Preparing for Winter: CCSS Fall Newsletter 2013

PREPARING FOR WINTER

It’s OK to Play in the Mud

By: CCSS circle member, Doug Mannen

I so enjoy all the seasons; for that I am grateful. But, for others, late fall is a time of dreariness, even dread. At this time of the year we have harvested the last of our vegetables and fruit, and the garden soil has been prepared for winter. Our flower gardens have all but stopped blooming and we have cut the plants back so that they will lie safely dormant until spring. But, there is one other garden we all must tend to – our “inner garden”, the one in which our heart dwells, for that garden is where our strength blooms. Strength is what will sustain us through this time of year and help others to cope as well.

As Mother Earth tilts away from the sun and daylight wanes we enter the darkest and often wettest time of the year. I enjoy completing all the preparations needed for winter. But for many folks this time of year is a chore, without enjoyment; for them it is like the struggle of walking through mud…

TO READ THE FULL STORY FOLLOW THIS LINK TO PEACE VILLAGES!

Call to Action

What colour was your favourite pair of boots as a child? Did you have a special pair for getting mucky in? When was the last time you played in puddles?

Mud Walk

Put on your favourite pair of boots and go outside for a mud walk and reflect on these questions:

Where are you feeling stuck or muddy?
What are you wading through?
What helps you to keep moving?
What nourishment does your inner garden need in preparation for winter?

‘Whale swims in stars’ by Kerri Blackman

Power of Prayer

CCSS circle member, Shailie Dubois, invites us all to join our hearts and spirits in unity focus as we pray for the healing of Mother Ocean on December 12th, 2013.

When our heart is stirred by a need that we see, what can we do? Shailie reminds us that the power of prayer lives within each of us. It lives through our thoughts, words, actions and dreams that we are co-creating our world with. Through our intention of love and compassion, we lift the light in those around us, illuminating their strength, power, beauty and ability to heal. Our spirit helpers are always working in this light, so whenever we find ourselves in the dark, all we need to do is ask for their help and our prayers can take us back home to that place of light.

To find out more about Prayers for the Ocean, follow this link to Shailie’s Facebook Event Page!

Heart Flame of Shamanism: Winter/North

Introductory Training Program on January 17 – 19, 2014

As we prepare our inner gardens for winter, what gifts and treasures can be found within guiding us into the birth of the new year ahead? Come join us for a life changing and rejuvenating winter experience!

Theme of Training Program:

In the dark and quiet night of winter we gather around the shaman’s heart flame to spark creativity, restoring the soul and emerging anew.

Training includes:

Shamanic Journeying
Drumming
Sacred Ceremony
Community building
Creative expression
Exploring your edges
Honouring dreamtime
Connecting to nature
Teleconference mentoring and program support
Online learning community

Who is this training for?

Beginners with no previous shamanic training
Those with some shamanic training, such as having taken the CCSS “Journey Within: Basic Shamanism Program” or “Two Year Advanced Shamanism Program”, who are seeking to deepen their practice
Those who are seeking to gather the four seasonal introductory trainings of the first spiral level before entering into the advanced shamanism training levels

To find out about other upcoming seasonal trainings follow this link!