30+ years shamanic practitioner and teacher • Weaver of spiritual practice into Life and Relationships • Best-selling author, award-winning books, videos, podcast • In-person and virtual classes and workshops • Subscribe for monthly inspirations
September: A Month of Transition
|
Like me, you may recently have noticed a number of recurring themes over the past month or so. Many of these themes echo subjects we covered in the past several newsletters. Most notably among them were recognizing when something becomes complete, and releasing them in order to create room and opportunities for something new. The Spirit of SeptemberSeptember promises to be more strongly devoted to implementing some of the plans developed over the last few months. On the macro level, the cycle of Nature encourages a greater focus on the Spirit of Harvest. This month it makes sense to both attend to that greater view, as well as to focus on what is happening in our deeper selves. To me, it feels as though there are profound processes in motion, and that by aligning with them now, we have an opportunity to integrate some of what has been developing within us. The Focus This MonthMoving the Shamanic Passages Office!
Contact me if you are interested in learning more. September 26: Power Animals Workshop Continuing to UnfoldMy Substack blog, The Journey of Personal Evolution, continues to evolve, diving into a series exploring authenticity from a fresh perspective. The seeds for this work were planted in 2007 with the first Spirit Paths program, which I continued to present for the following ten years. The award-winning Spirit Paths: The Quest for Authenticity, first published in 2013, grew directly from that journey. More than a decade later, I find myself returning to those same questions – but with the benefit of years of lived experience and a deeper understanding of how authenticity shapes our relationships, our communities, and our everyday lives.
These are just a few of the questions guiding this series. Rather than offering simple answers, each article invites us to explore them together through experience, reflection, and participation. If these questions speak to something you are exploring in your own life, I invite you to subscribe and follow along. The series is continuing to unfold, and I'd love to have you be part of where it goes next.
Creating and Nurturing Authentic CommunityGrowth is rarely a solitary journey. We become more fully ourselves in relationship with one another, with the natural world, and with Spirit. Communities become places where that shared becoming can unfold. Here in Austin, the Shamanic Community of Austin and many other spiritually oriented groups are discovering fresh ways to connect, serve, and support one another. Similar communities seem to be awakening in many places. Some are newly forming, while others are finding new life and renewed purpose. Wherever you are, please seek out people who resonate with your deepest hopes for a more compassionate and connected world. The future we long for isn't something we wait for. It is something we create – one conversation, one relationship, and one community at a time. I believe it is possible. More importantly, I believe we can help bring it into being – together. With appreciation and respect, Reader. I hope to connect with you soon. Gerry Gerry C Starnes, M.Ed. Consider connecting with the Shamanic Community of Austin. We offer regular live and virtual shamanic journey circles and other events. Don't want to receive monthly updates and still receive other notices? Follow the link below to be removed from News and Updates only! |
Shamanic Passages | Gerry Starnes, M.Ed.
30+ years shamanic practitioner and teacher • Weaver of spiritual practice into Life and Relationships • Best-selling author, award-winning books, videos, podcast • In-person and virtual classes and workshops • Subscribe for monthly inspirations
Hello Reader, The theme of last month's newsletter was about recognizing when something has become complete. The suggested practice urged us to: Spend time observing what has quietly matured in your life. Ask, "What is ready to be released?" Then notice what naturally opens as you participate in the rhythm already unfolding. Like many of you, I found that invitation wasn't just for the newsletter. It became true in my own life. It became clear that what had worked before wasn't working...
Hello Reader, The Summer Solstice marks a subtle turning point. The sun appears to pause at its highest point before beginning its gradual journey toward shorter days. It is a quiet reminder that every season has its own rhythm. The Solstice is like the pause between the inhale and the exhale of the passing of the seasons – a brief opportunity to reflect before the rhythm continues and the energy moves again. The question appears: "What comes next?" Over the past few months, we have focused...
Hello Reader, By June, the season has changed. What was only possibility a few months ago may now show signs of life – first fruits, stronger roots, clearer direction. Yet growth rarely arrives in a straight line. There are periods of progress, followed by pauses, unexpected weather, or conditions that require adjustment. The land does not interpret these moments as failure. It responds through continued tending. This may be part of June’s teaching. Patience alone is not enough if it becomes...