The Four Winds Society March Newsletter

The shaman understands that all problems that we face are caused by our unhealed emotions, which distort our perception of reality. We mistakenly perceive a situation as real, and then the Universe, in its infinite wisdom, proves us right!

To solve any problem in our lives, we must heal our emotions. Otherwise we will continue perceiving ourselves as victims of circumstances, and not as heroes embarked on an epic journey. We cannot simply change our minds and see the world differently, because our way of perceiving the world is rooted in emotionally charged neural networks buried deeply in our primitive Neanderthal (limbic) brain.

Changing our minds without changing our brains is merely wishful thinking. Only when we exchange our toxic emotions can we establish new neural networks which can change our perception. Then the Universe will prove us right once again, but this time in a life affirming way. Until then, we will continue attracting to ourselves people that share the same wounds and stories we believe to be real. When we re-wire the neural networks programmed for failure, self-sabotage, shame and fear, we can redirect our life force and free ourselves from our self-created suffering.

Destiny is not something over which you seek to gain control. Control of one’s destiny is an oxymoron.
But a man or a woman of power can influence it.
Learn to dance with it.
Lead it across the dance floor of time.

Alberto Villoldo

In the northern hemisphere, we have just celebrated the vernal equinox and it is officially spring! The world is full of movement and growth again! Life itself encourages us to roll up our sleeves and jump into the process of creation.

Alberto’s letter this month deals with healing emotional pain. As Alberto shares, the Hero, or spiritual warrior, knows that our crises (whether medical, financial, or relationship) are opportunities for our Initiation and vehicles for our rebirth. Alberto explains that as a Hero, we can choose to actively undertake the process of healing our emotions, and we can let go of the need to have adversity be our teacher. Our wounds can be transmuted into compassion and wisdom so that we truly can live an authentic and powerful life - and dance with our destiny.

In her note, Linda reminds us to reside at the level of the Soul. To honor through ceremony, the places of fear and scarcity in our lives and in the world. She invites us to write a new destiny - to create an epic Soul's journey filled with abundance and joy. In this month's featured ceremony section, Linda takes us deeper into sacred time with specific steps that assist us to create the destiny we choose.

Our Making it Happen column this month features Berta Kuhnel, one of our most senior Four Winds teachers. Berta is a wonderful example of someone who is part of the solution. By bringing the teachings and practices of the medicine wheel to her local community, she is helping the community transform itself.

We are also delighted to offer three new features this month: Stepping Beyond; Dreaming the World; and Steeping in Wisdom. All of our programs at Four Winds fall into one or more of these phases of the Hero’s journey. First, we step beyond our fears. Next, we reach a place where we’ve gathered enough power to dream our world into being. Then we can steep in the wisdom that we have earned along the way and which has been so generously bestowed upon us by our beloved lineage. This month, our New Features section profiles upcoming opportunities for taking each of these steps.

Enjoy!

Sweet Spring Blessings, The Four Winds Staff

“The Shaman’s greatest enemy is fear.” - Alberto Villoldo

In our very popular Walking with Protection class, you will examine everything that stops you from stepping beyond fear and into your destiny. You’ll discover those hidden places where you are caught in powerlessness and unearth exquisite treasure!

You will dance intimately with the shadow, that repressed and rejected part of yourself (positive or negative) that you fear and unconsciously project onto others. Once the shadow is brought out into the light of consciousness and honored, it loses its power over you and profound healing and great freedom are possible.

You will learn how to protect yourself from collective fears and neutralize negativity, envy, jealousy, and what the ancients call ‘sorcery that is projected onto you by others. You’ll also discover and heal those places where you are practicing self-sorcery, which is perhaps the most toxic sorcery of all. In these times of enormous collective fear, Walking with Protection is no longer just a prerequisite for the Medicine Wheel and Healing the Light Body programs—it is a life skill!

Walking with Protection also offers an extraordinary opportunity for you to deepen your skills at tracking your own or someone else’s destiny. As part of this class, you’ll participate in powerful group healing sessions - sessions that many report to be life changing! Please join us. No prerequisite is required.

This year, we offer Walking with Protection: in May and November in Park City; in October at Omega; and in November in the UK. Please contact Karen Wilson at the Four Winds office to attend this amazing experiential class.

If you’re a master level student or graduate of the Healing the Light Body School called to helping your clients create and step into their destinies, please read further. This class is only for those choosing to walk with integrity and dedicate themselves to a path of service.

Advanced Soul Retrieval and Destiny Retrieval teaches you how to work as a master artist traveling to the realms of the underworld using the practice of Soul Retrieval, as well as how to navigate the stream of time. In class, you’ll learn to travel into timelessness and bring back to the present a destiny for your client that may not be manifested for several years. You’ll also learn how to bring back a new destiny that lies outside of your client’s current momentum tunnel and work with him or her to make that outcome a possibility.

Taught annually in Park City, Utah by Linda Fitch, Advanced Soul and Destiny Retrieval is the only class where we teach how to work with, and retrieve, destiny; for yourself and for your clients. It is one of Linda’s favorite classes to teach and in her opinion a “hands down” requirement if you are doing any client work. Open to advanced students only.

Come respond to your soul’s calling and explore a sacred journey with the Four Winds to Peru this summer. Come back to the source, to the place we call “home” for two months of the year.

Experience the jungle, the mountains, the sacred sites and make a direct connection with the lineage of medicine men and women we have studied with for over 30 years. You will hike, travel, and sit in ceremony with these medicine people daily.

On your journey you will stay in four star lodges that cater to your work. Experience lovely morning buffets of fruit, freshly squeezed juices, eggs, cheese, meats, breads, and yogurt. Add yoga, meditation, or an individual healing session to help hold your transformation and stillness.

Your trip is personal. You will align with who you are becoming through sacred ceremony on ancient sites like Machu Picchu, Pisaq, Quillarumiyak, and Sacsayhuaman. You will be held in community and have the opportunity to connect with like minded journeyers.

Step in now. What you experience in ceremony will source you forever. You will align at the place of your soul with the destiny that calls you.

We are truly honored to journey with you and look forward to seeing you in Peru. Remember our trips sell out each year, so reserve your place now! Call or email us for more information. learn more >

Dance, when you’re broken open.
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you’re perfectly free.

Rumi

When I first heard the word 'destiny' it brought shivers up my spine, feelings of intrigue and unfathomable curiosity. Even after years of teaching the Advanced Destiny class the shivers are still there and the curiosity has deepened to amazement and gratitude.

To live in a place where you are free to create what you want for your life again and again and to assist your clients and loved ones in doing the same is one of the great gifts of the shaman’s path. To understand destiny requires us to recognize the place of the body and heal the place of the mind and emotions - to take up residence in the place of the soul.