Health & Fitness
June Update
After such a long winter ... I find spending time walking around outdoors, witnessing new life and new growth, to be extremely healing.
Good morning!
While walking around the Arbor yesterday, I was struck by how lush and vibrant everything is getting. I find I can't walk in nature without having a smile on my face. Many studies have been done on the effects of being in nature ... how calming, nurturing and inviting spending time outdoors in nature can be. It has been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and increase a person's life force energy, or chi. After such a long winter ... I find spending time walking around outdoors, witnessing new life and new growth, to be extremely healing.
I haven't posted a blog about last Saturday's Full Moon yet, but will attempt to do that yet today. I am sorry it is so late ... but there has been so much going on, I haven't spent the time I usually spend in front of the computer.
To start the month off, we will be holding our Guided Meditation session next Wednesday, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Donna Andrews has agreed to continue those sessions and will be the facilitator starting next week! I am so pleased she has decided to lead these sessions. Donna brings years of meditation experience with her, as well as her natural calming and graceful way of guiding someone to their own quiet place.
Saturday, June 8th, starting at 9:00am, is our Spring Clean-Up around the Lodge. There is SO much to do ... all available hands and tools are welcomed! and NEEDED!! So, please, if you have a couple of hours to spare ... we can use your help! Things we need to accomplish ...
Friday, June 21st - Sunday, June 23rd, is our Ancient Wisdom Keeper's Weekend! This year's theme is One Nation, Elder's Gathering. I encourage you to take some time that weekend and come hear the drummers, singers, and the Native flute be played. Learn about tradition, prophecies, and experience a healing ceremony. Sit in the circle of the Arbor and allow your senses to carry you to a place and time of long ago ... of a time when all of nature was sacred, and all were equal. Come join us!
Because of the time and energy it takes to put on this exciting weekend, our Women's Full Moon/Cedar Ceremony will not be held in the month of June ... but hopefully will resume in July with our new tipi cover in place!
Other changes are happening at the Lodge. Ken, also known as Skode' NiNi, our long time fire keeper is stepping aside. Ken has had 2 back surgeries in the past few years and suffers a great deal of physical pain ... to the point there isn't a day that goes by he doesn't have pain. Being the fire keeper requires a great deal of physical stamina and strength, not to mention spiritual and emotional strength and stamina. It is the fire keeper's job to be able to 'read' the fire, or communicate with the fire, and to keep the people in the sweat lodge safe and protected. A good fire keeper develops a deep and personal relationship with the fire ... as witnessed by those who have sat by the fire during a sweat lodge ceremony and watched Ken. He will be dearly missed ... by the fire and those here at the Lodge.
Before stepping aside, Ken took his assistant, Michelle (Memengwaa Manidoo), under his wing, passing along the teachings. So we welcome Michelle as our new fire keeper and look forward to many fires under her watchful eye. Michelle will be looking for her own assistant (male or female), so if you are interested in learning about the fire, the traditions, the ceremonies, please let us know.
In addition, our dear son, Wes (Grey Bear) has expressed interest in becoming a conductor of the sweat lodge. So, you will be seeing more of Wes in the upcoming sweat lodges and taking on some of the role and responsibility of the sweats!
This is all very exciting for us at the Lodge. Donna, Michelle and Wes are each stepping forward and taking on roles that will allow them to grow spiritually ... deepening their connection to Spirit. These changes are already shifting the energy at the Lodge ... in such a good way. It is bringing a new life into the Lodge ... additional energies, focuses, and experiences. It has been my hope from the very first day that others would come to the Lodge and find their place here. Find a place where they can grow, learn, and pass on their experiences, expertise, wisdom and passion. A place where 'Community' is actually built by those who choose to participate ... supporting the growth and healing of all who enter our doors. A Lodge is best when a multitude of offerings are available, from a variety of people. It makes it easier for you to find what you are looking for, and connect where you need to connect.
If you haven't been to the Lodge in awhile, or if you have never been to the Lodge ... come and check us out! It has new life!! And it is AWESOME!
I haven't posted a blog about last Saturday's Full Moon yet, but will attempt to do that yet today. I am sorry it is so late ... but there has been so much going on, I haven't spent the time I usually spend in front of the computer.
To start the month off, we will be holding our Guided Meditation session next Wednesday, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Donna Andrews has agreed to continue those sessions and will be the facilitator starting next week! I am so pleased she has decided to lead these sessions. Donna brings years of meditation experience with her, as well as her natural calming and graceful way of guiding someone to their own quiet place.
Saturday, June 8th, starting at 9:00am, is our Spring Clean-Up around the Lodge. There is SO much to do ... all available hands and tools are welcomed! and NEEDED!! So, please, if you have a couple of hours to spare ... we can use your help! Things we need to accomplish ...
- In the Arbor ... raking, mowing, securing of some of the poles, rebuilding of the fire pit, splitting and staking of wood, sanding handrail
- Parking Area ... mowing
- Walkway from Lodge to Arbor ... clearing and mowing
- Medicine Wheel ... cleaned up, renewed
- Memorial Garden ... rebuilt using colored stones and flowers, clearing of sitting area, raking and trimming of area
- Tipi / Sweat Lodge ... grasses trimmed, area raked and cleared, old tipi cover removed
- Lodge ... windows cleaned, flowers planted, area around the Lodge raked and trimmed
- Shed ... cleaned out, organized
- Community Garden ... prep'd for planting
- Rocks ... gathered
- Labyrinth ... mowed
Friday, June 21st - Sunday, June 23rd, is our Ancient Wisdom Keeper's Weekend! This year's theme is One Nation, Elder's Gathering. I encourage you to take some time that weekend and come hear the drummers, singers, and the Native flute be played. Learn about tradition, prophecies, and experience a healing ceremony. Sit in the circle of the Arbor and allow your senses to carry you to a place and time of long ago ... of a time when all of nature was sacred, and all were equal. Come join us!
Because of the time and energy it takes to put on this exciting weekend, our Women's Full Moon/Cedar Ceremony will not be held in the month of June ... but hopefully will resume in July with our new tipi cover in place!
Other changes are happening at the Lodge. Ken, also known as Skode' NiNi, our long time fire keeper is stepping aside. Ken has had 2 back surgeries in the past few years and suffers a great deal of physical pain ... to the point there isn't a day that goes by he doesn't have pain. Being the fire keeper requires a great deal of physical stamina and strength, not to mention spiritual and emotional strength and stamina. It is the fire keeper's job to be able to 'read' the fire, or communicate with the fire, and to keep the people in the sweat lodge safe and protected. A good fire keeper develops a deep and personal relationship with the fire ... as witnessed by those who have sat by the fire during a sweat lodge ceremony and watched Ken. He will be dearly missed ... by the fire and those here at the Lodge.
Before stepping aside, Ken took his assistant, Michelle (Memengwaa Manidoo), under his wing, passing along the teachings. So we welcome Michelle as our new fire keeper and look forward to many fires under her watchful eye. Michelle will be looking for her own assistant (male or female), so if you are interested in learning about the fire, the traditions, the ceremonies, please let us know.
In addition, our dear son, Wes (Grey Bear) has expressed interest in becoming a conductor of the sweat lodge. So, you will be seeing more of Wes in the upcoming sweat lodges and taking on some of the role and responsibility of the sweats!
This is all very exciting for us at the Lodge. Donna, Michelle and Wes are each stepping forward and taking on roles that will allow them to grow spiritually ... deepening their connection to Spirit. These changes are already shifting the energy at the Lodge ... in such a good way. It is bringing a new life into the Lodge ... additional energies, focuses, and experiences. It has been my hope from the very first day that others would come to the Lodge and find their place here. Find a place where they can grow, learn, and pass on their experiences, expertise, wisdom and passion. A place where 'Community' is actually built by those who choose to participate ... supporting the growth and healing of all who enter our doors. A Lodge is best when a multitude of offerings are available, from a variety of people. It makes it easier for you to find what you are looking for, and connect where you need to connect.
If you haven't been to the Lodge in awhile, or if you have never been to the Lodge ... come and check us out! It has new life!! And it is AWESOME!