posted January 05, 2021 06:19 AM            

I hope some others out here in LaLaLand can benefit from this at least as much as I do... perhaps I’ll share some answers one day.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
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Renewal of Creative Path​​

Step 1: Review of Good Medicine (ecology of our relationships)

In nature, a healthy ecosystem thrives when all the relationships between the different components (animals/plants, water, soils, etc.) are in balance. When one part is unhealthy it affects the overall performance of the entire ecosystem. This is also true for our relationships. Our relationships play such a vital role in the quality of our life. When our relations are healthy, the now and future seems brighter.

In this section, we want to look at the ecology of our relationships. Look at the state of your relationships with each of the following: nature, self, God (if you are a believer), family (parents, kids, siblings, etc.), and other people in your life.

A) On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) how is your relationship with Nature?
-Go back in those moments and Identify times from your life when you have felt very connected to nature.
​-What activities have made you feel connected to nature?
​-What places do you feel connected to nature?
​-What things help you feel connected to nature?
​-Are there certain processes that help you feel connected to nature?
Is their a certain story or feeling that comes to mind? Write it down. Capture details of the moments- where were you? Who were you with? How old were you? Any smells or sounds in the air? Relive it.

B) On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) how is your relationship with Self?
-Go back in those moments and Identify times from your life when you have felt very connected to your self.
​-What activities have made you feel connected to your self?
​-What places do you feel connected to who you are?
​-What things help you feel connected to self?
​-Are there certain processes that help you feel connected to your self?
Is their a certain story or feeling that comes to mind? Write it down. Capture details of the moments- where were you? Who were you with? How old were you? Any smells or sounds in the air? Relive it.

C) On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) how is your relationship with People (family, friends,
And others)?
-Go back in those moments and Identify times from your life when you have felt very connected to other people.
​-What activities have made you feel connected to people?
​-What places do you feel connected to people?
​-What things help you feel connected to people?
​-Are there certain processes that help you feel connected to people?
Is their a certain story or feeling that comes to mind? Write it down. Capture details of the moments- where were you? Who were you with? How old were you? Any smells or sounds in the air? Relive it.


D) On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) how is your relationship with God?
-Go back in those moments and Identify times from your life when you have felt very connected to God.
​-What activities have made you feel connected to God?
​-What places do you feel connected to God?
​-What things help you feel connected to God?
​-Are there certain processes that help you feel connected to God?
Is their a certain story or feeling that comes to mind? Write it down. Capture details of the moments- where were you? Who were you with? How old were you? Any smells or sounds in the air? Relive it.

E) Review the scales you gave above (1-10), what has kept it from being higher?

Sacred Questions-
-What do all these events have in common? Is there a pattern?
-What things do we take away from these experiences in terms of values, commitments, or
Ways we can add to the quality of our personal, family and community relations?
-What would you like to see more of in your life going forward?




Pair share: Tell the story of these things to someone you love, to a Sacred Fire or to your own personal journal. Take turns sharing stories of the Good Medicine in your lives. Feel free to use your wrap (from above) to start the conversation. Look at “ah ha” moments you had or disturbing trends.

Step 2: Back-tracking the Stepping Stones of our Visions & Gifts

Many people love to climb mountains, sit and take in the grand vistas, contemplating life and getting perspective in the wonder of it all. It has fed many souls. Metaphorically, climb the mountain and look back over your life. Track the key moments that have helped shape your life (both positive and negative, comfortable and uncomfortable, etc). Collectively, they seem to point towards our purpose in life. In some ways they are like layers of wood on a tree that make it so strong.

One of our mentors (Jon Young) shared what Tom Brown Jr. said to him over thirty years ago-

“There are times in your life when you feel like events taking place are like a stepping stone on the path of your vision. When you stand on one of these stones, you can see the other events from your past that are also stepping-stones. Look back on your life, the stones of your vision light up in a path all the way to your birth, and beyond. When you look forward in your life you can see these stones leading beyond your life into the future.”

These are moments of elevated consciousness where we have seen the truly sacred things about our lives. We are connected in these moments to our ancestors and to the unborn generations, at the very least, seven back and seven forward. This is about our vision and mission in this world—yet there are rarely tangible “instructions” in these moments. It is more of a feeling or creative force moving through us.

When you first take the time to do this reflection, you may have trouble recalling any such landmark memories. Sometimes you have to review this process a few times before things start to bubble to the surface. Trust the process. We are all born with an internal sense or compass of our path, whether we give it power or not. For some folks, this sense may feel as if it is hibernating and needs to be awakened. This internal compass is part of our birthright; it is part of our natural intelligence. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you have these memories or not. Just think of things that form a pattern in your life. If you do, make note of them.

1. Take some time to write down “stepping stones” from your life (from birth to this moment)




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2. Sacred Questions:
a. What patterns am I learning from this? 

b. What is it teaching me? 

c. How is it helping me?
d. How is it helping me to help others?
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Pair Share: Share your discoveries with another.





Step 3: Tracking Patterns of Synchronicity & the Help of Nature

Synchronicity is when two or more events seem meaningfully related. Synchronicities happen to us all the time. Some examples: when we are thinking of an old friend, and they call on the phone; when we are having a hard time, and we meet just the right person who can help us; when we are thinking about something and a hawk flies right in front of us. Many past participants have said “synchronicities feel like a gift of confirmation from the universe, that we are at the right place at the right time.” Sometimes it may feel that we have dreamt of this moment before, kind of like déjà vu. Nature is constantly reaching out, beckoning us to pay attention to the deeper realm. They remind us that something bigger is at play, and that the force of creation is behind us.

1. When have you experienced synchronicity in your life?
2. What dream patterns (recurring dreams, vivid dreams, dreams that have later come true in waking life, etc.) have you had in your life or lately? 
Any idea of what it meant?
3. What connections to animals have you had again and again? Any idea of what it was teaching you?




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Sacred Questions:

4. What is happening here with synchronicity?
5. What patterns am I learning from this?
6. What is this pattern of synchronicity teaching me? How is it helping me?
7. How is it helping me to help others?



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Pair share: Again, share these stories with one another, or with a Sacred Fire or your journal. Who in your family or friend circle have you shared these stories with before? How were they received?

Step 4: Embracing Your Personal Gifts

Every being on earth has an original instruction and a gift for the world. In nature, plants and animals perform vital functions to the overall ecosystem’s health. These gifts are essential to the individual and the greater community.

We are all blessed with our own set of gifts that are unique to us. They offer us crucial support to live out our purpose and vision in this life. When we recognize them and honor them, they give us great leverage to live the life we want and deserve. If more people embraced their gifts, humanity would hum at a higher level, and happiness would abound.

Many wisdom keepers, around the world, remind us that we are often unaware of our own gifts. Thus we need others. Awareness of some of your gifts may have come from your aunt, or grandma, your uncle or neighbor, a co-worker, a friend or lover, a child or even a stranger. This person may have noticed patterns in you, your work, your conduct and other ways you express yourself. Try to remember back to these, as they hold great power for your life.

Beware that you may not like some of your gifts right now. Yet, when you activate them, you find that they help your family, friends and communities to shine brighter. There are probably patterns to this phenomenon in each of our lives. Reflect on this with your journal,

Gift Inventory

1. What have people always told you about your own personal gifts, talents and creative powers?
2. What gifts do you see in yourself?
3. What do you tend to be naturally good at, or drawn to in life?
4. What gift do you believe you have right now that you don’t really like?
5. What will help us bring our gifts to the community? What needs to be empowered?


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6. Sacred Questions:
a. How does this support your life?
b. What patterns am I learning from this? 

c. What is this teaching me? 

d. How is this helping me?
e. How is this helping me to help others?


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Get your Pair share on

Step 5: Obstacles on the Journey

In our path of life, we are blessed with so much. If one pauses, so much sacredness seems to be afoot. And yet, as we move along in our life, challenges or obstacles seem to rear their head and force us to pay attention. Some wisdom keepers say, “The obstacle is the way”. They are teachers in the path.

Grief is often one thing that blocks us from fully living. Wounds, bad habits, limiting beliefs are all a part of this as well. And there are others. It is often the unconscious ones that are the most influential. Some of these obstacles may be self-limiting patterns of our own minds, habits and emotions. Some people feel that they don’t deserve this or that. When they really do deserve it. They believe they are not good enough. Or believe that they will never experience happiness. Maybe you lived in a place that had no access to nature at times when you felt you needed this, or maybe your life commitments prevented this kind of quality time to occur.

1. What in the past has created obstacles to fully living, experiencing, remembering or celebrating life? Do a brainstorm list on this.
Next-
Write down your top five limiting beliefs and obstacles. Be specific, especially as it relates to your dreams and aspirations. Place a checkmark next to the ones you are willing to give up, or at least reconsider.

2. How are they showing up in your life now? How can you address the ones that you want to change and be free of?

3. Make a list of three areas where you need clarity. Where do you need to get clear about what you want?



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4. Sacred Questions:
a. What patterns am I learning from this?
b. What is it teaching me?

c. How is it helping me?

d. How is it helping me to help others?

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Pair Share

Step 6: Releasing Expectations & Offering Forgiveness

We all carry expectations from our past, other people, ancestors, culture, and ourselves with us into this present moment. Often they don’t support our highest self or highest good. These expectations have created a lot of confusion and unrest, muddying the water. Often they are another’s wishes and don’t align with what we truly need.

1. Expectations
a. Make a list of expectations you feel others (friends, partners, employee’s, etc.) place on you.
b. What expectations do you feel our culture places on you?
c. What expectations do you place on yourself? What expectations do you place on others? What is the source of all this? Is it fair?

2. Forgiving
To move forward in our life, it is helpful to recognize the expectations for what they are, and release them. We don’t need to claim them as our own any more! It is important to forgive others for not knowing what is true for our spiritual journeys. It is important to forgive ourselves for all the expectations we carry. By forgiving, we release the energy and become free to be who we truly are. We must start the healing with ourselves.

A. Who do you need to release/forgive?
B. What cultural expectations do you need to forgive?
C. What do you need to forgive in yourself?
D. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for, but weren’t?

3. Sacred Questions:
A. What patterns am I / we learning from this? 

B. What is it teaching me? 

C. How is it helping me?
D. How is it helping me to help others?
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Step 7: Weaving the Ideal Scene

We all have our own ideal scene that we can envision for our life. Imagine your life forward from this moment is a blank canvas. You are an artist, co-creating this life. There are no real rules. Some of the above questions may have shed a little more light on what you need in your life and how you want to live it. We all have our own personal style, remain true to it.

We all are geniuses emerging. Dream as if you couldn’t fail.

For the below questions, let it flow, write vigorously and passionately. Really believe it is all-possible.

1. What are some patterns or things you learned that you want to highlight going forward in life?

2. We all have our own personal style- how we dress, how we like our house, the friends we keep, what we like to read, what styles are you drawn to in many areas of your life, etc. Try to identify your own personal style? Who are you- how do you like things?

3. What are you doing when you are at your best and happiest?

4. What is your ideal environment?

5. Really identify what is your ideal dream life. Describe where you want to live—the environment, the kind of ecosystems, the plants and animals, the people in your lives, the village or larger community patterns you wish to experience and / or participate in.

6. Describe your ideal day or days in a week, a month, and the four seasons—what activities are you involved in for work, fun, renewal, love, family, friends and community?

7. Who do you need to cheer you along and help keep you centered on your ideal scene?

8. For your ideal scene, capture the essence of what it is you want? The type of energy (relaxed, charged, timeless, etc.) you want to live it with? How do you want to exist?

What do you really need to pull this off?

For your ideal scene, look at what are essential indispensible elements, and what would be nice but is dispensable.

Just paint a picture!

Sacred Questions: