Living in Bliss: Personal Mythology 101

- Discover your personal mythology & re-create your life.

- Re-member the fragmented pieces of your early life, when you

felt inspired and enlivened

- Experience a deeper connection to your soul purpose.

By studying and applying current developments in archetypal

psychology and personal mythology we can begin to discern the deep

archetypal patterns that drive our lives behind the scenes. We

will study the work of James Hillman, C.G. Jung and Joseph Campbell.

PersonalMythology09

In this 3-part, online interactive course we will:

- Deepen our awareness of our own archetypal tendencies.

- Connect with our hearts' desires through story and myth.

- Re-write our myth, our story, to help illuminate our individual

path to bliss.

- Listen to others' stories and tell our own. Let's be inspired!

I will be your guide and witness through this process using

writing exercises, guided meditation, active imagination, mantras and

interactive dialogue.

To get the most out of this course, please complete pre-course

materials in the online library prior to our first meeting.

Course Fee: $65 for all 3 sessions. If you wish to take an

individual session the fee is $25. PayPal and personal checks are

accepted. Please send payment prior to our first me

This course is given online and you can use your computer for both the visual and audio component. The VoIP (audio) through your computer is free, so you won't need to call long-distance.

If you are just using the audio and need to call in, let me know and I'll conference you in so you do not need to pay any phone fees.

Please pre-register for this training, as there are only 12 spots available. To register, email Kris at kris@mythicrhythm.com or RSVP on her facebook page, if you've accessed this page through the event posting there. 

There are 3 two-hour sessions:

Saturday, December 5, 2009 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST

Saturday, December 12, 2009 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST

Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST

About the instructor: Kris Katsuko Oster is a Ph.D. candidate at

Pacifica Graduate Institute who is completing her dissertation,

"The Heartbeat of the Mother: Ritual Drumming & Re-Birthing Images of

the Feminine in Brazilian Candomble." Kris received her M.A. in

Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from

Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2005.

To learn more about Kris and her projects, visit her website:

www.mythicrhythm.com, or contact her at kris@mythicrhythm.com.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I felt so exhausted yesterday. I know there's a lot of stress in my life at the moment - working full time, raising a daughter, being a wife and working on my dissertation.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Prenatal Rhythm Workshop: MotherRhythms

Pregnancy is a time of change, celebration and profound bonding between mother and child.

Through this workshop, learn how to use rhythm to facilitate deeper bonding with your child in the womb, stimulate baby’s healthy interactivity and play, and promote relaxation of both mother and baby. Also builds community and support among mothers and serves as a safe place to express emotions and creativity. Course designed for pregnant mothers and can be modified for birth educators, doulas and midwives who wish to do rhythm work with their clients.

 Where: Private Residence, Santa Barbara, CA - Address Given Upon Registration
Date: July 11, 2009
Times: 11am - 1pm (Group Class); Set up time for individual instruction.
Cost: $20.00 per person for group class; $35 for individual instruction.
What to bring: pillow, blanket, journal, writing utencil, tape recorder (optional). Extra writing materials will be available. All drums provided. Drums will be available for purchase after the workshop.

To register, email or call Kris - kris@mythicrhythm.com , 805-624-4361

--------------------- 

Living in Bliss: Discovering Your Personal Mythology (Meets 3 Times)

An Online Workshop

Sunday, 8/9/09 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PDT
Sunday, 8/16/09 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PDT
Sunday , 8/23/09 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM PDT

Cost: $65
Register Online:
http://gaiafestival.wufoo.com/forms/living-in-bliss-discovering-your-personal-myth/ 

Course Description:
- Discover your personal mythology & re-create your life.
- Re-member the fragmented pieces of your early life, when you felt inspired and enlivened
- Experience a deeper connection to your soul purpose.

By studying and applying current developments in archetypal psychology and personal mythology we can begin to discern the deep archetypal patterns that drive our lives behind the scenes.

In this 3-part, online course we will:

- Deepen our awareness of our own archetypal tendencies.
- Connect with our hearts' desires through story and myth.
- Re-write our myth, our story, to help show us the path to where we want to go.
- Listen to others' stories and tell our own. Let's be inspired!

I will be your guide and witness through this process using writing exercises, meditation, mantras and breath work. Each person will get a chance to share a poem, story, song, music, collage, painting, basically any creative media they choose to share their personal mythology, during the last meeting of the course.

To get the most out of this course, please complete pre-course materials in the online library prior to our first meeting. 

About the instructor: Kris Katsuko Oster is Ph.D. candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute who is completing her dissertation, "The Heartbeat of the Mother: Ritual Drumming & Re-Birthing Images of the Feminine in Brazilian Candomble." Kris received her M.A. in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 200

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Dear friends,

As I opened up my computer to begin writing this letter to all of you, the time read 1:53 am - the numbers 1-5-3 being significant here.

Shannon Andersen, one of our Gaia Fest exhibitors this year, wrote a book entitled "The Magdalene Awakening" where she talks a lot about the numbers that constantly pop up in our lives to affirm we are on the right path - 444, 222, 111, and 153. I just finished reading her book early this morning and finally found the inspiration to write my wrap up for the festival.

ShannenGaia2008

The number combination of 153 represents the symbol Vesica Piscis, two conjoined circles that intersect to create an oval shape in between them. The oval appears in the shape of the vulva, and is a symbol of Goddess, the sacred feminine. (Andersen 243-245)

"Mother Mysteries" was the theme of this year's festival, and I didn't realize at the time I conceived it how perfect the title was.

Ever since my first visit to Glastonbury in 2002 - where I met my spiritual soulmate and Gaia Fest partner Stephanie Hamberger - my life has followed a defining path and purpose, connecting with the Divine Feminine and realizing the strength and warrior qualities that are not only within men, but inherent in the Masculine energy of women. After all, the womb may be the receptacle for gestating a child, but it takes a lot of force to push that baby out. I have a very clear memory of how sore and tired my abdominal muscles felt after birthing Saraphina on August 7th - it felt like I had done 1,000 sit ups!

The first time I saw the Vesica Piscis was on the lid of the Chalice Well in Glastonbury and afterwards I have been drawn to that symbol like a fish to water (pun intended; Vesica Piscis means "vessel of the fish" ). For our wedding, Shaun and I planned to stand in the oval intersection between the two circles as we gave our vows. As it turned out, it wasn't too easy creating that symbol with flowers an hour before our wedding, so Shaun's cousin J.P. created a beautiful circle of flowers for us and our guests to stand inside during the ceremony instead.

Not all of our births are literal, and many of you have birthed books, films, works of art, and environmental projects, and know how hard it is to push out the final product after spending years as a womb holding and protecting the vulnerable piece of yourself that has been gestating within. Even more than last year when the first annual West Coast Gaia Festival took place, this second year has felt like a birthing of something new and special. It was the culmination of many years of reflection and inner work around my own wounded feminine voice that was seeking a group of like-minded souls to be in conversation with.

MargaretGaia2008

I was truly honored that Margaret Starbird agreed to be our main presenter this year. We had first emailed back in 2007 about her doing the first Gaia Festival. She couldn't do it then, but referred me to Joan Norton, who became my first Mentor into the mysteries of Mary Magdalene, and has since become a dear friend and integral member of the Gaia Festival community. Both Margaret and Joan have really brought home the concept of the Divine Couple, the joining of the lost Bride (Shekinah/Magdalene) to her Lover, her Husband (Yahweh/Yeshua).

The festival was a gathering of Magdalenes - the strong, outspoken Feminine presence within all of us, men included. I felt more interconnections this year and Paula, a healer at the event and wonderful friend, said she felt it was more intimate than last year. The festival attendance was half the size, but quadruple the feeling of heart and soul connections that took place. Thank you Margaret for midwifing Her energy for all of us to rebirth within ourselves.

The story of the Magdalene resonates strongly for so many right now, that I can't imagine a more timely way of bringing her into our consciousness. With the elections coming up so soon on November 4th, the time has come to be outspoken; to speak up for the rights of all people in our nation, many of whom have been downtrodden and pushed to the margins of society. I keep hearing the phrase "Compassionate Warriors" in my mind and I think that may be part of the message garnered from our gathering on October 11th.

KrisnstephGaia2008

I'm so thankful to Tyr, Tamara, Stephanie, Shaun, Marsha and our parents for really stepping up this year to participate in the opening ritual, help with the AV setup, and manage registration and our vending.

Karen Tate, thank you for always helping with promotion, planning, and being the first presenter to say "Yes!" to this event each year without hesitation. You are truly an embodied Goddess. I look forward to taking a pilgrimage with you next year...I have been getting a few signs to travel to Iona. Should we try to plan a trip?

This past Gaia Festival caught me a little off guard because it reawakened my hunger to explore and write about the mystical experiences that have been an important part of my life. And the part of my life I so quickly put aside to go out and make money...you know, the old 9 to 5 drag that can also be a blessing because it helps finance your dreams. One of my dreams has been bringing people like you together in community.

It is my hope that we continue our communal conversations and support each other in the diverse work that we are all engaged in, a most important work for this age: the rebirthing of Goddess and the Divine Feminine into world consciousness.

If you would like to see Gaia Festival photos, keep up with community events throughout the year, announce your events and post discussion topics please join our online Tribe:

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

The following posting was sent to me by Tim Ward, author of the "Savage Breast:
One
Man's Search for the Goddess"

Enjoy!!

-------------
Hi Friends, I thought this latest Goddess archaeological discovery would
intrigue you. The
link at bottom has photos.

Tim

Subject: [DiosasAncianos2012] Huastec "Mother Culture" & Lunar Calendar in
Southern Mexico
Monolith raises questions about ancient Mexican culture

Deep in the Huastec jungle (Mexico) the enormous carved stone
monolith stands, suspended over the pool of water where a team of
archaeologists discovered it. A powerful woman stands at the center
of the carving, flanked by two smaller decapitated women. A stream of
liquid flows from the headless women toward the woman in the center.
The women on each side are thought to represent priestesses, and the
liquid represents the life force, while the woman at the center
represents Mother Earth; so the priestesses seem to be nurturing the
Earth with their life force. The truth is, however, nobody knows for
sure what these stones mean. One thing is fairly certain - because of
the recurrence of the number 13, the monolith seems to be a lunar
calendar of some sort. That's why it set the archaeological world
abuzz with discussion when it was unveiled last November. It is
believed to have been created around 600 BCE - 2,000 years before
what was previously the oldest discovered calendar in the Americas,
the Aztec Calendar, which dates to 1400 CE.

"What this discovery did was to force us to stop, turn around
and dig deeper into the history of the Huastecan groups to
re-evaluate them," said Guillermo Ahuja, the lead archaeologist at
Tamtoc who discovered the stone tablet, or Monolith 32, as it's
called. The discovery was especially surprising given that the
Huastec people were thought to be a relatively recent culture. Now
archaeologists are wondering whether the Huastecs - or their
predecessors, the Proto-Huastecs - might have played a bigger role in
the development of Mesoamerica than previously thought. It has also
raised questions about whether the Olmecs might have had an influence
in the region, since there are cultural similarities, or whether
there might have been a third group of people, the so-called Mother
Culture, that dominated the area first.

What is known is that Tamtoc was inhabited by a sophisticated
people who enjoyed a high standard of living for the time, with one
of the most sophisticated hydraulic systems in Mesoamerica. It was
first excavated by a group of French archaeologists in the 1960s, but
their project was short-lived, and work did not begin on the site in
earnest until 2001. It's the only major Huastec archaeological site,
and like the Huastec people themselves, it is shrouded in mystery.

The intricate carvings the Huastecs left on the stones leave
clues to a culture in which women clearly played a strong role as
governors, priestesses and warriors. The monolith was discovered in a
graveyard surrounded by the remains of 84 women - 90 percent of all
the remains discovered there. Ahuja has pieced together a story that
might explain why. The monolith seems to have been toppled from its
original location, broken into pieces and covered with mud. Ahuja
estimates the time period at about the same time that several coastal
cities were flooded, probably by a tsunami-type surge, around 300
BCE. Ahuja believes the sacred tablet was impossible to resurrect,
and the people decided to let it lie and create a sacred site where
it was buried. The most honored and sacred members of that society
were permitted to be buried there. Women became goddesses when they
gave birth, and those who died in childbirth were deified, and so
they were allowed to be buried along with the Great Mother.

An important item backing this theory was another find: a
headless woman's naked figure, carved of limestone and polished to a
high sheen. The figure, found in a pool that once stood at the feet
of the monolith, was believed to be an offering to the gods. The
raised dots on her arms and legs correspond with the number of days
in the lunar calendar, according to archaeologist Ricardo Muñoz,
while the width of her hips and the fullness of her breasts indicate
a woman at the height of her fertility.

With only six years of excavation and analysis behind them,
there are many secrets yet to be unearthed, and Ahuja and his team
are enormously excited at the possibilities - discoveries that might
contradict much of what historians think they already know about
ancient Mexican history.

Source: My San Antonio (11 October 2007)
http://tinyurl.com/35bdsl
For photos see:
http://redicecreations.com/article.php?id=2035

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Greetings,

Join Joan and the organizers of Gaia Fest West tomorrow night, Wednesday, October 17th from 7-8:30pm (PST) for a call-in teleconference.

Joan is a Jungian psychotherapist, channeler and author. She holds a Magdalene Circle every month and opens sacred space to allow for the wisdom of the Magdalene to come through for healing and blessings for the community.

More About Joan Norton

Joan Norton has been a Jungian psychotherapist for 30 years in Los Angeles. She developed communication with expanded states of consciousness after the death of her 16 year old daughter in 1986, reaching to the after-death world as any mother would. While writing for the metaphysics magazine, Sedona Journal of Emergence, Joan had a "breaththrough of consciousness" experience of Mary Magdalene. Her book, The Mary Magdalene Within is a word for word account of the story Mary gave her about she and Jesus and the work they did together.

Teleconference Information:

Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 451-6000

Access Code: 896461#

When prompted enter the access code that has been assigned, followed by the # key. Once connected to the conference, you will be able to talk and have access to the touch tone commands listed below.

Participant Feature Keys:

Press 3 to exit the call

Press 4 for conference instructions

Press 6 to Mute/Unmute

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

For hundreds of years, indigenous peoples in Brazil and Paraguay have used the leaves of stevia as a sweetener. The Guarani Indians of Paraguay call it kaa jheé and have used it to sweeten their yerba mate tea for centuries. They have also used stevia to sweeten other teas and foods and have used it medicinally as a cardiotonic, for obesity, hypertension, and heartburn, and to help lower uric acid levels.

In addition to being a sweetener, stevia is considered (in Brazilian herbal medicine) to be hypoglycemic, hypotensive, diuretic, cardiotonic, and tonic. The leaf is used for diabetes, obesity, cavities, hypertension, fatigue, depression, sweet cravings, and infections. The leaf is employed in traditional medical systems in Paraguay for the same purposes as in Brazil.

Europeans first learned about stevia in the sixteenth century, when conquistadores sent word to Spain that the natives of South America were using the plant to sweeten herbal tea. Since then stevia has been used widely throughout Europe and Asia. In the United States, herbalists use the leaf for diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and as a sweetening agent. In Japan and Brazil, stevia is approved as a food additive and sugar substitute.

Stevia's effects and uses as a heart tonic to normalize blood pressure levels, to regulate heartbeat, and for other cardiopulmonary indications first were reported in rat studies (in 1978). Following these studies, a crude extract of stevia demonstrated hypotensive activity in a 1996 clinical study with rats, showing that ". . . at dosages higher than used for sweetening purposes, [stevia extract] is a vasodilator agent in normo- and hypertensive animals." In humans, a hot water extract of the leaf has been shown to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Several earlier studies on both stevia extracts, as well as its isolated glycosides, demonstrated this hypotensive action (as well as a diuretic action). In hypertensive rats the leaf extract increased renal plasma flow, urinary flow, sodium excretion and filtration rate. In addition to its studied hypotensive effects, a Brazilian research group demonstrated that water extracts of stevia leaves had a hypoglycemic effect and increased glucose tolerance in humans, reporting that it "significantly decreased plasma glucose levels during the test and after overnight fasting in all volunteers." In another human study, blood sugar was reduced by 35% 6-8 hours after oral ingestion of a hot water extract of the leaf.

In other research, stevia has demonstrated antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiyeast activity. A water extract was shown to help prevent dental cavities by inhibiting the bacteria Streptococcus mutansthat stimulates plaque formation. Additionally, a U.S. patent was filed in 1993 on a extract of stevia that claimed it to have vasodilatory activity and deemed it effective for various skin diseases (acne, heat rash, pruritis) and diseases caused by blood circulation insufficiency.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Kris Oster interviews author, lecturer and Goddess advocate Karen Tate about the current face of Goddess spirituality, her favorite pilgrimage sites and how the media is helping to bring Goddess into mainstream public awareness.

You can either watch it on the web or if you have iTunes installed
on your computer, it will play in there and on your iPod.

Watch on the Web:
http://www.soul-pilgrim.com/podcasts/GaiaPodcast/Podcasts_Presented_by_Soul_Pilgrim_Sacred_Travel/Podcasts_Presented_by_Soul_Pilgrim_Sacred_Travel.html

Watch in iTunes or your iPod:
feed://www.soul-pilgrim.com/podcasts/GaiaPodcast/Podcasts_Presented_by_Soul_Pilgrim_Sacred_Travel/rss.xml

Add your feedback for Karen and/or Kris on this blog -- comment away!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

My poppa released his first album with his new band CTA - California Transit Authority.

I'm really proud of him, it's an awesome CD.

Check it out on his website www.ctatheband.com - you can also download it from iTunes.

Cta_336

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Hi - I wanted to formally announce that Shaun and I bought a Honda Civic Hybrid!  Yes, I said goodbye to my darling gas guzzling Chrysler Pacifica!

It's about time, no?

So, in that spirit here's the announcement for Leonardo DiCaprio's new documentary "The 11th Hour."

Please go and support this great film.

For more information go to www.bioneers.org/11thHour

Thank you for your commitment to promoting a sustainable future.

Blessings,

Kris

Leonardo DiCaprio's new documentary The 11th Hour opens in New York City and Los Angeles this Friday, August 17th.  This film features many Bioneers conference speakers including founder Kenny Ausubel and explores how people have impacted the earth's ecosystems and what we can do to change our course. Check out the PSA on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/11thhouraction

In order for The 11th Hour to be the catalyst for action, please pack the theaters! Attend tomorrow's premiere with your friends, family, and colleagues - everyone you know. To learn about the thirty-plus Bioneers in the film, go to: http://www.bioneers.org/node/2109

Film times and locations for the premiere include:

New York City                                    
Landmark Sunshine Cinema                                                  Lincoln Plaza Cinemas
11:45am, 1:45, 3:45, 5:45, 8:00, 10:05, 11:30                         12:10, 2:00, 4:00, 6:25, 8:30, 10:30
East Houston Street, New York, NY, 10002                            30 Lincoln Plaza, New York, NY 10023
For Tickets call (212)777FILM 687New York                           212-757-2280
https://www.movietickets.com

Los Angeles                        
Landmark Cinemas                                                            Pacific Theatres
12:10pm,  2:30pm,  5:00pm,  7:30pm,  10:00pm                  11:00am, 2:10pm, 4:50pm, 7:30pm, 10:20pm
10850 W Pico Blvd                                                           6360 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064                                                     Hollywood, CA 90028
(310) 281-8233                                                                  (323) 464-4226
For tickets go to https://www.movietickets.com                    www.movietickets.com

Read and post comments | Send to a friend