Wise Woman
Wisdom ...
The Sacred
Feminine & The Village of OurSelves:
Enhanced Communication within our Inner Family
by Ellen Weaver
We are each rich, multifaceted beings,
a whole village or family of selves, of different
ages, and with varying degrees of health and well
being. Some are frightened, some strong, some intensely
creative-- some are stuck in past moments of trauma
or have taken on traits of important others in our
lives, especially from childhood. And there are adult
selves eager to bring our whole Self fully forth into
the life experiences we took birth for.
Connecting with the Divine Feminine
in any of Her forms or manifestations invites the
alignment, harmony and aliveness we need for this
work. The workshop on May 16th will be a day of recognizing
our inner selves without blame or judgment, forming
networks & alliances with ourSelves and the Sacred
Feminine, and attending to building a healthy sanctuary
space around our whole "village".
One way of growing and healing is to
meet, honor and assist these inner villagers, make
sure they know one another, and help them learn to
work together. We may not always like who shows up.
However, when we stop, breathe, and offer them "a
place at our table", the healing begins.
Through imagery, experiential exercises,
sound, movement and teaming up with guides and allies,
we will connect with who we are as "a village
of selves". Our day together will help us attune
to the largest places within us, and enhance our abilities
to be in clarity, compassion, generosity and authenticity.
What I call "the Village of OurSelves"
has its roots in my training with Jean Houston that
began in 1986, in work with ES Gallegos and Deep Imagery
that I've been developing for 13 years, and in studies
with Richard Schwartz and Internal Family Systems.
Inviting the Sacred Feminine and the allies we may
need in the moment, (animal, plant, angelic, archetypal,
ancestral) to work with the different aspects of ourselves,
and helping them heal and integrate has been a major
aspect of my work.
There are protectors within us who need
to be part of the healing team and need transforming
work of their own. They were usually pressed into
service during extreme times in childhood, and have
hardened into roles that can more usefully be expanded,
softened, and sometimes altered radically.
People experience great happiness when
an exiled part of themselves is redeemed, when parts
of ourselves are released from bondage and oppression,
and when other "villagers" are able to off-load
their hardened layers. There is not only the joy of
feeling this part of themselves in new and happy circumstances,
but also in being relieved of the weight and pain
this part was formerly exuding into our systems.
We are meant to have a well-functioning
internal family even if we didn't have good models
for it growing up--even if we weren't able to provide
good modeling as parents raising our own families.
We have the opportunity now to bring healing to the
parts that need help, co-create healthy environments
with them, and step by step, integrate. Aligning ourselves
with the greatest healing and spaciousness available
through the divine feminine provides many bridges,
openings, and possibilities.
We also need to be strengthening and
rebuilding torn places in the sacred boundary at the
edge of our "village"--i.e. the far edge
of our energy field. "Good fences make good neighbors;"
--it is important to have a good container for our
village with gates in our fence through which we can
choose to say "yes"
or "no" to whatever is knocking. Without
the boundary, everything comes in, and before we've
noticed, things or people have taken root--and it
may not be what we wanted to plant and tend and grow.
.
Every part of us deserves a good life. And when more
of ourself is operating within a healthy system, there
is much more energy available for following through
with our life dreams and plans. Guarding our exiles
takes a lot of energy. Experiencing, even subliminally,
the darkened places within us is confusing and constricting.
Shining light gently into darkened spaces, placing
lovingly what we find there on the altars of divine
presence, and into the center of our village co-op,
really helps.
Ellen Weaver, CSW-R, MTh is
Director of MotherTree
in Woodstock, NY. She is a body-centered psychotherapist,
spiritual counselor, mentor, teacher and healer. She
has taught at Omega, the Benedictine Health Foundation
and many other settings.
Wise Woman Center -- Workshops
for Women
Join us this year for spirit healing and herbal
medicine workshops, intensives,
and apprenticeships
with Susun Weed and other Wise
Woman teachers. The Wise Woman Center in Woodstock
NY exists to re-weave the healing cloak of the Ancients.
This land, this sacred sanctuary for women is a place
for the teachings of the Wise Woman way. The Goddess
lives here, as do goats, fairies, green witches, and
elders. Located between Woodstock and Saugerties,
5 miles from the NYS Thruway, the Wise Woman Center
is easily accessible while private enough for nude
swimming. You'll receive a map and directions when
you register. Nourishing wild-food vegetarian meals
are included with all workshops.
See the Calendar
of Events & Workshop schedule (and to register)
for this year, click here.