Happy New Year!!! - Blog Post

To all my readers out there - thank you so much for being a part of my adventures. Little did I know that this small blog could reach so many countries far and wide! So, from London, I send you all my love and peace and wish you the very best in 2016.

For me 2015 was unexpected and if you had told me the story of my year at the beginning I wouldn't have believed a word. It's been a year of tears and laughter, of resistance and surrender, of plants and trees, long walks and lunar moments, of friendship and family and friendships transforming into family, of travels and dreams, of walking away and finding anew. There have been hugs and kisses... stories and tales... endings and disappointments... beginnings and blessings... new life and death... Light and shadow and constantly the inner search driving me... relentlessly... onwards... moving me forward. Seeking... Searching for more.

Catch you on the flipside.

Peace xxx





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Inner Shaman Adventures - Cacao Ceremony 8

Carmen laughed at our willingness to participate in two cacao ceremonies in two weeks, 'We are cacao junkies!' 

Over this year, this subtle but powerful plant medicine has provided me with so much insight and guidance I can only feel grateful that there is another another opportunity to connect with her before the year end.

The Shaman spoke about love, trust, forgiveness and compassion - talking about how they are the ingredients for inner and world peace. The Shaman asked me my intention for the year ahead so I can contribute to world peace in my life - I stated that I wanted to continue encouraging trust in the universe and the journey I am undertaking in following my heart and also some guidance in my career as my values as a Social Worker seem increasingly at odds with the clinical setting I find myself in.

I pull the card, 'Harmony' - a picture of my heart and mind being at one and no longer conflicted.

I drank as much cacao as I could muster - her bitterness ever present in every drop - and lay down to journey.

As soon as I lay down I think I fell asleep, I don't know how long I remained unconscious. But when I awoke, Old Mother Cacao was already there, waiting patiently.

  'Life is being brought into harmony because you are finding peace within and are realising you are on the right path for you. You have re-learned to follow your heart and trust your intuition and you are learning not to be afraid of your own transformation.'

I nodded.

  'Look after yourself and keep yourself well. Eat healthily, sleep deeply, exercise and be in nature frequently. Also, listen to what your heart says. This will help you to withstand any change. Change has come and it is still to come. Now you are learning to roll with the punches.'

  'It is important to maintain your authenticity and values - if the placement of your job isn't conducive, find a place that is. No matter where you are, let your inner light shine through. As long as you follow your heart, life will flow.'

I asked about my card, she said, 'You are coming into a place of harmony. You are patching up energy leaks so you are better able to care for yourself and others. You are allowing life to take it's own pace rather than forcing it to bend to your own will. There have been many changes this year but understand that in the next 12 months there will be even more and all you can do is hold on to love, trust, forgiveness and compassion. Your power comes from within.'

I pulled my guidance card for 2016: 'Aloneness'. The picture is of a monk walking his path in darkness but his inner light guides him and his sprouting staff of life is beside him. I am willing to allow my own light to shine through.

You can find my adventures in Shamanism here: Inner Shaman Adventures


Cacao Ceremonies facilitated by: http://www.rebekahshaman.com/



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Inner Shaman Adventures - Cacao Ceremony 7

As I walked through London, I saw Christmas decorations lighting up the sky. It felt like humanity's last ditch attempt at brightness before the deepest part of our winter, our hibernation, sets in... I was once again reminded that soon I will set foot on the rock surrounded by people of my birth and childhood for the festive season.

Events leading up to this season have been conflicted - this year has been a year of intensity, change, and facing up to the reality of my shadow side as well as my light. I am continually being taught so many lessons - and this month continues to teach me that of love and patience, releasing the need to know outcomes, of letting go, of trying to control situations and allowing the flow to take me where I need to be without losing my voice or authenticity.

I asked cacao for help and insight into how best I can experience my time this Christmas. The card I pulled was stress - I knew I needed to let go of all that caused me stress within familial relationships and friendships before I headed home; I knew I needed to wipe the slate clean.

I drank her bitterness until I felt myself heave at the taste and lay down to journey. I visualised my place of nature and saw St Ouen's beach experiencing rough weather. The clouds were ominously looming, the wind was tossing my hair and throwing sea salt into my eyes; the waves were crashing against the shore with abandon. I knew I was not in a place of peace as I was not in a peaceful place within.

Old Mother Cacao was waiting.

  'Hello my darling.'

She took my hand and said, 'Everyone is family - all around you is family - human, animal, elemental... seen and unseen. You are a tree with deep roots and strong tall branches and all that you are connected to is your family.'

  'Every human being is subject to constant change - never assume a person remains the same.'

I saw an image of my family looking at a corpse of an old me, of who they think I am, wondering why she isn't the same as before. As I continually grow, learn and adjust so do those who are around me. In that image I learned I also need to continually learn to adjust to others too.

  'Darling, relationships come in different forms, we cannot manipulate them according to expectation. You cannot expect a relationship to have the strength of a fully grown tree if you are only at the stage of a sapling. Maintain your boundaries.'

I thanked her for her wisdom and asked her if there was anything else I needed to know.

  'Expect change. Do not cling to anything. Everything is going to change and keep on moving. Do not resist whatever happens in your life - go with it's flow and allow growth. All beings come together to help facilitate a process, do not be limited by human expectation, there are different relationships for every part of this journey.'

  'Change is not something to fear; embrace it and be happy. Adapt and accept whatever life throws at you and understand that everyone has their role to play.'

I kneeled beside Old Mother Cacao and placed my head on her lap. She stroked my hair. 'Believe in yourself and use your intuition as a guide. Remember that I am always here.'

The Shaman brought us out of our journeys and we all took a card, I picked, 'Healing.' She nodded and said, 'Find the middle ground without compromising, all will be well.'

Aho.


You can find my adventures in Shamanism here: Inner Shaman Adventures


Cacao Ceremonies facilitated by: http://www.rebekahshaman.com/



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