Wind and Waves

“Trauma takes away our sense of power to act and create.“

I do love the mountains :-). Here I am looking out at the Sangre De Cristos as the sun kisses the top, as it slips below the horizon. Stunning!

BEST PRACTICES FOR INCORPORATION
 
Created in SOLB month long June 2014 ….With our guides and participants

 
Wilderness Rites of Passage – 24 hour renewal fasts
Extended time in Nature – Wilderness – “back country”
Nature awareness – present moment perception using 5 senses
Simply Wander – awaken curiosity
Daily silence, meditation, sit spot
Movement practice/yoga
 Dance like no one is watching
Walking and running: do it when you least want
 
Evoke a circle of support – build your network
Council practice with self, nature, friends, family , and of course your  “enemies” etc.
Recognize greatest teachers in those who trigger you
 Living council – listening to the community of all beings
Trusting and being awake to  the Ceremony of life…… “I am guided”
Make an offering before taking, cutting, killing of any kind
 Maintaining and cultivating relationship with the Four Directions 
– connection with the elements
Presence: being with something, someone , a place
 
Dreamwork
Morning pages – flow of consciousness writing
Art, color experiment – be with emergence
 
Gratitude!
Wake with gratitude, list all you are grateful for at the end of the day
 drink a glass of water with gratitude, say thank you
Take a moment for blessing/grace before a meal, a journey, a decision
“4 breath” practice before responding/reacting
Share concerns at times of border crossings
Mark beginnings and endings
Debrief any happening
 
Witness the energy of emotions – ebb and flow
Ask for what you need: Offer what you can
Suspend judgment, opinion, advice
Establish a field for sharing cringe factors with partners
Declare a banter free zone – allow space for teasing and the play of words/truth/feelings
 
Clear clutter – care for space
Create an altar – Physical reminders from Quest and nature
Grow food for yourself and others
Practice a spirit of inquiry – find the gift and/or opportunity
 
Connect with another without doing / no agenda, no multi-tasking
Become a role model (on the road)
Listen to inspirational and supportive talks
                                                                                       
Remember
Your mantras, your intention , your purpose circle
Confirm a way you make decisions that you trust no matter how things turn out
  “It will change, and this too will pass”
Bear witness to all around us
 

Fresh back from my trip, honestly, I was kinda bummed to be home.  But still, I had in me hikes and sunrises and sunsets and wide nature vistas.  And so it was very easy for me one morning to pull myself out from underneath my heavy down comforter and put my heavy jacket and boots on, strap up my non clog shoes and quietly slip outside.  The night was just beginning to break, I could see in my rear-view mirror and I sped on I-70 up to the mountains where I was going to hike up North Table Mesa.  I was in for a visual treat!