Winter Solstice Transmission (2021)

The Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year and the beginning of our ascent into light. Today as I breathe and pray, I reflect on all that has transpired and inspired me over the past year.  

During the last Winter Solstice, we gathered at Spiral Dance Ranch with our prayers and intentions for food sovereignty. We planted 21 fruit trees for ourselves and the future generations. Aho!

In January of 2021, we held our first tipi ceremony. I now see how the tipi ceremony’s medicine has opened my heart in ways I never imagined.  “This is how we come together in community.”  It has been a re-membering.  I am forever grateful.  ‘Its like that’.

In May of 2021, we kicked off our first SHIP initiation on the land!   I am continuously astonished by these five initiations’ healing and transformational power (Spiral Path, Family of Origin, Shadow, Inner Beloved, Soul Purpose). I am falling deeper in love with my spiral path. Four complete and one to go!  January of 2022, Air, here we come! I am inspired and excited for SHIP 2022! 

In August of 2021, I returned to The Temple of the Way of Light in Peru.   In a safe container, with the ancient technology of the Shipibo healers, I sit with Mother Ayahuasca.  I experience a homecoming into myself and my infinite concern. ‘Thank you Divine Mother, thank you Divine Father.’

In September of 2021, with the community’s help, we built our Sweat Lodge, Ke-ti-ya (sacred waters).  We are learning the ways of purification and prayer.  We are dreaming into a monthly community sweat for 2022!  Fuego, Fuego, Fuego!

In November of 2021, when asked to write a chapter for a book inspired by my teacher Linda Starwolf!  I say yes!  Way out of my comfort zone and surprisingly enjoying writing.  That is what inspired this share!  

In December of 2021, I traveled to Costa Rica and attended my first ISTA (International School of the Temple Arts) training.  Through language, ritual, and ceremony, I feel my aware masculine and aware feminine align. 

In reflection, I am in gratitude for all 2021 has gifted, and I feel a deep sense of response-ability to share the transmission of love. 

Listo, Ready!  That is what I heard.  I am ready.  

In Peace & Joy,

Lisa 

PS: I am in deep gratitude for our Spiral Dance team forged through all the initiations and ceremonies of 2022. Co-creation is beautiful!

Lisa's Story: The Roots of Breath Part 1

Lisa, have you practiced Breathwork or pranayama before (Shamanic Breathwork and the Shamanic Healing Initiatory Process)?

At first I’m kind of like, “Hmmm, no not really” I told myself. “That’s an interesting question, but no.” Then as I was sitting here breathing, I felt into how I’ve always been attracted to prana, to breathwork. I remember experiencing it in Bikram yoga; I did Bikram yoga for a very long time when it first came to San Antonio, which is at least 15 years when Lisa and Steve took over or acquired the studio in Alamo Heights and have continued to grow. So, breath. I think it was that. And the getting hot, the heating up the body which I still do- I’m in the bath (chuckles), heating up and breathing- so I’m still doing it.

I remember an experience when I was studying ayurveda at the California College of Ayurveda, and I went out and it was my first experience of kundalini prana. We were all sitting there and we did this intense long breathwork that went up the chakras. I don’t even know how long we breathed. I was definitely out of it and I got very sick. Very sick. I think I went into detox. It was the first time that I did that kind of breathwork and my body went into detox and it started shedding and letting go. 

In 2012 I was introduced by my very good friend, who is on the board of Third Eye Tribe, Becky Rosenthal who also does body work and energy work, to David Elliott and his technique of pranayama. I flew to Los Angeles for (I want to say) four sessions. It ended in the desert, in the beautiful Joshua Tree desert where (laughs) oh my god I’m just remembering this. Oh it was hilarious! It’s so funny, because I broke out in song in the canyon! I broke out in song. One, it’s my fear, or it’s my story: that I don’t sing, I can’t sing. Although I’ve been singing a lot lately! I sing a lot. I record myself, I sing. I sing in the bathtub, I drum and sing. I look back to where I was then and I broke out in song! We were all being creative and sharing from the big large rocks, it was beautiful. 

So I think that’s such a beautiful question.   It’s really made me feel into my roots with breathwork. It’s always been there. Even with giving birth to my children. Someone asked me the other night at breathwork, “Oh so the breath breathing in and out, in and out, cyclical breath- like lamaze.” I was like, “Yes, that’s it! Find your rhythm and breathe.” And I love it when my teacher says, “Breathe til you’re surprised.”