If I Bless the Sun.....

The sun is nestling in behind the hills leaving an amazing golden glow all around our home. Even the air itself seems to be golden. My husband and I stopped working in order to step outside and bathe in this unique after glow. The sacred fire of the sun has called us to what is truly important—being in the beauty of the moment.

As I drank in the golden air, it was not lost on me that this gorgeous light cast itself around us just as I sat down to write a Message from the Sacred Fire. Standing there in its wonder, I reflected on how often I take the sun for granted and offered a prayer of gratitude for its special blessing this evening.

Sitting down once again to write, I can't help but wonder—if I bless the sun, where does this blessing go? How far is its reach? If I recognize and bless its nature as sacred, and its nature lives in and touches all of life on Mother Earth, what else will be blessed? If I can touch the sun with my heart and words, what difference might I make throughout the world?

I believe our true reach extends beyond our physical bodies in a realm of Divine awareness. The mystic within me wants to know how deep my love can go and how far it can truly reach.

In just a few days, we will be coming together for our monthly New Moon Fire Tele-ceremony for men and women. During fire ceremony we step into the sacred nature of fire, honoring its nature as we hold ourselves and others in its healing caress.

Then only a couple of weeks later, we gather together for our Solstice Tele-ceremony which we lovingly call The Kiss. In this ancient and beautiful ceremony, we become one in our hearts with the sacred fire of the sun and gently kiss the planet awake with our compassion and gratitude for the sacred fire that burns within all humans.

If you have been on one of these Tele-ceremonies, you know how exquisitely the sacred fire nourishes and expands as our Divine natures join together. If you have not yet been to one of these ceremonies, I welcome your sacred spirit to join with ours as we bless each other and the sacred fire that lives within all of creation.

Sacred Fire — The Guiding Light of Compassion

Each day, I sing a song of welcoming to the sun. I sing my gratitude to the sacred fire of the sun for its life giving rays of light. I sing to wake up the sacred fire burning inside of each of us. I invite the sacred fire within all of life to be a guiding light of compassion and love for everyone.

I became inspired to live this daily practice after realizing a man I deeply respected made this ritual a part of his gift to the earth and the people of the earth. His name was Dawn Singer and he rose each morning at dawn to greet the sun. His relationship to the sacredness of fire was so profound that when he visited me in the dream time, he came as a gentle, loving flame of fire. His awareness of the sacred fire within him was so secure, he was known to pick up searingly hot sweat lodge stones in his bare hands.

Though I only got to spend time with him on a few occasions, this incredible man touched my life profoundly. My understanding of, and my love and respect for the sacred essence of fire in all living things deepens because I witnessed him allowing himself to actually embody this nature of the Divine. When I wonder how he became such a profound expression of the sacred nature of fire I find myself reflecting on the many hours I have tended our sacred fire during the week of SpiritQuest ceremonies, and the reflections of others who have tended these fires.

There is something awe inspiring that happens when we become still with the flame of a fire. There is a comfort with and a passion for life that stirs within us when we sit quietly and meditate with fire. Our minds become quiet, our hearts open wide, and our deepest dreams seem imminently doable. We become present in the precious moment of now, and we know ourselves as part of a great mystery unfolding itself through us.

Dawn Singer's influence continues, beyond his death nearly a year ago, and reaches out to each of us at Earth Ceremonies. I hope you will accept our invitation to light a candle, and then join the sacred fire of your heart with ours, and with the heart of Dawn Singer and other spirits of the fire on this New Moon, as together we honor the healing nature of the sacred fire and its guiding light of compassion that lives within us.

Vision Quest for Elderhood—Stories from the Elders

Our wonderful Elder Women of the Water Ceremonies have written a book about their experiences you might want to read. Just five short stories, but do they give some awesome insights about the journey of elderhood and the process of becoming initiated as an Elder.

Check it out at:

Read stories from elders who have completed their initiations.

The Power of Elderhood

In June of this year, several dedicated women were initiated as Elders of the Women's Water Ceremonies. After many months of preparation they listened in the silence for three days to know the three goals they would fulfill before their death. They bravely watched for a vision of their death so they can live fully all the days they remain here on earth.

Such a rite of passage transforms your entire life. Here is what one of the elders had to say about her incredible spiritual journey into elderhood.

The Elderhood ceremony has transformed my life for the better. It made me deal with my issues, and become a more loving and compassionate person. The ceremony caused me to become far more aware of my position in and responsibilities to the community we all live in. I have stepped into my power through this ceremony. It is an incredible lesson in living in
community, in integrity, and in service. I recommend this to anyone who is in the "elder" years of their lives. -Sandra Watt, Ph.D

Catapulting Your Spiritual Growth

Have you been feeling as though there is something really significant for you to do in the world, but you can't quite put your finger on it? Or you know what it is, but it scares the heck out of you? Or maybe you just don't know where to begin?

Perhaps you are feeling a bit restless or anxious, like the spirit world is pushing on you to get busy with something. Do you find yourself feeling stuck, overwhelmed, confused, or not ready? (Soul Purpose has a great story on "Are We Ever Really Confused?" worth checking out. Link to the site is in the right hand column.)

This is your spirit, your spiritual momentum pushing on you to act now, because there are others in the web of of life who are counting on you—counting on your gifts, talents, message, touch or love. This is you—your inner spirit—nudging you (sometimes just down right, pushing you) to fulfill your destiny.

Our ancestors understood this energy and created Rites of Passage Ceremonies to help you transform the feeling of urgency inside you into outward action. If you really want to catapult your spiritual growth, consider doing a Rites of Passage Ceremony.

There are many kinds of ceremonies, any one of which could be supportive to you in your journey of spiritual growth. If you are feeling the nudge, you are blessed and you deserve to be spiritually and emotionally supported in your commitment of service.

Here are some Rites of Passage Ceremonies for you to consider:

Menses—the beginning of the journey into womanhood
Womanhood—acknowledging Spirit as your mother and parent; claiming your purpose
Manhood—acknowledging Spirit as your father and parent; claiming your purpose
Life Purpose—discovering your life purpose and making a public commitment to fulfillment
Ministry—committing to service as a spiritual minister
Elderhood—committing to greater service to your community; visioning the world to come
Naming—fully accepting your personal power expressed through a sacred name

And if you have a little one, a Welcoming Ceremony is a wonderful way to welcome him or her into their own unique spiritual path here on earth.

At SpiritQuest we draw from ancient Native American Ceremonies and we create new ceremonies to help you move through your transition into profound spiritual awareness, commitment and action to fulfilling your purpose.

A whole community of people and your spirit guides surround you with love, prayers and support as you enter into the mystical world of spiritual transformation. Your life becomes extremely focused and dedicated the moment you commit to doing the ceremony. This is what SpiritQuest is all about. As a community, we help each other make our spiritual transitions, catapulting us into greater spiritual awakening and service.

Preparations for such ceremonies begin 10 months prior to SpiritQuest. That means, with SpiritQuest taking place the end of June, we begin preparations in September. If you would like to learn more about the Rites of Passage Ceremonies of SpiritQuest, join us on one of these two calls:

SpiritQuest Rites of Passage Ceremonies on Wednesday, August 8th 5:45 Pacific time
Women's Elderhood Ceremony on Monday, August 13th, 5:45 Pacific time

Call: 605-990-0550
Access Code 135303#

Looking forward to connecting with you about your spiritual journey!

Reverend Misa
Spiritual Director
New Dream Foundation

SpiritQuest 2007 — The Sacred Fire is Still Burning

Hi Friends,

Wow! What an incredible and powerful year. This is our 11th year of questing, and without a doubt this is one of the richest years we have shared. Being the first year we offered so many initiation ceremonies at one time, we didn't know what to expect, and I believe our lives were all deeply blessed in a special way this year with the gifts of the sacred fire, the Grandmothers, the Cherokee spirits, and the hearts of each person in the community.

Several of you have shared some beautiful reflections with me. I hope you will share them with the entire community, here on this blog site.

When Jeffrey and I arrived home, a young buck and doe took up part time residence under our deck. Maybe they were the same buck and doe that blessed our Solstice Ceremony??!! And new birth in the form of baby bunnies have also been venturing forth from beneath our deck. We have not yet seen our backyard bears, but I'm sure they'll be over for a visit before the summer is over. All in all, SpiritQuest has once again deepened our bond with Mother Earth and all her creatures.

We LOVED having many of you over to our home before and after ceremony. Maybe next year, more of you will come by and even spend a little more time with us. Thank you for bringing your peace and blessings to our home.

QUESTING FOR NEXT YEAR - If you think you might be interested in doing a Song Quest, Elderhood initiation, or any other type of initiation (currently offered or something we create especially for you), please let me know by the first week of August. These initiations take time to prepare, and I want you to have plenty of time.

REMEMBER THE CANDLES — Spreading peace as you travel by lighting a candle in the home of whoever you visit with your personal prayer for peace is a great way to spread the love of the sacred fire we still hold in our hearts.

I look forward to reading your thoughts, feelings and questions since Quest. As always you remain in my grateful heart and songs,

Reverend Misa