Life can be complicated. With many decisions large and small that must be weighed, but do they really need so much weighing? Or is there another way? Perhaps we can ask Great Spirit for the answers – big and small – for the actions – big and small that we need to take each day.

It is a huge challenge to do things this way and scary too but it is just so brilliant to try, even when we fail some of the time. When we listen to the Whispers from Great Spirit and act upon them, there is a certainty we have, a knowing that something is just right about what we are doing. There is something we can trust.

This week’s challenge: Try for 1 week to follow all your Spirit Guidance. Be quiet, ask, act…if your Guidance tells you to go to the store at a certain time, do it! You just never know whom you might meet.

Many years ago as a member of a women’s circle we took a month and promised to listen to our inner guidance and do whatever we were instructed, just as an experiment.  One woman got a hit that she should go to Kinko’s to get some marketing materials printed for a project she was working on – right now.  She went when told, and as she was standing in line she met a person who was interested in her project.  It turned out to be a very valuable connection.  If she had ignored Spirits guidance and gone a half hour later, she would not have made that contact.  These big and small things are what can result in a magical, synchronistic life!

Since Building Paah cho eh Peace Sound Chamber I’m doing this more, especially when it concerns decisions pertaining to the Chamber itself.  It seems easy really because it is so obvious that decisions having to do with the Chamber need a higher input than just me!

I’m offering some new things here at our land such as a private drum making OR a private Flower Essence consult.  My vision for these offerings are that you would come and stay in our Airbnb room one night or maybe two so we could do our work together.  You would also have some time to explore Tucson a bit if you’d like.

It would be $250 for the drum teachings including all materials for a 14” elk, deer or buffalo drum, plus $100 for the room the 1^st night, with a discount for the second night if you choose to stay.  The cost for the Flower Essence consult would be the same, except we would do ceremony in the Peace Chamber and you would receive your personal formula with a follow up session via phone. To see my Airbnb room go here.

Drumming is an activity that lifts us to a higher vibration, done in the company of others it is even more powerful.  It is a deep, fun and sweet ceremony to make your own drum, truly it is. The flower essences are capable of transforming old emotional patterns and your essence will be made tailored to your personal issues.  Call or email me if you want to explore one of these options for yourself.

My prayer is that you find a way to keep your soul lifted in a way that feels good to you.

In Joy and with love,
Jane

Sadness, grief, joy, connection…..these are all things I experienced last night when I slept in our beautiful Dance Arbor. This year, we had to cancel our dance.  We didn’t have enough support but I’m discovering more than that, it was and is very important for me to pay attention to what I need too. As I cried, drummed, blew my whistle and listened…..I heard the quiet of the desert, the noises of others that were near – saw the stars and enjoyed the sounds of the morning birds as I sang to the sun.

In my love of the Dance and my commitment to offering these ceremonies and ways to pray I sometimes overlook how I’m really feeling.  My tendency is to push through, not to stop and ask what I need.  Sound familiar? I bet it does to most woman anyway.

So now I’m on a quest to see how I can honor my desire to offer these ceremonies to others in a way that honors my own physical and spiritual needs.  As my dear friend Kristen said “yes is an answer and no is an answer” and sometimes it’s a no.

It might be in the no that a wider vision opens up, it might be in the no that the pause gives new insights or new ways to do things.  It’s ok to take breaks, to nourish myself and in so doing I will give others permission to nourish themselves too.

I’m dreaming into reality new ways to connect with others…..private Flower Essence consults while enjoying a night in our Airbnb room, or a personal drum making while in our space, sounds good to me and I think it might sound good to others.  We get to connect deeply – one on one and be on this sacred land pursuing healing though connection and physical interaction,

Time shall tell how this all unfolds, but I’m certain that in this pause there will come ways to move forward that are good for me, and good for all who show up here.

I really enjoyed this teaching when I read it the other day…..I hope you do too! Jane

Sweetgrass – a kindness medicine… has a sweet gentle aroma when we light it… 21 strands to make a braid… the first 7 strands represent those 7 generations behind us… our parents, grandparents… 7 generations behind us.. who we are and what we are is because of them.. they’ve brushed and made the trails we have been walking up till now… the old people tell us that it takes longer for us to heal today and the reason is because the old trails our ancestors used to use to find us have been destroyed… they’ve build dams which have destroyed the old trails… they’ve build towns and cities where the old trails used to be… so now our ancestors are having a harder time trying to find us to help us heal… the next seven represent the 7 sacred teachings… love, respect, honesty, courage, wisdom, truth, and humility… the old people tell us how simple, powerful and beautiful the teachings are… love- a very simple teaching… respect- a powerful teaching… humility- a beautiful teaching… when we truly understand the teaching of humility… that I am not any better then anyone else and you are not any better then me… that at the end of the day we are all simply human beings… this is what makes this teaching powerful and beautiful… the only thing wrong with the teachings is that we don’t walk them everyday… love is only a 4 letter word… it’s when we walk that love, when we show it, when we live it… that’s what makes these teachings powerful and beautiful… one other thing we are reminded is that how can we love someone else if we don’t First love ourself… how can we respect another if we don’t First respect ourself… they tell us that the teachings need to first start from within ourself… the last 7 strands… those 7 generation in front of us… our children, grandchildren… those children yet to be born… why are they important… everything we do to Mother Earth will one day affect them… right now the earth gives us everything and anything we can possibly want to have the life we have… but if we don’t look after her, what’s going to be left when it’s their turn… the circle that’s around me today, is that the same circle I want to pass on to them… especially if my circle involves alcohol abuse, drug abuse, family violence, lying, stealing or cheating… sometime it’s up to us to break the cycle… and hopefully replace it with something better …we put those 3 braids together… they represent yesterday, today and tomorrow… mind, body and spirit…. man, woman and child… man, woman and Creator ….
When my son was born I made him a promise that we wouldn’t cut his hair till he was 7… we cut it 8 years ago, he’s 15 today… but when he was 4 years old he already knew this teaching… because every morning as I’d get him ready for daycare, I’d braid his hair… I’d ask him… Misko what does your braid represent … sweetgrass he’d say… what does sweetgrass represent my boy I’d ask… kindness he’d say… and what does each of your braids represent my boy… my mind, my body and my spirit was his reply… ok what are you going to do at daycare today my boy I’d ask… dad!!!! I’m going to be kind to my mind, my body and my spirit he’d say… awesome my boy!!! What’s going to happen if you do that today my boy I’d ask… he’d say… dad! I’m going to be STRONG !!!!
You see that’s the second teaching that comes with this medicine… it’s through our kindness that we are most strong… anybody can raise their fist at anyone else… anyone can use their words to hurt or put someone down… but when we have someone in our face trying to hurt us with their actions or words… and to still love, respect and show that person kindness… that takes a lot of strength !!!!

All of my life really, has been a journey towards trust.  Trust that the forces of the Universe are conspiring to support me, not betray me.  I get lessons big and small, all the time.  Right now though, I want to talk about one particular lesson.

A few years ago, it was time to build our Dance Arbor and we were scratching our heads wondering how to pay for that.  We needed a backhoe to contour the land, and treated wood for the structure, shade cloth to cover it and of course……a ceremonial drum!  That year, we had a drum vision quest in February inside the Peace Chamber.  A lovely woman came from CA to join us, she sent us $2000 initially saying the extra money was to help anyone else who wanted to come.  Now we were asking about $150 for the whole weekend so that was a LOT extra.  Jack and I were ecstatic since that was definitely enough to get the backhoe to get started.

After the weekend was over and everyone had left – Jack mentioned there was a card down on the Altar in the Chamber and when we looked there were 4 more checks for $2000 each.  At that moment, my heart was filled with gratitude and awe to see how our needs could be met in such an unexpected way.

You might ask yourself what this has to do with the drum and trust, well…..I had a drum made at a “discounted” price that year by someone I trust and love who was doing me a favor. What was I thinking you might ask, well – I wasn’t thinking, I was in fear that we might not have enough money to do that first dance, that it might not be “perfect” and that of course is another conversation….one for another time.

I thought I was doing the right thing but what is interesting is that the drum, although beautiful, has never been quite right.  Strapping has broken, the frame warped into the shape of the chamber (pretty awesome) and the sound wasn’t what we hoped.  To be fair, the drum was made on the east coast where conditions are very different than in Tucson.  But that drum had lessons to teach us.

This also ties into holding these wonderful Vision Quest dances on our land, we receive what we need to do this deep and powerful work.  How many dancers is enough? Can we cover all the costs involved? These are some of the fears I have and each year, I’m shown again and again….that it all works out.

Well this past year, I’ve realized that we need a new drum and I knew just the person to ask.  This drum is made from cottonwood from our beloved teacher’s land and it’s also being made in such a way that it can handle our very dry climate.  The cost of this new drum is $900 and some of that money came to me almost right away, but I’m telling you this tale to see if you can find it in your hearts to help with the rest.  It can be $20 or $5 or $100 – it all depends on what you feel you want to send.

This deep lesson of trust is one we all share really and being open to the UNIverse answering our prayers in unexpected and delightful ways.  Our Sun-Moon Dance is Thursday April 12 to Sunday April 15^th…….we would welcome you as a support person or a dancer if your heart calls you to it. Consider it, with your heart not your head and jump into the pool of trust knowing that you can do it! Aho

If you’d like to help us cover the cost of this new drum, you can send a check to Jane Innmon at 5284 W Sweetwater Drive Tucson AZ 85745
ps this image is for a beloved sister’s drum..it is not our new drum

Blue Heron

Heron medicine is the power of knowing the self by discovering its gifts and facing its challenges.  It is the ability to accept all feelings and opinions without denying any emotion or thought. Heron flies over those who are unaware of who they are and where they belong in the world. Gently dropping a blue feather to them, Heron asks that they follow their intuition and begin the empowering journey of self-realization.

If the great Blue Heron has flown into your cards today, it is urging you to dive into the watery world of feelings to seek your truth. From The Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams & David Carson

“It is the ability to accept all feelings and opinions without denying any emotion or thought.” This is what jumped out for me and it is a pretty tall order if you think about it, but a worthy goal and something to strive for.

Blue Heron was the card I selected this morning during morning meditation.  This bit of the reading is for the upright position but the card was upside down and it was the only card in the deck that was in that position!  SO, the contrary message is to not do too much self-reflection as it can lead to self-obsession and too much criticism.  It is reminding me that wholeness can not be attained in one deep dive but that we must also resurface for air!

I liked both messages, and can say that lately I’ve been feeling the need for a deep dive into old stuff that still needs to find expression and to be released.

It is fortunate that I have some very good friends in my life that help me to see things when I need to, and remind me of tools I have but had forgotten.  It is also my joy to offer that to others, along with personalized ceremony and Flower Essences to assist in those shifts we all need to make from time to time. It’s what makes us human.  As human’s it is our nature to crystallize in our thinking and it is also in our nature to grow and change but sometimes we need a little help. If you’d like to schedule a time to talk to me, to see if there may be a way for me to help with a transition or time of change….let me know and we can get you on the calendar!

The time is fast approaching for our Sun-Moon Dance and just the thought of being in the Arbor once again makes my heart sing.  The dances that our teacher Joseph Rael gifted us with have been instrumental in some major transformations in my own life and if you are curious about the dances – let’s talk!  Our dance this year is April 12-15^th. You may feel the heart call to Dance or support as a kitchen helper or a Dog Soldier, there are many ways to be a part of something that is almost beyond description and a true gift to us personally and to All the People.  Ours is just one of many Visioning dances that take place around the US and around the world so if we aren’t near you, there may be another dance that is a better fit.  If you let me know of your interest, I can check and see.