December 14,  2017
 
   
 
Hello All,
 
The winter is upon us, bright brisk days and cold dark nights, well except for that beautiful full moon we had!  I am always happy to have the wood stove burning and the warmth radiating out, the smell and sound of fire crackling, so much gratitude for the tall standing ones that give their lives and release all that sunshine in the form of fire.   I missed the meteor shower last night but hear it was  dazzling. We welcome the light in whatever ways it chooses to shower us in these challenging times.  I will be celebrating the Solstice at a different fire this go round but look forward to bringing in the Spring Equinox together.  Keep shining your lights and love out into the world and remember to receive those same blessings from others. My teacher always spoke about the balance of giving and receiving, what better time of year to remember as we give our gifts to one another, to also open our hearts and hands to receive the love, and blessings of others into our hearts too.  As with the light and the dark, we need both to be in balance.  
 
We will close  out the year with a Sweat Lodge to let go of the current year and step into 2018 clean and invigorated on Saturday December 30. We will have a workday Friday December  29 1-4 pm to prepare for the lodge.  Let me know if you are called to join us in ceremony.  This lodge has been a sweet and powerful way to make the New Year transition in community and ceremony.  We all have much to contend with on a day to day basis between our personal, professional, political and spiritual paths as we navigate the times we find ourselves in.  Knowing we have each other to make this journey with, to lean on, to help us to hold ourselves accountable, and to co-create the world we want to inhabit is essential.   Between whichever holidays you celebrate come sweat your prayers with us as we enter 2018 ready for the next wave.  Please let me know if you plan on joining us for either the workday or the lodge as soon as you know by calling or emailing me (contact info is below). 
 
In January, I will be starting a new Shamanic Teaching Circle largely based on the teachings from my Teacher, now back in the realm of spirit, Will Rockingbear, in response to requests from people to hold another circle.  This circle will meet the 2nd (Jan 8) and 4th (Jan 29). Monday evenings of the month 7-9 pm and be gender inclusive.  If you feel drawn to be a committed member of this circle please give me a call and we can meet to see if it is a good fit, answer your questions, and let you know what that dance with spirit could look like ... 
 
May there be Peace, Love, Respect, Truth and Wisdom to guide us through these times,
 
Miriam /Firebird
 
 
Fire Ceremonies 2016
 
Come bring your inspiration or find some here for yourself.  The fire is where we lay down our fears and excuses and take responsibility for what we are willing and able to do to make this world a better place right now!   Take strength, courage, love, light, growth, resilience, clarity, innocence, playfulness, and joy away with you.  You will have the opportunity to release beliefs, grief, feelings, thoughts, relationships or anything else that is hampering your ability to be fully and completely who you are by offering them to the fire. We will witness each other as we make new agreements with spirit and dream our lives into being. We will feed the holies and ask their assistance in co-creating ourselves, our thoughts and our lives as we wish them to be.  If your health and circumstance permit you to stay for the entire ceremony we appreciate that greatly and it is always ok to take care of yourself or your children so please plan accordingly. This is not about rules or permission, it is about respecting ourselves and others,witnessing and being witnessed in sacred community.  The choice is always yours!
 
Bring a chair, flashlight, drum, rattle, closed water bottle and dress for outdoors (if super cold or heavy rain we'll be indoors by the woodstove). Feel free to bring some healthy food to share if you are so moved. If you are drawn to be here please call or email Miriam at (919) 304-5754 or melieber@mebtel.net so I’ll know how many people to expect and give you directions if needed. Come prepared for both indoor and outdoor conditions weather depending.   I invite all women to wear a skirt or sarong over pants to honor our sacred grandmothers and the circle of life.  There is never a fee for ceremony but Gifting is appropriate and appreciated to support the life and work of the elders who dedicate their lives to keeping the old ways available and for wood and supplies needed for ceremony and the upkeep of the land.
 
 
 SHAMANIC HEALING CIRCLE
 
 
 
NEW CIRCLE FORMING NOW FOR 2ND AND 4TH  MONDAYS 7-9 PM,  CALL TO EXPRESS INTEREST AND/OR TO GET MORE INFORMATION.  I WILL NEED TO MEET WITH YOU IN PERSON PRIOR TO COMING FOR A VISIT. 
 
Spirit has been whispering in my ear for a bit now to start another circle that meets on a regular basis (bi-weekly) to deepen our relationship with our guides and helpers, to heal ourselves, to dream to the sacred beat of the drum, to share wisdom teachings and step out of the frenetic pace of life, to be authentic clear channels for spirit. I will be sharing teachings from the elders I have had the privilege to sit with, from my fifteen years of annual pilgrimage to vision quest in sacred community (as quester and supporter) and as one whose life purpose it is to serve and feed the people on this path with heart.  I invite you to bring your wisdom teachings, healing gifts and spirit of love. The drums are calling to be played and for their medicine to be shared in the service of humanity.
 
If you too feel this call, please  let me know your intentions, needs, desires and willingness to commit to holding sacred space together. I can be reached at 919 304-5754 or 919 618-4919. 
 
A suggested donation for the holding of the space and facilitation of the circle: $20.00-25.00.
As always the amount of your gift is between you and spirit. 
 
 
Little Boys and Girls Sweat Lodge
  ( Available by request unless specific dates are listed herein and/or in addtion to dates listed.)
Saturday  December 30, 2017
workday to prepare Friday December 29  1-4pm
  The lodge is poured by Miriam / Firebird  in the tradition passed down to me by my beloved Elder Sharon Mitchell.  This is a beautiful teaching lodge that has the strength and heat for those with experience and the gentleness and ease for those who will join us for the first time (which is how it came to be known as the Little Boys and Girls Lodge).  It is not a lodge specifically for children as some have asked, but supervised children are welcome to attend ceremonies here unless otherwise specified.  Please notify me if spirit is calling you to join us, so I can let you know how to prepare and know how many people are coming.  Please know that we need at least 8 people to pour a lodge due to all the preparations involved so let us know if you would like to join us in ceremony.  
 
People always ask me "how long does a sweat lodge take?" My first thought is how much we need these ceremonies to take us back to soul time where it is the experience, the prayers, the being together in community, the work as worship that really matter and not the construct of time that we are forced to run our lives by.  I have learned for myself to not schedule anything else on lodge days as I step outside of "time" to be present to what is, the stones, the fire, the people and their prayers, the feast and then basking in the richness afterwards.  Please take care of yourselves however you need to with "time". You are welcome to join us for the time you can be with us and if you need to leave due to other commitments that is yours to keep track of.  My wish for you is that you can be timeless with us and sink into the ceremony as it unfolds organically.  If for some reason you need to leave during the lodge please be sure to let me and/or the firekeeper know ahead of time so we can assist you.  
 
We usually light the fire around 9 am and close the ceremony with a feast in the afternoon after cleaning up the ceremonial grounds.  It is tradition to leave a place better than you found it.   Please bring a dish to share for the feast following the lodge.  
 
Workdays : I'm looking forward to hearing from those of you who want to build this community, be you newcomers, or those who have been here often to share in the love of lodge from beginning to end.  
 We can always use help with gathering or purchasing, and splitting and moving wood, raking, moving blankets, etc.  We are in need of  stone people if you can bring some stones that have not been in an active creek bed (cantalope size) If you have a truck and/or chain saw and want to help gather some wood between lodges please let me know so we can find times to work together, it is an ongoing need.  The preparations are part of the ceremony and are a labor of love and communion with the land, the tall standing ones, the stone people, mother earth, the water and help deepen one’s experience of the ceremony as we joyfully prepare the grounds together. 
 
 
Contact Miriam/Firebird at 919 304-5754 or melieber@mebtel.net  if you are called to attend.  Please RSVP  with contact info if you would like to join us.  I will let you know what to bring, how to find us and how to best prepare once I know you are coming.  Feel free to call with any questions as well.    Checking in the day before lodge to verify last minute information or changes due to weather, illness or attendance is strongly encouraged as we have to have a certain number of people to hold this particular ceremony.
 
         
  
Peace be with you, Miriam
 
Thanks for reading!  Remember who you are, what you came here to do and have fun sharing your gifts with us all ! Shine your light brightly with love and gratitude.
  
Drumsong Sanctuary for the Soul
Miriam Lieberman
(919) 304-5754 or melieber@mebtel.net
1920 Western Trail
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
www.drumsongsanctuary.com 
 
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