“Put ‘im in your bag. Dis lil stone, dis leaf, dis feather. Dem all medicines for you. Your special tings dat make your heart glad. Make your soul remember. Dat good for you. Proper medicine.”
~ Aunty
This morning, very early, I woke with a heavy heart. I felt the weight upon it of world events. Of a friend I know who is about to be given devastating health news. Of another friend who is finally reaping the legacy of a genetic illness which is ramping up to destroy life as he has known it.
Those feelings were so big that I could hardly get out of bed. But I did, and I grabbed my Medicine Bag and then sat on cushions on the floor of my lounge room in the quiet pre-dawn.
I lit a candle, listening to the scratch of the matchtip on the rough box end, and then the sudden hiss and flare of the flame. I lit a stick of incense. I spread a cloth on the floor in front of me.
From my bag I took my singing bowl and placed it on the cloth. My mala beads went there too. From my bag I took a few favourite crystals. I held the stones for a moment and then placed them on the cloth. Then I took up the singing bowl and settled into meditation.
I let each wave of sound radiate love out into the world. Peace. Calm. Hope. Unity. Love. I breathed this energy in and out. I travelled it with the waves of sound and with my intent.
I sent healing to my friends and their families and carers. And to mine. I sent healing and love to each of you.
I offered up my prayers.
I meditated until a profound peace and reconnection to love was all that I could feel, then returned the bowl to the floor.
I sat a little more in this energy of peace and love, and then reached into my bag for my cards. The room was light enough to see now. I drew a card for the day (these cards are so old and worn and dear to me that I need only hazily glimpse the picture for it to be clear in my mind) and reflected on the meaning for me.
I wrote in my journal.
I sat awhile with one of my crystals. I packed everything back into my bag, ready for tomorrow, or whenever else I may need these tools again.
And then I got up, refreshed in body and spirit, put the kettle on, and began my day.
That is what my Medicine Bag does for me. Within it is a physical space, a spiritual space, a healing space – which I can unpack and use at any time.
The ritual connects me to my Aboriginal Aunties, to my Grandmothers and to myself. It centers me in love. It reminds me to live from love, and from my heart, no matter what is happening in the wider world. It gifts me guidance and perspective. It brings me back to what matters when my mind has run away with its worries.
On Saturday 26 November I’ll be running an afternoon workshop in Brisbane to teach you how to create your own Medicine Bag. I will give you the basic spiritual foundation practices to use this bag the way I use my own.
I will also cover the practices and tools that can help you to develop a regular spiritual practice and strengthen your intuitive and psychic ability. We will look at the fundamentals of working with crystals, connecting with your guides, simple meditation techniques, using oracle and tarot cards to give yourself an intuitive reading, and some foundation metaphysical principles for raising your vibration. These are all the things I used at the beginning of my own journey, and that have led me to where I am today.
There are just a few places left – more details here.
Online Option: If you’re not able to attend, but would like to learn how to craft and use your own Medicine Bag, please contact Dana, my wonderful PA at nicolecodyinfo@gmail.com and ask to be put on our Medicine Bag mailing list. I’m currently putting this together as an online course with an optional materials package (of the things we will be using in our physical workshop). We’ll let you know as soon as the course is available, and those of you on our list will get a special discount!
Here’s a sneak peek of some of our Medicine Bag workshop materials (if you look closely you’ll see oodles of crystals in the corner too!), as well as my friend Carly who has been looking after me as I recover from my recent surgery (And I’m doing VERY well, thank you <3 ) and helping me with my workshop preparation.
