Listening to gentle rain fall on the roof as you are drifting off to sleep or to feel the ahhhh as you soak in a hot tub of water you feel the comfort from the Spirit of Water. The Spirit of Water can be so soothing and relaxing. Here in Wisconsin we have had a little too much water as rain and severe weather has brought the cleansing and clearing aspect of the Spirit of Water.

My state has been in the national news this past week due to flooding and the failure of dams or levees. We have had a lot of rain in the past few days. The most watched video of the flooding is the result of the water in Lake Delton drain after exploding through an earthen levee. In the video there are houses being torn from their foundations and float away into the Wisconsin River as the lake drained into the river.

I grew up in Wisconsin Dells and know Lake Delton well. I heard about the disaster at Lake Delton within an hour of the levee failure. The news traveled much like the water draining out of the lake…fast and furious. My husband and I drove down to the city of Lake Delton which is about an hour south of where we currently live to see for ourselves. It was sad and surreal.

We have fond memories of Lake Delton. We both worked at a giftshop/museum called Parson’s Indian Trading Post. We met and fell in love here. Paul’s family owned a summer home not too far from Lake Delton near the Wisconsin River. I worked in the “Little Post” located in Tommy Bartlett’s Water Show. I learned how to waterski on this lake to impress by new boyfriend who was to become my husband. Seeing the drained lake felt much like a friend’s death. Their passing marks a new chapter and in this case a whole new book.

As I thought about all these memories and knowing Spirit of Water, I had to consider that maybe this “disaster” is really nature balancing it self. The Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton area changed so much over the last few decades. It went from a place where people vacationed to be close to nature to a place where people vacation to play in water parks, miniture golf and enjoy carnival type rides. There is a lot of concrete and black top. There is also a lot of hotel and motels to house all those coming to vacation. Once a long time ago, vacationers came to stay in lodges along the Wisconsin River and enjoy the quiet beauty of the sandstone bluffs, eagles, deer and of course watch the Native American dances.

The Spirit of Water is both gentle and powerful. As we can see it can be a major player in a space clearing. In the Medicine Wheel the Spirit of Water is one of the four elements and resides in the south winds or the west winds depending on the belief system of many Native American Nations. The spirit of Water represents or symbolizes emotions.

I pray that those affected by the recent flooding be blessed with a multitude of angels that can help them heal and find peace as they continue on the soul’s journey. I also pray that nature finds its balance gently and easily for the highest good of all.

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

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

Come join us at a Spiritual Gathering in Olivet Michigan for the Great Lakes Retreat….Where Heaven and Earth Meet. I will be presenting Sacred Drum Making, overview of Medicine Wheel Feng Shui and the story of my Healing Dress at the Great Lakes Retreat this year.

The Great Lakes Retreat begins on Sunday, July 20, 2008 and ends on Friday, July 25, 2008. We are meeting at Olivet College in Olivet Michigan. (www.thegreatlakesretreat.org)

My good friend and collegue Minnie Kansman is also presenting at the Retreat. She is presenting on her book Spirit Gardens: Rekindling our Nature Connection,as well as Fairy Houses and Altars.

I am looking forward to teaching at the Great Lakes Retreat and to spend time with friends. If you are looking for a week where you can learn about spiritual topics, rest, relax and have fun….register by going the Great Lakes Retreat website. See you there!

Imagine walking up the side walk to a home’s front door. The side walk is lined with flowers and green plants. You see and hear an outdoor water fountain near the front door. The front door area is so inviting, warm and friendly with the tinkling sounds of a wind-chime. As you knock on the door you are met by the owner who has a warm smile recognizing you as a friend.  As you step into the doorway your eye catches a table with a beautiful cloth draping it.

You manage a warm hello for your friend, but the table keeps drawing your attention. As you walk further into the home, you walk directly to the beautiful table. On the table you see a lit candle, smell a fragrant incense and you reach out to feel the soft texture of the silk cloth. There is also a statue on the this beautiful table and a small vase of pretty flowers. The statue is of a woman in standing position with the palm of her hands touching each other as if in prayer at chest height.

The scene I just described is how Chi is invited to the front door and into the home. The table with beautiful items placed on it is an altar. Actually a particular altar known as a protection or guardian altar that is found near the front door and off to the side of the front door (not directly across the door).  The statue is a statue of Kwan Yin in a protective mudra.

I recently read a book by Daniela Schenker called Kuan Yin, Assessing the Power of the Divine Feminine.  Ms. Schenker goes into great depth about Kuan Yin. I appreciated this depth and sharing as I have fondness and connection to Kuan Yin. I have to say that this book also held another surprise gift. The forward was written by my teacher, Denise Linn. I had no idea that Denise had written this forward where she called for Kuan Yin to come and help with the birthing of a baby for a friend of hers.

Kwan Yin is a bodhisattva known for her deep compassion for all sentient beings as she hears the cries of the world.  Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have attained the wisdom of Buddhas but have postponed their final “liberation” or ascension. Instead they provide compassionate support to sentient beings in this world until they can achieve their own ascension.  She is also known as the protector of women and children.

A protection or guardian altar counteracts any lower vibrational energies such as negative thoughts from entering your home. According to Schenker, the peacock was the protector of Kuan Yin. The peacock feather holds this energy and will protect the home and its inhabitants from accidents, other disasters and can absorb negative energies.

Kwan Yin is only one example of a Helpful Person/People that can be enlisted to protect your home. You may choose from your own belief system or culture to create a beautiful guardian altar at your front door. For instance, in the “old days” Native Americans living on the great plains used the Medicine Shields which depicted the man of the home (tepee) protection. This could be in the colors used on the shield, picture of animals or birds. The shield was placed at the opening or doorway of the tepee.  It also indicated if the man of the home was in.  Other cultures may use a pair of lions at the entrance to their property (driveway) or a pair of Foo Dogs as guardians.

I believe that the most important element is your intention for the placement and also other items placed on the guardian altar. Your clear intention is the energy that holds these seemly separate items together on the altar. 

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

My journey to New Mexico began about 2 years ago.  I had just finished teaching a practitioner certification of Interior Alignment. I was spending the next couple of days cleaning and putting aware the space clearing tools and such.  As I worked, I could hear
whispers of the name Albuquerque.  My husband and I went out to dinner and as we waited for our table, we sat chatting about our day.  As I was listening to Paul, I heard another voice say in a rather loud conversational tone — Albuquerque.  I had no clue as to why or what this all meant.  Paul teased me and said that I couldn’t go there until I knew how to spell Albuquerque.  I began my research and interest in Albuquerque. 

It was almost 2 years later in September 2007 that I received an email regarding the course, The Way of the Shaman, being taught by Sandra Ingerman in Santa Fe, New Mexico in March of 2008. I loved Sandra Ingerman’s style of writing and had heard such praise for her style of teaching.  I decided the day I received the email message that I would attend this course with Sandra. I wrote out a check for the entire course fee and
mailed it off. 

I shared my decision with my good friend and fellow Interior Alignment™ Master teacher, Deb Swingholm, that I would be attending The Way of the Shaman course.
I sent Deb the class information and she too decided to attend the same course.  I still had no idea why I had to go to New Mexico, just that there was a very strong pull to go to Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

New Mexico is a beautiful state that has many different ecosystems.  We spent our first full day visiting ancient petroglyph sites at the Petroglyph National Monument Park in Albuquerque. My favorite site was the Piedras Marcadas Canyon (Canyon of the Dark Rocks).  This is the home of the densest concentration of petroglyphs along the 17 mile escarpment with 5,000 images.  Most of the images were created between 400 and 700 years ago by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo Nations. This area and the petroglyph carvings were thought to be used to conduct sacred ceremony.

Science shows that 150,000 years ago a series of volcanic eruptions flowed to create the mesa and the dark basaltic rock that were used to carve the petroglyphs. The petroglyphs contained both animal and human forms.  As we approached the trail head of the Canyon, I did a tobacco giving ceremony to ask for permission to pass into a sacred place.  I was given permission and called granddaughter. We hiked some distance, stopping occasionally to take pictures and to tune into the energy of this sacred place.

One petroglyph in particular caught my attention. The image of a woman, a female shaman, at the very back part of the canyon.  This particular carving was different from other shaman carvings as it was plain to see that this shaman had a dress on. Other shaman carvings was shown in stick person form. As I closed my eyes to feel the energy here, I felt compelled to turn and look in the opposite direction.  The view was looking down the canyon to see where it narrowed and then opened up to the valley which Albuquerque is located.  The shape of this canyon reminded me of a womb and birth canal. The female shaman petroglyph was at the very back of the womb.  She held a stick in one hand and a corn stalk in the other. I could hear drumming and women singing as I imagined what it might have been like to be there in ceremony.

As I stood in the center of the womb, giving thanks for the opportunity to experience the energy of this sacred place, I could felt in my heart that this is the reason, the
female shaman, that I was to make the sacred journey to Albuquerque. A special thanks to Ed and Yvonne Boudreaux for being such great hosts and tour guides.

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

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

I recently collaborated with two other Interior Alignment™ Master Educators, Deborah Redfern and Deb Swingholm regarding our desire to assist all certified Interior Alignment™ practitioners.  As educators of Interior Alignment™ we have a special stewardship regarding the ongoing education of current Interior Alignment™ practitioners, current Master Interior Alignment™ Teachers and of course future practitioners and teachers.

Deborah, Deb and I have been spending time researching and learning how to optimize our personal business websites.  We teamed up as we all have a passion for research and putting together puzzles. We are not experts in website search optimization, but I think we have tapped into a solid understanding of why website optimization is important and also the how to actually get basic optimization done.

If a feng shui practitioner has a business website, the basic reason for the website is for other people (future clients and students) to be to find you and the kind of services you provide.  We all know that the internet is a huge virtual space that takes some skill and self confidence to actually find what you are looking for.  By completing very basic website optimization a practitioner’s website ranking is vastly improved.  For instance, with some tweaking of meta tags and also title text changes both Deborah and I have moved our Google ranking up from “no where land” to second and third page ranking.

Each of us has placed a document of how to apply very basic optimization ideas on our business websites under Resources.  This document is in PDF form. Here is a link to my Resource page: http://www.two-feathers.org/documents/SEO_HowTo.pdf

Another great tool is Google Analytics.  This is a free service from Google.  They provide a code to track pages of your website so that you can determine if your money and energy is well spent. The statistics will also assist you in seeing how effective your website is by how many people visit your website, what pages are read and what key words they used to start their search that brought them to your website. This is fabulous information to help a practitioner to set clearer intentions for their website.

Another Interior Alignment™ practitioner or teacher may wonder why three Interior Alignment™ Master Educators would want to share such valuable information with possible competitors.  The short answer is we believe that we are here to serve and if you are a practicing Interior Alignment™ practitioner and teacher, we know that you made the conscious decision to be of service to others, your clients and students.  Personally I believe that competition is an illusion. 

Those who are meant to study with me or become a client are drawn to my unique vibration.By sharing the website optimization basic information we are assisting other Interior Alignment practitioners and teachers to become more visible to those who are attracted to their unique vibration.

When we, Interior Alignment practitioners and teachers, come together as an Interior Alignment community which is in service to others, we all prosper including and most importantly all our clients and students also prosper.

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. 

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.

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