On The Farm
The time leading up to the fall equinox is magical, preparing for the transition to winter. After the extreme heat of this summer, crisp mornings wake up something energetic and joyful, alerting us to notice nature’s details and to explore something not yet known.
On our morning walk, Stitch and I discovered a path new to us. It circumvents what seems like a small, unused corner park on the outskirts of our small town. We’ve lived here for 23 years and discovered for the first time the path that follows a small stream, passes a community garden tucked into the park’s depths, leads to a large playground built to resemble the town’s skyline, includes a beautiful mosaic area for meditation, and then circles back to the corner walk after a mile of peaceful settings.
Is there something to discover where you live? Go for it! Notice what beauty and subtleties your environment has to offer by doing something unexpected that was previously overlooked or taken for granted.
Every Fall, so many animals transition at the change of seasons. Our beloved cat, Lester, will have made his transition by the time you read this. For 18 years, he served our farm and assured it was safe from vermin. A gentle soul, he and his brother, Scruggs, took care of the barn and the horses. They were named for Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs—bluegrass artists for those too young to know. When they were kittens, they would station themselves on either side of my riding path, like lions in wait for prey. Classy, my horse, was terrified of riding between them, their energy was so big, and they probably weighed 2 pounds each.
Lester had six toes on each paw. When he caught his first mouse in the barn, his paw was like a huge fly swatter on top of the mouse while he ate his cat food. He would occasionally raid the hedgerow nests for baby birds and rabbits. When I got upset, he still did it, but made sure it was out of my view so I wouldn’t be disturbed. He was the incarnation of our barn cat, Lover Boy. I have many wonderful memories of our time together and will miss him a lot.
Something for the Soul
Last weekend, we had a drum making workshop here at the farm. Twelve marvelous women, aged twenties to eighties, received instruction on how to make a buffalo drum from a master drum maker, Oöl Pardí and his artist partner, Kellie Pardí.
We opened with ceremony, smudging the hoops and setting intentions, making sacred space and expressing gratitude to the animals whose skins we used, to the trees—mulberry and cedar—that gave the wood for the hoops, the spirit of the land for allowing us to do the work. It was a perfect day.
As we proceeded, we constructed our drums with Kellie’s assistance and bonded with the drums under Oöl’s guidance. This is a man who knows the spirit of the drums intimately, and imparted to us the sacredness of the bond and working partnership that is possible between a drum and its person. The entire afternoon was a spiritual experience that strengthened everyone who participated—new friends were made, old friendships were renewed and the group of twelve women bonded through the activity.
We celebrated the beauty of the drums at the end of the day, waking their spirits with rattles and filling them with the energy of our intentions for using them in partnership. What a great day!
Is there a craft that you could do to give your soul a renewal, an energy boost? What makes an object sacred is your intention, either in the process OF making it or in the objective for using it. Good if it is something special you will make for a friend—even better if it’s something you do for yourself, something you will treasure when you make or use it. Even the process can be sacred time for yourself. I love to spin, but rarely get the time. When I make time to spin, and put on classical guitar music, it doesn’t really matter whether I end up with a product. I just lose my soul in the process.
How will you spend time with your soul? What is one thing that will help you connect to your spirit this month?
The Bookshelf
WHEN THE DRUMMERS WERE WOMEN: A Spiritual History of Rhythm
by Layne Redmond
Frame drums have been used since prehistoric times in a spiritual capacity. The rhythm of the drum then, as now, allowed shamans, curanderos, medicine men, wise women to enter a trance state to obtain direct revelations from helping spirits and deities to support the communities whose welfare they were responsible for.
Women have been the bearers of drums since prehistoric times when women’s bodies were considered holy, because they had the ability to create new human beings. Consequently, women performed the rituals and ceremonies that today we would associate with the clergy. Sacred drumming created community until the fall of the Roman Empire. The role of women as custodians of the sacred is not well known.
The book covers a fascinating history of how the frame drum, and women as carriers of the drums, evolved through time and is returning to restore power and community.
I love discovering history. I hope you enjoy this well-written gem.
Mind Rooms
So many clients, friends, family members are overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. As we enter the autumn transition, this anxious state seems to appear each year. One of my shamanic instructor mentors, Betsy Bergstrom, is a genius when it comes to calming the mind and personal energy against everyday drama. Here is a technique that seems to work for those with whom I have shared. I hope it brings you peace so you can cope peacefully with activities of daily living.
Upcoming Classes
Find full descriptions and costs of the classes and events on the website. Registrations are on the website except for Journey Circle. Once registered, a Zoom invitation will be sent to register to receive the meeting i.d. and passcode. If you have difficulty with a registration, please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net. All classes and journey circles are recorded for your convenience.
October 5 & 19, 2023
Journeying Circle
If you know how to do shamanic journeying, you know that it is a path of direct revelation. Come join us as we explore different aspects of our life’s path, doing healing for ourselves as well as for the world. Zoom registration required—contact Judy at info@JudyRamsey.net
7pm-8:30pm EDT
Cost is $25 per session or $40 per month to attend
Zoom
October 29, 2023 ongoing for six months
Interspecies Counseling
If you are being called to serve animals and their people as a communicator and healer, this training will prepare you to become a professional service provider. Through 8 hours of group work in mediation, conflict resolution and interspecies counseling techniques, you will gain the skills necessary to problem solve, support, and help human/non-human relationships flourish with better understanding and empowerment. In addition, you will receive 6 hours of personal mentoring on any related topic that you want to dive deeper into to strengthen your skills to do the work or to set up your business in this field. All students receive a reading packet of articles picked by Penelope Smith from 20 years of the Interspecies Journal. Pre-requisites: basic telepathic animal communication and shamanic animal communication courses, Penelope Smith’s book WHEN ANIMALS SPEAK, and a written essay about your goals for this work, including 5 case studies of your own communication with clients and their animals.
10am-3pm EDT on the group training days
Time and date of personal mentoring sessions to be determined by student with completion within 6 months
Cost is $880 per person. Payment plan available.
Zoom with in-person options for mentoring
November 2 & 16, 2023
Journeying Circle
If you know how to do shamanic journeying, you know that it is a path of direct revelation. Come join us as we explore different aspects of our life’s path, doing healing for ourselves as well as for the world. Zoom registration required—contact Judy at info@JudyRamsey.net
7pm-8:30pm EDT
Cost is $25 per session or $40 per month to attend
Zoom
November 18-19, 2023
Basic Shamanic Journeying
The shamanic journey is an easy and powerful tool used to access spiritual information. You will meet and begin to develop a relationship with a compassionate spirit or power animal who is coming forward to help you at this time in your life. The techniques will help you develop a self-directed practice of empowerment, allowing you to move safely, intentionally through the world in a balanced way. This class is a prerequisite to ongoing and more advanced shamanic studies.
9am-3pm EDT
Cost is $160, $75 for repeating students.
Zoom