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A GODDESS IS A DIVINE BEING EMBODIED IN A FEMININE FORM. SHE’S ONE WHO IS REVERED FOR POSSESSING SUPERNATURAL POWERS. ANCIENT PEOPLE AROUD THE WORLD ONCE WORSHIPPED THE GODDESS IN HER MANY FORMS – FROM THE BRAVE HUNTRESS TO THE EROTIC LOVER.
HER MOST CENTRAL ROLE WAS THE FEMINIE CREATOR…..
THIS DEEP HONORING OF THE MOTHER GODDESS WAS ASED ON THE EARLY COMUNITIES DIRECT, INTIMATE, AND SYMBIOTIC RELAITONSHIP WITH THE EARTH.
GODDESS = SACRED FEMININE REFERS TO THE CONSICOUS EXPRSION OF ALL FEMININE TRAITS, QUALITIES AND VALUES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WHOLE, AND ARE THEREFORE HOLY.
ANCIENT GODDESS TEACHINGS AND TRADITIONS FOCUSED ON SELF-KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE GETTING OF WISDOM. WISDOM TEAHINGS WERE HIGHLY PRIZED AND RITUALISTIC CUSTOMS DEVELOPED TO HELP PEOPLE GROW THEIR WISDOM.
CONTRACRY TO OUR MODERN MISCONCEPTION, A GODDESS IN NOT A WOMAN WHO POSSESSES MORE SEX APPPEAL THAN THE MERE MORTAL WOMAN. THIS IDEA WAS PERPETUATED BY THE EARLY HOLLYWOOD FILM IDUSTRY WHICH PORTRAYED SOME OF IT’S FEMALE STARS AS GODDESSES – LEADING THEM TO BE WORHIPED. THE RESULTING LEGAY LEFT MANY WOMEN FEELING LESS THAN DIVINE BY COMPARSSION.
THE TRUTH IS….EVERY WOMAN IS A GODDESS, ONCE SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT SHE’S INHERENTLY DIVINE BY DESIGN.
WHEN WE START MAKING THIS SHIFT WITH IN, WE START HONORING OURSELVES ACCORDINGLY IN OUR CHOICES. THE GODDESS MOVEMENT IS CHANGING THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND CREATING LEGACY FOR OUR DAUGHTERS AND IT’S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN A FEMALE BODY!
WE ARE EMERGING FROM APPROX 5,000 YEARS OF PATRIARCHAL ONDITIONS: A MINDSET AND CULTURE WHICH TAUGHT THAT THE DIVINE HAD AN EXCLUSIVELY MALE EXPRESSION, WHILE CASTING THE FEMININE AS AN EVIL TEMPTRESS WHO OUT NOT TO BE TRUSTED. THIS PERSPECTIVE IMPACTED ALL LAYERS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND RESULTED IN WOMEN BEING VALUED PRIMARILY FOR THEIR ATTRATIVENESS TO MEN AND THEIR ABILITY TO BEAR SONS.
THIS MINDSET ALSO RESULTED IN WOMEN BECOMING MARGINALIZE AND PRVENTED FROM HOLDING POSITIONS OF EXTENAL POWER.
FORTUNATELY, THE RETURN OF THE SACRED FEMININE IS BEING CHAMPIONED BY BOTH MENA AND WOMEN DEDICATED TO RESTORING THE SACRED BALANCE.
PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, WHEN WE HEAL THE FEMININE IN OURSELVES – A PROCESS WE’LL LEARN THROUGH THIS GODDESS SISTERHOOD CIRCLE, WE CREATE A RIPPLE EFFECT WITHOUT OUR OVERTLY MASCLINE CULTURE.
AT THE 2009 VANCOUVER PEACE SUMMIT WE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE DALAI LAMA “THE WORLD WILL BE SAVED BY THE ESTERN WOMAN.” HE WAS IMPLYNG THAT WOMEN IN THE DEVLOPED NATIONS HAVE THE FREEDOM AND THE MEANS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT STARTS HERE
IT STARTS WITH US
TO HEAL THE SACRED BALANCE, WE ALL NED TO QUESTIONS OUR VALUES, BELIEFS WE RECEIVED WHILE GROWING UP IN A CULTURE THAT HAS DENIED, RIDICULED AND MINIMIZED THE SACRED FEMININE. (Source: Tanishka)
Cynthia Sebry
Warrior Goddess Facilitator | Reiki Master Teacher | Moon Momma | Wellness Warrior | Lupus Thriver
10/28/2018
Place the shell in front of you and thank it, aloud or silently, for the life that created it and for it helping you in this ceremony. Place the smudging material that you will be using in the shell, thanking each plant for providing the ingredient. They have sacrificed so that you could make this sacred smoke. You should express “gratitude” not “guilt” in your prayer for their sacrifice. One day you will give up your body for the other beings of the world.
Next, light the smudge mix. As the flame grows, thank Father Sun, from where all fires originate. Thank the spirit of fire for helping you with this ceremony. Make sure each plant in the shell has caught fire. This way, the resulting smoke will contain all the energies you have chosen to work with. Fan the fire gently with your feather until all the material is burning enough to create sufficient smoke. Then use the feather to put out the flames, with one or two quick passes. If the smudge looks like it is going to go out, fan it vigorously until it is smoking again. If it does go out, it is alright to relight it.
This is where you may choose to clear your Smudge Feather, if you are using one. You can pass the feather to the east, then to the west top and bottom, then to the north and to the south, once again top and bottom of the feather.
Now, using both your hands as a cup, catch some smoke and bring it up to your heart. Catch more smoke and pass it over your head and down your neck. Then using each hand, one at a time, pass the smoke along your opposite arm and hand. Then using both hands, bring more smoke into your navel and down your legs to the ground. This process cleanses our hearts, minds and bodies and helps us to remain grounded. While doing this, we see the smoke carry away our cares and mental & physical injuries. I personally love to also do the bottoms of my feet, as we do much release work from this area, so it’s a great idea to pass the smudge under each foot.
You can now smudge any objects you want, by passing them through the smoke from the four directions, starting with the east. Ask that the object be cleaned for either your use or for a giveaway. If you are smudging with other people, smudge yourself first and as you are “pure” you can then hold the shell by the edges for others to smudge. You can also smudge a house or room that needs cleansing. Go around the room with the burning smudge, and using the feather, you can push any negative energy out through an open door or window.
When you are done, let the ashes cool and return them with respect to the soil. This is the element of “Earth”. New life arises out of the soil, enriched by the nutrients provided by the ashes. As you empty the ashes thank the plants and the fire for their assistance in this ceremony.
As the smoke rises into the air, picture your intention, whatever it may be. If you are clearing negative energy, picture its density and see it lifting away. Healing? Then imagine the smoke cleansing any illness or injury. Whatever it is – envision it floating away on the smoke. You can pray or chant if you feel so called. Use your hands or a smudge fan to guide the smoke over yourself and around your sacred space. We begin facing east, then turn south, west, and north before finally turning east again. After making this ceremonious circle, we douse the burning embers. I love honoring the cardinal directions in my smudge ceremony; it roots me to the Earth.
Many people smudge before any other ceremony, to start the day. For us, this is a very important and real ceremony. Afterwards, we feel better, our energy feels stronger, and the day goes better for us. It is good to smudge our houses on occasion to clear out any negative energy.
The beauty of smudging is that it can be done at any time, as often as you f need, no matter your background or culture.
NEVER dump your sage bundle or container into the garbage or a toilet bowl!
If you’re unable to bury/release your ashes back to the Earth, place them into a container for spring or summer. Best practise is to place your ashes to the east until you can return back to earth then place into a garden or flowerbed, or under a tree.
Cynthia Sebry Essential Energy Healing Cynthia is the Soul Owner of Essential Energy Healing and is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, Goddess Empowerment Facilitator, a Moon Momma, Wellness Warrior and offers Reiki Classes & Sessions, Goddess Workshops, Space Clearings, Meditations in the Red Deer area
10/17/2018
📷Smudging is a critical first step in any sacred ritual, as well as an important way to complete and seal sacred work. This ancient practice clears low vibrations and stuck energies. I smudge daily to purify my sacred space before ritual, ceremony, or meditation.
The main purpose of smudging is to cleanse or protect yourself, your objects and/or a place. It can be done before other ceremonies or by itself, in addition to being a spiritual ritual
Smudging your sacred space, your home or office, or even your body with sage is like taking an energetic shower or doing a deep metaphysical cleansing. The smoke from dried sage actually changes the ionic composition of the air and can have a direct effect on reducing our stress response.
The use of incense and other smoke and vapor to connect humans to the spirit world, can be easily traced throughout the East in parts of Asia and even dating as far back to Ancient Greece.
The use of dried white sage however, is a 2,000 year old Indigenous American practice. The shamans used dried sage plants on their fires as a ritual of calling upon ancestral spirits. Any conflict, anger, illness or evil was absorbed by the sage smoke to be released or cleansed from the energy field of a person.
Next, sweet grass would be burned to call forth the energy of peace and love. This ancient shamanic mystical ritual is a simple one to incorporate into your daily or weekly routine, or any time you feel like you might need a little aura polishing. You can never really smudge too much
Burning sacred herbs and resins is perhaps the most time-tested method for energetically (and sometimes physically) cleansing a space. For millennia, our ancestors have believed that sacred smoke raises vibrations and assists with magic. So when we smudge today, we also connect with our lineage in a powerful way.
Incense was, in fact, the first form of perfume! Perfume literally means through the smoke.
Yes, our ancestors also used smudging as the primary way to scent their bodies. Our Egyptian and Roman ancestors “perfumed” the air with the incense they burned. In pre-Christian times, frankincense was the most valued type of incense; it was rare, expensive, and prized. No wonder it was one of three gifts brought by the Wise Men to Christ’s manger; it was a gift fit for a king.
Some ideal (or necessary) times to sage smudge your aura and/or space would be:When you move into a new living spaceWhen you begin a new job or start your own businessBefore and after a guest enters your homeBefore and after a yoga or healing sessionBefore meditationAfter an argument or any illnessUpon returning home from crowded situationsDuring Solstice times, changes of seasons & cycles of the yearBirth of a new babyWhen someone passes overBirthdaysCleansing a sickroom
The four (4) Traditional herbs for Smudging are:
Sage: Has the power to drive away negative energies.
Sweet grass: Has the power to call in positive energies.
Tobacco: Has the power to absorb our prayers and carry them to the Creator
Cedar: Has the power to protect us from negative energies.
How to Smudge
I was taught that to begin smudging, you would need a container such as a bowl or shell to burn the plant material in. Some people use an abalone or other seashell. These shells, being a gift from the lakes and oceans, help to call in the element of “Water”from which all life on earth begins and is, water is the direction of the West and the Emotional realm and of Fall. This helps to balance the four elements in the smudging ceremony. Most people use matches to light the fire. A feather or fan is used to fan the flames. “Fire”represents the direction of South and of Summer. The feather is to acknowledge the “Winged Ones” who dwell in the sky and to call in the element of “Air”,the Mental Realm and direction of East and of Spring. The Herbs used in your Smudge represent the element of “Earth”and the direction of the North, and of Winter
I have been taught to perform the smudging ceremony in the following manner, which I will share with you. You are free to use it, or you may choose to learn another method or to create a way that feels right to you. There is no right or wrong way, only basic rules that most people follow.
Cynthia Sebry Essential Energy Healing Cynthia is the Soul Owner of Essential Energy Healing and is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, Goddess Empowerment Facilitator, a Moon Momma, Wellness Warrior and offers Reiki Classes & Sessions, Goddess Workshops, Space Clearings, Meditations in the Red Deer area
9/21/2018
📷Autumn Equinox is the Seventh Gateway of the Solar Mysteries that create the Wheel of the Year.
Of course depending on which Hemisphere you live, you will be celebrating either the Fall or Spring Equinox, these two days where the polarities of light and dark, Feminine and Masculine are in harmony and communion. Their energies are very similar but they are ushering in different seasons and therefore, different elementals and Truths.
Autumn Equinox occurs when the Sun reaches the half-way point of its journey through the zodiac (which began when the Sun moved into Aries in March). When the Sun enters Libra, which this year is on September 22nd at 6:54pm PDT, night and the day are again of equal length. Libra’s medicine is about balance and weaving love through relationship and community. Venus is the planet that rules Libra so there is a manifestation of Love as she supports the tending and cultivating of relationships.
The Equinox (whether Spring or Autumn) is about the Balance & Union of the Masculine and Feminine, the Solar and the Lunar. On this day, it is important to understand that the merging of these two seemingly polar opposite forces, is crucial for inclusivity and harmony. It is the knowing that neither would exist or be significant without the other. You can not have the Feminine without Masculine and vice versa.
You can not have joy without grief. You cannot have light without dark. This is the time where we stop exiling the Masculine or the Feminine and realize they are both needed and desired for Creation to continue, in all forms.
As is every High Holy Day, Autumn and Spring Equinox is a potent day to engage in Ritual, to look at the ways in which your inner King and inner Queen are living in harmony... and/or any ways that you are exiling or limiting this sacred inner marriage.
This is also a potent time to reflect on what you are reaping and celebrate all the energy, time and devotion that you have put into these seeds in full harvest.
Blessed Equinox, sister! Sending you so much love... What you are harvesting?What you are celebrating?What you are completing so that you can be in the stillness of the dark part of the year?
For the Autumn or Spring Equinox, I invite you to engage in ritual so that you learn from Gaia's rhythms and are guided into the next season with Ease and Grace.
9/10/2018
📷The triple moon is a Goddess symbol that represents the Maiden, Mother, and Crone as the waxing, full, and waning moon. It is also associated with feminine energy, mystery and psychic abilities. You often see this symbol on crowns or other head-pieces, particularly worn by High Priestesses.
The Maiden represents enchantment, inception, expansion, the female principle, the promise of new beginnings, youth, excitement, and a carefree erotic aura. The Maiden in Greek Mythology is Persephone - purity - and a representation of new beginnings. Other maiden goddesses include: Brigid, Nimue, among others.
The Mother represents ripeness, fertility, fulfillment, stability, and power. The Mother Goddess in Greek mythology is Demeter, representing wellspring of life, giving and compassionate. Other mother goddesses include: Aa, Ambika, Ceres, Astarte, Lakshmi.
The Crone represents wisdom, repose, and compassion. The Crone in Greek mythology is Hecate - wise, knowing, a culmination of a lifetime of experience. Crone goddesses include: Hel, Maman Brigitte, Oya, Sedna, Skuld, and others
These aspects may also represent the cycle of birth, life and death (and rebirth). Neopagans believe that this goddess is the personification of all women everywhere.
9/5/2018
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Public interest in Reiki treatment and practice is rising rapidly, leading many to wonder: What’s the best way to learn to practice Reiki?
The best scenario for learning to practice Reiki is an in-person group class with a qualified, responsive Reiki master who is also a skilled teacher, and who offers students on-going support.
A group class is a richer experience than going solo. Interacting directly with people in the same room, both the teacher and other students, enlivens the learning experience in ways even the most sophisticated technology cannot replace.
Here are some points to consider when choosing a Reiki class and Reiki master:
The teacher’s Reiki competence --
Does she practice daily self-treatment? YES I do!!!
A teacher who practices daily hands-on self-treatment values and understands the practice with greater depth than teachers who don’t have a consistent, committed self-practice.
Also inquire:
What was her Reiki training? Reiki 1, Reiki 2, Reiki Master Teacher - twice just because & Karuna 1/2 & 3/4
What is her Reiki lineage? Usui & Karuna
Was she a Reiki professional offering treatment to the public before becoming a Reiki master? Absolutely - I've been a reiki practitioner for over 14 years and a Reiki Teacher for 12
What teaching experience does she have? I am a Certified Teacher with the Canadian Reiki Association, with over 150 students at this time
What avenues has she created to offer students continuing support? I offer a monthly Reiki Share as well as ongoing mentorship
It takes time to become a skilled Reiki master/teacher–and I mean years.
The quality of the teacher’s presence --
Is she welcoming, non-judgmental, even-tempered, professional, and anything else you feel is important in a teacher? I believe so, yes - you can check out the testimonials & praise from my Reiki Classes here
Does she have clear boundaries? I always have clear boundaries!
Does she communicate clearly? YES, always
Your rapport with the teacher --
This is an important relationship, so contemplate your values. If you are choosing between a teacher you like vs. one with more experience or a bigger reputation, I’d go with the one you like, especially if she will continue to be accessible to you, as long as she is qualified and committed to her students. Many of my students over the years have become amazing friends too!
First degree-only class --
Give yourself the benefit of taking a class that is devoted to basic hands-on practice, with a focus on daily Reiki self-treatment.
The class should include the degree initiations; protocols for self-treatment and informally offering Reiki to others (this is not professional training); an accurate overview of the history of the practice, starting with Mikao Usui; and ample in-class practice time.
The goal is for you to feel comfortable continuing your daily self-treatment at home by the time the class ends.
Time --
Eight hours or so is a reasonable amount of time for a small group class.
Accessibility of the location --
Is it necessary for the class to be easily accessible, or is it possible for you to travel to study with a Reiki master you feel drawn to?
Fee --
Did your mom ever tell you (as mine did), “You get what you pay for?” My advice? Go with who you're drawn to, regardless of the fees. Just because someone charges less does not mean that you'll be receiving the most perfect training for you!
Low fees might indicate low confidence, little experience, or lack of grounding.
You want a teacher who appreciates the value of Reiki practice in today’s world.
After all, you live in today’s world, don’t you?
Your First degree Reiki training is a one-time investment that brings dividends for life; it makes sense to be generous to yourself.
9/5/2018
📷Smudging is a critical first step in any sacred ritual, as well as an important way to complete and seal sacred work. This ancient practice clears low vibrations and stuck energies.
I smudge daily to purify my sacred space before ritual, ceremony, or meditation.
The main purpose of smudging is to cleanse or protect yourself, your objects and/or a place. It can be done before other ceremonies or by itself, in addition to being a spiritual ritual
Smudging your sacred space, your home or office, or even your body with sage is like taking an energetic shower or doing a deep metaphysical cleansing. The smoke from dried sage actually changes the ionic composition of the air and can have a direct effect on reducing our stress response.
The use of incense and other smoke and vapor to connect humans to the spirit world, can be easily traced throughout the East in parts of Asia and even dating as far back to Ancient Greece.
The use of dried white sage however, is a 2,000 year old Indigenous American practice. The shamans used dried sage plants on their fires as a ritual of calling upon ancestral spirits. Any conflict, anger, illness or evil was absorbed by the sage smoke to be released or cleansed from the energy field of a person.
Next, sweet grass would be burned to call forth the energy of peace and love. This ancient shamanic mystical ritual is a simple one to incorporate into your daily or weekly routine, or any time you feel like you might need a little aura polishing. You can never really smudge too much!!!
Burning sacred herbs and resins is perhaps the most time-tested method for energetically (and sometimes physically) cleansing a space. For millennia, our ancestors have believed that sacred smoke raises vibrations and assists with magic. So when we smudge today, we also connect with our lineage in a powerful way.
Incense was, in fact, the first form of perfume! Perfume literally means through the smoke.
Yes, our ancestors also used smudging as the primary way to scent their bodies. Our Egyptian and Roman ancestors “perfumed” the air with the incense they burned. In pre-Christian times, frankincense was the most valued type of incense; it was rare, expensive, and prized. No wonder it was one of three gifts brought by the Wise Men to Christ’s manger; it was a gift fit for a king.
Some ideal (or necessary) times to sage smudge your aura and/or space would be:
When you move into a new living spaceWhen you begin a new job or start your own businessBefore and after a guest enters your homeBefore and after a yoga or healing sessionBefore meditationAfter an argument or any illnessUpon returning home from crowded situationsDuring Solstice times, changes of seasons & cycles of the yearBirth of a new babyWhen someone passes overBirthdaysCleansing a sickroomThe four (4) Traditional herbs for Smudging are:
Sage: Has the power to drive away negative energies.
Sweet grass: Has the power to call in positive energies.
Tobacco: Has the power to absorb our prayers and carry them to the Creator
Cedar: Has the power to protect us from negative energies.
How to Smudge
I was taught that to begin smudging, you would need a container such as a bowl or shell to burn the plant material in. Some people use an abalone or other seashell. These shells, being a gift from the lakes and oceans, help to call in the element of “Water”from which all life on earth begins and is, water is the direction of the West and the Emotional realm and of Fall. This helps to balance the four elements in the smudging ceremony. Most people use matches to light the fire. A feather or fan is used to fan the flames. “Fire”represents the direction of South and of Summer. The feather is to acknowledge the “Winged Ones” who dwell in the sky and to call in the element of “Air”,the Mental Realm and direction of East and of Spring. The Herbs used in your Smudge represent the element of “Earth”and the direction of the North, and of Winter
I have been taught to perform the smudging ceremony in the following manner, which I will share with you. You are free to use it, or you may choose to learn another method or to create a way that feels right to you. There is no right or wrong way, only basic rules that most people follow.
Smudging Yourself
Place the shell in front of you and thank it, aloud or silently, for the life that created it and for it helping you in this ceremony. Place the smudging material that you will be using in the shell, thanking each plant for providing the ingredient. They have sacrificed so that you could make this sacred smoke. You should express “gratitude” not “guilt” in your prayer for their sacrifice. One day you will give up your body for the other beings of the world.
Next, light the smudge mix. As the flame grows, thank Father Sun, from where all fires originate. Thank the spirit of fire for helping you with this ceremony. Make sure each plant in the shell has caught fire. This way, the resulting smoke will contain all the energies you have chosen to work with. Fan the fire gently with your feather until all the material is burning enough to create sufficient smoke. Then use the feather to put out the flames, with one or two quick passes. If the smudge looks like it is going to go out, fan it vigorously until it is smoking again. If it does go out, it is alright to relight it.
This is where you may choose to clear your Smudge Feather, if you are using one. You can pass the feather to the east, then to the west top and bottom, then to the north and to the south, once again top and bottom of the feather.
Now, using both your hands as a cup, catch some smoke and bring it up to your heart. Catch more smoke and pass it over your head and down your neck. Then using each hand, one at a time, pass the smoke along your opposite arm and hand. Then using both hands, bring more smoke into your navel and down your legs to the ground. This process cleanses our hearts, minds and bodies and helps us to remain grounded. While doing this, we see the smoke carry away our cares and mental & physical injuries. I personally love to also do the bottoms of my feet, as we do much release work from this area, so it’s a great idea to pass the smudge under each foot.
You can now smudge any objects you want, by passing them through the smoke from the four directions, starting with the east. Ask that the object be cleaned for either your use or for a giveaway. If you are smudging with other people, smudge yourself first and as you are “pure” you can then hold the shell by the edges for others to smudge. You can also smudge a house or room that needs cleansing. Go around the room with the burning smudge, and using the feather, you can push any negative energy out through an open door or window.
When you are done, let the ashes cool and return them with respect to the soil. This is the element of “Earth”. New life arises out of the soil, enriched by the nutrients provided by the ashes. As you empty the ashes thank the plants and the fire for their assistance in this ceremony.
As the smoke rises into the air, picture your intention, whatever it may be. If you are clearing negative energy, picture its density and see it lifting away. Healing? Then imagine the smoke cleansing any illness or injury. Whatever it is – envision it floating away on the smoke. You can pray or chant if you feel so called. Use your hands or a smudge fan to guide the smoke over yourself and around your sacred space. We begin facing east, then turn south, west, and north before finally turning east again. After making this ceremonious circle, we douse the burning embers. I love honoring the cardinal directions in my smudge ceremony; it roots me to the Earth.
Many people smudge before any other ceremony, to start the day. For us, this is a very important and real ceremony. Afterwards, we feel better, our energy feels stronger, and the day goes better for us. It is good to smudge our houses on occasion to clear out any negative energy.
The beauty of smudging is that it can be done at any time, as often as you need, no matter your background or culture.
NEVER dump your sage bundle or container into the garbage or a toilet bowl! If you’re unable to bury/release your ashes back to the Earth, place them into a container for spring or summer. Best practise is to place your ashes to the east until you can return back to earth then place into a garden or flowerbed, or under a tree. Cynthia Sebry Essential Energy Healing Cynthia is the Soul Owner of Essential Energy Healing and is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, Goddess Empowerment Facilitator, a Moon Momma, Wellness Warrior and offers Reiki Classes & Sessions, Goddess Workshops, Space Clearings, Meditations in the Red Deer area