Rattling the Bones

When we loose loved ones I believe it’s natural to go through the fear of being alone. It is certainly not the greatest feeling but it is a necessary contemplation. It makes us understand the value of umbilical cords and relationships. It also makes us realize “we are truly never alone and although it takes work to build strong and intimate connections it is well worth the time and effort.” I’ve often said: “I’ve had the good fortune in my life to connect with people at a deep level and feel what it means to love and be loved unconditionally. Often these relations have occurred instantly and with perfect strangers leaving me to become conscious of a collective reality beyond here and now. We have been journeying together (Creation) for billions of years. You would think we would know each other by now.” The idea of “knowing” for me stretches to the concept of “sacred knowledge,” a stone; which is recognized as an element in the east of the Medicine Wheel. Two days ago as I...

First – thank you to everyone who reads my BLOG. I can literally feel you ALL stretching through the words and thoughts; weaving your own memories and feelings; and bringing forth actions that I believe will literally change the World one day. For me this is the image of SPIDER MEDICINE. CHANGING THE PLANET is something we can manage together through sharing our blogs and our testimonies. Thank you to all of you out there who refer my blogs to friends and family. Don’t be shy to invite me to read “your blogs”. I’m definitely BIG on getting to know my fellow men and women. ******* Now – here’s what happened to me last week! I was taking the dogs out last week when I suddenly slipped and broke my left ankle in three different places. The doctors explained to me that my foot was literally holding on to my leg with the help of the skin only. I didn’t need them to tell me – it was pretty obvious. When I saw my foot uselessly hanging off the side of my leg I knew there was...

Full Moon. This weekend we celebrated the Moon of Welcome. You would think it would be the kind of Moon that is uplifting, filled with smiles and great intentions; but this year the vibe at our circle was somewhat morose. Many of the stories, that were shared were about death and the miserable feeling that’s attached to growing older. Strangely enough most of the women in our circle are in their early 30’s. It’s amazing how every year the Moon of Welcome offers a different facet attached to the theme of “welcoming.” For example this year, there’s no doubt the Moon of Welcome is asking us to explore the idea of “welcoming death.” None of us made any association to 2012. It was more about connecting to the moment and to the synchronicities. IL talked about some of the discussions; which occurred in her family between Christmas and New Year. She mentioned how many of the elders in her family were more expressive of their fears relating to death because one by one they were slo...

picture of Wheelkeeper. I highly recommend her blog. Wheelkeeper.blogspot.com. MR and I have journeyed together for over 20 years. The Solstice brings us to the next leg of the journey. ***** As most of you know I literally stay away from computers during weekends, major holidays and while I’m teaching or giving workshops. Maybe I should add that I also stay away from the computer while I’m eating and sleeping because I know quite a few people who can’t live without a direct line to facebook or their contact list (my children and husband included). It’s not that I don’t appreciate technology because I truly do especially after spending some time during the holidays with people who depend on dialysis and chemotherapy to survive. Many of our medical interventions aren’t the most comfortable or the most ideal, but they do provide a life-cord of sorts; which is crucial to so many people. It’s by continuing to encourage human technology that we can hope for better medical solution...

Jennifer Leigh Johnson: I guess I'd like to know how you and your husband incorporated Shamanism and the Solstice with Christmas traditions (if you do Christmas) while raising your kids. **** I’ll be honest: I never liked Christmas. When growing up, I always found there was a huge inconsistency between the holiday movies or television shows and what was actually going on at home. It seemed passive/aggressive behaviors, addictions, regrets and jealousy were always more predominant during the holidays. Whatever was left unresolved all year through was sure to be triggered during the family festivities. No matter how much we hoped for the perfect Bing Crosby white Christmas, we always ended up with something more like Roseanne Barr’s dysfunctional Christmas. Lets face it the New Year just wasn’t a New Year if we didn’t have something to apologize for. I learnt real young there was no such thing as “being able to handle one’s liquor.” No matter how nice we decorated our hom...

When my kids were growing up I often wrote stories for them. The stories were meant to inspire them to write; but also to teach them about traditional ways. Story telling has always been an important part of our ancestors learning and healing. It seemed important as my children were growing up to teach them about the power of story telling. Since I home schooled my children during the late years of elementary, I decided to choose story telling as a focus to their education. They created their own newspaper where they shared stories with their friends. CT came up with the most creative tales of heroes and villains. KT loved poetry. Story telling helped both my children to connect to their inner worlds and often, it was their own stories which provided the solutions to their personal dramas. I would like to share with you in this blog entry -- one of the stories I wrote for my children when they were around 9 or 10 years old. This story was actually inspired by the "dandelion...

I recently asked the Medicine Wheel and Indigenous Dreaming group on Facebook to suggest blog topics. Kate’s suggestion was: “Lisa, wondered if you would write something on intimacy. What is intimacy? Where does it "live.” I have approached it mentally, as in, I let you "know" me or I "know" you. But what is it beyond physical or mental? Magic/Mystery? I am discovering in myself, my avoidance of intimacy. I guess what I always "thought" (mental again) it was -- really isn't the case.” If you look through my blog archive you’ll notice I try to write on the topic of essential, sensual, healing or sacred touch at least once every few months. Sacred Sexuality as far as I’m concerned is a crucial part of Shamanism. Amongst Westerners sexuality is often a dirty word or a taboo. It’s used to shock or meant to hide. If sexuality isn’t about guilt, fear or shame; it’s used for entertainment. Ironically, I’m not more comfortable in circles where touc...