All posts by Mary Gaetjens

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The Conscious activist

James O’Dea wrote many beautiful books. The Conscious Activist is one of them.

In these times it’s easy for me to feel helpless. We’re in the midst of a world-wide pandemic and I’ve been wondering what can I do? The simplest answer came today – what I’m good at.

I’m good at holding space for people if they need support and I’m good at seeing the whole picture.

Sometimes I like to get political. Today is not that day. I’ve my own set of beliefs forming around what’s really happening and am attracted to the information I’m attracted to for that basis, and swimming in those waters is not doing me any good right now.

What is doing me good is listening to the messages of the Elders, especially those I work closely with and today, I’d like to share the words of an Irish Elder, of which I’m happy to have two of in my life.

Here’s the paragraph in Jame’s book I’m working with today:

“Yes, we must work on ourselves and face the suffering of this world. We must hold fast to goals that serve to end the suffering of others and be supple about the means we employ to reach those goals. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, “It’s not enough to be compassionate, one must act” and we must learn to act from the insight gained from the depths of compassion. “

The other Irish Elder that has been a guiding light in my life is Derek O’Neill. Here’s a great place to start with his teachings.

Lakota Wisdom

The Heart of Everything That Is

From this post

For more information link here

We spent time in what is known to most westerners as the Black Hills, but known to the Lakota as Paha Sapa, The Heart of Everything That Is last summer.

Recently, satellites at the Eros Data Center, near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, photographed Paha Sapa from above. When the pictures were developed, scientists were shocked to learn that the Black Hills were the exact shape of the human heart. You could even see the chambers, veins, and arteries.

This finding gives new meaning to the statements of Lakota elders, the guardians of Paha Sapa, who’ve said all along that Paha Sapa is the heart of all there is. One might wonder how the ancients knew what the land looked like from above before the advent of airplanes. Ben First Eagle, who lives in the center of Paha Sapa, says that mystics had ways of seeing that are in the realm of the unbelievable. But, for the average person, this scientific data confirms the stories they were told.

For more information  about our Summer Recorrido Link Here

 

 

 

 

Ruminations

Dreaming

It’s so great to get out of the Bay Area and have wide open space around us. We’ve been camping near Red Rock Canyon in Nevada for about a week. It’s incredible – the strata of gold red blue and green is visible for miles. A painters dream. We’ve been falling asleep looking at the stars every night. It’s so peaceful and rejuvenating to be close to nature.

Ruminations

In Wonderland

This month’s full moon is in Uranus – the planet of FREEDOM – freedom and change get me jazzed more then anything else and this month has been about rapid change, surprises, revelations and revolutions, and like Alice, who knew who she was this morning, but has changed a few times since then, I’ve whipped out the keys to the costume closet and am exclusively wearing my super-hero uniform to be ready anytime for what’s in the stars – a greater alignment with even more consciousness about what we’re capable of (as a species) from here on out –Can you feel it? Have you been riding the waves this month? Surf or be surfed. Surrender is recommended. 

Integral Therapy

Blue Bliss

 

I just added a new item to my store. It’s oil for the face and it’s absolutely divine. I can’t stop smiling or using it. It’s blue because I’ve used BLUE YARROW in it. 

An online search revealed this site where I learned more about this wonderful essential oil and where you can purchase it. 

Deep Blue Yarrow, Achillea millefolium 

  • Blood Tonic, Stimulates Circulation: Yarrow relaxes the peripheral blood vessels, improves blood flow. Assists with digestive and urinary problems.
  • Promotes Sweating, Lowers Fevers: Chest rub for flu with Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Hyssop or Thyme.
  • Anti-Phlogistic, Anti-Inflammatory, AntiAllergenic. Helps with allergic mucous, heals skin; reduces pain.
  • Good for PMS & Menopause: For muscle cramps (dysmenorrhea): 2 parts Yarrow, 1 part Mint.
  • Meditation Bridge for Expanded Awareness: The Meeting of Heaven & Earth. Use Yarrow with Amethyst.
  • Blends With: Melissa, Hyssop. Yarrow is expensive. Use tiny amount in blends.

Energetic Benefits: Blue Yarrow opens the heart chakra and moves through the core, opening all the chakras and flowing all along the nerve channels, healing the nerves.

Energetic Index: Etheric Heart, Nerve Strengthening

 

 

Ruminations

Equinox Blessings

 

Happy Equinox!

I’ve been living in California for 20 years, so I’ve not experienced a harsh winter for two decades. The promise of relief from a hard winter is symbolic and mystical for me, just as it’s been for witches, sages and mages since time began.  The logic ignites the magic. Equinox is a time when the shadow and light are in perfect balance. Today we celebrate balance – the exact balance between the Light and Darkness.

That said, it’s a wintery day here in Northern California which is cause for celebration – it’s raining and when it rains it’s like gold pouring from the sky. It’s a beautiful day. These are from my backyard –  

The Kogi, Arhuaco and Wiwa mamos and zagas (medicine men and women) I’ve been blessed to work with in the Sierra Nevada of Colombia see balance as the basis of my energetic skill sit, so today is my birthday. It’s a big one! I’ll be 50 this year by Gregorian Calendar accounting. Happy Birthday to me!

 

Ika, Kankuamos, Kogis, Ruminations, Wiwas

New Beginnings

We’re between the new and first quarter moon, astrologically  that means it’s a good time for new beginnings and my husband and I are selling our loft (which we lived in, used as a photography, rented and used as a yoga studio since our arrival in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998. It goes on the market in April and we’re leaving soon to go on the road in what will ultimately be an adventure all across the country. 

Ruminations

Orchids

In our weekly group meditation Ginny brought through many gifts as always – this time, including a message from the plant kingdom, particularly the orchids – They wanted us to know why they are here, on the planet:

To teach us how to live in community and collaborate

 

 

 

 

 

To teach us how how to live more simply 

 

 

 

 

To make us aware of the beauty and grace in our lives

 

 

 

 

Haiti, My Book

Exciting New Review

What a thrill to see this beautiful review of my book today on Barnes and Noble! 

This is a book like no other I have read. It unites into an inspiring, cohesive and poetic whole a diversity of themes, experiences, information and emotions. Mary is a vulnerable yet confident, vibrant and, above all, heart-and-soul guide through her unusual life and her story of tragic loss and ultimate redemption. Readers of this book will not only be deeply moved, but learn more than they can imagine. 

Thanks so much whoever you are!

 

Haiti, My Book

Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my father’s 97th birthday. I miss him so much. I used to feel like I was going nowhere trying to complete a mission he left unfinished when he was killed in 1990. Today I realize that publishing my book and working with Sister Dona  and Neite Decimus is not just following in his footsteps it’s giving me a reason to get up in the morning. My dad had a school in Haiti too. It’s been 27 years since he died. Will you help me honor him and his life’s work and support our collective work by making a tax deductible donation of $27 or $270 to help us re-open Sister Dona’s school? 100 homeless children are waiting to get an education, a bed and a meal.

The earthquake, the hurricane and Sister Dona’s political imprisonment left the school devastated and in nearly condemned condition. We need $10,000 for repairs, urgently. We’ll send you a book and/or some beautiful music as a thank you. We have a lot against us, but we are keeping our candles lit. We may be swimming upstream, but we are moving forward. Will you link here to help? Please, take a moment to make a change that will last a lifetime. Thanks so much.