our medicine bundles, taken with iPhone & applied Instagram app filter
My wee family is feeling the healing balm of Pixie’s medicine bundles she left for each of us during a visit last weekend. Pixie had asked me and Boho Boy to look at her shop and read through the medicine bundles to see which one we felt pulled to. I chose the Bear medicine bundle and he chose the Horse. I have had a few encounters with bears that felt surprisingly gentle and right now, in the midst of chaos, I am craving gentleness around me. The first encounter I had with a bear was while leading a night hike in the woods of Sonora with a group of 4th and 5th graders. We could see (and hear) a silhouette of a cub following us a few trees away and the mother protectively walking near. The other leaders were trying to hide their fear but I remember feeling a peace about that closeness. Almost as if the mama bear and I were communicating. Another time was when I was staying overnight in Yosemite and my friends and I were sitting around a campfire. A brown bear walked right through our campsite and brushed up against me and only me. Again, I didn’t feel afraid. I felt wildly comforted by its touch.
Pixie wasn’t surprised I felt drawn to the Bear medicine bundle…saying that I remind her of a nurturing mama bear, among other things. But when Boho Boy chose the Horse bundle, I was so curious what it was that drew him to it. He later shared with me that it was the spirit of his father that helped him decide to quit his day job and move to Washington. His father was always so clear and adamant about his boys following their dreams and not settling for a life of material things but rather living from the heart, even if that means humble surroundings. I think he did a lot of consulting with his father over this decision and whenever he gets afraid, he remembers what his father would say. Since his father has passed away, we’ve had the birth of our son, as well as this move to a place his father would SO approve of. I know at times like this, the grief can feel stronger than others. But since the Horse bundle has been near Boho Boy, I have seen parts of his creative soul surface that have been put aside for a long while. He has been inspired about getting back to woodworking and practicing much of what his father taught him.
So we are now giddily sharing ideas about furniture we’d like to make or re-finish. Dreams of trips to yard and estate sales or flea markets and filling our home with pieces transformed by our own hands. I have absolutely no doubt that Pixie’s bundles and the love, intention and thoughtfulness she put into them have so much to do with this shifting in our hearts. I make sure to place them in a room where we are while packing and Boho Boy plans to bring his Horse bundle with him on the road trip to Washington the first week of May. He will be driving the moving truck for about 4 days while Cedar and I fly out to be with the family for a few days. Then Cedar and I fly from Northern California into Seattle to meet Boho Boy and we will drive to our new home together for the first time.Cedar has a medicine bundle too…custom made…to help him through this transition. I so encourage you to look through her shop and see if your heart pulls you towards her gift, her medicine of the earth and animal.
Now, onto last week’s Sponsor GIVEaway.
To me, everyone is a winner for sharing such beautiful sentiments. But you know how it goes. So, here are the winners of the amazing gifts from the Guides of Serendipity Retreats. You will be contacted via email by the artist. Congrats!
Winner of Pixie Campbell’s “Call of the Wild” signed 8.5 x 11 fine art print:
Martha who wrote; “Serendipity is reading these beautiful words at just the right time – today – right now- my life is uncertain, a lot of comments that have been made are already in my heart. I am in transition and am so unsure but open and am listening to those whispers of those angels who have presented themselves to me – just as I was told that they would..my path is not clear and I am trying to live like the wolf , in the present, acutely aware, always alert to what may be presented to me – serendipity is my hope – and all these words and these posts bring it home to me and rest in my heart to show me that I am not alone on my path ….the wolf is an image that I need to remember in order to stay alive and be wild and free …”
Winner of a signed copy of Kate Inglis’s book The Dread Crew:
Renee who wrote:; “Balance…..I can never seem to get it on purpose, or keep it…..so it is rather serendipitous to me at this point in my life…..I am torn between the rocks and The Wild….but I choose The Wild as I need to leave fear behind and move forward into my future!!! xoxo”
Winner of McCabe Russell’s *Love*Listen*Trust* painted rocks:
Lianne Bremer who wrote: “Oh, how I long to be able to go to this retreat! I mean, you are my women! The wild women who are impassioned and real! I long to celebrate my innate power and beauty with all of you! Serendipity to me is when heaven and earth conspire to delight… and it happens often. To dance with the Mermaid, pick nettles with the Pixie, and loving create wonder with all of you.. that is what I am drawn to.”
Winner of Michelle Madden Smith’s Self Care/Mommy night in Kit:
Pamela G who wrote: “i was just sitting on my bed crying. crying because i’m stressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated. crying because everything seems to be going wrong. it’s been a series of unfortunate events. and no matter how many times i’ve reached out, i find nothing to grasp. . and it hurts so much inside to keep falling. i’ve barely picked myself up and made my way over to the window up here on the third floor, overlooking the street with the castle in view (a church down the road) and the tower from the fire station when i felt a light go on over my shoulder. it was my screensaver on my laptop. it turned itself off and the screen was open on my email page. realizing i had several to respond to, i just sat there, numb and overwhelmed. thought to myself, i need to read some calming words, where is the best place i can find that. so i came here, denise… and saw your most recent post. now i think that is serendipity. i could not only use the self care kit, but a hug. someone to hold ME and tell me everything is going to be ok…”
