As 2011 ends and 2012 begins I find myself looking back over the past year and see that a theme emerged in my life:  Community, creating community.  Not only the community here on Earth, but our spiritual community which covers the cosmos and other dimensions including  all those in spirit who help us as well.  The culmination of all of this “gathering of community” for me was the retreat that I facilitated with my shamanic students and friends in November.  It was a magical time and all I can think is how we can create this “feeling” in every day life.

At the retreat, from the very opening, people were in unison and harmony.  As we smudged to begin the weekend, Beth Lamb asked if she could be the “smudger”, Becky Stanton began playing her beautiful flute, and Sherry Gutkaes tapped her singing bowl that sent vibrations of foundation and cohesiveness through the group.  A spontaneous ceremony was born that touched each heart present.  It was community offering its gifts to one another.

On Saturday morning we all came together in dance with Wendy Siracusa offering us a way to connect with our chakras and prepare for the day. We gathered to learn how to reach out to a world in crisis through shamanic healing techniques.  We were there to learn how to help.  We drummed, we radiated, we danced, we shared, we sang out the song of Mother Earth. 

In the afternoon we addressed our Cosmic Community and searched out our own connections to the stars in our search to understand the Ancient Ones.  We then participated in a grid activation that Becca Mutch created for us all.  She led us through this energetic opening to literally connect beyond the earth to our cosmic community.  There was no doubt to those present, that a portal had been opened.  And in the evening , beneath an almost full moon, in harmony with the wind spirits, many of us returned to the portal and experienced its wisdom and power.  I continue to visit this portal frequently and feel its upward spiraling energy, connecting me to the stars and home.  And I know that several of you present there, continue to do the same.

Sunday morning Troy Schmit led us through a beautiful meditation that opened our hearts in preparation for the community healing.  I had received this community healing ceremony in a dream, and to see it unfold as it did was beyond anything I could have imagined.  It became a living, moving, entity in and of itself.  Beth smudged, dancers danced, drummers drummed,  those with cedar boughs cleansed, those with water blessed, those with rose petals loved, those with lavender soothed, and we all sang as we moved around those to be healed.  Each person moved in harmony and love, offering their gifts, and it was magical in its unfolding.  I know that lives were changed in that moment, as I have been told.

Zelko Leon graciously offered to take a picture of our group so we would all have a memento of the weekend.  I’ve noticed that many of you have posted this picture on your facebook page.  It is a reminder of community.  It is a reminder of what life can be every day! 

Let’s all work on envisioning this beautiful way of living, manifesting it in our communities and out into the world.  2012 is about manifesting the world we want.  I send this vision out into the world and hold in my heart the gratefulness for each one of you in my life.  We are forever community!  May you always feel the love that surrounds you,  May you always know that you are loved, May you always remember we are One!

In deep gratitude and love for each and every one of you,

Jeanne

People often ask me about a shamanic energywork healing session as it is a concept that is quite unknown in our western culture.  Some people are afraid of it and think about it in “otherworldly” terms, rather than understanding that it is not that much different from other energywork sessions.  I thought I would share with you today how I conduct a shamanic energywork session.

How do you know if Shamanic Energywork is what you need?  Shamanic energywork addresses loss of power in your life.  If you are experiencing depression, confusion, chronic illnesses, fatigue, disease–to the shamanic practitioner, these are all signs of power loss.  In shamanic energywork, power is brought back to you to help you live fully and effectively in the world.  There are several techniques that may be used to bring back your power:

1.  Power animal retrieval–In shamanic belief, the animals are our guides, teachers and protectors.  When we work with them they help us to retain our power.

2.  Soul retrieval–When trauma occurs in our life, a part of our soul leaves in order to survive.  This occurrence leaves us with less power in our lives.  The shamanic practitioner journeys to bring back the missing soul parts, bringing back a sense of wholeness.

3.  Soul Remembering–The shamanic practitioner journeys back to the soul at the time of birth and receives a symbol of the soul before projections are placed upon it.  May receive info on your purpose in life and the gifts and talents you brought in with you.

4.  Extraction work–The shamanic practitioner removes localized spiritual illness caused by energetic intrusions into the body which can result in pain and disease.

5.  Divination Work—The shamanic practitioner journeys to his/her helping spirits for answers to questions the client seeks.  The information received may be in symbolic form through images, visions and feelings.

6.  Psychopomp Work–Helping to prepare the dying to leave their bodies at the time of death and/or helping to escort those already in spirit to the Light.

What happens in a Shamanic Energywork Session?:  Jeanne will meet and talk with you at the beginning of the session.  During this time she will explain to you the process she will be using.  While each session is different according to the specific needs of the individual, there is a general process.  Jeanne will ask you to lie down on the massage table.  You remain fully clothed.  You will be asked to simply relax and hold the intention of healing for yourself as Jeanne begins the work.

Each session begins by smudging (with cedar, sage and lavender).  Jeanne will smudge you, herself and the room.  Rattling over you and around your body is used to call in the Spirits and raise the vibration of the energy body.  Jeanne will then journey, with the aide of a drumming CD, to her helping spirits for help and guidance in addressing your issue.  It is the Spirits who do the energywork.  Jeanne is the hollow bone, allowing this energy to move through her.

During the session, according to your comfort level and ith your permission, work will be done by means of touch based interventions at the energy centers of the body.  Drumming over the body may be used, as well as stones placed on or around the body.  Retrieval work also involves the blowing of energy into the body at the heart and crown chakras.  Jeanne often gets messages from the four directions for you.  When the energywork session is completed, Jeanne will explain to you the information she has received and the energywork that was completed.

During the entire session, you are fully awake and aware, yet relaxed.  Different bodily sensations may be experienced during the session, including strong emotions, visions, and sounds.

Shamanic energywork is based upon ancient knowledge of indigenous societies who lived in communion with the earth, and who knew the say of earth wisdom and their connection with the Creator.  I encourage you to try a session!  I take individual appointments on Mondays and Fridays.  Just call Brigid’s House to set up an appointment–218-732-5347.  Cost of a one hour session is $50.

You cannot help but notice how the world around us is changing.  All of our old structures are falling down. Our old ways of being no longer serve us and are being swept away by the spiritual forces.  The spiritual literature tells us that we are in the process of raising our vibrations of both us and our earth—that we will be ascending into the fourth and ultimately the fifth dimensions.  I know we are all experiencing upheaval and uncertainty in our lives.  Everything we have known is unstable at this time.  So how do we weather this crisis?  How do we get through this period in time?

Most all the spiritual literature I have read about this time and the spiritual leaders I have heard speak about it, suggest several things that we can do to help us move through this time period more easily. .

First, we need to develop a daily spiritual practice that strengthens us and helps us to stay balanced as we move through this transitional time period.  Your daily practice may include meditation, yoga, drumming, sacred dance, walking in nature, etc.  Discover a practice that speaks to your heart, nourishes you and balances you emotioinally.

Secondly, we need to care for our bodies.  We need to get our bodies healthy in whatever way we can.  Remember, our body is a temple for the spirit.  We need to honor it and respect it.  Exercise, eat healthy and organic foods, turn off the TV/computer and get out in nature, try to stay away from anything that is toxic to your body.  Learn to listen to what your body is saying to you.  It will tell you what it needs you to do.  You just need to take time to listen.

And thirdly, come together in community.  Find like-minded people who feed your  body, mind and spirit.  Be with those who enliven you, who believe in  you, who honor and respect you, who empower you.

We need to do these things so that we can be strong enough to help those who are in need during these challenging times. We need to be courageous enough to reach out and help those who are hurting, confused, homeless, bereft, fearful, anxious and alone.  This is the current and coming role of lightworkers.  Prepare yourselves now!

And this is our mission at Brigid’s House, to be a resource center where you can come and learn spiritual practices and make them a part of your life… where you can come and learn how to treat your body with respect and how to listen to it and care for it…..where you can come and experience community that supports and empowers you.  Our staff offers their talents and abilities to you to help you through this period in time.  Our store has resources to complement our many classes.
We’re here, waiting for you!
Love to you,  Jeanne

Friday at 5pm to Sunday at 1pm

Camp Knutson, Crosslake, MN

This retreat is for all past and present students  who have studied with me over these many years and others.  Many of you have asked for a reunion with further training and this will be the focus of this retreat.  While the training is directed toward those who have studied with me, others are also welcomed as long as they know how to journey and have a good working relationship with their power animals.

In this training we will work with community—our own and our cosmic community.  Prior to the beginning of the retreat I will ask you to ask your spirit helpers for dreams that will direct the agenda for this weekend and ask you to share them with me so that I can incorporate your wisdom into this training.  I have had a dream that has directed me to hold this retreat and to bring together the “pavers”, those who will be paving the way for others into our new world.

In this training we will talk about community and experience several group journeys that connect us to one another in this world.  We will also experience connection with the cosmic world.  It is my hope that we may have some direct connection with the star beings who worked with our ancient ancestors and who continue to work with us today.  We will look at how shamanism can address the earth changes and help to bring healing to all those who are holding onto the old ways of being that will no longer work in our world.  I don’t have the full agenda yet but am working with my spirit helpers and star beings on bringing forth a training that will speak to all our hearts so that we may be loving vessels of light to all those who seek our help.  The times require that we come together.  The time is now.  If you feel called to this training, I encourage you to attend, as we need you and the world needs you!

We will learn through drumming, journeying, healing, dancing, singing, and deep connection.  You are encouraged to bring your healing tools and your musical instruments. (drums, flutes, rattles, tambourine, etc.)  Weather permitting we will have an outdoor fire ceremony on Saturday night.  I’m hoping for a clear sky that we might also invite our cosmic community to dance around the fire with us.

We will be meeting at Camp Knutson in Cross Lake MN (by Brainerd). (http://www.campknutson.com ). I know that many of you have been there in the past and know it to be a beautiful, nourishing environment.  Lodging accommodations are excellent with single and double rooms.  We also have beautiful workshop space and good food that honors special diet needs.  Cost for the weekend that includes lodging, 5 meals and training is $255 for a single room, and $235 for a double room.  Registration deadline is October 10th.  We need a minimum of 16 people to hold the retreat, so please register as soon as you are able.  If we don’t meet the minimum I will need to cancel.  $100 deposit holds your space and is refundable if you cancel before October 10th.  Final payment is due October 10th.  If you cancel after October 10th a $50 administrative fee will be charged.  If you have concerns about payment, please contact me.  To register, please send me an email at earthdrummer@hotmail.com and I will send you a registration form.

Again, I cannot tell you how important it is for us all to come together in community to address the earth changes.  Only you know if you feel drawn to attend this retreat.  Listen to your heart and if it speaks to you, please know it is meant for you to attend.  Many of us are waking up to who we truly are.  It is time now for us to step forward, speak from our heart and usher in the new world.

I remembered a friend telling me that we should eat our food with our fingers because it affects our food when we cut into something with a cold metal knife or fork.  It is an unnatural substance that affects the energy of our food.  (I did try this and he was right—the food even tasted better when I ate it with my fingers.)  It made sense to me then, that my energetic interaction with the weeds and my bare hands would be more “natural” than  my interaction with the rubberized garden gloves.  It seems to me that nature likes to feel our skin upon it and will more gently work with us when we also present our natural form. I hadn’t previously thought that garden gloves would be a barrier to my experience with nature.  I wondered how else I unknowingly cut myself off from nature and deprive nature of me!

One of my garden beds has about 8 mullein plants in it.  My plan was to clean out the bed.  However, as I started digging and clearing and weeding I was “told” by the garden that the mullein plants must stay.  I remembered that an herbalist once told me that the plants we need will appear in our yard.  She said to pay attention to the plants that are growing in your yard.  I had one mullein plant in my yard last year—this year they are everywhere.  I must pay attention.  In doing research on the mullein plant I found some very interesting information.  I learned that witches used the plant, soaking the tall dried stalk in beeswax or tallow using it as a candle or torch in ceremonies.  Burning the stalk is supposed to enable one to see the spirits of the dead!  And the leaves can be used to make candle wicks.  Interestingly enough, earlier in the day I had just seen a book on making your own magical candles and I thought about how powerful that would be to make your own ceremonial candles.    And here are the mullein candles growing right in my garden!!

Nature is so filled with learnings for us.  We just need to open our hearts and minds to the knowledge that nature is communicating with us.  What do you hear when you work in the garden, or walk barefoot on the earth, or hug a tree or lie in the grasses?  Pay attention, you will hear Her whisper to you!

May nature whisper in your heart today,

Jeanne Marie

This change in practicing shamanic healing has been unsettling to me since I first heard it.  It has been sitting within me, mulling around, searching for a way to tell me why this just doesn’t seem right.  I finally realized today that the answer lies in the story itself.  The story creates images and an experience and feelings for the client that go beyond the mere word message.  It taps into the heart and the collective unconscious, into the mythic realm that joins us all.  A shaman without a story???  That’s just not right!  In Celtic Shamanism the shaman/poet was  most highly regarded as it was believed they received their inspiration from the “otherworld” and brought that wisdom into this world, connecting us through the images they created to our own hearts and the wisdom of the otherworld.  The images and metaphors in a story are much more multi-dimensional than merely the informational words of a message.

I’ll try and give an example that will show you the difference between the message and the story from my perspective.  Let’s say I go on a journey for a client and three hawks appear, they gently lead the client to a flowing river and bathe her body in the rushing waters, cleansing pain from the body.  They then place river stones within her belly to keep the spirit of the river flowing within the body.  The three hawks tend the body with deep respect and healing.  After awhile the hawks help the client walk out of the river, and tell the client she needs to work with the trees.  The client merges with a tree, feeling the strength/energy of the tree moving through her body.  Tree tells her that she  can call upon the spirit of the tree whenever she feels she may be faltering.  The tree states that its branches along with the wind spirits will gently guide and protect her as she moves through this difficult time of her life.  The tree wraps its branches around the client and its roots dig down deeper into the earth. It holds the client in its embrace for several minutes.  The client smiles and seems refreshed.  As the three hawks leave, they each drop a feather for the client. She picks up the feathers and places them in her heart.

Okay, that’s the story.  I think its message is clear but it also paints a picture of healing that carries us deeper into our connection with nature.  If I just share the message, I might say something like, “This is a time for cleansing for you.  You may want to hold images of cleansing while you’re in the shower.  When you need stability, stand tall like a tree.  And Listen to your heart, it will have messages for you.”  While this may all be good information, to me it is flat and one dimensional.  There’s no “experience” here (other than standing tall like a tree).  In the story, you’re with the hawks, you see, hear and feel the flow of the river, you feel the strength and power of the tree, etc.  You are connected to the experience and wisdom of the story, not just the information.  Nature’s images are powerful and healing.  Jung was said to have stated that  he wished he had called the archetypes “spirits” instead.  Spirit indicates something that is alive and within us.  In shamanism, everything is believed to have a spirit.  So why would we NOT acknowledge the spirit of the story and its multi-dimensional layers.   Would the image of hawks tending to you really upset you?  Would talking with a tree be upsetting to you?  Have we really disconnected ourselves so much from the natural world that hearing how nature heals us and communicates with us would be upsetting to us?  When did we become so afraid of nature?

I know that this is one shamanic practitioner who will continue to tell the stories.

May your story be filled with the beauty of nature, the joy of the flowers, the laughter of the waters,

Jeanne Marie

A Message from the Hopi Elders

"A Message from the Hopi Elders"

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.

Here are the things that must be considered:

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know our garden.

It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community.

Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.

It is so great and swift, that there are those who will be afraid.

They will try to hold on to the shore.

They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle

of the river,

keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personal. Least of

all, ourselves.

For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word "struggle" from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we have been waiting for!"

- Oraibi, Arizona, Hopi Nation

I awoke this morning with the knowledge that I am to hold a crystal ceremony at the Mississippi Headwaters on January 2, 2011.  This ceremony is to address the call  from “Little Grandmother” and the Tribe of Many Colors (www.littlegrandmother.net, www.tribeofmanycolors.net) to put crystals in the waters of the earth to heal our planet and ourselves.  Little Grandmother states that we need to charge the crystals with unconditional love, and place them in the flowing waters where the energies will expand up into the air as well as the water and we will spread unconditional love around the world.   She states that we must learn to “be” love during these changing times.

So I am asking if you will join me at the Mississippi Headwaters at Itasca State Park on Sunday, January 2nd at 1pm  (weather permitting).  We can drum and each of us charge our crystals with unconditional love, and then place them in the waters.  Perhaps we could meet back in Park Rapids for coffee or cider or a light snack afterwards at Bella Cafe.  If there are those of you who would like to meet at Brigid’s House and then car pool up to the Headwaters, please contact me.  It would save everyone having to purchase a park sticker.  Also, if you have crystals you would like to gift to the waters, please bring them.  I will have some extras on hand for those who do not have any crystals to give to the waters.  And don’t forget your drum!

I also encourage those of you who live by a river or flowing water, or as you travel about on your worldly journeys, if you could place crystals in the waters of the  places where you visit.  This is something that we can actually “do” to help create healing in our world.  And please, try and release all the fear around our changing world, and “be” the love that changes the world!  Believe and it will be!

Deep love and heartfelt thanks to you,

Jeanne

Reiki I:  Saturday, January 8th, 10-3:30pm  $120

Reiki II:  Saturday, February 26th, 10-4:30pm  $150

Reiki Master:  Saturday, March 26th, 10-5pm  $250

Karuna Reiki Training–all three levels

Saturday & Sunday, April 2-3rd  10-5pm each day,  $500

To attend the Reiki Master Training you must be a Reiki II for at least 6 months

To attend the Karuna Reiki Training you must be a Reiki Master

]]> http://earthdrummer.com/2010/11/reiki-training-schedule-for-2011/feed/ 0 http://earthdrummer.com/2010/11/the-wivah/ http://earthdrummer.com/2010/11/the-wivah/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:40:32 +0000 http://earthdrummer.com/?p=520 This week my two youngest grandsons, Brennan,4, and Jesse, 2, were visiting me.  They are very active little boys with immense curiousity and great imaginations.  The “big adventure” in coming to Grammy’s house is to go and see the river.  I live in town, on the Fish Hook River.  It runs through the back of my yard in a very deep ravine that is very steep.  The boys know they cannot go back there by themselves and always need to hold hands when standing by the edge.  So, on this day they were visiting, Brennan suddenly said, “Grammy, can we go see the river?”  He says “the river” in a sort of whisper as though it is magical.  Jesse, who imitates his bigger brother,  starts clapping his hands and also whispers, “the wivah, the wivah!” (he can’t say his r’s).  So I bundle them up and we walk back to the “the wivah”.  As we get toward the edge of the ravine, the boys slow down and this sense of awe comes over them.  They listen with their whole body, their senses heightened.  With the leaves now gone from the trees they can see the river easily.  They hear the ducks quacking and try to position themselves so they can see the ducks and not scare them away.  They listen and wait in a silence that is filled with excitement.  Suddenly the ducks fly up out of the river and the boys jump back, excited at their flight.

Their attention then changed from the river to the trees along the ridge.  I told Brennan to wrap his arms around the tree to see if he could “feel” the energy of the tree.  He put his head against the tree too, and he got excited and said he could hear it too.  He then asked me, ” Grammy, where are the eyes of the tree?”  I told him to look up through the branches on the trunk of the tree and see if he could see them.  He looked intently but said he couldn’t see them.  I told him he could talk to the tree, and ask the tree where its eyes are.  He closed his eyes, got very quiet, and then suddenly this deep booming voice came out of him stating, “My eyes are in the very top of the tree so that I can see everything.”  Brennan seemed as surprised as me!

We then looked at the birdhouse in the tree and imagined what birdies might live there.  I have wind chimes hanging in the trees and the boys loved the sounds of the chimes, excited that the wind could make them sing.  We went up to the big pine in the middle of my backyard and I told the boys to hold my hands and we encircled the tree, just making it around the trunk of the tree, our bodies up against the tree.  Again, that magical silence occurred.  The boys listened and felt the energy of the tree.  And then we laughed and did “ring around the rosie” around the tree.

When the boys had to leave they said good-bye to the “wivah” and to the trees.  They brought a bit of magic back into my backyard and the “wivah”.  The trees and river and me were smiling.