Primal Power

There is something primal, raw, and powerful about standing in the mouth of the 3rd largest navigable river on earth that puts “all that is” in perspective.

One small human in the broad riverscape, I felt diminutive, and found it difficult to comprehend this place where the Southern Indian Ocean tides feed the mouth of Millewa “Big Water”.

I stood on the salt-water soaked sand, realizing she had just been there lapping against the dunes. Looking out toward where she had retreated and marveling at her strength and beauty, I felt trepidation growing inside me. There was nothing between me and her spare a narrow sand bar with a pod of playful Australian sea lions and a sand-dredger. Though I knew the tide was out, I did not know for how long and the only exit behind me was the sluice of land that funneled her mighty, salty fluid into the river.

Taking all this in, I stood mesmerized, thrilled to explore the mix of sensations: danger, fear, awe, vastness, smallness. I was giddy with the sheer joy of being witness, no, being in the raw energy of untamed creation!

Surrounded by black swans, grey teal ducks, two Red-necked avocets, an Eastern reef egret, Australian white Ibis, a pair of Red-capped plovers, a sooty oystercatcher, Pacific black ducks, and silver gulls so at ease in their element, I took comfort in their lead.

 My camera clicked and buzzed, attempting to record the moment. I wanted to memorize her sound and the feel of her vibration in my limbs as she pounded against the shoreline.

My feet began to sink deeper into the sand, getting wetter with each step and I recognized it was time to bid farewell. I thanked her for allowing me to be part of her

…and for bestowing her gifts upon me.

Once home in the U.S., the intensity of my Millewa experience lingered and urged me to learn more about this sacred place. I quickly realized that some of what I was feeling was the energies of an ancient Aboriginal culture dating back 40,000 years! More than 3000 of the Ngarrindjeri people ("the people who belong to this land") had lived at the mouth of the river, gathering fish and working the land.

In the 1990’s, a huge controversy erupted over the building of the bridge from Goolwa to the island.

Hindmarsh Island, on which I stood, was regarded by the Ngarrindjeri as a fertility site, as its shape and that of the surrounding wetlands resembled female reproductive anatomy when viewed from the air. Their name for the island, Kumarangk, was similar to the word for pregnancy, or woman and was used for sacred rituals.

They also believed that the waters of the Goolwa channel required uninterrupted views of the sky, particularly the Seven Sisters constellation, which features in several aboriginal dreaming stories.

Wow! Yes, the red dot is where I stood!!! No wonder…

More on the bridge controversy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindmarsh_Island_bridge_controversy

How the Murray River was Made- Dreamtime Bangarang story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgjY27Sy48g

Aboriginals and the river

http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/

Can You Feel It?

There is a Universal shake-up happening! 

Not only is our planet coming into eclipse alignment with our sun and moon in the wee hours of March 20, 2015 but Friday also hails a Super (perigee) moon. The magnificence of this Super New Moon reaching the closest point in its orbit of Earth will be felt, not seen excepting a shadow as it blocks out the sun.

If that weren't enough, the Equinox is also occurring (Spring or Vernal in the northern hemisphere, Fall or Autumnal in the southern half of the globe).

A total solar eclipse has not occurred on the March Equinox since 1662 and will not be witnessed again until 2034.

On top of that, we are under the influence of the final exact square of Uranus-Pluto, which began as far back as 2008. Offered by Golden Age of Gaia:

“The squares are hastening a revolution of sorts in our inner and outer worlds. This great change marks the threshold of the new time that has been incubating within hearts and minds for many years now.This is the most powerful astrological influence we will experience during this decade. The changes seeded during this time will determine the shape of life on the earth plane moving forward.”

Our Mother Earth is vibrating with soooo much intensity right now. So palpable, in fact that even the murkiest of consciousness can feel it! STOP, if only for a moment, breathe, and listen. Close your eyes, feel the wind on your cheeks, and hear the birds. 

Give thanks.

Gaia's message for you:

“In these auspicious hours of darkness during the Super New Moon (05:36 EST) and Total Solar Eclipse (03:41 until 07:50 EST) and in the balance of the Equinox (18:45 EST), it behooves you to be extremely clear on what you desire to conspire with the Universe. The more consciously you choose to align your job, relationships, and daily activities with your soul’s purpose, the more blissful your life IS. 

Can you FEEL it? What does it feel like to be blissed-out, Beloved? 

There is no separation, segregation, or discrimination. 

It is your birthright!”

So, please, in the luscious, dark, quietude of the womb of Gaia and this powerful portal, The Astral Triple Crown, arise from your slumber and claim your seat in the Circle! Offer up to Gaia, our precious Mother Earth, your deepest, soul-felt longings.

Know that they are already yours.

You are witnessed.

You are held in sacred space.

This ground is ferociously fertile, ready to give birth to your seeds of limitless potential!

The New Moon, the Equinox, and Eclipses have been recognized since time began and are powerful times in themselves for building intention.

The new moon is a magical time of beginnings, when you can recharge goals, or set new ones and is an optimal time for planning and seeding your intentions.

Ostara (Vernal Equinox) is a time to create new beginnings in your life.

Eclipses are extremely powerful times where any issues that have been hidden are brought into the light to be addressed. Specifically, solar eclipses create wonderful energetics to work with, bringing deeper issues into the light.

Enjoy the live radio show with Carol Ohmart Behan and myself guiding the Vernal Equinox ritual and seed-sowing on Voices of the Earth!

I offer you this ritual tool to help you celebrate the turn of the Wheel, and consecrate your greatness.

Items to have on hand:

Candle

Piece of paper (sunflower picture optional)

Pen or other colored writing instrument

Scissors

Sunflower seed or birdseed

Flower(s), eggs, other symbols of Spring

Journal

Take a few moments now to consider what parts of your life are out of balance.

Are you spending too much time and too much effort on one part of your life at the expense of other, equally or more important parts? 

Are you spending too much time on things and not on people? 

Do you use one set of behaviors instead of spreading your wings and finding better ways to cope? 

Are you ignoring parts of your life or parts of who you are that might bring balance and wholeness to your life?”

Set your Intentions for what you wish to manifest in this new cycle, this new beginning marked by the New Moon and say:

"Now I cast behind me the darkness of Winter and the past. I look only to that which lies ahead. This is the time for me to plant seeds in the physical, mental, as well as spiritual realms."

When you are ready, take your pen and write in the center of your sunflower paper one way you will rebalance your life. Write down one behavior or one aspect of your life you will change to bring your life back into balance.

Now take your sunflower paper and bend the petals up so that you form a bowl with your committed behavior change written inside. Say:

"As this tiny seed begins its life anew, so do I now begin to manifest my new desires for the coming year."

Place a sunflower seed into the bowl. Your commitment to rebalance your life is now nestled beneath seed, which is the icon of new life, of rebirth and of renewal. Say:

“With joy and trust, I place these requests in the hands of the Goddess and Her Lord.”

Bless your intentions: 

"These thought-seeds I do willingly place into the hands of the Lady and Her Lord, that these desires and dreams may manifest and become reality. By the free will of All, and with harm to none, as I will, so shall it be done."

Many thanks and More info:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKrLUKDn0DE

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2015/03/ostaraspring-equinox-ritual/

http://www.oakandmistletoe.com.au/useful-articles/spring-equinoxostaraeostre

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/10-facts-solar-eclipse-march-2015.html

http://www.mysticmamma.com/total-solar-eclipse-new-moon-in-pisces-equinox-march-20th-2015/

http://goldenageofgaia.com/2015/03/18/dl-zeta-paradigm-shift-now-uranus-pluto-square-asks-us-to-evolve-on-our-feet/

S.O.S.!

"Save Our Souls!" went the old cry. S.O.S! Enough, already! Its' here somewhere. I know it is. So why cant I see it? Yes, its that time of year again when, especially for "northern New Englanders", we've had our fill of single digits, icy windshields, and shoveling. Truth is, the pretty white stuff is not so pretty anymore, having been doused with dirt, sand, and salt on our roadways. The roads themselves are narrower and have plenty of new potholes, and our driveways, well...just imagine 4-5 foot tunnel-like walls of white to greet you when you get home each night for, say, 90 nights!

I'm shouting "Signs Of Spring!" from here on out. Let's begin our watch of the natural world... 'cuz nature knows before we do! And its very darn cute, too.

It's melting!!

 Chickadees are busy on the sunflower seed feeder.

 I love that the Nuthatches hang upside down, daring to be different!

A pair of Tufted Titmice.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

An unexpected visitor...a porcupine leaving the yard after munching on some bird seed at the feeder! He/she was quite entertaining whilst having to lift each paw up high to walk through the four-plus feet of snow in the yard, hind end waddling and tail dragging. I guess porcupines aren't equipped with snowshoe feet.

Trumpeter Swans frolicking and honking in Oneida Lake!

Post your S.O.S. here. Give a shout out for Spring!

Retake: An Iron on the Floor

Friday I traveled northward from South Padre Island, Texas toward the eventual departure destination of Houston. Anticipating my first tub bath in over six weeks, a four-pound carton of Epsom salts rode shotgun. I arrived at the half-way point on North Padre Island to find that the guided bird walk at Mustang Island State Park was cancelled due to blustery conditions.

Bundled in a long-sleeved shirt, hoodie, raincoat, and gloves, I donned my binoculars for my own “look-sea”. Silly girl. Only a handful of gulls and some brave house sparrows managed to stay grounded enough to peck in the sand for food. I did meet a merry threesome of ladies from Minnesota acting like they had never seen the ocean. With my finger inadvertently on some special button, the camera phone whipped out 27 shots of the auspicious occasion (of which I have none)!

 I continued to explore up and down beach access roads and rain-made marshes along Mustang Island. I spotted many of my favorite shorebirds: Ibis, Common terns, Willets, and a lineup of Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets! 

The day soon grew darker and I decided to check into the hotel and prepare for the long-awaited bath. I shed my layers and placed toiletries at their stations, shotgun Epsom at the ready. Plenty of time for a shower to fix my hair, then a bath after dinner, I planned. I turned the shower handle to midway between blue and red. Cool water. I pushed the handle to mid-red. Still cool. I pushed the handle as far as it would go. A little warmer. Okay, so it needs to run longer to warm up, I muttered. Standing in naked anticipation, I waited. I opened the sink faucet to red. Lukewarm. Five minutes more. I checked the shower water. Nope. I called the front desk clerk who called the maintenance guy. Thirty minutes later came a knock on the door. So I had to get (re)dressed. He tested both faucets, stepping on the clean bathmat all the while (my facial grimace was not pretty).

He quickly departed, stating he knew the source of the problem and that he would return. I made a phone call and rearranged my suitcase. Tick, tock it was five o’clock! I calmly resolved to get dressed and have dinner. On the way out, I inquired about the status of my hot water. “It’s fixed,” was the clerk's reply. I reported that the water was still cold and that the fix-it fella had not returned. “It has to run longer (than ten minutes) when there are so few people here, and we just had a new water pump installed. He probably went to the Holiday Inn to get more tools,” she offered. At this point, I assigned my angels to the case and set out to find a “Doc’s margarita”.  

I followed the GPS to the water’s edge and onto the causeway. “Take exit,” it said. A short gravel road took me under the bridge to narrow beach where I found a family of stray cats, laughing gulls (yes, loudly laughing), some fishermen, and a flock of White Pelicans! I snapped a few shots of them and the sweet GPS lady said, “Get out of the car and walk to your destination.” 

I looked up and saw neon lights spelling “Doc’s Seaside”. Too bad there was a several hundred feet of water between us! 

Back in the car and over the bridge I went to the second “troll road”, this time leading to the treasure: a real bird’s-eye view, amazing food, and my last island margarita! 

The return to the hotel was joyfully uneventful and the clerk, who readily recognized me as “room 222”, assured me that the hot water was fixed. With sweet anticipation, I juggled a full 1.5 liter bottle of water, a small purse, a dessert box (for later), a notebook, and the keycard to open the door. No green light. Again... Nope. And why is there an iron in the way? Downstairs at the desk, I held up my card. She didn't even ask, just re-swiped it and handed it back. Got it. I picked up the water bottle and the iron (I had not trusted the dessert alone on the floor while I was gone), then checked the closet. There was already an iron hanging on the wall. Hot water? In thirty seconds. Yes!

Sinking into the hot water, I heard the blup, blup of the tub's overflow and I was there! I rejoiced as I envisioned happy little magnesium cells swimming through my skin and into my bloodstream.

While an iron sat outside the door on the floor.