With Shenoah face to face in Vauxhall.

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Gratitude has been proven to have a positive effect on how we perceive and experience life.  Embracing gratitude can significantly enhance our physical and emotional well-being, helping us to recognise and appreciate the abundance in our lives.

As the Harvest festival approaches which celebrates the bounty from the earth we will explore how we can appreciate the bounty in our own lives.  We will ask the spirits how they would like us to express our gratitude for all their support and also work with the spirits of nature in Vauxhall park so come prepared for whatever the weather may be. 

First Journey
Going on a journey to ask my spirits for a teaching about gratitude and how I can express my gratitude to my spirits for their support

Walking Journeys in the Vauxhall Park
1st journey – walking journey to find a plant to ask for a simple daily practice of gratitude to help me appreciate the bounty in my life

2nd journey – find a tree in the orchard to give thanks for its fruit – each tree represents the world tree so you are giving thanks to all trees for everything they are offering – then walking journey to find an object to keep me connected to my gratitude practice.

4th Journey – Pair Work
Ask the spirits to show their gratitude to your partner
Call your spirits, rattle over your partner using their own rattle

With Shenoah via Zoom

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Our lives are shaped by our past experiences and while some experiences allow us to thrive, others limit how we live our lives. This meeting offers a profound opportunity for personal growth by exploring how unresolved past experiences may be impacting our emotional, spiritual and physical well-being.

Through working with the spirits we will identify lingering limitations and seek healing to release what holds us back, enabling us to live more freely and fully in the present and future. 

1st Journey – drum journey
I am going on a journey to ask my spirits to show me an experience that has limited my well being and what effect it will have in my future if it is not healed

2nd Journey – acted out journey
Going on a journey to ask my spirits what needs to happen to heal (insert what shown needs healing) so I can be free from any negative effects on my wellbeing

3rd journey – healing journey in pairs
Asking my spirits for a healing for (insert partners name) to help them be free from the effects from (insert what needs healing)
Swap over

With Shenoah & David Face to Face in Kensington Gardens, London

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Many cultures recognise the deep wisdom that is held by plants. At our annual outdoor summer meeting we will seek guidance from the plants and trees in Kensington Gardens.  Through the wisdom they share we will receive the resilience and growth we need at this time as they support us in our lives and offer us strength and clarity as we plant seeds of hope for the future.  

Our annual outdoor summer meeting and picnic will be held Kensington Gardens in the centre of London.  We meet under a grove of trees which gives protection from the sun and light showers, we have an alternative sheltered place to work if it is very wet. Please bring food to share.  

1st Journey – Walking Journey
 I am going on a walking journey to find a tree to ask to be shown what seed/s of hope it is important for me to plant at this time in my life

2nd Journey – Walking Journey
I am going on a walking journey to ask to be shown how to support and nurture the growth of the seed of hope and to find a song to help me keep connected

3rd Journey – Walking Journey for a partner
I am going on a walking journey to find an object to help (insert partners name) keep connected to their seed of hope

With Shenoah via Zoom

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This month’s meeting will be on “The Power of Blessings” and offers an opportunity to explore the often-overlooked energy and significance of blessings, emphasizing their transformative potential for both giver and receiver. By deepening our understanding and experience of blessings, we can harness their power to foster healing, gratitude, and connection, enriching our spiritual practice and personal growth. Engaging in this exploration invites us to recognise blessings as a potent force that nurtures positive energy and strengthens our bonds with others and ourselves

1st Journey
I an going on a journey to ask my spirits to show me the effects of giving and receiving a blessing
Could be effects on mind, body, energy, how the energy moves, is something activated when a blessing is given or received. Can ask to be shown first the giving and then the receiving.

2nd Journey
I am going on a journey to ask the spirit of blessings what needs to happen for the blessings I give and receive to be more empowered
May be shown a personal gesture that draws down the energy (arms open to the heavens). 
Can ask to be shown first the giving and then the receiving.

3rd journey – in pairs
Blessing for a partner
Find out what partner wants a blessing for. Offer it in the way shown in the previous journey. Partner to receive it in the way shown in the previous journey. Swap over.

with Shenoah & David face to face

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Words have spiritual force and transformative power and are potent forces that shape our spiritual and daily lives.  When used with intention words can alter our perception, influence our actions and have profound effects on our well-being through how we receive and use them. 

At this meeting we will work with our spirits and the spirts of nature in Vauxhall Park to gain a deeper understanding of how words can uplift or diminish us and how we can consciously use them to support our spiritual practice and empower our life.

We will be doing some work in Vauxhall Park so come prepared for whatever the weather may be. 

1st Journey – drum journey
Part 1 – Journey to ask my spirits to show me the effects of words I receive negatively on my mind, body and spirit

Part 2 – Journey to ask my spirits to show me the effects of words I receive positively on my mind, body and spirit

2nd journey – walking journey in Vauxhall Park
1st to to find a plant and ask it for some words that will bring you comfort / healing / grounding

3rd journey – walking journey in Vauxhall Park
2nd journey – Ask another plant for insights on how to deliver words of power to others, and ask for the words you must never say to yourself or others

4th Journey – in pairs – do it one way then swap over
Find out what your partner needs at present – healing / grounding / comfort / inspiration / etc
Get them comfortable and journey to ask your spirits for the powerful words they need to hear at this time – can also use the rattle to support the work or sing the words but the main focus is on saying the words and the quality of how you say the words so they can hear them

With Shenoah via Zoom

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The theme of this months meeting is ‘finding the light’. Just as the spring growth is coming out of the darkness and reaching for the light in this meeting we will explore how we can shift from the areas of darkness within ourselves and bring ourselves nourishment and hope.  Whether the ‘darkness’ is difficult emotions, negative patterns or a sense that something is not as it should be we will work with the season to support a shift into a different relationship with ourselves. 

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Emerging from the dark is a natural movement for nature in the spring and there is a huge amount of power at this time of year to enable it to happen. If we see ourselves as part of nature as opposed to separate from it, our natural movement is also to emerge from the dark and move through into a different state of being. Our life experience may in some way hinder this movement but to emerge into the light is our natural movement. 

1st Journey – I am going on a journey to ask my spirits what area in my life needs to ‘find the light’ and to introduce me to a ‘spring ally’ who can support me.

2nd journey – I am going on a journey to ask my spring ally to show me a vision of myself when I am beyond (name what you were shown needed to find the light) and in the flow of life

3rd journey – Partner work
One partner calls the energy of their spring ally to them and does the work from that place. It may be singing, or rattling, or sharing what the spring ally is showing them.
‘I am merging with and sharing the energy of my spring ally to support (insert partner’s name) to be in the flow of life
Other partner opens themselves to receive the energy of the spring.
Swap over

With Shenoah & David face to face

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At this meeting we will be connecting to the Power, Vision, Love and Wisdom contained within our hearts.
Our heart contains our special strengths, sometimes called ‘medicine’ that can help us to flourish and feel more fulfilled in our lives. Connecting to the medicine within our hearts enables us to manifest and keep connected to these strengths as we move through our lives. Using journeying, dance and imagery we will explore the medicine of our heart and the power that lives there. 
Bring ten small stones (or crystals or a mix) – roughly the size of a 10p each.
You also may like to bring coloured pens and pencils to help in recording your journeys.

Part 1. Synopsis: Four mini Journeys each about 10 minutes long with no real break between them, but with a lull to briefly write/draw what was experienced. Pay attention to the landscape, colours, sounds, your feelings, who you meet and what you are told.

Participants do not come fully back between journeys but stay between the worlds to record their journeys.

Intent: I’m going on a journey to visit the current state of the four chambers of my heart.
I will say first Chamber – Journey for 10 minutes
When you hear four slow drum beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins. 

I will say Second chamber – Journey for 10 minutes
then four slow beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins

I will say third chamber – Journey for 10 minutes
then four slow beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins

I will say fourth chamber – Journey for 10 minutes
then four slow beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins

Then normal callback

Part 2: Draw a circle and split it into 4. assign each of the journeys with all the experiences you did above to one quarter of the circle.

Synopsis: four mini journeys 5-10 minutes each as above with a lull between each one to record the experiences.

Intent: I’m going on a journey to ask what, if anything, is limiting me in Love, Power, Wisdom and Vision in these areas of my heart.

I will say first Chamber – Journey for 5-10 minutes
When you hear four slow drum beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins. 

I will say Second chamber – Journey for 5-10 minutes
then four slow beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins

I will say third chamber – Journey for 5-10 minutes
then four slow beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 mins

I will say fourth chamber – Journey for 5-10 minutes
then four slow beats you record your experiences
drum goes to slow beat for 5 min

Part 3: Out of the 10 stones chose 4 and assign one of them to each of the quarters – mark the stones so you know which is which

Part 4: – bringing the medicine you need to bring your heat into balance. (if an area is already in balance ask for a blessing for that area)
Intention: I am going to dance the medicine of each chamber of my heart to restore its balance.
Hold the stone that is related to each area and dance with each stone in turn.

Once at home put the stones somewhere to remind you and keep you connected to the experiences.

with Shenoah online

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Trust is a fundamental element in both shamanic practices and our daily lives, as it allows for deeper connections with ourselves, others, life itself and the spiritual realm. By seeking wisdom from the spirits, we will uncover insights that can guide us in cultivating a healthier relationship with trust, enhancing our overall well-being and growth.

First Journey – Drum Journey
I am going on a journey to ask my spirits for a teaching about the true nature of trust for my life

Second Journey – Drum Journey
Going on a journey to ask my spirits where in my life is it important for me to deepen my trust to live more fully and what are my next steps

Third Journey – Partnered Healing Journey
Healing for what gets in the way of (insert partners name) trusting (insert what needs to deepen trust)

With Shenoah & David Face to Face

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The first gathering of 2025 will focus on deepening our relationship with the land, exploring ways we can honour and show our gratitude and respect for how it sustains, feeds and shelters us.

We’ll engage in our annual Wassailing ceremony to bless the fruit trees in Vauxhall Park, a beloved tradition filled with song, cider-soaked toast, and joy, ensuring a bountiful harvest ahead. Join us in this spirit of celebration and reciprocity!
We will visiting the park during the meeting so please come prepared for whatever the weather may offer.

This meeting was inspired by the work of Robin Wall Kimmerer and her book ‘The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World’

First Journey – drum journey – free style journey, acted out suggested
I am going on a Journey to meet a nature spirit to ask for a teaching about reciprocity and how you can I embody, restorative reciprocity in the coming year.

When the journey was completed everyone wrote their reciprocity on a piece of ribbon that was tied onto the Wassailing Hat.

2nd activity – Wassailing Ceremony – blessing the fruit trees in Vauxhall Park
You had to be there but there was the wearing of the wassailing hat with ribbons flowing from it, singing, rattling, blessings, waking up the trees and putting cider soaked toast in the branches, nuts for the squirrels and apple juice and warm mulled cider for us to drink. The song we used was Who Will Stand.
“Who will stand, who will stand for the bees and the trees and the spirits and the land?
We will stand, we will stand for the bees and the trees and the spirits and the land!”

The ribbons with the reciprocities written on them will be tied onto the branches of the apple tree in Shenoah and David’s garden.

3rd activity – Partner work
Asking the spirits for a blessing for your partner for the reciprocity they will be offering in the coming year.
Swap over

with Shenoah Taylor via Zoom

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Join us for a magical year-end gathering where we’ll delve into the profound meaning of giving and receiving, culminating in a special spiritual gift to guide us through the winter months. 🎁🙏🏼

Our annual winter feast will feature a journey to the LODG altar room, filled with singing, dancing, and ceremony to celebrate our community. Feel free to don your shiniest holiday attire to enhance the festive spirit! 🎉✨ 

1st Journey – drum journey
Going on a journey to ask my spirits for a teaching about the true essence of giving and receiving and what can I offer the spirits to thank them for their support

2nd activity – Celebration Singing and Dancing to Sweet Surrender – tune can be found by searching Rainbow Spirit Oregon on YouTube.
The Song
1st line – I am opening up in sweet surrender to the luminous love light of the one
2nd line – I am opening up in sweet surrender to the luminous love light of the one
3rd line – I am opening, opening
4th line – I am opening, opening
The Dance 
first line – As go in raise hands as if gathering up, As walk out lower hands as if giving thanks
second line – As go in raise hands as if gathering up, As walk out lower hands as if giving thanks
3rd and 4th lines – freestyle movement opening to the luminous love light

3rd journey – in pairs
I am going on a journey to ask my spirits for a spiritual gift to support (insert partners name) through the winter months.
gift can be an image, or a song, or rattle. Ask spirits how to deliver it.

4th Journey – freestyle or acted out drum journey
Journey to the lodg altar room to take part in the winter feast and to receive a gift to support me through the winter and leave something for someone else

Many years ago a seidr ceremony asked how members of a shamanic group could keep connected. One of the answers was to hold Winter Feasts. Since that time there have been annual winter feasts in different shamanic groups. Before lockdown we used to meet in person and everyone brought food to share so it was an actual feast. Since lockdown it happens online and it is a time for celebrating the group, each other and the spirits. 🙏🏼
 
The lodg altar room is a place in the spirit world we all journey to.  In the spirit of the season giving and receiving is encouraged when there, as well as enjoying the party.🎈 It has to be said the experiences of the virtual winter feasts in the lodg altar room are sometimes a bit more raucous than they ever were in person 😊 😅