Every Time I See Your Face...

This photo is from this last Halloween. I actually had three costumes for Halloween this year. This is unusual for me. For the day at work I went as a Gypsy fortune teller, expressing my family ties to the Gypsy line. For the drumming circle I went as a cave man, thus expressing my primordial self. For the evening of handing out candy to kids and the Halloween party that my Love and I put on, we went as Cowboy and Indian. I did not include the beautiful Indian on my arm in this photo, because for this entry I needed a close up. But trust me when I say that she was the most beautiful Indian! We had considered switching roles, but we couldn't find me a feather large enough for....uhem....coverage. So I went as the cowboy.

What struck me in the photo was how much my face looks like my dad's. Even the expression on it is like he would have. He never had a moustache, to my knowledge, but even with it I look like him. If our relationship had been better than it was, I would be complimented by the observation. It is weird how we can sometimes look so much like someone in our families with whom we didn't really have anything else in common.

I had an opportunity, however, this Halloween, during a simple ceremony for the dead, to embrace some healing between my dad and I. Initially it was a ceremony to help my sister, who died the next day, to cross over peacefully. As it turns out, the ceremony was not just for her. Rarely is a ceremony with only one purpose! As she was able to see how people change on the other side of the Veil, I was able to see how my dad had also changed in the last few years on the other side. It was good to see. I still don't wish to share any future lives with him, but at least I can find some comfort in the fact that he is finally evolving on a spiritual level.

I see his face every time I look in the mirror. Perhaps that is why he had been so hard on me...because he saw his own wounded inner child every time he looked at me. Instead of nurturing, well, let's just say he chose not to nurture very often. Now I have to show some nurturing for my own adult male. I remind myself of him so much at times that it freaks me out inside. But I have to nurture that part of me, for it is in my blood and I can't get it out. So making it a friend instead of an enemy is my task on a daily basis. Lately this task has been going much better. It would seem that once you pick up a task at any point at all in the process, then the rest can more easily fall into place. That is a good thing, considering every time I see his face!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

The Goddess Lives

It is amazing to me sometimes how we can find ourselves in a seemingly average situation or gathering and then suddenly, there she is again! The Goddess in all her divinity is portrayed right there, on the shelf!

No matter how much patriarchal society and religion try, they cannot get rid of this feminine force. They should not even be trying, but try they have and try they do. Just the fear mongering about Halloween itself is a testimony to how much they are still trying to keep this most powerful force of nature down. But no matter how many rain forests they chop down, no matter how many rivers they pollute, She lives on and very gently whispers, "Come to me, my child!"

Her voice can be heard in the wind swept trees, the babbling brook, and the thunder storm. Her heart beat can be felt as we lay our bodies down upon hers in our back yard and breathe. She embraces us now, and always has, and always will.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Getting Your Ducks In A Row

When I was given this photo of my dear friend's daughter, it made me laugh out loud. And it also warmed my heart. It brought to mind how I would love to have a bath every time I visited my grandmother's house. She only lived till I was around 8 or 9 I think. But our relationship was very close. She taught me so much about life in such a short period of time.

Whenever I would go over to her house there were a few things that I really enjoyed. One was "sneaking" chocolate kisses from her candy jar. This was before they were called "kisses". Another was playing with her hand made blocks. The third thing was taking those blocks into her pantry closet and playing in there. And then there was her bath tub. It was bigger than the one we had at home, which was a large wash tub. This was an actual bath tub. The possibilities were endless! And, like this little girl, I loved rubber duckies. So I had my own collection back then. They had relationships with one another and would talk to each other. Then they would have to adjust to the introduction of my boat and the fishermen on it. I had a blast!

It is experiences like these that truly help children to get their "ducks in a row". Creative play helps us all. But the fun part of it is that we don't have to be really young to enjoy creative play. That is what costume parties at Halloween is all about. That is what art and music and dance are all about. These things all help us as adults to get our ducks in a row!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Pumpkin Teachings

There are ancient teachings around the traditions of carving pumpkins for Halloween. Some of these teachings have recently been "claimed" by the Christian Church as their own, which is only a pathetic attempt to justify the fact that they cannot control their people. Their people resonate with some of the ancient traditions and so in order to not lose their parishioners, they take the original teachings and spin it in a way that "feels good" and claim it as their own. Whatever.

So in the original traditions, feasts were laid out at night to feed the ancestral spirits. Samhain, or Halloween, is a time when the Veils are very thin between this world and the Otherworlds. In order for our modern society to be able to "predict" the event, it is marked as October 31st on our calendars. But Samhain actually is the full moon closest to the 31st of October. So this year the time is actually on the 2nd of November. The spirits were honored by having a feast laid out. This was a sacrificial feast of gourds, corn, grains, cooked foods etc. These feasts were never consumed by the people. They were laid out overnight and then composted the next day. To feed on the feast was considered to be very poor form, much like theft. It would bring about very bad karma. And for anyone who has actually fed on a feast that was meant for the Spirits, you will know that the food has a dead or depleted taste anyway and really does not nourish the living body.

So then there was the issue of helping the spirits find their way to the food. Candles were lit, but the wind could easily blow out the candle. So shelter for the candle was needed as well as a protection for the feast so that passers by would not just up and take the food. Pumpkin lanterns were made so that all would know that this food was sacred for the spirits and to not take any, lest you set yourself up for some nasty consequences.

When creating a pumpkin lantern, or Jack'0'Lantern, one first opens it up, much like opening up one's mind for any form of sacred undertaking. Then one scoops out the pulp, the mind clutter. Once the clutter is expelled from the mind, one's eyes and ears can open to see and hear what is actually right there in front of us all the time, that being the guidance of Spirit. Some carve out a nose, so that it opens the breath, which is the flow of energy, as well. Then there is a mouth that is carved so that we are able to "spread the word" of Spirit. All this is then lit up with a candle in order to allow Spirit to shine forth from within. The lantern is then set out with the food to invite Spirit to join in the feast. Energetically the feast is consumed and then the remains, or "left overs", are composted, honoring the cycle of birth, life, death and decay, and rebirth.

So there you have it. Here is wishing you all a vibrant Samhain!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Many Strong and Beautiful Women

On the far left, you will find my Love. Next to her is my good friend Sandhya, and on the far right is a new friend, Andrea. I have found that through my life I have typically been surrounded by strong and beautiful women. This is but one example.

For me, I think it started with my mother and my grandmother. They both taught me quite a lot about life and our connection with nature. They taught me that the world itself and all of us who live here are magical. That understanding is a big part of what has made me who I am today. My sisters were some of the first feminists. They helped me to understand that gender plays no part in capability. Yes, there are differences in the general sense, but we are all capable of becoming and achieving whatever it is to which we put our minds.

Each woman who has ever been romantically connected to me has taught me more and more about relationships and matters of the heart. Every sister of every friend has taught me to one degree or another about the importance of honoring each other.

Now, this is not to say that I have not had strong and beautiful men in my life. I have. I have also found, however and unfortunately, that the truly strong and beautiful men are fewer and farther between. I like to surround myself with men of quality and integrity. But these are not aspects that are nurtured in our culture. What is nurtured is more the capitalistic mentality. This breeds competition and one-upmanship. I don't particularly like those qualities, so it takes longer for me to find men who resonate with me. They are out there, though. I have some very good male friends. These are the types of fellas who support me and my endeavors and who also kick my butt when I need it.

Really though, it has been the women in my life who have impacted me the most. I think the ones who are going to continue to do so the most are my daughters. Each one is unique unto herself and quite strong in her own way. I feel blessed and honored to have them in my life. I know that we are only vessels through which they arrive in the world and that there is no ownership of our children (something else I learned from my mother and grandmother), but I also look forward to many years of discovery as they learn and grow and become each a strong and beautiful woman.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

St. Tropez Event

The other night a dear friend invited my Love and I to her birthday party that was taking place at the St. Tropez Bistro in Saskatoon. First off, if there is anyone out there who has never tried out this wonderful establishment, it is my recommendation that you do. If you have not been there in a while, go again. The food is exquisite and the service is excellent.

Sometime in the last year it was revealed to me by my Love that she knows Andrea Menard. Well, as it turns out, my other friend also knows her and so guess who I am sitting beside at this event! I have wanted to meet this local talent for a very long time, and, as she also mentioned, it has been crazy that we have taken so long to meet considering that we have many similar social circles. Well, we finally met at exactly the right time. She is fabulous! Thank you Andrea for making this event even more special!

I find it interesting how we so often will meet someone and realize that we could have met them years ago with the many six degrees of separation that there have been, yet it takes until now to meet them. I truly think that there is a Divine plan in when we encounter folks in our lives. For all intents and purposes, we could meet anyone at any time, but we don't. We meet them when we are meant to meet them. Where it goes from there is completely up to us. I look forward to possible friendship stemming from my recent encounter. But there have also been some people that I have met that the friendship thing just doesn't take. There is reason for that as well. Paths take people off in different directions all the time. And sometimes there are undercurrents of reasons in energy form that prevent us from connecting further. Then there are times that undercurrents of energies propel us to connect further and deepen some relationship. The Universe has many plans for us. Sometimes it is just a matter of recognizing when we need to respond. That, indeed, is the trick.

Blessed Be
Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Block 1912 "C"

In addition to the art on the walls of Block 1912, there is also chalk art on the menu boards. This is done by local artists as well. I love chalk art and feel that it does not get enough attention as an art form. it takes a lot to make chalk art look realistic. These people have mastered it as far as I am concerned.

Something else that is quite interesting about Block 1912 is the notes that people leave. There is a coffee table with a drawer in it. When you open the drawer, you find napkins and papers that are full of notes that people leave. The owners, Peter and Komala Pepin, keep these notes in boxes on another level once the drawers get full. So now and then, it is an empty drawer to fill and people continue to leave notes. One of the notes was from a foreign exchange student who wrote that he was homesick and hated winter in Canada and thank God he found this cafe!

Block 1912, at 10361 Whyte Ave in Edmonton, is a place that celebrates community and celebrates people's eccentricities. There is a well known cartoonist who has said that upon his death he wants Block 1912 to have his cartoon drawings and to hang them. Peter asked where exactly he wanted them to be hung, considering that the walls are full of local art. The cartoonist said, "They are cartoons! Hang them on the ceiling!" Peter is considering that to be a very funky idea.

Well folks, that is all I have to say about Block 1912 at this point in time. You may now know more than you ever wanted to know, but I hope that these last 3 blog entries have inspired you to stop in when next you are in Edmonton. I hope that they have also inspired you to travel to Edmonton just to experience the best French Vanilla latte you will ever taste!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com