Xibalba is the Mayan underworld, the “place of fear.” The prophets and day-keepers of the Yucatan described this as the dark rift in the Milky Way. This is the place of our beginning and of our return. According to lore, the gates of Xibalba would open before the great planetary alignment that would occur on December 21, 2012.
Recently, I read an article entitled Milky Way’s Giant Black Hole Awoke from Slumber 300 Years Ago authored by scientists Robert Naeye and Rob Gutro of the Goddard Space Flight Center. It seems that the gigantic black hole at the center of our galaxy, with a mass that is more than 4 million times that of our sun, has awakened from a long sleep, and begun to emit huge outbursts of radiation. read more >
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My Brilliant Image
One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence
That has cast my brilliant image!
I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The Astonishing Light
Of your own Being!
Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz |
This stunning sequel to 2012: The Odyssey answers many of our deepest questions about the great transition our species will face in the next four years. The film delves even more deeply into the 2012 prophecies, than the original.
The Q’ero and Alberto, who are showcased in the film, remind us that although this time carries certain dangers, it also holds potent opportunities. It is a time to return to the feminine and to heartfelt practices that honor our Mother Earth. It is a time to become luminous warriors. read more >
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This month we are delighted to highlight Senior Staff member Victoria Johnson. Victoria lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville North Carolina where she has a full time shamanic practice. In addition to her ongoing assistance in the Healing the Light Body School and several masters classes she was also the coordinator for the Kids of the Future Program this last year in Peru. Victoria has been married for 19 years and to her delight both her husband and son are mesa carriers.
We are thrilled to announce that Victoria is the new coordinator for the Munay-Ki program where she will be taking her love of the rites and working with kids even deeper. Victoria will also be taking a lead role this coming year in giving staff talks about the Light Body School, so look for her in Seattle, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Ashland, and Los Angeles. Victoria shares, “I am passionate about sharing this medicine in every moment.” So if you’d like a down to earth informative introduction to this work please come join the Four Winds and Victoria.
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Image copyright John Weiskopf
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The Ancient Ones here knew that there was a relationship between time and light. That light has no time.
Nothing can travel at the speed of light, but light itself.
If we approach the speed of light, we must become light.
When we become light – an Inka, a child of the Sun
– then time is dissolved.
Don Antonio Morales to Alberto Villoldo, Island of the Sun
At this time of year, during our Winter Solstice ceremonies, we celebrate the return of the light. This ancient commemoration, on December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, is filled with the imagery of light – fires, holiday lights, beautiful candles and starlight. Winter Solstice also serves to remind us to let our own radiant light shine for ourselves and the world.
As Linda’s message suggests, first we may need to deeply honor and be grateful for where we are right now – our shadow and our light, our masculine and feminine, our opposites – without trying to force a resolution. In this way, we bring the light of compassion to our personal healing and that which needs to shift or die can do so gracefully. In our featured ceremony, Linda encourages us to create our own Winter Solstice rite, so that this profound honoring can occur.
Alberto’s letter this month tells us that even our Milky Way Galaxy was created from a great place of darkness and emptiness. As we approach that great galactic alignment on December 21, 2012, when our solar system perfectly aligns with the center of our galaxy, we understand clearly that we are a microcosm of this cosmic event. This is a fitting metaphor for the birth of our own light from the darkest places within us.
The Mayan prophecies of the Sixth Day encourage us to spread our light into the world – by dreaming big and powerful dreams of service and unity, and manifesting these dreams. Four Winds’ exceptional programs all promote the deep healing of the light body. We are now offering workshops and healing programs throughout the world. As Four Winds grows internationally, it is easy to envision a tapestry of global light developing, especially as our graduates fully step into their paths of service.
Our Peru expeditions are inner pilgrimages and journeys of illumination. These extraordinary trips take place in some of the most sacred and powerful light filled places on the planet and accelerate our soul’s growth. Please take a moment to read Linda’s Featured Program column on our Peru journeys and view Alberto's gracious invitation to Peru this summer. Reservation forms are available for all of our journeys on our website. Please join us!
Wishing you beautiful holidays filled with peace and light,
The Four Winds Staff
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Each year we travel to the roots of our medicine teachings. Students have the opportunity to spend intimate time with the medicine men and women who are the keepers of the prophecies and who lead us in ceremony at the most sacred places in the Andes. The Four Winds Society has been leading expeditions to Peru for over 30 years.
On the journey you learn that you can step outside of ordinary time and taste infinity. You are welcomed as friends by a lineage of shamans who preserve the teachings and healing practices of ancient America. We sit in ceremony at timless temples where you rediscover your essential purpose and come into right relationship with all of life.
The Via is built around the Four Insights–the wisdom teachings of the master shamans. Alberto facilitates the journey as you discover the steps to knowledge and power of the Medicine Wheel. The Via is an extraordinary expedition to Sacred Peru. In addition, you experience individual energy sessions with “Curanderos Andinos” (Shamans and Healers).
The journey begins in the Sacred Valley near Cusco, amid 20,000 foot high glaciers. We travel to Quillarumiyok, the temple of the moon and to the Temple of the Falcon at Pisaq, perched atop a breathtaking mountain with cascading terraces overlooking the Wiilcamayu River. We will also visit and do ancient ceremony at Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman, and Tipon, the Temple of the Waters. We spend a day at Machu Picchu, the most prized Inka religious center and receive rites of passage at Moray, the Temple of the Mother Earth. This journey is filled with study, play, ceremony and feasting! The Via is an opportunity to experience ancient Peru and follow the Shaman’s path into the heart of transformation.
One student commented “What ever you do, you have to go to Peru. What you will experience is beyond words.” If you are interested in the Via or any of our other expeditions to the Holy Mountains, Amazon, or Lake Titicaca please call the Four Winds Office or email us>
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This month, we have much to report in International News!
Canada – Our recent South class in Canada was taught by Ona Sachs, and assisted by Heidi McBratney. A makeup South class is scheduled for February 23-28, 2009. We are thrilled with the size and dedication of the group and are grateful for Heidi’s assistance in growing the class to 35 students.
Australia - We have experienced great interest in Four Winds’ upcoming workshops “down under” in Australia. In February, Alberto will hold introductory talks in Sydney and Melbourne. On March 27 Linda will begin our first-ever Healing the Light Body South class near Melbourne!
We are delighted to welcome Chris Hooper, of Chris Hooper Productions, who is promoting our work in Australia. She has produced and promoted spiritual events in Australia since the early 1970s. Chris’s overall vision in working with Four Winds is to expand our reach throughout Australia. In addition, HLB graduate Billie Dean will be working with her network of students to support their registration process, and Maggie Adkins will be assisting with outbound calls. Thanks so much to our Australia team!
Europe - To better support our European students, we are pleased to announce that Four Winds graduates Simon Sharp and Annie McKenna are now official employees of the Four Winds serving English-speakers in Europe. They join Rabea Korherr, our German-speaking representative, to support students and potential students with the registration process. In addition, Simon and Annie work as a team to promote our classes at trade shows, such as the recent Mind, Body and Soul event in Cambridge. They also manage the Four Winds product sales at shows and classes to help meet the growing demand for books and shaman tools. We are thrilled to welcome this beautiful couple to our staff!
Alberto’s European Tour - In Spring 2009, Alberto will hold talks in London, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Bern. He is looking forward to visiting these spectacular cities and to sharing this amazing work there. |
The Luminous Energy Field contains a template of how we live, how we age, how we heal, and how we might die.
Alberto Villoldo |
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This coming weekend marks the Winter Solstice here in the northern hemisphere. Historically, there have been more rituals and ceremonies associated with the winter solstice than any other seasonal celebration. Typically, this time of the year has been celebrated as the transition of light versus dark, cold versus warmth, abundance versus shortage, and life versus death. In the past, people in the northern climates have tended to view this time as the critical time of the year for survival. Ceremonies were held to assist the turning of the sun and to celebrate the coming of the light. read more >
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This month’s featured ceremony is how to create your own personalized ceremony. The language of the soul is images, fairy tales and poetry, and how we work at the level of the soul is through ceremony and ritual. Ceremony and ritual is embedded in all cultures and religions, and is very evident at this holiday season through candles lit, prayers said in specific ways, gifts given and opened in a particular way, and what and when we eat.
read more >
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There are two kinds of people in this world: There are those who are dreamers and those who are being dreamed.
Alberto Villoldo
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It's the best we've EVER had! Perfect for holiday entertaining and gift giving.
link to recipe >
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Have you sought a deeper understanding of yourself and the spiritual world? Have you followed the popular prescriptions for enlightenment and still found yourself unsatisfied? Do times of chaos and change weigh heavy on your heart and mind? How will you take your next step toward lasting peace and wisdom?
"Return To The Sacred: Ancient Pathways to Spiritual Awakening" is an extraordinary guide to understanding the importance of spiritual practice and the great diversity of paths that are available to you. read more>
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We have been so pleased with the amazing response we have received for our newsletter! In an effort to give you the most up to date news about our Four Winds community we hope you will take a moment to fill out a one question survey.
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