native american

Clearing The Air

There’s nothing quite like clearing the air. It’s something that has been done for many thousands of years by many cultures. Herbal concoctions of preference mixed together and then set on fire and and allowed to smolder.. releasing the herbal incense into the air.

This practice is most commonly known as smudging. Any herb can be added to the mix, some use specific herbs for their healing properties and others are chosen by the scent that they release.  The purpose is to cleanse. Cleanse the air, cleanse objects and tools and to cleanse the soul.

I remember when I first began smudging, thinking back…. I was doing what I had been told  by the elders … just following the rules that had been taught to me. I understood the reasons for the smudge but did I feel its effects? Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I’m not quite sure I fully felt it at that time. It was more of a “well this has got to be done first .. so I’m doing it”. I had faith that it was doing what it was suppose to do and thought no further about the process.

Taking a moment to step back into my memories of previous smudge events .. I do recall feeling lifted, more at peace and more capable, if that is the right word, to carry on what I was smudging for to begin with. I also recall attempting particular purpose without smudging first and I would always  stop.. grab some smudge and then carry on with my purpose. It just felt wrong to me if I did not smudge first.

I was smudging just a few minutes ago, which is what brought this blog post into light to begin with. The entire act, from gathering my herbs to lighting them on fire, watching them smolder and taking in that ever so familiar smell, made me feel lighter inside and out. It’s something that is quite hard to explain really. It’s a feeling, like I said that comes from the inside and continues to fully envelope your entire being. A balance or grounding effect takes place and… well…. you just feel more centered.

I have no idea who or where this practice truly began, but what I do know is that it will always be something I do. The feeling it brings is something I am honored to experience.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Are You Happy Now?

mockingbirdAre you Happy Now?

When asked this question, what comes to mind?

Are your first thoughts, those of well no.. I need to lose more weight, I want to get my teeth whitened, I need to make more money, I want to be loved more, I want more success, a bigger house, a newer car… etc.?

OR

Do your thoughts go toward all that you have in life and all the possibilities that await?

Happiness comes when YOU allow yourself to be so. Happiness doesn’t come from material things so having a bigger house, better job or whatever it is you “desire” in the material world won’t mean that you’ll be happy.

Take this time now to think about all the things that have made you laugh or smile.. I bet most of those things have nothing at all to do with material possessions… and more so on acts of kindness, friendship, family bonding, and basic human interaction. Maybe it was a child’s laughter, or finding your very first 4 leaf clover, or watching the sunset or rise…. Maybe it was a kiss or a look… Maybe it was the look on someone’s face when they had lost the plot… maybe it was your child’s first steps… whatever it was … I can almost guarantee it had nothing at all to do with something you “thought” you wanted or needed.. instead it was something that just came to you freely and without some supermarket price tag.

I’m not saying that life isn’t hard and that there are no tragedies …. I’m simply saying to take a moment and appreciate all the little things in life that bring you unexpected joy.. take a moment to appreciate those around you … tell those close to you that you love them and appreciate them. Hug a whole lot more and complain a whole lot less.

Take today to appreciate the fact that if nothing else in this world you still have life … and if you still have life you have dreams, hope and possibilities.

True happiness comes not from outside joys but those that touch your heart and make you smile…. From the inside out!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Uses of cinnamon

Uses of cinnamon

Healing Power and Curative Properties

Cinnamon leaves are used in the form of powder or decoction. They are stimulant and useful in relieving flatulence and in increasing secretion and discharge of urine. Cinnamon prevents nervous tension, improves complexion and memory. A pinch of cinnamon powder mixed with honey does the trick if taken regularly every night for these purposes.

Common Cold

Cinnamon is an effective remedy for common cold. Coarsely powdered and boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and honey, it can be beneficially used as medicine in cases of influenza, sore throat, and malaria. Its regular use during the rainy season prevents attacks of influenza. Cinnamon oil, mixed with honey, gives relief from cold.

Digestive Disorders

Cinnamon checks nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It stimulates digestion. A tablespoon of cinnamon water, prepared as for cold and taken half an hour after meals, relieves flatulence and indigestion.

Bad breath

Cinnamon serves as a good mouth freshener.

Headache

Headache produced by exposure to cold air is readily cured by applying a paste of finely powdered cinnamon mixed in water on the temples and forehead.

Acne

Paste of cinnamon powder prepared with a few drops of fresh lime juice can be applied over pimples and blackheads with beneficial results.

Other Diseases

Cinnamon is highly beneficial in the treatment of several other ailments, including spasmodic afflictions, asthma, paralysis, excessive menstruation, uterus disorders and gonorrhea. It is sometimes used as a prophylactic agent, to control German measles.

Other Uses

Natural Birth-Control: Cinnamon can be used for natural birth-control. It has the remarkable effect of checking the early release of ova after child-birth. A piece of cinnamon taken every night for a month after child-birth delays menstruation for more than 15 to 20 months thus preventing early conception. It indirectly helps the secretion of breast milk. Prolonged breast feeding checks the restarting of menstruation after child-birth, according to studies.

Dried cinnamon leaves and inner bark are used for flavoring cakes and sweets and in curry powder. They are also used in incense, dentifrices and perfumes. Cinnamon bark oil is used for flavoring confectionery and liqueurs. It is also used in pharmaceutical and dental preparations. Cinnamon leaf oil is used in perfumes and flavorings as also in the synthesis of vanilla.

 

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

 

Finding your animal totems
click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Ok in the past few days I have had several conversations about how do you find your totem animal or animals .. and how do you know which animal is yours…. soooooooooooooo I thought I might speak a few words about this.

The first thing that I want to say is … the below are my own thoughts and ways … I’m not saying this is the one and only way and I’m not saying I’m right and everyone else is wrong… all I can do is give you my perspective and speak from my own experiences… so please don’t take it personally if my view differs from yours or from what you may have been told by someone else..

ok whew .. now that the disclaimer is said and done.. we can get down to business.

Note #1 – First of all there were comments by one of my friends that she is connected to one particular animal more than any other and then she said that someone told her that her totem was something else .. her next statement was that she has never connected with that animal.

Well, I’m not saying that whoever told her what her totem was – was wrong. That totem may be around her but not yet showing itself to her – but also I want to say that … YOU are the one connecting with YOUR totem .. YOU are the one effected … YOU are the one being guided – Don’t worry so much about what others tell you – instead … if you feel strongly linked to one particular animal or 2 or 3 or whatever – then that/those are YOUR totems.

Note #2 – You may have many totems throughout your lifetime.. some stay with you for long periods of time and sometimes forever and some come and go as they are needed. Sooooooo … you meet someone and they tell you ___________ is your totem … or at least that’s what THEY see as YOUR totem … that may be true for that moment in time… but as your life progresses and you change .. your situation changes and all things around you change .. your totem may or may not also change. So don’t get yourself stuck on … “so and so said this is my totem, so that’s it .. forever”.

Note #3 – You will find your totem when you stop trying so hard to find it ..

It is not something to be forced or made to be.. when you relax and let things just be .. you will see.

You must allow your totem to come to you .. welcome it into your life and soon you will discover it has been there all along… you will see the signs and have that DUH! Moment.

When you push and push and try to force things to be … the vision becomes blurred and unclear. We all have our totems so don’t worry you are not without one just because you are unsure of what it is. You just have to relax and allow it to show itself to you.

Note #4 – Stan Hughes has a wonderful book called Medicine Seeker.. in the back of his book he has a 100+ question survey to help you find out what totems you may have. It’s a very in depth survey that may bring light to what you already know but may be suppressing.

Here’s a link to Stan’s book on Amazon
Medicine Seeker

Anyway .. I hope this has helped .. good luck

Many Blessings,
ravensig

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Daily Wisdom by Raventalker 1-24-2011


What? Shocked?

Why are you so shocked about how your life is going??? After all … YOU are the one writing the book!

There is nothing we can do about the chapters we have already lived except to accept them as they were and move forward. How boring would life be if it were always perfect and there were no hills… no battles… no surprises or bends in the road.

It is not what comes your way that matters most .. it’s how you handle it… how you get through it .. and how you move forward.

Don’t dwell on past mistakes.. allow them to be lessons learned and move forward with better knowledge of what to do next time.

Find a moment right here .. right now to be happy … wrap yourself in that feeling and don’t be afraid of it .. sure it may only last a moment … but you felt it .. you knew what it was .. and you were open to the experience … it will be back! Just don’t be afraid.. Allow it to come and go and you will find yourself wrapped in its light more often than not.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Returning of the Sun…

1-18-2013 sunrise

Returning of the Sun…

The days, now getting longer as they grow
The sun sharing with us it’s warm and healing glow

It’s time to think about what we will harvest this year
Ready the seeds… the time is growing near

Preparation and work go hand in hand
If we want to see something come from our plan

A bit of work and a bit of time
Take care of the details and all will be fine

Nurture and trust what you sow
When it’s time to harvest, you’ll know

Take care in all that you do from here on out
Fertilize your dreams and let go of all doubt

Soon the work you’ve done will be seen by all
A great harvest you’ll reap as the raven sings it caw

So go now and make your plans
Get ready to work and don’t fear a little dirt on your hands!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Where is the wisdom?

>
Where is the wisdom?

It is in every drop of rain… every ounce of pain.

It is in every laugh, every giggle .. it’s even in the inch worms wiggle.

It is in every breeze … it comes and goes with ease.

It is every blade of grass, in every day that has come to pass.

It is in the tears and collected through the years.

It is in every animal, every being… it’s in everything, even those that are not seen.

It is in the silence and in the words, and carried on the wings of every bird.

It is in the wind, the earth, the water and the flame… and is known by many a name.

It is in the heart and in the soul.. is more than what you learn, its what you already know.

Where is it?

Where is the wisdom?

It’s in the air and below your feet … it’s sometimes a trick and sometimes a real treat!

It’s whats said and whats left to guess … it’s even in every jest.

It is more than an action, more than a word… its even sometimes quite absurd!

It’s kind and its cruel… an can turn the smartest of men into a fool.

Where is is? You want to know….

It’s here, there and everywhere you go….

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

One Thousand Times

Barred Owl

One Thousand Times

One thousand times I’ve been born
One thousand times I’ve died

The years have passed by like a soft whisper in the wind
Days and nights gone without my knowing

One thousand paths I have walked
One thousand lessons I have learned

Tears I have cried for so many reasons
Smiles, laughter and love have helped me make it through the seasons

One thousand rights
One thousand wrongs

Blessings and curses bestowed upon me
Love, the miracle that always brings me back to why I’m ME

One thousand ways
One thousand times

One thousand pairs of eyes
One thousand ways to see

One thousand lips to be kissed
One thousand people, wondering if ever they were missed

One thousand ways to go
One thousand reasons to live again

One thousand times ……

ravensig

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Being the Messenger

>Let me answer the questions that have been wandering through your head..
How is it I come up with the things I have said?

How do you see what you see?
With the inner eyes that Spirit has given me.

How do you hear what can’t be heard?
I quiet the noise and say not a word.

How does Spirit sound?
Like the wind, the rain, the sun, the moon and the ground.

How do you know these things are true?
I have faith, the question is, why don’t you?

What’s the key to help me see more?
Our mind is like a hallway of many doors…

No locks, even though closed they may be
Just reach out and turn the knob – that’s the key!

Open them wide and release your fear
Soon, you’ll see and even hear

Empty your heart of all anger and distrust
To walk this way, it is a must!

Let go, stop trying to control

Let yourself be guided, taken by the hand
Soon you’ll be floating with Spirit across the land

Visions will fill the eyes you didn’t know were there
It’s not a secret… everyone has two pair!

Forget what you thought you knew
Just let it come to you.

And now with a smile and a wink, you know what to do
Blessings for the beginning of a whole new view!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Inspiration

>

Today I’d like to hear your thoughts….

Let me be the student and you the teacher …

Now… what is it you’d like to say?

What inspires you?

What gets you up out of bed in the mornings?

What keeps you moving even though you want so badly to give up or take a break?

What motivates you?

What lessons have you learned?

What makes you feel better?

What makes you smile?

What makes you sad?

What is it that you could share today?

Raventalker