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

Block 1912 "B"

In addition to great food and drink, Block 1912 on Whyte Ave in Edmonton, Alberta is rich with stories from the community. There are people who have frequented this cafe for years. Peter Pepin, owner of Block 1912, shared a number of stories with us as he had coffee with us at our table.

One of the stories was about a set of Italian lounge chairs that are in the cafe. Now it is important first off to understand that absolutely nothing in the cafe matches. The tables don't match, the sofas don't match, the chairs don't match and the cutlery doesn't match. That is all part of the eclectic charm of this location. All the furniture is recycled from other places. So purchasing a matching set of Italian chairs (no, they don't have an accent....I asked!), was somewhat of a different venture. Peter's wife and business partner, Komala, was dealing with the furniture sales person. These chairs were very expensive. The sales person was not wanting to alter the price whatsoever....that is, until Komala mentioned that they own Block 1912. "Block 1912! You own Block 1912?! I met my wife at Block 1912!" Suddenly the chairs were not so expensive at all. This speaks to how this cafe touches the hearts of many people.

Whether you are there for a designer coffee with lunch, or simply a scone and tea, this place becomes a part of you. When I entered it I could feel the spirit of this place, warm and gentle, inviting me in. The delicious food is often prepared on a 2 burner stove in a very small kitchen, and the baking is done on another level in this fabulous heritage building.

The art that is on the walls is by local artists who also frequent the establishment. When the art is sold, the money goes to the artists to help support them and the local community. There is a violin player and a guitar player who each will come in, sit down and play music. At this point the music on the sound system is turned off so that everyone can enjoy the live performance. Block 1912 is a place of gathering with friends and family, but it is also a place that has become interwoven with the entire community. This may be why when there were riots on Whyte Ave, Block 1912 was the only place that did not get vandalized. Believe me, if I were a rioter, I would not stand for anyone messing with my favorite coffee shop!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Block 1912 "A"

There will also be a "B" and "C" to this story. So keep checking in. What is Block 1912? It is a very trendy cafe in Edmonton, Alberta. My love (on the far right) and I were in Edmonton this last weekend for the wedding of a dear friend of ours. There will also be photos and bloggings about that. While in Edmonton, we just had to stop in to visit our friends, Komala and Peter Pepin (left and centre), owners and operators of Block 1912, located at 10361 Whyte Ave.

For those of you who have not been to Edmonton, Whyte Ave is the artsy, trendy shopping street. There are numerous shops along Whyte. One of my favorites is A Sense of Serenity, located just off of Whyte and around the corner from Block 1912. I will write more about that as time goes on here.

Block 1912 is open seven days a week from 9 am to midnight. It is fully licensed and has all sorts of home made food and baking, including some Indian food like samoosas. The beef lasagna was so good that I ordered it for supper one evening and then for lunch again the next day! They also have a gelato bar with the best gelato that you will ever taste. I also experience something that I can only describe as an oral gasm. It was the French Vanilla latte. OMG! I think that I had maybe three of them in a 24 hour period. I kept saying to myself that I was not going to let that stuff go to waste, especially mine! A medium was about the size of a small soup bowl. It went down so smooth that I was done sucking it back before I even realized I had started. So I had to learn to savour the moment, otherwise I would end up with a caffeine twitch.

As my Love says, "You cannot see from the outside the treasures that lie within" when looking at Block 1912 from the street. But once you walk in, it is a feast for all the senses. As you can tell, I highly recommend stopping in whenever you are in Edmonton. But don't rush the experience. Be prepared to wait in line (yes, that popular) and to relax once you are in and have ordered your treats.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Pain and Suffering

Master Osho said, "Pain is simply pain". I am sure he is not the only one who ever said this. But he is my reference at this point. I happen to agree. I always have agreed. People often belittle their pain by saying things like, "I'm sure this is nothing compared to what others go through." The thing is that there is no way to really compare pain. One person's pain is not more valid than another person's pain. Pain is, in itself, valid. It is a signal to us that there is something that needs to be experienced and healed.

Suffering in our lives is when we actually try to avoid pain. It comes from the concept that there should be no pain in our lives. It is the denial system of the mind that causes this. Quite often we are driven by our minds instead of flow with our hearts. The mind tricks us into thinking that our lives should be a certain way...namely, painless. We really don't need to should upon ourselves. If we embrace pain, we then communicate with our experiences and get through it as we heal.

I remember how painful it was for me to know that a relationship that I had become comfortably trapped in was actually coming to an end. The suffering that I experienced was not the ending of the relationship. It was a result of how I thought the relationship should have been in the first place, then the fear of the unknown of what was to come after the ending of the relationship. It was also wrapped up in the illusion of the pain I saw myself to be causing by ending the relationship. Yet having walked through it, the pain is much less than the fear and suffering was perceiving it to be.

It is also said that how we die is how we have lived. I remember how hard it was to watch my mother die. She did suffer a lot as the cancer spread and ate away at her body. But when I look back on this event, I also realize that she suffered a lot each day. She was not the type of person who would make radical changes in her life. Some of what she experienced was quite painful. But she also chose to try to deny the pain, and I think that in doing so she lost some of the opportunities to learn and grow and to heal the pain. Thus her death had much suffering, just as her life did. I hope that when my time comes to cross to the other side of the Veil, I do so laughing all the way. Yes, anyone who knows me knows that I laugh a lot. I can't help it. I have been fostered into having a sick and twisted sense of humour. I see the humour in most things that others would not see as funny at all. Yet there I am, laughing and totally enjoying the experience of laughing. I think that I have laughed more than I have cried in my life. For this I am grateful. There have been many tears. It is nice to be able to look back and see that the scales have tilted way over to the laughter side of things.

Yes, when we are in the valley and know that we have to ascend the mountain in order to find love within our hearts, it does help to have a friend there with us. We gaze at the mountaintop and wonder if this journey is going to be worth it. A true friend waits patiently beside us and encourages us to take it one step at a time and to know that he or she is right there with us, even though they can't take those steps for us. We have to make the effort. I feel so blessed to have had friends like that in my life. It has made the journey so much easier and thus tremendously decreased the suffering.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Objectifications

I received an email the other day that said, "Do you know who this person is?". As I scrolled down I found a photo of a beautiful man who was progressively wearing less and less clothing with each frame. At the end of the photos, the statement was...."Who cares?"

Funny, yes. But I couldn't help but wonder if this would have been considered so funny if the image was of a woman? Double standards abound! In Shamanism we are taught that to objectify someone...anyone...this way is to insult them and to diminish them. So I do my best to not do that. I don't know who my brother was that posed for the photos, and that doesn't matter. His motivations are his business. I don't need to participate in the objectification. I would hate to think that something like that would be circulated about my son or daughter, my niece or nephew, my brother or sister. Yet our society behaves in ways that ensure that this sort of thing will continue to go on.

Sad...

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

These Rings

In nature all things are circular. Night becomes day, day becomes night, night becomes day once again. The Moon waxes and wanes, and then waxes again. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, then Spring returns. These things are all part of the Great Mysteries and are symbolized by the circles that are these rings.

I am a Shaman in love. You may get a wee bit sick of reading about this, but bear with me. I will get over having to talk/write about it all the time. But for now, it is what inspires me. So suck it up, Buttercup, and read on!

The other night my Love and I exchanged rings and vows. No, we are not married. These are commitment rings, not wedding rings, and we are truly committed. It was nice that her cousin got married just a couple of days later and threw a big party for us to be able to celebrate not just his marriage to his lovely bride, but our commitment to each other as well. Nothing like having a party and not having to go to the effort of arranging everything!

The rings are silver, representing the refined spirit, and the stones are Peridot, which represents Compassionate Love, Abundance and Protection. I thought that I would never be able to wear another ring on that finger after removing the last one I had. It felt as though it would hurt too much. But where there is love, there is a comfortability and a resonance that surpasses all former hurt, pain, and wounds. No, I am not wearing this ring every day. After all, sometimes I work in the garden and sometimes when doing energy work jewelry on a hand is just not the thing to have. But I wear it almost all the time. I look down at it and my heart skips a beat and I feel warm all over. I feel happy...truly happy. I am extremely blessed to have found this amazing woman with whom to share my life.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Getting Stoned

I have had a couple of lifetimes in which I have come to my demise through the process of being stoned to death. This is a very slow, cruel and brutal way to die. It took a few lifetimes for me to learn to obey the rules or, at the very least, not get caught not obeying the rules. I guess that I have always been the type who would push the limits and hopefully encourage others to do so as well. Now, there have been many lifetimes in which I have been killed or died in strange ways, such as getting eaten by sharks or alligators and the like. I have worked out my fear of water that stemmed not from the water itself, but from the big bad creatures that were in the water. It really is all a process. What I have wondered about here and there is why I have not developed, considering the number of times I have been stoned to death, a fear of stones and rocks?

As I was helping a client to begin the process of communication with rocks and crystals, it suddenly dawned on me that it was never about the rocks! They have always been my friends. In fact, the ones that were used to stone me to death were screaming "NO!!!!" as they were flung through the air at me. I knew that it was not their desire to be put to such a horrid use. So my fear never was about them. My fear was about the mobs of people who put them to use in a way that would harm another living being. Is it any wonder I don't really like going to concerts, raves, or shopping malls? Now that I know what is behind my discomfort about these events, I am going to be able to work it out much better. I always thought it was just because hoards of people stunk. Perfumes and body odor sometimes overwhelm my olfactory senses. Now I understand that en mass they can be dangerous, these things called humans! So off I go now to heal that part of past life traumas and I am sure that before you know it I will be up on stage in concert leading throngs of people in rhythm and chant! Well....maybe.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com