I recently wrote a blog article for Where Energy Flows blog regarding creating an altar and space clearing my office cubicle.  I thought maybe it would be an interesting read for Between the Beats, if I shared a little bit more of that experience.

I worked in a government building with a grey concrete exterior much like most government buildings built in the 1970′s.  The last 4 or 5 months of my employment, I had many mornings where I felt like I was in the movie Joe versus the Volcano starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  In the very beginning of the movie, Tom Hank’s character, Joe, is walking toward a big grey building in which he works.  As he gets closer to the building his steps become slower and slower.  Joe then pauses for a very long while before he actually enters the building.  I know what that actually feels like.

The building I worked in is well known for its possibilities of having the Sick Building Syndrome.  I knew that in my training from Interior Alignment™ that I had options to create a sanctuary in my cubicle.  My cubicle could be a space that could support me both physically and spiritually.

I took steps to clarify my intention for my cubicle. How did I want to feel when I was there?  How could my cubicle support me in my work?  Most importantly, how could I be a role model for my co-workers?  I wanted to live by Gandhi’s famous quote, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

As I used feng shui principles in my cubicle such as adding color, placement of bookcases and binders, as well as placement of pictures and altars.  I also had to deal with a computer monitor that was situated in a way that had my back to the entrance, doorway, of my cubicle.  I placed a small round mirror next to my monitor that allowed me to see the reflection of someone standing behind me at my door.  Most of my co-workers thought I was using the mirror as a communication tool for phone calls.  You know, people can hear your frown or smile over the phone.

Once I had the feng shui set in my cubicle, I then performed a space clearing ceremony.  I went in much earlier than usual.  I created a very small and simple altar for the ceremony.  Since there was a rule about not having open flames, I still used a candle to symbolize fire, but didn’t light the candle.

I also used a very quiet method of space clearing called the Breath of God.  I couldn’t use my drum or bell as it would have been too big and too loud for the space as I was only clearning my cubicle and not the entire office.  Since I was not asked to perform a space clearing on the entire space, I could only take responsiblity for my own cubicle.

The results from creating a sacred space in my cubicle is that I had visitors.  My co-workers would stop by because it felt good in my cubicle.  The best example of how my space supported me and those who came to visit was 9/11.

I was at work that day.  I remember our receptionist telling a co-worker and I that she had just  heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.  A short time later, the receptionist came back and told us that there was a second plane that also crashed into the World Trade Center.  I remember saying to my co-worker that something was wrong and that it sounded like a terrrorist act.

As the morning wore on and our employer placed a television in our conference room, I could feel the energy shifting within the staff and office.  I went to my cubicle to be met by two co-workers sitting in my cube waiting for me.  They just wanted to be in my cubicle because they felt safe.  At one time I had 6 people in my cuble besides me.  At lunch time, I stayed and space cleared my cubicle and reset the energy.  I cleared away the released emotions from that morning.

As I look back and remember that time, I know in my heart that my cubicle was an island of comfort and safety during a time of such distress.  The intention I set for the energy of my work space is important even now as I work from my home office.

I will write a future blog article about creating an altar for space clearing.  Or, if you like, please visit http://www.wherenergyflows.com to read my articles about space clearing and feng shui that I have already written.

Thank you for reading Between the Beats.  Many Blessings.  Neshi.

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

My family members, my clan, gathers for the naming ceremony for one of our daughters.  She is a year old and will not remember this special ceremony in her honor.  Her grandfather speaks in his native language, Potawatomi, as he calls to the Creator and to all that the Creator has made.  The little girl’s grandfather holds her in his arms as he bestows her Indian name upon her.

As the child is given back to her mother, the child’s grandfather continues with the ceremony.  The name he gave to his granddaughter is of the Thunderbird Clan.  Within this family’s naming ceremony, ancestor names are carried down to the new generation so that those who have passed are remembered and honored.

I describe my own naming ceremony.  I have asked my mother questions on different occasions about that time in our lives.  As I grow older, I become curious about the ceremony itself, how my name was selected, what the feast was like, what gifts were given.  I received my Indian name at such a young age that the name has become a part of me just as much as my English name and the breath that I take. (more about this in a future blog article)

My full Indian name in Potawatomi is Bneshiqwe.  The English translation is Bird Woman. My grandfather, my Misho, shortened my name to the nick name of Neshi.  He passed away 28 years ago. After he was gone, I heard my name infrequently.  My mother calls me Neshi on rare occasion but generally writes in my birthday cards.

On Monday night, I was one of the 700,00+ attendees of the Oprah and Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth Webinar.  As they discussed the ego and labels, my thoughts drifted to our individual names.  I also had a passing thought about the  nurmerology of our names and how much numerology identifies our physical life.  More importantly, I thought about my Indian name and other non-native people who I know who have received a Spirit name.

If I received my Indian name at such a young age that I identify with a clan and totem, according to Mr. Tolle, who I am becomes entangled with the identity of a bird. Once we name or label a physical object we attach to the mental concept rahter than the essence of the object.

Following this train of thought…then, Iam called Neshi, rather than I am Neshi.  I really get that concept.  Most Native American Nations have a belief system that all things are a live and have a Spirit as we all come from the Creator/Spirit, we are connected to Spirit.  This concept of Mr. Tolle’s helps to explain how we honor and respect the life essence of all things.  How cool is that?!

Thank you for reading Between the Beats.  Migwiitch, Neshi.

All Rights Reserved.  Copyright, Yvette Neshi Lokotz, March 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.

I just returned from a trip to Arizona.  My husband and I visited the south eastern part of Arizona.  We were at Fort Huachuca around the Sierra Vista area.  Our nephew graduated from his advanced Army training and we went there to see his graduation.  We took a few extra days to explore the area. 

On December 12, an important portal day, we spent out in nature in the Huachuca Mountains.  The Huachuca Mountains are a part of the Sierra mountain range and received its name from the Apache Nation.  Huachuca translates in English as “a place of thunder”.  The mountains are known as the “Thunder Mountains”.  This area is a place of transition from the Chihuauhua-Sonoran desert and the mountains.  This is also the mountain range that Chochise and Geronimo escaped to in order to evade capture.  We have to keep in mind that at one time this place we call Arizona state was actually a part of Mexico and the Native people of that time knew of no borders between the United States and Mexico.

We hiked up part of the way to Garden Canyon which is in the Huachuca Mountains on the Vanished Trail.  Vanished Trail is 6300 feet above sea level.  There are 3 prehistoric archeological sites on Fort Huachuca that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  According to the Fort’s information, the pictographs are dated 300 – 1540 A.D.  We decided to look for the pictographs at the Garden Canyon site.

I had to look up the definition of a petroglyph and a pictograph since I didn’t know the difference between the two words.  A pictograph is a picture or picture like symbol used in a system of writing.  A petroglyph is a drawing or carving on a rock made by a member of a prehistoric people. 

The Garden Canyon pictographs consist of 53 pictures that are painted on the roof and vertical face of the rock shelter. Some of the pictographs are painted in red and black and date to circa AD 1300.  Other pictures are in black and white and date back to circa 1700. The black and white pictures are considered to be Apache drawn.

Since there are some pictures that date to the 1700’s, I can see why the archeologists use the word pictograph instead of petroglyph.  Had the only pictures been dated to the 300-1540 A.D, then we could use the word petroglyph.

I had not done any research prior to our trip so I didn’t know about the pictographs.  We stopped by the Visitors Center on the Fort and we were given a map of the area.  The map had information about the archeological sites.  We decided to try to locate the pictographs.  We were not exactly prepared to do a mile and half hike up.  In fact, I had my Skecher slip tennis shoes on!  We did have water with us.  I have not hiked to this height before and I can say that the air is definitely thinner at 6300 feet.  As we made our way up the mountain we had to jump over small mountain streams of water that came from melted snow.   The vistas were magnificent as we looked across the canyon to other parts of the mountain range.  There was ponderosa pine, barkless trees, and loads of different kinds of cacti.  We came to bends in the trail and at each bend we stopped to decide if we were going to further or not.  While at each bend we took time to rest and breathe….deciding to see what was around the next bend.

We could hear the rushing of the mountain streams, the sound of small waterfalls, birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees.  The sky was a clear bright blue.  I felt like I was at the top of the world.  At one point my husband pointed out a cactus growing in a tree.  The tree may have been dead or dying, I couldn’t tell.  Here is a picture of the cactus in the tree.

We finally made it up to the first set of pictographs – Garden Canyon Pictographs.  Before approaching the pictures, I gave tobacco to ask permission to pass and to give thanks to the Ancient Ones for leaving behind information for us.  I also gave thanks to the mountain, to the Stone People, to the water and to the trees.  We were allowed to proceed to the pictographs.  Fort Huachuca fenced off the site for its protection so I wasn’t able to touch the actual carvings.  I did sit on a rock outside the fence to connect with the Ancient Ones.  I was directed to Dance on Ancient Ground.  So, I did.  I danced next to the pictographs, honoring those Ancient Ones who left us a story and clues to their life and for ours.

As we headed down the mountain, I realized that it was 12/12.  We felt lighter and happier as we walked down the mountain.  I suggested that it may have been the negative ions from the trees and water.  But, I believe we can also include the blessing we received from the Arizona Ancient Ones.  Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. 

Many Blessings,  Neshi.

All Rights Reserved.   Copyright, Neshi Lokotz, Dec 2007.

A book review for Between the Beats.  I just finished up a book called Spirit Gardens – Rekindling Our Nature Connection, by Minnie Kansman.  I personally know the author and found a pleasant surprise – I didn’t know some items about her gardens.  Minnie takes you on a journey to her own gardens and how she connected with the Spirit of the land, and how she used feng shui to lay out her gardens.  Spirit Gardens is a book for those who are beginning gardeners and advanced gardeners who have a spiritual connection to the Earth. 

Minnie is an experienced feng shui practitioner who blended this skill with her formal education of floriculture and her life long love of gardening.  Spirit Gardens is filled with Minnie’s life experiences, feng shui information and tips, as well as ceremony and meditations. 

If you are looking for a great read, have an interest in garden feng shui and ceremony, contact Minnie at www.minniekansman.com to order your book.  In fact let her know that you found her through this blog post.  She will love the fact that there is another Interior Alignment connection.   You see, both Minnie and I are Interior Alignment practitioners and Master Educators — trained by Denise Linn.  In fact Denise wrote the Forword in Spirit Gardens.

It is my honor to suggest reading Spirit Gardens to you.  Many Blessings from Two Feathers.  Neshi

All Rights Reserved.  Neshi Lokotz, 2007.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I am contemplating how families celebrate this U.S. holiday.  The Thanksgiving Day celebration may have a “traditional” turkey dinner with football on the television or the “traditional” turkey dinner with grownups sitting at one table and children at another.  Some families remember to include gratitude when they say grace and some families are content with just being with family and their gratitude is silent.

In my family, we are a blend of cultures (North American Native American, Aztec, German, and French) we typically have celebrated this American holiday together but not necessarily for the “traditional thanksgiving dinner”.   Yes, we gather for a very large meal and yes, there may be a small turkey on the table (usually a wild harvested turkey), but we also have enchiladas, venison roast, tofu, fry bread, cranberries, wild rice and bread stuffing.  A virtual smorgasbord table of culturally diverse food fills our table.

The thanksgiving begins much earlier than the meal itself.  Some of my family members will give tobacco in the morning, some will go to church, some will be out deer hunting and communing with nature.  The sacredness of this Thanksgiving Holiday actually is year round, as my mother taught her children to give thanks to the Creator for our lives, for what we have in our lives and for our family every day. 

As, I reflect on my family’s way of celebrating Thanksgiving Day, and how I personally observe gratitude, I turn to the Medicine Wheel for a deeper understanding of this time of the year.  This year, Thanksgiving Day holiday falls in the energy of the West of the Medicine Wheel, specifically during The Frost Time – October 23-November 22.

The Frost Time Totem or birth animal is the Snake.  Snake medicine according to Kenneth Meadows, Earth Medicine, learn about patience and allow their many ideas to build in energy before sharing them with others-the art of timing.  This Birth Totem correlates with the Western Astrology sign of Scorpio.  According the Ancients, Snake is the protector of Mystery Schools, guarding access to knowledge and wisdom.

The Power Animal for the Spirit of the West is the Grizzly Bear, who is self sufficient with a profound strength that comes from within.  The Grizzly Bear hibernates in the winter and makes careful preparation during the autumn for the long sleep ahead.  The Grizzly symbolizes the energy of the West for preparation and for gathering within which can be seen as a human’s gathering of information and self knowledge.

The energy of the West brings our awareness to our physical bodies, things that are solid and holds energy.  The holding of energy is regarded by the Ancients as a reflective pause between the transfer of giving and receiving. The Celtic people called this the Betwixt and Between, where magic occurs.  In my imagination, I imagine the pause being like the top of a cleansing breath. 

As spirit with physical bodies, humans can use the energy of the West to get things organized with clear directions, like the Grizzly preparing for the coming time to draw our energies in for the Long Nights Time.  As we gather our energies, our thoughts, our knowledge we can give thanks for how the Universe/Creator provides all that we need.

May you be blessed with a bountifully abundant Thanksgiving day.

Copyright, All rights Reserved, Neshi Lokotz, November 2007

Veterans Day Observed

This past Sunday, November 11, was Veterans Day in the United States.  I would venture to say that few people observe this American holiday.  I come from a family that has served in the military and I have come to enjoy and look forward to this one day when we remember those in the military service who have passed away and those who have completed their service. 

In my family and culture, warriors, are valued and honored.  On Sunday, I attend the Veterans Day Pow-wow held at Volk Field in Camp Douglas Wisconsin.  It was a rather small gathering for a pow-wow as it was meant to be more of a social gathering rather than a competition pow-wow.  I visited with many people who I have not seen in months and even years.

I am most grateful for the time I spent with one of my Aunties.  My Auntie Della is my youngest Aunt/Mother. She will celebrate her 76 birthday in February.  Aunt Della is the person who taught me how to dance in a traditional style when I was just 6 or 7 years old.  She passed on her love of traditional dance to me.  I had such fun and joy as I danced with her and her daughter for several songs.  At one point, I was very aware how significant that moment in time was because we had not danced together in a very long time. 

On a day to honor our warriors was also a day I danced in honor of my Aunt and all that she has taught me about Native American dance.  She taught me that we are sacred dancers as we step to the beat of the drum. As we dance, with each step we take to the drum beat, the beat of Mother Earth we send prayers to Mother Earth. 

This year as in years past, my prayer is for peace.  Migwiitch for reading and spending time with me at Between the Beats.  Much Love and an Abundant of Blessings, Neshi.

All rights reserved.  Yvette Neshi Lokotz, November 2007.

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.

Between the Beats

This is my first Two Feathers article and I am very excited to write it as well as nervous. In many ways this first article catapults my dream of becoming a writer into real life. I know that this isn’t like publishing a book or a major magazine article, but the feeling is the same as if I were doing a major publication.

Between the Beats is the title of my on going writings about the services I bring to the earth as well as my insights into life. My good friend, Theresa Plenty, actually came up with the title. We were sitting in my four season porch working on the updates for Two Feathers when we knew that I would have an editors area to write articles, but needed a name or title.

Theresa connected my Native American culture/heritage, my love of drumming and drum making to my new love of writing. And, what an insightful and lyrical name she came up with for these articles! Migwiitch, thank you, Theresa.

Between the Beats refers to the dynamic area where magic occurs. I have come to learn that we are attracted to things like flower essences, drumming, the use of sacred bells or the use of certain crystals because at a soul level we are responding to that items particular and individual vibration. Like vibration attracts like vibration.

I am attracted to drumming and the sound of the drum since I was a very young child. The space between the drum beat is the sound vibration and is where the sacred geometry that is held by the sound of the drum. This space of sacred geometry is where our prayers and intentions ride as they flow out into the Universe. In Celtic tradition, this is may be the betwixt and between where magic occurs. I also believe this is the “gap” that Dr. Wayne Dyer writes about.

Two Feathers is an organization based on love and service as we assist others to claim and reveal their unique gifts and qualities for their service to others. As a teacher of feng shui, sacred space, soul clearing, drum making and as an ascension guide it is my honor to be of assistance. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to use the gifts that I came onto the Earth plane to use in my service to others. Between the Beats is one vehicle for this service. It is in gratitude that I write this article and future articles. May you find Between the Beats a place that will pique your imagination and curiosity.

Many blessings of peace and joy.
Neshi