At the beginning of every year, usually around Solstice, my spirit circle gives me a list of things to ponder - journal prompts, I would say.
This year’s ponderings are quite different from previous ones and are very interesting. If they feel worth contemplating to you, as they did to me, I have a few suggestions: *Rather than sitting down and working with all the questions at once, work with one question at a time. Give it 24 hours at least. Carry it in your heart and see what comes up. Do journaling with art or words about it. Breathe into the feelings that come up, the questions that come up. I have taken this approach (I’m not through all the questions yet) and it has felt worthy of the time and introspection. *This contemplation is best done in the spirit of openness, love and compassion, especially for self. You know that. But it’s important that we remind each other. *Do explore journaling with both words and art this year. If you lean more or all toward one, play with the other. Skill, talent, etc. aren’t part of the process with either word journaling or art journaling. Self-expression and understanding may be what you're headed for. Let yourself share with yourself in color, shape, texture, line, picture, words - in any configuration that explores and expresses your experience, emotions, thoughts, or whatever may come through. Ponderings as we move from 2023 to 2024: * Consider the time you spent alone in 2023. Consider it in terms of your own preferences and needs – no one else’s thoughts, or opinions. * Consider time spent in 2023 with that person – you know the one – your inner guidance knows the one. And you both know what your heart knows and wants to do with this relationship. * What has prayer looked like and meant to you this year? * Have you glorified Life this year? *** Often our guides give us a word for the year. This is a word to hold sacred and, once again, ponder. This word, however, we hold close to us for the whole year. We ponder. We soak in the word, integrating and absorbing its energy, its essence. We discover its true meaning in our lives. We allow it to change us. Try sitting with your guides and asking for your word for the year. It’s likely that you won’t receive the word instantly. When you hear it though, you will know, especially after hearing it a few times. You will feel it inside you. Much love, Sunemaura and friends
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12/28/2023 0 Comments Sacred Stone Solstice CeremonyThis ceremony is to take place any time between Winter Solstice and New Year's. It is a ceremony of releasing the agreements and experiences of the previous year and opening the heart to new agreements and adventures of the new year. Both are done with great gratitude. The ceremony was conceived by Rev.David O'Brien as an earth element based approach to the Burning Bowl ceremony commonly held at this time of year. The ceremony can be performed as an individual or as a group.
Sacred Stone Solstice Ceremony Leader: This earth represents our connection to our Mother Gaia. She anchors our spirits which are all connected in the Great Web of Life. The bowl represents receptivity. The offerings we make are held in the dirt, to be returned to Mother. We offer our prayers and accept her gifts. Freeing thought and feeling, grounding in our Mother's womb, cleansing our hearts, opening our minds, we release agreements with which we no longer agree and forge new agreements, from a place of healing.
I ask to delve deeper. New agreements can be made. May our hearts be guided by our Mother to journey on her with love and respect." 5. Bury this stone in the dirt. Give thanks. 6. As we are given our breaths, our hearts are lit with the light of the heavens, our thoughts are agreement to align with the light. I am a beacon on Gaia, to share my medicine with all who live on her. 7. Return the soil and stones with gratitude to Gaia. Choose a sacred space, if possible. It is up to the individual whether to bury it or not. 8. Always, always end a ceremony with gratitude. Peace, David |
AuthorRev. Sunemaura O'Brien, Spiritual healer, reader, teacher, guide. Devotional artist. Lover and Liver of Life. Archives
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