#pathofsacredshe

It was in December 2016 at a Hawaiian farm when it first occurred to me: why not invite Earth to be a sister in our circle? After all, sisterhood was what that weekend at the farm was all about. Little did I know that when I called Her (Sister Earth), She would answer. I thought it was just a nice, symbolic gesture to remember respect for the Earth. It turned out to be so much more, and after that experience I am convinced that Sister Earth listens, that She likes to be included in our sacred activities and that there is magic and wonder awaiting for those who are ready to reconnect with Her.

It all started in Hawaii back in 2016. I was leading a training for women in holding sacred space for other women (called sister circles) at Kahumana Farms on Oahu’s west coast. On Saturday, we drove down to the nearby beach to watch the sunset and do a ritual with the ocean. We made a half circle right at the edge of the water, holding hands and letting Mama Ocean tickle our toes. We held the circle open to Her, in the form of the Ocean, because we wanted Her to be part of our sisterhood. Each of us sang a song in our native language, sharing our tone and vibration. We then stood silent listening to Sister Earth sharing her sea song with us. We put flowers in the water saying blessings for a vibrant, healthy ocean.

We sat down to enjoy the sunset, and a few minutes later is when the magic began. This is when we knew that She had heard us, and decided to answer in her grandest way.

As one of the ladies in the group turned her back on the sunset to snap a pic of us she noticed that right behind us was a gorgeous pinkish rainbow. Inside the rainbow the moon was visible. I have never seen the rainbow and the moon together in this way, before or since. We marveled at this gorgeous sight. Barely having overcome the shock of the unexpected beauty we were soon in for another treat. Turning back to face the ocean an enormous hump back whale jumped out of the water, showing her whole glorious body, and landing with an almighty splash. She then lay in the water for the longest time splashing her tail fin up and down as though waving to us. Whales so close to the shore are extremely uncommon in the reefy Hawaiian waters. We were over-awed. And we had a common thought:

We invited Her and She showed up.

Today I am convinced that She showed up for us in this way because we called on her as a Sister and not just as a Mother. She is both, but we rarely call on her as a Sister. If we expect her to always be our Mother, we expect her to love us and give endlessly to us, no matter how we behave. And let’s face it, we have not behaved so well to our Mother as we should have. We all know it. But we can change that now. We can do it by calling on Earth as Sister.

Having a sisterhood relationship with the Earth means that we are both responsible for each other and that we need to stand in a relationship of recipricality. We can no longer take for granted all that she gives us, but need to treat her as a Sister, someone who needs to be nourished in return.

To start a Sisterhood relationship with Earth, the first step is to go out where you can hear Her. I mean not in the grove by the supermarket parking lot. I mean go to where She is allowed to be wild. Where it’s so quiet that you can hear Her soft whispers nudging your heart. Where you can be succumbed by Her infinite peace. In this space, call Her. Whisper to Her. Sing for Her. Invite Her as your Sister. Do it with all your heart and soul.

And then open up and notice Her magic.

Dear sister, 

The last few months I have been paying close attention to the moon cycle and how it seems to affect me. I have always had a somewhat indistinct idea that the moon somehow affects my body and my life, but I haven’t known much about it other than what is generally talked of. Like, more babies are born around the full moon than during any other time of the month, and the menstrual cycle is supposed to have some connection to the moon (mine never has, although I did get pregnant on the full moon).  So what is my conclusion after listening for the relationship between myself and Miss Moon for the last few months? 

Photo courtesy of Matilda Lindhe

Well, it seems that something dramatic always happens on the full moon. The last few months my husband and I have been having an argument every single full moon! The full moon seems to be when we get sick (baby is currently producing rivers of snot). It also seems to be a time when decisions are made and things come into form. For instance, about 10 days ago I met a lady who wanted to introduce me to the owner of a studio where I might teach a workshop. Today I connected with the lady herself and is setting up a meeting with her. Things like that. Things coming to fruition. 

Sister, how is the moon affecting us? What would you notice if you began tracking how her cycles correlates to the events of your life? 

I have no answers. I am a beginner, as we all are in this culture that worships everything light and is scared of the pale glimmers and whispers that night has to offer us. 

I just know in my bones that Moon has teachings and stories for those who will listen. 

Recently I went to the Museum of Natural History in New York City. In the section that shows the universe and our solar system it said on a sign that the moon is so large in comparison to the earth that she and earth can be considered twin planets. It also said that she is dead, she has no atmosphere and no water and seems no lava bubbling beneath the surface as we do. 

Who is she, Earth’s darker, smaller twin, who spins with us through this infinite universe? 

She is part of us. She is part of the elements that affects us. She governs unseen things and tiding in our bodies and in our psyche. 

Sister, what if by getting to know how Moon works for me in my life I can become a better surfer of the ebbs and flows, a better navigator of the unseen things that pull and tug at me? What if I can enter into a relationship with the tidings of this universe and ride the waves more gracefully? What if you can do it too? 

Dear sister, 

Let me tell you about a truth-roaring, sisterhood-protecting, whole-healer goddess I know. Her name is Julie Catoe. 

The first time I met Julie was as a participant in one of my weekly women’s circles. In she walked, a warm wind of curly hair clad in moon stones, yoga pants and symbolic tattoos. Somehow, I knew from our first contact that she was different. As we sat in circle, me supposedly the teacher and she supposedly the student, I came to the conclusion that on an inner level, our roles were reversed. She was the teacher. 

Photo courtesy of Elyse Jokinen 

Julie Catoe’s life and work (she is a counselor, yoga teacher, workshop leader and creator of Empowered Girls) revolve around speaking the truth and healing others do the same for themselves. By sharing her story and her struggles she breaks the pain of silence. The silence that is a gag put on the goddess who roars at injustice. She is here to break that cycle, and to free you to do the same. 

Sister, today I offer you Julie’s story. In it you might find a piece to the puzzle of your own wholening. Julie also generously shares an exercise from her truth-speaking workshop Torch. Sister, you are invited to unleash you inner truth-speaking goddess. 

For Julie, this journey wasn’t easy. 

My life changed the day my sister tried to commit suicide. She would have been successful if her room mate hadn’t come home unusually early from work. I knew it was divine intervention. Except for being heartbroken for my sister it was also a wake up call for my personal life. I realized I was doing the same thing to myself, only slower, through an eating disorder. Why were we both trying to end our lives? I started going to therapy and had to face the darkness of my family. Growing up, I was very much outcasted for who I was. I came into this world as a truth speaker and was repeatedly shamed for that. I had a strong voice that was silenced and bound to the point where I as a child couldn’t read aloud in front of the class. I had to be sent to special teacher as if I had trouble learning. I never had trouble learning. It was just that I had grown so afraid of my own voice, of my own truth, that I dared not use it. This experience taught me that what I thought was my shadow, what others had shamed as my shadow - my voice, my truth - was actually my light. My gift. 

Photo courtesy of Elyse Jokinen

Sister, I think we need to sit with this one. What have you been told is your shadow that may actually be your gift?  

Dear sister, I invite you to do something for yourself today, something to tap into your inner truth-roaring goddess. Here is Julie’s powerful 7 step writing guide to unlock your inner truth.  

Find a comfy seat, grab a pen and paper, perhaps light a candle (or a torch!) and let’s go. 

1.You are going to take a personal moment in your life where you needed something from someone who you could not talk to. Who is the one person, whether it is your mother, brother/sister, partner, best friend, your father, it can even be you? 

2. Go back to the place where this took place. Can you remember what time of day it was? Where were you? 

3. Do you remember what time of year it was? Summer, Winter, Fall, Spring? 

4. What was the need you had? (forgiveness, answers, commitment, closure, acceptance) 

5. What is it you want to say? 

6. Go back to your truth, what is the raw emotion you felt then? When you enter this you enter when it was happening what was going on, you speak from that perspective. 

7. Free style write. Let it flow freely. When you are done. Take a five minute break. Then go back to your writing. Start to clear out what it is you are trying to say. Find what your Truth is. 

Thank you teacher Julie. Thank you truth goddess Julie. To connect more with Julie, visit her website or connect on instagram. 

Photo courtesy of Elyse Jokinen

When I close my eyes I see her

Red and gold, the sacred heart 

She is the fire of love 

Gentle as a mother’s unlimited compassion 

Fierce as the goddess who holds her ground 

She came

To teach