiritually or emotionally, what are we changing, altering, renovating or transforming and why?

When we begin to live or are living spiritually, we become increasingly aware of our own beliefs: those that we came into this world with and those that we pick up along our path during our childhood and daily life. We nourish and feed these beliefs often, through a continual pattern of behaviour or by repetitively indulging the emotions behind the beliefs with acting and reacting similarly over and over again. If we have set an intention to grow, shift and heal by becoming aware of these familiar patterns, we are given many opportunities by the Universe to recognize them, experience the feelings or sensations of the emotions, and to choose a course of action. We will sometimes choose from a healthy place within us and respond in a healthy way to this emotional pattern, or, perhaps we will react, and continue feeding an old, fearful and often destructive behaviour. For example, when a person is triggered into anger, by someone saying something that appears to be judgemental toward them, they could choose to respond back in anger, yelling at the person, or if they were truly seeking spiritual growth, they may choose to feel the sensations that their anger creates within them, recognizing that they have probably felt that same pain before in their life. This awareness and the pause in time that it took to feel the sensations creates an opportunity for change, and will shift energy in the moment, allowing the transformational process to begin. In shifting the energy around the circumstances that created the pain in their body, they have begun creating differently: they can make choices not from the familiar place of anger, but from a place of compassion for themselves. This creates the space for change.

Change requires a death. I have spoken about that before in this newsletter. Therefore, transformation requires death. This means that to shift, grow, and heal, you must be willing to experience some sort of a death: a death of an old belief to allow for a new; the death of an old and familiar way of being within, so that a new paradigm of being will emerge; the death of one way of thinking so that stillness can arise and create room for new thoughts.

So, after at particularly moving session or powerful workshop, if you feel transformed, congratulations! Consider asking your higher self what you have allowed to release, congratulate yourself for having the courage to release it, grieve the outgoing with loving detachment and integrate the new. You have done deep work.

April 2014

Hello!

March has been quite a month. It arrived like a lion, and continues to be fairly tumultuous. For me, this intense time has not just been due to the weather!

I was lucky to travel to Joshua Tree, California, to attend a Medicine for the Earth retreat with Sandra Ingerman. I learned more deeply about the connectedness that we have with Mother Earth, and each other. There were 74 people in circle, and I felt the power of their brilliant lights as we offered healing to the world. I love meeting people from around the world that are interested in this work, and, first and foremost, working on themselves. We are truly beginning to dream a new dream!

Then, this past weekend, I experienced my first firewalk, which was an amazing event for me! As the rule is – whatever happens at a fire walk stays at the firewalk – I will share my own experience.

We began with a ceremony for the equinox on Friday night. I know it is hard to believe from the weather we are having locally that we are now into the spring season, but that is the truth. We had a wonderful circle of people and we sang and offered our intentions for this precious season of new beginnings and growth.

Saturday was a day of learning and transmuting energy through the elements. We were able to weave the teachings of the four elements: air, water, earth and fire into marvelous opportunities for growth, learning and sharing. It was apparent early in the workshop that we were creating bridges: my knowledge of shamanism is largely North America, and with Andrew Steed’s input and sharing of Celtic traditions, I felt an expansion of wisdom developing.

On Saturday evening, we were prepared for the firewalk by Andrew Steed. I felt supported and cared for by both of our master fire keepers, Andrew and Joyce. All the participants spent time with the wood that was to be used in the fire, and then placed our pieces of wood on the prepared site. The group then collectively lit the fire. It was a ceremony from the very start to the end, where we were opened to Guidance as to whether we would walk the fire or not. It was an incredible learning for me: to be so connected with my guidance that ego did not get in the way. Many thoughts had come up for me: what would people think if I didn’t walk? What would happen if someone was kissed (burned) by the fire? Andrew’s expert preparation quieted the voices of my fears. I knew when I stood before the fire I was ready to release many of the old fears that have haunted me. The circle of participants and the fire itself supported me so beautifully in releasing! Each of us supported the others and that was magical!The following day, we had a wonderful closing circle where people shared their experiences: whether they walked or not, it appeared that the lessons and learnings were profound! I was moved by the level of vulnerability and depth of sharing that was apparent in the participants.

I am very excited that Andrew and Joyce have agreed to return to Canada! We have begun manifesting another workshop in October 2015, and hopefully we will have an opportunity to have them back before then!

March 2014

Hello!

This is the month for the highly anticipated fire walk! I have had a lot of inquiries about this event, and I have to tell you that I don’t know anything about this process at all! What I know for sure is that we will be talking about the elements and how they assist us in transmuting energy, and, for my part, I am pretty sure about what I will be sharing, and the exercises that we will be doing together, but as far as the fire walk goes, I’m the same as all of you! I don’t know what happens, what Andrew will talk about, what exercises will be done, or how he prepares us.

What I do know is that, for me, it has brought up a lot of my “stuff”. I have been shifting a lot since the beginning of the year in many ways, and I have a very strong knowing that the fire walk is going to be an important part of my ongoing shift. I’m not going to lie. The thought of walking on fire is terrifying for me. I’m not sure I can do it, but I am willing to show up to experiment and challenge my fears as best as I can. For a couple of weeks now, I have had some thoughts, visions and dreams about the potential of my falling as I walk on fire. Of course, that brought up tons of fear for me. How could I possibly put myself in that position? Walls of fear came up. I shared this fear with a friend and my husband as we sat around our dining room table.

Without hesitation, Mike just said, in such matter of fact way “Well, you could just hold my hand. I won’t let you fall.”

I was blown away that something that I had expended a LOT of energy on had such a simple solution: I could ask for help.

That interaction raised curiousity in me. I realized that the fire walk was bringing up a lot of the same fears that I have been identifying and challenging on my spiritual journey. It has been difficult for me to ask for assistance or help, and the upcoming fire walk was just one more opportunity to look at that in me! It was an amazing reminder that if I am clear on my intention for growth that Universe will always conspire to support me by offering opportunities for learning and healing.

To further illustrate this phenomenon of life: We have a labyrinth in one of our fields. It is amazing to me that when people walk it, their fears and doubts often emerge. I will hear things like “am I doing this right?”, “ am I going fast enough?”, “what happens when I get to the middle?”, “when I pass someone should I smile at them?”, “am I going the right way?” And my personal favourite “What if I get lost?”. When we talk about their experiences afterward, it becomes apparent that these are questions they are asking themselves all the time, especially when triggered in fear and doubt.

So now I am feeling much more curious about the fire walk and what other treasures are going to be unearthed for me and for all the participants. I hope that you have signed up for this amazing event! Note the early bird deadline!