WOW Connections

Giving Begins Everything with Toni Stone

I recently asked Toni Stone, Prosperity Teacher, if she would share some of her wonderful perspectives on giving with the readers of our enews.  I trust her words will inspire you as much as they have me.  Look for more wisdom about giving from Toni Stone in our September enews

Julie asks:
What inspired you to offer such strong teachings about giving?
Toni answers:
My own experience with the power of giving is what inspired me to offer such exuberant news about the rewards of great giving. I could hardly contain my joy at the discoveries. Once I started to give more and tithe, life started to become the way I always wanted it to be. that was thirty years ago. It has continued.

Who doesn't wish that what's required would always be so?
Who doesn't want what they need, exactly when they need it?
Who wouldn't hope that plenty could always be  headed their way?

The best news in the world to me was that I could have more by giving more. I was brought up to believe I could only have more if I saved it or earned it. I had no idea then that my cheap hoarding way was the biggest part of my financial problem.

I was convinced that my parsimony was the cure.
The harder I held on to money, the better I thought I was doing.
I never noticed it wasn't changing anything…..that my bills were bigger,
My available funds were smaller and my level of depression grew deeper and deeper.

I had no inkling that the poorer I felt and acted, the worse my situation got. If anyone tried to tell me, I don't think I would have liked them much.  Everyone around me was financially stressed.

Complaining was the water we swam in, like fish in a constrained tank. Nothing got any better. It couldnt.  Only the tank got more polluted with complaining thoughts . It got harder to see in the fog.

When I started to come to a spiritual perspective instead...
I found that focusing on the current evidence was not where to come from.
I began to learn, to detach from what I had already created to manifest something new and better.

I have to say I was so uplifted to find
I-was-no-longer-bound-by-how-it-looked,
I wanted to yell it from the top of my hill.
I meant to tell everyone who was locked into, "the poor framework"
that they could move away from it forever.

I still feel the same way. I am so grateful to b e free of the old
perspectives that the only way to live my gratitude
is to teach what I've learned so others can break free .

that giving causes getting is the best news I ever heard,
is an understatement:    
           it's radical
                     it's esoteric
                     it's freeing
                     it's a new way to live
                     it's enlivening

I still haven't gotten over it
and that was a long time ago.

Toni Stone is a New England leader, teaching the metaphysical and ethical skills of propering to entrpeneurs.  Working out of the home base of New Thought, for close to three decades, her key message: Giving Begins Everything, has made her a wel-loved, appreciated consultant to business owners around the country. A native Bostonian, she now lives in Vermont with her husband and a clear view of the Green Mountains.
For more information about classes, trainings, and consulting, call 802-849-2257 or on the web at www.wonderworks.org

Pearlie of Great Price~Following a Dog into the Presence of God

Pearlie of Great Price: Following a Dog into the Presence of God

A new book from Hilary Hart

Every moment is a pearl. A soft and subtle love glows from the center of life. When we step into this center, we open the heart of the world. When we come into our Self, we can play our part in the oneness of life.

How do we step into our eternal wholeness, and play our part in the mysteries of Divine revelation?

We are unique, so the challenges are unique to each of us. For me, everything I thought was “spiritual” stood in the way - my attachment to spiritual states of consciousness that directed my attention from this world, and my attachment to my spiritual teacher and the light and power that flow through him.

To discover what is real beyond my attachments, my teacher told me to look to my dog, Pearlie. A large, pear-shaped, terrier mutt dying of cancer, Pearlie was an odd choice for a spiritual guide. But through her simple ways, through her pale beauty, and her need for my love, I followed her into love itself.

This is the story I tell in Pearlie of Great Price: Following a Dog into the Presence of God, coming out in July through O Books (www.O-Books.com). It is a story of love, loss, and surrender. A journey into my own heart, and a step toward spiritual responsibility.

More and more women are called to take a similar step. The earth needs women’s innate understanding of its sacredness, our wisdom of how we are all connected, and our esoteric experience of weaving light into the material world in the creation of new life. We sense the changes around us – the unsettled quality, the unease. But we also sense the magic hovering nearby, longing for us to embody it.

Step toward this magic, and help it transform the world.

Hilary Hart lives on Whidbey Island and runs a small retreat center for women. For more information, please visit: www.hilaryhart.org.

 

Transforming Pain into Power

TRANSFORM PAIN INTO POWER! © 2007
by Doris Helge, Ph.D.
Author, “Transforming Pain Into Power” and “Joy on the Job”
Excerpted with permission from “Transforming Pain Into Power”
www.TransformingPainIntoPower.com

Most people are hungry for happiness. They're searching for real answers to age-old questions because much of what we've been taught is upside down and backward. For example, when people "put on a happy face" or try to adopt the attitude of "fake it til you make it," even if they gain a brief respite from their anxiety, they have to keep putting on a facade.

This resistance to what exists drains the energy they need in order to resolve an underlying issue that must eventually be faced. When we do this, we’re stalling instead of acknowledging a painful negative emotion like anger or fear so feelings we love, like confidence, peace, and joy, can emerge.

Buried feelings never die. They resurface, usually at a very inconvenient time. Then the person repeats the same uncomfortable emotions and difficult challenges. There is so much happiness available to all of us. There is no need to continue to recycle the same painful events.

Telling someone who is troubled by unhappiness at work, lack of money, or a difficult relationship, "Just think positive thoughts" doesn't provide the tools they need to create genuine change. They may repeat positive affirmations for weeks and still struggle with the same conflicts, such as an unhappy work situation, difficult relationships and problems related to a boss or team members.

Trying to force positive thinking can prolong negative emotions and experiences. We all have billions of unconscious negative beliefs, so traditional positive thinking approaches can do more harm than good. An internal battleground rages when we battle, instead of accept what exists. It takes a lot of energy to hold denial in place. We become fatigued at the very time we need extra energy to take positive action.

Since our beliefs are unconscious, we don't know what the real issues are. That’s why most affirmations don't address what’s keeping us stuck. Plus, we're so much more than our thoughts. Since over 90 percent of what we do and think is based on UNconscious beliefs, I teach people multisensory approaches that people can easily use to create profound positive changes.

Feelings control our thoughts and actions, so I teach people “How to Use Feelings for Healing.” Good news: This doesn't require years of processing negative emotions in psychoanalysis. My clients say they stop feeling victimized by life circumstances because they become empowered to build a life rich in personal fulfillment and productivity.

I help you discover simple, easy ways to deal with negative emotions and experiences the first time they occur. You learn to quickly, easily, and effectively use negative emotions and experiences as TOOLS to build a better life.

Transforming pain into power becomes effortless with experience. We mine the gold nuggets of wisdom and joy available in our most dismal experiences. We also liberate ourselves from the prisons we create when we judge our circumstances and feelings.

Don’t miss out on the most amazing adventures of your life! Reward yourself with loving relationships, enjoyable work, and spectacular spiritual growth. Explore www.TransformingPainIntoPower.com and discover proven, easy-to-apply processes for claiming the happiness you deserve.

Doris Helge, Ph.D. is called The Joy Coach by her clients. She is author of many books, including "Transforming Pain Into Power" and "Joy on the Job." Some have been published in multiple foreign languages. Download sample chapters of her latest books at joyonthejobbook.com and transformingpainintopower.com Visit www.joyonthejob.info and sign up for the only ezine focused on happiness at work, the "Joy on the Job Ezine."

© 2007 All rights reserved. You may reprint this article if it is intact, including the above attribution paragraph.

Intro to WOW Book

Kris Steines offers a glimpse into the WOW book she is writing:

Introduction to the book

Women of Wisdom

Remembering Who You Are

By Kristine Steinnes  © 2007

I am the circle.

I am the center of the circle.

I am the outside looking into the circle.

I am the container holding the boundary of the circle

I am the many rings inside the circle.

I am the pathways that link the circles together.

I am the space between.

As you seek the center, know all paths will lead there.

Wherever you are, you are somewhere in the circle.

You can make no mistakes as long as you are moving.

Some paths are quick and easy, some are long and arduous.

Sometimes you have to back track to redirect yourself.

Sometimes you need to jump forward, past an obstacle.

However your way unfolds, lessons are learned.

You will know when you reach your destiny

Whether it’s in the rim, being the container for all

Or the center, being the source of all.

You are then one with the circle.

Then you will know what it is to be the torchbearer

You will assist others in their path through the labyrinth.

By holding steady, and shining your light.

Enter into Women of Wisdom

I am the woman who answered the call months ago and is eagerly waiting.

I am the woman who sits alone in the sanctuary

      anticipating the door to open.

I am the woman who is led down the staircase to begin this journey.

I am the woman who waits below in the circle for the women to come  through the door.

I am the woman who has been waiting for you to return, having waited for  what seems like for an eternity.

“She’s been waiting, she’s been waiting so long,

waiting for her daughters to remember, to return. 

She’s been waiting, she’s been waiting so long,

waiting for her daughters to remember, to return. 

Blessed Be and Blessed are the lovers of the Lady.

Blessed be and Blessed are the Maiden, Mother, Crone.

Blessed be and Blessed are the ones who dance together.

Blessed be and Blessed are the ones who dance alone!”

                                                Song by Lisa Thiel

The circle is timeless and I will wait as long as it takes you to discover me. I am all of you. I have been with you in every circle that has met around the ancient fires and the candles of today. I am all that is. I am at the center of the divine spark of feminine energy and now with a sense of urgency I call you to the circle to anchor it here on this earth plane.

I am the Weaver of Webs. I spin my web in a circle that contains everything.

It contains the silvery gossamer threads that light our path and it contains the spaces between the threads that open us to our infinite possibilities.

It contains the threads that binds us together, and strengthens our connections to each other. I hold together the concentric circles that surround the center where the circle is cast. We are all in this circle; we are all part of this web.

This web named WOW was created for women to gather, to become a rich tapestry of women, spirit, and community, exploring the divine feminine through our creativity and our connections to one another. This is the story of WOW and I invite you to enter into the circle we cast. The telling of the story will unfold as in a spiral, so enjoy the journey!

Kris Steinnes, Founder and Council Member, WOW, Seattle, WA.

I am the Circle

Dear WOW friends,

I have started working on the project I've dreamed about for years: The Women of Wisdom Book.  The working title is Women of Wisdom, Remembering Who You Are.  This was the first theme we had in 1995.  So last spring, when I took a sabbatical and spent 1 month in Sicily, I began writing my journey.  I had already outlined what I wanted in the book, I now needed to start writing.  I was pleased with what I accomplished on that project during that time. 

When I cam home I went to EWomenNetwork Conference in Dallas and signed up for a year program called EWomenPublishing, managed by Jan King.  It's allowed me to have one on one coaching for all the steps in writing a book.  I started creating the book proposal, worked on writing, editing, recruited writings from WOW contributors such as Rev. Judith Laxer as ceremonial director and Pam Gerke, with the creatio of ritual theater and Sacred Fire Choir performances.  I'm also recruiting stories from people like you!

How has your life been changed throug WOW?

Even if it's just a little paragraph, I know many of you were touched whether it was through making a new friend, or inspired by one of our presenters.  If you have something to share, please email me at ksteinnes@mac.com.

In December I attended Christian Baldwin's 5+ day workshop, Self as Source.  This was an incredible week.  In sacred circle we were led by Christina's skillful gifts of leading circles and leading women to find their writing voice.  13 women from all over the country and Canada sat in circle and shared amazing stories.  And we cheered each other on as we read from our writing projects.  Through many exercises, and feedback from Christina's wise council, I was able by the last day to finish the first chapter in the Women of Wisdom book!!!

What is the Women of Wisdom book?  It is a compilation of some of the inspiring talks we've heard over the years, such as Jean Houston, Marion Woodman, Barbara Marx Hubbard and Jean Shinoda Bolen.  It will have beautiful art from our WOW artists, poetry, stories from participants and my story, WOW's birthing story.  I'm so excited about this book.  My goal is to complete it this year and we will celebrate with the book release in 2008!

Thank you to everyone for your contribution to WOW.  This book will reach many women who are searching for community, their spirit's journey, or healing, just as manywomen were when they first walked through our doors.  My hope is the book will inspire women to start women's circles, WOW chapters in their cities, whatever is needed to bring the Divine Feminine to this culture.  When the book is finished I intend to take WOW and the divine feminine on the road!  What an exciting journey! - Women of Wisdom is a gift to all of us.  I hope that you will join us in this continuing journey.

Kris Steinnes, Founder and Council Member

2007 WOW Gathering

Our annual gathering is coming this Saturday, February 10th. Please join us in community and Spirit. Visit us at www.womenofwisdom.org for details and driving directions.

Can't be there in person?

Please join us anyway. You are most welcome to send an email, which I will copy and include in our basket of intentions and blessings for the day. Send your poetry, prose, blessings, intentions and requests for prayer to me at Coleen@SacredYew.com by noon, friday, February 9th.

In addition, we iinvite you to join us at 3:55 PM for 5 minutes of prayerful connection. Those of us gathered physically will be holding space and silence with the intention of connecting with everyone across the world, who wishes to be a part of our wonderful organization.

I will be leading the intentions at this time and will sing a SpiritSong for all of us at the end of the 5 minutes. We'll gather together energies and then send them out to the planet as blessing to each of us.

Many blessings,
Coleen Renee, WOW Council Member

Community on Earth

January 15th ~ I was just out on our land today, walking with my goats.

I go walking with them because I want them to eat wild plants and it
gets me outside.  There is snow and ice covering our little farm, here
on Whidbey Island in Washington State.  Sticking up through this icy
blanket are weeds.  The goats eat decaying rose hips, deep red
blackberry leaves, evergreen needles and if I pick it for them, kale
from the garden.  I like to watch them graze and connect with the
plants.

The quiet of this January late afternoon breathes life into me. 
Staying inside my house is so easy and cozy with my warm fire and fuzzy
wool slippers.  Venturing out onto the land takes me to another place. 
It is the place I feel most at ease and yet I must think of a reason to
go seeking it.  ‘The goats need it’ is what I think.  ‘They need to eat
the wild plants and feel the sun on them everyday.’

Once outside, I feel a subtle calm come over me.  It is the stillness
of the earth that whispers to me.  I only slightly acknowledge it, but
when I return to my cozy house I realize the calming impact on my
spirit.

January 22nd ~ It has since warmed up now as I return to this writing a
week later.   Lunar imbolc has passed and with the thaw of the earth, I
see and feel the green returning.  Amongst the old blackberry leaves, I
see little cleavers emerging.  Leaf buds on many of the trees are
growing plump and the alder catkins are becoming a beautiful burnt red.

Stepping outside, taking note of the transitional play between winter
and spring brings me a delicate gift.  It is here on our land that I am
finding my community.  I have longed and looked for a place to plant
myself for so many years.  I have, at times, grown weary of finding the
right people with which to share my time.  I have thought long and hard
about how to connect to others, to create community on this island
where I live.

And so I went out again with my goats for a walk.  And I sat on a stump
and let the  January sun burn into me.  The subtle calm of the earth’s
spirit whispered again so sweetly.  And I found the community I was
looking for right there on that stump.
A beautiful community on earth.

Community on Earth ~ Shamanic Exercise
You can do this in any natural setting, your garden, your yard, a park
or deep in the woods. Go outside on the Earth. Begin to notice your
breath and breathe in and out a few times with awareness.  Now begin to
notice all that is around you.  What do you see, hear, smell, taste,
feel.  Just notice...bringing awareness back to your breath
occassionally.  Do this as long as you like.  When you are finished,
give thanks for all you witnessed.

May it be in Beauty.

Julie Charette Nunn. Crow’s Daughter is a shamanic herbalist living on
Whidbey Island in Washington State.  She lives with her beloved
consort, Taddeusz, two goats, Scrappy and Fille Luna, the trees,  and
the wild plants and weeds.  She teaches wise woman ways through weekly
and residential shamanic herbal apprenticeships, classes and one to one
teachings. Julie also runs a thriving small business, Crow’s Daughter’s
Earthly Goods where she crafts and sells nourishing herbal creations.
You can visit Julie’s website www.crowsdaughter.com for information and
inspirational writing for your journey.

Julie will be offering an on-line class on Shamanic Herbalism with the
Women of Wisdom Foundation in March 2007.  Visit www.womenofwisdom.org
to register.


Julie Charette Nunn, Crow's Daughter
Nourishment~Common Herbs~Wise Woman Ways
360-579-2319
julie@crowsdaughter.com
www.crowsdaughter.com

15th Annual Women of Wisdom Gathering - "Spirit in Community" 

February 10th, noon to 9 pm - go to www.womenofwisdom.org for details and directions.

Special event offer:  Bring a friend to the Gathering for just $50.

Can't come in person?

Please come in Spirit.  We will be creating a basket of offerings: poetry, prose, photos, and also intentions for WOW in the year ahead.  These will be blessed and energized.  Please email Coleen@ColeenRenee.com any submissions you would like us to include.  We are reaching out to our sisters throughout the world through programs such as WOW Online and WOW Connections.  We'd love to have some part of you there physically as we bless each other for the coming year.  Please forward your submissions by February 7, 2007 for inclusion. 

The Singing of Swans

Mary Saracino, a novelist who lives in Denver, CO. sends us this excerpt from her recent novel, The Singing of Swans.  (Find out more about Mary at the bottom of this post.)

The night sky held no moon as Ziza pushed through the roof of her house and soared into the stark blackness. A gust of wind became her wings, pushing her up and up above the slumbering sounds of her small village, Caneva, in Friuli—a province tucked away in the northeastern corner of a country that would someday be known as Italy .

Far below, beneath an inky darkness, only the occasional stray cat peered up from the cobblestones, twitching its tail in anticipation of a passing mouse. Ziza’s neighbors snored in their beds. Her husband, Aldo DeSante, tossed and turned, unaware that while his wife’s body lay beside him, her spirit traveled elsewhere. She promised to return before the stroke of five to ensure that death would not claim her mortal limbs. Her children were lost in complicated dreams, and her mother, Carmela, nursing a bout of insomnia, sat before the family’s ancestral Lare altar, next to the cold hearth in the corner of their small home. She alone knew that Ziza had been called away on official business.

It was cold that Thursday night in the midst of the Ember days of fasting. A sharp wind howled fiercely down the alleyways that third week of September in the year 1575, foreshadowing a long, frigid winter, but Ziza felt nothing of the chill, for her body was as vaporous as air. Light and porous, she flew past the church steeple, the shops that lined the piazza, and over the well in the center of her village. Dense clouds hovered over the land; no stars shone to guide her, but still Ziza kept on. She levitated above the tiled rooftops, pausing a moment to determine if the others were ready, as well. From the darkened bell tower an owl hooted, signaling for her to proceed.

At the edge of town Ziza joined Lucia, Pietro, Sophia, Antonio, and Filaberta. Without a word, the night riders veered west and south, toward the wheat fields on a stony ridge two miles outside of town. There amid acres of bearded grain the others waited. There, during this time between solstices, this midnight of the autumn Ember Days, they would enact the ritual.

The wind bellowed as the cadre of journeyers sped over roads and rivers, byways and stone fences, olive trees and vineyards. Ziza’s tangle of snaky dark tresses swirled around her face as she raced through the night sky. The night smelled of damp grass and wet soil, for the rain had pummeled the countryside earlier that evening. The omen had been favorable, and Ziza knew in her bones that after midnight the battle would begin. A victory was possible, if their hearts were pure enough and focused on the welfare of their townspeople.

Ziza and her nocturnal fellows were keepers of the blood ways, guardians of justice and compassion, trustees of spirit and breath. They were shamans, healers, seers, midwives, oracles, herbalists, astral travelers, and earthly angels of mercy. Born remembering the Old Ways , the ancient customs and mores of the Dark Mother, they were charged with ensuring bountiful goodness. Their task was not always easy.

At birth each had been marked by the ancient sign of the Streghe—their faces were covered with their birth caul. Word spread among the elder Streghe, who soon gathered and rejoiced, making votive offerings to the Great Mother. Gingerly they removed the afterbirth and baked it under the scorching sun. When it had properly withered, they formed the translucent skin into an amulet. This sacred talisman was worn, like holy lei, around each child’s neck. It served to ward off harm and to remind them always of their special powers, for they could choose to beget good or evil. The difference was not always clear.

© 2006, Mary Saracino

.

Author:          Mary Saracino

Title:               The Singing of Swans, Pearlsong Press 2006

Excerpt:         Chapter 1: Night Rider, © 2006 Mary Saracino

Used with permission

.

Mary is an independent scholar of the Sacred Feminine. She co-teaches a workshop called Ancient Images/Modern Icons: Art-Making and the Divine Feminine that combines 100s of images of the Sacred Feminine from around the globe with hands-on in-studio art-making (ceramics and mixed media).  Her newest novel, The Singing of Swans (Pearlsong Press 2006) tells the story of a contemporary woman’s spiritual journey to reclaim her life.  The novel weaves magical realism with Divine Feminine lore (other characters include a priestess of Persephone, an herbalist/painter, and a strega (Italian witch/healer).   The book is available from her publisher at www.pearlsong.com or on amazon.com.  For more information about Mary, visit www.marysaracino.com.

Celebrating Community

I was watching television earlier today and saw a commercial with a truly fabulous visual.  A man stood alone in the middle of a gymnasium.  On the floor surrounding him were hundreds of ping pong balls.  They were inert - just sitting there at rest.  I was so distracted by these balls.  I wondered about them.  They intrigued me.  Nothing special about them.  They all pretty much seemed alike.

Near the end of the commercial, the man dropped the one ball he was holding.  It was amazing. This one ball simply falling to the floor - touched another ball, which bounced into another ball, which bounced into another ball,.....  Within seconds the floor was alive with activity.  All it took was one ball falling.

I think this a great reminder to us.  The simplest - even seemingly insignificant  - action can start a dynamic series of events.  It made me think of WOW and how many women have changed my life and probably don't know it.  How I in turn have changed lives.  How those lives have changed lives.

This is no small thing we do here.  Reaching out to touch the lives of others in a positive and empowering way is pure treasure. 

We recently sent out an invitation to past Conference presenters inviting them to add their voice to this blog.  Please consider this an invitation to you to add your voice.  Add a comment and start a conversation.  Request a topic for a post or forward a piece of prose, poetry, or a short personal story to coleen@coleenrenee.com (please put "WOW Connections" in the subject line).

In the Daré (Zimbabwe word for Council) tradition, we know that everyone is in the same story.  When we share our piece of the story it connects us to others who see themselves and are inspired to share their piece.  As we offer our page or chapter we deepen our connections and widen our understanding of who are and how we fit in this story of which we are all apart.  This changes the world, because it changes us.

I long for your story.

For more of my story visit http://www.coleenrenee.typepad.com/.

Blessings,

Coleen Renee, NW Ohio

What's In The Field

In the middle of a long winter's night, we find a blessed time for going within to find perspective and wisdom.  This is a place where we often find our own unique beauty.    It can also be a place where we find our inner critic.  That's a powerful thing.  A true and balanced critique of our lives in the winter season brings the seeds of bounty that will sprout with the warmth of Spring.

I'd like to share a holiday story I heard long ago.  If you know it, please read it again with a fresh mind and an open heart.

A newlywed couple invited their families to have Christmas at their new home.  They were both excited to host the holiday - and in the process create their own family traditions.  AS they went along they asked each other the whys and hows of the traditions they grew up on.  The night before Christmas the wife was preparing a ham.  As she cut both ends off of the ham, the husband asked her why she did it.  She explained it was how her mother had always done it, but she didn't know why.

On Christmas morning when his mother-in-law arrived, the husband asked her why she cut off both ends of the ham.  She explained it was the way her mother had always done it.

Later that afternoon, Grandma arrived.  After offering her eggnog, the husband asked why she cut off the ends of the ham.  Was it to release the juices?  Did it allow the flavor of the pineapple and cloves to get into the center of the ham?  Grandma patted his hand, took a drink of eggnog and explained the reason.

"My dear," she said, "the ham was always too big for the pan.  I cut the ends off so it would fit.  Never did get a bigger pan."

I like to share this story because it reminds us how easy it is to do things out of habit or tradition and to forget (or never even know) why we do them.  We pass patterns on as part of the human experience.  It creates culture and connection.  It can enrich our lives and should be honored for that.  And,....

Every once in a while it's a good thing to critique what we do and to see if it serves us.  Winter's cold and dark days practically beg us to do this.  Sleep.  Dream.  Consider.  We stare into the flames of the fire while holding a hot mug between our hands and we entertain the "what ifs", "could haves" and "why nots".

If Winter doesn't tempt us into this introspection, friends and family gathered around the holiday buffet often do.  Family has a way of reminding us of our dreams and promises - the ones left to gather cobwebs; the ones forgotten; the ones realized and the ones that were somebody else's.  Add friends into the mix, throw in the impending New Year Eve tradition and most of us are deep into self-evaluation.  "Why do I cut off the ends of the ham?"

Before you throw away the pan, stop baking ham, leave the ends on or choose to stay with tradition, check out "what's in the field".  If you don't know what's in the field, how can you decide relevance or make choices about what to keep and what to change?

Asking, "what's in the field" comes form an indigenous peoples perspective (although marketing professionals and politicians us it in a different form).  The question acknowledges the significance of this place and time while honoring what has come before it.

Our history and traditions are always in the field - as is the collective unconscious.  But there is so much more.  In the field we find our current motivations and circumstances: available resources, world and local events, responsibilities, freedoms, current trends, our age, our status, our connections, etc.  We also find astrological, seasonal and other environmental influences.  Perhaps the most important things in the field are the lessons we are currently learning.

Only when we consider the field can we be true and balanced critics.  It's like a farmer deciding what to plant next season.  If she planted corn last season, she knows the field is nitrogen depleted.  Whatever her decision, this factor is part of the outcome.

What's in your field?  Who are the players (seen and unseen)?  What are the lessons you have just learned?  What lessons are you moving through now?  What motivates you?  What influences surround you?  What's your history?  What are your patterns?  What resources are in your field?

Make sure you are the one making decisions in your field.  We cannot ask our mothers to make the decisions of our time.  When we act out of unconsidered tradition/patterns, we do this.  Make sure you are standing in your field.  We should not criticize our mothers for the decisions of their times.  When we blame our mothers for actions they took that have seemingly adversely affected us, we are wasting energy trying to straddle two fields - their's and ours.  (I did this for several years until I realized I can never really put myself in her shoes - I only have my own field for reference. As soon as I let go, my field came into focus and I was able to heal what I needed to heal.)  Each field is as individual as a fingerprint.

By the way, you cannot get rid of the field.  It's like the air you breathe.  So take time in the next few weeks of Winter to play in your field and harvest the seeds of your life.  When the New Year brings lighter and warmer days, enjoy the planting.  Tend the garden of your ever transforming life.  It's an adventure only you can take.  May it be full of gratitude and abundance.

Winter Blessings from WOW 

(text written by Coleen Renee, CSH, WOW Council Member)