Eve Soldinger's Blog
October 23, 2011
Some 21 years ago I read an article on Chinese Medicine that contained a sentence that rang true for me: "the most important thing for healing is the relationship between the practitioner, the spirits, and the patient". Since then I have pondered this statement and its meaning. How do we know the Spirit in ourselves? How do we recognize this in another human being? Having been a student of Chinese Medicine since 1983, I am doubtless that the Spirit, whether we define it in terms of Chinese Medical terms such as Shen, Po, and Hun, or just as Spirit is always the main issue in healing.
I was fortunate in 1997 to begin studying with a Mayan Elder in Guatemala, going to sacred sites and discovering the transformational power of ceremony. It was in this setting outside the intellectual pursuits in the classroom that I found my own relationship to Nature, the Elements, and Spirit. I observed the connection and respect that this teacher had toward all things. In the first days we were together I noticed that he would make a small noise and butterflies would swarm around him. While some might consider this a trick, he wasn't performing. In fact, I think it was a moment when he was off to himself, feeling unobserved. As with many indigenous holy people he carries a knowledge that can't be taught but can be learned. And this knowledge is about Spirit.
Within Chinese Medicine, there is something called the Ling. Ling is represented by the radical for 2 female Shamans, above them is a radical with three open mouths, and above that 4 drops of rain. This making of rain requires an actively engaged relationship with nature, using prayer and song to enjoy the nature's grace and generosity. This remains the practice of shamans throughout the world to sing their relationship with all that moves and grants life. The general Chinese Medical interpretation is that Ling is the Yin aspect of the Shen. But, there is an active, prayerful, mysterious, spiritual and deep relationship here. This aspect of Chinese Medicine is the part that transforms us as we transform our sacred relationship with all things.
In Harnessing the Ling, a series of 5 workshops for each of the elements, I hope to recreate the possibility for practitioners, and anyone interested, to have personal and spiritual openings so we can all live within the power of this medicine. There is an energetic for each element that we need to tap into not from a diagnostic level but from the place of being informed by the spirit of the element. We will be as the 2 shamans, creating sacred space, meditating, learning qigong, and journeying to the spirits of the elements to discover our inner landscape. We will learn to perceive and relate to the elements as something tangible and alive worthy of attention and respect. And we will find there is the possibility of developing as a sacred relationship. This will empower each participant on their individual journey, as well as the work.
As we awaken to this energy, there will be a practical component of how to incorporate the acquired knowledge into strategies of transformation in daily life and as practitioners in the treatment room.
The first workshop will be on the Water element. Water brings movement, flexibility, force, intensity, rest, unpredictability, renewal, and depth. We will know Water - the source of life.
This first workshop will be held January 21-22 at Gaia Healing Center, 8002 B Dolly Hyde Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771. For driving directions be sure to go to their web site at www.gaiahealing.com. The typical mapquest does not work well. The stewards of the land request that we carpool if possible. Any information on participants close by will be made only with permission. It will start at 9 and will continue until 5:15 each day. There is the possibility of staying on the grounds in dorm rooms for an extra charge. We will be providing simple vegetarian lunches there, so if there are dietary issues please be sure to note this when registering. To register please send a note in the contact me form. Payment can be made on the evesoldinger.com or the sacredintuitivehealing.com web sites.
The cost of the weekend will be $300. for practitioners. For students there will be a fee reduction to $225.
You do not have to take all 5 classes to participate. The second weekend on wood is currently planned for the last weekend of April.
A total of 13 PDAs have been granted by NCCAOM.
While attending shamanic workshops at Findhorn in Scotland, I appreciated the chance to live onsite for a week and to partake of the consecrated atmosphere they have cultivated over many decades. Yet, I found myself in similar sacred consciousness during Eve's classes on the Shamanic Approach to Energy Work. It was easy to remain in a deep state of connection to the divine mysteries. Eve offers a graceful balance between teaching content from her vast expert knowledge, nurturing the engagement of each participant, and intuitive facilitation, allowing Spirit to enter fully. L.B., Edmonds, WA
You do not have to take all 5 classes to participate. The second weekend on wood is currently planned for the last weekend of April.
A total of 13 PDAs have been granted by NCCAOM.
While attending shamanic workshops at Findhorn in Scotland, I appreciated the chance to live onsite for a week and to partake of the consecrated atmosphere they have cultivated over many decades. Yet, I found myself in similar sacred consciousness during Eve's classes on the Shamanic Approach to Energy Work. It was easy to remain in a deep state of connection to the divine mysteries. Eve offers a graceful balance between teaching content from her vast expert knowledge, nurturing the engagement of each participant, and intuitive facilitation, allowing Spirit to enter fully. L.B., Edmonds, WA
November 27, 2010
The air has a chill in the mornings now. I have gone from wearing the comfortable jackets, light shoes, and an occasional scarf to having a down coat, boots and a hat. And though I do have to bundle up to take a walk, it is still worth the effort. Knowing the elements and having a relationship with the elements is a natural part of living. Taking my walk today I noticed almost all of the leaves have fallen from the trees, but there are still a few that remain bright and glorious as we journey into the winter.
Staying in balance with the seasons is as natural as knowing what clothing to wear. In Chinese medicine, understanding the movement and flow in nature mirrors the changes that each of us experiences and feels as we move season to season. Just as the quiet, stillness and calm of the winter months give a sense of rest and rejuvenation for the cycle of all plant growth; we also need more rest now. Sleep that extra couple of hours as often as you can.
In our extremely busy culture we don't exactly have a notion of hibernation, but I think that it is interesting that we do have a week when many of us take the time off between Christmas and New Years to do our version of hibernation spending time at home with our families. Try to add in reflective, quiet blocks of time during that week.
We also eat foods reflecting the needs of bodies during the cold months. While fresh salads in the summer months are natural to eat, in the winter enjoy eating warming foods such as hearty soups and stews. Take advantage of the root vegetables, squashes, beans and grains. Remember to drink warm drinks at this time.
Continue to take your outdoor walks. When winter storms prevent outdoor activities try other forms of exercise. Sign up for a tai chi or qigong class. Get back into a yoga routine or try it for the first time. These exercise forms are restorative and nourishing to the body. Also think about getting acupuncture to support your energy at this time.
Realize that winter's movement is an inner journey. Allow yourself some time to go in and imagine what it is that you truly desire next in your life. And in the midst of it all experience your own sense of self, where you have been, who you are at this moment and feel an appreciation for all of it.