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SPIRIT
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Sacred
Feminine &
Sacred Masculine
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(Main
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The 36 pages in this Sacred Feminine & Sacred Masculine
section are below.
Variances Between
Male & Female Medicine
© Cinnamon Moon
We hear a lot about the positive
- masculine - aggressive - projective forces of energy, as well
as the negative - feminine - passive - receptive ones. When
we consider this a part of all energy patterns it is not difficult
to see them existing within us as well. Every individual has
both the masculine and feminine elements within them, and as
a rule, gender will typify the traits that dominate. In the
Medicine Teachings this is recognized and compensated for as
the men and women train differently from one and other while
coming to understand their own mysteries and arrive at the same
conclusions.
When I began my studies upon the
shamanic pathway I found the majority of teachings were from
the male perspective. It did not occur to me that there might
even be a difference. It was rare to get a female view from
anyone other than a Medicine Woman herself and traditionally
these teachings did not leave the tribe. I was fortunate enough
to have three Native American women who taught me their ways
through the oral traditions of their people. Two were Delaware
and the other Sioux. They did not stress to me at the time that
the teachings were Women’s Medicine, only that it was the
way things were done.
In those days the women held their
secrets and it was the men who shared through the written word
or external tribal teachings. It is only recently that this
has become public knowledge. My background in witchcraft, folklore,
and mythology had served to create a foundational study of the
feminine mysteries that were clearly defined as such. As I studied
shamanism I came to see the masculine mysteries and struggled
with understanding them. The pattern of teaching did not fully
emerge for me until I was well onto my shamanic path. Spirit
seems to have seen fit to school me in both techniques to understand
these variants. I am not exactly sure why other than it brought
to my own Medicine a deeper sense of balance. Because this is
my personal experience I share it as a way of understanding
these forces, at least in theory.
The comprehension of the two schools
of thought was quite an eye opener for me since I had struggled
with why certain things had to be discovered by methods that
seemed very awkward. I came to see that there was a lot of extra
effort put forth for what should be a relatively easy task.
Often I would reach my results only to find myself saying "is
that what all this was about?" which left me amused at
the complexity men go through to reach their conclusions because
intuitively I already understood it. (I hope to demonstrate
here that it would be much the same for a man who were to try
to study shamanism from a woman’s perspective.) As the
patterns emerged I realized that both methods taught predominantly
the same wisdom but in very different extremes and it was simply
a matter of how one came to the same identical conclusion. Women
are born with an innate trust of their intuition and they learn
early on to rely on it. Men seek to understand it and have to
be taught to trust what their senses are telling them. Today
it seems to reflect the old battle of the sexes in that men
and women do not share the same mysteries and are, therefore,
a mystery to the other.
I am going to step into Anatomy
101 and try to draw a verbal image I would like you to hold
for a moment. We have a man to the right and a woman to the
left standing face to face. Their energy flows in a clockwise
manner leaving the woman from the area of her heart and penetrating
the man in the area of his. The man’s energy flows from
his genitalia penetrating the woman’s. This is the natural
creative cycle that forms when they unite. The projection and
reception of these energies are both internal and external but
in direct opposition in order to create a state of balance to
complete the flow cycle. This same pattern is found throughout
all of nature. So it stands to reason that their teachings would
be in direct opposition to one and other as well.
Women tend to internalize their rationale
and operate from an innate intuitive perspective, while men
run on instinctual pursuit and externalize theirs. Both genders
sacrifice, suffer, and summon courage but in direct opposite
patterns. It is said that all things are born of woman for woman
carries the seed of life manifested in birth. That which is
born of man is an external creation seeded by conceptual ideas
and manifests as a functional object. I know this is not new
to any of you, but it needs to be said so that there is an understanding
of their views. The teachings of the Medicine Woman take place
orally and internally first and are projected outward in a process
of assimilation.
The teachings of the Medicine Man
take place orally and externally first and are received in a
process of internalized assimilation. Women menstruate, become
impregnated, and allow their wombs to host the unborn spirit
within them for nine months. They suffer through the moon cycles,
pregnancy, labor, and birthing process. This is followed with
the nurturing of the child and dedication to family. The teachings
I have received all say that this physical suffrage is enough
to receive the gifts of Spirit, and that no more physical discomfort
is asked of them than this—but, if they wish to sacrifice
more they may.
On the other hand, men fertilize
women and their task is done until it comes time to provide
for the security and sustenance of the family; their process
is relatively painless and the teachings say they must suffer
physically in order to receive the gifts of Spirit they seek.
I realize that today these standards are changing in many ways
and it is perhaps because of these changes that both methods
of teaching are gradually being made known. That is something
I have suspected for a long time now. My theory is that in order
for humanity to achieve a higher state of consciousness, on
the whole it would naturally require a sense of balanced understanding.
So it may be that the two methods are becoming united for some
very beneficial reasons.
The exemplification of the vision
quest best demonstrates the variances between the two methods
of teaching. While both men and women utilize the fast and sweat
lodge, the quest process varies from that point onward. Women
have been shunned from the tribal setting during their moon
cycle and said to be unclean. This is the male term for their
ability at this time to disrupt the flow of magick or Medicine
the men may be performing. However, in the women’s teachings
this is a very powerful time for honoring their femininity and
questing. The woman is releasing life-source blood from her
womb and giving to Mother Earth. While blood is considered very
powerful Medicine menstrual blood is even more potent. Thus,
she is not only grounded in union with the force of Mother Earth,
but has the ability with her increased energies to take away
the power of men or perform powerful magicks of her own. (Ever
heard of PMS? That’s a woman who does not channel her energies
properly at these times and can create chaos magick with relative
ease.)
During the moon cycle the woman leaves
the social setting to isolate herself for a number of days (generally
three) not because she is unclean, but because it is a time
of sacred Medicine for her. She enters the Moon Lodge and does
not exit until her time of commitment has past. The fast she
undergoes is light. It is a time when her body is flushing and
needs nourishment so she takes in natural foods, raw and uncooked
vegetables, nuts and berries, breads made from corn, and drinks
only water. Her meals are sparse but they sustain her. She does
no chores or craft working, but focuses on her questing through
dreams, journeys, and meditation. It is a time of spiritual
growth without strain. She is relaxed and comfortable as all
her needs are attended by other women. Those needs include those
of her family she has had to leave behind for the moment. Because
of this method she will quest 13 times during the course of
a year.
Each moon cycle is a separate focus
relative to the lore of Grandmother Moon in the current aspect.
Included in this will be found the understanding of each of
the thirteen Moons and their influence upon us. It is an astrological
as well as moral teaching the women receive and with is comes
deeper understanding of many of the stones that are placed within
the Medicine Wheel. Here her guides and teachers will appear
to share enlightenment and gifts of the Spirit.
The lore of the Medicine Woman is
the lore of the Moon while that of the Medicine Man is the lore
of the Sun. If the teachings of the Sun and Moon are learned
by us all we achieve an even greater state of balance and understanding.
We learn to honor the feminine and masculine sides of our natures,
to at least comprehend the ways of our opposite genders, and
in this to find the harmony we seek with one and other. While
the women and men are not going to go through the same ceremonies
and rituals at all times, they will at least understand the
meanings behind them. It is not possible for the intimacy of
the opposite gender to be known in all ways, but it is possible
to appreciate what their sacrifices and wisdom have earned them.
Much of what will follow here is going to briefly define the
teachings of the Moon and feminine perspectives as well as the
Sun and masculine perspectives. It is intended that these will
help you, the student, to better honor the signification of
these lessons.
Please note that there are many
names for the Moons of the year that can be found in the wide
variety of indigenous cultures throughout the world. For this
reason they will not be named specifically, but numbered for
your convenience in understanding. At the end of the lesson
there will be an appendix of Moon names from which you may choose
to select one or more appropriate to your pathwork.
The First Moon:
It occurs from December 22 to January 19 and is the first of
the year. It begins at the Winter Solstice. The honored stone
for placement on the Medicine Wheel sits in the northern quarter
and is in the one o’clock position. All other moons will
follow in succession in sets of three between the roads or lines
of division for the quadrants. Her gift is that of life and
vision and she is akin to Mother Nature. Here the lessons pertain
to the flow of cycles within the seasons. The languages of nature
are under these teachings, learning to speak with the plants,
the Tree People, the Stone People and the Animals. The focus
is on understanding that there is need to respect All Our Relations.
The honoring of the turning in the
Wheel of the Year and marking the change of seasons is an important
part of this Moon. It is here that the first lesson in oneness
with Spirit or Great Mystery is entered into, where the truths
of the dimensions within the Seven Sacred Directions are taught.
This Moon teaches us to be receptive, to surrender to life.
It is wild and seductive to the active forces. The visions granted
here are those of rebirth. Here the cycles of life are explored.
Under its teachings you can examine dreams, vision, intuitive
skills, psychic abilities, sexuality, and sensuality. It is
here the shadow side of your nature is confronted. While the
Moon under which you are born determines your starting place
on the Medicine Wheel of Life, you will undergo experiences
with all thirteen Moons.
It is here that you learn to both
receive and send the universal energy and tap the ancient knowledge
for the first time. It is here respect for tradition and ritual
is gained as you learn to flow with the cycles, to act with
integrity, intent, and impeccability.
The Second Moon:
It begins on January 20 through February 18; again it is the
second stone of the northern quadrant. It is here we come to
feel the light spirit of love and the respect for All Our Relations.
Communication, intellectual growth, and love (including romantic
love) fall under this Moon. Psychic ability is focused on and
honed, as well as the courage that is required to be outgoing
in your efforts to serve humanity. It is where the gentle side
of your own nature is examined and enhanced. Through this gentle
and respectable love there is the protection of the traditions
now known to the Medicine Woman.
This Moon is the keeper of history
and memory. Here the lessons are about friendship, unity, understanding,
and self-development that go beyond simple comprehension to
making the courageous moves that are required to bring this
wisdom forth and apply it to the reality of one’s life.
It is here access is attained to the wisdom of the Ancient Ones
and the secrets of All Our Relations can be tapped to understand
the perspectives we need to be aware of so we can step beyond
the stage of our dreams and manifest them. It is here that truths
are honored.
The Third Moon:
This is the final moon of the northern quadrant beginning February
19 through March 20. Here the understanding of why things are
protected, the value of the traditions, and the healing ability
found in this understanding are comprehended. There is mystery
in this as the dimensions are explored and their boundaries
made known. Here the Medicine Woman explores her own personal
Medicine, how it pertains to the psychic ability she possesses,
the need to understand her own spirituality, and confront her
truths. Feelings and grounding are examined so that balance
can be achieved in daily living. This includes the sudden moods
that come over us, moments of depression, and using the forces
of the Moon to balance our levels of sensitivity to others and
issues. It is where reality is examined closely.
Under this Moon we explore our responses
to others, to issues, to life. We learn that the positive and
negative energies that exist are part of All Our Relations,
they are part of Spirit, and part of us. We examine them and
learn that it is the intent behind our actions and responses
that determines how that energy is to be used and we balance
those forces within ourselves. Here it is Divine Law that states
all that exists is composed of polarity. To act justly and honorably
our integrity needs to demand of us the impeccable balance between
these forces, and the wisdom to know for what reasons one is
to be wielded above another. We are made accountable for these
wieldings be they in thought, word or deed. Integrity and ethical
standards are taking form here. We learn to apply them in healing
and positive manners as we accept the responsibility of our
own actions and truths. Through this Moon deception is presented
clearly and we become capable of determining what is right or
wrong upon our spiritual paths and our earthwalk.
The Fourth Moon:
This is the first in the eastern quarter, beginning March 21
through April 19 and falls around the Spring Equinox. The Medicine
Woman learns that there is a need for emotional tempering of
the fiery energy that flows in this season. We learn that there
is need to keep our feet planted in firm ground as well as allowing
our minds to soar with the inspirations we are experiencing
at this time. Understanding that there is wonder and excitement
in the freedom this season exudes, also means that we need to
take a good view through clear eyes as we explore our plans
and actions. Here energy is intensely felt and change sweeps
us up in its exuberance. There is a tendency to throw caution
to the wind that must be tempered and brought under control
so that we can maintain our sense of balance amid our optimistic
desires. We discover what it is to take the lead because our
own desires drive us forward and barriers seem less threatening.
We feel our inner spirit swell and sense its desire to take
control as it forces us to see the truths before us in one way
or another.
Here the Medicine Woman learns to
open herself to these energies and then to direct them in a
proper and impeccable manner. She seeks to find her method of
that control over her emotions as well as understanding how
they flow in others. It is here that methods of divination are
studied and honed. It is where other dimensions are penetrated
and potentials are applied. The eastern quadrant is the element
of Air and through it vision is clear for the element itself
is clear. The higher psychic abilities come into focus now as
the interpretations for signs, omens, dreams, visions, and prophecy
are explored. We learn to trust and go with our intuitive nature
as well as our instinctive feelings. We learn about the portals
or doors to other realms and how to cross over into them. We
also learn how to take the wisdom we have gained there and use
it in the service of All Our Relations. As we come to understand
the spiritual boundaries of the dimensions, we also learn to
face the challenges they present us and use our psychic abilities
for self-defense when necessary, as well as to respect the sacred
space of others. It is here that we heal ourselves and learn
to honor that healing through sharing our gifts with others
so that they too may become whole. It is here we learn to see
not only our needs, but the needs of All Our Relations.
The Fifth Moon:
It falls between April 20 and May 20 and is the second Moon
in the eastern quarter. Here the Medicine Woman learns to center
herself as the center of the shamanic tree in respect to linking
the branches to the sky and the roots to the earth through the
inner spirit’s core. In this way there is a gaining of
strength and sustenance that flows in both directions. This
is then able to be taught to others and the gift continues to
flow outward in a spiral direction as we touch other lives.
We learn to fill our sacred space with positive energy as well
as our lives. It is something that requires focused effort and
determination at first, but soon becomes second nature once
the initial hard work is done. We learn about the rewards for
our hard effort that come from Spirit in the
form of what many would consider to be strokes of good luck.
In this we find our own capabilities in creating the realities
in which we dwell and manifesting them with beauty as well as
order.
It is this Moon that teaches us
to keep going, to be patient, keep our feet planted firmly in
the ground as we pursue our lofty goals, and the practical applications
of doing this to achieve success. It is also where we learn
to slip into the Silence, to achieve our own inner knowledge
gained through the introspective views of what we are striving
to achieve. We learn to be focused and examine all the details
that pertain to the perspective views surrounding our endeavors.
It is here we find counsel from our Guides and teachers and
learn to listen to their wisdom. We learn to listen to the voice
within us and follow its guidance as well, discovering in the
process that the more we listen the stronger it becomes. It
is here we can tap the Ancient Ones and learn to hear their
voices as well.
Through the teachings of this Moon
we learn to read the faces, eyes, actions, and perspectives
of others and in some cases perceive their thoughts be they
unspoken or not. We learn the value of listening through the
heart and with that the compassion it brings. The Medicine Woman
is no longer fooled by the intentions of others or herself.
She listens well and in that silent space within learns the
value of a silent tongue and how to apply the wisdom it brings
her.
The Sixth Moon:
This is the third stone in the eastern quarter running from
May 21 through June 20 where the realms of the plant and minerals
are explored. The Medicine Woman learns to use them for purification
and healing, for making her own Medicines stronger. She discovers
the beauty within and the joy of letting it shine forth to give-away
to others through her love of Spirit and self. She sees this
same beauty in All Our Relations and throughout life. She comes
to understand the need for balance in all areas of her life
to maintain her energy levels and teaches this to those she
heals. In this way she finds her ability to remain consistent
in her efforts and express herself honorably.
There are many ways to heal, and
not all are focused on the physical body. Some Medicine Women
find they have the ability to heal the mind, or the spirit.
Some heal all three aspects. It is here we learn that true healing
begins in the realm of Spirit only to later manifest in the
mundane world. That the spirit is wound or illness that must
be tended while the physical body manifests the symptoms that
are treated with the plants and minerals that are available
to us through the grace of Spirit. It is here that laughter
is used to cure as well as lighten the burden of suffering,
where the humor in life’s redundancies is exposed, and
through it the individual is eased into a more relaxed state
of mind.
Guides and teachers come forth in
these teachings to express cures, treatments, and aid the Medicine
Woman in her work. She learns through them the teachings that
can be shared as stories that will heal broken paths, spirits,
and minds. She learns to understand the messages of Spirit and
her Guides and utilize that wisdom by offering to share her
counsel and advice. She knows the essence of the inner spirit
and its wisdom to guide her and shares this willingly with those
who come before her. Her ability to listen well allows her to
become the hollow bone that is a necessary part of channeling
these healing energies and wisdom. Her telling of these tales
brings forth the lessons that need to be learned and she gathers
them from all areas of her life seeing clearly where they can
best be applied. She knows how to interject humor into the sacred
act of healing with her words or her many applications in creative
and intentional ways. She does not judge others knowing that
is not her place. She simply aids them in understanding their
situations and allows them to be the judge of what they will
accept or not accept in their lives. She is in this way both
a teacher and a student, for each person she heals gifts her
with another story to share later, another lesson in method
application, or greater wisdom in some other form.
The Seventh Moon:
This is the first stone of the southern quarter falling at the
time of the Summer Solstice from June 21 through July 22. This
is the Moon of the heart, where we learn the meaning of loving
all as Spirit loves us. It is also where we learn that everything
that gives us pleasure pleases Spirit, including our sexuality,
our knowledge of it, and our dignity. All aspects of love be
they platonic, parental, or passionate are integrated in the
lessons of this Moon. Here we focus on the needs of the family,
the lover, friends, acquaintances, and the self as well as All
Our Relations learning to trust the intimacy of these relationships.
The Medicine Woman learns to be loving,
nurturing, sensual, and trustworthy of all her interrelationships
at all levels they contain. She learns to honor herself and
others, forgiving errors that either she or they may make. In
this process acceptance becomes positive and negative criticism
is set aside for a more optimistic approach where the self and
others are embraced for all aspects they contain, not just the
good ones. We learn to accept the good with the bad, the positive
with the negative, the whole of who we are.
It is this Moon that teaches the
linking of hearts and the ability of love to heal and create
incentive in others as well as the healer. We learn to express
the feelings we hold and share them joyfully. In understanding
that the emotions are important triggers that bring our attention
to issues and those we need to focus on, we learn that we can
transform those triggers into methods of mending wounds with
loving compassion. Intuitively skills become honed and there
are wild swings in the pendulum of energies this Moon brings
out in us. We learn to balance and harmonize with them so that
we can build a secure foundation and stability.
The Eighth Moon:
As the second stone of the southern quarter it spans the days
between July 23 through August 22 teaching the Medicine Woman
about strength, the intuitive healing, the need for a strong
song for those who drop their robes. It is here the teachings
of the mystery found in death are revealed. Roots and herbs
for healing are studied to further serve Spirit by tending All
Our Relations. We learn to honor the cycle of life and rebirth
through spiritual understanding of the process. The energies
here are those of instinct and reflect themselves in the ritual
passage rites we must undergo to grow upon our earthwalk and
in our spiritual pathwork. It is here we experience the blessings
and awe contained in Spirit’s gifts as we see grace and
beneficence in action behind our own spent efforts. It is here
that Spirit steps in and we become the hollow bones through
which cosmic energies reach out to those in our care and manifest
in ways we would not otherwise be capable of exuding. The miracles
of life dwell here. This is where we come to know that service
to others is service to Spirit and in that our efforts become
blessed.
Our strength comes from our inner
spirit and its interconnectedness to Great Mystery. We learn
to tap the cosmic forces or the source of all creative energy.
We come to understand the bittersweet relationships of the cycles
in life and to accept that we must all pass through them. We
see what we are projecting and what we are receiving in the
cycle of passing energies from one to another as we learn to
pass on this wisdom.
It is this Moon that shows us how
to teach from the heart, to follow our intuitive nature and
give what is needed, not what we think should be given. In learning
to perceive the needs of others we serve through fulfilling
them with love and compassion. We are challenged by our fears,
doubts and shadows as we learn to trust in the guidance of our
inner spirit to face those challenges. Here it is a matter of
digging deep to find the courage and strength we need, not seeking
them outside, but deep within ourselves as we strive to be all
that we can. In this way we demonstrate to others who watch
us and we teach the ways to lead them through our own actions,
not our words. We must balance our inner self with the exterior
ego, maintaining a sense of harmony so that we do not surrender
to the mundane glory. It is more important to give that glory
in honor to Spirit knowing that is the source of all things.
The Ninth Moon:
As the final stone in the southern quadrant it represents the
time between August 23 through September 22 as the Moon of judgment
and justice. It is here we learn to preserve our knowledge and
wisdom without wasting it on preoccupation. It is here that
dreams and goals are weighed against the right and wrong of
our actions to achieve them. Here the Medicine Woman learns
to properly use these energies along with her willpower and
honor the gifts of life, nature, and Spirit in the process.
She learns that focus, proper planning, and determined effort
will bring success. She comes to understand the importance of
needs, to be consistent and reliable, and to empathize with
All Our Relations in their needs as well. This brings about
the respect, honor, dignity, and pride that abides within the
boundaries of her integrity and her impeccability guiding her
intent as she follows her pathwork. It is where she learns to
walk her talk.
In learning to walk her talk she
comes to understand the importance of tolerance for all paths,
for the justice that comes in life through spiritual empathy,
and gains the ability to exercise her own judgment of her own
acts, accepting that others must do the same. This allows her
to be free of prejudging perceptions and balanced in her perspectives
of why there are so many paths to be walked and lessons to be
learned. She understands that each path is just as viable as
the next and designed for its own purposes, not hers. She learns
to delve through the heart into the inner spirit and see for
herself the why of things. In learning to do this she satisfies
her curiosity, and learns to resolve issues through the guidance
of Spirit. In this way there is the expression of discriminatory
wisdom, ethical perception, proper sense of logic, and confidence
in herself to properly see the inner view that leads to motives
of actions to be taken or that have been taken.
It is this Moon that exudes energies
of balance, fairness, truth, reality, and their practical applications.
Here the need to take action finds its footing in sound reason,
it brings understanding and the impetus to take that action
with a sense of service to Spirit, as well as one’s pathwork
and those who create the community in which this service is
applied. There is no place here for negative judgments or self-serving
declarations of place. There is only balance and harmony with
consideration of all perspectives that can be applied. It is
here that things come to rest
and are weighed on their own merit and rewards are gained or
consequences suffered.
The Tenth Moon:
This Moon arrives at the time of the Autumn Equinox, from September
23 through October 23 and is the first stone in the western
quarter. This is the Moon of creativity in the feminine sense,
of artistic expression in song, writing, painting, and dreaming.
It is here the Medicine Woman learns to manifest her visions.
Through Spirit she brings forth from her womb the dreams she
holds. Using her instincts and understanding of the light and
dark faces of the Moon she uses her creations to bring about
form. She learns to tap into the Source Energy of Spirit creating,
changing, or manifesting as she feels called. Her desires are
interwoven in the tapestry of her life here and she knows the
secrets of weaving them into action. She uses the positive aspects
to these energies in the creative functions and the negative
aspects to tear down and banish the limiting factors of her
workings. She learns to wield her wisdom.
It is this Moon that will teach the
Medicine Woman to utilize the energy of the earth and the sun
pulling it into herself up, then into her heart through her
inner spirit, and then give-away that energy as she creates
her dreams. She sees the positive and negative forces for what
they are, how they can both soothe and cause friction and she
understands their use with others in her environmental society
that encompasses All Our Relations. Here the balance that is
gained comes from the highs and lows of emotions and desires,
the influx of rapid reception in ideas, mood swings, and the
sway of the pendulum that contains the extremes.
Through the heart the Medicine Woman
comes to show her physical emotions and love, she is comfortable
in both the Above World of the Sky People and the Below World
of the Ancestors and Ancient Ones. She learns to seek out the
center and balance herself so that she avoids confusion and
replaces it with clarity, as she sees the energies of the Web
of Life and learns to channel them in her own weavings.
The Eleventh Moon:
This is the second stone in the western quadrant and falls between
October 24 through November 21. Here the Medicine Woman learns
the value of leadership in walking her own path and setting
others on theirs as well. She knows that each path holds value
and sees that each of us must walk one appropriate to their
spiritual pathwork. This means that no path is better than another,
all are valid, and each has its own merit. Through her she demonstrates
the forging of new pathways to achieve growth while seeing beauty
all around her. This Moon teaches that through the grace of
Spirit we are all images that reflect it. It is up to us to
maintain our own wellness of mind, body, and spirit as we make
our earthwalk. Through this Moon she is taught to let her heart
lead the way in all that she does, knowing that it is guided
by her inner spirit and taking her along the path of enlightenment
she needs to follow. It also teaches her that in being true
to herself she is demonstrating that same truth to others as
a role of leadership in its own right.
By being the best she can be and
following her path with impeccable intentions guided with the
integrity of her inner spirit she also demonstrates her vulnerabilities
and the acceptance of them. She demonstrates that awareness
of her weaknesses allows her to counter them with her strengths
to create a balance and point of center from which to function.
This requires an adaptable mind, one that can move with the
flows of energy that course our lives, reading them to bring
forth understanding and enlightenment. Her leadership is one
set by example as she exudes her inner strength to utilize the
positive and negative energies within the universe and herself
to attract or dispel as needed. She does this with respect,
honor, dignity, pride, and grace.
This Moon teaches her how to focus,
to attune her senses to all energies using them in versatile
ways to heal and achieve the manifestation of her desires. The
Medicine Woman learns through this cycle that she has the adaptability
to serve through the channeling of these energies, that she
can enter the Silence and journey to other dimensions as she
gathers even more wisdom and knowledge in those experiences.
She will stand to her courage and face things others would perhaps
run from, and in the process she becomes not only a leader by
example, but a keeper of these gleaned wisdom and teachings
so that she might share them with those who come before her.
She learns her own limits, how to break their barriers, to change
things, to satisfy her curiosity, and the reasons for her needing
to know the truth. Her vision is sharp and well honed and she
knows how to walk between the worlds.
The Twelfth Moon:
Here we have the last stone placed in the western quarter. It
falls between November 22 and December 21 teaches the Medicine
Woman about her ability to perceive and reflect the ways of
others. She learns to praise and give thanks through her heart,
in the proper way. She learns what it is to cry her prayers
and to have them be received by Spirit. She sees the abundance
and blessings of her life and holds the wisdom of experience.
It is the Moon of Medicine, of magick and the ways of wielding
the energies and gifts of Spirit we all receive. It encourages
the celebration of the Web of Life and of living, demonstrating
the qualities of both reception and giving that comes from the
heart.
When we give from the heart there
is no thought to reward or return of those efforts. There is
no focus on the self, just the joy of sharing with others and
blessing them in some way by being a hollow bone for the energy
of the Creator to flow through us. This is the love of Spirit
in its manifested form of tangible rewards.
This Moon teaches us that we must
give thanks for all that we are about to receive so that we
make room for it to enter into our lives. It teaches that through
the give-away we make room for new and positive changes to take
place. The Medicine Woman learns that in celebrating life with
great enthusiasm that we will share in our own as well as that
of others. This Moon teaches us that with the right attitude
we can create mystical and marvelous transformations in our
lives. We can bring about the success and abundance that forms
the foundations of the structural form we wish to create. It
also teaches us that without thanksgiving and both the give-away
and ability to remain open to receive, we cannot understand
the value of gratitude, nor the truth behind the gifts of Spirit
that come our way.
As we give and receive, we reflect
not only our thoughts and feelings but those of others as well.
It allows us to demonstrate our vulnerability and our strengths
in a balance of harmonious energies that complement our pathwork
and earthwalk. We see the beauty in all that surrounds us, and
we value the cooperative effort in the exchange of energies
we pass among All Our Relations as we explore the Web of Life.
Here the desire for what is right and the ability to espouse
the duality of the natural energies manifests as our strength
and our emotional stability.
We understand the value of interrelationships,
sharing and teaching what we have learned and becoming both
student and teacher in the process. It is here we learn to communicate
our insights and stand on our independence. We shed our fears
for we know that as we reflect them we also project them and
that is the opposite of what Spirit wants us to do. We grow
determined in this knowledge and open our hearts to the true
channels of Spirit that they are. We lose the need to argue
or quarrel in intimate relationships replacing it with a calm
sense of being and rightness to all we do, which is reflected
by our ability to understand the truth from all perspectives
available to us, not simply one of tunnel vision.
The Thirteenth Moon:
This final Moon fits itself into the year as it will. It is
the center circle stone of the Medicine Wheel that represents
Grandmother Moon in all her complexity. It teaches the Medicine
Woman that she is the sum total of all her parts, all her faces
and phases. It is here she learns the wisdom of transmutation
and transformation with the greatest of overviews. It is where
she finally allows Spirit to pass through her total being encompassing
her mind, body, spirit. She lives life as that hollow bone manifesting
Spirit in the physical sense as well as the spiritual. She holds
the wisdom of herself, of her life, and all it has encompassed
so far. She is the dreamer that becomes the dream. She is the
myth come to life. She is the lore at its creative source and
manifestation.
This Moon teaches the Medicine Woman
to be all that she can be, to bring her dreams and visions into
material reality through the many teachings she has received.
Here she is able to see that she is the cycle of life and through
her there is rebirth of that cycle, for all things are born
of Woman and in that she is whole unto herself. She realizes
she has the ability to release her negative energies and habits
to make way for the new self to emerge in an ever flowing cycle
of change. She learns to wear the many faces of Grandmother
Moon and to wield them all with dignity and honor. The Medicine
Woman understands the cycles of change and marks them with her
rites of passage as she celebrates Spirit and life in union.
She is the vision of the dream she has become and she walks
it with intent, integrity, and impeccability. She walks her
talk and lives her truths.
It is here the cycle repeats itself
as the next year begins. It is an ever changing process by which
the Medicine Woman journeys through her quest for spiritual
growth and development. Each year she begins this quest with
the knowledge gleaned from the previous year in a process of
spiritual evolution that is uniquely her own. In this there
is honor, there is dignity, and there is pride in the pathwork
and earthwalk she is making and she dwells between the worlds
knowing them well. She passes through the dimensions of time
and space entering into the oneness with Great Mystery to manifest
these truths through her own example, and confident she is doing
what is right for herself and for All Our Relations. Her path
is one of inner reflection and understanding that blossoms into
knowledge and the ability to wield the energies that flow through
her with grace and honor. It is a path that is intuitive and
instinctual in its nature and is innate to the feminine aspects
of the Medicine Woman’s path. This is Woman’s Medicine.
The Medicine Man has an exterior
approach, one of the Sun and aggressive action that requires
he explore the world outwardly before he internalizes his wisdom.
It is a world of firsthand experience. Father Sun teaches the
Medicine path of the shaman. Here he learns about the discriminatory
illuminations that arise, when to speak his mind and set his
limits for himself or with
others. He learns to strengthen his energy, to find his warmth
by taking in that energy of the sun and expanding it. It is
the Medicine Man who walks the paths of the Medicine Wheel to
experience their teachings and explore the aspects of Spirit
that reside upon them. These are the paths that define the quadrants
and define the character of those who walk them through their
ability to meet and confront the challenges each presents.
The Road of the North:
This is one that begins its trek to Spirit through purification
and the emulsification of that process. This is a process of
ridding the body of impurities found in mind, body and spirit.
Outworn ideas, inappropriate ways of thinking, and habits that
are no longer suited to the right way of action being taken
are given over to Spirit in a process of transformation. Emotions
are cleared and blockages are torn down quickly. Misconceptions
are realized and horizons are allowed to broaden themselves.
It is this process that allows the Medicine Man to rid himself
of emotional baggage, to find his sacred center, and surrender
himself to Spirit to be washed clean.
This is followed by a process of
renewal and dedication of purpose. Spiritually he is reborn
through the shamanic death that allows him to claim his growth
and commitment to serving Spirit. He takes in the nourishment
of life through the energies he opens to at this point and explores
them from all perspectives, beginning on the exterior and working
toward the goals of his inner spirit. This is done in a right
and proper manner so that he becomes strong, healed, and restored
to wholeness. His attitude becomes healthy and his view of the
world around him begins to transform itself. He walks this path
knowing his place in his world and begins to open from the inside
to receive new perceptions. It is here he learns forgiveness
and love for himself as well as for others. He learns to care
for his needs and be gentle with his self-criticism. His feelings
become understood and he learns what self-love really is. He
sets aside ego, conceit, and arrogance for respect, dignity,
and pride as he honors the path he walks.
Along this path of renewal he comes
to set down his foundations of spiritual beliefs and accept
his experiences as his truths. He receives his ceremonies and
rituals that he will honor in the process of fulfilling his
pathwork and maintaining his focus. The end process of this
path is that of total purification. This is where the Medicine
Man finds himself standing closest to Spirit. He is free of
the contaminating influences of the outer world and stands at
the center of his spiritual essence in oneness with Great Mystery.
There are no inferiority complexes here, no egos to contend
with, just the oneness of Spirit and self. It is the result
of becoming whole and seeing the path ahead as one of service,
growth, and evolution.
It is here the child-like wonder
of life manifests once again and there is an innocence of heart
that allows total trust in Spirit. The preconceptions of what
Spirit is and the service one is to give are gone, all that
remains is the understanding of the oneness and what is right.
There is no cynical view that can stand here. Lies, falsehoods,
misconceptions, they all vanish in the light of Spirit when
the inner spirit is washed clean. Doubts, fears, and inabilities
are gone. These are replaced with integrity, a strong sense
of right and wrong, the ability to be honest with the self and
others, an eagerness to take all this within and digest it comes
over him and he internalizes the assimilation in a receptive
flow from his heart to the seat of balance where he is then
able to give it away to others in the exemplification of his
own self-actualization. Once again, he is prepared to aggressively
pursue his knowledge but with the wisdom his purification path
has brought him to hold.
The Road of the East:
As road that leads to Spirit, it does so through the process
of healing the mind. It allows the Medicine Man to see his truths
and release the lies he has been taught through his social upbringing
or those he has simple been brought to through osmosis of family
life. Here he qualifies and quantifies all that he sees. If
he walks with Spirit he opens his world to vast new horizons
and experiences, if he walks alone he creates tunnel vision
and confines himself to a narrow view. This is the struggle
and the pitfall of this roadway the shaman must explore. Each
experience must be explored in its entirety before the picture
can become clear enough to assimilate internally. The process
eliminates the complications of life, reducing things to their
simplest components, and the individual discovers that truths
are inevitably simple often bearing masks that allow them to
stand before us unnoticed until the eyes are trained to see
them. It is this awareness that allows the Medicine Man to communicate
with more direct precision as he reaches out to Spirit and comes
to acknowledge the inner spirit as a part of that process. It
is also along this path that the shaman becomes aware that they
do not know everything, they are fallible, and that to counter
this they must internalize it with the feelings that guide them
from their heart and inner spirit. This allows the individual
to open to the free flowing energies of the universe and experience
the direct rhythms they present. In this way there is an efficiency
of sending and receiving them that are attained as the connection
to Spirit grows stronger.
This road is part of the earthwalk
of the shaman bringing wisdom in understanding limitations in
all aspects of the self and life. He learns what he can and
cannot physically accomplish, what he can and cannot achieve,
and in understanding what will benefit or hinder that progress.
Discernment comes in stages, it grows together with the threads
of enlightenment, and produces experiences that are productive
to the evolution of the inner spirit. These experiences become
internalized and assimilated and help to form the foundation
of many truths on which the Medicine Man bases his worldview
and judgments of his own actions. He matures and finds stable
footing as he continues his way knowing with a sureness what
will best serve a given situation for him as well as what he
is willing to do about that. It is the path of the mage and
wisdom of life lived.
Life’s experiences bring illumination
to the road the shaman walks. The closer he walks with Spirit
the brighter that illumination becomes. His goal is to walk
with Spirit at all times, so he draws closer to his center,
internalizing more and more of what he is experiencing and making
it a part of himself. The enlightenment of this path is to allow
the energy of Spirit to flow through him as a hollow bone. To
allow himself to become the channel and tool which Spirit can
then wield in service to others. It is here thanks are given
for the receiving of this enlightenment both before and after.
The shaman knows being grateful for even the smallest amount
granted exudes the truths of the life he leads and All Our Relations
to which he is exposed.
This road leads to the truths of
life and paths that expand on the glimpses that have been shown
so that deeper understanding of the self and cosmic consciousness
will lead to greater intuition. It also allows one to sense
and feel this knowledge through the inner spirit’s awareness
and its ability to reach out and touch us with physical sensation
alerting us to areas that need our attention.
It is here that the Medicine Man learns through experience to
allow his emotions to flow freely in the effort to balance them
with the love of Spirit and express them through his actions.
This leads to a peaceful countenance filled with the understanding
of Spirit in one’s life. It allows the shaman to maintain
a depth in his connection to Great Mystery that is beyond the
normal mundane perception. It also allows him to express this
understanding to others.
The Road of the South:
This is one that promotes growth and its quality toward healing
the emotions and the heart. It is the one where proper prayer
comes from the heart and expresses the need for loving relationships
or thankfulness for those already present. It is where the Medicine
Man learns the lessons of change, expansion, and the process
of maturity. It is here the physical body experiences challenges
that allow it to grow stronger, and where the shaman will expand
his knowledge of his physical surroundings. It brings about
the evolution of his mental and emotional growth as well deepening
his understanding of himself and the world around him. It allows
him to physically reach for enlightenment in all areas of his
life and come to know his capabilities and limitations in that
regard. His feelings are explored and brought to an understanding
in the logical mind as well as integrated within where he learns
to apply them outwardly with grace and diplomacy. This is the
path of the evolutionary development that brings with it responsibility
for the self and all it experiences or acts upon.
It is here the Medicine Man learns
to trust in life, gains the confidence necessary to make wise
decisions, and accept life on its own terms. It is where the
shaman learns to surrender himself to the higher power of Spirit
gaining strength in his beliefs and convictions. Here he learns
to open and receive the teachings of Spirit and the lessons
are intense. It is here through experience that he begins to
draw closer to Spirit and understand the meaning of giving and
receiving love into his life and the ability to express it personally.
It is here that same trust reaches a level where the individual
can allow Spirit to take over and bring about change or the
events necessary to instigate the proper growth and spiritual
evolution necessary. It is in this that the sense of freedom
is achieved to quicken the steps upon the path chosen, opening
to Spirit and recognizing the truth of what is sacred.
As the path approaches the oneness
with Spirit there is an awakening to the meaning of love in
all its contexts. Physical pleasures, sexual urges and energies,
affection, sensations of the senses, and understanding the flows
they contain as they pass through the body. It is the love that
produces the energies felt through music, dance, song, colors,
art, and other earthly pleasures. It is the love of the mate,
of the parent, of the friend. Beyond this is the healing energy
of the mind, the ability to communicate, to offer encouragement
to the self and others as well as finding validation in order
to give it away. Here honesty, integrity, honor, and treasuring
the feelings and emotions of the self and others is experienced.
Through them the Medicine Man understands the meaning of loyalty,
tenderness, compassion, joy, ecstasy, passion, and the nurturing
harmony that comes from combining these wisdoms to create a
balanced flow of positive energies to and from the self.
Here the deepest levels of sharing
permit the true understanding of transformative and evolutionary
growth on the path of unconditional love...love without judgment,
restraint, or conformity. It is here the shaman sees the value
of selfless actions, of service to others, of harmony in commitments
all through the eyes of the inner spirit and its own relationship
to Great Mystery as well as All Our Relations.
The Road of the West:
As a road this one is devoted to the healing of the spirit.
It is here that what is held sacred becomes a part of you as
well as Great Mystery. It is here we come to understand the
need to honor the sacred through the rites of ceremony and religious
structure. Here experiences present themselves as catharsis,
transforming the life and pathwork of the Medicine Man on all
levels of consciousness and physical activity. It is here he
will find his mystical moments and learn firsthand through them.
It is the School of Hard Knocks initially but gradually progresses
into gentler forms of trial by error and learning the lessons
well. When we have to go back and start from the beginning on
things it often leaves a lasting impression and this is the
path that will have the false starts and stops. It forces the
shaman to become involved in relationships with others, the
self, and with Spirit.
The individual learns through this
roadway to experience selective choice through the wisdom gleaned,
taking those lessons within to assimilate and make good decisions
before action is taken. Here the inner spirit begins to experience
its evolution and melds with the surface logic of the mind to
create a relationship allowing a tempered personality to emerge.
This is the road of introspection where one can find retreat,
solace, and sacred space. It is the place where we see our own
smoking mirror and reflect on the reflections that exist there.
The Medicine Man learns to contemplate these reflections internally
and then to act upon the truths that emerge in an outward show
of their form. He learns to listen well, to think before he
acts, to use his words wisely, and guide himself with wisdom.
He comes to see that his true feelings reflect upon his emotional
health and that in turn reflects upon his centeredness in the
world. As the enlightenment surfaces through the assimilation
process it again emerges out into the world through his decisiveness
and actions.
Upon this road the shaman learns
to evaluate his spiritual path again and again, knowing that
as he evolves so does his spirituality and his concept of what
Spirit is. Here he masters centering himself amid the Seven
Sacred Directions. He becomes the shamanic tree with his roots
firmly planted, his trunk standing securely yet flexibly in
the winds of life, and his branches reaching ever upward toward
the sun as he receives enlightenment and draws ever closer to
the oneness of Spirit. He has experienced the cycles of life
and knows they flow in a continuous spiral up and outward as
well as in and down through him. In this way he learns to enter
the Silence and know that oneness with Great Mystery, to allow
the energy of Spirit to flow through him and bring with it illuminating
information. The Medicine Man comes to see that the universe
is not only "out there" but that it is "within"
as well.
This is the roadway of strength,
stamina, endurance, and testing. It is understanding the flow
of energies and the power behind them. It is the focus of the
shaman’s training and development of his unwavering service
to Spirit. Here his mind learns discipline, he learns to summon
his courage when needed, finds his security and strength in
his faith, and gains powers of concentration. He is more centered,
self-aware, balanced, and conscious of his pathwork. Through
the love of Spirit and attaining the oneness he becomes self-assured
as he walks between the worlds and sees no lines of division.
To the Medicine Man the physical and spiritual become
one because he has experienced them both and sees their interrelationships.
His spiritual disciplines become honed, second nature, and he
masters his gifts wielding them with precision, impeccability,
and integrity. In the oneness he finds his true self.
Not unlike the Medicine Woman, the
Medicine Man will walk these paths again and again. Each time
they will glean more spiritual evolution as they base their
knowledge on the wisdoms gained in the past with the insights
of the present. It is a cycle that flows in its own spiral dance
of illuminated enlightenments.
The ways of the Medicine Man and
Medicine Woman may vary in their techniques, but invariably
they come to the same conclusions. In the end they both have
a greater understanding of Spirit, life, and each other. Should
the Medicine Woman feel called to do the vision quest of the
shaman’s teachings it is considered acceptable. She may
choose to do some skin cuttings that will be placed in sacred
tools as a sacrifice to Spirit to show her dedication and lend
her own powers to the implements. In rare cases some women will
choose to pierce but this is not very common. She would fast,
undergo the purification of the Mother Lodge (sweat), quest,
and assimilate. I have done both types of questing and they
each have something to offer that is unique. It depends on the
call that comes to me as well as the time I have open as to
how I will choose to respond. Women who are past menopause still
feel the cycles of Grandmother Moon and they do not lose the
potency of their Medicine; thus, they will continue to quest
as they always have.
The Medicine Man who quests must
show his strength, courage, and ability to endure. When he quests
there is usually some form of self-sacrifice required. This
can be in the form of skin piercing through the breast where
tethers are fastened to bones and to a tree. In this case the
questor places his body at risk as fatigue sets in and the tethers
threaten to tear the muscle if he yields or failing to maintain
his pledged time. It is also during this time that he may receive
his vision. Other cases of piercing involve the shoulder blade
area where tethers are attached to the body with one or more
skulls (usually buffalo skulls and up to 3 of them) which are
dragged behind the man wherever he goes for the duration of
the pledge. Pledges can be made for 1-4 days or more of the
sacrificial quest. While piercing is not always required, it
is a sign of dedication and courage as well as a sacred sacrifice
to Spirit. Fasting, purification, questing, and assimilation
are divided equally and the quest itself can last for 16 days
or more. In some tribes the men will eat sacred meats during
the quest while others deny this.
For the Medicine Woman questing is
a lifelong process, met monthly, and spirals out in ever advancing
stages of spiritual evolution and enlightenment. For the Medicine
Man (at least among the Sioux and other Plains tribes) there
are a series of sixteen quests to be accomplished during the
course of a lifetime. These quests are divided into sets of
four to achieve different levels of advancement significantly
marked at the end of each set. Only one quest is undertaken
per year, and there may be gaps between them of several years.
For this reason not every shaman will achieve his full potential
since at a minimum it would take 16 years to reach completion.
As you can see, the woman is taught
to go within herself and seek her center. A man centers externally
by creating the shamanic tree. This is usually a lodge pole
to which he connects himself by climbing it or attaching a rope,
string, or ladder for his spirit to follow. Both will accomplish
the same spiritual projection from this point onward. Different
methods are applied to the initiations and rites of passage;
as well as other ceremonies and teachings to achieve the evolution
of the inner spirit. This brings about a state of harmony and
balance within both genders. While neither is superior to the
other, much can be gained in understanding as to why these variances
exist and how the individual benefits from them.
Women are born with an innate natural
attunement to their bodies and the energies that exist in nature.
Men must outwardly explore to find their seat of balance and
understand how to bring it within themselves. Both have something
to offer the other and through that cyclic exchange unity is
formed. Externally this is the male and female uniting; internally
it is the male and female sides to our natures in balance. Together
they create a state of harmony and a broader horizon from which
you can perceive the needs and workings of the opposite gender’s
Medicine.
Annotated Bibliography/Suggested
Reading:
Dancing With the Wheel: The Medicine Wheel Workbook by
Sun Bear, Wabun Wind, and Crysalis Mulligan. This is an excellent
source for understanding the Native American approach to Grandmother
Moon and her cycles, the paths of the Medicine Wheel to be walked,
and much more.
The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams. This is an
excellent source of women’s Medicine teachings according
to Southwestern indigenous tribal teachings. It gives an in-depth
look at the many faces of Grandmother Moon and brings understanding
of how she works through the influences of her cycles.
The entire series of books by Carlos Castaneda is laced
with hints of women’s ways while depicting the aggressive
nature of men’s training.
The Circle is Sacred: A Medicine Book for Women by Scout
Cloud Lee. Ed. D.
Paah Wenchokws:
I really
enjoyed reading this topic, thank you!!!!!!!! Variances speaks
to me that the energy of both male and female are movement together
within the invisible whole, a 'balance'. *Balance to me does
not mean 50/50 for it could be any combination such as 70/30.
Honoring that both are within me. When I stop fighting for equality,
that 50/50 that we are conditioned to form balance in. Then
the flow of energy is smoother, just accepting that it is alright
to let go of that 'perfect' balance. My male and female sides
are content. Time to time I speak to each of them separately
and together to get 'the balance'. Each one needs the other.
And at times they come forth separately. Or one with more energy
than the other. They are both, the warrior and warrioress and
are guardians, messengers between the tonal and nagual [ego
and the self]. The male and female side of me, I like to call
warrior and warrioress because they fight for the balance of
my consciousness.
"How long
has it been since we have spoken to warrior and the warrioress?"
Either separately or together. "Do they have names, do
they like being with you?" Important, "Do they like
each other?" Speak to them of your needs. And thank them
for being with you.
CinnamonMoon:
You are right Paah, it's
not a 50/50 balance other than in their presence being recognized.
A simple example is in our parents, we have a mother and father,
but the time and attention we spend with them varies according
to the needs of the moment. We simply need to honor both and
work with them, calling upon either nature within us as needed.
It's the focus of both being kept in mind (in our higher awareness)
and utilized according to what the moment calls for that allows
that balance to take place within us and within our actions.
Paah Wenchokws:
CinnamonMoon,
It took me into my late 40's to understand what balance between
male and female really was....oh the lesson's, the knowledge,
the experience and even some wisdom, and along with unlearning.
It is all good......
CinnamonMoon:
Yes to all that! It is
all good too. What a difference it makes when you do embrace
it too, eh? I love the unification (now that I'm through it)
and the wholeness it brings to our BE-ing.
Paah Wenchokws:
When I was
in my teens to my early 40's, I had a hard time with the male/female
warrior and male/female side within myself. I had a male oriented
job and was a fierce competitor with men. The male warrior was
always the dominant one. A never ending battle with each other.
Though I truly loved the woman warrioress and feminine Goddess
side of myself.
There
were times that when I would put on my uniform and all that
goes with it, people could not believe that I was the same person.
And oh, the mask that went with the clothes. At work I could
not share with co-workers my spirituality and how I was raised.
When I went home, the mask and all the trappings were gone.
I was the nature loving native girl. My home reflected who I
truly was. But, the cycle would start again the next day. Put
back on the uniform, become someone that was no reflection of
who I really was.
After 18 years of being who I thought I was, I left the police
department. I became who I truly was and became a conservation
planner. I went from from controlling and protecting people
to protecting Mother Earth, this really opened up my feminine
side. So, I really began to learn more about myself. To simply
put it, "I began to like myself". I started to understand
how important it is to learn about the male/female aspect within
us.
I believe that this is very hard to understand when we are younger.
And that time and life experiences open the door. Now with the
experiences and tools that I use. I am finally appreciate both
sides! And I find that I am getter softer in my later years.
We learn from each of our male and female side. We need both.
It is good when both sides can communicate with each other.
CinnamonMoon:
I always walked in my spirituality,
mainly as a solitary seeker for the better portion of my life.
I came to teachers when I was ready and embraced what I was
given. I masked some of that from some people and not others
at different times too. Where it felt appropriate, today there
seems no need to hide behind masks, what you see is what you
get and it's all a part of me, parts of the whole. Within those
struggles and trying to live a mundane life as 'others' saw
it should be led I fought the constraints of those opinions
and expectations. It seemed no one wanted me to be me, well,
all but a few and they were very select, more seemed to know
my path better than I did...or so they thought...and I was raised
to listen to them to guide me. Inside I was pacing like a caged
Cougar, waiting for that door to open when I could just break
free and BE 'all' that I was. I fought the warrior and warrioress
in a contrary mode for a long time, then righted them but still
walked in their duality. In my 40's I found myself to be slowly
blending the mundane and spiritual paths together, slowly because
it was like a two lane highway, each going in different directions,
each summoning me in the Dream Lodge to make the connection.
It took me another decade to develop the seams and take the
stitches but I did it a step at a time. It is good when you
come back to your Self and let it lead you all the way, not
just part of it.
In my 50's I went through a good
10 years of unification, the first two were preparing me though
I didn't see it at the time, I was shown that in Vision Quest,
then I was given the path to walk and I asked for a bit more
time before I began it. I didn't know how long I'd be given
but 6 months were granted for me to complete my assimilation
and then the actual turning inside out began, everything and
every layer of my life underwent a radical change. It was a
time of high chaos energy ruling things, along with The Great
Ones and I was just caught up in it all. What a spiral that
was and I had to go 'down' before I could rise up whole. Many
lessons there. I see the beauty in them today, I sure didn't
then though. And that process ran the remainder of the decade.
That shadow has followed me right through to today but I embrace
all of it with great appreciation, loving the lessons, finding
the humor, and opening my Self. A Guide I work with likes to
call it 'unwinding' I guess that is pretty fitting, you have
to unwind and unlearn before you can reclaim the truths within.
It's a rough battle sometimes, but somehow the Self seems to
win more these days and the self is less likely to kick and
scream about things.
I began the unified walk when I was
coming to be the Crone, she embraced me fully some years ago
but I know what you mean, it is harder for those who have not
walked so long to understand the need for that. Seems I've fought
the masculine and feminine duality most of my life. I guess
you could say I have in many ways, walking within the Oneness
is more than walking between the worlds but it takes time to
construct that path in the physical reality--where the two can
be One, society hasn't figured that out quite yet, though it's
getting there. *Soft smile* Mastering each takes time, doesn't
it? I went from the corporate world into full-time ministry
and teaching and now I'm back balancing the two with very different
perspectives. Today I can be in that world but not of it. Big
difference. For a long time I was seeking the corporate success,
and I had my own business for many, many years too. I like the
independence, for me it allows me to do what Spirit and Mother
ask of me, to go where guidance shines the light, and I'm very
comfortable in my shoes BE-ing. I love the unification, I love
the inner harmony it brings, and I love how one or the other
or both will act naturally as needed. There's little thought
for me as to which is which anymore, they just are and that's
enough. Yes, I like myself this way a whole lot more too. I
know just what you mean. I'm excited to see this process completing
another cycle soon, another layer and another Veil to pass through
and I'm looking so forward to what that brings.
I know it will be good, different too, and I'm opening my arms
and heart to it fully. Feels marvelous. Ha! You got softer and
I got firmer (well inside, outside I have some pudgy mushes
here and there). I'm entitled, what you see is what you get.
We do need both though, no matter what our physical gender,
we are both and all, and yes, when both sides can embrace and
share space comfortably it is very good. I see the Divine Timing
in the journey today, the why then's and the why now's make
sense.
Paah Wenchokws:
CinnamonMoon,
A male friend of mine who has known me for, hmmm, 30 years said
something to me last night. It made me stop and see my life
in one of those "quick flashes". And I suddenly remembered
this thread. He said, "that the interior of my home reflected
who I was on the outside of my home, a true reflection."
CinnamonMoon:
Yes, your friend is right,
symbolically the home represents us in so many ways. There's
some information on that in the Symbolism section of the Library
if you care to take a look.
Paah Wenchokws:
I will take
a look....I am taking my time and savoring this site and enjoying
everyone.
CinnamonMoon:
That's wonderful, we're
enjoying you sharing with us too.
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Libraries
are on this row
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INDEX
Page 3
(Main Section, Medicine Wheel, Native Languages &
Nations, Symbology)
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INDEX
Page 5
(Sacred Feminine & Masculine, Stones & Minerals)
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©
Copyright: Cinnamon Moon & River WildFire Moon (Founders.)
2000-date
All rights reserved.
Site
constructed by Dragonfly
Dezignz 1998-date
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