The Passing of Morningstar

Beloved Friends and Family of Morningstar,

We are in shock and mourning today by the news of the loss of our deeply beloved sister Lindy "Morningstar" Morris who, after a tragic accident yesterday in New Jersey, crossed into the Spirit World to open her wings and fly homeward. ... See moreMorningstar is loved the world over and we send our love, prayers and support to her beloved children, sister, parents and family in Australia. Her love had no bounds and she got deeply into the hearts of all us here in America. She will never, ever be forgotten.

Here we honor our beautiful Aussie sister Lindy Morningstar, (Previously Lindy Little Wing) who had the vision to be the first Australia Tour Host of the Grandmother Drum International Peace Project in 2002 and who came to America to volunteer and tour with The Grandmother Drum Project in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala throughout 2005-2007. She continued in 2008-2010 to tour her own medicine work, "Wings Across the World" with many of the Drum Project's USA host sites. Lindy lived with us all, loved with us, cried with us, prayed with us, sang with us, danced with us and laughed with us all. She is indeed a pure soul, who loved all, cared for all living beings, had a childlike innocence, was tender at heart and lived full of joy. Her love for our animals brothers and sisters was extraordinary and her generosity of spirit unmatched. She was loved by so many hearts across the world and may she now continue her mission and fully take her " Wings Across the World." WE LOVE YOU MORNINGSTAR!

PHOTO ALBUM TRIBUTE

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31273839&id=1002852562&ref=mf&fbid=1438479994328

RECENT VIDEO of Morningstar Playing Flute:

  http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1228459406292

Morningstar's website: http://www.animalspiritmedicine.webs.com/

Morningstar's last post on Facebook ( truly Morningstar!)

"Arrived in Philadelphia last Thursday - had a ball walking through the airport , wearing my long kangaroo tail vest and the new bull snake rattle, which did not fit completely into the backpack, but hung out about 6 inches - so funny standing in the security line with curious passengers, peering over my shoulder to ask - is that a snake in your bag?..."

Our blessings to all,

White Eagle Medicine Woman (Suraj Holzwarth)

Director, International Healer and DrumKeeper

The GrandMother Drum Intl. Peace Project

The Whirling Rainbow Foundation

Po Box 2822

Palmer, Alaska 99645

011-1-907-745-5636

http://www.whirlingrainbow.com/

http://www.myspace.com/whirlingrainbowfoundation

http://cdbaby.com/cd/whiteeagle

http://cdbaby.com/cd/suraj

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=312593558899&ref=ts

http://whirlingrainbow.com/index.htm

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1002852562

Dream Catcher

The Dream Catcher originated in the Ojibwa Nation and was adopted by the Native Americans of many different nations. Traditionally made on a willow frame with sinew strands, the finished item was hung over the bed and used as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares. The dream catcher wasn’t intended to last forever, but to dry out and collapse over time as the child it protected entered adulthood.

The Ojibwa believe that a dream catcher changes peoples’ dreams, allowing the good to be filtered through, and the bad to hang in the net and disappear in the light of day.

To make your own, you will need:

• A supple piece of wood or branch,
• about 1m in length
• 4 yards / 12 feet of wool (or suede)
• 3 yards / 9 feet of string (or sinew / imitation sinew)
• Beads
• Feathers
• Scissors
• Glue
• A Clothes Peg
• The colour scheme is a personal choice.

1. Bend the branch around into shape and bind the ends together with a dab of glue and some string.
2. Cut 8ft of the wool (or suede). Glue one end to the ring and clip in place with the clothes peg until the glue is dry.
3. Wind the strand around the frame until you reach the starting point, leaving the entire outer ring wrapped neatly before gluing into place; again using the clothes peg to hold it until it dries. Be careful not to twist the thread as it goes round, it must lie flat.
4. Tie one end of the string (sinew) to the ring and then make nine half hitch knots around the ring, spacing them around ½” to 1” apart. Make the last knot a little closer to the first – this will prevent a large gap forming. Make sure the thread is pulled snugly between the knots.
5. Make the next row of the web by tying the hitches into the middle of the pre-woven row. Continue weaving in the same way until you have a small hole left in the centre. Once finished, tie a double knot in the cord, add a tiny drop of glue to the knot to give it extra security. When the glue is dry, cut off the remaining thread as close to the knot as possible.
6. From your remaining wool (suede), cut a 12” piece and fold it in half. Tie a knot in the open end.
7. At the top of the ring, attach the cord by slipping the loop end through the ring and then around the ring and over the knot. Pull the lacing tight to secure it in place.
8. Cut three 8” pieces of wool (suede). Tie two of them approximately one third of the way up the ring on each side, use a double knot and a small dab of glue to keep them in place. Slip on the beads in whatever order you’ve chosen, then secure with another knot and spot of glue.
9. Take the last piece and attach any remaining beads or decorative piece, like a concho to the top middle of the ring.
10. Finally, push two feathers up inside the beads on each piece of lacing. Glue the feathers if they’re loose.

To make larger sizes:

Follow the same instructions as above, but the materials needed will vary.

12 inch rings needs approx. 7 yards / 21 feet of wool or suede lacing to bind it
9 inch ring – approx 6 yards / 18 feet
6 inch ring – approx 4 yards / 12 feet
Remember that you will need extra suede for the laces and hanger.

Dr. Masura Emoto's prayer for the Gulf of Mexico

Dr. Masura Emoto is the scientist from Japan who has done all the research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research revealed that water physically responds to emotions.
Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed.
I am passing this request to people I believe may be willing to participate in this prayer, to set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are not powerless.
We are powerful.
Our united energy, Speaking this prayer daily...multiple times daily...can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening. We don't know how...we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.

(The prayer)

“I send the energy of love and gratitude to the waters
and all living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings.
To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, corals, algae...humankind...
to ALL living creatures...
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I Love You.”

Please join me in often repeating this Healing Prayer by Dr. Emoto. Feel free to send it around the planet. Let's take charge...and do our own cleanup!

Thank you and
Blessed Wishes!!!
Melanie Harrawood-Messmer

Craft: Fire Starters

This was given to me at a Girl Scout meeting I thought I would share this to all of you.

Decorative Firestarters 

Cupcake tin
Cupcake cups -DO NOT use the foil type
Wax, recycle old candles!
Pine cones
Wick - any size
Scent - Opt.
The usual candle making equipment

Step 1
Sort through your scrap box and collect wax in the desired color. 
Place in melting pot and heat until melted.

Step 2
Place paper cupcake cups into the cupcake pan.

Step 3
Let wax cool to 140 degrees F. Pour to within 3/8 inch of the top.

Step 4
Lay a piece of wick through each cup. Allow to cool.

Step 5
Once the wax is firm to the touch, gently press a pine cone into each cup.

Step 6
Top off each cup with hot wax to bond the pine cone in place.

Step 7
Trim the wicks to about 1/2 inch long. 

Share Your Altar Day

A little while back we had asked our fans what they thought about the concept of Share Your Altar day. Surprisingly we had a lot of positive feedback on it.  

Concept of Share Your Altar Day

This allows you to share your sacred altar your joy of honoring the divine. 

This allows those new to the craft to see the creative ways to decorate there altars.

Over the next several Blog posts we will go over Altars and what is basically on them.

You do not have to participate if it interferes with your beliefs in sharing your space.

Altars are sacred and will be treated as such, by no means is this a way of dishonoring them, rather a celebration of them and our fellow brothers and sisters that create them, In essence a celebration of You!

Save The Date:

On July 10th we ask that you Share images of your altar.

How to participate:

On July 10th post up images of your altar.

Where: On our Face Book fan page, On Our Social site, In your blogs, Photo bucket, Flicker, You Tube, (you get the idea).

Link to this blog on that day not this entry but the special blog entry that will be posted for that day. Reply to July 10th's post with your link to your altar pics!

Who Can participate?

Anyone and every faith, all are welcome!

Have fun, Be creative, Use the seasons.

Blessed Be

~Willow~

Gaia Healing Spell

I thought this would be a good one to do with all of the recent years activity.

GAIA HEALING SPELL 

To send out positive "healing" vibrations to the planet, perform this spell during an 

eclipse or when the Moon is in a waxing phase. Arrange seashells on a secluded beach 

to form a magic circle at least five feet in diameter. (If you do not have access to a beach, 

you may perform this spell in a forest or secluded garden using stones, branches and/or 

flowers to form the circle.) Kneel in the center of the circle, facing the ocean. Light a blue 

candle and a stick of incense and place them before you. Raise your arms high with palms 

up in the traditional Witch's prayer position, and recite the following chant: 

With smoke and flame This spell's begun. 

O Goddess of the stars, 

Moon and the Sun, 

Let the healing power begin. 

Let the Earth be whole again. 

The earth is my Mother 

And I am Her child. 

The Earth is my lover 

Free and wild. 

Heal on the outside; Heal within, 

Land and sea, fire and wind. 

With love sincere I chant this prayer 

To make mankind begin to care. 

Let every sister and every brother 

Heal the wounds of the Great Earth Mother. 

Let the healing power begin, 

Let the Earth be whole again. 

Heal on the outside; Heal within, 

Land and sea, fire and wind 

SO MOTE IT BE!

The Art Of Understanding

The Art of Understanding 

By Jennifer Smith

Paganism is derived from the word pagan, which means rustic or rural. Paganism is a contemporary expression of generic belief for a number of traditions which seek harmony and spiritual growth through the natural world. The word pagan can be used to describe some of the oldest forms of religious expression.
The development of modern Paganism in the West, particularly the rise of witchcraft dates from the repeal of anti-witch laws in various countries. These anti-witch laws set about a global movement of pagan tradition and saw significant developments in the religion known as Wicca. The religious practices of the Celtic, Norse, American Indian, Egyptian, Central American, Haitian, Germanic as well as many other cultures find religious expression in neo-pagan movements.
Pagan beliefs are broadly categorized into three different streams of thought. The fist stream of polytheism is a belief in many gods. Pantheism is a belief that the whole of reality is divine. Animism is the belief that spirits are active in all aspects of the environment. Among the neo-pagan traditions the most significant are:
1.) The Wiccan movement, or witchcraft; wicca is a root word meaning wise one' and hails as the Old Religion. Wicca gives devotion to various pre-Christian deities. Followers practice wicca through the use of magic and celebrate eight seasonal festivals or Sabbats per year.
2.) The Druids are celtic priest. The religion itself was derived from an ancient Celtic Religion that was found around Britain and Gaul. The Druids worship nature.
3.) Shamanists believe that the spirit world is limited to those who are called shamans. The status of being a shaman allows one to respond to the spirit world and was the key in many indigenous traditions. The shaman will travel in the spirit realm and use totems as guides.
4.) Teutonic or Norse Paganism goes by the name of Asatru and encourages spiritual growth through the study of the sagas, eddas and runes.
All pagan faiths are usually highly individualistic and are without formal doctrines or institutions. Although there are some formal orders of ministry or leadership the vast majority of pagan religions do not follow any formal set up. Most however, do acknowledge the concept of elders or teachers who have greater understanding of spiritual matters. Among the pagan religions most worship in small autonomous communities. The majority of Pagans is Wiccans and employs the coven as their basic structure. Most Pagans follow the same basic key beliefs.
They are as follows:

1.) Pagans uphold the individualistic right to interact on a personal level with the divine.
2.) Pagans are not restricted to the belief in one god and many are polytheistic.
3.) Most pagan traditions emphasize divinity in nature.
4.) As a rule, Pagans celebrate the annual cycles of the natural world and often hold festivals and conduct rituals in order that they may honor and recognize these changes while making contact with the divine.
5.) The most commonly used personifications of divinity are mother earth and father sky.
6.) Pagan traditions most always have defined roles for feminine and masculine principles. Priestesses often play a more prominent role and goddess worship is an important part of many pagan ceremonies.
7.) Finally, many pagan's believe in reincarnation.
The recognition of the divine is nature is at the heart of every person who practices paganism. He/she is deeply aware of the natural world and is able to see the power of the divine in the ongoing cycle of life and death. Pagan belief pays much importance to annual cycle of procreation as giving birth and dying defines the Pagan year. To the pagan there is no rank in male or female. Paganism is not based on doctrine but is based primarily on experience with the aim of Pagan ritual being to make contact with the divine world that surrounds them.
To Learn More about this author, Jennifer Smith