The shedding of self.
A threshold was crossed, a moment in time was finally experienced and I had been waiting for this to happen for such a long time, but you can’t rush a shedding. That is what I know, so far, of what the lodge is for. My sneaking suspicion is that there is indeed so much that is possible in an Earth Lodge.
This Earth Lodge had myself and a student of mine in attendance. We did what we could with what we had to create the pitch black darkness that is a Grandmother Lodge. We mostly nailed it. We prepared a fire, readied the copper for the earth. My student had dug part of the hole out herself, which I feel is an important part of the process, to make room for yourself. Each person to enter the lodge will need to dig a bit of that earth as a way of introduction.
The next morning, with just a little water in the system we began a gentle descent and just kept going. So many singular moments of gentle holding and being held. Opening and dissolving. Descending. Allowing ourselves to feel that which is our containment, our bonds, and let them go. There was an exquisite moment of understanding of being a water bearer, by virtue of my blood medicine and that the water is an intrinsic part of earth. To build that soft place of bringing the sacredness to water, to the drinking of water, to the being of water, these too are part of the Earth Lodge.
As this was the very first, we had no idea how long we would be there, what would be happening, we just gently stepped off the edge of our conscious minds and allowed ourselves to be still. To be held by the warm earth.
We learned so much that day. Earth in an old copper heats quickly! and Earth can be VERY hot. We would probably need some more old coppers as we grow in number. The Shedding takes as long as it takes, and then it is DONE. We both popped out of it at about the same time, feeling really done.
After lodge that day we moved straight into creative expression, writing for me, and clay for my student. It was perfect to give the self that kind of pathway, of going there, deep within and then returning unto the expression tools we have for sharing where we have experienced.
I have met a part of my path that is intrinsic in creating the community that will create the Womb Temple. This ritual, this ceremony will be cornerstone to building of so much in our world here. Softly, gently, with Her.
Let me know when you are ready to enter the lodge.
Living Circles 