In Honor of the Grandmother Moon and Full Moon Ceremony

Dont forget to eat your weeds!

2011-12-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

I just called to say good morning, and stayed on the phone with my dad for over an hour. He lives 10 minutes from me, but these are how the conversions end up when I ask about the medicines. He says I inspire him, because I am a lot like my grandmother. He inspires me to always increase my knowledge, and get to know the plants better. Malva or Common Mallow, is one such plant.
I was introduced to her 10 years ago. I was in the backyard, sweating, chopping, hacking, and digging up what I though was a weed. If you have ever tried to pull up this plant then you know exactly what I am talking about. They send down one long, thick tap root. I must have looked like some kind of crazy woman. Like a cruel joke, Malva had exploded in my yard in the areas where I growing medicine, funny right? My dad in his usual way, walks up laughing, "What the hell are you doing?!" I look up, wiping the dirt from my face to complain about these thick, fibrous, and deep rooted monsters. He looks down, shakes his head, and comments to the earth, "aye, esa mujer!" I drop my pick axe and wait for it.... "I thought you were supposed to know about hierbas curativas?" He says. He goes on, "So, what do you know about this plant?" I shrug my shoulders, and say "nothing really". For the next 10 minutes he tells as story about the plant and how helpful she is. Needless to say I felt really bad.
Malva, returns year after year, and she is in the yard again. This time, I am surprised, because it seems she is on the periphery as opposed to the middle of everything. I am guessing, now that we know each other, she is not making herself so obvious.

Seed of the Common Mallow

So this morning, I ask my dad to tell me the story again. This time, he remembers a different one. I loved hearing this cuentinto, a little story, it was so beautiful and reminded me of my nana. This time he tells of being a little boy who follows his mom everywhere. While interjecting about this being the reason he knows alot. According to him, he was always at her side. He goes on to tell me a really cute story about how my Nana used to gather her children, collecting a few neighborhood kids along the way, "¡Vamos a comer los quesitos!" Sending the kids out with a sac, they gather the little seed pods of the Malva that resembles a little wheel of cheese. They stayed in the fields, playing, pretending, and eating Malva seed with my grandmother. My grandmother would remind the kids to eat plenty. He talked about how magical it was to gather these seeds, break off portions, and pretend he was eating cheese. The children gathered extras to take home, where my grandmother would store them. My dad asks me if I had any idea why my grandmother did this. I told him I read about Malva seed containing 21% protein and 15% fat; he was not surprised. That's survival food. I asked him if they were low on food at that time, he laughs and says, "probably!" My grandmother was very resourceful in getting the children their nutrition and making it fun.
My dad made an interesting and very true commentary about how when kids are exposed at a young age, they will eat the wild foods, and take the strong teas, because the quickly become accustomed to it.
Like my Nana, I always tell my kids where to find the foods that will keep them alive. I am very honest and practical with them, and prepare them for the worst.
Since they were old enough to understand, I would take the kids outside and introduce them to the plants. I would have them smell and taste the plants, and drink the strong teas. I would say, " If anything ever happens and there is no food, just remember to eat these, they are power foods and medicines and they will keep you alive. You can eat the Malva raw, steam the nettles, and the young tumble weeds, and you already know how to eat acorns, prickly pear, and nopales."
I would tell them stories of their ancestors, the desert people, and stories about survival from the foods in nature. My middle son, a meat lover, was always asking, "so when are we going to try woodrat?" I think this is the best information for any parent to give to their children and loved ones. I would encourage people to get outside and get to know the wild foods that grow around them. Ask the old people, because they most likely remember eating these themselves.
The benefits of Common Mallow- Malva neglecta are many. Go outside, and talk to the plant, introduce yourself, and offer her some tobacco, or a song. Pick the plant, and try the leaves in a salad, and eat the seed in place of croutons. They are very tasty if you are used to eating green things. You can actually soak the entire plant overnight, including the roots. The broth is very mucilaginous and you can warm this and drink it to address sore throats, coughs, lung issues, dry, scratchy eyes, and constipation. I am sure that you could use to sooth scrapes and burns as well. If you are in a hurry, then simply chop up the plant and make into a decoction. I recently used the leaves in soup and salad, it was delicious.
Get to know that plants that grow in the different seasons, that way you will know when to expect them. Read books about the historical uses of plants, and try some experimentation. What are the wild foods that grown around you this time of year?

She Brings the Medicine Back

2011-11-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

Last night, I received a question from a 13-year-old girl from Canada via this blog. This young sister is inquiring about how to do a Moontime ceremony, she asks on behalf of her woman friend, who is an elder. They would like to do this ceremony together. I am suspecting that this young one is a First Nations sister, as I have had much sharing and inquiries from many Cree sisters lately.

I was deeply moved and honored to have encountered this young person who asks. Her request was anonymous, and did not have a return email address. When I read this request, I instantly felt a large lump in my throat, and tears came to my eyes for the recognition of the beautiful gift this little sister has. It makes my heart so happy, and yet I am sad. My eyes well for the loss of our traditions, and that a courageous young one is asking to bring it back to her elder. I feel like I am no one to ask, and yet, I have some of the knowledge she seeks. I instantly felt a connection to this young woman who asks to learn.

I also have a niece who is also thirteen. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is in that weird, yet powerful in-between space. She is learning the ceremony when we come together, and will be a powerful woman when she is older. She used to tell me I was gross when I asked her to call once she gets her Moon. She knows we will do a ceremony for her when she gets her first Moon, and she said that she doesn’t want everyone to know. I know she is getting used to the idea. The last time she was here, she gave me hug and whispered in my ear, “I’m going to call you when it comes, okay?”

I remember thirteen very well; it was the age that I jumped off the cliff. I was one of those strong-willed, rebellious powder kegs who wanted to be 30. I was determined to experience the good, bad, and ugly of life before I crashed into pregnant and 17. Looking back now, I could have benefited from having an elder to guide me during that time.

What struck me is the reality that there are many women in general looking for instructions on how to how to do a ceremony. Women in many communities are beginning to wake up to those ancient ceremonies that call them back. I can especially relate to my Indigenous sisters, who's communities have lost traditions as a result of colonization and are wanting to return to this ancient medicine to heal themselves and their communities, and do not know where to start.

I know that there is a proliferation of instructions on how to conduct a full moon ceremony on the Internet, but I do not know of any traditional Native women who have presented a ceremony in this fashion, and because of certain cultural and spiritual ideals, they will not.

I know of many Native and First Nation communities who have little in the way of traditional knowledge and ceremony. Our remaining elders, many of whom are boarding school survivors, were effectively wiped of any and all traditional knowledge; leaving a gap for the younger generations. Many young people are now recognizing the need for this knowledge and are searching. I have seen many Indigenous peoples sharing across tribal traditions in an effort to get this knowledge back in the hands of the young ones. The eagle and condor prophecy comes to mind when I think of the knowledge being shared in the many councils and gatherings being held in many Indigenous communities in an effort to bring our communities back into balance and harmony.

This is the first time that I have ever considered putting instructions for a ceremony here. I was taught that ceremony has a sacred place, meaning, and purpose... and the internet ain't one of them. There is a specific process, traditional and spiritual knowledge that go along with all aspects of ritual and ceremony, which is a highly sacred way of knowing that cannot be conveyed in a blog or on YouTube. These are gifts and living beings to be deeply respected and cared for and when done correctly, they will always gift back. If it is packaged, commodified, cheapened, or displayed for all to see, then it is devoid of medicine, and will eventually kickback on the offender. I have seen this many times, even to well-meaning persons. I will not divulge spiritual knowledge, special songs, prayers, or rituals that go along with the ceremony. But- I can give the basics so that you can incorporate this into your own life.

The idea is get outside, get praying, get dancing, and singing to the Grandma Moon-No matter what or how!

This ceremony is held on either the day-before/day of/ day-after the full Moon. For example, we know that this month's full Moon is 11/10, but I will be holding it on 11/11. It can be held on 11/9 as well. Have a fire, or candle(s) that you can gather around. Smoke your wood, circle, and yourselves up with cedar, sweet grass, sage, etc.. Make an offering of tobacco to the Fire and make a prayer that honors and thanks the Great Creator, the Grandmother Moon, The Mother Earth, All of your female relations, your sisters, and yourself. Pray for women only during this time.

After the prayer, open the circle to talk with your sisters, share a prayer, stories, or whatever is in your heart. Go clockwise, and everyone shares and there is no responding; only honoring.

Again, make a prayer to the Water, place water outside under the Full moon in a water bottle, let it stay there all night. That water becomes your medicine for the month. Sing songs that honor the Moon and all women. Dance to the beat of the music, and hold your arms outstretched to her. Ask her for her medicine. Then end your ceremony with a prayer of thanks, and then share in food and company.

A special note to my sister going to Moosonee:

Please email me directly at ancestorsmedicine(at)gmail(dot)com. If you are interested, I would like to provide you with more information that I will not post here. Thank you for honoring me with your request. Blessings on your safe journey.

11.11.11 Invitation

2011-10-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Sisters,

I would like to extend this invitation to our upcoming ceremony in San Diego , CA. I usually just send out a local email, but am posting this for other women to come if they feel called. I have received a few inquiries in the last month from women in different areas, and would like to share this information with them as well. I understand that some women may be making a journey out of town. I know that it is not often that many can travel, with that said, I am willing to meet earlier the day of the ceremony, or the next day for the women to get the teachings around the ceremony and women's medicine.

When a woman is experiencing her Moontime she is in the midst of that universal phenomena. She releases toxins, old cells, and stagnant energy to the Mother Earth while at the same time she serves as an open vessel waiting to be filled with new blood, power, and energy that emanates from the Grandmother Moon. A woman is the only one who has this ability, month after month. It is precisely because this energy is so powerful, it needs a container and ritual so that the power may be understood and applied in a way that benefits all of humanity. The name for this sacred container is the "Moontime Ceremony"

Please join us around the fire for the Sacred Moontime Ceremony on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

If you are interested in attending this ceremony, there are few things we would like you to know:

Please contact ancestorsmedicine(at)gmail(dot)com for directions.

ALL women of good heart and intention are always welcome and women on moontime (bleeding) are naturally welcome to this ceremony.

*Please bring tobacco for offering, a cigarette, tie, or pouch are all acceptable *Please wear a long white skirt, but, any color is okay

*Please bring a jar already filled with spring water, never distilled *Please bring food for potluck, bring a dish to feed at least 5 people. Paper plates and cups are always needed. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items are appreciated and needed so that everyone may eat.

All sacred regalia, animal parts, feathers, rawhide drums, rattles, etc. are to be left at home, unless it is a personal moontime bundle

Firekeeper is the only one who touches wood and maintains fire, nothing but tobacco and offerings go into fire

Once fire is lit, please quiet yourself and concentrate on prayers for yourself and women community

Pregnant mamas: We ask that you refrain from the Moontime ceremony during your sacred time. The moon's magnetic pull can actually put you into premature labor, especially if your pregnancy is a challenging one. Please stay indoors during the full moon.

For more information please email ancestorsmedicine (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Remembering, Reclaiming, and Restoring Our Sacred Traditions

2011-08-08T09:37:00.000-07:00


Three generations of Yoeme ancestors, My GGG Grandmother (seated middle), my GG Grandmother (woman middle right), G grandmother (older girl middle left). Penjamo Yaqui settlement, Scottsdale, Arizona (@1916)

In the spirit of All our Relations and the Old Ones, this site is an offering of information and resources for those who are interested in restoring the sacred in their lives and communities for the future of our children.

Initially it was my intention to make this a site where all people could come and obtain information about the traditional women's Moontime ceremony and information. I intend to keep this title on the blog because I can't figure out how to maintain that information on the search engines so that women know how to find that info. Until I can figure out what the heck I am doing, the title will stay. I will be adding content to reflect information about traditional Indigenous ways of being and knowing, as well as information about my own work on this path.

All people had a beginning where our ancestors had a respectful and reciprocal relationship to Earth, and it's inhabitants. It is time to remember, reclaim, and restore those ways of being that will help to reverse the destruction of ourselves, and our beautiful Mother Earth.

Interconnected and part of the living earth system, what befalls us, befalls the Earth. Physical disease, mental-illness, and soul-sickness that we manifest are merely a manifestation of the illusion of separation.

We once again return to a relational world-view that is based on a harmonious relationship with our Creator, ourselves, and all our relations: those who walk, crawl, fly, swim, the seen and the unseen.

The natural world is not only a doctor, but a teacher of wisdom that provides us with an understanding about how to live in unity and harmony with the natural world.

My intention is to be a way shower, and resource to those on the path and offer information as I understand it. My hope is that it can be helpful to others.

Blessings,
Ericka

Sky Beings over Mt. Shasta

2011-07-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

While taking a boat ride on Lake Shasta on July 20, I spotted these Sky Beings/Cloud People. A friend from Mt. Shasta calls them Sylphs. I counted at least 7 of these beings, each with arms outstretched. The sacred Mount Shasta is just to the right. I feel very blessed to have seen these amazing Beings of the Sky.

Making a Moontime Bundle

2011-07-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

An example of a bundle

Every woman should have a personal Moontime bundle. This is a highly personalized and special bundle. No one should ever touch or handle you bundle, especially not men. It is your choice if you decide to let female family and friends, see, touch, or handle your bundle. Your bundle is more than a collection of items to assist you on your Moon-your bundle will become a living, breathing Being and needs to be honored as such. Here is some advice on how to being making your personal Moontime Bundle:

Smoke your self up with purifying herbs, offer tobacco and make special prayers in preparation of making your bundle.
Make a special petition to the Grandmother Moon and the Grandmothers to ask for a dream and guidance on clues to making your own bundle.
Don't rush! Spend some thoughtful time putting together your bundle.
Bare bones, this bundle should be wrapped in cloth and contain a clay pot to burn herbs for purification, tobacco, moontime herbs such as female sage, cedar, and mugwort, and matches.
It should not contain animal parts, regalia, feathers, talons, etc.
Some ideas for your bundle might include special prayers, personal songs, representational dolls, special Moontime crystals (more about that on another post).
My personal Moontime bundle is carried in my Great grandmother's old-time sewing basket, so it carries special significance for me. This will be passed to my niece when she is ready.

Happy Equinox

2011-03-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder and call to all spiritually minded folks to remember to honor the Spring Equinox. If you can honor this day, it would be beneficial to you, our relations and the Earth. It is a perfect time to pray for our relatives in the Japan, the Middle East, and anywhere else people are suffering. Fasting for that day and making special prayers for all your relations is wonderful to do on one of the most powerful days of the year. The Spring Equinox is especially auspicious, signifying new beginnings and a powerful way to set intentions and rewrite the scripts of our lives, start a new routine, or add potent energy to anything we are just beginning. Build a fire, the very first power of the universe, talk to it, thank it, and make your prayers. Offer tobacco to carry your prayer to the Creator and good and high Spirits. Blessings. Aho!

Honoring the Winter of our Lives

2010-11-16T23:01:00.000-08:00

Living in Southern California may not allow us the ability to experience true seasonal changes as we have beautiful weather pretty much year' round. Places like northern California come to mind when reflecting on the more obvious seasonal changes; the beautiful autumn leaves and cold snowy winters. As we see the world around us, and recognize the shorter days and longer and colder dark nights we know that we are headed towards winter. Although we may have forgotten, our beings still remember the natural inclinations that we have during this time. Living in harmony with nature is a way of life that all people once practiced, and many traditional societies still practice, although it is getting harder to do so. Before we became too busy and stressed out to feel the natural rhythm of our bodies, we used to know how to be just like those seasons.

Manzanita in Winter

By observing the changes that take place during the seasons we can adjust ourselves to be like the changes we see around us. As days get shorter, we see leaves of trees change colors and fall to the ground to nourish the soil beneath. Plants and trees retain their nutrients and slow their growth. Many animals hibernate, or have stored food for the long hard months ahead. Nature in general withdraws into itself, and begins a time of rest and regeneration.

We human beings would benefit by following the example of nature, and could possibly find ourselves with a healthier more balanced winter season if we could bring ourselves to slow down during these months.

The shorter days of winter provides us with a good opportunity to slow down, go inside, get cozy, and get to bed earlier. Studies show that most people do not get enough sleep, so this would be the perfect opportunity to catch up. More sleep means more rest for the body, mind and spirit; bringing us in to a more harmonious state. Dreams become clearer, thinking sharper, and bodies more at ease.

Nourishing our bodies by taking in more of the foods that grow during winter is always a good idea. While the natural inclination might be to consume more heavy and fattening foods, it is important to still maintain a healthy diet. Do you notice that it is harder to lose weight in the winter? Again, that is our body’s way of anticipating the lack of food in winter.

Matching our diet to according to what is growing is an excellent rule of thumb. Eating more warm, moist foods and drinking certain herbs can be also very beneficial to the body. Root vegetables grow abundantly during winter, and are extremely good for you. Roots are the storage organs for plants, and contain good carbohydrates, proteins, and needed vitamins, minerals. Soups and stews containing potatoes, fennel, turnips, carrots, onions, garlic, and other vegetable roots are very restorative.

Add astragalus root to soups for the immunity enhancing benefit. Warming herbs like ginger and cinnamon are wonderful as teas on a cold night. My mom used to make te de canela, cinnamon tea in the winter evenings. In the mornings she would boil a big pot of cinnamon sticks, and then add milk, oats, and sugar to the tea make deliciously warming oatmeal in the mornings.

How about you? What are some of the natural or traditional foods you eat in winter? What are they ways you honor the seasons in your own lives? How can you hold on to those and make them a part of new traditions for you and your loved ones?

In nourishing our spirit and maintaining our psychological well-being we also need to remember that winter provides an excellent time to go within, reflect and practice solitude. It is a good time to reflect on the past, to see where we have been, how we have grown and where we may be heading. Winter is a good time to look at our lives and see where we have grown the most. The biggest steps we take in our lives usually came about through the hardest trials and tribulations. Winter is a time of letting go, shedding what no longer serves us in our lives, and makes room for new possibilities. It helps us to appreciate the new beginnings and the more joyful times in our lives.

I once accompanied a woman on a vision quest in the middle of winter. I was the spiritual guardian for her particular quest and had to perch myself on a hill high above her as to keep watch. I have gone on the mountain many times, but never in winter. Although she was unable to sleep outside during the night, the day was spent in contemplation, prayer, and observation of surroundings. Both of us were very uncomfortable, frozen and up to our legs in snow, but kept strong in our prayers. A winter quest is such a contrast from a quest in the middle of summer. In this sense it had served a really wonderful purpose. It was exactly what she needed in order to relate to the winter of her life and see where she had been, to see what was lifeless and no longer worked. The communication of nature allowed her to see in a symbolic way where she was headed next, enabling her to prepare for the new possibilities of the future. I'm not suggesting anyone do a winter vision quest, but perhaps take the time to put yourself in nature while contemplating the areas in your life that may need growth. Nature is always a wonderful helper, and just may provide the answers you are looking for.

Saturday, November 20 Craft Fair!

2010-11-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

Come and see me at OB People's Market

Annual Craft Fair this coming Saturday, Nov 2o from 11:00-4:00.

Come see me at People's and get your Christmas shopping done a little early. This is an awesome craft fair with many interesting and crafts and goods for sale. Enchanted Bee will be selling our popular herbal medicine preparations including the Grandmother Plant preparations, salts, herbs, and more. This year I will be including my personal crafts, including gourd rattles, ornaments, and handmade dolls. I am also making myself available for short wellness and herbal consultations. Come enjoy some warm herbal tea and come visit with me!

OB People's Market is located in Ocean Beach at:

4765 Voltaire Street

San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 224-1387

November Full Moon Ceremony

2010-11-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

Come warm yourselves Near the Fire and Join Us:

Women's Full Moon Ceremony this coming Sunday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m.

(This will be our last Full Moon Ceremony of 2010 due to the Solstice Ceremony in December)

Please join us for a traditional Native Women’s Moontime Ceremony to honor the Grandmother Moon, our Sacred Earth Mother and all female relations in Nature. The Mooncycle is a gift to women, it is a time to cleanse herself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Moontime is considered a time of power, second only to the ability of the Great Spirit to give life. That is how strong that power is. Women can ask Grandmother Moon for direction in life, for wisdom, and for help for her female relations. Grandmother Moon can give her healing and balancing energy to women. When the Moon is full, a woman can do a ceremony to honor and seek guidance from Grandmother Moon.

Who: All Women (On your Moon? Good, Come!)

Where: 6955 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92114 (Encanto-San Diego)

Call (619) 846-3106

Bring: Tobacco offering, a clean jar of spring water, a long skirt, bring a coat/blanket (outdoors), no sacred regalia please, just you, the Moon and your water.

Also Bring: Please bring food for potluck, bring a dish to feed at least 5 people. Paper plates and cups are needed as well.

Donations are always appreciated to recover cost of wood, medicines, travel, etc...

* a note to sisters who are pregnant, we ask that you refrain from the moontime ceremony during your sacred time. The moon's magnetic pull can actually put you into pre-mature labor, especially if your pregnancy is a challenging one. Please stay indoors during the full moon.

Gathering

2010-04-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

I will be hosting a small gathering of women on the weekend of May 14/15, 2010, In San Diego, CA.

On Friday, May 14 I will be taking a group of women out to the high desert to for plant identification and wildcrafting. We will be leaving in the morning, and will return late afternoon. I am asking women to bring a sack lunch, clippers, sunscreen, hat, large paper bags, and tobacco for offering the plants. We will learn the use of particular plants and their importance in healing.

On Saturday, May 15 at 11:00 am, we will rejoin for a day of learning and healing. I will be teaching on some basic concepts of healing, particularly in the tradition of curanderismo, traditional Mexican healing. I will be instructing on the function of the limpia/ spiritual cleansing with herbs and sacred waters. Women will learn the causes of dis-ease, how the limpia can be of use in self-healing. Particular plants will be worked with, and we will learn how to do a limpia on ourselves.
For more information please email me @ enchantedbee@hotmail.com

Reclaiming Our Sweet Medicine

2009-11-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

Reclaiming Our Sweet Medicine: Healing the Heart and Soul With Traditional Indigenous Healing and Curanderismo

In this experiential gathering you will learn basic concepts of wellness and dis-ease as they apply toTraditional Indigenous/Mexican Healing. We will look at the role of prayer, ritual and ceremony and techniques of preventative and spiritual health care and how they can help us to alleviate imbalance and keep us centered and in harmony. We will talk about the importance of honoring and reconnecting with our relations in nature, and ways to do that. We will finish by combining the use of plants, herbs, and special waters to sweep and remove unwanted energies from both the energetic and physical bodies. All materials will be provided. Bring an open heart and mind.

When: Sunday, November 15, 2009

Where: Adams Avenue Integrative Health 3412 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116

Times: 12:00-2:00

Cost: All materials will be provided to participants. Cost $15.00

Email: Enchantedbee@hotmail.com
Call: (619) 846-3106

Blogistas: If you know of anyone in San Diego area who would be interested, please pass this info on.....Thanks!

Invitation to September Moontime Ceremony

2009-08-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

...A quick note before you read on....I did not hold the moon ceremony last month due to the sacred event known as the Eclipse. It is my belief that no person, female or male should be outside during the time of the eclipse. Since I was a small child I was taught this. My Yaqui grandmother was very strict when it came to the eclipse solar or lunar. She knew exactly when they were coming. We had a large family of mostly women and we would always be at gramma's house, (it was grampa's house too, but it was known as "gramma's house" ). On one particular eclipse, I was about 7 at the time, I can remember us gathering at gramma's. I recall energies were a little high and people were preparing, my cousins who were pregnant had to stay away from windows and my grandma pinned medals of the saints over their pregnant bellies, if there were no more medals, she would use keys. She warned us that it was an unnatural time, that is was better if we all stayed in. She told us that if pregnant women ventured into the outdoors during this time, the babies would likely be born with a deformity. I was told a story by a Karuk medicine man that he had to doctor and pray for a couple who lost their child soon after it was born. He said the baby was born during the eclipse, and that the young couple and wanting to honor their culture and language decided to name the baby the name of "eclipse" in their language. He said that he warned them not to do that, to pick a different name and to pray for and make protection on the baby instead. I have also come to learn that these beliefs are held in other Native American/indigenous cultures as well. India as a nation also holds to this belief. Even though that eclipse was in the morning of that day last month, we respect that time and just not hold ceremony during that time-frame.

September's Moontime Ceremony

Please join us for a traditional Native Women’s Moontime Water Ceremony to honor the Grandmother Moon, our Sacred Earth Mother and all female relations in Nature.

Indigenous people knew that everything in Creation has a spirit, and that we are connected to all of our relations in nature. As we reclaim our medicine gifts, it is important that we take this time to honor our Grandmother.

The Mooncycle is a gift to women, it is a time to cleanse herself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Moontime is considered a time of power, second only to the ability of the Great Spirit to give life. That is how strong that power is.

Women can ask Grandmother Moon for direction in life, for wisdom, and for help for her female relations. Grandmother Moon can give her healing and balancing energy to women. When the Moon is full, a woman can do a ceremony to honor and seek guidance from Grandmother Moon.

Who: All Women (On your Moon? Good, Come!)

When: Friday, September 4, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Encanto-San Diego ..(please email for directions)

Bring: Tobacco offering, a clean jar of spring water, a long skirt, bring a sweater (outdoors), no sacred regalia please, just you, the Moon and your water. Donations are always appreciated to recover cost of wood, medicines, travel, etc...

Traditional Mexican-Indigenous Limpias

2009-08-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking about the usefulness of the Mexican/Indigenous limpia, and the need I had for doing one on myself. Limpia comes from the Spanish verb limpar which means to clean. A limpia or barrida (a sweeping) of the energy field of the body with aromatic herbs, waters, can also be complemented with the use of the egg. There are many ways to do limpias. My Yaqui grandmother used to use prayer and aromatic floral waters to purify herself and others. While studying under other curanderas and curanderos, I also learned the use of other tools in the form of smoke, herbal tinctures, herbs, and eggs. Each had thier own style and regional differences. There is also the difference in spiritual beliefs, some may be Catholic, Christian, or adhere to their Indigenous spirituality. My grandmother was Catholic, she was also strong in her Yaqui ways and integrated both ways of being. The differences in practices can be very regional, personal or led by Spirit. For example, I was taught by a Mayan healer to blow herbal tinctures out of my mouth and spray the patient while reciting prayers. He taught me the importance of making my own herbal preparation for this purpose. I have developed my personal techniques and prefer the use of the fresh herbs, eggs and sacred breath when doing a limpias. Depending on the guidance I get, I will use other methods as well.

The herbs that I have found profoundly effective are Pirul (California Peppertree), Romero (Rosemary) and Ruda (Rue). I was always taught that your personal medicines can always be found growing in your own yard, this I have found to be very true. I am blessed to have a male and female Pirul tree, Nettles (nettos as my son calls them) , Malva, Wild lettuce, Dandelion, and Wild oats growing at different times of the year.

With the limpia I was taught to set my intention while I prayerfully gathered my herbs, and then stating to the Creator and the good spirits to help bring the patient into balance and remove any stagnant energy and sickness. I then follow the energy lines of the body beginning from head to toe. It is critical for all aspects of the body to be swept over, including the breasts, genitalia and buttocks. This is the point in the cleansing where I hand the herbs and egg over to the patient and turn around, so that they can cleanse themselves. I found this to be very important, especially for women. Women, by nature, tend to store their emotions in the womb. If this energy has not been dislodged by moontime or other forms of healing it can cause imbalance and sickness in those areas. A limpia should be used regularly as maintenance, especially if one is highly stressed, near negative people, jealous people, etc.. A limpia is also very good and effective as a primer to any other healing modality.

I also think it's important to mention that kids need a little cleaning now and then too. Little people sometimes pick up our heavy emotions, violence at school, TV, video games etc... it is good prevention to clean them up now and then. Something as gentle as bundle of rue, rosemary and lavender would be good for them. As children have more sensitive energy fields, it is not as critical to use a strong herb like Pirul. I learned this completely by mistake 10 years ago when doing a limpia on my son who was 6 at the time, I had used Pirul (big mistake) and swept over him. About 10 minutes after I was done, he says "mom, my legs feel very weak, and I am really tired", this is the son who most times would be bouncing off the walls. I had learned later that Pirul contains large amounts of cosmic energy that can clean not only stagnant energy, but take our vital energy as well.

Moontime and the Law of Cosmic Duality

2009-01-02T09:04:00.001-08:00

An Ancient Knowledge
An Indigenous elder versed in Moontime ceremony and knowledge once shared with me that Moontime power is prime example of the Universal Law of Cosmic Duality. This means that when a woman is experiencing her Moontime (bleeding time) that she is in the midst of that universal phenomena. Where she releases toxins, old cells, and stagnant energy; she also serves as an open container for new light, power, and energy which emanate from the Grandmother Moon.

The Moontime Ceremony

It is precisely because this energy is so powerful, it needs a container and ritual so that the power may be understood and applied in a way that benefits all of humanity. We call this ritual the Moontime Ceremony because is was and still is affected by the power of the Grandmother Moon. The ceremony is done to keep our cycles healthy, balanced and maintains that women live in beauty with all that surrounds them. The elders teach us that women who do not practice this ritual only hurt themselves and eventually others.

All Indigenous Peoples Knew This

At one time, all earth-based societies knew this information and through shifts of power, colonization, or male-centered ideologies, this changed. At one time all peoples knew this information. Contrary to some backward beliefs, it was the women who chose to seclude themselves during this time. Women withdrew into a dwelling that was separate from the rest of the people, and bled, created and dreamed for the people. Upon her return, she would impart sacred knowledge that was gifted to her. This knowledge helped the people to figure out life's problems, find food, shelter, and protection. Although the actual ceremony or ritual might vary from tribe to tribe, most approached the subject in a religious way.