Refuged, Clear and Shiney!!!

So I am complete with the last of my post ceremonial duties (well except for the mailing of the dreamworker's goodies, those will be sent out this weekend, as I have to head out of town for a few days).  I just completed the final burning of the seeds and prayers for others as you can see in the photos to the left.  I also offered the ash along with some of the lovely flowers that were gifted to the altar and still resplendent with all the good prayers.

But wait, that's the end and I have to say that must be because I was feeling so energized post ceremony this morning.  And there were some light flurries which felt like a mitzvah (sorry that was yiddish for blessing/good sign and not Quechua).  Let me rewind.

Actually I was feeling pretty good yesterday too as I was prepping the altar.  Since I had packed up the mesa to teach last month, the room got a complete cleaning before I set the altar and it felt really good, if I do say so myself.  Below are some of the pictures from the ceremonial altar prior to the ceremony.

I was all tingly and felt like dancing and for some Lulu-like reason, I was lead to think about the song Tonight from West Side Story.   All I could remember was Tonight, Tonight, Won't Be Just Any Night, I decided to look up the lyrics.  I don't think those are in them and here the are with a few editorials in italics)

Tonight, tonight

It all began tonight (New Moons, all about new beginnings)

I saw you and the world went away

Tonight, tonight

There's only you tonight

What you are, what you do, what you say (hello that's what we focus on with the surrender, seed and prayers)

Today, all day I had the feeling

A miracle would happen  (need I say more)

I know now I was right

For here you are

And what was just a world is a star

Tonight

Tonight, tonight

The world is full of light (well it's dark because of New Moon but do like the reference below to suns and moons)

With suns and moons all over the place

Tonight, tonight

The world is wild and bright

Going mad

Shooting sparks into space (forewhadowing to part of the New Moon surprise and you'll see a picture later)

Today, the world was just an address

A place for me to live in

No better than all right

But here you are

And what was just a world is a star

Tonight

Good night, good night

Sleep well and when you dream

Dream of me (OK don't dream of me but keep dreaming - felt appropriate for the dream workers)

Tonight

It was a lovely group of new and old.  As some people pointed out, it always seems to be a different group of people - which I think is great.  In addition someone else pointed out that in my placement of people, I flanked myself with two roses (Jackie Rose and Emma Rose).  I do seat people by energetics, but not by names.  I wish I could say that was not conscious l but I have to say pretty wise on my unconscious...

As always each attendee introduced themselves to the mesa and then I proceeded by calling in the sombres/soul essence of each dream worker and lite participant, which includes those that either requested lite or requested the dreamwork but didn't get into it.  We had one dreamwork with a birthday - pretty propitious, don't you think.  And we also called in the powerful work being done at a fire ceremony in RI (I believe) and led by a friend, Quickikuti Inca.

We focused on the importance of refuge to regain our strength and that this strength can only come from within.  We cannot depend on anyone else for it.  And during this time we get clear and free.  We spent a good deal of time making sure we were squeaky clean after the surrender and went into some renewal work on the attendees.  And remember when one person in a group heals, we all heal...so the ripples of healing should be rampant.

Of course we went on to honor the beauty within and asked how it wants to shine.  We then had everyone write the inspiration found from exploring their hearts and true beauty that wants to shine on the base of a tea light.  Each person then lit their candle off of the source candle which was from the one source that we all hold within.  And I didn't point it out to the attendees but not sure if they saw what was on the piece right in front of the candle - here is a picture.  And yes, the container used to hold the candle was from candy - you know me and the sweetness theme.

We continued by blowing the essence of the seed planting exercise into a blossom for the garland of dreams.  Of course I transmitted the intentions of each dream worker into a blossom and did a shared blossom for the lite participants.

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Of course we also spoke our prayers for the planet into the larger red blossom.  I also transmitted the prayers for others that was printed on the inside of the origami hearts and flapping birds you see below

We chanted some prayers for those that we were called and declared the evening a success ending with sweetness and gifts.  And as I promised from the lyrics, we had real sparks.  Yes part of the surprise was sparkers as you can see the participants enjoying at the end of the evening.   I said we wanted to shine our light and what do lights do they sparkle.  There is more but I don't want to give away the whole surprise.

No ceremony in NYC would be complete without my offering of the garland of dreams to the East River.  There were even some birds out there swimming, which in over a year of New Moon ceremonies, I have never seen and it was chilly.   In my tradition bird are representatives of the spiritual realm.  Can I say propitious again!   I would have taken a picture but we played with sparklers again and then they were gone.  Maybe they weren't really there, but I did have witnesses.

As always, I end delighted and more inspired then ever.  Thank you for joining me and in sacred relationship we remain.