Some of my recent lessons were easy to forgive—I could easily see that the perceived offenses were not more important than recognizing my true self or losing my peace of mind. But some of lessons took several days of continually releasing my grievances to the Spirit for my peace to return.

There is a strong desire in us to hold onto our grievances as if somehow we are protecting ourselves, when in truth, we are hurting ourselves.

When the tribes exclude “outsiders” to protect their lineage, it keeps them apart from the very source of their greatness, because we cannot be whole, when we are separate.

Blessed journeys!
Elizabeth

As a Shaman I find that there is such a sense of peace in helping others and this gift is something that we are to share not hold close to our being. People are thirsty to know everything they can about Native American customs. They want to know who we are. Now is a time that dramatic change can be had. Isn’t it to the Native Americans best interest to open themselves so they are understood and in this will change in how they suffer not happen as well.

I have the book A Course In Miracles but I have it sitting by my chair collecting dust. I know it will be amazing but I just procrastinate over it. I love the parts I have read though.

Everyone’s path is unique, and I am trying to follow the guidance of the Spirit. If it involves helping others forgive—that would be awesome! No matter who they are.

As always, I appreciate your comments and feedback. It is like receiving cool water in the desert.

How wonderful if gambling casinos on reservations could be replaced by Spiritual Heritage Centers…. I can see it, like a spreading green and healing growth, new meadows, new forests, new rivers, one new center at a time, across the face of America.

It comes to me Elizabeth that this could be your calling, begun on that college campus in 2005. Will you find or be led to a group of Native Americans (perhaps your own Apache people?) who will be interested in working with you to open one “Spiritual Center” ..and then perhaps you would move on to open up others?

I could see you as a Spiritual Heritage Center Consultant – a truly shamanic “Bridge”, as we say… This may well be years in the future still; your path may be to first spend time studying, even living among, Native American peoples where they welcome you as a guest who comes to learn….How it might come about I do not know…But it seems to me that as a Shaman already, and as a woman who has an “undiscovered country” within, of your Apache heritage, you may have been working towards this vision all your life…

I wonder, however, if in defining Death as Illusion only, one may be falling into the greater illusion of Denial?

It comes to me that you really, deeply, need to grieve, and to explore the meaning of Death and Separation….This long and liberating process may be blocked if you focus on your mother’s death as Illusion. We fear it, but grief – and the tears which help us grieve and heal – are gifts quite as much as are the wonders of laughter.

Inside the Reality of your mother’s death are hidden, as we know, other griefs and other tears – other samskaras – that may be released now in this mysterious process of grieving ….

So perhaps both Truths are true – while Death may be an Illusion in the Big Picture, it has come as a liberating Reality now, in this Smaller Picture, the one you have been given to live.

Just a thought…and my heart goes out to you on this day of all days…It will be a long time before you let go – and know that – somehow – that will also be okay.

This is the hardest part of the Journey I think. When we see Death as the inevitability of loss, not the partner of Birth, we become bitter and disappointed with the Gift of Life, unwilling to risk living for fear that it will bring Death.

The challenge is to cherish Life in all its Forms, including those of our bodies and personalities, yet be willing to let go of these, over and over, through the many Forms of Death. Without this willingness to accept Death, Life becomes an Idol that we secretly worship…