THE PIPE CEREMONY Nancy Raulinaitis has been a pipe carrier for twelve years. While her heritage is Cherokee, her grandmother’s grandmother was a full blood, her knowledge of the pipe is Sioux. Her teachers were of Mayan, Sioux and Jewish heritage.
The pipe ceremony itself, is a sacred ritual performed to thank, honor and beseech Wakan Tonka, Sioux for Great Spirit. It is a prayer ceremony. Gratitude, beseechment and honor of all Great Spirit Created are added to the pipe during the ceremony. After the pipe is lit, the smoke will express our personal breath of life in gratitude to Wakan Tonka.
The presentation will include the origins of the pipe, as well as many other sacred ceremonies. The purpose of Prayer ties will be discussed as well as any materials made available to those who will attend the actual pipe ceremony. She will describe the use of smudging, honoring of the directions, Father Sky, Mother Earth and the spirit within.
Since only a limited number can actually participate in the ceremony, those who wish to do so will be randomly drawn from all of those in attendance.
May facilitator: Lisa Brusso June Facilitor: ——- Hospitality: Pat Carmen Hospitality: Rebecca Rich Denson Pat Dye
MEMBERSHIPS Membership for the year is $30, with newsletter or $25 with emailed news- letter only. Nothing due at the meeting. Memberships run for one year from the month of joining. Guest fees are five dollars per meeting. Guests will also receive a three months’ subscription of our newsletter.
Historical Room - Across the street from the Willoughby City Hall in the Library Building - Lower level - Elevators are available. If you can't make it to UAC that's okay - Carole Devine is coming to LCAA
************************************** “If you always do what you have always done,
then you will always get, what you have always got.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pluto retrograde all month at 0 Capricorn
May 1 May Day
May 3 Mercury enters Gemini Get it all out!!!
May 4 Saturn goes direct in Virgo Now that you have analyzed the
purchase, go and buy it.
May 5 AAS Meeting/New Moon in Taurus
Start that "down to earth" project"
In May AAS presents a lecture on the Pipe Ceremony. This coupledwith the New Moon is a fantastic opportunity to not only hear and take part in a lecture but a time to take part in a new building of your life. Feel your greatest need and prepare for its initiation at the meeting. We offer our prayers and thanks through the nether world of the smoke. It is the bridge that offers guidance and insight. Use it and the power of the New Moon to co-create your world.
May 10 Jupiter goes retrograde in Capricorn Mars enters Leo
May 11 Mother's Day---Go see her… send a card, flowers
May 19 Full Moon in Scorpio Sex with the lights on!!!
May 20 Sun enters Gemini Let both sides of yourself shine through.
May 25 Chiron goes retrograde in Aquarius Venus enters Gemini
May 26 Memorial Day May 27 Neptune goes retrograde in Aquarius
May 27 Mercury goes retrograde in Gemini Time to communicate with yourself.
June 2 AAS Treat yourself to a meeting.
June 3 New Moon in Gemini
*************************************************
Support your local metaphysical stores and organi- zations… if you don’t… we may end up with none being around and no place to go… for most it is a matter of commitment and not a money making scheme… support them!!!
RANDOM THOUGHTS by Gary Saus
Science and Metaphysics (Continued from April)
Last month I discussed the relationship of science and astrology, letting people know that astrology is not a science, but rather a language, an art form. I was a bit surprised that people seemed defensive about it. I thought about it for a while and as crazy as it sounds I finally understood… people believe in science. This also struck me as somewhat crazy because the same people that might say science has proven astrology does not work are the same people that will not accept Darwinian evolution. People chose what they want to be real and what they do not want as real.
It is in this light that I think we need to put some things in perspective. Astrology is not a science, but so what? What most of us fail to real eyes is that there are many ways of gathering information, of seeing and understanding the universe, of knowing what is “real.” Science is merely one of the ways of obtaining truth. There are many others.
All are equally valid. It is simply a question of where and in what are you asking for validation to your truths. Why do some people feel science is the only way to have validation? Those who study astrology should know better. Just because science does not confirm your system does not make it invalid. There are multiple means of validation.
For example, other than science, would you not accept that life experience is a validation of truth? Is not what you have experienced and gone through, and seen, and felt, brought truth to your life? Why do we ask job applicants if they have had work experience if we do not accept experience as a way of learning? If you have driven seven Ford trucks all of your life and have been more than satisfied, have found them to be exceptional vehicles, when it comes time to buy another truck are you going to read Consumer Reports. And if you find they say Ford trucks are terrible… what are you going to do? Buy a Chevy? Or buy another Ford?
Are you going to deny your intuition? Is it a false sense of truth, or do you accept that it too has validity and offers insights into the process of life? True the insights may not be in the same reality as science, but they are insights and offer a level of awareness that science cannot. Which gives you validity? On a side note, I must mention that I have found that intuition may also give drastic insights into the nature of the universe. If we look at the intuitive writings of the ancients and study the oral tradition of the wise ones, I believe we can discover a deep awareness into the structure of the heavens. If we open up to our inner vision we can open up a view of he wholeness of life and how it works, even down to the molecular level. When we "open" up to inner vision, there are views of existence beyond belief. Our inner vision can transport us to worlds beyond our comprehension. And when we do visit those worlds, do we deny them because science cannot prove them? Do we deny them because science says these visions may only be chemical reactions going on in the brain and cannot be real? Where do we look for validation? Do we accept our own validation or must we look to someone or something else to tell us what is true?
Is the world of dreams totally unreal? Are dreams merely diversions from the night's sleep? Are dreams just false impressions of worlds that do not exist? Are dreams a representation of that ancient Chinese saying: "Last night when I went to sleep I dreamt I was a butterfly. This morning when I awoke, I did not know if I was a man who dreamt I was a butterfly or a butterfly who dreamt I was a man?" If you pay attention to your dreams, write them down and then analyze them, I know you would be amazed at their truths...not to mention the precognitive value they have.
GARDENS
It’s that time of year… spring has sprung, trees are bursting open, flowers are flowering… it reminds me of that ancient saying; “Winter is like childbirth, (so they say, I can only accept hearsay on this)… that after those first few warm days of spring, when you know it is truly here, you totally forget about any of winter’s pains or turmoils.”
And now that spring is here, it is time to prepare your garden and/or yard for the coming year. Remember that your yard is like any room of the house… it has a purpose. Your intention on how to use it, is the driving force of that purpose. So decide, if you haven’t already, what is your yard going to be used for? When you enter your kitchen you know it is a place to gather or make food, your dining room a place to eat, your bedroom a place to sleep… so what is your yard for? Is it a place to meditate, a place to rest, a place to grow food, a place tofindsolaceandcomfort?Whatdoyou expect when you enter your yard? What if you have designed your yard/garden to grow food…
and not just food, but food that is healthy, wholesome and healing, food that will enrich the lives of your family, increase their health, their energy, their spiritual purity. With your intention set, then every time you enter your garden you can focus on that intent. You canamplify the energy your soul, the earth, the universe sends to those plants. Every time you water them you know that you are growing healing plants, plants that will enrich the lives of your family. Imagine the outcome when your family actually does consume those plants. You and they will know that they are being healed, made more healthy with every bite. This is just one of the possibilities of your yard. Your imagination, your intention can create a special room, a special place that can be used to fulfill your every dream.
Use the energy of yourself and the earth to create a special place of wonder, a golden room.
