Holy wow... you never know when life will throw a curve ball at you...

At the beginning of January, my partner and i received notice to move from the lovely home we've called home over the last few years.

This notice came out of nowhere and we certainly weren't expecting it. The owners informed us that their lives had shifted and they needed to move back in the space we've been renting.

Whoa! Now?

Of course when something like this happens, it's never good timing... We were shocked... and i know i went through the many phases of that shock... not knowing where we'll be next is a big part of that...
And so, we are now in the throes of packing up our home and squeezing it all into cardboard boxes... searching for a new place to live while at the same time keeping the balance of work and daily life...

Not long after hearing, we chose to offer a despacho ceremony... to offer our gratitude for the time we have had here in this beautiful space and community... and to offer our intentions of what and where we wish to land in our new home - wherever that will be...

There are many types of despachos offered in the Andean cosmology and daily life...

The 'despacho gift' we chose to create in ceremony was an ayni/gratitude gift for our blessed earth mother, Pachamama.... (see our photo above).

Flowers, leaves and combustible ingredients like grains, aromatic dried plants and sweets are added in layers on top of a piece of wrapping paper.

Every item is 'prayed through' and holds meaning as it is placed mindfully in mandala form.
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When the despacho is complete, it is wrapped up, just like a gift, tied with a ribbon and then offered to a sacred fire for transformation to the light - to be freely given away to the helping spirits and mother earth - to give thanks in right relationship (ayni)...

We lovingly created our despacho andplaced it in our sacred fire  in the hearth to burn.

We turned our backs in respect to allow the spirits to 'consume' our prayer-gift.... as our gift burned, i offered some soft drumming to hold space... to honour our sweet spirit-helpers doing this work on our behalf...

When we knew it had been fully burnt, we turned to sit on the couch together to watch the fire continue to burn... A few minutes later, we both realized that we were hearing soft drums drumming from what seemed a distance away...

At first, we thought perhaps the drummers were outside somewhere...
Though we soon realized that the drums drumming were actually coming right from the fire! ...The flames were actually dancing to the rhythm of the spirit drums drumming...

We sat in complete awe for quite some time listening to the 'fire drummers' drumming for us - knowing on a deep level that our heart-gift had been accepted and acknowledged in such a beautiful way... that, we were receiving such a blessed gift from our helpers who were supporting us...

Our hearts were opened and we felt so blessed in much joy!!!... a moment we shall never forget and hold so dear in our hearts confirming that we are never alone...

We thank you fire drummers for your wonderful support and for the gift of 'hearing' your sacred healing rhythms of love and light... wow!

We still don't know where we're going to land as of yet - though we trust that the best new home is awaiting for us as we prepare to move for April 1st...

With much love + light... in ayni and deep munay... 
weaver x (((o)))

• above photos by carol weaver © copyright 2016 - all rights reserved

How to make your own florida water....

The below florida water recipes are simple to make... this first one was passed on to us during a shamanic medicine wheel training a number of years ago - and so now, i pass on to you so you can make your own.

Florida water can be expensive to buy so, it's great to be able to make your own... 

I will add more to this page on the different uses of using florida/flower waters soon - so, stay tuned.  I also welcome you to share your own recipes if you wish... and i can post here to share with others... if you wish to do that, let me know in the comments below or email me...
brightest, weaver x (((o)))

Florida Water Recipe...
The below is suggested and one tried and true - do feel free to experiment to create your own personal blend with those plant medicines that call you to work with...

• 1/2 cup dried sage
• 1/2 cup dried cedar
• 1/2 cup dried sweetgrass
• 1/2 cup dried lavendar
• 6 cups good quality vodka - like 100-proof smirnoff

Spiritually gather the herbs in a sacred way... combine them with the vodka... place in a glass jar and store at room temperature for 14 days (half a moon cycle) ... consider leaving out to infuse with either a full or new moon...  place a paper towel in a mesh strainer and strain out the liquid from the herbs into a clean container with a lid and store, use...  the above can also be made from herbal/plant essential oils... see below for other ways to make your own florida waters... enjoy!

A great video on how to make your own florida water - a simple and beautiful flower essence water recipe i found on youtube... see below video for the recipe...

2 cups of vodka (100 proof), 2 tbsp rose water, 16 drops of bergamont oil, 12 drops of lavender oil, 6 drops of may chang oil, 3 drops of rosemary oil, 2 drops of jasmine oil, 2 drops of rose attar oil, and a pinch of orris root powder... 

Here is a more in depth look into how to make Florida Water... some of it's history and the different types... Florida is Spanish for 'flower'... and there are many, many recipies for Florida Water...

This video shows how to make florida water or flower water from collecting the flowers + herbs to how to make it... how to use florida water in your shamanic practice including how to use it to cleanse with your spirit breath... 

... my calendar of upcoming sacred circle + related events >>

Various Florida Waters on Amazon...

NOTE:  As you can see above, there are many types of Florida Waters available on the market - with many different scents including air fresheners and soaps for various uses.

​The most known and used water in shamanic healing work is the Peruvian Florida Water from Murray & Lanman.  To be sure you are purchasing the Peru Florida Water, know it says "Peru" on the label, has a white cap and is an amber coloured water - where the other type of Florida Water has a more light-greenish coloured water with a black cap, and is from New York.  The difference from the two is the very distinct scent and essence, used for different purposes.
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I share what i have learned with the heart of munay... if you have found value + wish to support my  work... perhaps consider buying me a coffee, thank you!