This August has been a whirlwind of activity – Red Earth Herbal Gathering August 1-3, Bliss Sacred Chant & Sound Festival August 15-17…and now I’m looking forward to the Sister Winds Festival August 28-31…!
On the one hand, this is more social activity than I get all year long. And I like it that way! I have designed my life to protect my peace and need for deep retreat, vast silence, and ample solitude. This might be a sign, I wonder, that I am really beginning to heal on some deeper levels, that I am joyful and heart-filled to the brim to share these intense weekend experiences with hundreds of other people all cooking in the same pot.
It’s a beautiful thing.
It’s an intentional thing.
It’s a sacred thing – this calling to hold and be held within a sacred container of community and connection, and deepening and sharing. So I don’t think I mind too much, the flurry of activity all at once (and yes, it does feel like holy moley, three festivals in one month…?!? am I crazy??) because I can look forward to the long, dark, and cold winters that replenish the deep well of my soul.
I want to share with you how I finally felt so deeply connected to these experiences. It’s hard to describe, actually. It’s a feeling of belonging, of purpose. Of being able to be fully present with whatever is arising in the moment, being open and curious to learning and receiving, and at the same time capable and confident in being of service, holding space, guiding, teaching, and leading.
On the last day of Red Earth, there is a tradition of honoring and holding women in the center of the circle who have had special experiences that are unique to womanhood: the first menstrual cycle, giving birth, and menopause, to abortion, miscarriage, and hysterectomy. As the women who have lived through these experiences is called to the center, all the other women surround them with singing and drumming, and they get to hold and be held by other women who have had that same experience. I have to say it’s one of the most deeply moving and transformative experiences I have ever witnessed – I’m on the verge of tears just writing about how potent this ceremony is. During the ceremony this year, I was drumming and singing in the circle, and had a deep feeling of,
“This is where I belong – in ceremony with women. This is truly meaningful.”
At Bliss this year, there was a Saturday night bonfire and song circle. It felt a little spontaneous and fluid, and as people came and went to enjoy the warmth and light of the fire, a core circle of drummers and singers coalesced and started making music. It took a while for things to pick up, until an elder came and sat next to me. She was elegant and sat with a quiet joy and assured presence – and she started drumming. There was something about her drumming that united the rhythm and brought so much energy to the circle, our chanting quickened and began to overlap in harmony and call and response, syncopation and improvisation erupted along with hoots and hollars – we drummed and drummed and passed the song around with the smudge and tobacco. We drummed and sang for hours which only felt like a few precious minutes. As I sat next to this beautiful elder Goddess I could feel her heartbeat and her joy, and I remember thinking to myself,
“This is where I belong. In ceremony, holding energy, welcoming every voice and drum to the circle, and next to the joyful beating heart of my elders.”
As we are dancing with the seasons, I wonder how is the ebb and flow of your energy, life force, joy and inspiration? Are you called to share and teach and learn and dance and sing in community? Are you called to join me at Sister Winds next weekend?
Or are you starting to dream and envision yourself at the 10th annual Red Earth Herbal Gathering next year…?
…or Bliss Sacred Sound & Chant 2026?
