Wise Woman Ezine with herbalist Susun Weed
March 2008
Volume 8 Number 3
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What's Inside Wise Woman Herbal Ezine this Month...

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The Goddess Speaks ...
More Bird Vibes..
by Catherine Bastedo



More Bird Vibes:
Birds, our Spiritual Guides

by Catherine Bastedo
author of the Bird Vibes meditation deck

What do birds mean for healers, energy workers, and nature lovers? The answer is different for each person—certainly the energy of nature, The Art of Suzanne Grayand particularly birds, can teach us a great deal and help us if we just pay attention, remain open, and are willing to use all our senses to learn.Have you ever felt a special moment with a bird—listening to a Robin’s early morning serenade, watching an Osprey dive into the river, or nurturing a fledgling fallen from its nest? The flight of birds reminds us of our Higher Self and brings us closer to another dimension; birdsong soothes our soul.

I love watching birds, from the large birds like the Pileated Woodpeckers, Common Ravens, and different species of hawks that fly into my yard from the nearby Gatineau hills, to the Goldfinches and Northern Cardinals that enjoy the sunflower seeds in our feeder. And birds have often inspired me. In fact, I have had so many unusual experiences with birds that last spring I decided to develop a meditation deck called Bird Vibes, with messages based on the chakras and fifty different birds. The Snowy Owl became the symbol of my deck, and represents the eighth chakra. If you have ever seen the thrilling sight of a Snowy Owl swooping low over the bare winter fields, with its powerful wings outstretched in a span of over five feet, you will know why I took this magnificent bird to represent the Eighth, or Crown Chakra, and the idea that all things are possible.

To my delight, these cards are flying out with their messages and bringing nature to people when they cannot or do not have the time to go out. Some people tell me that they draw a card each morning and study the message; a friend undergoing treatment for breast cancer placed the card of the Very, with its message of hope, in a conspicuous place where it would encourage her each day. Yesterday I was drawn to pay an unexpected visit to a dear relative who is 90, and found her sitting at her desk with Bird Vibes sorted into various piles, studying the messages. She loves birds, and told me that she looked at her Bird Vibes cards whenever she felt a little low.

Pictures and representations of birds can bring joy in the winter months – a little like pouring over seed catalogues on a cold January day! But spring is almost upon us, and while many local birds are now enjoying warmer climates, they’ll soon be back. I watch for the first Robins at the end of March—I’ve noted that each year it seems to be a couple of days earlier—although looking at the four feet of snow in my back yard, it’s a challenge to think of Robins out there, looking for worms. The Red-winged Blackbird is another harbinger of spring here, as are the Purple Finches that stay for the winter, but sing far more lustily at the end of March.

With the spring migration, it’s fun to watch for the birds that don’t normally stay in the area—in Gatineau, a few are the White-crowned Sparrows; Merlins, formerly known as Pigeon Hawks, who follow the migration of the song birds; terns and Snow Geese. What an awesome sight it is to see dazzling white Snow Geese flying in formation overhead, on their way north.

Sometimes, you may notice a bird exhibiting unusual and striking behaviour—an eagle on your city balcony, a raven that doesn’t leave your yard, birds that nest in unusual places, or an injured bird that seeks help. When this happens, pay special attention and consider whether this bird might be bringing you an important message—an owl may be reminding you to take a decision; a bluebird may be telling you to enjoy life a little more, to look on the positive side, and a woodpecker may be telling you to tackle something head on, and to get rid of the deadwood in your life. So when you take your next walk or sit down to meditate about nature, notice what birds appear, and be open to the insight and spiritual guidance of “bird vibes”.


Catherine Bastedo, author of Bird Vibes, holds a master’s degree in Canadian Studies from Carleton University, is certified as a Reiki Master and Holographic Energy Master, and has been practicing Reiki since 1998. She is a natural intuitive and offers individual sessions and Holograhic Reiki classes in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Québec. She is presently working on a collection of Bird Vibes stories and welcomes all stories of special encounters with birds – please send them to her at . info@visionreiki.com

Catherine Bastedo now teaches a Chakra Basics Class


Bird Vibes

Spiritual Insight Through Birds

Treat yourself to this new meditation deck!
• Receive positive, uplifting messages about current life situations and meditation paths
• Gain spiritual insight from the text on each card
• Learn more about the 8 chakras
• Discover interesting facts about 50 birds of North America
• Enjoy the 54 beautiful and unique paintings of birds and the four seasons

 

Bird Vibes is based on 54 birds that may be seen in various parts of North America, grouped by eight chakras according to the bird's colour, habitat or other characteristics.Each card shows a different bird through paintings commissioned from Ottawa nature painter, Heather Bale. Use this deck to gain insight into current life situations, to connect with Nature, and the Universal Life Energy around us and within us.


Price:
$29.95

“Bird Vibes has become my deck of choice with my
readings lately and I find people are so empowered by them. Thanks for
your double creativity!”


Julie Desmarais, Holographic Energy Master, Reiki Master Teacher Trainer


Order Bird Vibes in our Bookshop

 


Chakra Basics Class
taught by Mentor: Catherine Bastedo

This class provides you with a basic knowledge of 7 chakras, from Crown to Root; facilitates your connection to your chakras and understanding of your chakras’ health; provides suggestions for ways of chakra clearing.

This class will help you learn the location of your seven major chakras and their attributes, as well as the state of health of your own chakras and how they affect your emotional and physical health. You will learn how to sense your chakras, connect with them and techniques for clearing them, through quick exercises and assignments. Since this is a “Basics” class, it emphasizes the attributes of the chakras, and ideas for clearing them and aligning them, without going into specialized therapies such as crystals or aromatherapy.

Price: $49.95

Sign up for this Class

About the Mentor:  Catherine Bastedo teaches Usui-Holographic Reiki at all levels, facilitates healing through energy sessions, and holds spiritual nature workshops and retreats. She is the author of Bird Vibes, a meditation deck based on the chakras and our spiritual connections to birds.  This deck helps to understand daily life situations and deepen our connection with the universal energy in us and around us.  Catherine is a Reiki Master and Holographic Energy Master, and has a M.A. in Canadian Studies (Carleton University). 

Catherine held leadership roles as an executive in the Canadian Public Service and then as the Executive Director of the International Council for Canadian Studies for a number of years. Catherine Bastedo uses archetypes, myth and nature totems to help people reduce stress, release and transmute old patterns, restore balance on the physical, mental, and emotional levels and develop new ways of looking at life and the patterns in their lives.  Her clients appreciate the wisdom, experience and love of nature she brings to her work.


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INDEX | HEALING WISE | MOTHER & CHILD | WISDOMKEEPERS | EMPOWER YOURSELF
WISE WOMAN WISDOM | ANTI-CANCER LIFESTYLE | GRANDMOTHER GAIA | FEATURED LINKS