Wolfe Island Fundraising announcement

Announcement

 2015 Wolfe Island Métis Charitable Association Fundraising Campaign

T’anisi – Boozhoo – Greetings!

In 20 years of providing spiritual and educational services to aboriginal people in Canada, Wolfe Island Métis Charitable Association is embarking on a fundraising blitz.  Everyone who works for Wolfe Island from the Executive Director, board members and the licensed minister, work for free and always have…  our budgets are small and we have just enough money in the coffers to cover administrative expenses (like the bank and website management).

Now we need your help - A new set of challenges is presenting itself, and we appeal to our supporters: 

·        Kathryn’s mobility issues are amplified, and we need to do some renovations on the office, stairs, ceremonial and teaching spaces to accommodate her needs, and those of other ability-challenged adherents. 

·        Expanding our range of courses to include a two-year, part-time program for training and ordaining ministers to be licensed in our aboriginal interfaith spirituality model. 

·        Opening a dedicated teaching space. 

·        We’re increasing the number of feasts, and gatherings to fully embrace all the moon cycles and seasonal ceremonies.

·        We plan to run a community medicine wheel teaching garden in 2016.  This is the same model we used in 1997 when funded by the ‘Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy’.  There is no available funding from agencies for a new garden project.

·        We’re expanding Wolfe Island’s membership base to include registered cards, using a 5-year term model.

·        Teaching manuals and materials need to be published. Our Wolfe Island computer equipment needs to be upgraded.

·        Art materials for the “Aboriginal Artist in Education” program are required.  We currently teach in local schools of North Simcoe, but would like to expand the number of artists and range of programs throughout all of Simcoe County.

Our campaign is looking at raising $30,000.00 to cover these expenditures – the need is NOW.  As a registered charity, everyone who donates to Wolfe Island receives a charitable receipt for the full amount of their donation. 

To make a donation - There is a PayPal donation buttons on the Wolfe Island website www.wolfeisland.org  .  If you would rather donate in person, you are welcome to do so…  Cheques can be made out to “Wolfe Island Métis Charitable Association” and mailed to 302 Lafontaine Rd. W., Tiny, Ontario L9M 0H1.  If you have questions, by all means contact Brian Lovelady at 705-533-2520 or brian@moonstarlodge.com

Miigwetch for your support! 

Fall Courses 2015

Well it didn't take long once we got the momentum going... 

 Here is our list of upcoming courses and gatherings – a little bit of everything this time around.  We’re hoping you’ll join us for the gatherings – there is no charge for gatherings, but we ask that you register in the rare case we have need cancel for some reason.  Have a great weekend – Blessings, Kathryn

Moonstar Lodge

Aboriginal Traditional and Alternative

Spiritual and Educational Services

 

Fall 2015 Courses

Psychospiritual Development: Intermediate Level: is a 10 week course designed for those who’ve already completed the beginner level.  More clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, clairolfaction, aurvoyance and psychokinesis, along with plenty of channelling, more general exercises and even homework!  Dress comfortably, and bring a notebook with the handouts from the beginner level.   Class fee is $125. Mondays September 28 to November 30 inclusive 7 PM to 9:30 PM 

Dowsing - Beginner This popular course is divided into 3 evenings. We demonstrate the use of a single, suspended pendulum and 2 L-rod dowsing sticks.  We should have warm enough weather to assure lots of practice outside doing geomantic dowsing, and learn radiesthetic dowsing for healing work.  We study ley lines, vortices and ghost paths.  Bring a binder, pen, crystals, pendulums and L-rods if you have them.  We have pendulums and L-rods at a nominal fee for students who require them. Class fee is $75. Wednesdays September 30, October 7 and October 14 7 PM to 9:30 PM

Zay - In the Company of Angels: is the pan-cultural, pan-theological study of angels.  This is not a course of anecdotes nor religious doctrine - we study this complex subject with a systematic approach.  Topics include: the differences between angels and guides; meeting your angel; communication; grounding; the chakras; and, angelic healing practices.  Fee includes notes.  Please bring a binder, potluck lunch offering, and a crystal if you have one.  Dress comfortably and please do NOT wear perfume. Class fee is $75. Sunday, October 25 9:30 AM to 4 PM 

Drum Making: Instruction and all materials required to make a single-sided ceremonial drum [deer hide] provided.  You also make a drumstick called “grandmother’s arm”. On the first afternoon together we put together the drum and drumstick.  After allowing a week between classes for the drums to cure, we get together to decorate and perform ceremonies for the drums. We require a minimum of 8 students for this class to run due to the cost of materials. Class fee is $150.  Sundays, November 1 and 8, 1 PM to 4 PM 

Aboriginal Ceremonies and Healing - Introduction: A course about the uses of traditional medicine objects of the northeast, and the basic healing rituals performed by a medicine person.  We “walk” the medicine wheel and discuss ceremonies and rituals that pertain to the seasons as well as those which pertain to the cycle of life. Bring notebooks, crystals and whatever healing objects you own.  This is an important prerequisite to the Wolfe Island Métis Charitable Association Ministerial Program coming in the winter of 2016. Class fee is $80. Thursday’s November 5, 12, 19 and 26. 7 PM to 9:30 PM

Receipts are issued first night of class.  Classes fill quickly!  Payment can be made through the website (PayPal), Interac e-transfer, cash or cheque (payable to "Rev. Kathryn Gorman-Lovelady".).  We take Visa or Mastercard if you drop by the studio (call ahead).  

Courses are being held at 302 Lafontaine Rd. West, Tiny (formerly Lafontaine), Ontario, L9M 0H1. 

Students are to bring to each class: a binder, pen, pendulum, and PLEASE DO NOT WEAR PERFUME. Do dress comfortably. Class size is limited - register early to ensure your space!

Register online here: www.moonstarlodge.com/courses.html

Gatherings:

Autumn Equinox - Sunday, September 20, 1 PM to 4 PM.  Feel free to bring a snack offering, your drum and crystal (if you have them). Please register – seating is limited!

Winter Solstice - Sunday, December 20, 1 PM to 4 PM. Feel free to bring a snack offering, your drum and crystal [if you have them]. Please register – seating is limited.

Wow how things have changed!

I'm a bit like my dog Larry - with the tenacity of a Jack Russell "terrorist" going for a squirrel, I am determined to get back on my feet in short order.  I still haven't received a call from the hospital for an MRI (ordered on July 7) but I have hired a  physiotherapist for support with suggestions on exercises and alterations to the house. Since I last wrote we purchased an electric wheelchair and a lift chair.  I just received the lift chair on the weekend and it's made a huge difference.  Brian installed safety bars in various rooms and stairways.  He's even turned 2 very steep steps into 3 more doable steps - this one act of excellent carpentry has been huge! It's allowed me to get out of this hospital bed in the family room and make it to the main floor, where I can sit and participate with the family in my new lift chair.  Awesome!

With every day that goes by I'm gaining muscle strength, and the ability to maneuver around the house.  I still haven't managed to make it to the 2nd floor into my own bedroom, but I feel more and more like that's going to happen in short order…  We've put out the call for a stair lift.  Even if I do manage to make the stairs all the way to the 2nd floor, I'm in this for the long run...  Should I have a problem with the leg in future the stair lift will allow me to get to my own bed on the "bad" days.

I'm looking forward to attempting to make a meal in the kitchen tomorrow - I will need the services of a sous chef to go and get ingredients, but I am determined to sit on my stepstool and cook.  It will be the 1st time since mid-June...  I've not tried to drive since I blew out my knee, but I anticipate an attempt in the next couple of weeks.

During this time I've had a 2 visits from a wonderful physiotherapist by the name of Karen Schmitz.  She Is truly amazing... I've needed her guidance on how to exercise both legs to develop muscle tone and "work" the injured knee without further damaging it.  Right now my leg still has some inflammation. Karen makes me feel very empowered, and at the same time is aware how vulnerable this injury left me feeling.  My experience working in hospitals is that physiotherapists can come across like bullies but Karen is supportive, knowledgeable and fun to work with...  One day I hope she'll see me walk up those 13 steps.

All these changes in the house to accommodate my mobility led to some larger picture discussions over how we utilize rooms. My forced tenure in the family room (right next to the studio) was very necessary for teaching classes.  I can use the electric wheelchair or the rollater to make my way out to the studio and conduct class. I only had to go maybe 25 feet.  There were nights this summer I was very sore after walking that short distance.  Anyway, we decided to turn the family room back into a  library/teaching room.  Having students in the studio meant moving displays and removing tables - this was not conducive to being open as a studio on the weekend.  Some of my art pieces got damaged.  In future students will still walk through the studio, but end up for their class in the library.  All the TV and stereo gear is now removed from the library and as of Saturday was installed in the living room.  We feel this is a better use of the house because we weren't using the living room except for seasonal gatherings and ceremonies.  Angeni now has access to the TV and stereo when she is dog sitting while classes are going on...

Speaking of classes, I am quite surprised and amazed that as of Wednesday night our summer courses are complete! We're launching a new round of courses to start in September and run through winter solstice.  Hopefully we will have the dates picked and published by the Labor Day weekend...  It feels to me like we're running behind because our students are already asking for the fall course list. Another endeavour is the launch of a fund-raising campaign for Wolfe Island Métis Charitable Association.  The grand launch will be September 1 and everyone on our email list will get a notification.  In 20 years of operating Wolfe Island we've never actually done a formal fund-raising campaign. The expansion of spiritual services and the request for a community ceremonial garden means that we need a good funding base. Additionally there are some capital expenditures for new computer equipment and the typical things that a spiritual/educational organization requires over time.  One of the exciting programs involves aboriginal artists in education.  We enjoy working with the native arts students at the local Penetanguishene high school.  The monies for art supplies and support materials will fall under the fund-raising campaign.

Well the clock has passed over into another day so I will end this blog entry.  Have a wonderful week and bright blessings to you all!

A new paradigm...

As I sit here on my borrowed hospital bed I'm waxing philosophical about the changes in our family life this summer. This has been a week where I've felt like Don Quixote charging at the windmill...  Our healthcare system and community level supports have been gutted like fish and left hanging - and I don't mean in a good way. What I experienced as a part of the healthcare system in the 70s and 80s is certainly very different today.  There is confusion and a lack of true backbone.  Everything we've got to allow me to cope, from wheelchairs to ramps to crutches have come about because we got them not because the agencies who are supposed to exist to support us have done anything - the agencies are so back logged and so bereft of funding they can do nothing for months.  Even the hospital's in the region are suffering because they can't employ enough people to do the diagnostic testing required.  All radiological departments should have 2 shifts running - an MRI that was ordered on July 7 hasn't even been booked yet!  Southlake Hospital, RVH and Soldiers Memorial are all booking into December.  That's nearly 6 months... I won't know if I need surgery until after the MRI and my doctor cannot send me for the advice of the specialist without a proper diagnosis.  So I sit and suffer and my family suffers as they attempt to adjust to this life change.

I'm frustrated and I'm trying to channel my frustration into activities that are co-creative with the universe, like making jewelry and doing my prayer shawls...  Teaching has been a godsend and although I joke with my students that I feel like a giant "talking head", at least I feel like the students are benefiting from the life wisdom and healing skills I've garnered over the years...

Since I last wrote I've managed to get an electric wheelchair and the loan of a manual wheelchair to take in the van.  Brian and friends installed some patio stones along the side of the driveway to accommodate the transfer of my walker and the wheelchair to the van; prior to the installation of the patio stone walkway I was sinking into the sand and twisting my leg.  We're looking for something that's as high as a barstool but really sturdy so I can sit in the kitchen and try to cook.  I haven't cooked a meal in 2 months.  Brian rebuilt the stairs from our office to the living room, turning what was 2 steps into 3 so it's easier for me to negotiate.  I've had a fabulous physiotherapy session and another one coming on Monday... 

Back in the day many of these things would've been covered by our healthcare system but not anymore.  Keeping disabled, middle-aged and senior citizens in their homes should be the objective of our governments - fewer paid staff, fewer buildings to maintain and happier constituents.  I want to live here as long as possible because it 58 I shouldn't have to give up my home for the want of about $7,000 worth of equipment.

Suffice to say we're doing our best to cope...  Angeni turned 17 this week and will be having a bonfire party tomorrow night with about 11 of her closest friends.  In previous years I would've made the cake and decorated it in that strange, mutant way I always did...  But not this year.  It will be a purchased cake and I will do my best to instruct my husband on what disgusting things to pick up at the Bulk Barn which I can use to at least decorate the cake...  He will be supervising.  Perhaps I should really stretch to see the positive in this - 12 teenagers? In our backyard?

I look forward to being able to drive sometime in the next month.  The thing I want more than anything is to get a stair lift so I can sleep in my own bed.  I desperately want to get back into my own bed.  I'm grateful for this hospital bed but it's enough now...  Trying to take one day at a time.  I feel and see the passage of summer without experiencing it since I can't get outside very often.  I hope your summer is going well.  It is new moon today and here's to new beginnings for us all!

Blessings friends.

Crystals

We've been working for weeks on the content of the upcoming crystals course, which will be presented starting on Wednesday nights for 4 weeks in August. It's been a long time since I've presented crystals as a stand-alone course. I always have some aspect of crystals in just about every course I teach, but this is a major course dealing with both practical three-dimensional aspects of crystals and the more metaphysical, esoteric and healing uses of crystals. So it's contingent upon me every time I teach to update the material I'm using and freshen up my resource materials.

Some of the handouts were so old that Brian had to find software to convert the document format to something we could access for editing!  The content doesn't change much - there aren't many new crystals - but I like to update my presentation.

It is both anxiety producing and a thrill of rise to the occasion.  I push myself, and tend to over-prepare.  That's okay.  An adrenaline rush is always fun - some people sky dive for their rush, I prepare teaching materials.

If I'm honest with myself, I think the thing I like best about teaching is the look on student's faces when I pull together concepts that close gaps and fill in loopholes in their knowledge base.  The grand epiphany, it is... and I often see a hunger in people to learn more when they "get it".  Sages called it 'gnostic conciousness'.  It is a knowing that resonates to the soul and cannot be refuted.  I live for the big 'a-ha'.

The anxiety part of this process relates to my perfectionism. I don't always remember the names of the crystals and I'm sure I've forgotten more of the names than I ever will remember.  I seem less concerned whether a stone is a piece of leopard skin agate or a piece of jasper - I'm more concerned with the relationship I've developed with a particular stone which has been part of my healing repertoire for years. I don't deal with stones by geological classification as much as I see how they function when placed on a person. Crystals are living things!

Anyway, it's been a good exercise of distraction for me while I work on healing this leg of mine. It is much less swollen but I still can't use it to climb stairs. Another round of appointments next week should yield some support from physiotherapy and assistive devices. I desperately want to get back in the kitchen, and even more desperately I want to get back upstairs into my own bed and out of this hospital bed in the family room. Suffice to say my trusty crystal wand is here and I use it on my leg regularly through the day as well as the collection of traditional medicines.

If you're interested in the last spot in the crystals class, let me know! Blessings and have a great week.

Pride Goeth Before the Fall...

Wow, the past 3 weeks have been some of the most difficult in my life.  My right knee began exhibiting signs of ligament or tendon damage, then I pinched a nerve in the upper calf and lost the ability to climb stairs. I am unable to get to the second floor, where our bedroom is, thus I'm sleeping on an uncomfortable couch.  I am limited to 2 rooms; can't cook, clean, and about every 3 days Brian "fireman lifts" me up two steps so I can shower - otherwise I am limited to washing at the sink in the bathroom. The indiginity is having to ask my partner to assist washing the nether bits.  My arse is already a source of great humour; now it's not so funny.

The medical assessment is slow.  It is not until the 23rd that I get an ultraound.  It's taken since the trip to emerg to get an MRI in Orillia booked.  No firmdate4 yet.  That appears to be in October or November!  I can't get into my own family doctor to start his process until August 10th.  Without a full and correct diagnosis, I cannot have any rehabiltive or physio treatment.  In the meantime I need some very important things - a stair lift, and lifting chair, a hospital bed and oerbed table for starters.  I could do with an electric wheelchair, but that will all have to wait.

I've made it out to a few medical appointments, after braving the emergency department all day on July 6th. Brian has managed some alterations to the house to allow me to just exist downstairs.  He built and put blocks under the couch and my chaise, so I don't have to pull myself up from a really low sitting position.  I continue to see clients and teach class - I'm doing some really phenomenal channeling of late. It humbles me how this gift evolves and grows.

Angeni worked her first full week as a counsellor, and Brian went between driving her back and forth, and caring for me.  He carries 95% of the housework load, with Angeni doing little things where she can...  In all of this he managed to get to his workshop and begin creating a commission of pens, due at the end of the month.  His strength and calm humble me as well - "take it as it comes", he reminds me.

Our friend Christine is also a source of clarity.  She's been doing business coaching with me, and our sessions have morphed to include this profound life change.  The bottom line is, without a proper diagnosis yet, I don't know whether this is permanent or able to heal, even partially.  I morph through periods of gratitude and periods of grief and distress.  Christine is helping with that...

The top 10 things I am grateful for:
1.  My husband shows me great love and support.  He is my strength, physically and spiritually.
2.  Angeni is rallying and helping without being asked - today she is preparing dinner.
3.  This happened in summer, not winter! OMG I can't imagine dealing with this in winter.  Just getting to the van to go somewhere is a risk now.
4.  The support of friends - one came through with a wheelchair but it is broken. Unfortunately it won't take my weight even if it could be fixed, but my friend tried to help of me.
5.  Another friend has located a hospital bed - we just have to get it here in the next few days.
6.  I am grateful this didn't happen to both legs at the same time.  I might be able to rehabilitate the left leg to get upstairs eventually.  it's a goal to shoot for!
7.  My back isn't bothering me right now - a very good thing indeed.
8.  I have a home, a family and friends who love me, and a health care system which, while flawed, is inching me toward help and relief.
9.  My dogs.  Nuisances they can be, but they are funny and loyal.  The little guys don't know what to make of all the change.  They do their best to support all of us.
10.  Back to my husband;  all my old abandonment shadow issues are rearing their ugly heads.  He reminds me he isn't going anywhere.  True love - his actions are the marker of real, honest, true love....

So, I'm trying to figure out how to afford a stair lift system.  I desperately want to sleep in my own bed - Brian's farts and all.  Someone suggested "crowd-sourcing" and we'll look into it.  I am communing with the guides/teachers/angels/ancestors asking for guidance, healing and help.

Wish me luck and send prayers!  Blessings, friends.

Dowsing - fun with a couple of sticks...

Well, I've had an interesting few weeks - busy with Angeni ending her school year, challenged by a hectic teaching schedule, and battling health issues.  I am the (barely) walking wounded.  It seems my tendons and ligaments in the right knee are objecting to the demands of my weight, age and work schedule.  As of yesterday I am in a knee brace and using crutches.   It is stressful, painful and frightening, but I return to gratitude that it could be worse - a lot worse...

Anyway, on the full moon of "She Who Finds Love in All Things" my daughter got her report card (rocking 90's) and her G1...  Brian and I managed to get the preparations done for the dowsing course running as of Wednesday, July 8.  Here is the information:

Dowsing - Beginner & Advanced: This popular course is divided into 2 full days over two weekends.  This is an interesting look at the two forms of kinesiological interaction with our higher selves.  This course demonstrates the use of a single, suspended pendulum and 2 L-rod dowsing sticks.  We should have good enough weather to assure lots of practice outside doing geomantic dowsing, and learn radiesthetic dowsing for healing work.  This class also looks at ley lines, vortices and ghost paths.  Please bring potluck lunch both days, a binder, pen, crystals, pendulums and L-rods if you have them.  We have pendulums and L-rods at a nominal fee for those students who require them.

Wednesdays 9:30 AM to 4 PM July 8 and 15. Course Fee: $125.00. Call or email me, asap.

People ask me about dowsing all the time...  the why's and whether it is relevant.  It is more relevant and necessary than ever, frankly. I really find it helps students tune into their "Higher Self".  Once they learn how to be their own antenna to the earth and the collective consciousness, they take off and run with it - their channeling skills develop exponentially. We all aren't going to be on TV channeling for other people...  some of us are healers, painters, artists, musicians, farmers and writers.  Channeling for the self involves the exact same connection to source.

I hope the weather improves to more "summer-like" temperatures and a little less rain...  I pray for Greece and the Ukraine.  I pray for my own people here in Canada...  have a wonderful month!

I've got a secret...

A secret indeed...  people who walk into my studio have been puzzled of late.  They scan the knitwear and note 2 sweaters and 4 scarf/hat sets...  however there are 3 dozen shawls.  These shawls are all very different, yet share a theme (for the most part). At first blush they look like bird wings.  if people start reading tags, they note words like 'harmonic resonance", "sacred geometry", "Schumann frequency" and bird names.  When pressed, I will explain that my shawls are for meditation, or prayer, and contain my designs filled with sacred geometry principles.  Each is unique.  Each shawl represents the star people and a bird dodem, rolled into one garment that when worn will elicit a sense of comfort.  A silent hug.

For over 10 years I've knit these shawls.  I am driven.  I do the math in my head at night or the wee hours of the morning...  I visualize colours together and ask the bird dodems to show themselves to me, and explain the unique meaning of their "hug". Brian in his kind way, supports me through the yarn buying process, even if it is just one skein I can afford.

So what's the big secret?  It took me a long time to recognize this is how I hug people. The violence and damage of my childhood kept me from making physical contact. The ectopic scars covering my body are really painful when something comes in contact with my skin.  As my back deteriorates I cannot bend into people to hug.  But, my spirit touches everyone who wears these pieces of spiritual art.  Heart Art.  Sacred Flight of my Heart.  It's all good.  I smile to myself when people stand in front of the mirror.  The first thing they say is that they love the colours... then I watch them close their eyes and smile.  Their soul feels the hug....  my little secret... and the ancestors, and the star people, and the bird tribes...and the crystals.... sigh...  Blessings.

Shamanic rock 'n roll

Wow what a wild few days this is been! Just before 5 PM on the long holiday weekend [May 15] there was a terrible accident involving an elderly man who smashed his car into our trailer.  The trailer was normally not parked in our driveway, but had been sold and was awaiting pickup.   He fainted about a kilometer down the road, jammed to the accelerator, smashed into a pickup truck, careened across some lawns and into our trailer which got pushed into the spruce tree. We were worried that he would have to have his leg amputated.  It was crushed.  It took the ambulance firefighters and police over an hour to extricate him from his car, jammed as it was under our trailer. All of the insurance work has been settled and the elderly gentleman remains in hospital having had to be transferred to Barrie and back again...  As I write this the towing company has just contacted us to remove the trailer so it's been nearly 3 weeks to resolve everything. I pray that the gentleman gets his life back and can resume his retirement in peace.  The trailer means nothing - life means everything.




Additionally we took a trip to Lindsay this past week to de-spook an old mansion which was converted into 6 apartments.  There were so many problems with spiritual attachments and entities  the apartments were being abandoned by the renters! So we drove there and did our "thing".  In less than a week there are more applicants for the apartments than there are apartments to rent! According to the owner the atmosphere is completely changed and that's what we want!  When we do these excursions people seem so afraid of the spirits and yet when we got there it turns out to be victims of very old train accidents who were just lost.  There were a lot of people in spirit hanging around this mansion - I will grant the owners that - but they've all been sent to the light. Case closed.


Since I last wrote our daughter has traveled to the national competition for high school bands.  She's only been playing drums since March and already they won 2 gold medals at regionals and a bronze and gold at the national championships. I am stunned that a child who's never sat at a drum kit can play so well. 

Just this past weekend we held our Spring shamanic healing gathering.  This was very wild! We did some incredible healing on each other and some members of the community.  We de-spooked an old farmhouse in the area and sent another load of spirits into the light.  There were a few indigenous spirits who preferred to stay with the land and that's just fine.  I packed an awful lot of stuff into 2 1/2 days because we get to see each other collectively only twice a year. Brian and I come away very tired but very happy.  Another upside to these gatherings is that we go full tilt cleaning and preparing the house.  Brian spent a lot of time finishing the gardens and erecting some new latticework trellises.  By the time people arrived the yard looks stunning.  The house remained clean after the weekend because, of course, our guests help us tidy up.  We start this week with a spotless house. 

I need today to stop and reflect on the whirlwind that was the month of May.  I've already done a lot of correspondence this morning which was waiting in the queue.  Mercifully our gang leave the food left overs so I don't have to spend a lot of my day cooking.  It is peaceful because the pendulum has swung the other way.  I need the day to look inward and rest.  I am really very tired but contentedly so...

I noticed last night some mysterious sock monkeys have joined my little gang of sock monkeys.  Funny how that happens!

Enjoy these early days of June.  May your gardens be blooming and the sun shining. Blessings, peace, love and light. Kathryn