The lights are out and shining bright in my neighborhood. The parking lots at the shopping malls are full to bursting. I can only imagine the zoo in the mall as I will not step foot inside. I have resorted to doing what little shopping I do online.

Christmas music was blaring in my dentist’s office when I had my teeth cleaned this week.

"Where are you going to be for the holidays?" my hygienist inquires as she is up to her elbows in my mouth leaving me no hope of answering. I point to the floor.

"Here? Well that should be nice." She responds and then goes into a long dissertation about her family dynamics, in-laws and out-laws that make her Christmas a challenge. I have learned over the years that nothing is expected of me except an occasional grunt while she visits on and cleans away. I like that. I can just drift listening to her stories. They make the time go faster taking my mind off the scrape of her instruments on my teeth.

As I hear her tell me about her decorations in her house I think of my home. I have no lights or tree up. Not that we are trying to make a statement or anything. My daughter and I discussed it and decided we did not care one way or the other so we chose not to go to all the work.

As I hear her discuss all the extended family she is obligated to entertain this year I realize I have no such obligations. Since my mother passed on, only my sister and I remain in touch. I used to have huge Christmases at my home for my family. My mother so loved Christmas. Now, my sister can’t make the trip and I have no contact with my brother and step father.

Those times were good, but I do not miss them now. Nor am I sad, just disengaged in a way. As I ponder it more deeply I realize I never questioned what I was doing with all that work cooking buying decorating and unreasonable expectation. I just did it because it was what one does. I did it because I could nurture my family in that way. I did it so they would love me.

"What do you want for Christmas?" Her question shakes me out of my ponderings. What do I want for Christmas? I think of all the things cluttering my house that I have not used in years if ever. I think of the ends my children would gladly go to afford to buy me more. Why? So I will love them? I already do. To show me how much they love me? I already know.

What do I want for Christmas outside of less clutter? I already have everything I could possibly want, my children, my health, my home and my life’s work.

For Christmas I want the same for you. May you be blessed with less clutter, less worry, less obligation and be truly present to receive all the abundant love that is your birthright.

Happy Holidays,

Gwilda

Shamanism: Ancient Mysteries, Modern Times
World Wellness Weekend Featured Speaker: Gwilda Wiyaka DD, CSP
Saturday, January 27 at 2:00 pm

Shamanism addresses the invisible interaction between all things. Shamanic techniques are designed to mend where the laws of nature have been broken. For this reason it is a thread running through every aspect of our lives and beyond. Come delve in to the mysteries of the shamanic way as Gwilda puts into easily understood terms the magic of our ancestors and explains how it applies to our modern lives. After the talk be sure to visit Path Home’s booth #53 just outside the classroom. Classroom 8B, Colorado Convention Center.

StarFaihre Performance
World Wellness Weekend
Saturday, January 27 at 2:00 pm

StarFaihre: Daughters of the Drum will open and close Gwilda Wiyaka’s talk “Shamanism: Ancient Mysteries, Modern Times” with live shamanic healing music.

They’ll feature new songs from their upcoming CD. Gwilda Wiyaka and Cody Wigle draw on ancient rhythms and melodies as well as bring through modern material that’s sure to please. Come listen in Classroom 8B at the Colorado Convention Center.

PATH HOME SHAMANIC ARTS SCHOOL BOOTH
Booth 53 – Wellness Expo
Saturday and Sunday, January 27-28, 2007

Learn more about our one-of-a-kind Colorado State certified occupational school offering certification programs in the shamanic arts. While at the booth you can shop our selection of hand-crafted shamanic drums and rattles as well as a variety of other materials essential to any shamanic practice. Enter drawings for free prizes including healing sessions with certified shamanic practitioners, shamanic workshops, and shamanic tools. Have a chance to see what leading edge training programs Path Home and StarFaihre are developing and to talk with Gwilda Wiyaka, Cody Wigle, and others involved with the school.


WORLD WELLNESS WEEKEND – WELLNESS EXPO
Colorado Convention Center, Denver
Saturday and Sunday, January 27-28, 2007
World Wellness Weekend Homepage: http://worldwellness.org/Index.asp
Denver Expo Information: http://worldwellness.org/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=2006

In its mission to empower people in making their world a healthier, happier place, World Wellness Weekend features a unique Wellness Expo that includes over 150 cutting edge exhibitors/vendors and an extraordinary educational opportunity by offering over 90 lectures and  classes over the weekend. Each day, there will be at least 6 classes per hour offered to the public to choose from on a variety of wellness topics and movement classes, such as yoga, qi gong and tai chi. As an interactive event, patrons are given the opportunity to personally speak with all presenters, exhibitors/vendors. "Wellness" in all of its’ forms is explored, including topics on improving the health of the body, mind and spirit, as well as environmental health, sustainable living and social issues. Attendees can sample nutritional products, experience alternative treatment modalities, and participate in workshops and discussions regarding their particular concerns.

To register for any of our workshops by mail or online, visit our registration page.


NEXT MONTH'S WORKSHOPS:

SPIRITUAL COACHING

Instructor: Gwilda Wiyaka
Hours: 6
Cost: $150.00
When: Saturday, January 13, 2007, 10:00am-5:30pm
Prerequisites: Lower World or Upper World Shamanic Journey, Beginning Soul Retrieval, and Pattern Tracing

Our culture has been so long without shamanic healing that most clients haven’t a clue what ails them or how to make sense of soul retrieval once they have had one.  Furthermore, they often are so identified with the defense mechanisms developed to compensate for soul loss that a form of identity crisis may follow the healing.

This class is designed to teach the skills of stewarding clients through this sometimes challenging time.


RHYTHM & MOVEMENT

Instructor: Gwilda Wiyaka
Hours: 6
Cost: $150.00
When: Sunday, January 14, 2007, 10:00am-5:30pm
Prerequisites: None

The drum is the best friend of the shamanic practitioner.  Drumming grounds us, takes us on our journeys, focuses healings and integrates spiritual work into our bodies.  The trick is...playing it and walking at the same time!

This class is designed with that very dilemma in mind.  The side benefits are an unexpected left brain – right brain integration and a stretching of what we think is possible for us rhythm-wise.


HEALING WITH THE DRUM

Instructor: Gwilda Wiyaka
Hours: 6
Cost: $150.00
When: Monday, January 15, 2007, 10:00am-5:30pm
Prerequisites: Lower World or Upper World Shamanic Journey, and Rhythm & Movement

Drums and rattles are powerful tools that can be used to build and channel power to effect changes in our physical world.

In this unique class we learn to use the drum and rattle to ground and center ourselves and others.  We will also cover the breaking up of old obsolete patterns, and releasing emotions.  We will discover that the drum can set the stage for new awareness, in order to rebalance us into a new state of being.

We will also cover how drumming circles can be used to unite people to one purpose and facilitate agreement in the workplace and other aspects of our daily lives.


BEGINNING SOUL RETRIEVAL

Instructor: Gwilda Wiyaka
Hours: 21
Cost: $560.00 (includes room and board)
When: January 19-22, 2007 (Friday at 4:00pm through Monday at 1:30pm)
Prerequisites: Lower World and Upper World Shamanic Journey, Power Animals & Helping Spirits, Sacred Space

"Soul Retrieval is the foundation of shamanic healing. It is through soul retrieval that we regain wholeness, integrity, and personal power." -Gwilda Wiyaka

This 3-day intensive, residential program is designed to teach the skills needed to perform soul retrieval healings as well as power animal retrieval to be used in the treatment of the spiritual illnesses known as soul loss and loss of power, respectively. Methods of dealing with soul stealing and essence exchange will also be covered.


UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
(click on the workshop names below for more details)

FEBRUARY:

Career Development

Care and Feeding of the Shaman

Divination

MARCH

Extraction

Integration Techniques

Honing Your Tools

Medicine Pouches