Gather the women to change our world!
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DIANE LEADS THE SONG AND DANCE IN OUR CIRCLE -- SHE'S GOT SPIRIT!Diane's Reflections:
When I look at the outline that we were given for our gathering-- these things stand out for me :
1) the arrival of each of us and the excitement of seeing familiar faces as well as welcoming new ones
-- how gracious Beth & Meg & Pat were to greet all of us on the Thursday afternoon
2) the opening circle on Friday morning-- and seeing the altar prepared for us-- and then to be able to present the "feather " from the west coast and words of greeting from Clare Peterson ( one of the founders of the Canadian GTW )
3) to share what gifts we were bringing to the Gather the Women this year-- for me, it would be my passion and commitment to Gather the Women in my own area as well as globally
my gifts of bringing music and dance to the circle also--
4) my intention to invite this gathering to give their approval to come to the next GTW in 2012 in Ontario, Canada.
2 ) the next significant part of the gathering this year would have to be preparing and participating in the Water Ceremony on the Friday evening--
We were led in a very moving and sacred way by Jean Reddeman -- as we drive over to the lake there and walked on the sand down to the beach and took part in a very moving Ritual to bless and honor the "sacred water" that we brought from our own vase-- and then Jean took this to the lake and put it in there-- to bless lake Michigan , and then on to other adjoining lakes-- even as far away as the Gulf of Mexico--
After this, Jean returned to the altar she has made on the sand and we all watched in circle as she prepared & filled the "sacred pipe "--- and then passed it around to all of us there in circle --
3) Reaching into Profound collaboration by Jeannie de Rousseau --
I loved this that Jeannie shared with us-- so eloquently and so passionately -- her gifts of bringing this reaching out to the world and giving it life-- was done in a masterful way--
And then, the exercise she gifted us with was pretty awesome as well--- she asked us to break out into circles of three --- and one person was to be the "speaker "-- and to talk on "what is alive in you now " ; the 2nd person was the "receiver" -- and was to listen and intuit from what the speaker said-- "what glows within you "--and the 3rd person was to observe and then share what she felt was said & heard from both of these women - what else came forth ?
Taking part in this exercise really brought out each person's gifts that maybe they had not thought of before-- and it also gave them a voice to bring out what was hidden within --
4) another highlight for me, was to share with you, Dorothy, our "Light our Fire " and this seemed so natural to do-- I loved that this was so easy to do -- and to see how the women really participated in it , was very gratifying as well--
the "ceremony of becoming "women of love & light " is and will always be a highlight for me ---
5) the final morning of being in circle and sharing " what gifts form the Gathering do we take home " was pretty significant as well-- and to know that our theme song for this gathering -- would have to be one that came from one of the women-- "This little light of mine "-- I"me going to let it shine !
And then as we shared our thoughts, we could then take some of the sacred water that had been blessed by the group , and bring it home to our own circles--
I now have mine in my healing space here at Tranquil Spirit where it will be until I take it to our next gathering in 2012.
Holy cow ! I did;to think I had so much to say here, Dorothy-- but I guess I do-- being such a quiet little bird from the North , hey ! Ha !
