Women's Gathering

I am sorry to say we have canceled it, due to such a slow start for 2012 between weather & energy. Happy 2012 more to come!

Women's Gathering Blessings 2012 January

Bringing in 2012
with
Blessing and Vision
Women Gathering together:
to dream a new vision for ourselves and this Earth we love
to celebrate the creative spirit within us
to enjoy each other
to revel in the exquisite beauty of the Earth

In the Shadow of the majestic Mt Shasta, we will snow shoe in for 1/4 mile to a cozy rustic lodge in the middle of the Shasta -Trinity National Forest.
A haven without electricity and cars; just the silent peace of nature with good healthy food, ceremony and good company.

January 20 Friday 6:00pm to Sunday, January 22 at 3:3 0pm
$200 per person

BRING:
YOU WILL NEED SNOW SHOES (you can rent them in town)
Sleeping bags and pillows, Flashlights (headlamps are especially great), toiletries, towel, warm clothes, boots, gators,
Something for the altar representing your prayer for yourself and for the Earth in these times. Drums, Rattles and other sacred objects to bless and be blessed are welcome and not required.

To register or to ask questions: Please register by January 7th.
Linda Held 530-926-0633 lindamheld@aol.com

Cedar Moss 530-828-2221 cedarmoss@gmail.com

Going back to the Beginning of Sweat Lodge to Current!

My first Sweat Lodge in 1887

As I sit in this lodge dark, all I see is a huge Panther Black Cat and a big snake.......I am not sure if I am going to live through this. My ears are on fire, wondering what will it look like when woman dies in Sweat lodge in Turlock California. I was on a journey after seeing the lodge at Stewart Springs for years but not really knowing but feeling drawn to it. Then after a sticky testy divorce I was in a woman's support group I asked another gal if she ever saw one being advertised I would love to go. Then as spirit has it she saw one in Turlock Calif. so we started our journey getting lost for 5 hrs, not realizing that too was part of a shaman's journey. So in the morning we started by building the lodge now I sit here with sweat pouring off this body having the heart closing into my mind feelings thoughts rising deep with in a clear way in an odd reality.

I arrived with Lana feeling out of place then realizing we were here to work. We were to collect the willows, rocks, fire wood (by the site) each took prayers and focus. I learned that the rocks were called Grandfathers being here for century's. Building the lodge out of direction from the Karuk stocky Medicine man with a big black hat (turning out to be Charlie Thom the same man who has lodge at Stewart Springs). He was showing us how to bend the willows pray as we go. I thought what if I professional former husband could see me now. The park was beautiful as we looked over a meadow that we would call Angel Meadow a blue heron flew over with her wings spread wide so powerful of a message. It was a completely different reality being here in nature now the fire burning with the blankets on the lodge with tarps covering the lodge. The base of the fire had large logs making a floor for the rocks then putting split wood around brush in the center covering each with a prayer placing our intentions for the coming time in lodge, lighting it. WE now have a fire roaring it is a beautiful place with great smells of the our door and Mother earth. I know I am in for it, as we enter sitting on the ground in a circle of each direction, Red Hawk(Charlie Thom) sitting in the East to the side of the door all adds to the mystic of this. He adds celery root, along with many other herbs. He is known for being an herbalist so he has a direct relationship with many herb which I later find is different then most lodges. The smells are divine the root sparkles on the rocks, he is belting out songs that I attempt to sing along, feeling the depth of all of it. He pours water on the rocks they sizzle making the heat more intense and see those images.

Being in Sweat Lodge has many meanings for many people it is basically a prayer service for many it has such a profound cleansing brings up much emotion, often flash backs, great for recovery, (a friend brought it into the prisons for Native folks)the experience makes me feel alone in the dark often for many it can bring claustrophobic feelings or hyperventilated breathing.

I decided to add this to this blog today this has been written so long ago to even remember. This picture of Micheal & myself are the most recent Vision Quest for 2011 this is the lodge. The times have changed however the ceremony hasn't, it still is a mystery to me. I never really can predict what is going to happen, each is unique to it's self. After that first lodge I didn't sweat for a year, having a profound effect on me. When I did do it again in Turlock I became an apprentice so then I would often do lodge 3-4 times in a weekend plus still working mainstream in our Salon in Burlingame the "Townhouse." Then I started leading Quest's in 1991 which each one just like lodge in unique to itself. I know one thing that ceremony once the medicine is set down to a format the earth, lands ancestors, trees and all the natural surrounding know. When I go on the land in between times putting offering of tobacco and sweets the trees wave their arms in welcome, the area where lodge is has also a welcoming even if the weather isn't great. I love this work and am a constant student as the natural resources teach me how to honor the land and Mother Earth.

Fall Equinox!

Things are not often as the seem to be.......we have to look deeper but sometimes we are choosing to be manipulated for our growth. Until we become honest in our soul work we must learn many lessons. We have to accept that people are not where we want or think should be, it is our drive for being co-dependant to want everyone on the same team. As this season moves into being it is apparent we are learning some big lessons with economy and the necessity to open our heart to love. This picture is the end of my flower essence for this season, vetch, sweet peas, amethyst, and crystals. I am tuning into what this draws to the person using it. I have been asked to make some for a Japanese web site for them to sell to Japan. Yesterday in the store there were 2 women from Japan asking very specific question of which flower essence would work for specific things they were attempting to create in their life. It became clear that on the page I have for each essence I need to be a bit more specific which in the next few days will be a joy to have more clarity. I love having the flowers teach me about themselves. I also use flowers in my Sweat Lodge asking for their help. We are now entering the season where few are in bloom. The next lodge I still have mint and lavender to brush on the rocks, of course some of my beautiful roses for opening the heart. I love the nature of flower power, a energy to not be neglected for their power. That is what I love about living in the mountains the simple ceremonial times, just being in my 2 gardens cleaning out and up......being blessed with Mother earth's appreciation for me being the guardian of this land. I think about it as I achieve each task. Including gathering fire wood deep in the forest feeling the pulse of the mother. As I am sitting here at Mt Shasta Herb & Health writing this there is a blue jay squawking very loud from my garden telling me communication is absolutely essential for those that we are opening our hearts. Now if people aren't there it is not our job to push through we have better things to do. As much as I want my team I also realize that people are at their own speed, it is none of my business to insist that they come along. The music is playing from Amma's Swami's 1000 names of the Divine Mother hearing the blue jay and seeing the bowl touches my heart in great gratitude for all things. If you are reading this I want you to understand how you are a blessing, beautiful gratitude for your life. A HO!

Please Grant My Prayers!

I am praying for all of those who want that special beloved. It has come to my awareness this year I have said so many prayers in the Sweat lodge pleading for those special people to come into our lives. It has been clear no matter what age in their 20's-30's or 40's or 50's or 70's the one thing we all have in common a prayer for a beloved. I was telling my last lover how strange it is to be at this age here with my cats without that special person......... There is a man friend who has achieved a lot said sitting on my sofa, " the one thing I have to have is that special relationship is my last hurrah." Then these women between 38-42 are praying for that before their time is too late to have that family their plea is loud and clear. Then you take women/men in their 50's saying the same all I want is some-one to do the things I love to do. (For many the children thing is over or they are raised having the time to commit fully to a relationship) I feel with all the earth changes love is the main drive it keeps showing up in all types of ways to open our hearts to the Divine. I find it powerful that there is no shame in asking for that beloved. The only problem I feel is getting out there talking with men or women practising that friendly chatting without fear of anything. Often we have gotten out of practise because of heart break or just isolating at home in our comfort zone. It is time to stretch our wings getting out there risking taking up some activity that one can just enjoy biking, running, hiking, kayaking something that feeds the physical then mental or go to singles activities where there is some type of ground work singles opera, concerts, not just dancing, with no focus. I was just giving a massage feeling the depth of my client from Japan praying for that beloved so as I prayed with her I knew it was time to write about this. With each trusting touch I felt her relax molding into my hands clearing any doubt or trauma from the current Earthquake in Japan that was on her birthday the changes in her body and all around her. I feel very blessed to be of service to such a divine privilege praying with her. We are called to make life easier prayers for those suffering or feeling loss of any kind. Thank YOU universe for the calling and opening for these prayers for our children/adults longing.

Moving into Fall

Well this has been a great completion year with new beginnings! Sometimes feeling the grief of completion unsure of what is really beginning. We have felt the change in Mother Earth shaking up our reality of where earth quakes are or hurricanes seeing earth is in charge of making us make new choices. I feel that some of our economic challenges has forced us to look at what is really important what relationship do we need to nurture or let go of, also to stay postive no matter what . So our family and community is actually larger but the firm choice of where do we put our prana life energy. This year our Shasta Wilderness Quest went great and a completion of the process we have been in for 5 yrs. I am reminiscing with all my past Quester's and Supporters from 1991 when I started with Charlie Thom. I remember clearly how we sat at Spirit Lake him saying, "When you do your groups you will do it different!" Since then I have done a flavor of different types. I knew like sweat lodge before I did my first Quest I needed to do one. I didn't understand the significance of either but as I did my first lodge in Turlock that started my unfolding of Sweat Lodge. Then being drawn to Vision Quest reading Sun Bears book getting a book from a local Indian group, I searched around who I wanted to do it with. Charlie was at my home in San Carlos on Halloween with a Full Moon I was chatting with him he said I will take you! Then it started a 13 day wilderness Quest that I co-leaded ( meaning I would chat with the people on their process) that was when he sat by the fire telling me about when I would do it on my own. I have found it to be a wonderful process of humility and gratitude that people trust in me. I feel the work is very profound and intimate. One of the areas which starts a huge process that woman understand that importance of their monthly moon cycle though it seems harsh that they can not be in Sweat Lodge but for many it is the start of an honoring of being woman. I still chat in session with some women who tell me how their Quest is still working them plus realizing how that monthly cycle is a big honoring still. I feel that is a great success for us women. Plus the other real blessing is when people begin to understand what it is to take on the Wisdom of being that Wise Woman or Elder Man.........that for me gives them the grace to be that Mentor as we move into our 50's- on that there is a blessing in our aging plus a responsibility to continue growth. I have also met people who elders have said to people who are unwilling to take on that responsibility .......YOU will never be an elder. I honor the process of continued physical work and emotional, spiritual work it is necessary to continue our own growth. We are seeing life as it is complex but remaining we have chosen a real deal life. So many of us are not living in ashrams, convents or cloistered existence so we are dancing the real dance of life being a human experience. It has many twists and turns with many blessings. I feel fortunate to have multiple experiences from my early childhood so I can relate on so many levels. I am really enjoying my clients that teach me so much. I feel very fortunate I generally have teachers in my massage practise and spiritual practise. These teachers need confirmation of their process I feel blessed that they trust me to be that person. I know that my journey this year of my gals from Japan, sweat lodge with many Japanese, plus my truck into the wilderness after not going since having the store a re-newing I needed. I know I have laid down some new medicine not really know the new beginning but very encouraged about it. I also look forward to the completion of 2011 as the leaves fall off of the trees here in Mt Shasta. I went into the Marbles hiked in then carried a pack out something I said I wouldn't do but also understand what it represented the responsibility then I fell in water so my pack was heavier with water. I also understood the emotional (water) responsibility that i would carry out. I wish I felt strong enough to enjoy the walk but it was more of getting out to get that pack off my back. I felt terrific when I came out, not sore. Then there was planned a lodge for some Japanese folks Sunday I was busy getting lodge ready a bit tired so I took a tumble down 2 stairs. I could feel my whole leg pull, knowing at the moment of falling this is what an accident is. The great news was I had Mom, Bennie, and Krissy to take care of the fire and people. They would also take care of me get water help me in and out of lodge. The interesting thing about it was I once more had to re-view where am I. That I would put ice on my leg no exercise for me I could hardly walk but did take care of myself. I also felt a renewed focus on my own process of where I want to put my energy. It was great going in the Marbles with these powerful medicine people sharing our stories of our successes and challenges. I had to sit and ponder that all. Then there was a gathering of friends at the Best of Shasta with Charlie Thom and loads of others we sang in ceremony touching on the journey of this path. Then the Quest came giving me a focus & strength of completion of this process. I am very excited about how everyone did it was such a fabulous experience. I also thanked our supporters and all those who held this energy at home taking care of our homes, pets and holding energy for another year. I have done groups with TuBears a real blessing, another at Gunboot with a couple helping me a fabulous experience, one in the Blue Ridge Mountains with my fire keeper Lone Wolf who totally rocks! I appreciate all of this! Thank YOU great spirit. Before the group arrived I had been told I need to have a new dress so the week before I ended up doing grocery shopping at Costco unexpected but ok. I also got material to make my new dress. As I was sewing my needle broke which I thought was no big deal. I went to get that needle kim said that sometimes that would make the machine off center I would know because the thread would keep breaking.........so you get where I am going......it did. I found myself Friday night on my way to Walmart in Yreka to buy a new sewing machine so I could finish my dress. Nothing in this life is a simple but the importance is being determined and having the energy to follow through. I did finish my dress at the coming in of Questers I wanted a picture of myself along with Questers throwing in their prayer ties, but my camera was foggy. This picture is at my friend Michael's in front of his fire a new beginning that too is unexpected this is the way the medicine works. I always say I am good at following the energy.

This Summer Plans and Energy with New Beginnings!

So as the year turns I have felt the great completions that are upon us! Plus new beginnings while feeling the grief of ending an era. I had plans of half marathons which I completed plus my friend Cora & I planned to venture into the Marble Mountains. That too had it challenges with snow. The area we were going to still is not open for horses to get over the Ridge so it was a few days before that we got the go from the Forest Service. Upon arriving there were mounds of snow but sunny during the day. It felt like a grand renewal for the 2 of us. Feeling what has happened for the last 10 + years? We are coming upon another eclipse July 30 supports this theory of new beginnings. I am going to add here a pray I wrote in 2000...........so here we are. This year has been a tiptoeing through the tulips of memory's of how did we get here. Clearing the life that doesn't work takes some recovery of our authentic self, unraveling that co- dependant working in our society. It is the time to move into that wonderful New Awareness however we have had so many challenges or clearing of the old but feeling some what helpless with the economy people losing homes and jobs.......having the new now while still feeling that it is a grand time of opening into great times. While feeling angels supporting us, feeling our ancestors holding us close, and our guides moving more powerfully in our choices. We are understanding if we are not getting the support or love that is absolutely necessary we must move into a more supportable spiritual honest energy. We have no choice but to make choices about our own boundary's which is a fairly new concept but necessary. We need to look at the acting out or numbing due to drugs, alcohol to cope with the pain of the past. It is also necessary to understand physicality of the brain how these patterns are an epidemic we must address these family patterns. Education is essential for any recovery including spiritual recovery to the depth of our courage to take on our own healing then having the ability to heal the bigger issues.

This trip to the Marbles was a huge adventure I feel very grateful that I did it. We as a family use to go before owning the store so this trip was being once again being with the medicine especially such a powerful place. I thank my Mom for holding down the store with great business keeping a happy positive attitude.

Dance with the Dolphins in the Full Moon of the Eclipse!

Hi Dear Ones!

We have embarked on a time of unbelievable beauty. May each of you be blessed in a profound way.

On July 16, 2000 is a powerful time to acknowledge your own growth as soul. May each of you be blessed in a profound way. There will be four of us representing the Four Directions; East, South, West, and North, praying for you with dolphins, dancing on the beach, bringing in the joy that you have brought into others lives. May you do ceremony of your own, light a candle, sing, dance, whatever is your fancy, there will be people all over praying for you, thanking you for your contribution to this life. May we have a renewed freedom to live to our highest potential, understanding how we are each a part of the great wheel. Lets pray that we love and empower each other to bring in the beauty into our lives and others.

I call forth the power and the presence of the Ascended Masters, I offer my body, my heart, and my soul to bring Divine Love, Courage, and Clarity to live to my highest potential in doing that I support all of my family and the big family. I bless all my relationships and thank them for my growth' I bless all my teachers. I bless all those who are in my direct alignment, may we join together to bring more love and peach to each other.

Blessings, Linda/West Wind

Soooooooo...........this is still very fitting for our times. We left on our trip on July 12 returning July 15 carrying our packs out not really planning but finding it necessary to understand our level of repsonsilbity that we all carried out. We made the pack then next year when celebrating our birthdays together we would not find the need to carry our heavy load out. We were thankful that Cora's friends carried in our load. Thanks Bill, Suzy and Travis!!

I feel very grateful that I have continued my journey even through our lives still keeping on.