'tween

DIVINE MARRIAGE - A TALE OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER

2010-11-17T18:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

How do I begin to share this beautiful experience with you ... this romantic neverending story ... this sa-ga of love ... what has come to me ? ... the tranquility of self less the necessity of else.

Dance with the divine. Sing with the love of all love in your heart. Fall truly deeply madly in love with you. See your magnificence in the mirror. Gaze deeply into your eyes and find that no one can hold a candle to that beautiful love.

Streaming beauty ... streams of LIGHT coming from / to mine own eyes.

I am in love. I am in love with my BE Loved.

I see my BE Loved in those around me. I see the vast range of emotions my Beloved has to show me in the smiles and gestures of others' around.

Is this the romance we await? Is this the gesture of gentleness the touch of tenderness the carress of caring we crave?

It is a celebration of life!

ROMANCE ... [Middle English, from Old French romans, romance, work written in French, from Vulgar Latin *rmnic (scrbere), (to write) in the vernacular, from Latin Rmnicus, Roman, from Rmnus; see Roman.]

a love affair, esp an intense and happy but short-lived affair involving young people
love, esp romantic love idealized for its purity or beauty
a spirit of or inclination for adventure, excitement, or mystery
a mysterious, exciting, sentimental, or nostalgic quality, esp one associated with a place

Twinning Souls Edward and Bella of Twilight Series

Fall IN LOVE with YOU. BE YOUR OWN MUSE!

How, you may ask? Trust in your own IMAGINATION ...

The power of imagination is incredible and can make wonders. Creative visualisation can be practiced through the combined effort of imagination, focus, belief, consciousness and affirmation. Whether you focus on the God, the Goddess, the Higher Power, the Universe, the Divine Love, the Spirit, the Earth Mother, the Sun, or even the Nameless, whatever phrase you prefer, your affirmations will be realized through consistent and persistent efforts of practice and positive attitude.

Even if you do not believe in "any faith system" of any higher power outside your capacity, you can still practice creative visualisation, by believing in what you wish for, and succeed as you are surrounded by your own unknown power of imagination. It is true! Source: power-of-imagination.com

If you can imagine it you can experience it ... you then can LIVE IT! ~ Deidre
IMAGINE that you have stepped out onto the Stage of Your Life. It is magnificent and filled with supporting actors that exist in prime or secondary roles throughout each scene, each act, each moment.

NOW IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE MET THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE ...

S/HE IS a part of you. Your soul. Your inner dimension come to life.

Explore, dance, dream, think, feel, touch, taste and be in that role with that beautiful one. Soak in the details. Move into your new life with this divine being, your BeLoved.

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ~ Albert Einstein

THERE IS NO SEPARATION be'tween what is in the inner and what is in the outer world. All this time I've been separating and thinking the outer was the illusion. It is ONLY in that it has NO power over us ...

FROM the movie Labyrinth ... Sarah: Give me the child. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great...

[thunder rumbles]

Sarah: For my will is as strong as yours, my kingdom as great... Damn. I can never remember that line.

[Sarah looks up the line from the Labyrinth book]

Sarah: You have no power over me.

If you have been wondering how to achieve inner mastery, .... let go of everything that seems necessary. Love yourself. See yourself all around you. Give yourself the chance for a rebirth back into / from / with the Divine.

WE GO FROM DIVINE MARRIAGE ... TO DIVINE CHILD ...

to innocence and purity within AND without.

Trinity. Unity. Union. One. Infinite.

LOVE!

Autumn Newsletter on our sister site available now

2010-11-09T10:19:00.001-08:00

http://www.shangrilasedona.com/shangrilasedonanewletter_autumn2010.htm

Shangri-La Sedona's Autumn 2010 Newsletter

LATEST NEWS! WE WELCOME HEALING PRACTITIONER TO OUR TEAM

2010-03-17T22:03:00.001-07:00

LATEST NEWS! LOOK WHO'S JOINED OUR TEAM

We welcome our newest Healing Practitioner CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA Hollywood Actor, Martial Artist and Chuu Shin Breathwork Practitioner.

Mr. Tagawa's techniques take Shangri-La's body, mind and spirit healing retreats to an entirely new level. We warmly welcome him and honor his expertise.

Hiroyuki Tagawa starred in several feature films including Memoirs of a Geisha, Pearl Harbor, The Last Emporor, Rising Sun, Mortal Combat, Snow Falling on Cedars, and many many more. Many people are unaware that Mr. Tagawa was first a healer and then became a Hollywood actor.

We are thrilled to be offering his exclusive Chuu Shin Transformational Breathwork sessions as part of our Signature Release & Heal Retreat. http://www.shangrilasedona.com/sedonaretreat-releaseandheal.html

PLANNING A TRIP TO SEDONA FOR RETREAT???

CREATE YOUR OWN RETREAT - including spa sessions and featuring Hiroyuki's Chuu Shin Breathwork session http://www.shangrilasedona.com/definitionsofSedonasessions.htm

You will love this session!

CALL TO BOOK YOUR CHUU SHIN SESSION TODAY (928) 300-1236

Read more about Hiroyuki Tagawa http://www.shangrilasedona.com/about.html#hiro

Welcome Hiro! We are so grateful!
xo
Deidre & Shangri-La Sedona Retreats & 'tween

Soul Spa Healing Products Needs Your Help

2009-08-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Join us in supporting Shangri-La Sedona Soul Spa Bath & Beauty Essentials where East and West meet Above and Below and Go Within to assist everyone on their ascension / spiritual path.

We have lots to share and offer with these beautiful health care healing products and would like to see them grow into something amazing and life path supportive.

This is a very small business which operates on support from friends like you. Please chip in $5, $10 or any amount, plus keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate any and all contributions.

Thank You and Many Divine Blessings to You.

In Service,

Deidre and Michael

http://www.tween.org/
http://www.shangrilasedona.com/

Summer newsletter for Shangri-La Sedona

2009-08-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends and Family,
http://tinyurl.com/lb25gu will take you to our summer newsletter for 2009!!!

MONDAY JUNE 29, 2009 | 6:30 pm Service to Self vs. Service to Others - Why We MUST Take Care of Ourselves NOW!

2009-06-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

MONDAY JUNE 29, 2009 6:30 pm
Service to Self vs. Service to Others - Why We MUST Take Care of Ourselves NOW!

Planet Alert: Are you a Lightworker, Healer or someone who focuses almost entirely on being of service to others? Do you find that you have no time for yourself anymore? Or has the quality of your own life become overrun by others seeking your help? With the sudden death of Michael Jackson today, we know that a healthy and balanced emotional and electromagnetic body is vital to not only our survival but our ability to move into the next phase of this next set of game rules which have been downloaded into the YOUniversal X-Box of our lives. It is urgent that everyone pay attention, to their own intuition NOW and learn the rules of this new game set. Join Deidre during this important info-packed energy alert discussion. Learn what YOU can do to easily ride (or Moon Walk through) these new tsunami-like waves of new ascension energy as we barrel our way towards 2012. You do NOT want to miss this talk. At the end of the show call in with your questions for Deidre's mini-readings and life coaching insights. GO TO LATEST EPISODE NOW GO TO BLOGTALKRADIO »

We Mourn the Loss of Beloved Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009

In Loving Memory of Beloved Michael Jackson. May He Rest In Eternal Peace and Light.
We love you, Michael.

Click Here

Deidre's Lightworker's Corner Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio

2009-04-04T15:44:00.001-07:00

SEDONA SECRETS! Are you becoming more self-empowered and self-aware? Do you feel the need to expand your learning, to go inward and know yourself? In the knowing and the growing we empower ourselves. Join us as we explore the magic, myths and mysteries of today's New Age - the Age of Aquarius - as we Countdown the Mayan Calendar Clock to 2012.... Is time speeding up? This show will shed amazing Light on your Spiritual Path ... guest speakers, authors, artists, musicians, healers, psychics and mediums will enLighten and enCourage you along the way. We welcome your calls, emails and chats. Aho and Namaste! Deidre

Help us raise money for a good cause ... Soul Spa!

2009-03-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Through your help we can create a beautiful new way of supporting everyone on their spiritual path.

WHAT IS SOUL SPA?
It all began when wee set out to create a beautiful aromatherapy spray that embraced all that we loved - the vibrations and aromas of the flowers, crystals, sacred expressions and divine names of God, and grew into Shangri-La Sedona Soul Spa Bath & Beauty Essentials ... Beauty In A Bottle!

BEAUTY IN A BOTTLE!
The word "Beauty" in Navajo is, "Hozho". We can choose to express beauty in a variety of ways - through our voices, thoughts, hearts, bodies and actions. Shangri-La Sedona Soul Spa Bath & Beauty Essentials bridges the space be'tween by fusing Eastern philosophy with Western elements like local herbs and flower essences to help bring out your inner beauty. May we all walk the Beauty Way!

The mojo or secret ingredient is not so secret because it is based on Dr. Masaru Emoto's water crystal research (see video on this page), we have developed an exclusive line of carrier products to hold specific vibrational dimensional frequencies designed to meet two needs:

(1) Your Personal Bath and Body Care needs (3D)
(2) Your Personal & Spiritual Evolution (4D+)

HOW DO WE DO IT
By infusing and embedding our products with specific thought forms via sacred prayers and divine expressions of the Divine Light Language & Adamic Lineage, (for example), the specifically chosen ingredients continue to hold and dispense (time-release) their designated tasks to your being (bio-computer). The short version: Our products may enhance your abilities to perceive and connect to your greater Self and to All That Is All, and ... they're practical, too.

USES
Here are some super successful and supportive ways we use our products ... perhaps you will find new ways to use them:

Add to your auric field to calm and strengthen your immune system and chakras. May be used as a blessing and ceremonial spray from Divine Source. Effective Feng shui spray for spatial clearings. Spray on linens for a fresh alternative. Safe around children and pets. For bath salts, pour 1/2 cup into warm bath water and soak for approximately 20 minutes.

WHAT'S INSIDE
Everything is evoloving in this line so here is a partial list of ingredients we use:
Essential Oils, Flower Essences, Herbs, Ayurvedic Elixirs, Sea Salts, Crystal Elixirs, Vibrational Elixirs, Prayer-infused Sedona Artesian Well Water.

Thank you for your help and support. May it come back to you a thousand-fold.

With Love,
Deidre

BlogTalkRadio Psychic Healing Tips and Discussion

2009-03-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

LIGHTWORKER'S CORNER - INTERNET RADIO SHOW

GO TO » BlogTalkRadio.com/Lightworkers-Corner

Sedona Secrets! Are you becoming more self-empowered and self-aware? Do you feel the need to expand your learning, to go inward and know yourself? In the knowing and the growing we empower ourselves ...

Join us live from sacred SEDONA Arizona as we explore the magic, myths and mysteries of today's New Age - the Age of Aquarius - as we Countdown the Mayan Calendar Clock to 2012 ...
Is time speeding up? This show will shed amazing Light on your Spiritual Path ... guest speakers, authors, artists, musicians, healers, psychics and mediums will enLighten and enCourage you along the way. We welcome your calls, emails and chats.

Is time speeding up? This show will shed amazing Light on your Spiritual Path ... guest speakers, authors, artists, musicians, healers, psychics and mediums will enLighten and enCourage you along the way. We welcome your calls, emails and chats.

WHAT?!? VIDEO TALK RADIO?

Want to see who's talking?

Every one of our online radio talk shows* will be video taped and posted in our archive for you to view at your convenience. Stay tuned! Aho and Namaste!

UPCOMING SHOWS

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009 - 8:00 PM MST, STRENGTHENING THE PSYCHIC MUSCLE - Deidre Madsen offers an in-depth look at ways to understand veils, the spaces be'tween things, discernment, how to recognize your innate psychic abilities, what is the difference be'tween "clears" or "clairs" (Fr.), and more. If you want to get a jumpstart on the show, and have your questions ready, go to my blog and read this article. For those of you who have been waiting for this show, your wait is finally over. I look forward to connecting with you and helping in any way I can. Namaste, Deidre

GO TO BLOGTALKRADIO »

MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009 - 8:00 PM MST, LOOKING FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE, YOUR BELOVED TWIN RAY, HEART OF YOUR HEART? Join your host, Deidre Madsen with her special guests Michael Madsen and Aurora Spuhler, as they talk about their experiences of coming to Sedona from Denmark and Sweden to be with their Twin Rays. If you've been wanting to take that leap you will definitely want to listen in on this show. Call in or chat in to ask your questions What are their stories, how did they come to take this big leap of faith? And, they will share their secrets to knowing if this is "THE ONE"!

GO TO BLOGTALKRADIO »

ARCHIVED SHOWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2009 - 3:00 PM MST - Kickoff Show with special guest Kelly Crocken-Figi of Associates in Massage Therapy (AiMT) on her work, her passions and career, vision for AiMT, and causes. (This show will be videotaped).

GO TO BLOGTALKRADIO »

PROGRAMS & TOPICS

Following are a whole array of diffgerent programs and topics we will be exploring at Lightworker's Corner. Check back often or follow us on Twitter: (deidremadsen)

Sedona Spirit - Why people come, what they do, why we live here, why we love it! Meet our special guests - local Sedona-ians.

Psychic Tips - The long-awaited tips and psychic support program hosted by Deidre Madsen
Twin Ray/Twin Soul Connections - Our guests, speakers and presenters share their divine twin ray experiences and personal stories, and answer your questions and hit the deeper issues to help connect you with your One True Love!

Prophecies & Predictions - Yes, we will talk about and with oracles, seer's, psychics, and indiginous cultures about 2012 and beyond. Hang onto your seats!

Quantum Everything - From theory to healing, we and our guests will explore our quantitized world through history, up-to-date research, science and exploration of our micro and macro universe.

Spring Newsletter - Great Freebies - Sedona Travel Info - Shangri-La Sedona Retreats & 'tween

2009-03-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Our Spring Newsletter is here.

Are you looking for ….

SEDONA TRAVEL INFO – SEE SEDONA VIDEO
FREE PSYCHIC TEACHING TIPS CLASSES
A SEMINAR ON TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY
PSYCHIC PREDICTIONS
BEAUTIFUL SOUL SPA BOUTIQUE PRODUCTS – FREE GIFT AVAILABLE
AND MORE …

CLICK HERE TO GO OUR ONLINE NEWSLETTER NOW: http://www.shangrilasedona.com/shangrilasedonanewletter_spring2009.html

Namaste,
Deidre Madsen

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

ShangriLaSedona.com
Shangri-La Sedona LLC Retreats and Adventours
Release & Heal Retreat
Girlfriend Getaways
Sedona Vortex Sessions

tween.org
'tween: Where the Spaces Be'tween Things Speak
Intuitive Readings, Sedona Retreat, Sedona Vortex Sessions, Help for Lightworkers (Healing Tools)

(928) 300-1236 cl (928) 204-5986 ofc

PAGES: Skype, MySpace, Facebook, Mappington, SelfGrowth, & SpiritWeb: Deidre Madsen
BLOGS: http://tweenorg.blogspot.com/ AND http://shangrilasedonareteats.blogspot.com/

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

2009-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

Get this widget!

Year 2009 - Deidre's Psychic Predictions

2009-01-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2009?

THE AGE OF MIRACLES ...
TO THE NTH DEGREE!
THE AGE OF WONDER OF WONDERS

The new year 2009 will be filled with even higher highs and lower lows than 2008, if you can believe that?! Continuing from last year's theme that we are going to witness Extreme Spirituality, I also mentioned that it will continue to even greater heights in 2009. You can be absolutely certain of this.

As the recession goes into dizzying new heights (or dips) into the economy of everyone's pockets, and large corporations close their doors for good, those that are in alignment with the OPTION or choice that they are the "Masters of their Own YOUniverse" will see the stepping off point, or launching point, in their lives where the experience of co-creating and manifesting their dreams and wishes (read as, Light vibrations) coming true ... becomes very palpable ... very real. READ MORE »

YEARLY ORACLE READING: Every new year Deidre writes an article filled with helpful suggestions to flow and grow with the incumbent year's new energy vibrations touching upon a combination of the Mayan Calendar predictions, Higher
Cosmological teachings, and Global Social and Cultural Indicators (Trends). Her reading is insightful, informative and helpful for those wishing to ascend into
their Light Bodies with ease and grace.

Also see 'tween's list of Affirmations - Great help in today's troubled times.

BLOGTALK RADIO PROGRAM - Are you becoming more self-empowered and self-aware? Do you feel the need to expand your learning, to go inward and know yourself? In the knowing and the growing we empower ourselves. Join us as we explore the magic, myths and mysteries of today's New Age - the Age of Aquarius - as we Countdown the Mayan Calendar Clock to 2012.... Is time speeding up? This show will shed amazing Light on your Spiritual Path ... guest speakers, authors, artists, musicians, healers, psychics and mediums will enLighten and enCourage you along the way. We welcome your calls, emails and chats. Aho and Namaste! Free Subscription to our Radio Network Program - Deidre's Lightworker's Corner is located at BlogTalkRadio.

Deidre Madsen's 'tween: Where the Spaces Be'tween Things Speak

PSYCHIC TEACHING TIPS: STRENGTHENING THE PSYCHIC MUSCLE

2008-04-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

TEACHING TIP:
STRENGTHENING THE
PSYCHIC MUSCLE

by Deidre Madsen

I was fortunate, lucky and blessed in that I came into the world with a hyper-vigilant survival mechanism of empathically and psychically needing to connect with everyone around me to gauge their behavior/mood/thought patterns, thus strengthening my “psychic muscles” over time - making me a good psychic.

Some are asking how to even recognize their own psychic abilities. I want to speak to this and go into greater detail plus give a few pointers. Then I want to address in this article what makes a good psychic good.

In today's article, it's important to address the concept of veils or as some people call them, blocks. When you consider the myriad layers or realms of realities that surround us in our waking walking life it is a blessing to be sure that we even have veils. We can be thankful for our veils and the important task or role they play in our lives. Veils are wonderful because when we can master them we can lift them at will to take a peek into other spaces and places. If we didn't have these natural built-in veils we would have a difficult time deciphering the layers or realms surrounding us, trying to differentiate between what is “our reality” and what is “another reality”.

There are those of us who are capable of ‘seeing' for example several people sitting at a table yet we only see one person. Others are sitting there at the table with one person present, yet many are there. Some can actually see everyone there and to them, they all look ‘real' and cannot seem to tell them apart from one another. I've associated this lack of veils or the ability to veil with those who are schizophrenic. I have run this concept/theory past psychotherapists, psychologists and psychics in the industry – all who thought my theory was plausible and a good explanation.

Lending further credibility to my theory is the article posted on Melbourne University's website about a University of Melbourne team who examined a group of people deemed to be at ultra high risk of developing psychosis and found those that went on to develop schizophrenia, rather than other forms of psychosis, all displayed the inability to identify smells. This deficit was present before the onset of any significant clinical symptoms of psychosis. (Media release 10/28/03 - Jason Major, Media Liaison, mailto:jmajor@unimelb.edu.au, 8344 0181; Dr Warrick Brewer, Depts Psychiatry and Psychology, 0412 109 330, 03 9342 2800, email: mailto:warrickb@unimelb.edu.au; and Assoc Prof Christos Pantelis, Depts Psychiatry and Psychology, 03 8344 1877.) FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/articleid_1019.html

In my opinion and my findings about the nose itself, this observation makes sense. If a person had their veils in place they would also have a sense of smell. The old adages “the nose knows”, “follow your nose”, “it's right under your nose”, “I smell a rat”, “sniff out danger”, and so on all lend a sense that we are using our olfactory extrasensory perceptive tool to facilitate or assist our inner knowing or perception. Without this, we are more prone to having our veils not only lifted but permanently damaged/removed. When I think about people who have rhinoplasty I have to wonder if they eventually suffer from something similar. Or perhaps this might cripple their nose's ability to not only smell the scents of the world as they had pre-surgery but also to sense the world around them.

Can Veils be Misused?
If veils are used properly or identified they can clearly delineate the start/stop points of a reality or realm. They can be rather subtle and if I can attempt an explanation here, I will. (More on this later.) Some however look at veils and call them blockages, blocks or barriers to their own psychic abilities. I feel these are nothing more than beliefs or systems that are ‘bought into' in order for us to feel we are not or cannot connect. Strangely, the belief that we are not connected is a misnomer – we are always connected no matter what we try and do. It is not possible to not be connected.

It definitely can be much easier to allow our own baggage or blocks to keep us from knowing. We must not confuse being veiled with being blocked as these are two different things altogether.

How to Discern the Start/Stop Point of a Particular Veil
The extra sensory perception tool I use most is actually my nose. In the ancient art of Jin Shin Jyutsu, a 5000 year old modality similar in some ways to acupressure recognizes in its main central flow, the nose as a point on the path. Truly, the nose knows. The nose appears to act as a sort of inner antennae. Generally, unless your nose is tiny, your nose is the first body part that leads you into a new space physically as well as metaphysically. I observe myself during a reading with a client and catch myself inclining my head in a particular direction, sometimes its to hear the words being spoken to me or to catch a particular feeling being relayed, and yet all the time I am following my nose's sensibility and trusting my built-in guidance systems to lead me in the right direction.

Traversing from Veil to Veil
When we get into the space of traveling through the spaces there are a couple considerations: being in the veil and being between veils for starters. To be in one is to be engaged, simply put, in some form of communication or communion with another.

To be between veils is to be taking focus off one space and placing it on another space. In a way it is like traveling on earth. We want to take a trip to Hawaii , we have to drive to the airport, hop a plane and travel thousands of miles until we reach our destination airport, and from there we hit the beaches. Within a veil there are many worlds or realms right in the same veil; there are veils within veils; like there are in an airport - within the airport there are shops, stores, malls, bathrooms, luggage area, check-in counters, video play rooms, all these spaces within one place, and of course the airport is within a city limit that has many other places to visit besides the airport itself. When traveling meta-physically you can really have a lot of fun discovering new places and meeting new people.

Getting from veil to veil feels as if you are simply placing your attention to another space. That is the gist of it really. If you get to the point of trusting that what you are seeing and experiencing is real and not an illusion then you will be just fine. It is those folks who distrust what their inner eye, or third eye, reveals; they trip themselves up by doubt and then confusion sets in. Stay clear and trust yourself, then simply turn your attention to another space and you are there.

Can One Get Lost in These Veils?
I once was experiencing an OBE (out of body experience) several years back when this was quite new to me. I laid there quite relaxed and unaware of what was happening. Suddenly I found myself separating from myself in a way that was very strange. I felt light and as if my real self was being pumped into a giant Macy's Day Parade balloon. This part of me was floating above my body like a balloon of higher consciousness. I felt waves of rushing relaxed kundalini warmth at the same time. Feeling secure I continued filling this giant etheric balloon not really knowing what was going to happen and so I remained quite curious throughout the process.

After a time I felt as if I was getting ready to do something more than just float above myself. It was then that I became afraid and thought I would lose myself in some way, the self on the bed. In a panic I quickly returned to my body on the bed.

After reflecting on this some time later, I realized how important it was to recognize that there were indeed tethers of silver cord connecting my physical body on the bed and the floating version of myself.

What is really important to remember is that while exploring veils you may think you could get lost but in fact you are never away from yourself. Nevertheless, if you remain timid try concentrating or focusing on the silver cord of connection that always exists between your higher consciousness self and your physical body, and actually connects with your other bodies (i.e., epikinetic, electromagnetic, and so on).

With these teachings you may find that they open up new vistas of understanding and they may also invite more questions. I encourage you to write me with anything you want to share. I am so happy to assist you in the deeper space inploration.

Safe and Happy Travels!

Namaste,
Deidre Madsen

'tween's author BIOGRAPHY :: EMAIL

TO THE LIBRARY FOR MORE ARTICLES DEIDRE MADSEN'S ARTICLES

More Teaching Tips AND VIDEOS to come!

On Mascots - The Ongoing Demeaning of the Native People

2007-12-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

On my website, 'tween, Susan Bates, Columnist for Hiller n Holler, writes:

NCAA Bans Indian Mascots, Nicknames From Postseason Events

According to an AP newswire release, the NCAA has ruled that teams will not be allowed to use Indian Mascots and "hostile and abusive" nicknames during postseason play. The rest of the time the demeaning practice will be allowed.
Eighteen schools currently have mascots that fall into the hostile and abusive category, including Arkansas State University and the University of Illinois, whose Chief Illiniwek has been the center of much controversy. Having been born and raised in the heart of Illini country, I can see both sides of the issue.
I went to high school with a future Chief Illiniwek, who happened to be the son of a previous Chief Illiniwek. These men, as well as the fans, have great respect for the "Chief" and much effort is put into learning the "correct" dances and proud movements the Chief displayed during the games.
Looking back I can see now that it is no wonder that Natives of the area aren't thought of as real people and given the respect they should have. The main thing I learned about local "Indians" in my 12 years of schooling was that Abraham Lincoln fought in the Black Hawk Wars to make Illinois safe for decent white folk.
Now that I am older I understand how seeing my People used in this way is hurtful. I can't think of another race that is portrayed as a mascot by a school that isn't comprised of that race. I'd bet the ranch that there will never be a school mascot called the Jungle Bunny or the Jabbering Jews. Everyone knows those terms are offensive.
Arkansas State director of athletics, Dean Lee, issued the following statement concerning the NCAA post season ban on "hostile and abusive nicknames." "At Arkansas State University, we take great pride in being called the Indians. In fact, in 2006, we will be celebrating 75 years of having "Indians" as an athletic nickname. The comments we have received from our fans and alumni are overwhelming in support of our portrayal of the Native American heritage on the fields and the court of play. It is our objective to represent Native Americans in a dignified and stately manner. We believe that our use of the nickname "Indians" and "The Indian Family" as our mascot affords the Native American customs and history the fullest respect and integrity...."
Perhaps if more attention was paid to teaching the real truth about our People and what happened to them, the questions of demeaning mascots might become a moot point.

My response ...

I can see both sides of the [Mascot] issue. I grew up in Illinois with the Collinsville Kahoks (Cahokian Indians) where we had a Chief and Maiden Princess as our two mascots. They had to learn the painstakingly detailed fire hoop dance as well as other dances. They had to be very fit athletically for this.

Even in my grade school of Holy Cross Lutheran our basketball team was called the "Braves". So, I was semi-subconsciously immersed in indiginous symbology from age of five (Kindergarten) to 18 (High School).

When I was 12, my older brother, Dennis, made Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. Our family went to Pierre Marquette State Park for his rite of passage ceremony. One part of this ceremony involved each Eagle Scout getting thumped hard on his chest by the leader of the organization. This was a ritualistic process for each Eagle Scout initiate steeped in indiginous symbology.

I observed all of this when I was young. Are we Native American? I don't honestly know the answer to that. Sometimes when I look at photos of my Grampa Sam he looks curiously like a few of these wonderful ancient Chiefs I've seen pictures of in books. (Recently I discovered the family names on his side of the family tree are in the Cherokee Roles.) A lot of Americans have Native American blood but haven't been told about it for one reason or another. Sadly, Native blood in the family line used to be shameful to divulge and was well hidden in the family closet of skeletons.

I was always proud of this part of my high school memories. Our family, too, was much more balanced with regard to our view of our Native brothers and sisters. My Dad in particular was extremely drawn to their culture and did get a chance to come to Sedona at one point where I know he felt a strong connection with this sacred land.

All in all, I agree with the ban. Continuing down the disgraceful path we have already carved is not the answer. I think that it should be over now. Put to bed.

I feel we must step into a new space and release our nation's love/hate hold and rethink and recreate the old laws and rules in favor of our Native brothers and sisters, caring for them as much as we would care for our own children, parents, grandparents, and elders.

Thank you Susan for helping to shed and share more Light.
Aho.
Deidre

I welcome your comments, thoughts, and perspectives.

'tween: Where the Spaces Be'tween Things Speak

2007-11-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

If you have an interest in cultivating your own intuitive powers and gifts, this Blog is for you. Write to me with your comments and/or questions and I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

If you are like me, you have been searching for answers to some of the mysterious experiences in your life, the unexplainable ones ...

For Example ...

Years ago when I was (I think) 12 or 13
yrs old, the "world premiere" of the movie West Side Story was airing
on one of the three main channels (ABC, CBS or NBC) in America. My parents
were so excited and couldn't wait for the whole family to sit down and enjoy
this much beloved story.

The strangest thing happened. I kept
telling my parents that we had already seen this and I began to recite the story
to them. I recalled the movie in my mind and was adamant that we had
seen it already. They insisted it was impossible because this was a world premiere - neverbefore seen on TV.

Honestly, I don't think they knew what to
do with me. I was so insistent and determined. More than likely, they were somewhat afraid of what was happening because no one could explain it. {sigh}

These are the kind of mysterious occurrences that even to this day I am not sure I can explain.

So far, the closest thing I can come to is (and even this is a stretch) that I had experienced a 'parallel' time where our family had indeed seen the film, and I was simply remembering. If you are like me you may be wondering hard about this and hoping for greater clarity.

There are more strange things that I recall, events that are amazing and mysterious and serve to remind me of the oneness in all life, and the many levels or spaces that life exists in.

More and more I see people waking to an inner divinity or awareness which knocks on the door of their life and asks to finally enter. Whatever the reason people have for not opening the door (i.e., fear, environment, etc.) perhaps this space on the net, this space be'tween spaces, will help you overcome those blockages so that you too can embrace ALL of you.

I really hope I can help others recognize their own innate gifts, and furthermore, be able to perhaps answer some questions you may have. I have worked long and hard at self-discovery and offer my experiences to others to help them along their path.

Thanks for checking out my blog spot. I hope you return and bring your experiences and/or comments and questions to the table ... we all are here to help and support each other.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Blessings,

Deidre
'tween: Where the Spaces Be'tween Things Speak
http://www.tween.org/
tween@tween.org