Women Who Run With the Wolves Study Group

“A healthy woman is much like a wolf: robust, chock-full, strong life force, life-giving, territorially aware, inventive, loyal, roving.”  ― Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Fairy tales, lore and myth provide a rich and compelling guide to help us better understand what the experiences of our lives have been bringing us to. Tap into the power of story and the universal sharing of the stages and experiences that women and men go through in this monthly Women Who Run With the Wolves Study Group.

As we explore the stories in Women Who Run With the Wolves, the seminal work of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, we come to know more about who we are. As we see the commonalities of our own lives within these ancient tales, we truly know that we are not alone. We gain a unique insight into the wisdom and the deep magic that is woven throughout the very fabric of our lives.

We come to understand that the relentless repression of our wildness creates soul loss, which causes an internal rebellion, which may very well be at the core of many things that we do that seem like self-sabotage. In working with Women Who Run With the Wolves we seek to explore, examine, release and celebrate our wildish nature, the deeply creative part of our being that is constantly seeking expression: Our Soul.

You may come into this class at anytime. Open to the public.
Facilitated by Rev. Renee Bledsoe, 239-560-6314
Third Tuesday of each month - 6:30pm
Cost: $10 (Donated to the space)

We will work through the book tale by tale, so you do not need to completely read this book before attending the class. Although, it is probably best if you have at least read the tale that we will be working with previous to the gathering, even if you do not for whatever reason, you can still receive alot from the discussions.

Book Info:
Women Who Run With the Wolves
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Click to look up on Amazon.com

• ISBN-10: 0345409876
• ISBN-13: 978-0345409874

March 20 - Chapter 1 - The Howl: Resurrection of the Wild Woman (La Loba, The Four Rabbinim)

April 17 - Chapter 2 - Stalking the Intruder: The Beginning Initiation (Bluebeard)

May 15 - Chapter 3 - Nosing Out the Facts: The Retrieval of Intuition as Initiation (Vasalisa)
June 19 - Chapter 4 - The Mate: Union with Others (Hymn for the Wildman: Minawee)

July 17 - Chapter 5 - Hunting: When the Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Skeleton Woman)
August 21 - Chapter 6 - Finding One's Pack: Belonging As Blessing (The Ugly Duckling)

September 18 - Chapter 7 - Joyous Body: The Wild Flesh (Butterfly Woman)

October 16 - Chapter 8 - Self Preservation: Identifying Leg Traps, Cages and Poisoned Bait (The Feral Woman/The Red Shoes)

November 20 - Chapter 9 - Homing: Returning to OneSelf (Sealskin, Soulskin)

December 18 - Chapter 10 - Clear Water: Nourishing the Creative Life (La Llorona/The Little Match Girl/The Three Gold Hairs)

January 15 - Chapter 11 - Heat: Retrieving a Sacred Sexuality (The Dirty Goddesses/Coyote Dick)

February 19 - Chapter 12 - Marking Territory: The Boundaries of Rage and Forgiveness  (The Cresecent Moon Bear/The Spirit Bear)

March 19 - Chapter 13 - Battle Scars: Membership in the Scar Clan (The Wild Woman with Hair of Gold)

April 16 - Chapter 14 - LaSelva Subterranea: Initiation in the Underground Forest (The Handless Maiden)

Initiations

Masterminding the Dream: Manifesting the Good Stuff

"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be." -- Karen Ravn

Tap into the power of Masterminding to fulfill your dreams. Discover your true intention, overcome obstacles and blocks, and receive the support of a group of people who choose to live on purpose. It's not just about creating what you want... it's about wanting what you create. Let's start Manifesting the Good Stuff in life!

Facilitated by Ellen Pendelton

Every Thursday afternoon (feel free to bring your lunch) begins March 8th

For more info contact Ellen at 239-418-0669

Cost: $5 (Donated to space)

Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907

"There are things that your soul wants to create that cannot be bought." ~ Renee WindStar

February 2012: Romance & Religion

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere, they're in each other all along. ~ Rumi

Where do your true passions lie? What and/or who makes your soul soar, causes you to lose track of time, brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment to your life? What gets you excited to be alive? What melts your heart, brings out emotion? What are you avoiding? How are you experiencing love? How do you love? 


The answer to these questions can help you discover more about the quantity and quality of love you are allowing in your life. Many of us are very stingy with our love. We constantly withhold love from ourselves and others. We think that in order to discern right from wrong that we must cast judgment and withhold love in order to correct ourselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. For it is by facing and embracing what we are, all of it, that the whole picture is revealed to us and we turn the impetus of our journey from one of force, to one of power: The Power of Love.


Human beings have a deep and wide intelligence that far outstrips the thinking mind. Even scientists have come to identify what they call a host of intelligences within an individual. There is mathematical genius, artistic and creative genius and even now there is exploration into the intelligence of the heart and body itself! The heart has an electro magnetic field of resonance which is thousands of times stronger than that which is conducted by thought alone, giving new meaning to phrases like, "put your heart into it" or "my heart wasn't in it" and "I really took that to heart". But how do we grow in our ability to love?


The answer to this question, as so many poets and mystics have revealed, is potentially why we are even here in the flesh - to experience the many faces and facets of the Creator, to intimately reveal to ourselves who and what we are through this knowledge and experience and to create something new as we allow the alchemy of our passions to forge us into autonomous beings of light who can CHOOSE so very many ways to express true love and reveal the Light. For when the Light is revealed through the stories of our lives, we are able to see the purpose of living as we continually discover and lean into what really matters to us. For without love, little else truly matters. As Rumi says, "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

There is some kiss we want with our whole lives, the touch of spirit on the body. ~ Rumi

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe

February 05 - Romance and Religion
February 12 - Sacred Circle Altar- The Lovers Within
February 19 - Myth, Story and Legend
February 26 - Life Purpose & The Mythic Call

Without an understanding of myth or religion, without an understanding of the relationship between destruction and creation, death and rebirth, the individual suffers the mysteries of life as meaningless mayhem alone.” - Marion Woodman

February Affirmations

I am love. I am loving.

l allow love to live through me.

Love is an energy, a substance from which I am created.

The aspects of my being are in harmony with life.

My body and soul is the sacred altar of my life.

The languages of light and love move and guide me.

I speak the language of love. And open to greater awareness of love in my life.

I go to the next level with my love. I love myself as I love all. I release any blocks to love.

I receive the Light of Truth that is all around me and in so doing I receive more Love.

There is only love. Whether I choose to block or allow it is my choice.

I am the intention of love. Loving is what makes me feel alive.

When I withhold love from others, I am withholding love from myself.

I open to Divine Light within and activate my High Heart.

What I love, loves me. I am passionate about life.

I am imagining a woman in love with herself.

My love can heal and empower others.

I am committed to true love and devoted to learning how to love better.

It is safe to unconditionally love others, because first I unconditionally love myself.

I see my relationships, most especially the challenging ones, as messengers reminding me to love myself.

When someone doesn't love me, I know their soul's purpose in that moment is to remind me to love myself.

I send lovingkindness to all those who feel unloved or unloveable.

The divine template for Mother/Father God lives within me.

The Lovers within me are devoted to wholeness and the perfection of this creation.

I trust in my ability to love from a place a wholeness.

I am aware of my need for love, and I acknowledge that love is as prevalent as air.

My heart is broken open only to let down my guard to receive more love.

I am guided and protected by my love.

Being human is the fruit of the marriage of divine love.

Love is revealed in the human journey. I have many stories of love to tell.

I am awakened by love.

My purpose is to love and be loved.

Sacred Arts Studio: Creativity Playshops

“In art the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can inspire” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Join us each month for an afternoon of sacred creativity and artful inspiration. Eva Stulb and Tamsin Moore  have formed a new creative alliance, Sacred Arts Studio, dedicated to helping you tap into your artist soul!

Each session is stand alone and open to the public. RSVP is appreciated so that we can plan for the proper amount of supplies.
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Hosted at: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
RSVP: Rev. Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314 or Eva Stulb at 239-848-5398.
Date: Every 2nd Saturday of the month  | 3-5pm
Cost: $20 (Materials supplied)

Matt Venuti Hang Immersion Concert - January 28, 2012

 "Come and be swept away by the compelling beauty of this new art form of sound sculpture. The Hang in Matt’s hands is pure magic."

The People Shine Project is pleased to present a Hang Immersion Concert with Matt Venuti hosted at Church of Spiritual Light on January 28, 2012, Saturday evening at 6:30pm. Additionally, there will be a Hang Movement Workshop on January 29, 2012 3-5pm, where participants can come and experience the Hang in an even more interactive and intimate way through the connection of their own body movement. The Hang is not only a very special musical instrument, many feel it is also a powerful, vibrational healing instrument.

So by now, you might be wondering... What is a Hang? And that is a question that Matt Venuti has a passion to answer. Several years ago, Matt began to yearn for a new way to express his music. When a friend described something that she had seen at an event, Matt knew instinctively that this was what he was looking for. An exhaustive search eventually led Matt to Bern, Switzerland, where a new instrument had been created in the year 2001 by two ingenious artist/visionaries named Felix Rohner and Sabina Sharer. Their creation was called a "Hang" which means "hand" in their language. Made by hand and played with hands, the Hang is no typical musical instrument. The Hang can only be described as a contemporary innovation...a hand-crafted "sound sculpture".

Click for Matt's YouTube Channel

Matt Venuti is widely considered one of the world’s most prolific players of this heart-inspiring instrument and performs concerts and events, unfolding a soulful musical journey of rhythm, melody, and resonance. The Hang in Matt’s hands is pure magic. He most often performs his “Hang Immersion” concerts in intimate and quiet settings, where the “choir-like” overtones and rich harmonics have a mysteriously profound effect on both listener and player.

Matt has recorded several Hang inspired CDs such as “Dance of the Helix”, “Hangisphere”, and “Hang Therapy”. He shares his time performing as a soloist and with his band.  As a composer and performer, Matt Venuti and his band, The Venusians, have made unique contributions to the budding genres of World Fusion, Ambient and Jam-based music. Using both traditional and contemporary instruments, they are innovators of a sound and style that has become a strong presence in the international music scene, performing at grand scale events and festivals world wide.

You can visit Matt's website at www.MattVenuti.com or become a Facebook fan. He will have CD's for sale at the event.

Event is hosted by Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Seating is limited for these intimate concerts. Please be on time. Doors at 6:30pm.
Media Contact: Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314

Online tickets will be handled via Will Call ONLY! Please bring your paid receipt to the event as confirmation. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door for each event. If you pre-purchase the bundle you can attend both events for $30 (save $10!). Space is limited, so please get your tickets early.

Tickets must now be purchased at the door. Still seats left! Please join us!

January 2012: Seize the Day

Every man dies.  Not every man really lives.  ~Braveheart

We've come so far, we've endured so much. It's time. It's our time. It's time to start living... really living, really loving, really listening and really connecting. All of us on this human journey have paid a high price for the experiences that humanity as a whole has endured in the quest for the knowledge of good and evil. The data is in, the karma is clearing, the contracts have been completed and we stand at the brink of a massive re-entry into paradise. As we come out of stasis, awakening one by one to the full implications of this evolutionary journey we have been on, descending and ascending the tree of life, we now have perspective unlike ever before about where we have been, what we have been up to and where we are now headed.

Many prophecies speak of the "end times" or "end of time", which might only mean that we are no longer constrained by time, and that our consciousness has expanded so that we understand how to easily and quickly traverse alternate realities at will, thereby transcending time. Yet, that only gives us the ability to more wisely use clock time as a means to connect in the fourth dimension, with fifth dimensional consciousness and higher and experience our unique creations and expressions of love.

The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. While the former refers to chronological or sequential time, the latter signifies a time in between, a moment of indeterminate time in which something special happens. In rhetoric kairos is "a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved. We now have the ability to pierce the veils, to experience the light in these small moments. The power of the light is so potent and powerful that when we access these tiny shifts through sacred space, we can tap into our own divinity and the grace of the creator and perform outright miracles of manifestation, creation, healing and empowerment!

Yes, we are up for change, but we are not without the means to create something entirely new and filled with light and love beyond imagining. We're making room for full frontal contact with beauty, joy, peace, love, creativity, cooperation, unification and abundance in ways we have only dreampt of. Beware... magic is afoot...

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.  ~Annie Dillard

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
January 01 - Carpe Diam: Sieze the Day
January 08 - The Role of Time & Space
January 15 - Humility, Awareness, Intention & Surrender
January 22 - How to Make Your Shadow Dance
January 29 - Sacred Circle Altar - New Beginnings 2012

January 2012 Affirmations
I seize the glory and power of each new day.
The time for change is here and now.
I claim my shadow and embrace the gifts it holds for me.
I dance with my shadow and turn into the light.
I acknowledge the full spectrum of my beliefs with humor and grace.
I make intentions through the powers of humility and awareness.
I surrender my intentions to my higher power.
I create sacred space for healing and enlightenment.
I accept full responsibility for my life.
Whatever has happened in my life has brought me to here and now.
I step outside of time to heal and empower my life.
I work with alternate dimensions and states of consciousness to move energy and manifest my destiny.
I continue to learn about and use spiritual tools to manage my energy.
I work with time in new and respectful ways.
I use the power of the earth, moon and planetary cycles to manifest and heal.
I look to my relationships, my higher self, guides and guardians to show me what I cannot see.
I honor difficult relationships as teachers, and am willing to release them into the light.
When I receive the lessons and messages from challenging situations they miraculously shift into the light.
I purify my intentions through the powers of love, compassion and forgiveness.
I am moved into action on behalf of all creation.
I am guided by angels and spiritual teachers.
I actively engage and communicate with my higher self.
I am a being of light, created with the intention of pure love.
I am capable of transforming anything into love.
I am a vessel of light and my cargo is love.
Love is born through the light within me.
I step into the land of the living as I cross the shores of my soul.

CoSL Sacred Circle Altar & Holiday Luncheon

 You cordially and especially invited to the Sacred Circle Altar with Holiday Potluck Luncheon immediately following on December 18, 2011 - Service begins at 9:45am - luncheon to immediately follow. We've got lots of "presents" for you and hopefully in return you can gain even more "presence". We've always got something fun and joyful up our sleeves! 

Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907