Years ago, at a weekend Wild Women retreat I facilitated at Crescent Moon Lodge in Oklahoma, a journey was made for our group of wild women with the intention to dream onto the path of our ancestral gifts. As I drummed for the group, I was visited by an impressive Stag whose big brown eyes drew me in on a soul level. The Stag turned and walked slowly along a path where a beautiful sacred grove arched over the path. Golden pollen floated down all around and the path itself was laden with golden pollen, until it opened into a golden field where I continued to walk following the deer as I was then taken deeper into the journey by the buzzing of bees and the guidance of bees taking me in search of pollen in the field of dreams where I stood. The pollen was intoxicating and the honey wisdom of bees gave teachings on community and healing. On the return journey I found myself feeling altered for quite sometime afterwards, and wanting to just lay down and enter dreaming once again. Each person that shared their journey spoke of bees as a guide, and the feeling of wanting to take a nap and return to dreaming. This was a surprising result of our journey, together, to have so many share similar experiences confirmed our mutual dream of entering the path of pollen. Afterwards we all went and took a nap and dreamed with the bees.
Artemis of Ephesus
This journey was transformative and deer has since become a constant guide and ally in waking and dreaming realities. I discovered the connection with the bees and the deer goes back to ancient Turkey and the Goddess Artemis of Ephesus, where coins from that region show a bee on one side and a Stag on the other. The Goddess Artemis of Ephesus is known as the many breasted goddess who has appeared in dreams as an embodiment of the wild goddess. She has deer and bees carved into her statue along with other wild animals of the wood.
The potent mystery of the path of pollen speaks of an embodied gift connected with the old ways of the bee priestesses of ancient Crete. This wisdom of the Goddess lives within so many of us and many are heeding the call to return to the old ways, and dream with the potency of this path of dreaming.
Our recent Wild Woman, Blue Moon, Spring Retreat 2018 in Southern Oklahoma, was in it’s 5th year of offering safe and sacred space for nature getaways for women. We are each held deeply by dreams, shamanic journeys, ceremony and the wilderness of our inner and outer realities. This year was a deeply touching and profoundly moving experience with the newly formed bonds between SisterStars made from our group of 14 women. Some came from as far as Colorado, to take part in this weekend with other Wild Women to howl with the Blue Moon! I was very blessed to be supported by this weekend by Victoria Anna, who is a very gifted healer and shamanic movement facilitator, and also the immensely talented sound healer and music artist, Savanna de Valle. Our next Wild Woman Fall gathering is slated for the weekend of October 26-28 of 2018. If you would like more information about the next retreat or future retreats please let me know.
I have invited Victoria as a guest blogger, to share her reflections from our weekend retreat.
Wild Women’s Spring Retreat 2018 – Reflection
by Victoria Anna (Zsuzsi)
Walking the grounds on the first day of arrival at the Wild Women’s Dreaming Retreat, my visceral memories of freedom begun to emerge. I was still half way in the structured material world, capturing a few photos, then I chose to put my phone away for the rest of the weekend. I’m glad I did.
With 14 women we entered a well held ceremonial space, journeying into our active dreaming world by Dream Teacher, Valley Reed. Guided by the sound of the drum, we brought messages and guidance back to our waking life for each other. As we shared in our circle of women, and journeyed over and over, ventured deeper and deeper, very rich tapestry emerged that called for being worked with. The sound of the drum penetrated deep. We entered portals to other worlds, our bodies at rest, yet we soared in adventures.
Each night we incubated an intention of inquiry for our dreams to reveal more insight. Each morning, as we all gathered for breakfast, we shared what came though and marveled in the mystery.
We spent plenty of time outdoors as well, taking personal vision quests to collect symbolic items. Walking through the forest singing or laying down by the water, the vastness of nature held many treasures, opening and widening our senses.
We then embodied our dreaming presence as a group, with a guided shamanic movement practice. The facilitated journey led us into experiencing physically “stepping in” to our waking dream, while periodically “pausing, to recognize and to be recognized”, as we integrated our presence with all, through our breath.
“Shamanic Movement Practice”- Photo Credit – Valley Reed 2018
At twilight, we walked the labyrinth towards the tree of life, taking every step winding inwards as a representational journey of fate. Arriving by the Tree of Life, we shifted, thereafter, every step winding outwards, now walking the path of our destiny. Accompanied by the sounds of the cello the strings passionately came alive. Filled the air with palpable essence, powerful visions coming through. What is it that our soul is asking us to do?
“Twilight Labyrinth” – Photo Credit; Victoria Anna 2018
During our evening fire ceremony, we offered our give-aways to let go, drumming to hold space for one another, we then danced our visions into the Full Moon. Gold Lotus Elixirs were there to support our journey, whether it was to find forgiveness, gratitude or to call in clarity. The resonance of crystals connected us to Earth and the Heavens, humbly aligning with our soul’s destiny.
The next morning, we offered our gratitude and prayers by holding a sacred water ceremony. We each took part in singing The Grand Invocation mantra for healing our planet’s history. The sacred waters of many rivers collected and held as one, from the jar poured into the fresh spring water pond, now blessing this one. From the pond some water transferred back to gather with the sacred waters from all around the world, we each held the jar to our heart, to receive healing, open portals and to let messages in. Water is its own portal, water holds ancient wisdom, water transmits messages – water heals through intention, remembering prayers of many generations.
“Sacred Water Healer” with Victoria Anna, Photo Credit; Valley Reed 2018
We finished our retreat by walking back to our lodge to the sound of the drum. We joined to sing and celebrate. Then, we split off to laugh and play. We shared many hugs before we got on the road, a bit worn out, just enough to feel that some structures have been torn apart. Now, to integrate our journey, I find myself the next day sharing stories, journaling, breathing out in nature.
I am immensely grateful for this transformation that occurred, to refresh, to renew and to come into alignment walking my purpose, becoming more embodied and aware of the gifts that come through from my healing. I’m so touched by this experience of sharing space with other women, reminding me of our strength and ingrained ancient wisdom within.
I’m feeling so blessed for being invited as a contributor, holding ceremonial space and guiding our group shamanic movement practice in nature, as well as holding the water ceremony alongside Valley Reed, our organizer & main shamanic facilitator. I’m grateful for sharing this experience with Savanna de Valle who has infused our experience with her authentic cello sound bath and her untamed fiery youthful expressiveness. We had a circle of women of 3 life stages: the Mother, the Maiden, and the Crone. Grateful to be with all expressions and learning the wisdom from All.
Smiling now, having taken my shower after this weekend, feeling clean again, I’m plugging my phone back to reflect and post. This weekend was short, but at the same an unforgettable experience of being launched through portals of time travel, meeting ourselves within this multiverse.
Women, we part, but the web we have woven lives long. I look forward to keeping in touch and following one another’s journeys as we venture on! With overflowing love, I now go to sleep. Maybe we, you just never know, meet in another dream.
Victoria is a lover of dance, poetry and nature. Her interest in indigenous shamanism/ dreamwork has enticed her to study in what ways dance/movement can become an integral part of entering portals into other realms. She explores movement from multiple perspectives as a form of art, psychosomatic journey, gateway to dream states and as a tool for integrating profound experiences of transformation. She has traveled the world for personal growth, professional training and teaching. She has taught numerous workshops and contributed to retreats that explore consciousness, other realms, spirituality and embodied connection.
Victoria touches people’s lives in many ways: She is the founder of Embodied Art of Life – Personal Development and Transformational Life coaching (through Astrology, Somatic Movement Practice, Nature, Art, Creative Expression, Writing); healing practitioner of Aguahara – An aquatic journey back to Self – Aquatic sessions in a private pool; founder of Gold Lotus Elixirs – crystal-infused elixirs for intentional life; and the founder of Integrated Conscious Leadership – corporate mindfulness and team building group workshops informed by somatic psychology, behavioral neuroscience and body-mind centered practices.
Dreams can become seeds of what wants to grow through us into the waking world. Sometimes the dream stalking us is our own power wanting to be born through the openness of the heart or the truth and beauty of our voice. Sometimes what is stalking your every footstep is justice, demanding our leadership toward more solidarity, equality and community.
Perhaps the dreams whispering in your ear, are the Earth herself. She calls you to remember your birthright as a sacred being among many other plants and creatures upon earth, air and water. She calls us back to her creative source to learn how to honor her once again, and remember what we each came here to do. This is an awakening of the sacred dream
The Dream Sister Lodge had their annual Spring Women’s Retreat recently in Oklahoma. A sacred circle of women growing their dreams and creating a community of sacred sisterhood through dream sharing, sacred ceremony, shamanic journeying, dream theater, earth based wisdom, play and laughter! Our circle grows ever stronger in connection with the power of sisterhood and discovery of the wild divine feminine.
The first gathering came together in the Fall of 2014 when seeds of intention were planted and met by even more care and nurturing from other sisters drawn to share in sacred space. Our sacred sisterhood continues to grow with Monthly Women’s Wisdom New Moon Circles in Dallas, Texas and annual retreats in the Spring and the Fall in Oklahoma. Each retreat seems deeper and more powerful than the last, and each brings new sisters into the circle, while the continuing threads of sisterhood and friendship continue to grow and blossom from old friends and new.
When we catch a bright dream in our journal with all her energy, feeling, color and detail, we can grow and nurture this dream consciously to blossom into the waking world. We water it with our feelings, and intuition and while drawing down the moon energy of the other worlds. The dream realms are the real world and the place where the waking world gets created. The waking world is the shadow world and we must marry it with our dreams brought to life through the sunlight of our heart and actions. Make sure the ground is tended and the soil is fertile through planting a dream into the ground of our intentions, while weeding out any negative thoughts, doubts or behaviors.
When you plant the garden of your dreams, you will want to dig deep within yourself to get to the really rich soil of soul. It is good to invite others to share in the vision of what you intend to grow, so that you can to draw like minded dreamers and helpers like hummingbirds, bees and butterfly to help pollinate and spread the seeds of your vision. Dream sharing offers the opportunity for a dreaming community to grow, where we can learn to share in the same dream and help it grow through shared effort and interaction. Nothing is ever really ours until we can give it away. Beauty is meant to be shared, and not kept for ourselves or get stuck competing against one another for the most sunshine! Let your dream seeds burst forth into the world and join the rest of creation in this Season of Spring!
Photo credit – Valley Reed. Above Left – Dream Seeds created and planted by Dream Sisters at the Crescent Moon Lodge in Rattan Oklahoma Spring Retreat. Above Middle – Dream Theater with Mother Lioness Caren Thompson birthing her cubs Alice Gilbert (left) and Lynn Walters (right)behind stand Lori Belcher, Jesse Roberts and Sarina Harz. Lower Left – Dream Sisters Alice Gilbert and Jesse Roberts mixing it up with the magic of mud to plant wildflower seeds of intention and planting big dreams! Our next Dream Sister Fall Retreat will be in Sept. or Oct. for more info visit www.chrysalishealingarts.org
The grey wolf stood behind me, making her presence known at my right flank.
Then enters a wise woman, full of love and wisdom, calling forth her power.
She is interchangeable with the grey wolf. She reaches her arm forward drawing her power inward, showing me how it works. Showing me how to draw my power from the natural world, the world of spirits and the world of the shaman. The other world has come to stand beside me.
In between the balance of how the natural world flows.
The Portal 7-30-14
I sit before the portal of knowing and unknowing. A beautiful sunset slipping into the ocean before me. The magic of twilight opens the liminal spaces between the worlds. The waves are crashing through the portal and dispersing the energy of the mother. I open myself to this passage and receive the ever flowing waves of ancient love, pouring into my being. I feel the trembling earth beneath me and feel the electric energy surging through my body. I feel the energy being drawn into my womb, where it gathers. I feel the pain I have carried in my womb for so long, no longer has a home there. It is now home to a radiant and powerful love. I hear an ancient voice speaking to me across the waves of time. “You were drawn to me, just as I was drawn to you. Now we are joined together as one. This energy now belongs to you, and you can create whatever you wish in this life.”
After these powerful experiences, the space opened up for me to gather women together and offer weekend women’s retreats, which I began last year over the Fall Equinox. In January of this year, I had this dream;
WolfPriestess
I see a High Priestess who wore a white wolf headed skin over her right shoulder. Her handmade tunic draped down in front in deep colors of Blue. There were shiny elements on the front that made it appear like stars. She was standing facing me and held a strong presence in the room, but said nothing. Then another priestess came with the Wolf headed skin draped in the colors of purple, and the design held something more earthy on the front. Finally another priestess appeared wearing the Wolf headed skin draped in the colors of deep black with diamond like elements on her tunic which looked like stars in the night sky. I had the awareness of the Pleiadies constellation on this tunic. I quite like this woman, she had a wildness about her that was beautiful and familiar. The High Priestess stood holding the space as the procession of WolfPriestesses walked past her and entered another room through an open door, where they were to have a private meeting. I was still watching as each appeared, noticing the different expression of their wolf power through the garments and designs they each wore, which were of their own making. I asked the High Priestess, How does one join to become a priestess? She said simply, you create your own sacred garment in your own colors and design and then you attend a meeting with the group, then you can create your own rituals or ceremonies and have your own group. EOD.
I have continued to offer monthly women’s groups on the New Moon and weekend women’s retreats this year and am now also collaborating with Sacred Woman and The Kolo in helping to organize a women’s gathering in Taos next fall.
What is so striking to me about how all this continues to come through, is how more and more new women are finding me and joining in our circle, and many speak about dreaming with a wolf when they come into the circle. The Wolf Woman is gathering the Wild Women together and you are invited to join us.
sacred circle of women growing their dreams and creating a community of sacred sisterhood through dream sharing, sacred ceremony, shamanic journeying, dream theater, earth based wisdom, play and laughter! Our circle grows ever stronger in connection with the power of sisterhood and discovery of the wild divine feminine.
Awaken the Sacred Dream 