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Yes!
Yes! Yes! To connect with the land is to connect
with life It is to say Yes to Life This Land Has a Song ! This Land has a Story! You are being invited to Listen with Your Heart Spirit Something profound is being said to you By the sounds of the Water, through the textures of the Stones, In the whispering of the Trees With the rustling movement of the grasses What is the message of what You Do Not See? Of
What You Do not Hear? There IS a message and
a teaching here. It is for you to discover. There is always more to the Story. What happens on the land stays on the Land. It is moving with the Winds and this story is longing to be heard. Be Very Still. Listen with your heart .You will receive the Gift that is the HeartBeat of the Earth. You will connect with my HeartBeat. You will connect with your
own. ********************************************************** Let this time and space be a Mini-Retreat of Spiritual Renewal for yourself as you connect with the land and your inner self Gather Your Art Materials with a conscious intention and awareness that you
are working in a Sacred Manner with sacred materials. Turn
on your favorite quiet music or connect with one of the links on this site. Light a candle-- Burn some Incense Bless
your space in a manner that is comfortable for you. Remember
Your Work is Holy! You will need:. A Journal
or sketch book, Colored Pencils, Index Cards. Collage Materials of Magazine pictures, glue, sizzors. Whatever thoughts, ideas, insights are generated, put them in
your journal. Doodle and Scribble. You may work through the entire site to connect with the mood
and the opportunities that are here and waiting for you.
Focus on what grabs you: It may be one image,
poem or exerciseor you may be inspired to create one of your own. Let
your intuition take you down whatever trail you want to go. Return
often. Have fun This is a work in process; what
is here today may not be here tomorrow. There
may be something new! Communicate with us
to share your experience. It also makes
us feel good. OOOOOOO SOMETHING TO PONDER a meditation by Joyce Hifler The human spirit is priceless beyond our imagination. How many times have we seen the most unlikely person overcome the most extraordinary situation? How often have we marveled that someone so weak can take control of life and whip it into shape without tears or self-pity or anything else remotely on the
downside. Right here and now, life
turns a corner, not just in view of what we can
see and hear, but on the strength of invisible
things, of thoughts and feelings and inner leadings. Each of us has a spirit that is wiser, more tender, more loving than anyone can imagine. To sit quietly and realize we are at home within ourselves, we are a part of all that is important... and anything wrong is so small in the Great Overall Mind. Enjoy!Enjoy! Enjoy OOOO
__________________________________________________________ HELPFUL
AND INSPIRING RESOURCES THESE ARE SOME 'MUST READ' BOOKS ON ART AS MEDITATION
AND HOW TO ESTABLISH A COVENANT WITH THE
EARTH VISIONING: Ten Steps TO Designing
The Life Of Your Dreams
. Lucia Capacchione,Ph.D. RE-VISIONING
THE EARTH:
A Guide to Opening The Healing Channels between Mind and Nature. Paul Devereux ECOPSYCHOLOGY: RESTORING THE EARTH, HEALING THE MIND.
Therdore
Roszak, Editor THE ARTIST INSIDE: A Spiritual
Guide For Cultivating Your Creative Self. Tom Crockett THE
SPELL OF THE SENSUOUS. David Abram THE ARTFUL
JOURNAL:A Spiritual Quest
Maureen Cary-Raymond
Fox-Jacqueline Penny THE DREAM OF THE EARTH
Thomas Berry
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The Stone
Keepers
'Who are you'? you may be asking as you are finding your way among the stones. And I answer, I am a Seeker
of The SpiritSoul and an advocate for other seekers. How well I know, how lonely that winding journey can become. How many
roads, trails,and caves one must explore. How one needs and searches for companions of the Spirit. How exciting and challenging
it all becomes.
My steps have included growing up in the hills of the Ozark Mountains, a marriage of 26 years,Birthing
and Mothering of four, a divorce, Singlehood, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and retirement, more than once.
Tracks behind me are of Minister,Therapist. Retreat Leader, Hospital and Hospice Chaplain. In other words, I have lived and
am living, 'the whole catastrophe' as Zorba said. I am a student of this experiment we call life, a listener, a risktaker,a
dreamer and a visionary, sometimes wise, sometimes crazy. I find healing and peace in the land, in writing and in doing arts
I have never tried before. And most of all in watching others come alive in the unfolding of their dreams. I laugh. I cry.
I believe that all of Life is a Ceremony of Prayer.
This web-site and what we do is an invitation to share the
journey, to reflect, to dialogue with yourself and with others. Be attentive to your fantasys, your dreams, Your body, the
rhythm of your seasons. Connect with the Earth upon which you walk.
Think of the site as your personal retreat
space, a holy time and place, a safe place to re-invent your life.
There are others of this circle of 'stone
keepers' who join me. Some put their physical work into caring for the land, others lead workshops, some give encouragement,
some lead ceremony's. All give their sacred energies for the healing of the people and balancing of the Circle.
We hope you join and enjoy the flow of this exploration.
You can be a 'stonekeeper'where you are. As the
Lakota say, in their prayers, 'Mitaku Oyasin'We are all relatives.
Anne....the wordweaver at singingstones....
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The Four Ways of Art As Meditation
or
The Circle of The Creative
Process. this circle is a journey around the medicine
wheel , a process of transformation ,change and healing
The
First Way: It begins with a yearning longing for something more.
a state of readiness, expectency and LISTENING. A heightened awareness of both our environment and our inner life. Sometimes
painful, sometime joyous, but always alive. We create and nourish a state of mindfull awareness. This is The Place Of The East The
Second Way: We Affirm and Celebrate the Disorder and Brokeness,
the chaos and seperation, the longing for what is lost and we want to find, the pain and the joy. Like a child we play with
this disorder; the words, symbols, images, the dreams and fantasys of both our inner and outer life in the flowing stream
of our consciousness. This is the Place Of The South The Third Way: We FOCUS. With
our gathered materials of words and paper, brush, paints and canvas,woods and grasses, feathers and beads,leather and stone,
cloth and images, we focus and connect the core idea of our inner life, giving shape, form and texture to what is seeking
to be brought forth. This is the Place Of The West The Fourth Way: We Celebrate
the Broken Parts becoming Whole. We receive the Wisdom. We connect with Universal Truth. Connections are made between Art
and Life, the child and Adult, the lost and found, something and nothing, questions and answers, the pain and joy, life and
death, lonliness and communtiy, guilt and forgiveness, wandering and coming home. The parts have become whole. We are restored
to the Circle. we have found our pathway to the stars. We have been gifted with an enpowering VISION. This is the Place of The North The Fifth Way: THE VISION IS NOW OUR TRUTH
BUT IT NOW BELONGS TO ALL WE RETURN
OUR WORK TO THE UNIVERSE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL By Putting Into Practice everything we have learned for the good of 'the people' |
Ugggggggggg!!!!!!!How Did this creature get in here?????
What an attitude!!
Guess what! I should not have been surprised.
This ogre
is always showing up in my life,
this mean fool that will get in the way of my best ideas. This one makes me want to
run and hide.
And that is precisely the point.
He..she...It, is always dragging me back into conformity and safety.
THIS ONE IS THE INNER CRITIC THAT IS LURKING IN THE
SHADOWS AND THE CORNERS OF OUR MIND.
How
do we know that this one has come in
the back door, claiming free rent and residence?
Okay! Try some of these
on.
Guilt. Fear. Apathy, Depression. Fatigue.
Addictions. Self Judgement, Shame, Anxiety, Logic, Duty,
Reason:
the list can go on and on.
The Inner Terrorist for Sure.
This one has lots of friends that help,
the
mean fools that steal everything they can take.
If I had listened to all of them, I would not even be breathing.
Make a list of all the statements you make to Yourself about yourself that keep you from making changes and taking risks,
the thieves of your dreams.
I made a collage.I found a really mean looking
old lady that I named 'old mop
head' Then I wrote a letter to the old.....!
Paint with your strongest paints, the darkness
which this one
is able to create for you.
Create an image with collage or make a mask. You might come up with some other ideas.
Might make a list of all the folks in your life, both past and present, that speak the same words as this creature. Create statements that send them
back home.
It gives them the space to deal with their own orgres
THEN TRY ANOTHER:
Who are the
spirit colleagues and Spirit family
who are supporting your dreams, in-spiriting you,
affirming the best parts
of yourself? Who is walking
beside you as companions of your growing spirit, the protectors of your
heart?
Surprises Will Begin to Happen!!!!!
The World may just turn a whole different color
and you will
find yourself laughing about it all.
Everytime I look at 'old mop head' I just start
to laugh.
OOOO
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The singing stone of SingingStones Welcome to the Home of Talking and Singing Stones This Mother Earth on which we are living Here we meet our Relatives who are
singing and speaking to us and with us .They are also speaking for us. According to the Story Tellers of this ancient land, the stone relatives are the eldest of the Elders. From the void they emerged before anything else; therefore
they are a witness to all that has emerged. They are the record keepers. They hold within themselves all knowledge and all
wisdom. Locked within them are energies which hold the Mystery of Life. Now If one is very quiet and listens carefully the stones will speak to you. They will speak to
your heart.They carry within a song and a story that they desire to sing and a story they wish to tell.. This is a place for
the stones to speak the truth of their story and for us to hear them sing their song. We are ALL in the Great Work creating a Just and Peaceful World for all the peoples and for all the Other
Creatures. Discover the Harmony and Balance of Body, Mind, Spirit and Relationships It All Begins with Listening LISTENING WITH THE HEART 000000000000 HOW TO LET IT WORK. Step One:
THE PREPARATION. You may use prayers or Invocations
from Your particular Faith Tradition that are already a part of your Spiritual Practice. Create Sacred Time. Create
Sacred Space Light a Candle, turn on music
that is in rhythm to your Heart Beat. Native Drums, Classical,Chant, Flute,Celtic, etc. Begin with music that is unfamiliar and instrumental. Experiment with several types. Relaxing all of
your Body. You might do some creative movements
to the music. Gently Focus your thougths upon
an image, poem or Word which calms your thoughts but claims your attention Wait and Listen Wait
as you breath gently and simple without expectations Step Two:
THE ATTENTIVE ACTION. In
walking,working,eating, talking,playing, or thinking, Be conscious and aware of the ordinary present moment. .... Stay
aware of the Sacred and The Holy Presence .... Affirm Your Experience. Journal your thoughts,dreams, fantasy's ideas,
emotions, body sensations. Create An Artful
Representation. Let your Mindful Spirit lead the
Way. Give shape and form, color and texture to what emerges from your inner heart. This can take many different forms. Add
this process to a practice you are already doing or try a new one. Let your ideas flow as to how it all takes form. Step three Share
your wisdom and Resources Celebrate by
Sharing. It is all about BODY,
MIND, SPIRIT, EMOTIONS and RELATIONSHIPS This is
a process of accessing your creativity and bringing balance and harmony into being which will happen over time. As you listen mindfully to the messages of Mother Earth, giving honor and respect to all of her children, Life
will begin to come into balance and harmony. Living Life will become more whole and connected,
more Holy in this fragmented world. YOU WILL BE EXPERIENCING A LESS STRESSFUL LIFE IN WHICH YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF LIFE BEING IN CHARGE
OF YOU. OOOOOOO Concentrate on the process, not the result.
ooooooo | "My pottery
is the handiwork of God." | | --Teresita Naranjo,
SANTA CLARA PUEBLO | | The Great One has given every human being at
least one special talent and one special gift. We need to develop and practice these gifts because they are the handiwork
of God. Maybe we are artists-when people look at our work it puts joy in their hearts; maybe we are singers- when people listen
to our songs, their hearts are happy; maybe we are writers of song or poetry-when people hear or read our work, it may change
their lives. We need to honor ourselves and our gifts. We need to thank the Creator for our talents and our gifts."
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Pay attention
to unusual combinations -- they will help you imagine some new ideas.
An artistic project with a practical bent
is what you may need to express an unvoiced part of your soul. Knitting, carving or cooking are all great outlets for
your creative side. Think of the usual routine as doing art. |
How We Are Telling the Story This land speaks the Ancestral Heritage and Wisdom of Native Peoples who shared a view of
the Universe as the Sacred Circle of Life.They were conscious of the life energies expressed by the Four Directions of East,
South, West and North. We trust The Great Mystery to Guide The Sacred Work of living and telling The Story and Honoring the
Land. We RETREAT in silence, providing ourselves
with the space to LISTEN, allowing new VISIONS to emerge, to FOCUS our inner life and being to CREATE new images for human
life that give Honor and Respect to All who share The Life of The Great Circle. With gratitude for Mother Earth who provides
a Home For All. "When old words
die out on the tongue,new melodies break forth from the heart: and where old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with
all it's wonders." .... Rabindranath Tagore OUR
SACRED INTENT: Provide creative, wholistic experiences
that enhance our abilities to LISTEN, VISION, FOCUS and CREATE
ways of calling forth the story of OUR Inner Heart;
discovery and empowerment for Our Spiritual Journey. HOW
WE WORK; ....We Design Individualized Retreats for Individuals and Small Groups using Sacred Circle Labyrinth Walks, Creative Movement, Meditative Artistic Forms, Journaling, Poetry
AND Storytelling Sacred
Place Journeys.
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Beautiful Roses for Beautiful People
"We
are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,
tied in a single garment of destiny...Whatever affects one directly
affects all indirectly...MLK Jr.
'never underestimate the inner stirrings of your heart. It is here that one is
asking 'how is the coming generation to live'.
Here in this space I give honor
-- to a redhaired, brown
eyed mother who taught me to love the land and who kept her spirit and soul alive by singing and telling stories.She
lived a life of courage and hope and a deep refusal to give up her center of intergrity
--to a Father, who taught
me to walk softly in the woods because we were guests there.a survivor of a war who was infused with a peaceful heart
--to both of them who did not interfere with the lessons the woods had to teach this child,
--to my brother who
in his own way, connected me with a world beyond the one I knew and who first recognized the'singing' grinding stone. He was
much more spiritually aware than what he would ever admit.he too was infused with a love for stones.
--to my four
children who are continually teaching me to just let go and walk alongside.
--to a host of spirit friends and colleagues
who have taught me the power of 'spirit family'. You all know who you are.
--To the grandchildren, Katrina, Pat,
Alex and Natalie, for whom I continue the struggle for a more peacefull world. It is for them I will not give up either hope
or vision.
-- David and Grace, 'the greats'; children of the future who hear with different ears and expansive
hearts. Because of them, I see with a different eye.
--to the 'stonekeepers',, all of you who just showed up like
Spirits when it was time to create the dream.
--BJ. 14 pounds of autumn gold fur and unconditional love, all of
which shows through his dark brown eyes and wagging tail.
--And for for all the teachers who have appeared in my
life, the ones to whom I have never had to explain my native soul and who have also called it forth.
OOOO
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Let the medicine wheel be your
guide
Do you have an idea for a workshop that you would like for your group or organization
or one that you would like to share with others. this might just be the place to make it happen. OR we can help you design
an event for your group. e-mail us : singingstones7@gmail.com
By The Grinding Stone
I see the women grinding corn
under the shade of this oak
I hear their songs, their laughter
The rhythm of rock against rock
Did they look
over the hill at these same trees
Turning orange in the Fall
Did they stop to stare at the cloudless blue sky,
Big sky of Oklahoma
Did they hear the crickets and the chirp of birds?
See the yellow butterfly?
The light
on the green grass
Tiny evergreens poke up, not even a foot above ground.
Later they will be tall, taller
than the house?
Who am I to be here today
Sitting, totally at peace on this bench?
Feeling my breath?
Admiring
the cedar and the strudy house.
I am the continuation of so many, so many.
Sprinkle my ashes here please--
Near
this grinding stone:
So I can sing and laugh with my sisters, become one
with their beauty.
In the prairie
winds of this ultimate dimension.
.....Pat Webb ..October Workshop
OOOO
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About me.
I grew up in the woods of the
Ozark Mountains. Neighbors were miles away so my friends and playmates were the stones, the trees, the animals and the birds.
Very early in my life, even before I started to school, I was given the space to roam the hills, discovering cliffs, creeks
and caves. I later learned that Cherokee People do not interfer with the lessons the woods have to teach their children. I
learned to trust the land, I learned to trust the seasons and I was learning to trust life.
Later I left the hills,
but I took the lessons with me.
My Spirituality and My sacred work is centered in Honor and Respect for the Sacrednes
of Creation, Connection and Interdependence of All Life and Harmony and Balance of Body, Mind, Spirit and Relationships. My
work is one of bridging and connection of the seperations that divide us, the healing of the Sacred Circle.
Whatever
your faith tradition, the deep center of it has these facets inbedded within and will be enhanced.
I am an advocate
for the Seeker, calling forth the Spirit that is the essence of each of us, by means of Listening and the methods of Meditative
Arts. These give a safe space for what is most your true self, sometimes hidden.
This web-space is an expression
of my own inner life which I share with you. I hope it nourishes and heals your Spirit.
The WordWeaver of Singing Stones
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Why give honor and appreciation to those who have come before?
Here are my thoughts.
We live in a world that is so focused on MY accomplishments,MY small and narrow perceptions that we become unaware and ungrateful
of the multitude of spirits that have empowered us on our journey. We forget and in some cases never become conscious that
we are an interconnected whole. We lock ourselves into a narrow view of the world in which we give up a part of ourselves
that is the Source of who we are as our 'true' selves. We throw away our history, getting lost in the illusion of believing
that we really have did it all ourselves. And in the dark empty spaces of our lonliness, we wonder at what was it that all
went wrong. So what ALL this WORK is about is helping us all to CONNECT with what is real, what is enduring. SO, here we focus
on Respect, Value and Honor for Elders, Interconnection of Land, Family, History.We focus on the POWER AND HEALING of Presence,
Listening, Symbol and Ceremony, of Nurture and Caring, centered with the VISION there is another way other than the alienation
that is the result of cold and hard logic, of isolating individualism, of materialistic accumulation of power and right. A
more creative way can be found in the safe and healing way of dialogue, of people just coming together as family to share
the deep spaces of the heart.
Connect With Us to share the dialogue
Information and Consultation
Rev. Anne Clement.M.Div.
Phones: 918-227-4716
Use the search engine below to search for a particular interst
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