Seeds of Hope

"Each of us is being called to make a quantum leap from wherever we are to dream our world into being." --Alberto Villoldo

In these hot autumnal days in Northern California, the Blue Oaks are slowly turning yellow, their leaves drifting lazily to the earth and littering the garden. Watching the slow process of seasonal shift, the movements of the stars, and the beginnings of bird migrations--Northern Flickers, Robins, and Golden-Crowned Sparrows--it is hard to believe that the human world is so disrupted.

Yet, disrupted it is, and will continue to be. A myriad of heavy emotions beset us, yet we know in our bones that we have to let them go, or move out of them, or find ways through them. Every spiritual teacher I know is talking about the importance of finding our quiet centers, maintaining equanimity in the face of whatever happens, and modeling love, light, gratitude, and joy. As always, the question is: how?

Shed Your Leaves

"Shed your leaves," the old Mother Oak advises me. "Prepare yourself for new growth."

Even though I have been watching our oaks shed their leaves, it hadn't occurred to me to shed my own, metaphorically. Yet it's a relief to think this way: I have "too much" on my plate, am struggling to quiet my mind; I am struggling to find spaciousness, like everyone I know.

I recommend shedding to you! All of us are so rich in things, in creativity, in curiosity, that just keeping our lives organized can be a burden. There's no space for more, or for something new-a new friend, a new practice or way of learning-so often what begins as a gift becomes heavy baggage. As soon as I thought about shedding, I discovered several projects that could go; several others that wanted attention; and a lot of "stuff"--like clothes I haven't worn for a long time--I didn't want to look at any more!

Once I began to shed, I could look at the "larger frame" of my life with more energy: I could ask "how can I best help the world, myself, my clients? Please show me what is important right now." Because I've let go of some things, I feel lighter, and can bring that lightness to the rest of my life.

Change Your Mind

The Buddhist magazine Tricycle printed a small sticker some years ago. It said, "Change Your Mind." I liked the way it reminded me to choose what I was thinking, what I was reading, and what I was talking about.

During the first weeks of the US economic crash, my husband obsessively reported on the market's decline. Mostly I listened, and went back to what I was doing. Then one day I fell for it: I got scared, depressed, focused on the suffering so many people are experiencing. I immobilized myself with despair, with fear, and with all the worst-case scenarios. I felt awful: physically, mentally, and spiritually my energy sank.

I used to spend a lot of time in these kinds of heavy feelings. I actually believed they were more "real" than the numbness and denial my family of origin indulged in. Now, however, I know there is a choice about what I feel; I know that all of it is just stories I tell myself. I know that negative stories immobilize me, and positive ones give me courage to continue. I also know that no story I tell myself is going to change what the economy is doing!

The day I was immobilized, I spent a lot of hours wandering around trying to do things, and not finishing anything. I couldn't concentrate. Finally I sat in meditation, letting all the thoughts arise and fall away, letting spaciousness enter my brain and body again. It didn't take long to remember what I am writing about. I changed my mind. The stock market rose and fell again, as did my breath. I re-membered and regained my equanimity.

A Code Pink email brought news of a single mother in Queens who had lost her son in Iraq, and was about to lose her house in an auction sale (see link). The next day, 650 people who didn't know her contributed $30,000 to help, she got to keep her house, and Code Pink launched a "bail out Main Street, not Wall Street" campaign. This was one person out of many; and there was hope.

Spread Seeds of Hope!

In each moment, before each breath, all possibilities exist.

In each moment, with each breath, we choose an attitude, a way of being: deep breath, shallow breath; joyous, defended; numb, alert; generous, fearful.

Mystics describe the space where all possibilities exist as the void, that which is empty but full. Most of the universe, including our own bodies, is more space than matter; quantum physicists describe this space as a vacuum, the quantum plenum, and the Zero Point Field. This place of unlimited possibilities is the fertile ground from which we can birth our visions-our seeds of hope--and let them take form in the world.

In this time of incredible challenge for all of us, know that, together, we can create harmony and justice in the world and maintain our connection to the heart of the earth!

Invitation: Send your paradigm-shifting, inspiring stories to us. We'd like to include your experiences in the newsletter!

In harmony and hope,

You are invited to receive the profound energetic transmissions of Munay-Ki, "seeds of homo luminous," over the course of eight months in 2009.

Sweet YouTube video on using light and intent to heal ourselves and the planet together.

How can we access our inner light on a regular basis, and shift away from "dense" and "heavy" emotions? How can we learn to see with our hearts, explore the hidden worlds, and access the timeless wisdom known to our ancestors? What is "dreaming the world into being?" Find out in Earth Caretakers spring classes in the woodlands of Sonoma.

Jocelyn's story is a metaphor for all of us. Be inspired, and cultivate generosity!

Red meat and dairy are responsible for nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions from food for an average U.S. household. Replacing them one day per week in your diet reduces emissions equal to 760 miles per year of driving; switching to vegetables one day per week cuts the equivalent of driving 1160 miles per year!

For all of you in the South San Francisco Bay, this Earth Medicine 2009 series will focus healing energy and ceremony on the Guadalupe River watershed.

You can find last month's newsletter on "Dreaming Our World Into Being" and read other, previous versions of Shifting Consciousness News here.

Shamanic Counseling, Energy Healing, Ceremony, and Soul Retrieval:

Explore what this season of transformation may bring to you, and step into your radiance, wisdom, and wholeness with an Earth Caretakers session. Send an email or call our office at 1-707-939-7961 to make your appointment. A recent client wrote, "I really, really, appreciate your gentle, thoughtful, loving, knowledgeable kindness and guidance during this entire process. It has been life-changing for me."

About Earth Caretakers

Earth Caretakers is an organization dedicated to renewing and reweaving our interconnections with stars, trees, and stones; with cross-cultural wisdom and prophesy; and with our own bodies, souls, and spirits. Founded by Meg Beeler, MAT, Earth Caretakers sponsors participatory, experiential, earth-honoring and rites-of-passage ceremonies. We draw on ancestral wisdom to empower visioning and dreaming a future of balance, reciprocity, and harmony.

Visit our website for information on upcoming events, workshops, and shamanic healing. Find inspiration, articles, and previous issues of the Shifting Consciousness News.