Thoughts About The Women, Water and Spirit Retreat

[Reverend Misa]

The women that came to the retreat and dove into the sacred waters of their own re-birth were amazing!

The talking circles, ceremonies, journeys, and sweat lodge created a backdrop for the true depth of the Sacred Feminine to emerge from each and every woman.

I am so honored to serve such courageous, heart-felt and authentic women.

—Reverend Misa

[ARIANN]

This first Women, Water and Spirit Retreat was a deeply moving and heart-filled time. All the women quickly bonded as sisters in the safety and warmth of the sacred circle around the ancient water bowl. Rev. Misa brought to the retreat the original ceremonial Mother Bowl used by the women in the Native Tribe where the water ceremonies originated. We could feel the power and presence of the 4 Grandmothers of the bowl and our sisters beyond the veil holding space for us and celebrating life as a woman with us. Right outside the room where we held the ceremonies, we could hear a rushing creek and the rustling leaves of fall in the trees which helped to create the perfect setting.

In this sacred space we sang sacred songs, voiced what we held dear in our hearts, shed our tears and shared our laughter. Pain and joy, small details and cosmic happenings, life and death were all part of our lives and could be spoken of among our sisters; not to be judged, or commented upon, given or received advice, merely brought into awareness and into light.

And in the sharing I became more whole, more complete, more feminine. I felt more or the Divine Feminine Spirit move through me when I listened to my sisters' stories and shared my own. I became more of the Divine Feminine.

What happened at the retreat? Not much. There was not much doing. There was a lot of being. We ate and drank and sat in circle. There was a Healing Sweat Lodge on Saturday for those who wished to participate. There was the Water Ceremony on Saturday night.

I felt a lot change within me by being there. Even after I went home I could feel the movement of change in my bones and psyche. I am so happy I went. I feel more complete, more balanced and centered. It was a wonderful experience to share BEING with these lovely women.

I am Ariann and I have spoken.

[Ixchel]

Misa has often said that you can tell that a ceremony will be deep and powerful by the challenges people face to get there.  This was true of Women Water and Spirit Retreat.

When Misa first mentioned that she wanted to do a Women Water and Spirit Retreat I knew that it needed to happen.  I volunteered to help organize and bring together the experience, and throughout the months preceding the retreat I could feel the energy building.  I knew that it would be a powerful experience.

Women traveled by car or by plane, many miles and many hours, to be part of this retreat.  I was lucky, I had the shortest distance to drive, about 3 ½ hours.  As I drove across the mountains I already felt the connection with the spirits of the women, those coming in person and those assisting us in spirit.  I felt a deep part of me coming in and reminding me of my sacred work, the gifts that I am uniquely here to share.

I had arranged to pick up two of my fellow keepers of the women's ceremonies, who were arriving at the airport that night.  Divinely guided, I drove into town (Reno, NV) just as they had claimed their baggage and were ready to leave.

The three of us had come a day early, to ready the space, do the shopping for food, and set the energy for the other women to come.  Connecting with my sisters of the ceremony felt so good.  We enjoyed the day, being there before the others, working together easily and comfortably.

In the afternoon Misa and the other keepers arrived.  We were together as family, once again.  Being a keeper of the ceremony is such a wonderful calling.  I've been leading the ceremonies for almost a year, and it is such a natural and deep part of who I am.  The energy brought in at these ceremonies has been so powerful!  Here, at the retreat, I was able to connect with another part of my ceremonial leadership, that of sharing it with the other women who do the same.  I felt I was part of something that was so much bigger than just myself.  We had all felt the same calling, we shared the same kind of experiences.  Our connection with the Women's Path and each other went deep.

This is new to this path.  In the old days, when the ceremony was held in the tribe that it originated from, there was one guardian of the ceremony.  Tribes and communities were closer and more local then.  It was not so widely shared.  Now we have keepers throughout the West, and have shared the ceremony as far away as Mexico.  Now the keepers of the ceremony fulfill their calling of leading ceremony in their own locales, but we are also a part of something bigger, the sisterhood of women who are keepers.

It felt so good to have us join together in ceremony again.  We shared the talking circles, the journeys, the meditations.  It was timeless and profound.  We explored depths of our being that were easily accessed within the energies and spirits of the ceremony.  Most of what we received can’t even be put into words.  It was a feeling, an experience, it was in the heart, in our connections.

The following afternoon we were joined by the other women, those who came to experience the Women's Path more deeply.  The richness of the experience blossomed as we welcomed in the rest of the women.  We felt even more complete. 

The ceremonies continued for the next two days.  We went deeper in the journeys and meditations, as we uncovered and shared deeper aspects of ourselves.  Throughout the days we practiced seeing each other as our god-selves, seeing the very best of each other, the true spirit that was emerging.  We held each other in compassion and love.

The environment of the Domes, on the slopes of Mt. Rose, was a perfect place for our retreat.  The days were beautiful, with clear blue skies.  There was a light dusting of snow on Mt. Rose, covering her in a silky white blanket.  The creek behind the Domes brought in the water element that we work with in the ceremony.  At times it would call to me and I would sit by the stream, feeling the deep energies of the water connecting with the water within myself.

Our sweat lodge was also by the stream.  I had the honor of tending to the sacred fire.  One of the other keepers assisted me, finding just the right wood, selecting the stones for lodge, and building a beautiful fire around them.  As the two of us cared for the fire we connected in another way with the fire spirit and it's energies of passion and aliveness, healing and transformation.

When it was time to end, I felt that we had all received some very deep and wonderful gifts, connecting to our spirits, and the gift of becoming more of that which we are.  I am grateful that I listened to my calling from Spirit, bringing these women together, creating the space and the opportunity for us all to have this sacred time together.

I hope more of you can join us next year!
Ixchel