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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

This is the Month of June .....

Re-blogged from

Mandala Shaman


June & the Summer Solstice

Posted on 06/03/2013


Summer Solstice - June 21st – love blossoms as Summer begins.

The Summer Solstice is also referred to as the Midsummer Solstice because it falls between the planting and harvesting of crops and marks the time to celebrate the union/marriage/balance of the feminine (mother/earth/moon) and masculine (father/sky/sun) energies.

The Summer Solstice represents the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. As we enter into this time of blossoming, those living in the southern hemisphere are going within, by honoring the longest night of their year with the Winter Solstice. A continual reminder of how we live in balance on this earth.

In Celtic tradition the first full moon in June (June 22nd and 23rd, 2013) is called the Honey Moon because this was the best time to harvest honey from the hives. Mead was made from honey collected on the "honeymoon" and later used as a part of wedding ceremonies. This years full moon is also a "super moon" as it will be the biggest full moon of the year.

The month of June itself is actually named after the Roman goddess Juno. The Romans identified her with the Greek goddess Hera, and she took on many of Hera's attributes, roles, and myths. Juno was the wife and sister of Jupiter, the chief Roman god, just as Hera was the wife and sister of Zeus, the chief Greek god. As worship of Juno spread, she also came to be considered the principal goddess and protector of the Roman state. Eventually, she became a sort of guardian angel, representing the female principle of life.  In Roman belief every person was thought to have a personal protective spirit; a man's was called a genius, and a woman's was called a juno.

This celebration of the union of the Archetypal Feminine with the Masculine is symbolic throughout all world beliefs.

In Taoism it is seen as the balance of the masculine yang energy with the feminine yin energy.  "When the world began, there was heaven (yang) and earth (yin). Heaven mated with the earth and gave birth to everything in the world.

In Hinduism it is the sacred Sri Yantra for the Mantra of Aum, depicted as intersecting male Shakti (upward/heaven) and female Shiva (downword/earth) triangles.

Indigenous cultures see it as the marriage of Father Sky with Mother Earth which creates all life. This is also the place within our hearts that helps us soar like an Eagle to see the bigger picture of our lives. From this place we can fly above the stories that hold us and admire all the beauty in our lives as well as the ability to smell the flowers we have grown.

In sacred geometry the Summer Solstice can be seen as the Seed of Life blossoming into the Flower of Life. This happens when the seven circles of the Seed of Life expands to reveal the nineteen interlocking circles of the Flower of Life.  To learn more visit: mandalachakra.com

Another symbol associated with the Summer Solstice is the Merkaba, which represents the joining of the masculine and feminine energies in the heart chakra. The Merkaba itself is mentioned in Judeo-Christian texts as a circular vehicle that helps to transport people between the heavens and the earth.

A beautiful way to celebrate this sacred day is with dancing, drumming or sitting around a fire. Some believe that if a couple in love jumps over a small fire on this night their love will last forever. Either way, it is a wonderful time to reconnect with the people you love and the love that is blossoming in your heart and the world around you.

"Whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass."  - William Shakespeare (From A Mid-Summernight's Dream)

http://mandalashaman.com

Tree Wisdom - Maple


Re-blogged from


Tree Wisdom – Maple

by Kate Zamarchi - Artist/Naturalist in Clean Air, Clean Food, Energy, Nature, Shamanism, Spirituality, Trees


Through the ages, trees have been considered sacred and magical. An almost universal symbol – the tree of life has roots reaching the waters of the underworld and branches reaching to the heavens. Going back to a time when trees were thought to be the home of the gods and goddesses, the rustling of the leaves were messages from other worlds.   Trees not only have mythology, legend, superstition, and spiritual meaning, but they have many uses…a true gift from Mother Earth………

The first settlers to America were introduced to the sweetness of the Maple by the Native Americans who captured the dripping sap in birch bark containers. There are more than 100 species of maples throughout the northern temperate regions of the world. Many maples have sugar-rich sap, but it is the sugar maple that is by far the sweetest. The Sugar Maple is the state tree in New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont growing up to 60 – 100ft high.  The Red Maple is the state tree for Rhode Island, growing just under 100 feet. Most folks know the maple for the sweet syrup and beautiful fall colors, but the Maple offers so much more…

I have four mature Norway Maples in my back yard and a Japanese Red Maple in my front yard.  When I first moved here, I found myself gathering many many MANY yard debris bags full of leaves in the fall then transported them to the city recycle center.  Two years ago I purchased a mulcher.  Since then I have mulched all the leaves and used them in my flower beds and under the bushes. I saved money on purchasing mulch, gave the earth some wonderful nutrient filled organic material and saved the gas. This spring I found a beautiful red squirrel munching away on a maple seed.  It made me wonder more about what the maple gave to us.

The Maple: Culture, Myth and Symbol:

Symbolically the maple stands for positive thinking, balance, promise and practicality. "People resonating with the Maple are quiet with a gentle generosity and enjoy being of service to their families."

In the Celtic Horoscope those born between April 11th – 20th and October 14th – 23rd are the sign of the Maple Tree. "Liberty and generosity are the premise for the maple-tree-born and they are true individualists." read more…

The herb of Jupiter, Maples are the Air element and brings expansive, happy energy to all situations. Sugar Maples are said to bring love and prosperity by using the leaves in love spells or to create financial abundance.

The branches of the maple are used for magic wands.

Native Americans say the Maple loves attention and love from the human.

I found some beautiful stories of the Maple online:

How Maple-Sugar Came (Native American/Salteaux)

Mishosha or The Enchante4d Sugar-Maple (Native American/Chippewa)

Gluskabe Changes Maple Syrup (Native American/Abenaki)

Charm of a Maple Wood Flute (Moldavian Folk Tale)

A Swiss folktale tells us that a number of dwarfs would sit on the branch of a Maple tree watching the haymaking. One night someone with nothing to do cut through the branch making it dangerous to sit upon. When the dwarves came to sit on the branch the next day they fell to the floor. The people laughed at them and the dwarves never returned to the place.

Planting a branch of the Maple tree in a house was said to ensure that bats will not enter.

Passing a young child through the branches of a maple tree is traditionally thought to encourage good health and a long life for the child.

Functional Uses: 

Maples are important as source of wood.  The dried wood is often used for the smoking of food. It has a fine grain making it suitable for inlays, cups, bowls, and wooden boxes.  It is also excellent for furniture and house building.  Violin cases are very often made with Maple.  The knotted roots are wonderful for fine cabinet work.

Maple is a hard wood making it good for fuel and a fine charcoal.

The bark of the red maple when added to alum mordanted wool gives an olive color.  Added to wool with copperas it gives a gray color.  The inner bark when mixed with sulphate of lead makes a black dye.

Natural Healing and Edibility 

Maple Trees will provide year around food guaranteed.

Maple Flowers: In spring when the maple flowers are out – trim off some of the flowers and add them to a salad.

Maple Leaves:   Leaves are collected in April or May and dried then brewed into a tea. Simmered in a tea, they can clean the liver and spleen.  The young leaves can be simmered into massage oils.  A decoction of the leaves can be used as a poultice for boils.  The young spring leaves also provide a healthy addition to fresh salads.  Do you get those little maple sprouts all over the lawn?  These too can be picked and added to a salad.

Maple Seeds: Collect winged seeds before fully ripe – usually June through September. Using your thumbnail squeeze out the pod (looks like a pea/bean). They can be eaten raw or in a salad.  Or you can boil the pods for about 15 minutes or until soft. Season with butter, salt and pepper.  It will taste like a cross between peas and hominy.  There is a rule…small and sweet, big and bitter.  So the smaller they are the sweeter they will be.  These seeds can also be roasted on a cookie sheet sprinkled with salt – bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Can also use the sun as a dehydrator till they are crunchy.  They can then be pounded or ground into a flour.

Maple Bark: In the Native American tradition, use of the Silver Maple bark to make a remedy for sore eyes, gynecological problems and cramps. It can also be used to cure coughs.

Maple sap: We all are familiar with tapping the maple for sap and then boiling it down to make maple syrup. "Pure maple syrup is precious because it contains balanced sugars, minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese, vitamins A, B2, B5 and B6, folic acid, niacin, biotin and also proteins."

In Scotland there is a Maple called "Planetree Maple" that is tapped spring to autumn to make a kind of wine.  We are gifted from Mother Earth with the strength and balance of the maple trees.

The maples on the piece of mother earth that I tend to bring a beautiful energetic presence…their grace, strength beauty…the way the sunlight shines through the leaves, the coolness of the shade they provide….the perch for the birds, squirrels and chipmunks that come to visit…and now I will benefit from eating it's seeds for nourishment!

Resources:

Flower and Tree Magic, Richard Webster. Copyright 2008- Llewellyn

Trees & Shrubs of Northern New England. Copyright 1975-Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Bradford Angier. Copyright 2008 – Stackpole Books.

The Meaning of Trees, Fred Hageneder. Copyright 2005-Duncan Baird

Tree Medicine Tree Magic, Ellen Evert Hopman. Copyright 1991 Pheonix Publishing



Re-blogged this from

Tree Wisdom – Birch

by Kate Zamarchi - Artist/Naturalist in Art, Energy, Nature, Shamanism, Spirituality, Survival, Trees

Through the ages, trees have been considered sacred and magical. An almost universal symbol – the tree of life has roots reaching the waters of the underworld and branches reaching to the heavens. Going back to a time when trees were thought to be the home of the gods and goddesses, the rustling of the leaves were thought to be messages from other worlds.   Trees not only have mythology, legend, superstition, and spiritual meaning, but they have many uses…a true gift from Mother Earth.

The Paper White Birch tree is the New Hampshire state tree growing up to 70ft high and 3 feet in diameter.  The birch tree is both male and female and carries attributes of both as a single tree will have both male and female flowers.  Its bark is found in chalky white outer layers freely separating into thin strips. My earliest memories as a young girl, include making centerpieces for the dinner table that included nature treasures I found in the woods around Lake Winnipesaukee.  It almost always included birch bark. This bark fascinated me – the color, the texture, the smell, and the curling papery nature of it. To this day, the birch is one of my favorite trees.

The Birch: Culture, Myth and Symbol:

Symbolically the birch stands for fertility and new life – renewal.

In Norse mythology the birch is associated with Freya the lady of the forest. Birch twigs were used to drive away evil spirits. In the Swedish city of Umea the birch tree is planted all over the city and calls itself "The City of the Birches".  These birches were planted after the city was ravaged by fires nearly burning to the ground but is thought to have been stopped by some birches that halted the spread of the fire.  Ground birch bark, fermented in sea water, was used for seasoning the woolen, hemp or linen sails and hemp rope of traditional Norwegian boats.

In parts of Germany, young men erect decorated birch trees in front of the houses of their love interests on the night of May 1st, to show their feelings. Birch twigs were used by the Celts to light the Beltane, May 1st, fires and traditionally couples paired off for love making in the birch forest. For the Winter Solstice, December 21st, birch brooms were used to sweep the morning after the longest night of the year to "brush out the old" bringing renewal.

In Northern India, the birch holds great historical significance where the thin bark coming off in winter was extensively used as writing paper. Birch paper  is exceptionally durable and was the material used for many ancient Indian texts. The first version of the ancient indian wisdom tradition, Vedas were written on birch bark.

Many Native Americans used the bark for the construction of strong, waterproof but lightweight canoes, bowls and wigwams.  This bark is light weight, flexible, and the easy to strip from fallen trees. The Grand Medicine Society of the Ojibwa Indians, use the birch bark rolls to depict the symbols of their society and are a most treasured item of the initiate.

The birch tree is considered a national tree of Russia where it used to be worshipped as a goddess during the Green Week in early June. Russians plant birches outside the home to bring protection.

In the past, Siberian Shamanism would hang the corpses of their dead shamans up in birch trees and leave them to the elements and the wildlife. His spirit would use the Birch as the gateway to the spirit world, but could also use it anytime as a way to come back when called or needed.  Today the Siberian Shaman uses the full spiritual strength of the birch by using it for the center pole of the yurt.  Nine notches are carved into it before it is erected. Then in a trance the shaman climbs to the top of the pole while his/her spirit journeys to the upper or lower world.

Among the Gold Eskimos the climbing of a birch tree marks the high point of an apprentice's initiation ceremony. The shamanic teacher climbs a birch tree and circles its trunk nine times. As he climbs, the shaman's soul ascends to the Upper World. Each circling of the Tree marks the passing of the shaman from one world to another.  The shaman then returns and the apprentice and other initiates climb the Tree in turn.

The indigenous peoples of North America, Russia, Siberia, northern Europe and Scandinavia have used the durable bark for many things such as boats, canoes, wigwams and yurts and all sorts of containers, writing paper and even shoes.

Listen closely. Listen for the whispers of renewal in the midst of the birch groves within your soul. The birch Dryad's are speaking to you.

Functional Uses:

The birch bark is practically imperishable, due to the resinous oil it contains. This bark does not rot – lending the tree to an aura of indestructibility.  The bark is quite strong and flexible. Removal of the bark does not kill the tree but will leave a permanent black band. Always get bark from fallen trees first.

Birch used as firewood burns well, without popping, even when frozen and freshly hewn. The bark will burn very well even when wet because of the oils it contains. With care, it can be split into very thin sheets that will ignite from even the smallest of sparks.

Baltic Birch has a natural resonance that peaks in the high and low frequencies. For this reason it is among the most sought after wood in the manufacture of speaker cabinets. Birch wood is sometimes used as a tonewood for semi-acoustic and acoustic guitar bodies Birch wood is also a common material used in mallets for keyboard percussion.

Natural Healing and Edibility

Birch Twigs: Used in saunas, birch twigs are used to 'beat' the body to stimulate circulation.  The fragrant twigs of the Silver Birch are also used in saunas to relax the muscles. Similarly, birch bows can be spread on a sweat lodge floor.

Birch Leaves: Tea from the young leaves stimulate the gall bladder, kidneys and liver and can be drunk over three weeks as a spring detox. Leaves are collected in April or May and dried then brewed into a tea.  This tea can also be cooled and used as a hair rinse massaging it into the scalp after shampooing to accelerate hair growth. The young spring leaves also provide a healthy addition to fresh salads.

Birch bark: Make a birch bark paste to treat some skin conditions. Use sufficient water to cover the bark. Boil until soft and then mash with a kitchen hammer or pestle. Apply the paste to sores, abrasions and inflammations. Repeat daily and watch for improvement in the skin within a week.  Birch bark can also be soaked until moist in water, and then formed into a cast for a broken arm.

Birch Oil: Soothe sore muscles by rubbing them with birch oil. Massage with the oil to reduce pain and stiffness. (See video link below on how to render this oil.)  Birch bark oil can also be used to repel insects. It has a high concentration of acid that wards off mosquitoes, gnats and other bugs. Combine 25 drops with 4 ounces of water. Use a spray pump bottle to distribute the mixture evenly over exposed skin.

Inner bark: The inner bark of the birch can be dried and ground into a flour for bread or cut into strips and boiled like noodles in stews.  It can also be eaten raw. From the black or yellow birches, a tasty tea delicately spicy with taste of wintergreen can be made.  Any of the types of birches make a good tea even if using only small twigs.

Birch juice: Extracted by tapping into the standing trees, the sap can be drunk right out of the tree in springtime or boil down into a syrup or made into a wine. It is half as sweet as maple syrup.

We are gifted from Mother Earth with the gentle grace of the birch trees.

Birch Links:

Making Oil from Birch Bark

Aboriginal Art, Birch Bark Biting

Making a Birch Bark Basket

NativeTech: Native American Technology and Art. – USES FOR BIRCHBARK

White Birch

Resources:

Flower and Tree Magic, Richard Webster. Copyright 2008- Llewellyn

Trees & Shrubs of Northern New England. Copyright 1975-Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Bradford Angier. Copyright 2008 – Stackpole Books.

The Meaning of Trees, Fred Hageneder. Copyright 2005-Duncan Baird


Birds and their spirit !

Reblogged from

A Journey with Art, Nature & Spirit


Bird Spirit

10 Jun 2013 Leave a Comment

by Kate Zamarchi - Artist/Naturalist in Art, Birds, Death, Feather, Healing, Journey, LIfe, Nature, Painting, Poetry, Quotes, Spirituality, Transistions Tags: , , ,

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Bluebird - Bird of Happiness

Bluebird – Bird of Happiness

There is something about birds soaring through the air that stirs our souls, motivating us to rise above our earthly concerns and learn more about a greater world beyond Earth: the spiritual realm. Birds can symbolize the beauty of spiritual growth. People sometimes see birds appearing before them to deliver some type of spiritual message. We may even encounter a bird and think about a loved one who has died and now is acting as a spirit guide. A bluejay is that for me with my father.  After he passed, a bluejay hung around me for quite sometime quietly watching.  Now each time I see a bluejay, I feel my father's spirit close by.

Birds may also symbolize something God wants to communicate to you in the form of an animal totem.  "Is there a bird that you have been drawn to for most of your life, or a bird that has popped up repeatedly?" asks Murphy-Hiscock in Birds – A Spiritual Field Guide. "… This bird may be a personal totem, representing and reflecting part of your spirit. Read about the bird; explore its symbolism…".

Recently I painted a collection of birds found in New England that frequent bird feeders.  Each has there own meaning…

  • Chickadee – bird of playfulness
  • Titmouse – bird of unity
  • Nuthatch – bird of flexibility
  • Kinglet – bird of motion
  • Hummingbird – bird of energy
  • Bluebird – bird of happiness
  • Bluejay – bird of expression
  • Warbler – bird of song
  • Cardinal – bird of transformation

Bird Colletion II

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." – Maya Angelou



The Gift of Silence

Reblogged from

A Journey with Art, Nature & Spirit

A Life Evolving

The Gifts from Silence

by Kate Zamarchi - Artist/Naturalist in Journey, Mandala, Silence, Spirituality

Our lives are quite full of man made sounds.  We have grown so accustomed to having constant sound many of us have grown uncomfortable with quiet.  Do you ever have the TV on as background sound?  The TV, radio, phones, all the electronic devices  clicking, beeping and chirping.  And even when they are all turned off – there is a constant hum in the atmosphere.  Till the electricity goes off….then it is quiet.

Peaceful HeronsWe take vacations to "get away" – sometimes we take the sounds with us.  But if we are lucky we really get away and instead enjoy the sounds of nature.  Today I was sitting at the ocean on a sunny September day.  Several sea birds were around – but they were sitting quietly sunning themselves.  The small whitecaps on the surf were splashing  against the rocks.  The loudest sound was the sound of the surf.  But this place alone is peace and quiet…not silence.

"In the world of religion and philosophy the practice of silence plays a most vital part.  It creates an atmosphere and enables the seeker to find access to an inner sanctuary entirely hidden from the restless and turbulent material world." – Swami Paramanada

I experienced true silence for the first time in February on a week long retreat in Northern California at Mount Madonna Center.  When I left for the retreat I had no idea it was to be in silence.  The first night I called my daughters back in New Hampshire and told them I wouldn't be calling home and that I would not be talking for the first half of the week.  They laughed…"How are you going to that mum!"  I hung up at the end of the conversation and the silence began.  What was this silence I was to experience?  Was it simply not talking?

I actually found it pretty easy not to talk.  This week of silence ended up being magical and transformational for me.  The days began with Yoga or QiGong before breakfast.  All our meals were in silence.  There was a special location in the dinning facility for the people on silent retreat.  But, there were still plenty of people who were not silent attending other events or who lived at the center. So there was silence – but it was not quiet.  Our long days were filled with meditation and creating illuminated mandalas and walks in nature….all in silence.

The only communication was an occasional greeting with a bow of the head or a with hands in the prayer position at the heart (the sign for Namaste`).  That week we were 30 women who did not know each other sitting in a circle without verbal communication.  Despite that, we learned to know each other…but it was at a different level… a spirit or soul level.  We connected heart to heart – spirit to spirit.  When we speak we meet each other's personality – much different than meeting a person's soul.  I have found we can sense a person's spirit by looking into the eyes – the portal to the soul.  The gift of a silent greeting.

When silent I have found I can see or hear the Divine Spirit's gifts at a much greater detail – awareness is heightened.  Textures, colors, shapes, smells and sounds really are more pronounced.  Silence before creative activities allows for accessing our higher nature and originality. Body, Mind and Spirit are working in unison to create.

The most profound aspect I found from silence was feeling connected to Spirit…the feeling of oneness, wholeness, unity.  The chatter in my mind eventually stopped and I got into a zone.  I caught myself "staring into space" but it was really just that I was completely "tuned in" I was "Be-ing".  The Divine was feeding my soul and raising the energy of my spirit.  Silence gave me back my energy and peace.  I was centered and the Spirit of Life had returned to me.  I till tear up when I tell people of this experience…it was so beautiful so strong – so full of love.  I feel called in a strong to share this with others – to facilitate this illuminating mandala process and the power of meditation and silence.  Illuminating Spirit!

"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.  See how nature – trees, flowers, grass-grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence…We need silence to be able to touch souls." – Mother Teresa

Back home now every morning I give myself at least and hour or silence and meditation.  But, before any of my workshops and at least one day a month I carve out and "be" in silence for the day – to nourish my Soul and energize my Spirit.  When silent I can hear God's whispers giving me gentle guidance.  I hear the quiet advice from my committee (relatives and friends who have passed on).  I am once again centered, focused and at peace and connected to Spirit.

"The ordinary man says that he cannot hear it; that it is all an imagination; but the mystic hears it, because he has made his outer being silent and has found access to the inner shrine of his soul." – Swami Paramananda

We may not be able to make our worlds quiet but even so, we can enjoy silence – even for short periods of time.  The power of the spoken word is mighty. The power of silence can be mightier still.  What are you NOT going to say?  Let's spread our wings like the bird in silence and feel the wind of Spirit blow through.

A great booklet "Silence as Yoga" by Swami Paramananda can be found at www.chennaitmath.org

Namaste`

More about Co-incidences ....

Reblogged from "A Journey with Art, Nature & Spirit"

Synchronicity – A Trail of Bread Crumbs

by Kate Zamarchi - Artist/Naturalist in Spirituality, Synchronicity

Coincidence, Chance, By Accident or by Design….

Carl Jung in the 1920's described the term synchronicity to mean experiencing two or more events that even though unrelated have something in common and be unlikely to occur by chance -  "temporally coincident occurrences of causal events."

In my last post I mentioned a series of synchronistic events that led me to the path that I am currently on.  Looking back on it now I see it like being in a forest of trees and low growing shrubs – hard to see too far in front of me.  Yet there is this trail of breadcrumbs placed before me as I walk through and make my own path.

Energy of the StonesThe first bread crumb came as an email.  I was on girls week away with my daughters in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire.  We were relaxing and chatting in the cabin we rented for the week.  I was showing them how if you hang a crystal from a string and hang it over another stone it will pick up the energy of that stone and begin to spin (dowsing).  That same day I received an email from the woman who had taught me Reiki 11 years prior and attuned me to be a Reiki Master.  I had not heard from her in ages – as she had moved away from the area up to Maine.  Her email was inviting me to come up to her retreat center – she was hosting Raymon Grace a nationally renown dowser to teach advanced dowsing and a native american emotional release technique.  I got chills (which usually is a sign of the truth for me) – I knew I had to go.

At this time I was still working in my corporate job – a company girl.  Worked 50-60 hours a week.  Very dedicated to 'get the job done'.   Now here I was just coming back from a week off and asking for another week only a month later.  But I did… this is when I started to follow my heart instead of my head.

While at the event in Maine, I was chatting with my Reiki Master and telling her how I was feeling a sense of urgency and pull to 'begin my work and take it out to the world'.  But what exactly was the 'work'?  I wanted some way to pull together my gifts and passions of Art, Spirit, Reiki, Symbolism into something.  I put my request out to the universe.

The second bread crumb came as a syllabus that contained information on Mandalas for Spiritual Healing.  It contained a list of books and an optional residential portion – training with Judith Cornell Ph.D on her Luminous Mandala Process for Healing.  I was not ready at the time to dive into graduate level studies so I ordered all the books and devoured them!  This was it – the Mandala – the answer to my request to the universe!  It brought together exactly what I asked for…Art, Spirit, Symbolism and Divine Energy.  I began to create mandalas.  I found a website called "Mandala Universe" that listed workshops by Judith Cornell Ph.D.  I signed up for a webinar and a newsletter as my first step.

My third bread crumb was a phone call.  The last newsletter came with news that the February 2010 Facilitation Training would be the last.  I was bummed – this was not in my "planned" timeline – I wanted to take it – but later.  I emailed the website a question if there would be other ways to get certified by Judith in the future.  Within 45 minutes my cell phone rang – it was Judith herself!  We had a lovely talk.  After that call – once again – I knew I HAD to go to this training.

Still working my corporate job – I went to my manager and told her I could not go an the business trip to Belfast Ireland that they had been planning.  There was a personal thing that I had to do.  This was so out of character for me…but it felt oh so right.  As I spoke of in my last blog, off I went to Mount Madonna Center in Northern California

As part of my 108 hours of internship to become a Certified Mandala Facilitator I had the option to be part of a team of facilitators to lead a week long retreat and training in St. Louis Missouri. This sounded like a wonderful option to me – but I had some reservations.  It was being held at a Convent and the Lead Facilitator was a nun.  For me the mandala process was not about religion but about spirit.  Although we facilitators come from various spiritual paths, we are inclusive and honor all faith traditions.  I did not want it to be about religion.  I signed up with potential interest in this opportunity.

My fourth bread crumb came as a past student.  In my mid thirties I had converted to Catholicism so that our family could worship together – I had married a catholic man.  I learned to love the meaning behind the ritual within the church.  As part of this time in my life I also taught 3rd grade CCD for one year.  This class of kids was super.  I brought in the Bible and taught them to look up their own answers within the book.  Something not necessarily taught in the Catholic tradition. Anyway, back to the synchronicity…  I was meeting some folks in a local coffee shop.  Behind the counter was a young girl waiting on me.  She looked familiar.  I thought – maybe she is one of my daughters friends.  She said to me "Aren't you Ms Zamarchi?"  I said yes.  She then said "I am Amber, You were my 3rd grade CCD teacher."  I knew she looked familiar.  I was so surprised she remembered me.  For me, this was a sign.  A sign of synchronicity that yes – I should go to the Convent and lead a week of Mandala with the focus on Christian Mysticism.  The week in St Louis was a blessing and once again worthy of it's own post.

I continue to walk through life doing my part of "the work" – "being"…but I am so grateful for the breadcrumbs.  The synchronicity, the chills, the affirmations to know I am on the right path.  And know even if I wander off of it at times – there will be a breadcrumb to bring me back.

My intentions for all those that read this is that your eyes too are able to see the beautiful breadcrumbs left for you….gifts for your own life journey.

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All about Co-incidences ! Here: the Path of Feathers

Re-blogged this from

A Journey with Art, Nature & Spirit

A Life Evolving

by Kate Zamarchi - Artist/Naturalist in Spirituality


Feather BlessingsAll of 2009 and into 2010 everywhere I went from the East Coast to the West Coast – there was a crow.  On my front yard, outside my bedroom window, on nature walks along the shore, at distant places I traveled from Maine to California. There it was – "caw, caw, caw" working to get my attention. I'd look at it and it was like it's eyes were looking into my soul.  Crows indicate and are symbolic of change – and changes there were!  I am being transformed.  I am being called.

I did not just wake up one day and notice  - oh – I am different today. This has been going on my entire life but at a much slower pace.  And many times I did not even realize it was happening due to being caught up in 'life'.  Childhood, teenage drama, near death experience (more on this later), military, education, marriage, children, corporate career…  you get the idea.  Through all the phases… I have always been is an artist.  God, The Divine, Greater Spirit – what ever you choose to call it – gave me a gift.  This gift would get me through some tough times.  I was able to use it to spill my feelings out on paper.  As my spirit grew – so did my art.  For many many years – I only drew pencil sketches or pen and ink.  Color would turn to mud.  This was very reflective of what my spirit was like – though at the time I did not make the correlation.  As a young mother I started to look deeper within myself.  I began to read many books on spirit and women's spiritual power.  I blossomed and so did my art – the color was coming through!

Then jumping ahead to 1998 – I was introduced to Reiki. Pronounced "Ray-Key" – Rei = Spiritual and ki = Energy.  This again was such a blessing to my life.  I have always been 'sensitive' to the 'vibes' in a room or from other people.  For a long time I did not even know that I was picking up these feelings from outside myself.  I thought they were my own.  Learning Reiki and eventually becoming a Reiki Master Teacher taught me to understand this part of myself and others.  And gave me another gift I could share.  Our life force, our energy, our Spirit.

In 2009, eleven years later, my husband leaves for Afghanistan for a 12 months.  My daughters are 17 and 20 at the time – so pretty self sufficient. In addition,  I had been suffering from some neurological symptoms that the doctors could not diagnose.  I found myself with some extra time to rest and to think. During this time a series of synchronicity happened that put me on the path I am on right now. This synchronicity story is long – so again I will save it for another post. But bottom line – I put it out to the universe that I was ready to use and share my gifts in a bigger way.  But I needed some guidance on how it all fit together!  Art, symbolism, spirituality, reiki and my love for native american traditions.  And – boom – there it was – The Mandala.

I came across Judith Cornell Ph.D and her Mandala Process for Healing and ended up attending what would be her last retreat and training before she transitioned from her body.  This week changed my life forever.  Through this experience I had a very deep connection with Spirit.  I not only discovered but experienced Oneness with the Divine. Through this week of silence, meditation, vision and creativity – I knew who I was and what I was meant to do here on earth.  There was no going back now.  I returned home – gave my notice to a lucrative career of 20 years in the corporate world and began the newest part of my journey…. www.Golden Spiral Intentions.com

During the transition to this new part of my journey, I had a visit by my Guides during a Reiki session I was giving.  They had always been there – but this time – I saw their faces and they gave me their names – "Red Cloud Medicine Man" and "Sarah Rose".  I was surprised to see what Red Cloud looked like.  He was the spitting image of a bust I made of a Native American way back in high school. As I had this thought – he said to me – yes that was me – I have been with you all this time.  He told me that is was ok to incorporate my love of Native American traditions into my work.  He confirmed that even though I was not native american – I knew what I needed to and he would guide me.  Then Sarah Rose told me that she was going to be incarnated as my third daughter – which turned out to be a tubular pregnancy.  My tube burst  - I almost bled to death internally.  But she said it was better that she did not incarnate – she remains my creative muse.  Along with Spirit (God), my committee (spirits of departed loved ones) and the ascended masters, they continue to guide me each day.

This year the crow occasionally still appears, and I have had many personal encounters with dragonflies (renewal) and butterflies (changes of the soul).  But continually – I have been given gifts of feathers.  The photo above is the collection I have created just this summer and almost all  from my yard – fifty five of them!!! They will become part of a new collection of Bird Totem Art I am creating.

I had to find out what all these feathers were trying to tell me. Symbolically feathers mean ascension and spiritual evolution to a higher plane.  I also came across the "Path of the Feather".  Read this link – I could not put it any better.  This is what is calling me to be a Shamanic Artist.  All of the Art and the Healing practices I do is shamanic now.  The art must have symbolic meaning and healing power.  This path is of teaching, it is a path of creative healing art, it is a path of living life in a sacred manner and being connected to the living earth and helping to heal it.  It is about personal transformation and healing.

This is my first blog post.  I hope you enjoyed it and will follow me by reading my posts on my journey.  Feel free to comment below.

Namaste`

Your Garden will not green-grow
-if you do not water it properly-