On October 11th, many people across the country will be celebrating National Coming Out Day. Coming out is the process in which a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) individual embraces their sexuality and discloses it to others. National Coming Out Day was founded twenty years ago on October 11, 1988- one year to the day after the second March On Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and the display of the AIDS quilt at the National Mall. This day is intended to raise awareness of issues facing the LGBTQ community, and also to encourage support for our friends and family members who may be coming out on this day.
The Human Rights Campaign has organized The National Coming Out Project and more information can be found at http://www.hrc.org/issues/coming_out.asp

~Circle

Posted under Announcements, Articles

For me, winter is like weaving in the dark. I’m working at gathering thoughts and creating my web. Instead of seeing it glistening in the clarity of the morning, I leave those thoughts to gather cobwebs in the dark corners of my mind. With winter comes the urge to store things, and I begin to horde negative thoughts like a pack rat. Winter also encourages procrastination, so those unhealthy thoughts are left unprocessed and free to pollute the good with the bad.

It is during the last days of winter when I begin to feel the physiological consequences of the negative emotions that I have been storing. I may get a cold that I can’t kick, I won’t feel rested after sleep, or my thoughts will become increasingly jumbled. The body follows the mind’s lead, and being neglectful of keeping your mind healthy will lead to sickness of both. Having your mind cluttered with negativity suppresses the immune system, and we cannot utilize our mind/ body connection to stay well.

This can be especially important for women, as we seem to have a harder time focusing on self-care. It is important to find the time to nurture our own minds and bodies, just as we do for those around us. Women also worry much more than men and excessive worry will eventually manifest itself in the form of physical illness. Women hold onto negative thoughts and emotions because we feel that if we own them, we are in control. This is a self-defeating strategy, because if we allow them to clutter our minds and hold us back, they become what controls us. We can eat well, exercise, and care for our bodies, but if we neglect our minds we won’t ever have true health.

It is important to take the time to detoxify the mind and eradicate negative clutter. Just as we maintain our physical homes by regular cleaning, we have to work to keep our minds orderly and clear of debris. There are different techniques that we can use to accomplish this. I focus on releasing these things in the shower and letting them wash away. Some may create a fire and visualize letting them rise with the smoke and drift off, others may write them down into a journal, or visualize their minds through meditation.

No matter the technique, the important thing to do is to acknowledge each thought you decide to purge and examine it. You may not let them all go, but the ones you keep need to be arranged in their proper places. As you process them, you need to consciously release despair, bitterness, resentfulness, stress, and jealousy. Let go of grudges, as they are especially harmful to our own well-being.

An uncluttered mind is a powerful medicine for our bodies. As spring approaches, think of your mind as a garden. Free your space of weeds and pollution and make room for health energy to grow and thrive. Nurture your mind, spend time in nature, and pay attention to the natural balance of the world around you. Make it a goal to try and protect yourself by keeping the garden of your mind clean. Most importantly, trust in your ability to heal yourself. ~Holly

Posted under Articles, Original Works

First of all, I would like to acknowledge this article as a lesson from my mother. This an art that she passed down to me, along with her personal beliefs on what the gourd represents. The gourd represents that shell that holds and supports us. We are taught to treat others with respect, but often overlook treating ourselves with gentleness. It is important to care for what has been given to us by the Earth.

The life and purpose of the gourd can be compared to that of humans. The seeds are put into fertile ground where different forces join together to nurture it. Just like our own children, the seeds unfold and learn to adapt to whatever environment has been created. We grow on the vine that connects us to those that thrive alongside. We bask in the sun’s warmth and drink in the flow of clean water.

Then the winds change and we stop physically growing. We are released from the comfort of the vine and left unprotected. The environment warms and cools us to the extreme. As time passes, we become scarred and layered with thick molds. Our true blemishes are revealed, and our strengths reflected in the brightness and clarity of light. It is then that we become what is needed.

Some whither and give back their shells to the Earth, nourishing the seeds they carry and creating new life. Others become vessels, tools, and art. Some dry strong and hold seeds for the next generation, so they can gently shake them and hear the shared song.

It is important to care for them in each form, care for the seeds, and feel free to shake loose what is needed. It is the movement that scatters and nourishes each of us. The gifts have been given, and we need to search through the layers and see what is revealed. Some see only a simple ugly gourd, but all things have a story to share and a lesson to teach.

Making a Gourd Bowl:

*Cut top from gourd and clear out seeds.

*Scrape out inside. This must be done carefully as they will break or crack.

*Sand inside and outside with fine sandpaper.

*Wipe with damp cloth to clear away all dust and residue.

*Decorate as desired. I use different methods for decorating gourds. I almost always use sinew for the tops, which I sometimes embellish with beads and stones. I have decorated the body of the gourds using paint, stain, and ink. I recently started using pyrography, which is using a heated tool to burn patterns onto the surface. -By Holly S.

Posted under Articles, Crafts, Original Works