It's finally here - the newsletter!

Newsletter - Late Winter/Spring 2017
Greetings!
After a long winter of strange weather it’s delightful to send out this newsletter which looks forward to all things spring.  We’ve made some changes to course layouts to accommodate the distances some people are having to travel. Many of the workshops listed are being focused all in one day, usually on a weekend.  As students gather skills we are advancing the technical difficulty of some courses to accommodate their growth. This newsletter also contains the information on the spring equinox celebration.

Gatherings: Spring equinox gathering Sunday, March 19 1 PM to 3 PM.  Potluck nibbles.  Please register to ensure we have a seat for you.

Classes:
Meditation Mondays: over the course of 12 evenings we learn about and practice quite a variety of different meditation styles and techniques - guided, with music, positional, and multi-spiritual in scope. In this 90 minute group we will start with a gratitude/burden basket exercise, progressing to guided meditation, and concluding with a private introspective time.  This is 12 weeks from February 27 to May 15 inclusive, 7 - 8:30 PM. $100.00/12 weeks paid in advance OR $10.00/week.  Feel free to bring a mat, pillow or blanket and dress comfortably.

Psychospiritual Development – Intermediate/Open Level: please note-students may take this level more than once until they’ve developed their desired level of competency. More channeling, more general exercises and more homework!  Students need to dress comfortably, and bring a notebook.   (Prerequisite - Beginner Level). Tuesday’s February 28 to April 18 inclusive 7 – 10 PM. $125.00
Wholistic Healing for Animals: On this day we learn the historic aboriginal methods of healing, review chakras and contemporary energy work on animals, crystals, herbs, dental care, wound treatment and much more.  Students to bring: a binder for notes, pen, and medicine objects, dowsing equipment, along with your lunch/snacks/beverages. Sunday March 5th, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. $80.00

Crystals and Healing:  Another of the traditions which celebrates the transcultural uses of crystals in healing.  Topics include: classifications, crystal cleansing and preparation;  various prayers and meditations using crystals;  totem animals;  making crystal essences; combining crystals and the chakras;  dowsing;  traditional scrying methods;  the pendulum; healing rods;  and, care of your stones.  No workshop on crystals would be complete without demonstrations, so dress comfortably.  Please bring a notebook, pen, whatever crystals you possess, and your lunch/snacks/beverages. Sunday March 12, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. $80.00

Medicine Wheel Garden Workshop: This two-day version covers our sacred garden style.  In the April class we discuss raised bed techniques, companion planting, moon cycle theory, harvesting and crop rotation.   We look at the moon and planting cycles, how to make medicines over the winter, what plants to consider for this spring, biodiversity and more.  On the May class date we actually build the garden from scratch so in addition to your notebooks you need your gardening gloves and boots! Information on seed suppliers will be shared, and some seeds will be made available for sale and exchange.   Students need a binder.  Sundays April 2 and May 28, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM. The April class is $80 and the May class is free.

Introduction to Shamanism: As medicine people, we are concerned about the correct teachings of traditional medicine practice.  We are offering these teachings to those who are certain that this is part of their path.  These studies are meant for people of all races, creeds and religions, but like any other spiritual study, this is not for everyone.  This information is sacred.  Therefore the classes will be limited to those with a sincere desire to learn.  This workshop covers shamanic practices of the northeast, and topics include: sacred medicine objects and their use, ethics, healing traditions, ceremonies, correct use of spirit herbs, dream walking, spirit walking, totem animals, and shapeshifting.  Be prepared to bring whatever medicine/sacred objects you have. Please bring your lunch/snacks/beverages.  Notebooks and pens are needed. Sunday April 9, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.  $80.00

Aboriginal Healing Introduction: A basic course - we look at the uses of traditional medicine objects of the northeast, and the basic healing rituals that a medicine person performs.  Bring notebooks, crystals and whatever healing objects you have, along with your lunch/snacks/beverages.  This is an important prerequisite to the Aboriginal Healing Practitioner Program. Sunday April 23, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. $80.00

Tasseomancy/Tea Leaf Reading:  I promised tea leaf reading and here it is! Saturday, May 13, 1 PM (sharp) to 4:30 PM.  You will learn all the basics from the kind and types of cups to use, preparation of tea, symbols, interpretation protocols and much more!  You will leave with a set of notes, charts of symbols and at least 2 readings.  The last time we did this we had a blast.  $40.00.

Notes on registration: 

• Gift Certificates are available and may be used towards course fees, services or anything in the studio.
• Receipts are issued first night of class.  Classes fill quickly!  Payment can be made through the website (PayPal), Interac e-transfer (send to brian@moonstarlodge.com), cash or cheque (payable to "Rev. Kathryn Gorman-Lovelady").  We take Visa or Mastercard if you drop by the studio (call ahead).  
• Your seat is confirmed upon payment.

Courses are being held at 302 Lafontaine Rd. West, Tiny (formerly Lafontaine), Ontario, L9M 0H1.
Register online here: www.moonstarlodge.com/courses.html

Perihelion

I felt a spiritual pull to write about perihelion.  In fact it occurred yesterday January 4th…  So often in traditional teachings we speak about the moon - moon cycles dominate our plans and choices.  Seldom do we speak about the sun but it’s important to honour the necessary balance between light and dark and the teachings about Grandfather Sun relative to our experiences.  This article isn’t meant to be astronomical in nature but certainly an explanation of perihelion and its partner aphelion are in order.  Let me start at the beginning:
Earth is about 147.1 million kilometers from the Sun at perihelion around January 3, in contrast to about 152.1 million kilometers at aphelion around July 4 — a difference of about 5.0 million kilometers. 

 




Where we are in central Ontario perihelion was January 4 at 09:17 AM and aphelion will occur on July 3 at 16 11 PM.

So if we are that much closer to the Sun in January why isn’t the weather tropical? From Wikipedia: Because seasons result from the tilt of Earth's axis, which is 23.4 degrees away from perpendicular to the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun. Winter falls on the hemisphere where sunlight strikes least directly, and summer falls where sunlight strikes most directly, regardless of the Earth's distance from the Sun. In the northern hemisphere, summer occurs at the same time as aphelion. Despite this, there are larger land masses in the northern hemisphere, which are easier to heat than the seas.

Okay so that’s enough astronomy. Let’s deal with the spiritual concerns... Winter solstice marks the longest dark and we know that from that point onward the amount of light increases by mere minutes every day until spring equinox when we have equal day an equal night.  The light continues to increase until summer solstice at which point we have the longest amount of daylight.  It all revolves around this processional shift of 23.4° on either side of the equator.  This creates our seasons. From time immemorial our ancestors celebrated the return of light; the hopelessness and hunger of deep dark winter can be overwhelming without the hope of increasing light and life renewal.  With the earth thawing we can plant crops.  The cycles of life, birth and death follow our seasonal rhythms. 

So if life thrives in the light and the growth period, why do we need the dark times? It all comes back to balance… Nothing has a shadow without light. Grandfather Sun illuminates the dark time of winter.  It doesn’t happen all at once - but the persistence of just a few minutes every day eventually thaws the earth and allows life to spring forth again. Acknowledging our proximity to Grandfather Sun approximately 2 weeks after winter solstice allows us time to reflect on the nature of balance and harmony. Winter is historically a time to cocoon, save energy, be warm and deal with one’s personal issues.  There are the practical things to do like repair sacred objects and similar but we are also expected to reflect on where our darkness is…  Where do I need to throw light on my soul and my spirit?  Do I need to illuminate my path?  Are my relationships in balance? Neglecting to process in this way allows our shadow selves to jump up and dominate choices and at some point we must pay attention. It’s much better to be proactive rather than try to clean up the mess of damaged relationships, or, time lost because we’ve neglected to follow our path.
I was struck yesterday by the writings of Caroline Myss who was writing the last column for her online salon (as she called it)…  She was making a post reflecting what she thinks are 12 most important spiritual truths.  One of the points that she makes highlights her thoughts on sin and evil.  I include this here because it is one of those light/dark opposites that seems apropos to a discussion of perihelion/aphelion.  Carolyn writes:

“A basic definition of sin is this: Knowingly doing or saying something that you know will damage another person’s life OR knowingly/deliberately allowing another person to pay the price/take the consequences for a negative action of yours. The conscious act of knowing that what you are doing is wrong – and that what you are doing is harming another in any way – and yet you do it anyway – is Sin. Done. No getting around it. A conscious negative act against another human being is not just a boo-boo or a bummer. It is a Sin because it is CONSCIOUS and thus an act of CHOICE. It is a conscious misuse of your power of creation – and we are held accountable for these choices. That is why we cannot shake free of such choices. That is why the guilt from these choices sticks to us like gum on our shoes. That gum is our soul connected to the soul of the person we harmed. Never tell yourself that evil does not exist. It does. Every time you easily play with the truth, ask yourself, “How come it’s so easy to lie? What’s wrong with me? Why is telling the truth so difficult? Shouldn’t this be the other way around?” The spiritual path is a path of becoming One with Truth, which means confronting our relationship with the shadow in ourselves. It’s not easy and that shadow meets us around every corner in our life. My counsel to everyone – and the one I practice is to repeat a simple prayer whenever you feel that fragile edge of weakness or compromise-of-self coming on, “Hover over me, God – right now.” Surround yourself with grace. Live in grace.”

Where does this leave us vis à vis perihelion?  Well, I suggest creating a place of reflection…  I make myself a place to think – reflect – analyze – pray and especially focus my intention.  Anyone who knows me and my practice, will recognize my collection of crystals, candles and prayer bundles.  I call this a reflection space, rather than an altar.  Altar implies worship - worship implies something “above” me.  I don’t believe in separation, thus I purposely choose to consider any formal focus to be with my own soul.  A true reflection. A dialogue.  A communion.  So, as we move toward this full moon of “Talks with Relations” (January 12) I focus my perihelion resolve on a number of things:  forgiveness is a huge aspect of this focus; mediation between generations; movement to be in the “now” at all costs.  I seek Peace, so  I light a candle and ask Grandfather Sun to help illuminate my steps… to erase the shadows of self-doubt, and self-sabotage.  As Carolyn Myss suggests, I ask for help with Shadow, in all its beauty.  I am taking, for the first time in nearly 60 years, a few weeks to reflect.  I’m manifesting AND cocooning.

However you chose to commune in these dark winter days, do so with a mission to create light, joy of soul and your own peace.  We cannot co-create with the universe without the awareness of all parts of the process…. Include Grandfather Sun in your journey.

A blessed 2017 perihelion to everyone!  Kathryn