One White Horse Standing Newsletter

This newsletter focuses on some reflective words of many people. I seem to be in a reflective mood as I experience the coming of Spring. Ponder them for a moment and remember the song of your soul.

Bountiful Blessings
Herb Stevenson
One White Horse Standing

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My Help Is In The Mountain

by Nancy Wood

My help is in the mountain

Where I take myself to heal

the earthly wounds

That people give to me.

I find a rock with sun on it

And a stream where the water runs gentle

And the trees which one by one give me company.

So must I stay for a long time

Until I have grown from the rock

And the stream is running through me

And I cannot tell myself from one tall tree.

Then I know that nothing touches me

Nor makes me run away.

My help is in the mountain

That I take away with me.

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Lost in the Forest

What do I do
when I am lost
in the forest.

Stand still!

The trees ahead of you
and the bushes behind you
are not lost.

Wherever you are
is called here,
and you must treat it
as a powerful stranger to know it
and be known.

Stand still,
the forest knows
where you are
You must let it
find you.

Listen
the forest breathes
it says I have
This place around you

No two trees are the same
to raven
no two branches are the same
to wren

If what a tree
or a branch is—
is lost on you
then you are surely lost.

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The Invitation

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

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Upcoming

Dragon Medicine

October 30th - November 1st

Mythologically speaking, the dragon's primeval, bestial nature has sculpted a large piece of the dragon's personality. It is the dragon's linking to carnal forces; it's ties with fire and water, or it's ability to bring out human greed, which have given the dragon an animalistic reputation. However, these are not the dragon's only associates: the dragon has ties to many deeper, unknown levels which make it not completely bestial, but cast it as a spiritual creation.

The medicine of Dragon is the essence of self-transformation. It provides a pathway for recovery from trauma. The class will be held in a circle of sacred space where all participants share the experience of their healing journey within this class. Through exercises, prayers and journeys we each will seek our own inner resources for finding the strength and courage within to face and transform the pain that haunts us.

For more information, or to register, call Marie Smith at 608 647-2366 or email hawkridge@mwt.net.

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Find out about workshops, retreats, and resources at www.onewhitehorsestanding.com.

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Notice

This is a shamanic newsletter and is intended only for educational and informational purposes. Any person needing therapeutic support should contact a mental health professional immediately.