To be fair, I could and probably still can make a very looong scarf, but the world of patterns and pearls and days of hats and sweater making were not in the cards for me.
For a long time I blamed it on being left handed, but know way too many “lefties” that knit up a storm for that to hold any water…However the loom for me held some sort of a deep ancestral memory, and I had been using the metaphor of a tapestry we could look at in order to see our ancestral connections and the holes/gaps within, in my workshops and my healing work for years.
So by the time I sat down with my unboxed pieces of loom parts and started to lovingly spread beeswax onto them, and then to assemble them I was determined like I have never been before to learn the ancient art of weaving.
There was pure joy and bliss mixed with excitement, and then complete and utter terror that I might now be able to figure this out, but figure it out I did, and jubilation followed!
“We are bound to our bodies with the fragile threads of earth. Our skeleton is a loom on which every system is strung and woven with our blood.” SBM
However, it was not as easy as all that……
The journey took me deep into unknown territory, and in many ways forced me to review my entire life as I wove my story into a shawl that would carry the bones of ancestral meaning for me…
But I may be getting ahead of myself here….
I once read that the warp of a loom, {which are the threads that are strung vertically to create the foundation for any piece of fabric to work} represent our values and morals, our belief system, and these are bedrock on which or lives are built. They are hidden from view, one has to get close to be able to see them. These are usually only shared with family and friends that we love and trust.
Creating a strong warp is the most important part of the weaving, because without it the rest of the creation will not work.
The Weft however is what we see, it is the patterns of our lives and the beauty we create from it, it is what the outside world also sees, and so as important as the weft is, without a strong warp or foundation, it all falls apart!
Keep this in mind if you choose to read further about the journey…
As I started the process I realized that I wanted my ancestrally woven shawl to be soft so it could hold me though some upcoming shadow work, but wool {which I seem to be allergic to} is the common choice for these kinds of weavings so it took ages for me to make a final choice, taking into considering texture, strength and feel.
And finally I came home elated with soft organic textured cotton yarn in deep grey and black colours feeling grounded and with several hours before dinner I felt ready to begin.
Because I knew that the warp of this shawl needed to be strong and solid, I took my time setting up, measuring and understanding the pattern and what I needed to do to warp my loom, and then it began..
Time faded away and I felt that spacious time out of time feeling as I warped the loom, and soon I was feeling the yarn in my hands, the softness and texture, like a new child I was full of excitement and things were going well.
To warp a loom for a pattern of this size it should only take on hour, but this one took me three.
What I did not realize is that cotton breaks much easier, and no matter how strong my yarn was, cotton is cotton. I also quickly realized that I should have had the shop girls make me balls from my skeins because I did not have the proper equipment to do the job, and halfway through I needed to tie another ball on, but it tangled and broke and my foundation was beginning to look like a bunch of broken threads with tied knots holding them with a bunch of pooled and tangled yarn spread all around.
It was not long after this that I realized that the first half of my shawl was deeply representing my own early childhood life….
The foundation was broken, but I gritted my teeth and carried on, because nothing was going to stop me making this shawl {plus I paid a LOT for this yarn!}
I was forced to trust the process, to trust that even though there were breaks and knots it would all work out, and soon enough the tears came, and added their own healing to the foundation of the first half of my shawl.
My tears felt like the ancestral pain not only of my own broken foundation but the broken foundations of all my ancestors going back, the ones I had been working on healing for the past three years, the ones I have come to love and understand, it was all there is the broken-ness of my first warp….
And then it was finally ready, and I began to weave….
The first half was a slow process, but slowly I wove and healed all of the broken spots, slowly I remembered my life, seeing it through the eyes of the tapestry I was weaving, and the metaphors were deep and rang true in a painful, powerful and healing way…
I felt that I was honouring all of the ancestors that went before me by sticking with it, and I started to feel their steady hands behind me, guiding me in what needed doing to make it strong and beautiful!
I felt confident in what I was doing and soon I was playing around with different textures and wools and I could see the beauty of what I was creating, it was weaving medicine.
I began to think of my beloved husband and our two children and they were woven into my shawl, and soon enough I remembered all of my work with red and not by chance, that very week I was gifted an entire spool of beautiful deep red yard for weaving with, so it went in too…
And finally it was done!
Two halves of my life, my ancestry, my family my life…
Pulling the last piece off the loom was cathartic and I wish I had thought to capture it on film, but I was caught in the moment, and as soon as I had it in my hands I was holding it close to my heart and getting ready to sew both halves together..
These were threaded with care and love and strung onto each side of the shawl, and as I worked steadily I understood this to be my Bone Woman shawl, guided by the bone mother in one of her many forms.
Some may know her as the Calleach, and others may see her as Eriskegal the shadow sister/side of Inanna, some see her as Baba Yaga…
For me the bones were directed by my ancestors and guides, and of course the bone mother…The last and final step was to take her to the river….
I have decided not to share much from that time, but it is my hope that these images speak the words for the process of standing in the cold river, feeling the current pulling me and submerging my shawl as a form of deep initiation {for us both}….
She makes small clicking sounds as I walk, her bones clattering off of one another in the most wonderful way…..
I wear this shawl proudly for it holds the reminder of my life lived, of the ancestors who have gone before me and for what is yet to come…For now though, there are more tapestries asking to come through, but a good long break seems to be what is needed, for the moment at least…
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I did it!
Some of you may remember my sharing a video of a looooong piece of weaving I took off the loom about a month ago musing on what I might make with it…
Well after weeks of travel I arrived home ready to take the risk and cut into my precious weavings and sew them.
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The thing is I had no pattern and my sewing machine broke before I even had a chance to use it once!
But since I have taken some fabulous classes with my teacher India Flint @prophet_of_bloom where she shares her fearless use of scissors and patternless hand made sewing I decided to go for it and I am thrilled with the result.
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Having said that it helps that I am not even remotely type A, nor do I care about seams showing etc…
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It’s wickedly “handmade” and perfect for the essence I carried all through its creation which was all about this second half of my life, peri-menopause and initiation..
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These things have been messy, creative, hard, and I have learned so much!
Kinda like making oneself a coat from woven fabric without a pattern or sewing machine ha!
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Anyways I am back home now and excited to dive into some summer weavings and drum making, and pairing them together so that you can take them out on your outdoor adventures, stay warm at night and connect to the rhythm of the land..
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Stay tuned!
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Big love
Nikiah
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#weavings #saori #sacredweaving
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I am thrilled to have some of my weaving creations over in Salt Spring Island at @folklore_studio_co .
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@tarynstrong and her partner @sydwoodward_ have created a fabulous store supporting local artists as well as selling their own fabulous jewelry creations.
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I look forward to visiting them later this summer and seeing my weavings in the shop.
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Have a beautiful day everyone.
-#weaving #sacredweavings #folklore #supportart
This image was taken by @_infinitebody_ a few years ago now and is such a beautiful reflection of the many times we have worked together to create a story within an image within a myth..
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Images have always captured my imagination and I have long loved photography, so to be able to manifest what is in my mind and heart together in sacred collaboration has been a dream.
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If you have been in my website or here on insta with me for awhile you would have seen many of these images taken by Jennie, as we navigated shoots by waterfalls, the ocean, the forest, mountains, rivers and meadows..
All in search of beauty, mythic storytelling, ancestral connection and what it means to create art from our lives,guts and souls..
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For me the fact that I am in the image is not even remotely as important as the feeling or story I hope that you dear ones will experience once you lay eyes on it..
In fact I often wish I had a model instead of myself because it’s really about creating an image that evokes a feeling and a story..
This is the gift that Jennie has..
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Anyways Jennie @_infinitebody_ has some beautiful offerings happening right now if you are feeling called.. go check out her work.
♥️
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In the meantime I am back in beautiful B.C and soaking up the sun home and cherry blossom’s as we visit our daughter and prepare our home here for sale this coming summer.
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What does this image say to you?
What story does it tell or make you think of? I would love to hear your thoughts…
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I will post a bunch more tomorrow, and include some that I have never shared here before..
Perhaps we can create a story together..
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#sacredphotos #stories #unseeen #reddrum
Every now and then I sit with my website and read through it, because written words tend to become static once written, and I as a person am not.
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I continue to change, my work changes, and how I would even describe my own work changes too..
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So today I sat with my bio page and made some changes, sharing a little more about my own evolution, who I am and why I do what I do…
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I am not completely done with it yet but it feels better to me, kind of like when we outgrow our old skin, shedding needs to happen..
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Over the years my sites have constantly been in a flux of change and evolution, expanding and being fluid with growth as I do the same..
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Right now I am in another time of change, actually it’s been a few years of this, but slowly, ever so slowly my work is expanding, and getting itself ready for new iterations…
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So although all I worked on today was my bio page, I am feeling that there is much more to be added in the next few months..
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What does this kind of change feel for you? And how does it get reflected in your work? I would love to hear how others share change..
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Big love
Nikiah
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#change #evolution #website #animism
It’s a SCAVENGER HUNT! I’m part of the Ways We Witch summit this weekend, and it’s time for some fun! Search the tag #wayswewitch for four clues and enter them at www.wayswewitch.com/fun to play (I hear that everyone wins!). The summit is all about the different ways we practice connection in our lives and one of my favorites is brewing up herbal tinctures and syrups for my family to enjoy.
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Your scavenger hunt clue is MAGICK.
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#wayswewitch
Sometimes I just like to wander around my studio and see what inspires me.
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Some days it’s spinning or weaving, but sometimes I pull out alll my paints and go crazy for a few days, then leave it for what can be months before I get inspired again.
In fact I have a painting I started at the begging of Covid still waiting for completion haha.
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Sometimes I pull out all my beads and make several sacred pieces all at once!
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Last solstice I bought a ton of fabric and sewed like crazy making all sorts of different sized bags to replace the old fabric we had been using for years to wrap gifts..
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Spring inspires to forage especially for wild violets to make syrup with.💜
And the end of summer I forage wild roses for my tinctures.🩷
It really just depends on the muse at the moment…
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How about you? What stokes your creative fires?
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#creativity #beltane #studio #art #weaving #sacredmuse
The Ways We Witch Summit begins May 5th and is three full days of juicy, deep, Magickal offerings from a variety of incredible contributors!
Our box office is now open and at a very special price. Check it out by visiting the link in bio.
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#wayswewitch #redmoonmysteryschool #nikiahseeds #witchesofinstagram #witches
I am excited to be a part of this wonderful lineup of folks offering this summit. I have recorded a talk in animism that I hope folks enjoy.
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The Ways We Witch Summit box office is now live! This is an incredible Summit happening virtually May 5th-7th with both live and pre-recorded talks. You'll get lifetime access when you purchase your ticket so you can come back to a session at any time! With over 25 contributors and over 33 offerings between them, you'll be sure to learn something new whether you're a seasoned Pagan or baby Witch new on your path!
Currently, there is a fast track ticket option of $97 USD (more than 60% savings!) until Friday so it's the best time to save! This means it's less than $3 per session - that's wild! Afterwards, ticket prices will go up so hop on board now to take advantage of this incredible discount!
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Link in my bio…
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#thewayswewitch #witchlife #animism
Packing up these delicious welcome packages today as I welcome a new group into the Sacred Path Apprenticeship.
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The phenology wheel books you see here were a labour of love I created a few years ago now as a part of how we deepen our connection to the land, and the unseen.
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It’s just one part of many that make up the 13 month initiatory journey that is the sacred path…
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The doors will open again in the fall and from that point on I will only be opening up the doors once a year…
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This will allow folks time to sit with if it’s a good fit and for me to work on some other things I have been planning and dreaming of offering.
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Have a beautiful day everyone!
Nikiah
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#ancestral #phenology #animism #shamanichealing #spiritworker #priestesspath
In a world that often overlooks the importance of initiation, many of us find ourselves feeling lost and disconnected from our true selves. But what if we could remember and honor our own initiatory processes?
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As an animist teacher following the pathways of my ancestors, I invite you to join me on The Sacred Path. Through deep connection with the forest, your guide, your ancestors, and yourself, we will journey to reawaken the mythic soul within. 🌳🔥🌕
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Consider for a moment the impact on your life if you had experienced your initiations as important rites of passage. How would it have changed or shifted your view of the world, yourself, your gifts, and your purpose? And know this, my friends, it is never too late to claim those initiations for yourself.🌟✨
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The doors are closing soon so DM me to learn more about the Sacred Path Apprenticeship and how you can join. 🙏💚
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#animism #spiritualitytraining #ceremony #ancestralwisdom #connection #spiritworker
This is the longest piece I have woven on my saori loom to date and it’s taken me a few months, but I have loved the process, especially not knowing what the final piece would look like and just trusting the process…
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Next up-sewing it! This is the scary part because it will require cutting etc…
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Also happy New Moon folks!! 🌀⭕️🌀
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#saori #weavingloom #newmoon
A little introduction:
My name is Nikiah {pronounced Nik-Eye-Ah}, and I am a fourth-generation settler currently living on the unceded lands of the Lenape, Munsee, and Mohican First Peoples.
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My ancestors came to Canada via Romania, Scotland, Ireland, and England. The exploration of my ancestry has, and continues to, deeply influence my work and own healing.🌲🌳
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For over two decades, I have been creating ceremonies for the birth, death, and re-birth cycles that we as humans experience. I am a traditional animist Spirit worker/Healer, initiated into northern European animist tradition and guided by many teachers over the years.🐻
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I have raised two children with my partner of 25 years and am now focusing more on my community, both global and immediate.
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The Red Moon Mystery School is where we explore the deep wisdom of our ancestors, the natural world, and our place within it. 🌎
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Whether you are looking to deepen your spiritual practice, connect with your ancestors, or explore the unseen realms, I offer mentorship and leadership programs, sacred weavings and altar items, and initiation paths to support you on your journey.
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Join me as we reconnect with the sacredness of life, and honour the beauty and diversity of a spirit-led life.
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The doors are open now!
Pop me a message if you would like a direct li k. ❤️
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#Animism #Spirituality #Ceremonialist #Healing #AncestralWisdom #Community #Connection #spiritworker
The idea that we all have a wellspring of wisdom within us is a core belief that I carry in my own life and the work I put out into the world. I believe that by connecting with our ancestors, practicing animism, and working in the liminal spaces between, we can tap into a deep source of knowledge and understanding. Whether it’s through meditation, ritual, or simply spending time in nature, there are so many ways to access this inner wisdom and bring it into our daily lives.
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What happens when we take a moment to honour our ancestors, connect with the natural world around us, and embrace the magic of the liminal spaces? For me, there is ease and magic and a sense of feeling held.
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I’m curious to know what happens for you?
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And if you are new to exploring what it means to be in connection with your ancestors, with the land and the spaces in between, is this something that piques your interest and curiosity? 🌿✨🌙
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#AncestralConnection #Animism #LiminalSpaces #WisdomWithin
#Spirituality #Meditationn #Ritual #Nature #Magic #Inspiration
The doors to the Sacred Path Apprenticeship are open now, and close on April 25th.
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The Sacred Path Apprenticeship is an initiatory certification program designed for spiritual seekers, empathic coaches, visionaries, creative leaders and anyone longing to reclaim their own spiritual path by discovering a way of being that is unique to their own life and inner self.
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Learning how to journey is a big part of the Sacred Path apprenticeship, and over the course of 13 months together you will be invited to journey into a sacred grove of trees to meet the spirit of each tree in the grove and receive wisdom as it pertains to your life.
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Before this though, you will be invited to discover your own unique way of journeying, how to do it safely and you will meet an animal ally to accompany you on your journeys.
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This is what makes the sacred path different, perhaps form other courses out there, as journeying to communicate with a helping and loving ancestor, as well as a sacred animal ally over time become fundamental to our spiritual practices and experience with the seen and unseen world around us.
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Over the next few days I will be sharing more about what you will find inside the doors to the sacred Path, but if at any time you have any questions I am always happy to answer them, just pop me a DM and we can go from there.
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#sacredpath #ancestralhealing #walkyourownpath #intuitiondevelopment #redmoonmysteryschool
Images by @_infinitebody_
The doors to the Sacred Path are open. We begin May1st.
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Will you enter?
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The Sacred Path Apprenticeship is an initiatory certification program designed for spiritual seekers, empathic coaches, visionaries, creative leaders and anyone longing to reclaim their own spiritual path by discovering a way of being that is unique to their own life and inner self.
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On this path you are invited to journey into the unseen realms by first finding your own way of accessing and then trusting your own sacred gifts.
In this way you will walk the ancient pathways of the archetypal goddesses, and your ancestors.
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There are nine initiations we work within:
~ Journeying into the unseen realms
~ Archetypal and shadow work
~ Journeying into the forest & developing a sacred relationship to trees
~ Meeting the goddess cross-culturally
~ Creating a sacred archetypal bundle
~ Beginning an animist practice by working with the land spirits
~ Meeting a healing ancestor and beginning to create an ancestral spiritual practise
~ Working with the seasons and cycles of our bodies and the world around us.
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#spiritcommunication #animist #mysteryschool #everythingisalive #everythingisenergy #iching #journeywork #archetypes #dreaminterpretation #precognition #kitchenwitch #ancestorveneration #animism
The Doors to the Sacred Path Apprenticeship open today!
AND
I am going to be giving a talk at 1:00 EST to talk about it all.
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If you have been feeling called but would like to know a little more, or perhaps reading through everything on my site feels a little overwhelming, I will be sharing a ton of information about it all, and showing the wonderful contents of the welcome package that every student gets too :]
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If you can't make it though, not to worry, as I will also make sure to post the video on my wall here so you can watch anytime.
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If you have any questions you would like me to go over leave me a message here or pop me a DM and I will make sure to cover it.
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See you later today!
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Nikiah
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#sacredpath #mysteryschool #animism #ancestralhealing #spellwork #witches #priestesspath
I am excited to be opening up the doors to the Sacred Path Apprenticeship this Monday!
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If you have any questions pop me an email I would love to hear from yku!
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Have a great long weekend folks, and enjoy all that chocolate!!
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#mysteryschool #sacredpath #shamanic
I am so excited to be opening up the doors once again for The Sacred Path Apprenticeship.
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The Sacred Path Apprenticeship is an initiatory certification program designed for spiritual seekers, empathic coaches, visionaries, creative leaders and anyone longing to reclaim their own spiritual path by discovering a way of being that is unique to their own life and inner self.
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This course is also for folks wanting to sink into an intuitive way of deepening their own spirituality by following their own pace without the need for attending circles or zoom calls.
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Doors open up for folks on the waitlist on April 10th, so if you are curious or perhaps interested pop me a message below or send me a DM and I will send you a direct link to learn more.
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Lots of love
Nikiah
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#sacredpath #priestesspath #sacredcalling #intuitive #spiritcommunication #spiritjourney #shamanic #ancestors #mysteryschool
Looking back in my recent trip to Morocco today and seeing alll of the blue door photos I took I thought it might be fun to share a little reel of them.
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Morocco was the most magical place I have ever visited and we are already plotting out trip back.
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It was also so fun to bring back some of the magical things that were in my most recent giveaway, and I am happy to@say that I have a few more tucked up my sleeve for the next one.
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For folks new to my account I love to give things away as much as I love creating and sharing my work so I am often found doing them every few months or so.
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The other thing that I loved learning about was the textiles and about the Majorellle blue that is found everywhere but most in doors.
It is used as an evil eye for protection of sorts and I even brought some back with me in the form of Indigo which I will be sharing more about soon.
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In the meantime enjoy this collection of beauty…
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Big love
Nikiah -
#morocco #doors #majorelleblue #majorellegarden #sacredportals
The one thing we often do not talk about is all of the little things that go into the creation of intentional pieces.
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Like with these elemental shawls you see me folding here.
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There are many small steps that need to happen before they are ready to find their new homes…
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Things like tying the tassels just so at the bottom of the weaving after its finished, wet washing the pieces so the fibers bind together and make the fabric stronger.
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Then, there is the time spent describing all of the beautiful yarns that I have chosen for each piece with intention, as I like to create a palette of colors before I begin each piece, kind of like painting…
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Because each piece is created with an intention or a theme i like to really work with that aspect as I work on the piece, such as when I was weaving the fire elemental shawl you see here I had lots of candle lit around me, and my water fountain was sending out the most wonderful watery trickling sounds as I wove the water shawl, and well you get the idea….
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Then there are photos to be taken so the uniqueness of each creation can be seen and finally they are all folded up ready for their new homes to find them….
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These elemental pieces were such a joy to make and are now ready to find their new homes….
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#intentionalweaving #intentions #sacredweaving #ancestralweaving #fire #earthgallery #air #water
I found my way to your website this week… sister of my soul. And, though I was on a mission of sorts, I found my returning, over and over again . I have spent hours here with you, this day – reading your stories… listening to your voice (which sounds so familiar; as if I have always known you).
It has been years since I last shared my voice on the web or wandered about dancing through the space of the ethernet. Yet, your images captured my attention. And, though seen mostly through the blur of tears, their message and hidden secrets were so clear and precious to me…, And your words – a whisper from far off, as if from a dream, I find myself holding on to them as if a key that will help me open the forgotten chambers within.
And though it is late, darkness fell long ago, and I have lingered here for most of the day and evening….I find myself unwilling to leave your presence. There are many things I could share… much my heart longs to tell, but I remain quiet – in awe and gratitude… except to say: Thank you.
You are a deep well and a blessing I have not expected to find.
My heart encircles yours with a love true and whole. I hope you will feel it and know me as your own.
Infinite blessings and bliss.
Leesa