Open-air Meditation Sanctuary

06/22/2024

Cosmic Pulse

Hello Friends,

Today's update brings a rich blend of cosmic energies as we celebrate the Summer Solstice, experience a Full Moon, and navigate a powerful T-square formation in the sky. Let's explore these influences and how they can guide us.

🌞 Sun, Venus, and Mercury in Gemini
The Sun, Venus, and Mercury are currently in Gemini, amplifying our communication, curiosity, and social interactions.

🌕 Full Moon and Pholus Conjunct in Sagittarius
Today and tomorrow, we also have a Full Moon in Sagittarius, which brings a sense of adventure, truth-seeking, and expansion. This energy encourages us to look beyond the immediate and consider the bigger picture. The conjunction with Pholus adds a transformative element, urging us to release old patterns and embrace profound changes.

🌌 Outer Planets: The Big Picture
With the Moon in Sagittarius prompting us to look at the bigger picture, let’s review the long-term transits of the outer planets, which frame our broader context:
• Saturn in Aquarius (Feb 12, 2023 - Jan 12, 2026): This three-year transit focuses on innovation, humanitarian efforts, and restructuring societal norms. Saturn in Aquarius challenges us to rethink our communities and embrace new ways of working together.
• Neptune in Pisces (Feb 23, 2023 - Mar 29, 2040): Over 17 years, Neptune in Pisces enhances our spiritual awareness, compassion, and creativity. It encourages us to dissolve boundaries and seek unity, but also cautions against illusion and escapism.
• Pluto in Capricorn (Feb 28, 2023 - Mar 14, 2039): During this 16-year period, Pluto's transformative power in Capricorn drives deep structural changes in institutions, governments, and systems of authority. It's a time of profound transformation and rebuilding.
• Uranus in Taurus (May 26, 2024 - Jun 2033): This nine-year transit of Uranus in Taurus brings innovation to our values, finances, and connection with the Earth. It urges us to break free from outdated materialistic views and find new ways to live in harmony with nature.

🔺 T-Square Formation: Dynamic Tensions and Growth
Refocusing on today’s energetic mood, we have a T-square formation including...
• Moon and Pholus in Sagittarius: This conjunction on one point of the T-square brings emotional depth and a transformative push. Pholus, known for its ability to trigger significant changes, combined with the Full Moon, highlights areas in our lives where we need to release and transform.
• Sun, Venus, and Mercury in Gemini: The other point on the base of the T-square emphasizes communication, relationships, and intellectual pursuits. This energy encourages us to articulate our thoughts, engage in meaningful dialogues, and seek harmony in our interactions.
• North Node in Pisces (Apex): The North Node in Pisces at the apex of the T-square represents our karmic path and soul’s evolution. Pisces energy brings a focus on spirituality, compassion, and intuitive insights. This placement urges us to align with our higher purpose and transcend material concerns.

🌞 Solar Weather Update
Another quiet day on the Sun as the major sunspots depart. New spots are coming in hot and active, but it’s too soon to predict their impact. For now, enjoy the calm and use this time for introspection and rejuvenation.

🌟 Affirmation for Today
"I embrace transformation and align with my higher purpose, communicating with clarity and compassion."

How are you navigating these powerful energies today? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Wishing you clarity, balance, and cosmic insight.
I

06/07/2024

The Cosmic Pulse

06/02/2024

Photographing flowers makes me happy. They are inherently beautiful and focusing on beauty is an instant mood elevator. Connecting with Nature reduces stress and promotes well being as well.

04/28/2024

The Iris's are in their full glory. So beautiful to observe in all their wondrous detail. And their fragrance! I love getting my nose deep into the center of the Iris, then ever so slowly I inhale as deeply as I can. What a journey it delivers!.

04/17/2024

I can't help but smile at the sight of a blooming flower.

04/14/2024

Wind and allergies! My goodness, everyone I’m meeting is dealing with allergies. Headaches, watery eyes, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, not sleeping well, aches and pains… The wind of course makes it so much worse.

I’ve been dealing with seasonal allergies all my life and have come up with some pretty good hacks that keep me feeling reasonably well. Of course, part of it is I don’t wait until it’s terrible. I’m on it the minute I start getting symptoms.

Anyway, thought I’d share some of the things I do that seem to work quite well for me and other people.

According to traditional Chinese medicine Spring is the quintessential time of cleansing for the yin liver and the yang gallbladder. They are at their peak activity during Spring which makes it a good time to support their function. If they are not functioning well allergies are at their worst.

The color green is the predominant color of spring and the taste of spring is chlorophyll which is slightly sour and slightly sweet this is a great place to focus your eating awareness.

I am especially fond of green smoothies. I have one that I make for breakfast almost every day during spring especially when it’s a windy day. I call it the spring greening.

The basics are bananas, lemon and pears and the liquid is coconut water. To that I add a collection of greens that are typically growing in the yard at this time of year such as dandelion leaves, watercress, chickweed, hen it, dead nettle, chard, baby lettuces and other greens, arugula etc. etc. I also keep in my smoothie pantry a number of highly potent powdered greens such as moringa, chlorella, wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, kale, and parsley. For one person just a quarter teaspoon of each of those in a smoothie is quite delicious and gives your liver and gallbladder all the support they need. Additionally I like to add psyllium powder just to make sure that my colon is staying clean as well.

It’s tempting to put away all our sweaters and coats, but many mornings are cold and the wind can be chilly as well. Don’t let yourself get cold or stay cold. Pay attention to keeping your body comfortable. Sometimes all it takes is a windbreaker, socks, a scarf around your neck or a lightweight hat.

Exercise plays a huge role in staying physically balanced. On warmer days get outdoors as much as possible. Increase your movement from winter time activity. Do more walking, dancing, yoga, running, gardening, rebounding, whatever works for you.

But also, rest as needed. Don’t overwork! Especially if your allergies are overwhelming. You really need to slow everything down so that your body can just focus on healing itself.

Fain’s Herbacy makes an amazing product called Seasonal Support which I recommend to everyone with allergies. If you’re feeling symptomatic take two every couple of hours until the symptoms subside. Then try just two in the morning and two in the evening on a maintenance basis throughout the high pollen months.

If your allergies have gotten to the point of feeling torturous and possibly even lethal. Use Benadryl. There’s a nighttime formula and a daytime formula. But once you get over the hump just use seasonal support from fainsherbacy.com

All the organs of our body are related to specific types of emotions. The liver and gallbladder are burdened by feelings of anger, depression, frustration, inability to forgive, indecisiveness, irritability and lethargy and resentment. They are supported by feelings of forgiveness, assertiveness, decisiveness, gratitude, Inspiration and happiness. You can use affirmations to shift your emotions into a better space.

Yoga should be practiced with regard to the season. In the winter practice Yin yoga, in the summer practice yang yoga. During the spring practice a more active Yang style with quieter yin rests sprinkled throughout your yoga flow. The yin resting periods are excellent times to meditate on the healthy liver and gallbladder emotions like forgiveness and gratitude and also to work with key acupressure points.

The Asanas that work best stretch the back, front and sides. Whether sitting or standing the stretches will stimulate the liver and gallbladder meridians. If you smile and laugh while doing those stretches you’ll provide the liver and gallbladder emotional support for cleansing.

The acupuncture points to rub are GB 41, LR 3, GB 22 and 23, and LR 14. These are easy to look up in an acupuncture book or with Google.

04/07/2024

The World I Am Grateful For – Heidi Astraia

I am grateful for the peace, welfare and righteousness
In every part of the world,
For the confidence and friendship that prevail,
For the good in the east and the west,
For the good in the north and the south,
For the good in humanity.

I am grateful for the people who inspire their leaders
Helping them to seek peace by peaceful means,
Helping them and urging them
To build a better world,
A world with a home for everybody,
A world with food and work for everybody,
A world with freedom
For everybody.

I am grateful for those who have the power of money
And are motivated by selfless compassion,
Letting their money become a tool
For the good of humankind.

I am grateful for those who have political power
And use it to deal respectfully with the resources of the planet,
Respecting and maintaining the purity of the air, water, land and soil.

I am grateful for those who co-operate to restore
The ecological soundness of mother earth,
Encouraging trees grow up by the billions
And greening the deserts.

I am grateful for industry that serves humanity
And produces waste that serves nature.

I am grateful for technology that respects
The holiness of mother earth.

I am grateful for those in the realm of mass media
for contributing to truth, mutual understanding, optimism and confidence.

I am grateful for ordinary people everywhere
Contributing, each in their own way, to a universal network
Of love and friendship,
And a good future for our children and grandchildren.

I am grateful that we are thriving together
In peace and harmony with Mother Earth.

03/28/2024

The Symbology of a Solar eclipse is about death and re-birth. Its an obvious moment of disconnection from the outer, external light of the Sun, and thus a potent moment of opportunity to consciously connect with and focus on the inner Sun, the Soul, the eternal spiritual Light within. It is a moment to remember Who We Truly Are and then to bring that more consciously into the world.

From a collective perspective, the Eclipse is a potent moment for us to meditate on birthing and grounding the collective Human Soul and the Soulful Civilization we want to live in.

The Eclipse will be 98.5 percent in Eureka Springs. I'm inviting folks to gather at Site 14 in the OM Sanctuary. For the 4 minutes and 28 seconds of the eclipse we will have a silent meditation, connecting with the Inner Sun and the spirit of Gaia, and the luminous template of the Human Soul that She carries in her heart and womb. We will focus on the birth of the new Humanity and the New World we want to live in.

Everyone is encouraged to bring eclipse glasses and anything they want to share – music, poetry, insights etc, which can be offered before and after the silent meditation.

03/12/2024

https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v3/ym/r/i9a1cD-db2h.png

01/14/2024

The Barn House. 2 people, 1 bd, 1 Ba. Completely private with access to the private hot tub and hiking trails. You can also order a Vegan breakfast brought to your house! To book directly with the host call 479-363-7024. Ask about all the add ons. And we’re pet friendly so ask for details. Mention you saw this post on instagram.

01/08/2024

It's one of those Rain, Robins and Worms kinda day!

01/05/2024

The first snow fall of 2024 ❄️

12/18/2023

Traditions and Symbols of Yule

In 2023, the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere arrives on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 9:27 pm CST
Before the Winter Solstice became Christianized as Christmastide, it was known amongst Germanic and Scandinavian Pagans as the beginning of Yule, a 13 day celebration of feasting and merriment, of community gatherings, gift giving, of warding off evils and illness, and ritual supplications for the return of the Sun.

Pagan (n.)
late 14c., from Late Latin paganus "pagan," in classical Latin "villager, rustic; civilian, non-combatant" noun use of adjective meaning "of the country, of a village, and close to the Earth."
Later derived from the use of paganus in Roman military jargon for "civilian, and incompetent soldier," which Christians (Tertullian, c.202; Augustine) picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (such as milites "soldier of Christ," etc.). Pagans not preferring to wage war for Christ, did not enlist. Applied to modern pantheists and nature-worshippers from 1908.

Pagan symbols for Yule included...

Evergreens were cut and brought indoors to symbolize life, rebirth and renewal. They were thought to have power over death because their green never faded, and they were used to defeat winter demons and hold back death and destruction. The aroma therapy is delightful and antiviral as well as beautiful. Because of their strength and tenacity, they were also believed to encourage the Sun’s return.

Christmas Holly
Holly, which represents the masculine element, was often used to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces. Because of its prickliness it was thought to capture or ward off evil spirits before they could enter a home and cause harm. The holly leaves, symbolic of the Holly King, represent hope, and the red berries represent potency.

Mistletoe, another powerful herbal remedy for many ailments was also recognized as the female element. It was used by Druid priests in special ceremonies during the Winter Solstice. They believed that its green leaves represented the fertility of the Mother Goddess, and its white berries, the seed of Life and medicine. Druids would harvest the mistletoe from sacred oak trees with golden scythes and maidens would gather underneath the trees to catch the falling branches, preventing them from falling to the ground; for if this happened, it was believed that all sacred energy in the plant would pour back into the earth. The branches and sprigs were then divided and distributed to be hung over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. Mistletoe was also worn as an amulet for fertility, or hung above the headboard.

Yule Tree: An Important Pagan Symbol
The Yule Tree was also another important symbol in pagan tradition. Originally, it represented the Tree of Life or the World Tree among early pagans. In ancient times it was decorated with gifts people wanted to receive from the gods. It was adorned with natural ornaments such as pinecones, berries and other fruit, as well as symbols sacred to the gods and goddess. In some holiday traditions, garlands of popcorn and berries were strung around the tree so that visiting birds could feed off the tree as well.

To Honour and Protect: The Yule Log
The custom of burning the Yule Log began with the ancient Scandinavians who burned a huge log, felled from and Ash tree, to honour their god Thor. In the Celtic tradition, a continual hearth fire was kept to prevent spirits from entering the home. In order for the fire to keep burning, a large Oak tree was felled and brought into the home where the tree was placed trunk first into the hearth, with the last remnants set aside to burn with next year’s fire. It was also believed that the longer the Yule log burned, the faster the sun would come to warm the earth.

Other Yule Traditions and Symbols

Candles were another way to have an eternal flame within the home. They symbolized the light and warmth of the sun and were used to chase away evils and lure back the returning sun/son.

Wreaths were also traditional in ancient times for they symbolized the wheel of the year and the completion of another cycle. They were made of evergreens and adorned with cones and berries and hung as decoration throughout the home. They were also given as gifts to symbolize the infinity of goodwill, friendship and joyfulness.

Bells were often rung during the Winter Solstice to drive away demons that surfaced during the dark time of the year. They were rung in the morning as everyone began to wake to chase away the dark days and herald in the warmer, brighter days following the solstice.

Elves first became associated with Yule because the ancients knew that the Spirits that created the Sun inhabited the land of Elves. By including elves in the Yule celebrations, the ancients believed they were assuring the elves assistance in the coercion of the Sun to return.

Gingerbread was considered to be a specialty bread during this time since ginger had not been available until the Crusaders brought it back in the 11th century. There were strict laws regarding specialty breads in that time, so gingerbread was only allowed to be produced during the holidays and thus, it became associated with winter and Yule.

Wassail derives from the Old English words waes hael, which means “be well”, “be hale” or “good health”. It is a strong drink, usually a mixture of ale, honey and spices or mulled apple cider. When pagans went into the forest to fell the great oak for the Yule log, they would anoint the tree with wassail and bedeck them with wassail-soaked cakes, thus the ritual of wassailing was born. At home, the wassail would be poured into a large bowl during feast time and the host, when greeting his or her guests, would lift a drink and wish them “waes hael”, to which they would reply “drinc hael”, which meant “drink and be well”.

Carolling was also a popular Yule tradition when young children honoured the Winter Solstice with song. They would go through the villages, singing door to door. The villagers, in return, would reward them with tokens and sweets and small gifts which symbolized the food and prosperity given by the Mother Goddess to all her Earthly children.

Nature Symbols of Yule: Holly, Oak, Mistletoe, Ivy, Evergreens, Laurel, Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Frankincense, Pine, Sage, Yellow Cedar. Owls and the other winter animals. The five pointed star, representing the best and most noble of Humans in alignment with Gaia.

Food and Drink of Yule: Yule Log Cake, Gingerbread, Fruits especially Apples and Pears, Cranberries, Nuts, Baked Root Veggies, Stews, Squash pies, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Spiced Cider, Wassail.

Colours of Yule: Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold
Red represents the waning Holly King. Green represents the waxing Oak King. White represents the purity and hope of new Light. Silver represents the Moon. Gold represents the Sun/Son.

Stones of Yule: Rubies, Bloodstones, Garnets, Emeralds, Diamonds

Activities of Yule: A Ritual Bonfire to release the past and welcome the future. Carolling ~ Wassailing the Trees ~ Burning the Yule Log ~ Decorating the Yule Tree ~ Exchanging Gifts ~ Kissing under the Mistletoe.

Deities of Yule: Odin, the Holy and Oak Kings. Also the Solar deity Sol, Sunna, Helios and other names for the Sun.

Goddesses: The Great Mother and Earth Goddess, Freyja, Gaia, and Her many other names.

11/12/2023

Such a great trip to see mom 💕 enjoyed so many walks through the sanctuary, bonfire and family dinner in the Apple orchard. Fall time never disappoints here.

09/22/2023

So it begins

05/15/2023

The way the sanctuary sounds at any given moment is one of natures most beautiful concerts. Here are a few local resident birds.

05/15/2023

Gaias beauty around every corner. This place is so beautiful it’ll make you weak in the knees.