October 11, 2021

 

Hello Out there Comunity and Fellow Dreamers,

 

WOW! It has been almost 2 years since I last sent out a newsletter.  Like the rest of you, I have been riding the waves of change imposed on us by this pandemic and barely came up for air in 2020 with all the changes I needed to make to be able to work and to keep being present in my Therapy practice.  Prior to all that, we had some planned renovations to the space here causing me to close this space months before the pandemic even started, which then dovetailed right into the cascade of closures that the Pandemic brought, causing our global retreats inward into to our homes, hearts, families, psyches. But you know all too well most of that. Oh, and I have not even mantioned the near collapse and ongoing political crisis we still find ourselves in. To put that in terms of our Nervous Systems, collective states of either Fight, Flight or Freeze are predominant.  Other reasons I did not tap into your inboxes for some time, we all need rest and restoration. 

 

I have heard from a few of you out there wondering if you were no longer on my mail list.  I promised at the outset that I would not crowd your inbox with unnecessary mail and I had no offerings happening here that merited a newsletter so please forgive me if you felt left out or unattended to.   It took me awhile today to even remember my newsletter name and then had to reup my expired subscription before I could reach out to you. The changes continue to happen with and for all of us as we do our best to resume life in safe ways in this ever evolving state of health alerts as we learn more.  

 

Just when hope was on the horizon with the vaccines, this Spring brought more change in my life. I was called to assist my mother (along with my brother) on her journey back to the light. Luckily, thanks to the vaccines we were able to get,  I was able to go be with her. We did what we could to help with her care during her illness (an aggressive cancer), helping her to stay safely in her home, and then to be her death doulas. Other family helped and all found ways to have final time with her, to say their goodbyes and clear any unfinished business.  We are so very fortuate to have had this time as so many families could not see their loved ones off due to Covid. I send any of you and yours my heartfelt compassion should you have lost loved ones in this tragic way. My beloved mother, Marianne Lieberman, artist, activist, writer, and my closest ally in life, died on May 11.  I have been on Sabbatical from most work since then attending to my own grieving heart and the enormous "business" of death when one's remaining parent dies.  So, here we are, in October 2021, nearly two years since I last sent an epistle out.  How strange time is, so illusory and illusive indeed.  So much yet to tend to....one day at a time.

 

I am offering the fabulous and beloved annual (except for last year) Day of the Dead Ceremony once again! And do we ever have so much to honor, praise, grieve, remember, forget, behold, and release.  I doubt a one of us has arrived to this moment unscathed, untouched, unaffected by the collective loss of these times.  You are invited to show up as you are, in all your fullness of feeling, of heart, of compassion for yourself and others, to collectively grieve the losses, and praise the resilience, the flexibility of body/mind/spirit we embody.

 

We will gather Saturday October 30 at 3pm here at Drumsong to honor our Ancestors on this Wheel of Life. 

Other details are listed below under fire Ceremonies....

 

While we hope to be outdoors for most of the time I cannot guarantee cooperative weather and I did not see a good rain date due to Halloween and the timing of things.  After much soul searching and deliberation, because people may need the facilities, we will share some food, weather that day could mean indoors versus outdoors, I am requiring that attendees be fully VACCINATED to make it as safe for as many people as possible.  I realize that this may exclude some people, and even some of my beloveds, but I do not know if we will be 5 people or 25, along with the variables listed above.  It is the only way I feel comfortable opening my smallish indoor space to a group right now.  I deeply regret if this causes someone to feel separate or not able to come. Of course, please come prepared with a mask if spacing deems that necessary. 

 

My we all find peace, joy, passion, comfort, healing, laughter, inspiration, and a loving holding environment for all the feelings, pressures, pain, sorrow, grief and loss that we carry on this journey called Life .

 

In loving gratitude,

Miriam/Firebird

 

 

 

 

 

Day of the Dead Fire Ceremony  Saturday