September 15, 2018

 

 

Hello Everyone, Happy EQUINOX!  As the seasons go round and round...last night there was a nice breeze and it felt like Fall arriving on the night air.  The FIRE CEREMONY for tomorrow (9/23) is CANCELLED since I have not heard from anyone. Hope to see folks for the Day of the Dead Fire Ceremony on Nov 2. Please rsvp for that fire ceremony by Oct 30.  See more details below for upcoming ceremonies.   In great gratitude, Miriam

 

Hello Dear Friends,

 

We are here while Hurricane Florence pounds the coast and moves inland. We have been spared the strongest winds and rain that were initially forecast to come straight here.  The winds gusts outside and the rain falls steadily but not in torrents and we have all our precious entitled amenities.  Other parts of North and South Carolina are not so lucky, but it seems the storm did ratchet down a bit once on land.  I find myself feeling much gratitude as I ponder the power of water and wind. Water is life and without it we are all doomed. In preparation we ritualistically washed jugs (I save glass cider jugs) and filled them with our luscious well water, this precious liquid light since we rely on a well for our water, which relies on electricity to pump, which relies on power lines strung across the land, so vulnerable to storms.  I think of the healing power of water but also the power she has to flood, inundate, wash away, and destroy when propelled by the force of nature.  One survivor in New Bern tweeted that her whole downstairs filled with water in a matter of minutes as she climbed to her attic seeking refuge.  We are simply no match for the power of the water when propelled by the combined forces of nature. I wonder how the sea creatures take refuge in the middle of the swirling seas.

 

The weekend before Florence made landfall I was in a workshop with energy healer and "medium" Cyndi Dale which began with us all participating in the beautiful Fire Ceremony as per the vision of "Beautiful Painted Arrow" or Joseph Rael; facilitated by my dear friend RJ Dobs at Watersong Peace Chamber.  There Cyndi shared her energetic impressions  and direct communication with the water spirits during the ceremony being the channel that she is.  We all engaged with them throughout the remainder of the weekend and I can only hope that our prayerful petitions helped to lessen the storm's impact somewhat as Florence changed course just before landfall.

 

And the fierce wind... also such a life giving force when cooling us on a hot day, when spreading seeds and helping plants to be pollinated, when they move the storm offshore or when birds ride the windwaves.  Again, when unleashed by the force of nature to blow apart what we once thought were sturdy structures, to topple might oaks, and cause massive destruction, we are humbled by our smallness, our human frailty in the face of nature's dominance.  I sit here, safe in my home, reflecting on all the ways we harm this planet, the waters of the earth, the soils of many colors, the air we breathe, the animals of all stripes and of course our fellow humans.  Our destruction is a daily drip compared to the way mother nature rises up and shows us who is in control.  I pray for us, all of us, the two leggeds to wake up to the ways we contribute to the changing conditions of the earth balance while we have a breath of a chance left to make a difference for our heirs. I pray for the deep renewal and rejuvenation for the earth, the waters, the air that is needed to bring balance back.  My hopefulness is tempered by the poor track record we have for caring for all that is indigenous, lands, people, traditions...   All the ingenuity of our brightest minds cannot replace all that is being lost.  

 

Last night Jay and I watched a movie, "Woman Walks Ahead" about the last days of Sitting Bull and a White Woman named Catherine (Caroline in some accounts) Weldon who broke with all norms for women in the Victorian era to make a difference to the lives and future survival of the Sioux Nation by travelling alone to meet Sitting Bull, to paint him and to advocate for him and his people. I had never heard that story, like so many other stories about women and people of color, stories buried with the bones of our ancestors and the original people of these lands.  Yes, we can, and should, question the "white savior" motif of the movie and in our activism especially towards our beloved brothers and sisters of many colors. On the other hand,  I admire a person who does something she or he believes in, who pushes through the fear, the stagnation, the hopelessness to take a bold step, to break out of our self imposed cages and take action as did this woman who Sitting Bull named "Woman Walks Ahead" for her bold (even if inappropriate in his culture) stepping out in front of him and for what she believed.  I now want to read the bidography about her and a new one about him.  I awoke wondering what action I could take today?  I picked a place to volunteer. What action can each of us take today?  What gifts or resources do you have to share?  What lies are you no longer willing to repeat?  The world, the very earth we stand on, our institutions, our bodies are all changing, adapting, or dying.  During the workshop we worked with beings in the imaginal realms, the little people and others who need to be remembered to stay with us.  This is true for humans too, we need to be remembered as the movie "Coco" so beautifully illustrates through the Day of the Dead remembrance celebrations. One way to do this is through ceremony. If you feel called to join us here in ceremony we would love to see you, to know you, to help each of us to re-member what and who is precious in our lives.

 

People have been asking about the lodge and when we will hold that sweet purification ceremony here again. I went to the lodge yesterday to check on the area before the strom and found the summer rains have caused the Turtle Lodge to shed her shell, the bones of her back, she is returning to the earth. On the ground inside the lodge was a beautiful box turtle in the northwest looking to the west, wear the water pourer sits.  It is time to rebuild the lodge to be able to honor this earth medicine.  Then we can let the healing waters flow over the stone beings again and sweat our prayers. Let me know if you wish to help in this sacred work of lodge building.    Ok, for comic relief you should know that it took me many tries and a long time to achieve this teeny picture with horrible formatting but I promise there is a lttle boxturtle in there.....laughing at myself right now.

                                                                                    

With deep abiding love, gratitude, and faith in the power of humanity to persist. Our long histories teach us to thrive and to become better, even under the duress imposed on us from so many fronts....if we remain teachable.

 

 

Below you will find information about upcoming offerings: Rattlemaking Ceremony, Lodge rebuilding, Frie Cermonies and circles held here.  The Shamanic Teaching Circle is based on the teachings of my longtime teacher, Cherokee Elder Will Rockingbear, who is now back in the realm of spirit; along with other medicine ways learned along my path and energy medicine teachings. This circle meets 2nd and 4th Monday evenings of the month 7-9 pm and is gender inclusive. We have had a lot of interest in this spiritual development circle.  As we settle in, our "just right" size is coming into shape. For now, if interested, there is a wait list in the event someone steps away from circle making space for a new person.   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 the circle is about ... beyond that we welcome interested sojourners for one visit to see in person how it feels for all.  

May there be Peace, Love, Respect, Truth and Wisdom a plenty to guide us through these times....

With heart, love and gratitude for all of creation, Miriam /Firebird

 

PS:  This list is by voluntary sign up.  If you choose to unsubscribe you may do so at the bottom. Thanks for reading this far. You and your friends are free to join this list and come to Drumsong but I request that you NOT POST events and ceremonies to Facebook or other social media.  I prefer to be a local resource here in our area. I appreciate your honoring this request. 

In gratitude, Miriam/Firebird 

 

 

Sunday November 10, 2018 from 10am - 3ish   Cost for this offering is $65.00 which includes most supplies and lunch.  RSVP and Deposit of $40.00 is due by Nov 1, 2018 to secure your place.

Please send checks made out to: Miriam Lieberman  1920 Western Trail   Chapel Hill, NC  27516

 

Rattles are used much like drums in shamanic healing. They can be used to scan and detect congested energy or imbalance as well as to dispel it. They are used in celebratory song and dance and to connect us to our inner knowing, our guides, helpers, teachers and protectors.  Your rattle, created of hide, and charged with your own dreamtime energy will carry the energy of all our relations and that which you (and those who "show up") are called to imbue it with. In this ceremonial creation of medicine pieces we will be in a state of gratitude for all life and the gifts of abundance in our lives.  Feel free to call me if you have any questions.  

 

I will provide a light vegetarian and gluten free lunch. It will be available as people find a good time to break during their rattle creation period.  If you have food restrictions feel free to let me know bring your own. 

 

Sweet sound makers from nature: small shells, salt crystals, seeds, beads small stones (no larger than corn kernel)

Stick for handle of your rattle (optional)

Heavy duty scissors or shears

Awls

Exacto knife or sharp pocket knife

Towel

Water Bottle

Low chair or cushion (optional)

Patience and open heart

Dress for indoors or outdoors (weather permitting)

 

  

Sunday Sept 23         Autumn Equinox Fire     6:00 pm  potluck and ceremony     rsvp by 9/20 CANCELLED

Friday Nov 2             Day of the Dead Fire      6:00 pm  potluck and ceremony     rsvp by 10/30

Friday Dec 21           Winter Solstice Fire        6:00 pm  potluck and ceremony     rsvp by 12/18  

Peace be with you, Miriam