Beloved friends,
One of my favorite things about living where I do is the amazing fullness of each season: Spring is rainy, snowy, windy and muddy; summer is not too hot and this year we’ve had afternoon rain showers followed by rainbows almost every day; fall is a burst of vibrant colors as the aspens, wild roses, and oregon grape root create a brilliant tapestry of reds, deep purples, golden yellows and the full spectrum of oranges and the berries ripen and harden on the bushes; and winter brings the deep quiet of blankets of snow that give humans and nature a much needed annual hibernation.
If I were to move anywhere it would prefereably be to a locale a little more remote, and slightly higher in elevation (right now I live just over 9,000 feet above sea level, living above 10,000 is a long held dream) only so I could be – exist – a little closer to nature in her wild, unpredictable, and raw presence. I long to bathe in such majestic presence, to imbibe the pure essence of nature into my soul, be become enlivened by the evening light softly filtering through the trees and the awe of a million stars exploding in the night sky.
So too, the self reflection that comes with forcing myself to be so intimate with nature, and living with the limitations of chronic illness, and feeling existential as I sip my coffee and gaze out my window at the changing leaves – another turning of the seasons in my 41st year – is the “Ministry of Presence.”
“What else can I do? What is the most powerful thing I can do? How can I be of service? How can I heal and transform myself, and uplift this tragic and beautiful world that I inhabit?”
I do many things – music, dance, ritual, ceremony, writing – which represent the medicine of connection, clarity, and embodiment – and yet the deeper I lean into working with the richesse of my life, working with the elements that are laid at my feet to weave a meaningful life in service to the world, this is what comes forth: mine is a ministry of presence. Ministry is medicine, and presence is all that I have, and all that is required. So I am working to bring the fullness of my presence to every moment, in every environment whether I am dancing incognito down city streets or dancing naked in the forest.
What is your presence?
What is your medicine?
What is your ministry?
How do you engage in self-transformation?
How are you of service to the world?
You are invited to JOIN ME – bring the sacred fullness of your presence, your medicine, your ministry – to dance and sing and be in ceremony with me at these upcoming events:
I know this is very short notice…! But if you are near Rollinsville this afternoon please do come to the Zen Center. I am honored to be serving as a “grief tender” for this ceremony, donation based, come as you are.
THIS is my medicine – come be the poetry for this six-week Butoh Ritual Shamanic Embodiment experience. Come as you are, first class is FREE, donation based. There is limited space for this exclusive offering, DROP your email in the sign up form below!