Last weekend I had the privilege and honor to participate in the Agape Soul Sisters Retreat at the Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades. Like last year, my amazing mom gifted me this experience. I have to admit, in my life I haven't been exactly enthralled by all women's gatherings. In fact most of my life the majority of my friends have been dudes. Of course though I have had and have a handful of very close friends who are women, they are indeed sisters to my heart and soul, who's friendships have graced my life. I just have felt more comfortable in groups with both genders, generally. So when my mom invited me to this retreat last year, I was like, cool, okay, this should be nice, a weekend with the ladies.
Little did I know that I would be blown away by the experience of this outstanding group of people, each one so very beautiful... with unique stories, qualities, talents, and vision. Experiencing this diversity of backgrounds, ages, shapes and sizes, affinities, voices, gifts, colors, and beauty was like swimming in a vast body of rich, life renewing, multi-sourced mineral water where a million earthly rivers did converge, powerfully refreshing. I felt like I was in a power plant of human magnificence. And I walked away from that weekend and into the world looking at EVERY human being with a slight tilt of my head and little grin wondering, I bet you are amazing aren't you, if I were to stop and listen to your stories, reveal who you are and what you are creating, I would discover you beautiful, I can feel it. EVERYone, female or male, after that simply radiated to me. And this feeling made me feel beautiful. Helped me feel my own beauty. Healing.
Well, this year was again a prolifically inspiring convergence of human beings. I am honored to be a part of it, to participate in this deep think-feel-be-flourish tank, to give and receive the gift of vulnerability, openness, and TRUST that is the ultimate strength and power.
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| counsel of wise women, 2009 |
Quite possibly the most profound and wonderful part of this retreat is the counsel of wise women, our elders, who greet us as daughters when we arrive to the opening gathering on friday, and on saturday we gather around for "Tell Mama," a time that anyone can express something or ask a question to our elder women for a reflection from their earnest wisdom. And at our closing ceremony on sunday, as we honor each season of age of all the women present, when we get to the "New Spring" to honor the amazing counsel of wise women, well, my heart busts into a million grateful pieces as I behold their grace. I saw my grandma Tata up there standing with them, and out of total joy I humbly cried and gave thanks. I am going soon to visit my grandma Tata to celebrate her 99 years alive!
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| my mama (far right), her wonderful friends who headed the call, and me (on far left) |
These are prayer squares (at right). You carry yours with you and with a friend you present it and ask your friend for a prayer. Your friend, in agreement, signifies the prayer by tying a knot with it's strings. And now you carry with you a visual and tactile reminder that your prayer is alive, and as these exchanges continue so do grow the prayers and their knots on your prayer square. These were made by a group of women at the retreat for all of us. I was gifted my square as well as another to gift to a friend. Yesterday I gave it to Jennifer and we exchanged prayers and knots. These are our squares in our hands. |
| Quan Yin statue reflecting at the soul sister alter |
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| "good witch" click to view |
Our stories, our creativity, our gifts and what we give... I am waking up to that these are our expressions yes, AND they are the way we heal... ourselves, and one another. Our medicine is the art and the stories of our lives. In this sense we are medicine women and shamans. Medicine women were deemed witches not long ago... and sO we re-claim ourselves to that of a "good witch" like Glinda, here on Z page this week, beautiful and powerful because of her compassion, love and healing Grace.
in love & gratitude
∞ ceci
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mmm mmmm mmmm, this feels so yummy in my soul - this speaking and breathing you have shared!
ReplyDeleteSo many cofirmations of our time yesterday, continued into my day - including nipple references. One to add also, beets! - which hello, is the color of our sketch book - life amazing!
Thank you for the prayer gift - it sits in my bosom again today, and carried me safely and well yesterday on my journey. One last thing, I meant to tell you that the last beautiful postcard - with yellow face flower is sitting prominently atop my desk in its new space - and also, to shout out YES, yellow, even looking around again this morning is prominent in my life too - still for you??
love you femme divine - chrriot
p.s.l. awesome pics - so swirly and heart filling!
ReplyDeletethanks love... so nice that the postcard is bringing you yellow just as you're in it :) ...dude speaking of colors, it's just too crazy good that the colors of our prayer squares, gifted to us last week, are so suited with Z page of that week ("good witch")... and I just happened to place the images of the squares and "good witch" near each other... and now happily I look and see that they go hand in hand. love it. more and more it is revealed that magic is our birthright.
ReplyDeletelove
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Ceci your veunerabilibty to share with the world your wisdoms of existence and reality are a gift to us all male and female. I am happy to have recieved you after your glowing experience from your retreat. I actually had no idea and to see your words and your glow is epic. Like the words you said to me all that you experienced is a reflection of your own self. AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteLove.
Jeremy
Thank you Jeremy for your reflection and ever loving support. It is an honor to be co-creators with you. Your dance is powerful art beyond conception. I am grateful for you.
ReplyDeletelove
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