Catherine Beerda-Basso
Reflections
Winter Woman2/16/2022 “When winter comes to a woman’s soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces. She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive. Winter women are those who bring into the next cycle what should be saved. They are the deep conservators of knowledge and power. Not for nothing did ancient peoples honour the grandmother. In her calm deliberateness, she winters over our truth, she freezes out false-heartedness. Look into her eyes, this winter woman. In their gray spaciousness you can see the future. Look out of your own winter eyes… You too can see the future.” ~ Patricia Monaghan This is where I am. 'Feeding in secret what needs to thrive.' Sitting around the fires of The Ancestors, listening intently to them speak as I stir the cauldron of collateral beauty and kindness. Here, I am quiet and still. As one must be if one wants to listen. I want to listen. I want to hear what has been already experienced. I want to re-member that my challenge and our crisis is not the first to have come to pass. So, I listen. And what I hear is words and stories that bring me to COMMUNITY COMMUNITY as a place of being in listening, learning and healing. COMMUNITY in which diversity is needed, wanted and welcomed. COMMUNITY where reliability is law. COMMUNITY where we are not required to agree but invited to honour. COMMUNITY as the back bone of humanity. So I listen. And as I listen, I tend. And as I tend, I expand. And as I expand, I root in, and I stand firmly in place. The winds blow, the rains fall, the storms rage. And I remain rooted in, sitting around the fires of The Ancestors, listening intently to them speak as I stir the cauldron, as I examine and break down old patterns, as I destroy what should not be revived. as I feed in secret what needs to thrive. Here I remain. Winter Woman.
0 Comments
February2/3/2022 February
the medicine: *Elk – protect the herd, honour eldership/elderhood, teach the young, watch over the compromised, lead with integrity *The North/The time of Winter – finding wisdom in challenge, embracing the earth in our bones, sitting at the fires of the ancestors to listen, learn and heal *Imbolc – The slow, yet promising return of The Light. A time of emergence, birth, intention, celebration. *The Dark Moon – The time to set prayers, ignite intentions, dream *Brigid The Saint/The Goddess – New Beginnings, awaking’s, birth *Chinese New Year – The Year of The Tiger – prosperity, courage, strength Springs Beginnings Winters Thaw And perhaps in this place Love will be invite and will be allowed to Rise Love shown in troubled times is the most precious of all It is easy to love when there isn't tragedy hurt strife challenge Bone Love happens when it is hard Love built with the sturdy, rock solid commitment Flourishes Love when it hurts creates Fortitude Love forged in a time of Challenge lives Forever It takes great courage to stand in this kind of Love May we all have such courage May new life begin May seeds be planted May patience rise May roots be strong May flames burn bright May compassion be our guide May renewal and rebirth come forth May grace be given May we always know the ones who stand with and for us May we know when to let things lie May we know when to unearth the bones May we have courage to live this human life May vulnerability become our trusted companion May it be so May it be so May it be so aho aha amen may it be so image: Teaching the Young * Elk Medicine 2015 collected by me ReflectionsHere you will find my process in writings. Archives
October 2024
|