* Since the Shamanic Gathering is on a weekday please come when you can to join us. If we are in Ceremony please sit quietly on the beach with us as we open our hearts to you being there with us!
Despacho Ceremony is the creation of a sacred and powerful prayer bundle in the tradition of the Andean Medicine People (Q'ero, descendants of the Inca). The intent is to give our gratitude to the Earth & Spirit, honor the seasons, and weave prayers in from our heart. The fall is the time of year where we truly receive what we have grown. A time for gratitude and giving thanks for all that we have, filled with the array of autumn colors as the leaves fall back to the earth, the love of family gathering together, and preparing for when the (possible) snow will come and Mother Earth slumbers. We will have another wonderful day together making friends, participating in ceremony, and having fun on the full moon!
The event includes...
Despacho Ceremony - Must bring 3 nice Bay Leaves each
Pot Luck Party - Everyone bring a delicious dish
Fire Ceremony - Bring a rattle, drum, or other sound tool
Optional: mosquito repellent (we are by the water), blanket to sit on, flashlight, & an open heart
Location:
Friendship, MD on the Beach
~ Directions will be emailed when we get closer to the date.
Make sure you are on my email list if interested!
We had Spirit Orbs Join us for Spring Equinox 2009!
(Write up of event sent to e-mail list)
We are in Spring!!! :)
Thank you to everyone who came and helped make the Spring Equinox Gathering a beautiful event! It will hold a special place in my heart! I was so honored! It was a gorgeous day so I am thanking the Earth, Spirit, and all the helpers!! Also, a very big heart hug to Anna who opened the space for us!!! Thank you!
We were glowing in the sun on the beach right at the shore for most of the gathering, other than going into a giant wedding tent for the delicious pot lunch dinner. I kept saying it was so big we could have a hoe-down!
We started the day with saging and opening sacred space to welcome the directions in for us to honor. We put our seed packets on the altar and sat in the circle on the sand. I shared a sacred movement activity that came to me on the last New Moon after I had everyone stand up and jiggle around to let go and be present. The Movement was about being the seed and becoming the flower - blossoming inside & in life. I heard great feedback - thank you! Funny that the night before I read this is the Mayan year of the Flower Goddess. Perfect!! Remember to use that flower you became as medicine right now!
More medicine came in the form of everyone blindly picking their own special crystal or shell to take home. To blow in the energy from the powerful event and to keep sourcing from. We pulled tarot cards for some wisdom too. I used the shapeshifter tarot cards since we just shapeshifted into flowers! I had picked Courage - the woman shapeshifting into the Bear - for those that just read my Sedona trip I recently returned from you know how perfect that is! Bear medicine all around me right now! I am grateful!
The wind softened around us as we went into ceremony for the anyi despacho. I opened my heart and gave thanks and welcomed Pachamama and Great Spirit & Apus into the despacho. I heard the osprey and birds call in connecting while the water rolled into the shore, and the sun shined its blessings. Everyone's quintu (prayer leaves) went in with love. Lots of Sugar and honoring later we had one Easter/Spring looking despacho and I cleansed everyone with it to open the way for them to step into the balance fully.
I lit the HUGE bonfire while the group sipped yummy hot chocolate in the tent and ate dessert topped with good conversation. Then came out as the sun was setting and grabbed rattles and drums. Those that were still here we took a photo of to share (I am the 2nd in from the right - notice the Bear medicine joined us again!) This is the first photo I have taken from the years of doing the solstice/equinox gatherings!
I started the chant many know so well as I fed the roaring fire Sun Flower oil in honor of the spring. The Fire leapt into the oil igniting it as if it was looking for the offering. The wind blew from the South sending embers across the water and even exploded with some fireworks as we let go of our death & light arrows. Really we threw them in the fire it was so intense - a power all its own.
A Swan came by with quiet waves around its body to see what we crazy people were doing. I waved and ran to get my camera and missed the photo I wanted, but took one of the group and it was just a regular photo. Then I took one of the other half of the group and I barely glanced at the view finder and did a double take - ORBS. Balls of energy that appear on the camera are said to sometimes be Spirit Orbs. They were everywhere drawn to our joy and ceremony. The lighter they are it is said the higher vibration or angelic like energy. I just had to share. Lean away from the screen and look into the dark night around everyone - Wow! (Photos below)
We ended the night with the burning of the despacho and welcoming the spirits to feed. We ended the fire with the releasing of the Pachamama stick with prayers for the Earth and closing Space. I stared into the red flames and smiled with my whole heart! What an amazing experience!! I am so excited to see what this Spring holds!
Enjoy the Journey! I know I am!
Thank you for being a part of it!
Blessings,
Tara Tylicki
