Dear Friends,

In a world filled with chaos, tragedy and ever-evolving challenges it's imperative that we take a moment to reflect on the immense power of our collective consciousness, and the potential for transformation that lies within each of us.

 

It's challenging to summon the words that may speak to all that which is unspeakable, that may try to redress the often unbearable pain and confusion that wrings the heart of our collective human experience. And yet, we are reminded in ceremony, when it feels impossible, when you feel like there's just no way you can do it, then you must sing, then you must pray.

 

For when we set our intention to make every choice an offering on the altar of life, our lives themselves may become a prayer. No longer is prayer then a place where we demand something from the universe, but one where we offer ourselves and our most sincere intentions as solutions to what we observe stands between us and all that we pray for. Perhaps this is how, together, we may we sow the seeds of true change and peace within ourselves and how we may extend this transformation to our world.

 

As we're reminded in ceremony, and by extension, the ceremony of life, our journey towards self-discovery and collective awakening is a Remembrance Practice.

Together, we recall our inherent power and the interconnectedness of our shared humanity. We remember that seperation is illusion, and that we choose to take a stand, and yes, to stand up and be counted. As the Prophecy Song of the late Joanne Shenandoah, reminds us, “the words say, we are to awaken, stand up, be counted. For you are being recognized in the Spirit World.”

 

We remember the prayer that we often recite in our ceremonies:

“May the  the radiant light of our awareness outshine the shadows of despair, denial, loneliness, hatred, anger, greed, arrogance, and ignorance. May the love in our hearts be fertile ground for the seeds of compassion and forgiveness to flourish and grow.”

 

May we realize that our true power does not come at the expense of another, and that there is no Chosen one, for we are all chosen. When we forsake comparison and open our channels, we can unite and work on behalf of all Creation. In this way, our true power ignites and we may become the guiding light for true peace to occur.

 

We share this message in love and faith, and we would like to end this transmission with a final reflection.

Through our work we have come to understand the distinction between hope for a desired outcome and faith.

Hope suggests that we have done the right thing if things unfold as we envisioned, yet faith reminds us that we possess the inner strength for our hearts to flourish, regardless of the external circumstances or challenges we encounter.

It is why we gather in ceremony, because together, our faith grows stronger. It's a co-participatory,  co-creative act of conscious creation. In this way, our collective wisdom becomes the catalyst for the evolution of the entire universe.

We are profoundly grateful to co-create and pray over this vision of a more peaceful world with each of you.

 

Jakon Shaman.