RBCS Newsletter

Community News

Community News
NB: please note that all local sweat dates are being announced in this Newsletter. In order to sign up for a sweat, you need to write to the e-address associated with your community two weeks in advance so make sure to jot a reminder to yourself on your calendar.

Calgary/Edmonton
Calgary sweats: gathering at 7:00 p.m., May 27, none in June, July 15 and August 19th (please confirm these two sweats at rbscal@gmail.com), September 9, October 14, November 18, December 16.

Edmonton sweats: gathering at noon, May 29, no sweat in June, July 17 and August 28 (please confirm these two sweats at the e-mail address above), September 11, October 16, November 20, December 18.

Earth Dance Weekend: June 17-June 19, with camping Friday to Sunday. The Earth Dance is on June 18th.
There will be a Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m

Ottawa Region
Ceremonial weeklong in Maberley, Ontario (West of Perth) will take place from August 21st to August 27th. Take this great opportunity to do some RBCS or Rites of Passage ceremonies on wonderful farm land which has lots of room for camping.

Toronto
A sweat will be held June 23, gathering time at 6:45 p.m. Please contact rbstor@gamil.com for more information.
Our drum team, the Thunderbirds, continues to meet for drumming, singing and lots of fun, bringing in a variety of musical instruments to accompany the drum. All are most welcome. Neither your own drum nor previous experience is necessary. If you are interested in adding your voice and enthusiasm, please contact Pat, the RBCS Drum Chief, at windhorsesc@gmail.com.

Vancouver
This community has a variety of ongoing activities and upcoming events. For information, please write to rbsvan@gmail.com

Ceremonial Book for Children
Three members of the RBCS created a ceremonial book for children. To find out more about the projectand/or to donate to the self-publishing, go to:

ceremoniesforkids.wordpress.com

If you have children aged 5-13 who would be willing to try the ceremonies
and give us feedback, please e-mail Jen at:

Jennifere100@yahoo.ca

Shamanic Teaching

Continuing our review of the Twenty Great Teachers of Life, in this issue, we turn our attention to those of Victory, Confrontation, Raw Power and Spirit. I remind you that these Teachers were named by Hyemeyohsts Storm in his book Lightningbolt.

Victory:
This Teacher allows us to overcome and silence the niggling voice inside that tells us that we cannot achieve what is important to us, to free that part of us that is always there, the one that says we can. It is about having the focus, determination and intent to hear the encouraging instructions of your life-enhancing commander voice, your own personal cheering section. It is also about paying attention to both the small and larger victories that you do achieve, acknowledging and celebrating them. In doing so, little by little your trust in yourself grows, allowing you to take on greater challenges, thereby enriching your life and making you feel increasingly in charge, less at the effect of others. Victory builds and strengthens skills. Your warrior persona comes to the forefront as you set out to “slay dragons” in your path, without harming others of course. Your ability to learn and to evolve through the experience of loss increases, finding ways to turn your losses into gains. Are you fully aware of each time you have a victory of any kind? Can you pat yourself on the back and acknowledge that the victory was not just some fluke, that it resulted from something inside you? Consider keeping a Victory Journal, recording each success that you have manifested. And don’t forget to express gratitude to the Teacher of Victory.

Confrontation:
This Teacher allows us to express ourselves fully. Many of us have been taught not to be impolite, not to disagree with anyone, and to keep our thoughts and feelings inside when crossed by another. This can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, to self pity and victim mode, to feeling that our opinions and feelings are insignificant, and possibly to depression. Not speaking our truth can lead to low self esteem and failure to actualize our potential in life. The Teacher of Confrontation does not carry the normal negative connotation; instead it encourages us to learn to speak up in a respectful but determined manner when what we see or hear is not in accordance with what we consider truth, especially when, to not do so, results in harm to ourselves or to another. Harm could be as invisible as feeling powerless or hurt inside; to not speak could result in internal damage. Confrontation takes awareness and courage. Sometimes people are accustomed to being slighted and don’t even consciously notice a slight. In addition, fear sometimes saps our desire to confront, as does concern about losing a friend or about not being liked. When we do need to confront, not doing so can shut down our lives little by little, erode our self-respect and diminish our ability to love ourselves. Confronting in a neutral and logical fashion often results in greater respect from others, as well. Determine your comfort level with different styles of confrontation. Challenge yourself to try out different approaches and to speak up as needed. Intentionally build on your experiences, noticing that it becomes easier with practice, and noticing your sense of your own personal power growing. It is not important that you convince another of your truth, only that you express it. With every effort to speak your truth, thank the Teacher of Confrontation.

Raw Power:
This Teacher leads to a feeling of exhilaration. It takes us beyond who we thought we were, and we are forever changed in experiencing a higher measure of our own power, an experience that entices us to strive for that measure again, no longer accepting mediocrity in ourselves. We see that we can indeed shine, that we can feel a surge of energy inside that convinces us that we can create our dreams, make things happen in the world, or conquer just about anything that threatens ourselves or others. What is it that gets in the way of the awakening of this sense of raw power within us? Is it doubt, past conditioning, fatigue, fear, apathy? What can instill this feeling of raw power within us? It may be things such as excellent self-care and health, the determined conquest of our fears, work on ourselves, with the intent of feeling fully in charge of our lives. It could be the Teacher of Rage that teams up with the Teacher of Confrontation to jump start us to insist that our truth be heard. Think back to a time when you got such a surge of energy, you felt raw power running through you, as though you could succeed at everything, and nothing could stop you. Recall what was driving you, to determine the fuel that turns on that powerful feeling. Experiment with rediscovering that experience, learning how to ignite it at will. Thank the Teacher of Raw Power for giving you this magical gift.

Spirit:
This is the Teacher that reminds us that there is a part of us that is eternal, that carries our essence for all time. How often do we think of this consciously and do we organize our lives around this glorious truth? Do we awaken each day and lay our heads down each evening with gratitude? How real is our understanding that our physical bodies serve as the Temple of our Spirit and how does this knowledge inform our choices in the care of our physical selves? Are we determined to call into our lives increasingly challenging experiences to add to the wisdom of our Spirit? Do we deliberately choose activities based on which ones are Spirit enhancing rather than having no meaningful spiritual component? Do we trust our Spirit to “take care” of us when we leave our physical bodies, either when going into dreamtime or at the time of physical death? Take a moment to consider whether you truly consider yourself to be a spirit in a human body, and what that means to you. Thank the Teacher of Spirit for continually confronting you with the need to care for yourself.

Ceremonies of the World

In each Newsletter, we look at a ceremony from a different culture.

Death Ceremony of the New Zealand Maoris

The Maori hold a tangi, a ceremonial death ceremony when one of their tribal members has died. It is their belief that the spirit of the person does not leave until actual burial takes place.
Upon news of a death, family and friends travel to a central ceremonial space called the marae. This is a structure that accommodates the body in one area at night and in a separate open area for daytime ceremony. The body of the deceased (tipapaku) is washed, dressed, and prepared for viewing by female relatives or elders. The inside walls of the marae have many carvings of gods and spirits important to the Maori.
The first part of the ceremony lasts for 3-4 days and the purpose is to allow the family and friends an opportunity to grieve and to honour the departed. During the day, the coffin containing the body is placed in the open area of the marae, a covered and raised verandah, and is surrounded by the female relatives or elders who do a great deal of wailing during the ceremony. All mourners sit in an area facing the body. Long prayers and eulogies are made and songs (waiata) are sung between them.
In the evening, the body is returned to the inside area. As it is believed that the deceased must never be left alone, those who wish may enter and spend the night on mattresses placed around the perimeter of the room. All must wash and remove their shoes before entering.
A separate structure with a kitchen and trestle tables is available to feed the people.
On the last evening of the grieving period, the mood changes to one of lightness in which people celebrate the deceased, tell stories of remembrance, and sing songs.
The burial takes place the next day; the Maori do not believe in cremation. That evening there is a party for the people.
Source: Interview with a Maori individual.

Brown Bear is adaptable in that it can change its diet in order to survive. It is a solitary being, but largely as a result of its not knowing how to connect with others.

It is revered by Native American shamans as an animal ally for its strength, dependability and perseverance. Curiosity and determination to make things work through overcoming obstacles are among its gifts as are its practicality and analytical ability. It knows when to rest and conserve its energy, hibernating during the winter months, dreaming and delving deep within the realms of introspection, intuiting its future. It is strongly aligned with its dream of life, but not always adept at actualizing. Brown Bear tends to see life with a high degree of literalness, sometimes missing important nuances, and can be static in its belief system. Although discerning and discriminating, it can tend to be critical and judgmental at times.

What can you learn from Brown Bear? Are you flexible and do you adapt well to changes and perhaps unexpected circumstances? Are you relatively comfortable with others or do you tend towards solitude? Which of these is your naturalness? Is your health robust enough to keep you strong and persevering towards your goals? Are these goals well formed and juicy enough to keep you engaged? Is your curiosity alive and well or have you become somewhat jaded by life? Do you take time to rest? Do you take time to become introspective in order to regularly take a measure of your life? Do you tend to have a “black and white” perspective or are you able to notice the myriad colours and subtleties in life? Do you still struggle with your tendency to judge others? Select a few of these questions which are relevant for you to ask yourself during the following ceremony.

Journey into the Mystical Cave
Gather the Following Materials: Smudge (or smudge stick) and lighter, picture or other representation of the Brown Bear, Notebook and pen.

Ceremonial Intent: to work with Brown Bear in order to identify those parts of yourself that need to come into balance.

Ceremonial Journey
Find an indoor space in which you will not be disturbed for 1-2 hours. Smudge yourself, the representation of the Brown Bear and the space around you. Call in the powers of the directions (E,W,S,N.C) in your own way, and invite in any teachers and spirits in the light who are willing to work with you.

Lie down and place the picture or other representation of the bear on the floor 12 inches above your head. Close your eyes. Bring your attention to your breath. Do not change your breath in any way; simply allow your attention to be on the inhales and exhales, the rising and falling of your chest. Begin to relax your body by first contracting and then releasing your muscles. Begin with your feet and calves. Contract the muscles and hold them tightly and release them with an exhale and allow them to completely relax. Continue in this way contracting and then releasing one portion of your body at a time; move from your thighs to your belly and buttocks, to your chest, to your hands and arms, to your shoulders and finally to your scalp and facial muscles.

As you relax, go deeper and deeper within. Let your breathing become deep yet relaxed. Visualize the energy in your body flowing up through the top of your head to encompass the Brown Bear whose picture is above you. “See” the Brown Bear become a part of your energy field.

Feel the presence of Brown Bear and determine to journey with him. Feel the excitement of the adventure awaiting you and “see” yourself rise up and follow Brown Bear, noting that you are at the edge of a forest. Travel with the Brown Bear, either walking beside it with your hand on its back, or riding on its back, or even shape-shifting into it. Become aware of the sounds and the scents of the forest. Eventually, you are led to a small cave, its entrance partially hidden by a boulder. If you merged with Brown Bear earlier, separate now. Enter the cave in which a small fire is burning, and take your place across it from your new companion. You are perfectly safe here. As your eyes become accustomed to the light, notice many sparkling clusters of crystals embedded in the wall; they are here to help you focus and to become deeply introspective. Settling into a dreamlike state, begin to ask yourself those questions you selected from above, and any more that occur to you. Ask Brown Bear how you can come into better balance in these areas. It may have its own questions for you. Look to the clusters of crystals for help if you need to. Challenge yourself to really get way below your surface, to get a clear picture of where you are in your evolution and of those obstacles currently in your way. Open up your intuitive gifts to discover different and more effective solutions. When you think you’ve gone deep enough, try going deeper! Once you feel complete, congratulate yourself for having the courage to go deeply within yourself for your own healing. Let Brown Bear know that you are ready to return home and travel with it to your starting place. Thank Brown Bear for all that you received from this adventure, and release it and the teachers and spirits who came to support you with this ceremony.

Take some time to write in your journal what you now know about yourself, and any promises you may have made to yourself. Return your space back to one of beauty.

Robin is familiar to all of us as one of the first signs of Spring and is the harbinger of hope and new beginnings. It is asking us to release the gloominess of Winter, to shed ourselves of any accumulated darkness, and to open up to the light. It urges us to weed our personal gardens and to plant new seeds for our future, inviting us to determine which changes are necessary to root out any stagnation that would hinder our personal renewal. The feeling of joy that Robin instills in us suggests that there is joy in change, and urges us to jump without fear by restoring faith in our hearts. Robin’s habit of perching on top of things reminds us to look at what priorities we need to establish to keep on top of things in our daily lives. In a metaphysical sense, Robin is known for its ability to teach us how to nurture ourselves into true adulthood, to examine our behavior, attitudes and beliefs, to identify any childhood pain that we still carry. Can we let go of our personal drama, not take ourselves so seriously, and laugh with life? Male robins, when in dispute, sing to each other instead of fighting. Can we find healthier ways to handle confrontations? Notice how fearless Robin is when he dares to get close to you; he is asking us to act with bravery. Notice as well how Robin pulls his nourishment from the earth (worms!) and consider how you too can pull up life energies to nourish your spiritual self. Robin is able to raise more than one brood each year; this suggests we need not limit ourselves to a single creation, to a single new opportunity that comes our way. Make a point of listening to Robin sing and be inspired to present your highest truth when speaking.
What can we learn from Robin? As you do the following ceremony, ask yourself whichever of the following questions are relevant for you, and add others that occur to you. How fully have I embraced the energy of renewal offered to me now? Have I any left over “sludge” from Winter that is dragging me down? Am I dedicated to being alert to new opportunities? What is preventing me from taking them? Am I able to fly above any obstacles? Am I dealing with confrontation in healthy and respectful ways? Am I satisfied with the status quo or have I dream seeds not yet planted? Is my life in chaos and do I need to take time out to establish priorities? Is it time to make those changes I have been putting off? Is it possible that I still carry childhood pain that is limiting my ability to enjoy my precious life fully? How much am I willing to do to find this out and to heal it? Where do I miss opportunities because I lack the courage to go for them? Can I re-vision myself and become the person I have dreamed of being? When did I last simply stand on the earth to re-energize myself?

Through the Eyes of a Robin Ceremony
Gather the following materials: smudge or a smudge stick, a lighter, a picture of a robin, a note book and pen. Review the information above on the Robin, paying particular attention to the questions.
Ceremonial intent: To fly with Robin in order to view your life from a higher perspective to determine how best to actualize renewal in your life at this time.

Ceremonial Process
Find an indoor space in which you will not be disturbed for one to two hours, one that is large enough for you to be able to lie down. A dark room is best. Smudge your self, your item(s), and the space around you. Invite in any of the teachers and spirits of the Light who are willing to work with you, and call in the powers of the directions (E,W,S,N,C) in your own way.
Lie down on your back, get into a comfortable position, and, if you have a picture of Robin, place it on your chest so that you can pull the energies of Robin in through your heart chakra. Close your eyes. Bring your attention to your breath. Do not change your breath in any way; simply allow your attention to be on the inhales and exhales, the rising and falling of your chest. Begin to relax your body by first contracting and then releasing your muscles. Begin with your feet and calves. Contract the muscles and hold them tightly and release them with an exhale and allow them to completely relax. Continue in this way contracting and then releasing one portion of your body at a time; move from your thighs to your belly and buttocks, to your chest and back, to your hands and arms, to your shoulders and finally to your scalp and facial muscles. As you relax, go deeper and deeper within. Let your breathing become deep yet relaxed.
Intend and will yourself to shape-shift into Robin. Begin to see your entire chest area covered with soft reddish-orange feathers. Your nose transforms into a sharp yellow beak, your mouth becoming smaller. Your arms dissolve and you know that you will be able to do anything you need to do without them. Feel strong dark grey wings sprouting gently through your shoulder blades. Your legs and feet magically become thin legs and flexible claw like feet that will enable you to perch on tree branches. Your eyes become tiny, round, and energized, and your peripheral vision is greatly enhanced. Note your heart beat quicken with excitement. Feel your new lightness. Move around a bit to make space for your wings. Take a moment to sense what it feels like to be in the body of Robin, knowing that Robin is wise and fully with you and is able to keep you safe, and that you can return to yourself at will. Feel the pull of your merged energy as it begins to take you into flight. Allow your wings to propel you up into the spirit realm (nagual) where you may see a garden or some beautiful woods. Test the power of your wings, trusting them to take you wherever you wish to go. Feel the thrill of freedom. Intend to find a spot on which to perch from which you can imagine having a view of your life as it is now. As the garden or woods recede from view, see the full panorama of your life. Swoop down to have a closer look whenever you wish. Begin to recall whichever of the questions posed above are relevant for you, adding some of your own. Take all the time that you need, going deeper to root out the answers that you need, making sure each question is answered as thoroughly as possible and that do-able ways to achieve changes identified as desirable are determined. When you feel complete, slowly return to your space, separating from Robin and coming back into yourself. Thank Robin for taking you on this healing journey. Release Robin, the powers of the directions, and the teachers and spirits who came to support you in this ceremony.
Take some time to write in your journal what you now know about yourself, and your strategies to change what you deem as appropriate at this time. Put everything away, leaving the space in beauty.

Porcupine Pilgrimage Ceremony

Gather the following materials: smudge or smudge stick, lighter, a picture or other representation of a porcupine (perhaps you have a quill), a note book and pen.
Ceremonial intent: to connect with Porcupine in order to consider the level of wonder and joy in your life, to discern the changes necessary to increase this level.

Ceremonial Process

Find an indoor space in which you will not be disturbed for one to two hours, one that is large enough for you to be able to lie down. A dark room is best. Smudge your self, your item(s), and the space around you. Invite in any of the teachers and spirits of the Light who are willing to work with you, and call in the powers of the directions (E,W,S,N,C) in your own way.
Lie down on your stomach, get into a comfortable position, and place your representation(s) of Porcupine above your head so that you can pull the energies in through your crown chakra. Close your eyes. Bring your attention to your breath. Do not change your breath in any way; simply allow your attention to be on the inhales and exhales, the rising and falling of your chest. Begin to relax your body by first contracting and then releasing your muscles. Begin with your feet and calves. Contract the muscles and hold them tightly and release them with an exhale and allow them to completely relax. Continue in this way contracting and then releasing one portion of your body at a time; move from your thighs to your belly and buttocks, to your chest and back, to your hands and arms, to your shoulders and finally to your scalp and facial muscles. As you relax, go deeper and deeper within. Let your breathing become deep yet relaxed.
Envision and feel the energy of the Porcupine flowing through your crown chakra and down through your entire being, while you merge with or shape shift into Porcupine. Feel/see yourself moving on short sturdy legs through the forest at night, hearing forest sounds, smelling forest smells, close to the ground. Know that you are completely safe and that you can protect yourself should any threat arise. You have already filled your belly and have nothing to do but shuffle along at your own pace, nothing to do but to reflect on your life and how the qualities of Porcupine are easily accessible to you now. As you explore, ask the essence of the Porcupine what you need to do to have more joy and self-direction, more magic, and wonder in your life. Take all the time you need, going deeper into the Porcupine to root out the information that you desire and discern the practical changes you can make.
When you feel complete, slowly return to your space, separating from Porcupine and coming back into yourself. Thank Porcupine for taking you on this healing journey. Release Porcupine, the powers of the directions, and the teachers and spirits who came to support you in this ceremony.
Take some time to write in your journal what you now know about yourself, and any strategies for change given to you by the Porcupine. Put everything away, leaving the space in beauty.

Featured Animal Totem - Brown Bear

Featured Animal Totem - The Robin