I sit here in my four season porch this morning watching the snow fall, it is so pretty and serene. Winter Solstice is almost here, December 21. I am thinking about this past year and how much I had fun teaching feng shui, space clearing, drum making and Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song ascension process. I had a very busy year traveling to different states to teach and teaching from my sanctuary (my home). I reflect on what I know about this time of year and I snuggle in to imagine, to dream, to sow the seeds that will germinate over the coming months.

Ted Andrews, author of Nature Speaks, calls the Winter Solstice the Awakening of the Magician. He states that the Winter Solstice is a time to slow down outer activities, deeper meditations, strong angel contact, intuition, healing, new birth, emotions and dream work.

My thoughts go to the Celtic Ancients and the Native American Medicine Wheel. The Celts called this time of year the Betwixt and Between (where magic occurs). When contemplating the Medicine Wheel, the Winter Solstice (and the Summer Solstice) ride the cross winds of the Wheel. These cross winds are like a switch that brings change – a pause between a change in Nature. When I think about this pause, it feels like the top or bottom of a full breath. When at the top or bottom of a breath it is the time when we are either about to inhale or about to exhale — change.

The Winter Solstices are opportune times to bring completion of what has gone before and to fix intentions for what will come as we plant the seeds that seem to be dormant but are gathering strength to push through the soil in the Spring. The Winter Solstice is the time to go within and sort out what intentions will be brought forth. For me this such an exciting time.

In Kenneth Meadows book, Earth Medicine, the wind is North North West (NNW) on the Medicine Wheel—Renewal Time. The north winds encourage patience and inward growth, a renewal of the mind and body. The north winds also assist to establish intent and purpose. The north is the direction of the mind and things in the mind – knowledge and wisdom.

The Goose is the Birth and Animal Totem for the NNW December 22 through January 19. Those born under the Goose Totem have imaginative minds, a great Dreamer.

In my work with Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song, which is an ascension process system, I use numerology. In numerology the new year begins on the Winter Solstic, December 21. So for instance, if you were born on December 22, 1986, your birth year is 1987. The reason the new year begins on the Winter Solstice is because it is the return of the light. The return of the light cleanses the soul and the soul prepares for the new year.

As we prepare to exhale that full breath on December 21, Winter Solstice, we are at the place to begin to dream about the coming year and what we would like to create.

Thank you for reading Between the Beats.

I look forward to connecting with you again. Wishing you a wonderous, magical and joyful Winter Solstice.
Neshi

All Rights Reserved. Copyright, December 2008, Yvette Neshi Lokotz.

It has been a very long time since I wrote a blog article. I have been busy teaching and traveling to teach. I am very happy to be able to sit down and write this post.

I love this time of year — The Autumn Equinox. The weather is more moderate with warm afternoons and cooler nights. It is almost sweatshirt weather during the day. You can just barely feel a coldness at the end of a breeze.

Taking time to clean out closets, the basement and garage feels like we are preparing for the coming winter. The maple trees around our home are beginning to change into their colorful coats and even some are losing their leaves already. Even my teaching schedule is starting to wind down. I am teaching next week a space clearing 6 day certification course, a drum making workshop in the state of New York November 1 and my last drum making workshop in Wisconsin (Aquarian Gardens in New Lisbon)November 8. After that last drum making workshop, I will be snuggling in for the winter as I prepare for the 2009 courses.

I love what Ted Andrews wrote in his book Nature Speak about the Autumn Equinox.  He calls the Autumn Equinox the Beginning the Hero’s Journey.  This is the time of year that is about endings and beginnings.  This is a time of new starts as we clean out the old.  We have a harvest this year.  We had an abundant year of inner work, peace, solitude and joy.

As we begin the Hero’s Journey, I am planning gardens for the next growing season. I am planning my courses for 2009 and setting dates.I will continue to teach certification courses in Interior Alignment™ (instinctive feng shui and space clearing), guiding Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song™ ascension groups, teaching sacred geometry,drum making, Medicine Wheel Feng Shui and Space Clearing™, Beauty Space and Balance Advanced Space Clearing, and holding the Sacred Space Fellowship August 2009.

Thanks for reading Between the Beats.

Blessed Autumn Equinox,
Neshi

All Rights Reserved. Yvette Neshi Lokotz, Copyright September 2008.

Hot August days and nights brings to mind the old adage Dog Days of Summer. Now, I don’t know about you but I never really knew what that meant other than it is hot outside. I never really knew what dogs had to do with this saying much less if it could be linked to ascension work.

In my studies of sacred geometry, 12 strand DNA, and soul clearing for Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song, I found that in Egypt when the planet Sirus comes up over the horizon in July that marks the “new year”.  According to the book, The Sirus Mystery, the Egyptian New Year was when the Nile flooded bringing fertile soil to the region. It also meant brought warmer weather.

The planet Sirius is known as the Dog Star by many people including the Dogon Tribe in Africa. I am not entirely sure how the Dog Star was brought into English language and Western culture. The Dog Days of Summer relate to the Dog Star, planet Sirius. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky.

In Anne Brewer’s book, Power of 12, she states that Beings from the planet Sirius and the Pleiades brought the 12 strand DNA to planet Earth. As Being from Planet Earth we share our history with both Sirius and the Plaides. At first I was not sure if I believed this information. But, then if we are all truly connected through out the Universe then why couldn’t our 12 strand DNA information come from somewhere else.

It isn’t all that far fetched as most Americans attribute their genetic DNA from other continents, like Europe. As I studied 12 strand DNA material and also went through the process of reconnecting my 10 strands into my eneretic bodies 5 years ago, I realized that this is another creation story. A galatic creation story.

This past winter I found a picture in a local newspaper from Fort McCoy. The fort has many hundreds of acres of land. They placed motion cameras out in the “wild”.  A few winters ago the cameras photographed a wolf pack. Since we are in the Dog Days of Summer, I thought it would be nice to share a cool winter scene along with a look at wolves.  Enjoy.

Two Wolves at night

Blessings, Neshi.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright, Yvette Neshi Lokotz, August 2008.

I recently finished teaching two separate groups of Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song™.  Our last class in each of the groups had a feeling of happiness and at the same time not wanting to have the group end.  Each group stated that they would miss our time together when we share our progress in the course and all the synchronicities that occur during the time of the course.

At the beginning of every group, I mediate on that particular group of people to feel their group energy and also to ask for assistance from my Spiritual Team, my guides, to be a conduit of divine energy as a facilitator (guide) for this particular group.  This meditation begins the setting of the sacred space for the course. 

For every course gathering and there are at least 8 gatherings, I create an altar for the group.  This altar contains stone or crystals that represent the Four Directions, a plant or flowers, a candle, special altar clothes, Japanese incense, and a symbol of the Divine such as Kwan Yin, Archangel Michael or Archangel Metatron. 

Prior to each gathering, I also do a space clearing (removing stuck or stagnant energy) for the room we are using and asking the room be filled with high vibrational energies that will support those attending the class, such as Love, Peace, and Friendship.  By creating Sacred Space, we are divinely supported and protected while we learn about sacred geometry, DNA re-connection and soul clearing.  We have a space that supports our sharing of personal journeys, a place where we can relax and allow our true essence to emerge.

As I prepare the sacred space for each group, the preparations are unique and individual to each group and to the space we gather in.  For instance, in a public space such as our last space in the Quarry Arts Building in Madison, I am clearing residual energies from the previous users of the space, which could be several layers of residual energy.  This kind of clearing is much different than clearing my own home for the gathering of the Tomah groups.  In my home, I am clearing residual energies but more about family life. 

I am very grateful to be of service to the people who attend the Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song™ ascension courses.  In this service, I am most honored to assist in creating a sacred space that supports each of the souls in attendance as they learn how to become a multi-dimensional Being who lives their Earth life in a more conscious way.

All rights reserved.  Copyright, Yvette Neshi Lokotz, 2008.

Winter Solstice       

Awakening the Magician Dec 21-23

According to Ted Andrews in his book Nature Speak, the Winter Solstice is a time to slow down outer activities, deeper medications, strong angel contact, intuition, healing, new birth, emotions and dream work.

He also writes that Archangel Gabriel – Giving Birth to Feminine Energies, Creative Energies is the primary angelic realm for the Winter Solstice.  Gabriel is known as the archangel of Love and Hope.  Gabriel assists in the purifying, elevating, and spiritualizing of humanity.  Gabriel is the guardian of the sacred waters of life – the seed and the egg in the male and female.

“Winter Solstice triggers a time in which the Inner Light is kindled in spite of outer darkness.  It is a time to give birth to and awaken the higher self.  Spiritual impulse is born anew within us, adding light and strengthening the love principle within our life.” Ted Andrews

As I consider what Ted wrote about Archangel Gabriel, I connect this wisdom to sacred geometry and ascension information. In sacred geometry the Vesica Piscis is the overlapping of two circles.  In the overlapped portion is the divine energy of Light. When the energy of Light is brought forth, is the balancing of male and female energies (Mer).

In sacred geometry the overlapping of circles creates the Fruit of Life, the Tree of Life and ultimately the Flower of Life also known as the Seed of Life.  The building blocks of all life are found within the Flower of Life known as Metatron’s Cube.  I find it fascinating that Archangel Gabriel is the guardian of the sacred waters as this Archangel is also known for being the announcer of divine messages.

Sowing of seeds for the coming year: These seeds are seeds of abundance, prosperity, love and illumination.

As I consider the link between Ted Andrews’s perspective and that of the Medicine Wheel, I begin to think about how it feels to be in that place of between.  Right now we are in that energy of what the Celtic Ancients called Betwixt and Between (where magic occurs).  When contemplating the Medicine Wheel, the Winter Solstice (and the Summer Solstice) ride the cross winds of the Wheel.  These cross winds are like a switch that brings change – a pause between a change in Nature.  When I think about this pause, it feels like the top or bottom of a full breath.  When at the top or bottom of the breath it is the time when we are either about to inhale or about to exhale — change.

Solstices are opportune times to bring completion of what has gone before and to fix intentions for what will come as we plant the seeds that seem to be dormant but are gathering strength to push through the soil in the Spring.  The Winter Solstice is the time to go within and sort out what intentions will be brought forth.

In Kenneth Meadows book, Earth Medicine, the wind is North North West (NNW) on the Medicine Wheel—Renewal Time.   The north winds encourage patience and inward growth, a renewal of the mind and body.  The north winds also assist to establish intent and purpose.  The north is the direction of the mind and things in the mind – knowledge and wisdom.

The Goose is the Birth and Animal Totem for the NNW December 22 through January 19.  Those born under the Goose Totem have imaginative minds, a great Dreamer.As we prepare to exhale that full breath on December 22, Winter Solstice, we are at the place to begin to dream about the coming year and what we would like to create.

May your Winter Solstice, Yule Tide, Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza be loving and joyful.  Many Blessings, Neshi.

Between the Beats   –    A Rare Meeting              

As summer turns to autumn here in Tomah Wisconsin, I love the maple trees vibrant colors.  The colors are deep reds, bright oranges, and yellow gold.  We have many maple trees on our property and so as I look up into the blue sky through the trees; it is like looking through a kaleidoscope.  There are so many leaves falling off the trees that if you close your eyes, it sounds like rain.

This summer has been an interesting journey for me.  The summer seemed to fly by very quickly this year.  Of course, it feels that way almost every year.  One of my most interesting memories of this summer is my rare meeting with a wolf.  As I sit here and recall this meeting, I am taken back to that July morning when I looked into the eyes of a single wolf.

The July morning was sunny and heavy with dew from the night before.  I was to drive to my parent’s home, about an hour from me, to take my elderly mother to a medical appointment.  I left my home at about 7:00 in the morning.  To drive to my parent’s home, I have to drive through the Necedah Wildlife Refuge.  There were few travelers on Hwy 173 that morning.  The Wildlife Refuge is a straight, lonely stretch of highway.  Both sides of the road are forested with areas of marsh.  It is very likely to see wild turkeys crossing the road as well as fox.  I see many hawks and turkey vultures flying through this area as well.  What I don’t see are a lot of housing and people.  The refuge is beautiful with all its shades of green and browns.

I was about 2 miles from the end of Hwy 173 and in that section of the refuge is where I saw what I thought at first was a dog, come out of a grassy lane.  I slowed way down as I thought this “dog” was going to cross the road in front of me.  Instead the “dog” turns right and began to lope along between the shoulder of the road and the ditch line.  As I watched, I thought maybe it was a coyote.  There are many coyotes in Wisconsin as well.  As I drove closer and very slowing the “dog/coyote” was watching my SUV.

As I came closer, the “dog” and I locked eyes. We looked right into each other’s eyes for what felt like a very long time.  In fact it felt like time stopped.  We looked at each other so long that I had to turn my head to my left until I couldn’t see it anymore unless I turned completely in my car seat.  The “dog/coyote” did the same thing. He watched me, turned his head toward me until the point where in order to see me he would have had to turn around.

I looked in my rearview mirror to see the “dog/coyote” continue to lope down the ditch line and then leap into the woods.  There were no other cars on the highway, just me going about 5 miles an hour.  I wondered why this animal came to me.  I began to think about Animal Totems and Power Animals.

I shared my story with my mother and my husband.  My mother asked me if I was sure it was a coyote.  She said it could have been a wild dog or even a wolf.  I was sure that it was a coyote although, I have not seen a coyote in the wild nor have I seen a wolf in the wild.  My husband asked me the same questions.  I described the size to my husband and he looked for a picture of a wolf on the internet.  When I saw the picture, I realized that it was a wolf that I saw.  It was a wolf that I made direct eye contact with and connected with him in such a mysterious way.

I remember his dark, black eyes.  His stare was unwavering.  His gaze felt like he knew me.  We were so interested in each other.  My personal feelings and thoughts about a Wolf is that they are social with other wolves and they mate for life.  I know that they are territorial and loyal to their family.

I looked up Wolf Medicine in Ted Andrews’ book, Animal Speak.  According to Ted, the wolf represents guardianship, ritual, loyalty, spirit, the full moon, and twilight.  Wolf can be friendly, social, and highly intelligent and live by hierarchical structure.  Wolf Medicine is to know who you are and to develop strength, confidence and surety in that so that you don’t have to demonstrate and prove yourself to all.  Wolf Medicine symbolizes true freedom and discipline.  Ted continues with, “It is time to breathe new life into your life rituals. Find a new path, take a new journey, and take control of your life.  You create it and direct it.  Do so with harmony and discipline, and then you will know the true spirit of freedom.”

In the Medicine Cards, Wolf Medicine is the pathfinder, the forerunner of new ideas who returns to teach and share medicine.  The cards also say that in the Great Star Nation, Wolf is represented by the Dog Star, Sirius, which legend tells us the original home of our teachers in ancient times.  Sirius was thought to be the home of the gods by the ancient Egyptians, and still considered so by the Dogon tribe of Africa. Wolf would not come to you unless you requested the appearance of the tribe’s greatest teacher.

I believe that my rare meeting with Wolf was about finding that new path.  It was about that time that I decided to teach Medicine Wheel Feng Shui and Space Clearing.  I will also be combining Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song with the Medicine Wheel Feng Shui and Space Clearing to support ascendees as they consciously walk their path to ascension.  In Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song ascension process, we work with the Pleaides/Sirian council, so having an Wolf Totem come to me is very significant as it represents the Sirian aspect of the ascension work and study.

Many Blessings of Peace and Joy.  Neshi.

All rights reserved.  Copyright, Neshi Lokotz, 2007.

This summer has sped by so fast.  It seems that it was just June and here we are near the end of September.  Today is a full moon, actually a Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is said to be both a sign of completion and new beginnings.  For me, this is the end of summer and the beginning of cooler days heading into winter.

As I think about this past summer a couple of really interesting events occurred.  As a child I grew up being told to be aware of my surroundings, to pay attention to nature.  Now, I know this sounds like a stereotyped Native American “thing”, but it is true. Nature tells us so much if we only watch and listen.  There are two occurrences that stand out in my mind from this past summer that include a female cardinal and a wolf. 

In Wisconsin, we have such beautiful June weather.  This past June it was warmer and humid than usual and I finally made the decision to turn the air conditioning on.  As the temperature became cooler in the evening, I turned off the air and opened windows. As I opened my bedroom window, rather fast, I frightened a bird.  As the bird screeched, I screamed because it startled me too.  The next morning, I looked out the window to find a nest with a female cardinal sitting in the nest.

Over the next few days the cardinal and my family became comfortable with each other.  I opened and closed the window slowly.  The cardinal became a costumed to my dog’s barking and jangling of her collar.  I peered carefully out the window to see how Ms. Cardinal was doing from time to time. 

I noticed that she had laid an egg.  I took out my camera to take pictures of this about to be mother and her about to be hatched egg.  On July 7, the baby cardinal broke through its shell and came peeping into this world. We woke every morning to Ms. Cardinal singing to her baby and the baby making peeping to be feed.  On occasion, when checking on the new family, I noticed the father cardinal coming to feed the baby.  Ms. Cardinal would be only a few branches away as dad feed the baby.

Baby birds grow so fast.  In a matter of 3 weeks the baby went from a very small featherless dot to 3 or 4 times its size with beautiful grey brown feathers. There were just hints of what would become red feathers.

On July 16, I heard such commotion outside my bedroom window.  I could hear two cardinals singing and making their own whistling sound across the way from the nest.  The mother and father cardinal were singing encouragement to their young bird to fly as he was sitting on a branch outside the nest.  The next thing I saw was the baby cardinal taking flight to his parents.  I was happy and sad at the same time.  I was happy for the baby fledgy as he flew into the next phase of his life.  I was sad to know that I would not have my neighbor cardinals to visit each day and hear their songs so close by.

Of course, being the good researcher that I am, I looked up Cardinal wisdom.  According to Ted Andrews, the cardinal energy is about renewal, vitality through recognizing self importance. They have a year round power and a rhythm of 12 (12 hours, days, months and years).  Cardinals lay 3-4 eggs that hatch in 12 days.  They reside year round – 12 months, which reflects the rhythm of 12 that is going to become more prominent within your own life.

Cardinal whistles are reminders to listen closely to pay attention to what is blowing on the winds. The female whistle is to remind us to listen to our inner voice, for our health and well being.  The cardinal totem-female, reflects the need to assert the feminine aspects of creativity and intuition more strongly.

Being blessed with the cardinal family, especially mother and baby meant so much to me.  Energetically, their presence was of high importance as they represented the Ascension work and Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song.  I had begun my summer wondering if I was meant to continue to guide others through the Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song journey.  As I was contemplating this possibility is when the female cardinal came to nest.  So, Spirit answered my query.  As we begin the Autumn days that will roll into winter, I start two new Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song ascension groups.  One will be starting in Appleton Wisconsin in October and the other will be starting in Madison Wisconsin in November.

Informational gatherings will be held in Appleton on Sunday, September 30 at the Windows of Light from 1pm-3pm.  In Madison the informational gathering will be on Monday, October 29 from 7pm-9pm at the Quarry Arts Building.

I will tell you about my wolf encounter in my next visit with you at the Two Feathers blog.

Many Blessings, Neshi.

All Rights reserved.  Copyright, Neshi Lokotz, 2007.

Today is a beautiful day here in Tomah Wisconsin.  This is my first Autumn Equinox ceremony done by myself.  I am usually with friends and family.  It is unusual but very serene and peaceful.  I created an Earth Medicine Wheel on my property for the ceremony.  I took my time as I selected stones from the land, listening to which would like to join the ceremony.

I love what Ted Andrews wrote in his book Nature Speak about the Autumn Equinox.  He calls the Autumn Equinox the Beginning the Hero’s Journey.  This is the time of year that is about endings and beginnings.  This is a time of new starts as we clean out the old.  We had a great harvest this year.  We had an abundant year of inner work, peace, solitude and joy.

In the past months, I have come to know what it is to Be.  I had thought I had learned how to do this Being rather than Doing, but I had only learned a layer.  Now, I have learned what it is to be quiet, still and peaceful.  Spirit led me to this new deeper way of Being.  As we begin the Hero’s Journey, I am planning gardens for the next growing season.  This is both symbolic and actual.  I am planning my courses for 2008.  I will continue to teach certification courses in Interior Alignment (instinctive feng shui and space clearing), guiding Rainbow, 12 Gifts and A Song ascension groups, teaching sacred geometry and drum making. 

My new garden to sow seeds will be adding Medicine Wheel Feng Shui and Sacred Space to my list of courses.  I am very excited about this new part of my Soul’s Journey.  It will be a time where I will blend together all that I have learned about feng shui, sacred space, sacred geometry, ceremony, drumming, Synchro Alignment with my cultural heritage. 

I will also be co-teaching with two wonderful souls, Deb Swingholm and Minnie Kansman.  We will offer a course in advanced space clearing called Beauty, Space and Balance.  This course will be offered in June 2008. 

As I stood in the middle of the Earth Medicine Wheel and drummed my prayers, I was filled with joy and excitement to begin anew.  This new year will be different than others that I have experienced as I remember how to be quiet Being yet continue to teach. 

Blessed Autumn Equinox

Neshi