Category: Earth

Beloved Community
2nd Sunday, November 15, 2020

We are grateful for our community, as the Thanksgiving Address so simply and comprehensively embodies.

In the quote by Martin Luther King Jr., we hear a simple truth: We live in a universe whose structure is relationships. Through the lives of plants and animals, and through the interactions of people with plants and animals—people who we may never meet–our needs are met.

This structure of interrelatedness gives some of us freedom to pursue careers, knowledge, art, recreation and mischief, hopefully, good trouble. Today I want us to have an opportunity to become aware of some of our frontline workers, to give them a place in our thoughts and hearts in order to give greetings and thanks to each other as people. Perhaps this will help us approach the Haudenosaunee statement, “We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things.”

Frontline workers is a new term we use to refer to those who are working during the pandemic to help us stay alive with food and other needs as well as those who are striving to meet the health sustaining needs of those who are sick with the Coronavirus.

I have read and heard stories from health care workers that portray that the frontline also means the place of life and death. The reality in our hospitals and care facilities is extreme. The balance and harmony seeming to be no longer attainable.

However, we hear how the workers can find a moment of release from this living and dying nightmare in waking life when restaurant workers and benevolent organizations bring them a hot, delicious, nutritious meal. For the moments they can grab some of the food, they feel their need for care is acknowledged and met. Some balance is made possible by the kindness of strangers.

Other groups of people continue working who are not as visible to the rest of us, and therefore often left out of the actions from kind strangers. They are far from the eyes of most of us, because their work is in agriculture on massive farms away from us city dwellers. Yet we depend on them, on their back breaking labor that they perform without protection, adequate housing, medical care or access to services that would give their lives honor and balance.

The truth is that to bring balance and harmony to people in the extreme farm labor force, you have to have heard about them. It reminds me of the lamps from last week in the parable of Jesus. You need lamps, light to see, and oil to keep them burning. The kindness of strangers depends on strangers who light their lamps and look into the reality of the interrelatedness of life.

It seems like that is even harder now with the political circus and the isolation requirements of the pandemic. Yet we can envision abundance for those who grew, harvested and packed, unpacked, prepped and displayed the food we purchased at the store and eat to sustain our lives. We can honor them with gratitude to begin a balance that we would like to manifest.

We can also, in our isolation, have an opportunity to get to know each other better. We can start in many directions in our circle
of connections and friends. One place I would like to bring our attention to is the garment workers. That sounds so general and far out there, almost like a farm outside the city. But the Earth and her plants and animals can’t fulfill our needs for nourishment and shelter without people who develop skills to transform the trees into building materials, plant fiber into fabric for clothing and animals and plants into meat, grains and vegetables for food.

Here at St. Hildegard’s we have been in relationship with the maquiladoras along the border between Texas and Mexico, as well as the textile workers in Chiapas, through the work of Josefina Castillo and Judith Rosenberg, who passed wholly into the Great Spirit, March 8 ’15 These communities and ours have been woven together in relationship for 16+ years, and we feel blessed by their lives of creating beauty and sharing their struggles with us. These communities are made up of people who work closely with the fibers of plants if not the plants themselves,

The women have skills and knowledge of the connection between the beauty that they craft and the spiritual world which sustains all life. Every year in November Josefina and the organization ATCF puts on a festival, Women and Fair Trade, where we all go and buy huipils, look over treasures from other countries and listen to beautiful live music.

Some of us know of another connection our community has with the garment workers in Los Angeles, Virginia Marie’s daughter, Marissa Nuncio, who brought our Sister Virginia Marie to Los

Angeles to live with her and her husband and two sons. She works to provide for the immigrant garment workers in Los Angeles, many of whom are working in unsafe conditions, lack the legal services they need to improve their conditions, and because they are undocumented, have more difficulty obtaining unemployment benefits when work shuts down. These women are not paid minimum wage, and therefore are subject to all the pitfalls of poverty, unsafe housing, lack of medical care and diminished possibilities for changing their situations. During the pandemic they are now sewing personal protective equipment, so the work of their hands is protecting the frontline workers.

They are skilled seamstresses who have the ability to create garments to industry standards at mass production speed. So much of our life is dependent on these women’s abilities, and the work they perform brings profits to corporations who do not respect them and care for their basic needs.

Marissa works through her nonprofit, Garment Worker Center to provide an organizing space for these women who are providing this necessary protection for frontline workers. The primary mission at Garment Worker Center is to empower and support workers to organize together to fight to transform their industry and workplaces themselves. To help the workers achieve their goals, the center offers a legal clinic, and tools for communicating their situations and needs to those who have the ability to contribute in a variety of ways to the change that the workers envision. The center works alongside the garment workers in the spirit of solidarity not charity.

In working with these women, the team at the nonprofit also campaigns for legislative initiatives for living wage, connects workers with medical providers and transportation and provides food and other necessities for those whose income does not pay for their needs and/or those who have contracted the virus and are not able to work. These kindnesses help these women survive while giving them the tools to create new opportunities, safer working conditions and social supports as they continue their careers.

When the world is so out of balance, the people of Garment Worker Center give what they have in knowledge, time, advocacy and love to these women trying to get a foothold in a country where there are safer living conditions and more opportunities than in their home countries.

Josefina and Judith were pioneers in finding ways to accompany those in difficult situations. In the trips to the border, volunteer participants were given an introduction to the practice of solidarity.
In a nutshell, this practice asks of the volunteer to arrive without an agenda of how to help the struggling workers, which means giving them the credit they deserve for living their lives and learning through their experiences the best avenues for change in their situations in life. This practice of solidarity was created by the workers at the border.

Josefina will be sharing with us next week about her work with those who in trying to immigrate to this country have become tangled up in the United States broken immigration system. She may have more to say about solidarity in her reflection.

Here is a link to a video that a garment worker made in solidarity with Garment Worker Center. It gives a comprehensive picture of the conditions under which they work to make our clothes and now the personal protective equipment. As I watched this video of her giving a tour of her factory, I found a face and voice to picture and hear when I stroke the fabric that the plants of Mother Earth provide. I can bring to mind the women and men who work under harsh conditions to create clothes to cover and protect us as well as create beauty in our appearance. Now I can hear the voices of the indigenous in my mind, “We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now let us bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people. Now our minds are one.”

Dear Hildegardians and friends,

These are certainly times of confusion and uncertainty about the present time as well as of the near or long-term future. We are all in the same boat now, most probably kept within our own homes, though undergoing different situations in terms of places, family members (or just ourselves) and personal attitudes, but the contingency of the epidemic crisis hits us all in one way or another.

Some might be filled with worries, fear, and/or anxiety; others might just be calm and inviting God/Sophia to send her love and compassion to our crushed world, or perhaps a combination of all these feelings.  I have heard numerous stories, have read articles based on scientific data, have listened to prophetic explanations, and have come to realize that what fits me best in these challenging times is the opportunity to reflect, as a creature of God/Sophia, about the bonds with my loved ones and about the need to collaborate with other groups or other people who are in worse constraints.  Today, this very day, is a favorable condition to join forces and walk in the same direction.

During the first week of February, just about the time that the virus was spreading out, I took a Vipassana course in Kaufman, Texas. This is a buddhist meditation technique that centers on the breath, and by focusing on our breathing we may become aware of our cravings as well as of our aversions; these are attachments which we have nourished all through life, but that are impermanent.  Impermanence here is one of the key elements of this meditation. Everything moves, nothing is permanent. The past is all gone, the future we don’t know, so let’s focus on the present time which is the only certainty we have. If we feed our awareness and become observant of how we react to circumstances without any judgement, in this very moment, we might be able to turn our fears and uncertainty into positive thoughts.  Let us work together, meditate together, and make road while we walk (“caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar”) as the poet Antonio Machado once wrote.   

In sorority & solidarity, Josefina

The St. Hildegard community is inviting you to worship with us, online. Our media source is zoom. If you would like to be added to our list please send an email to sthildecommaustin@gmail.com and we will send you an invite. Meditation starts at 4 pm central time. Eucharist begins at 4:30 pm central time.

Our Mission

WE are a community of faith,
sharing from the springs of living water we know in our
own lives, and reaching out for others who thirst.

WE are restless in the Church that we love,
longing for faithful change. 
WE see a flowering of the Holy Spirit,
drawing deeply from the lively tradition
to do a new thing for a new time.

WE recognize the Spirit,
calling us to boldness and passion.

We want to follow Jesus
in compassion, and in the liberating discipline
of the Spirit.

BELONGING to the larger Body of Christ,
we are called to help recreate the Church for the
future, to be new wine in new wineskins, a Church in
reverent relationship to all creation.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway, Austin, TX 78751

In the Interfaith Chapel Feb. 26th at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome

  March 13-15, 2020                     

Sabbath: Welcoming the Divine Feminine

You are the Sabbath Queen, the Great Mother, who sits at the heart of the table… May we remember you and lift you up.  May we recognize your face and celebrate your beauty in everything and everyone, everywhere, always.  Mirabai Starr

Space to listen           Deep Reflection              Community

A time to experience Sabbath and to welcome the Divine Feminine in ways we can bring home to our ordinary lives.   A silent retreat is a place to come with intention of deep listening.  It is a time for “being” rather than “doing.”  In supportive companionship you are encouraged to connect with your deep longings.

 Where: John Knox Ranch near Fischer, Texas                                                           

When: Friday March 13 6:00p.m. dinner through Sunday, March 15^th lunch/clean-up

Leader and Spiritual Director: Judith Liro, SHC

 You are welcome to arrive any time after 3pm on Friday.  We recommend that you get there as early as possible to settle in before dinner.  Silence will begin later Friday evening and extend until Sunday a.m.  If you aren’t able to make the whole retreat, please plan on coming another time.

 Cost: Retreat costs are on a sliding scale:  $120-150 + 1 meal for the group.  Those willing and able to make a donation to help sponsor scholarships are encouraged to do so.  Please ask about scholarship if cost is a barrier.    Registration/questions: Judith: jliro@swbell.net                                                                  — 

Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics by Mirabai Starr

February 6-May 21, 2020        13 classes

Thursdays/afternoon and evening classes

Afternoon 4:00 pm -6:00 p.m.  CST                 Evening 7:00-9:00 pm CST

It is my hope that you, like I, will find yourself shining from the luminous mirror of these wisdom beings.  That you will identify with their struggles and be encouraged by their breakthroughs.  That you will forge living relationships with them as your ancestors and guides, draw on their power, embody their essential qualities.  It is my prayer that together we will welcome the wisdom of women back into the collective field, where it may help to transform the human family and heal the ravaged earth. Mirabai Starr

When we are sorely tempted to lose hope, the women mystics from the world’s spiritual depths arise to guide and empower us. As Mirabai Starr understands and shares their wisdom through the particularity of her own unique life, we are invited to find our own connections, to bring our own offering of wild mercy to heal the earth.  

Leader: The Rev. Judith Liro, St. Hildegard’s Community.                                                   You can participate on-line by Zoom or in person at Trinity Church of Austin

Trinity Church is located at 4001 Speedway, Austin, Texas, and we enter by the 40^th Street door.  Participants should commit to being present for most of the classes and to engage the reading and assignments. Participants in Austin will occasionally share a simple meal. Contact Judith with questions or to register: jliro@swbell.net, 512-925-9156  Cost is a sliding scale $40-$100 plus the cost of the book.  Don’t let cost keep you away as this can be adjusted to your needs. 

February 6 Introduction

February 13 Turning Inward: Cultivating Contemplative Life

February 20 Laying Down Our Burden: Keep the Sabbath Holy

February 27 Breaking Open: The Alchemy of Longing

March 5 Melting Down: Dissolving into the One

March 12 (no class)

March 19 Connecting: Community and the Web of Interbeing

March 26 Embracing: Sexual Embodiment

April 2 Sheltering: Mothering as a Path of Awakening

April 9 Maundy (no class)

April 16 Cocreating: Caring for Our Mother the Earth

April 23 Making a Joyful Noise: Creativity and the Arts

April 30 (no class)

May 7 Forgiving: The Art of Mercy

May 14 Dying: The Ultimate Spiritual Practice

May 21 Taking Refuge: Teachers, Teachings, and Soul Family

For those in and near Austin:

February 20th: Conspirare’s Vanguard II, featuring Mirabai Starr’s Prayer to the Shekinah, commissioned by Conspirare.  St. Martin’s Lutheran Church 7:30pm $20-$60 

Friday evening, May 8^th from 7pm to 9pm, please join Eremos for a special inter-spiritual experience. Mirabai will offer an introduction to the essence of Wild Mercy, lead us in the Jewish Shabbat prayers and then welcome Dr. Güner Arslan to help us honor Ramadan and break the fast at 8:15pm (sunset).  $65 per person (includes dinner).

Saturday, May 9^th, spend the day with Mirabai immersed in the wisdom of the women mystics: 10am to 4pm (with book signing immediately following). $125 per person.

• Attend both events for $175.
• Both events will be held at The Wyndham Garden Hotel 3401 I-35 Frontage Road, 78741.

A member of St. Hildegard’s, Cindy Ybarra, along with her son, Michael, and their partner, Sarah Wambold, have submitted a grant proposal to the Episcopal Church USA for funding to move forward their vision of establishing a conservation cemetery in Texas and of promoting conservation burial far beyond.  Campo de Estrellas Conservation Cemetery (“CCC”) is a joint project between Cindy, who has donated 10 acres of her farm, Abbey Grange, to be used for green burial, and Campostella LLC, established by Michael and Sarah as the legal entity to make that vision a realty. 

Abbey Grange engages in native grassland and forest restoration, re-wiliding, habitat restoration, and livestock rescue in Bastrop County, TX. The hope is that their project Campo de Estrellas Conservation Cemetery:  Community Engagement & Educationwill reconnect and reconcile people from diverse backgrounds to nature, spirituality, mortality, and each other through a thoughtful and robust introduction to conservation burial practices.

Please note: There will not be a liturgy this sunday, August 18th 2019. May we be filled with nature’s beauty and drink deeply to feed our souls in a day of communing with mother earth.

The introductory night of the Kindom Journey began in the relaxed, sheltering atmosphere of the Lodge at Cedarbrake with a meal of hot lentil soup and fresh baked bread prepared by Josefina Castillo and Susan LeVieux. The cooks for all our meals, who were also the retreat leaders, were guided and inspired by Susan who lives to garden for herself and others. Many of the vegetables in the meals were from her garden.

After dinner, we moved to the community room, where we took our places in the circle of twelve seats arranged for those of us who were physically present. However, one of the retreat leaders who was participating on zoom appeared on a laptop screen, joining the circle from miles away. This leader on zoom is a good representation of one of the changes within our community.

In our new form as a dispersed Episcopal Christian Community, we can offer membership in our community to people living in Austin as well as other parts of the country. The participant on Zoom, Sister Virginia Marie Rincon, also a Priest, is a Professed member of St. Hildegard’s who lives in Albuquerque, NM. Gathered in the circle were many who are members of St. Hildegard’s as well as new participants and two long time enthusiasts who would celebrate becoming members during the retreat.

As we spoke from our chairs by the fireplace, our voices brought into the circle individual experience of outer concerns such as for the fear and uncertainty experienced by the immigrants who are in Sanctuary in two churches in Austin and for the immediate need for action to remediate climate change, as well as peronal joy and sorrow in our lives and the path that brought each one of us to this retreat. Hearing from community members who have moved away and those who have remained in Austin, and all participants was the opening to our time together.

We next entered into a “standing if able exercise” led by Josefina. The dinamica is a community activity that Josefina led during the years she led workshops with women in rural Mexico through the auspices of a program of Popular Education which was created by women in Mexico City.

The exercise involves moving your body and following your imagination to portray and act out our relationship to Mother Earth while standing in the circle and interacting with those on either side. Josefina provided the narrative for our activity.

We began in an imaginary meadow where we planted trees and vegetables with digging and careful planting gestures. Then we called the clouds to come over us and water all the trees and vegetables. We imagined the clouds coming and mimed the falling raindrops showering over us and the tree and vegetable seeds. Through the rain our plants and trees flourished and produced fruit. Now we gestured picking fruit from the trees which we collected in bushel baskets. These were very heavy to pick up and pass along for storage. Next we gathered peas, corn, onions and various other vegetables to pass along and share in tasting. The last fruit that we passed along the circle, while pretending to take bites and smiling, was a large watermelon. Finally we thanked Mother Earth, the sun and the water for giving us all that we need. In this dynamic movement, amidst laughter and appreciation for all that sustains life, we experienced a passage from our daily lives and concerns into expectation for what we would create with the help of Spirit in our time together.

Reverend Judith Liro then presented the theme of the Retreat by reflecting on changes in the world and society, listing increasing violence and environmental degradation among other challenges to the Earth community. She gestured to a mandala painted to depict a vision of St Hildegard’s, All Beings Celebrate Creation, which was on the hearth bench beside her. There in growing concentric circles are painted the heads and wings of angels and humans surrounding an inner circle of light. She spoke of how the concern we have for the state of our world can be met with courage when we contemplate this

mandala. Our love and deep connection to the Earth is shared with the Angels and Creator God. They are with us in the work of healing. We are part of the mystery of creation, able to act within the world as well as gain insight and courage from realizing our belonging to the community of life, seen and unseen.

Following Judith, Sister Helena Marie, our Chaplain, who is a leader in the Community of the Holy Spirit at Bluestone Farm
near Brewster New York, introduced the hours of silence that would begin as we left the circle to prepare for sleep, and continue through the following day until 3 in the afternoon. She told an interesting story from a retreat in Manhattan where part of her Community lives. After questions and clarifications about the silence, Helena Marie led us in singing Open My Heart. Then we entered the silence.

The next morning after a silent breakfast, some of us went out into nature while others created soul collages in the lodge following instructions from Sister Helena Marie. We gathered for a silent lunch then made our personal choices about how we would spend the silent time remaining.

At 3:00 we gathered in the lodge in silence together. After a transition imagination led by Judith, we began to speak of our experiences

Alisa reported that she was walking toward a ledge that rose above the river on the campus of Cedarbrake when she heard a voice that said, “Lay down on the rock.” Alisa lay on the rock feeling the warm sun and relaxing. When she was ready to go back to the lodge, a voice said, “Take off your shoes. You modern people need to not wear shoes. You need to walk with your barefeet on the Earth.” So Alisa took off her shoes and walked back to the lodge.

Sister Helena Marie said that she walked along the river and saw Alisa laying on the rock. Sitting or laying on the rock looked inviting to Sister Helena Marie, so she hiked up to the ledge, sat down and looked out on the river below. Her vision was pulled upward and
she saw two eagles flying. After a while, the eagles flew closer to Helena Marie and seemed to be looking into her eyes.

As Josefina was making her way to the river, she encountered Alisa walking toward her barefoot. After enjoying the river, Josefina saw Sister Helena Marie up on the ledge. She decided to find her own spot on the ledge. When she found her own spot to sit down, Josefina observed the view. She saw green all around and felt the wind as well as listening to its movement through the tree leaves and branches. Josefina heard the sound of the river passing over the rocks below. She took all this in and felt gratutude. As she walked down from the ledge, Josefina saw two eagles.

Listening in the circle, I felt that the connection woven between the three women on their walks was like a silent conversation between the women, elements of nature, including animals, and, with Alisa, a spirit guide

All around the circle we spoke of our experiences during the silence; of nature and of our own soul in this time away from the distractions of our usual duties, joys and sorrows. At some point in the breaking of the silence, someone said, “Coyote!” We looked out the big windows along the entrance wall and saw a tall, robust, silver coyote facing the windows as if interested in knowing our conversation.

In the inner soul space prepared by the time of silence we entered into the heart of St. Hildegard’s Community’s Kindom Journey: the Three-fold Pattern for Deep Transformation described in our Rule of Life. This commitment to nurturing contemplative inner life within a community of disciples which supports our outward justice work is our community’s path of following Jesus Christ. It is a Trinitarian pattern found in Hildegard of Bingen’s theology and way of living that has been our community’s spiritual foundation from the beginning.

Three of the leaders, each sharing from her own personal experiene, gave presentations followed by time for participants to listen to their own inner stirrings. Small circles of three or four then gathered to share what was gleaned from their inner listening. These small groups stayed the same as we explored the three elements of Deep Transformation: inner call, outer justice work in the world and life in community.

Friday night after dinner I spoke about the call to inner journey in my life. Then we all had time alone to reflect before meeting to share in our small groups. On the following morning, Saturday, Josefina presented a talk on outward journey-our calls to transform the world with compassion, peace and justice, which was followed by individual reflection and conversation in our small groups. The third talk, on intimacy and healing in community, was given by Sister Virginia Marie.

As a final touch, Judith gave the picture of the dynamic, generative dance of these three elements, which brings balance and joy to life. During this time of thoughtful contemplation and prayer, we were able to reacquaint ourselves with those who have been living outside of Austin as well as learn more about our visitors and parts of their life journeys.

The day ended with a party. There was an informal time of conversation and then Annie, a visitor who has come to worship at St Hildegard’s before, gave us an introduction to a path that she has been involved with, which began with the Mayan star knowledge and was rediscovered in Mexico during a process of inquiry stretching over 40 years. Annie shared with us thought provoking revelations from the star lore of the indigenous people of Mexico as well as personal insights and experiences that have occurred in her life through her study. In a playful fashion, Annie gave us a way to imagine how the Mayan star lore could speak to each of us.

On Sunday morning we worshiped together, having created elements of the liturgy in groups of two and three. Our Eucharistic Prayer, composed by Mary Ermey was We Sing In Deep Joy. This musical accompaniment to the consecration of the bread and wine is a song celebrating the Holy Healing Earth and the Creator Spirit.

For the interactive sermon, Judith shared “Hildegard’s Way” that is also found in our Rule of Life. It is a spiritual path that evolved in our twenty years as a Eucharistic Community as our lives were inspired by Hildegard of Bingen’s way of embodying God’s love in the world.

After Judith gave a description of each of the ten elements, the opportunity to speak our heart’s response went from person to person around our seated circle. Listening for our own word of insight or understanding and listening to the others’ words became mixed with the warmth of our time communicating together over the past three days. I felt as though a ring of love was holding us all.

Following worship, we shared a wonderful lunch together and then a final scurry to say what we wanted to say before departing each other’s company and returning to our daily lives. I felt that our time at Cedarbrake had brought me a feeling of belonging that I have been missing since moving to Portland in 2018, and I was grateful to enter into that feeling again.

Reflections on my two weeks of Curanderismo class at the University of New Mexico.

This year I decided to approach my two week commitment to the curanderismo class with a contemplative theme. I took in the ceremonies with an intention of looking “into and beyond,” the obvious responsibilities as a team leader and a member of the curanderismo community. The opening ceremony was very moving and I could feel my emotions of being back in the Land of Enchantment bubbling up in my heart and soul. I sensed the connectedness of all my compadres and comadres. A circle of drums, caracols, sahumerios, rattles, and an altar of herbs, flowers, fruit and love created a powerful sense of unity in a timeless prayer under the umbrella of our Creator. The Ometeotl’s cried out at the end of each direction seemed to seal the bond of all the participants for the next two weeks.

In the following days there were lots of learning curves in my understanding of ventosas, yierbas and emotions. But the biggest challenge was in the matter of my ego. Finding the balance of embracing my status as an abuela, an elder, a priest, and of being a part of the curanderismo class, challenged me over and over again. This being said it was the first time that I could feel the respect for self and a stronger sense of self worth coming into my eighth year of volunteering for the class. My desire was to work with less ego and a more loving perspective and at the same time embrace the “I Am” of spiritual growth in relation to all my relations and the universe. It wasn’t always easy but I held the intention, tried to follow my intuition, remembered the necessity of integration and especially my daily prayer. Contemplation and silence were the grounding and alchemy of everything for me. As for healing, it came in the form of community.

Drumming in community, passing the talking stick in community, teaching in community and listening to the community, provided the Balm of Gilead, the healing medicine that my soul needed. But at the same time, there was no romanticizing of the class and the two week journey I was on. It was work at a different level of consciousness. I was working on my ego and at the same time catching glimpses of my own spiritual awakenings; heal, feel and then let it go. There were a lot of first for me during these two weeks.

One of which was leading my first temascal and it was about silence. It was one of the hottest days of the week and I could feel the anxiety and some fear as I prepared to lead. I also felt the need for remembering the importance of ceremony before entering the womb of mother earth to lead a temascal. I felt good about my support team, Connie, Shannon and Junior. Their love would hold me up! I asked Junior to not fire it up so hot as I was concerned for myself and the participants getting over heated. A learning curve I’m sure but trying to keep my self awareness of health and limits. I could feel the intensity of the heat on my body as I entered. I chanted quietly to myself Eres Guerrera, you are a woman warrior and a spiritual being coming to cleanse yourself and to help others let go of all the unnecessary. It gave me strength to know lots of people were praying for me and knowing that I was not alone.

Although the temascal was meant to be silent, I led with four visualizations using the song Tierra Mi Cuerpo as a point of departure for participants to use as reflection and inner work. Tierra mi Cuerpo: Earth is my body, dirt is my body, mud is my body. What grows in the earth, what is growing in the mud. what is in the wet mud, what is in the dry broken mud. Is it the sprouting of a small tree, etc. Agua Mi Sangre: What flows in my veins, who am I, how healthy is my body, etc. Aire mi aliento. What do I breathe In? I am the wind, flying, moving everywhere and landing, Where do I want to be spiritually. Am I dancing freely like a feather? etc. Fuego mi Espiritu: What is my passion. What do I want for myself? What have I learned in these two weeks and what will i do with it? How much love do I enkindle in myself?

The silence in between each visualization and the hot vapors of rosemary water hitting the rocks felt cleansing and empowering of spirit as we shared the sweat of deep contemplation. And at the end, I used my drum too close with a chant and I could feel a sense of release and harmonization in every part of my body. I prayed that others were feeling the same. I had surrendered to mother earth and I was pain free, full of gratitude and full of peace as i said my last ometeotl for the night. I thanked the ancestors for new beginnings and possible new wisdoms.

I was also asked to present on Spirituality, Healing and integration on an unexpected panel, an unexpected presentation to the youth that are visiting from Mexico, and a planned workshop with my comadre Tonita. My life as an ordained priest, a Curandera and professed member of The St. Hildegard community were the highlights of my story and presentations. I felt orgullosa, proud that I could do it not only for my own growth but for others that are trying to figure out how all the pieces of their life dances can heal them a long the way.

One thing is for sure, I couldn’t have done the two weeks without the help of my comadres. I especially am grateful for my comadre Odillia who provided room and board. She reminded me everyday to hydrate, eat well and to pace myself. Every morning and evening we did a check in either sipping on a cup of coffee looking at the hummingbirds or sharing a sweet pan dulce or pie at the end of the day. My other comadres called, texted me, FaceTimed me, fed me at cracker barrel, flying star and little Anita’s and one of you even delivered to where I was seeing people for limpias. All done with love and I so appreciated each and everyone of you. I am forever grateful for all my relations and everything I learned in these past two weeks. Thank you for the water, for the fruit, for the listening when I needed to share, thankful for the love hugs and grateful for your willingness to sit with me in the deep dark places of my soul trying to grow, and trying to remember that we are the oneness and essence of all that is! Ometeotl!!!