December 3, 2015 Dear Community, On Monday I was gathering pine cones for a ritual, and this is what the trees told me: "Make beauty despite the de

         
DPBannrAug15

December 3, 2015

Dear Community,

On Monday I was gathering pine cones for a ritual, and this is what the trees told me:

"Make beauty despite the devastation."

So much on Earth (of Earth) is hurting

and yet these trees—tall—making beauty!

I would be returning to the Earth what had stopped working: either she would take it back within herself and make it her own, or it would become a seed for something so new, it is even beyond imagining.

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Who else could hold it better than her? Who else could I surrender it to, but her that I come from?

"Making beauty is a choice"

Making beauty is a choice
in service of the immensity of love we feel—
we are

Warrior! focus on every breath—
every breath opening the door of gentleness before you

Sometimes you don't know how the design will complete itself

It is about trusting, holding what you are given close to your heart and walking

and the right flower shows up

Trusting the gentleness of your steps that are walking you forward—
in them is the strength you need to live this day

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"Summer Dreaming" by Catrin Welz-Stein

And then it is not enough to think about it.
You have to surrender. And that is the hardest part.
And all you have is your next breath, next step

and the power to make a choice
to listen to the voice from the other side of night

and then there will be a bird you can follow

A falling leaf will acknowledge you

A boat will open up in slab of stone before you

This the lesson I am learning, dear one. Each time grief shows up, your heart grows even wider.

It's the moment to choose deeper healing. It's the moment to choose conscious self-knowledge, vibrant self-love. It's time to turn to myself, to mystery, and to turn over a new leaf, or maybe a new lush forest!

Sliding Scale Divinations

gifts

Gift a divination to yourself or to a loved one during the holidays!

I offer divinations utilizing cowrie shells on cloth as well as voice divinations on an income-based sliding scale to ensure accessibility. Make an appointment, or email me if you have any questions!

Nature, Ritual, and Community with Malidoma Somé

On Saturday & Sunday Dec 5-6, Malidoma Somé will be sharing the wisdom of the Dagara ancestors and his people during a workshop at CIIS, San Francisco. The focus of the weekend will be on discovering how to create community, and learning the technology of ritual that activates the healing powers of nature.

Register here.

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"I am Rooted, but I Flow" by Blanca Cárcamo

Month of Giving

Many of you helped me get to (and came with me!) on my journey to Standing in Our Power—the visionary leadership retreat for women of color movement makers. Now the group has put out a call for contributions: would you help them generate resources that would carry their work forward?

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With that, this is

yours,

मोनिका \Monica

P.S.

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Monica Mody is a diviner, poet, facilitator of rituals and women's rites. She blends West African Dagara-inspired ways with the teachings of wisdom keepers and elders from earth-honoring traditions including the old religion/goddess traditions of her ancestors from India. Her work engages with radical decolonizing paradigms of co-creation.

For more information, visit www.artofdivinations.com | www.modymonica.com

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