Musings From The Trail

Musings From The Trail

Wild Breath of the Soul

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”It is that holy poetry and singing we are after. We want powerful words and songs that can be heard underwater and over land. It is the wild singing we are after, our chance to use the wild language we are learning by heart under the sea. When a woman speaks her truth, fires up her intention and feeling, staying tight with the instinctive nature, she is singing, she is living in the wild breath-stream of the soul. To live this way is a cycle in itself, one meant to go on, go on, go on.” 

-Clarissa Pinkola Estes 

#WildSoul

♾

Image: Prayer to the Wild and Sacred
by Nancy Lankston

Redefining Power

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“If women are not perceived to be fully within the structures of power, surely it is power that we need to redefine rather than women.”

~Mary Beard

♾

Image: Egyptian Goddess Nut,
raising the Sun. Louvre Museum

In Every Breath

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“The worst thing we ever did
was put God in the sky
out of reach

pulling the divinity
from the leaf,
sifting out the holy from our bones,
insisting God isn’t bursting dazzlement
through everything we’ve made
a hard commitment to see as ordinary,
stripping the sacred from everywhere
to put in a cloud man elsewhere,
prying closeness from your heart.

The worst thing we ever did
was take the dance and the song
out of prayer
made it sit up straight
and cross its legs
removed it of rejoicing
wiped clean its hip sway,
its questions,
its ecstatic yowl,
its tears.

The worst thing we ever did is pretend
God isn’t the easiest thing
in this Universe
available to every soul
in every breath”

~Chelan Harkin
from her book, ‘Susceptible to Light’

♾

Image: Moonlight
by Felicia Olin

New Moon in Sagittarius

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New moon in fiery Sagittarius, the truth seeker. A total solar eclipse (visible in South America) also occurs today.

This is a traditional time to perform ritual in honor of earth and sky. Light a candle, say a prayer, make an offering to Mama Earth, the sacred planet that is our beautiful home. Honor the plants and animals that have fed and nourished you all year. Thank the water and soil and sun.

Ritual doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as sitting and listening to the potent dark of a long winter night.

Sit.
Listen to the dark.

Ponder the ideas and plans you want to pursue in the year ahead. Every seed that will grow in the new year is already waiting in the dark. Begin to nourish them now.

🌙

image: Wikimedia

The Power of the Feminine

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“This is the core of our task: to respect and revere ourselves,
and so bring about a world in which women are
respected and revered, recognized once again
as holding the life-giving power of the earth itself.”

~Sharon Blackie

☾☽

Image from Institute of Shamanic Medicine

Initiatory Full Moon in Taurus

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Full moon in earthy Taurus on Halloween. The moon is visiting with Uranus, a powerful agent of change. Meanwhile, the sun is in wise and witchy Scorpio. 

Our cultural initiation continues.

During normal times, full moons stir up sensitive humans (just ask an ER nurse how crazy people get during full moons). And these are wilder than normal times. A contentious US election is just around the corner. The COVID pandemic is worsening as well. You can bet that this full moon will deliver more chaos and crazy surprises.

Time to get physical.

The antidote to chaos and craziness is to ground in the physical world. Focus on physical movement : walking, jogging, dancing, squats, yoga, weight lifting, etc. Eat grounding foods such as carrots, potatoes, beets and other root vegetables. Sit or lie down on the ground and feel it’s support. Become a creature of the soil and rocks again.

Your ancestors can also be a great source of grounding support. The veils between the worlds are especially thin right now, making it a great time to honor and connect with your ancestors in some way. Every family has ancestors who survived floods, droughts, famine, wars, pandemics and more. Reach out to them now for guidance and support.

Come back to ground.

Prayer to the Mother

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Sacred Mother
give me roots within your heart.
Let my mind and imagination soar in the vastness of you.
Let my words and actions express your peace, your joy, your wisdom.
Mama, wrap your energy around me
and pull me all the way
into you.

☾☽

Photo: Altar to the Earth Mother,2016
by Nancy Lankston