 Time lapse of star movement----a pattern you become aware
of with observation during the course of the night.
"What
is it exactly that called me here? Mystery is what called me
here--the answers to questions I hadn't known yet to ask, hadn't
lived yet. Something Wise knew I was getting ready to ask those
questions--and to hear the answers, and it called me in so that
we could talk."
Shay
Panther ,
March, 2002
"Darkness
and silence were tangible things. She felt them. And they seemed
suddenly potent with magic charm to still the tumult of her, to
sooth and rest, to create thoughts she had never had before...loneliness
was necessary to gain consciousness of the soul."
Zane
Grey's words from Call of the Canyon in 1924
still speak to us today
"The
greatest friend of the soul is the unknown. Yet we are afraid
of the unknown because it lies outside our vision and our control.
We avoid it or quell it by filtering it through our protective
barriers of domestication and control. The normal way never
leads home."
Jon O'Donohue
A
mythological landscape designed for soul communion
in nature
"We
all have our own ground to work, you
know. You have yours, too. You just have
to find out what it is. But you know
what? It is right on the edge of yourself.
At the cliff edge of life. That's the
edge you go to. Put yourself in conversation
with that edge no matter how frightening
it seems. Look down over that edge." David
Whyte, Crossing An Unknown Sea.
A
Hopi elder once said:
To be wise, first you
must ask. then pay attention,
and then it is
up to you.
|
Soul Images Painted on Personal Medicine Shields:
" It
was truly a magical adventure. I am still processing the experience,
but I can honestly say that it has changed me on many levels.
I feel in the world, but not of it. My awareness, not only
of my environment, but my body's energies has increased dramatically.
I actually feel energy surges. It's very strange, but very
exciting. Everyone should expose themselves to the raw beauty
of nature. It's an eye opening and heart opening experience."
Laura
G., Ohio (her shield is bottom one).
May, 2001
"We're very proud
of what we accomplished this past week, getting to know our
true selves better, and camping overnight. You were wonderful
and we thank you immensely.
Tracy and Sean , Virginia
May, 2007
 "The
vision quest is a spiritual journey to wisdom that has been
practiced by people for as long as history can remember. The
resulting visions are recorded in cave drawings and described
in the oral traditions of cultures throughout the world. Native
North Americans believed that animals took vision quests when
they hibernated during the long winter months. Christ's forty
days in the wilderness was a vision quest. Many of the prayers,
meditations, and rituals used by the world's religions originally
were developed as vehicles for the vision quest. .. We and the
other "moderns" on this planet are perhaps the first people
in history not to practice some form of the vision quest as
a regular part of our education process."
(John Perkins from
The World is as You Dream It, Shamanic Teachings from the
Amazon and Andes)
The energy shifts as the sun
goes down
and moon and stars comes out.
How much do we know of nature at night?
Big Dipper--part of northern hemisphere
circumpolar star groupings
Pleiades
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My Holistic, Adapted-for-Today's World Approach to Seeking Vision in Nature
The
retreat is based on my lifetime of mystic seeing in nature and 3 decades of experience leading earth-spirit retreats including with solo overnights. We begin with opening pathways to being your own seer and using focused intention,
clearing blockages and mental static, making soul connections,
developing inner pathway skills, learning principles of
self-generated ceremony, developing comfort being with yourself,
deepening ability to observe nature and your aware dreams.
Without the deep inner work and willingness to be more present
with yourself, staying out alone overnight becomes more of
a camping trip experience. It is a big leap from urban life to nature spirtuality.
Expect
your days and evenings to be full with your own nature practice
and inner pathways and universal ceremonial practices in
between our sessions. Are you willing to devote your whole self to this for a week? There
are a lot of steps and focus involved. Do you have a
comittment to minimize your cell phone time and
other distractions, and to having clear
mind (please, no alcohol or recreational drugs before and
during retreat--this dulls intuitive perception skills). Your comittment let your Spirit take lead this week by allowing the busy mind to relax and go off of planning, analyzing, constant inner dialogue mode creates a space to Listen.
I do not copy tribal ceremonies. Many times I have people ask about peyote, which is
used as a sacrement in the Native American Church services
or ayuhuasco which is used in South American indigenous practices.
While I respect that these ways have meaning
in the context of the religious practice within the indigenous
cultures involved--I do not offer any links for people to
those practices. Nor do I personally use these ways. Neither do I ask you to take the suffering path of fasting for days which is part of the Plains Indian tradition and is a powerful sacrement in their cultural context.
Ecstatic union is a very high frequency
state that can be achieved with clearing the mind, deep contemplative observation, prayer
and awareness practices, being grounded in your body supported by light, mostly plant based nutrition. You do not need any pyschotropic
drugs to achieve this. Just a willingness to be present with
yourself and the natural world, using tools to face fears and
doubts that arise, consciously invoking higher frequency vibrations in your own evolution, trusting in Creator and your own higher self. These are life skill practices which I hope you will carry home with you to enrich you own wisdom path.
As a modern-day mystic traveling the shaman's path, you personally engage by direct experience with the Great Mystery of existence. This energetic infusion helps connect you with the original pattern of your energy field. New insights and choices emerge that may have been latent or short-circuited.
"The first spiritual insight that human beings gained is still the most profound—that we are all manifestations of the divine. Shamanism, the most ancient form of meditative practice, gives us tools for touching our true sacred nature—and accessing our potential for healing, divination, and connecting with the spirit world." (source: SoundsTrue.com)
I
will mentor you, hold the space, give you intuitive insights,
help you with your shamanic work. But the power of
your experience is the intention and attention you put into
it. If you can become still within, glimpses of new vision
emerge in tiny moments of awareness during the retreat and
for months and even years later.
It
is as big leap from our modern world into being with yourself
in a quiet way. Turning off the mind chatter, the rush to
plan the future, and need to figure out everything in our
mind and the dealing with your own expectations will
be your biggest challenge. When
done with intention and preparation, the solo overnight in
nature can be an act of power and development of self-confidence
and inner seeing. It is not a quick fix or a magic cure-all.
It is not for everyone.
You
get your own hotel in Sedona or the greater Verde Valley (I will give you some recommendations.) We do daily sessions at my Desert studio
and some sessions out on the land. Plus each day, on your own, you work
on inner practices, aware dream skills and spend time out
on the land practicing nature attunement skills. You can
choose to spend one night out on your own if you feel confident
in your preparation. You can choose to just be out for the evening or for a late night into dawn experience. This retreat is for sincere
people willing to enter this without expectation, take responsibility for their process and
safety and put effort into it.
I am absolutely dedicated to supporting you in being your
own seer. You have all the magic within you--I provide mentorship
and a circle of energy, wisdom and support. I share wisdom I have gained
from nature being my doorway to spirit all of my life.
Solo
time in nature is a core mystical practice for me that always renews
my spirit and belongs to all human beings.
I do highly
recommend adding an optional 2 or 3 day journey to Hopi and
Navajo lands after the retreat to deepen your experience in
the context of doing blessing and ceremonial circles with these
warm-hearted indigenous peoples. That opens more vibratory
pathways if you are receptive.
Sandra
Cosentino
Divine
Communion with our own soul
is what solo time in nature has come to mean to me.
Present
now is a rising tide of new energy, a positive
surge there for us at this time in the evolution
of humans on earth. Full of potentiality we
can vision into a new reality. This
is a time of each of us now today accepting the
call to be our own shaman-healer. No longer
the sole province of the magician-seer as in times
past, but a birthright, a gift, a calling voicing
through each of us.
Something
inside is longing to see the bigger picture of who
you are. Maybe eagle has been coming in your dreams,
calling you out to the silence of the desert. You
know you are not expressing your fire, there is a
longing that is calling you to be more than you know
you are.
We
resist, yet are irretrievably drawn. At some point
we feel limited or get tired of repeating old patterns
and we give in to the call of our soul. The first
step is to create a powerful intention for change
and step out of your busy life away from familiar
surroundings. You step over the edge of your known
boundaries into the creative terrain of the unknown. Then please do not limit Creator with preconceived ideas of who you think you should be or how insight may come to you. Be open to cumulative effect of subtle signs. Dare to stay Present and witness your own mind at work trying to stay in its comfort zone. Be patient and kind to yourself--even use humor--as you diligently shift into new frequencies.
When
your heart issues that call to pilgrimage and
you answer and go to a place with great natural
energy and power, you receive cellular level
stimulation, awakening. Entering with a child-like
sense of awe, heart wide open, in reverence and
prayer opens the door. This is really a pilgrimage
to your own heart-- an act of great love and
courage to just be with you.
Going
alone into wild nature at night builds personal confidence
and power as you use your awareness tools and trust
in Source to overcome fears that arise. This is an
ancient way of connecting with your own soul.
You
don't necessarily get a technicolor movie spelling
out your big vision, but you become more tuned in,
more receptive in your day to day basis life.You
listen more to your heart's yearning and each new
bold step out opens more doors of creative expreession
taking you places you never would have imagined.
You gain confidence and a new fire that people will
see in the new depths of your eyes.
Simply
being alive and fully present in the moment opens
a direct connection to all of Creation which shamans
call a state of ecstatic union. If you can feel this
even for a moment, it will change your life forever.
In the seeming simplest ways is hidden profound wisdom.
The gateway is within.
"Vision quest is a time for a person seeking direction in his or her life to withdraw from the routines and pressures of modern living into the solitude and silence of the wilderness. It is also a symbolic journey into the wilderness of the mind and spirit. Direction usually comes in the form of visions, powerful synchronicities, lucid dreams, spontaneous revelations, and/or magical experiences with the natural world.
It is the single most transformative experience a person can have. I have witnessed numerous lives, including my own, changed as a result. In contrast to workshop "highs" that all too often wear off with the passage of time, a vision quest always seems to effect permanent change in a person's life."
Peter, Calhoun
from Soul on fire : A Transformational Journey From Priest to Shaman |
- Shaman-seer pathways skills
-
Attention
-
Intention
- Focused awareness
- Signs from dreams, nature, your inner
being
- Trusting what you perceive
- Sensitizing to
vibrations of wild nature
- Develop practices in nature
-
Cognitive dreaming, re-dreaming
- Ceremony and prayer
-
Release stress of old programs, re-wire nervous system
-
Trusting the universe listens to
you
- Connecting with your inner power, fire
and seeing
- Tracking how you use your energy
- Reclaiming more of your soul's
presence in your life.
- Courage to see and live your truth
- Seeing yourself in a bigger view, seeding
potent-realities
|
Role of Ceremony:
Reaching far
back into human consciousness is a knowing of the importance
of aligning with patterns of organization found in our greater
universe. Ceremony is used to create balance
and instigate positive change. Ceremonies remind us that
we are part of a wave of energy in flow with all of creation
and not merely a separate particle as our thinking mind perceives.
We can use ceremony to emerge new phenomena.
Ceremony makes our shifts real to our mind. It opens a new sense of connection between you and the powers of the universe and gives you experience working with your helping spirits. A sense of inner harmony is generated as we open our heart and become one with the universe.
In ceremonies I lead I am very respectful not to copy from
any of today's Native American tribal ceremonies. I use universal,
time-honored ways as a framework. I have learned the power
of focusing many days or weeks in advance as helper energies
are evoked. I listen to my guidance and intuition and use years
of experience to bring these universal ways into a living,
contemporary form for all people. A kind of surrender takes
place as you become a fluid vessel for waves of energy to flow
through. |
I
have created an integrated program that helps you
open the pathways to your own soul's knowing based
out of years of learning inner seeking skills directly
from wild nature, my dreams, my guides, Native
peoples and other wisdom keepers of many traditions.
This is your time of divine communion with your
own soul supported by powerful east-west practices
of self-awareness, shamanic healing and soul retrieval.
I have found that this sequential process is necessary
for people coming from today's modern cultures.
Most of the work is in clearing the mind, releasing
stress and old programs so you can be fully present
and aware here and now.
Experience
shamanic journey and nature awareness to gain insights,
guidance and connect with spirit helpers. We will
use these skills to deepen knowledge that comes
us from dreams, signs, symbols and the constant
flow of energies around and within us. Gain new
balance, receive shamanic healing in the Circle
of Power Ceremony and other ceremonies.
You
will make a power shield of native willow you gather
and shape as a frame for rawride on which you will
paint your insights and visions to take home with
you as a tangible support of your personal medicine.
Experience too the sacred sound of your own voice
and the voice of the drum as we create our own
songs, voice the songs of the rocks and trees.
If
this feels right, if you feel ready, I am here
for you. Creator gifted me with the ability to
hold space for people, to see and reflect back
their soul's gifts in an honoring way, to assist
you in creating movement in your life. But
your own intention and willingness to be in loving
communion with all that you are without judgment
gives wings to your journey!
Sandra
Cosentino
"In
the purity of connection to wild nature, we have
direct access to all of Creation. Domestication
diminishes our direct knowing--as a wise Peruvian
shaman told me years ago: "think of the difference
between an eagle and a chicken."
Sedona Vision Quest Retreat Program Outline:
7 (or 8) days
Retreat
Elements
exact order will vary; can be compressed into less or more time
depending on your time frame.
Length of sessions depends on number
of people; they are a bit longer with more people.
Each morning you will have dream, meditation and writing practices
on your own flowing from the skills we practice in the retreat.
Each afternoon you will have nature practices and communion time
on your own. These begin instilling skills to take back into your
life and are the essence of you becoming your own seer and healer.
Each day we will share dreams, signs that come to you--I will be
giving you feedback. I recommend you give yourself a day after
our retreat to shop, have fun, integrate before returning to your
busy home-work world. This retreat, to be meaningful, requires your full attention to the practices all week in between sessions. You want to come well rested with space cleared to devote to this.
day
1
Sedona Sacred Sites/Vortex Tour, exploring qualities that have made Sedona a sacred site for thousands of years, including insights into broader Colorado
Plateau/ancient cultures regional perspective on sacred lands--showing you all the major areas so you will know places to go for your own work on the land. 2 - 2 1/2 hours
and
Vision Quest Introduction Session, 1 1/2 hours
Soul
Journey Session 1, Inner Pathways – Conscious Evolution (2 hours with 1 or 2 people; 2.5 hours with 3-4 people)
Powerful insight tools to enhance shamanic seeing: practice with lucid dreaming, meditation, tracking-clearing energies, healing destructive cellular memories to rewire nervous system and raise frequency, listening to body wisdom, developing Here-Now Presence as your point of power. Includes chakra clearing and sound healing with gong and Himalayan metals.
I support you with intuitive
insights and holding a circle of support for you. I
have seen people make profound realizations, free up
emotional drains, deepen self-acceptance and resolve;
and, thus, let of their soul's radiance to shine. From
this centered aware place, you become self-referencing,
less looking to outside sources for approval and more
trusting of your own wisdom. We use these tools throughout the retreat.
day
2, dawn
morning practices on own
Mystical Nature Shamanic Journey Seminar on the land to develop skills in connecting with helper spirits, and Earth and Sky Speaks to Us, and Water Ceremony, 5.5 hours with 3-4 people; 5 hours with 2, 4.5 hours with 1 person
Core nature awareness skills development. Practice ways of being in nature as
a doorway to open to
fresh inspiration: rock divining,
vision circle, tree wisdom, thick description, close
observation, embracing the elements, messages mirrored
to you from nature, noticing patterns. What are signs? Opening to the supportive energies of nature,
walking quest experience.
day
3
morning practices on own
Soul Journey Session #2, Extraction and Transforming your Healing Challenge
We enlist the aid of spiritual allies to provide the necessary insight and energy to make healing possible in a series of shamanic
journey experiences to connect with powerful guidance, meet and transform your healing challenge, re-align your energy matrix, and do shamanic extraction work. We create a releasing ceremony and connect with guidance to reinforce this healing. 2 - 2 1/2 hours
On
your own during afternoon:
Integrate clearing work
Mini-vision quest experience on in powerful setting
Work on prayer ties
sunset to stars come out
Sunset & Starlight Nature + Sacred Solo Circle. 3 - 4 hours deepening
shamanic practice with nature at night, Native star stories and star gazing,
mini vision quest experience, medicine animal circle.
day
4
morning practices on own
Soul Journey Session #3, Soul Retrieval
Soul
Retrieval Experiental Seminar; you become your own shaman
in a safe and nurturing space in a poignant session of calling
back and integrating a part of your own soul that has become
energetically separated from you. Continuing work with raising your vibrational frequency.
2 - 2 1/2 hours
during day on own:
hike/be in nature with awareness, find your power song, integrate soul retrieval work
during evening on own:
work with star gazing, star energies, being out at night with nature
day
5
morning practices on own
Circle
of Power Teaching and Healing Ceremony,
2-3 hours (depending on how many people). Learn
ancient principles of working with ceremony; receive a vibrational
healing from earth and cosmos and drumming; shamanic rebalancing
work by Sandra as guided by spirit. An uplifting experience
for creating positive movement in your life as you align with
your soul energy and the cosmos.
during day on own:
deepen and clarify your intention, clear your mind, begin writing your New Mythology that has emerged so far, finish prayer ties
day
6
morning practices on own
Soul Journey Session #4, Past and Future Self:
Final preparations for overnight. Recapitulation-Redreaming Ceremony. Shamanic journey work connecting with your mystical child, past and future
self, and other areas of importance to you. Continuing feedback on dreams and nature work, 2 - 2.5 hours
Solo Overnight Ceremony
Afternoon to sunrise next day in solo communion with nature in your sacred ceremonial space--this is optional and done on your own with you taking full responsibility for your safety.
I drop you off. Then during the night I pray for you and hold space for you.
You can choose option to take your own car to trailhead or only stay out part of the night.
day
7 (8)
Dawn Return, Fire Ceremony, Processing Your Experience, Hopi blue corn pancake breakfast 3+ hours
During the day:
Journal, paint your shield, Write your new mythology, rest.
You will want to keep your hotel room so you can go there in the early morning for shower and rest.
Closing
circle in afternoon or evening, 1 1/2 - 2 hours,
Share New
Mythology and Intentions for your
return; closing ceremony and/or shamanic journey, moving into future focus as you prepare to return home.
If you have more time, we can do the closing on Day 8 so you have a full night's dream time to process your solo overnight.
I recommend you take an extra day or two after and relax, integrate before returning to your busy world.
Cost
Per Person
1 person, $2,500;*
2 people, $1,800* each
3 - 6 people, $1,400 each
If gas price is over $3.70/gallon a small gas surcharge will be added.
Lodging, meals are NOT included (except breakfast on return from overnight).
Included: program, transportation for on-land sessions, reference packet, materials, pre-retreat recommended preparation, 1 breakfast (blue corn pancakes made from roasted Hopi heirloom seed flour),
coordination-planning of your personalized program.
Each program is customized:
additional fee to have someone stay out near you overnight; discount if you drive yourself to and from solo overnight.
You take responsibility for yourself on the overnight. More experienced outdoor skills people might opt for 2 nights out.
*does
not guarantee a private retreat, but does guarantee that will
happen on the dates you want to come to Sedona--the retreat is available to others who may want to come at that same time. I will try to get others to join you if possible.)
Let us
know if you would like a list of recommended retreat-friendly
places to stay
and transportation options from Phoenix to Sedona. You will need to keep your room even the night you go out for the night so you can return and rest/shower in morning.
'I did the 6 day retreat with Sandra and I would love to do it again and again. I feel healed and connected with myself, the elements, nature, my animal guides more deeply than ever before. I am much more conscious of life, all of life and the daily miracles. Sandra has a very powerful and intuitive style. I felt truly guided on my journey, by a master. I highly recommend working with her.'
Leanne Babcock Eckman
Facilitator, Coach
New Zealand, July, 2011
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