Selah Retreat October 2024
The Women Who Came to the Water’s Edge
The Greater Mercy Foundation
Selah Retreat October 2024
A Time for Being
A Gathering At the Water’s Edge Together
At John Knox Ranch
Music and words
Trickle
Deep Love
Wound meets Womb
Meeting the Moment
Receiving from the Infinite Source
OPENING CEREMONY
Getting to know Who is here, Where are we
Being Our Heart
Being in our Power-Full-Ness all the way to our fuzzy edge
Whispering Love Into Each Other’s Bones
YOGA
Support in Being Present in Our Body
Feeling the Ancestors Join Us
Knowing Our Breath
WATER CEREMONY
A Myth that Meets the Moment
Joining A Stream of Consciousness Elevated
Audio of the mythology coming soon.
CLOSING CEREMONY
A Recognizing of the formation of A Tribe
Selah: Carol’s Poem Prayer and Vision
Sarah
Calm, quiet exterior, wise. Knows more than she says.
Daughter of Becky and Bob Denton. Blessed and precious and smart.
Roiling inside… hurricane winds with gusts and twisters.
I want to be your BFF. I trust you will keep my secrets.
Amy C
Grows roots deep into the earth when her feet touch the ground.
Stable. Caring. Wise woman. Not always sure.
Soul nourishing with deep wells inside.
The first to make me feel part of… safe. I want to laugh with you.
Natalie
Curious, can be grounded or float as needed.
Soft and safe and smart… and probably very sassy inside.
That smile… I want to know your secrets.
Britt
Deeply feeling. Exquisite but might not know it.
Soft and sweet, but fearless. She hears you.
Concerned. Willing to do anything for you.
Always searching. I want you…
Amy L
360 degree person. Perfect balance of all the energies… woman/man/child/elder
A seeker who finds. Both still and engaging. Comfortable and commanding.
I want to follow you onto the land and into the water.
Jennifer
She is me… only so much more. Funny, engaging, deep, expressive.
Connected to it all… to us all. A thirsty sponge, while also being weightless, flittering.
Freebird with spirit that soars. She holds us all.
You bring me such joy. I want you always with me.
Carrie
Classy… regal even. Holds herself back, but there’s a volcano inside.
Power beyond knowing. Maybe a little armored, but an Earth Mother at her core.
Few really know her but all want to. I want to sit in your lap while you rock me to sleep.
Ashley
In charge. Flaps up and ready for take off. This one will get the job done.
The rest of us can relax. Everything will be handled.
Discerning and careful. I want your sense of self and confidence.
Terri
Fun, fun and more fun. Emits joy and acceptance.
Your accounts seem settled. How do you do it?
Dark and light with that elegant, wise smile.
I want to know how you navigate life.
Ellen
Epitome of passion. Hardest working person ever… doing it with a smile.
Passion and commitment embodied in joy and dance.
I want to know your whole story.
Shelly - RMaya - Charlotte
These women… I would have to write a book. I can’t do it in a few lines.
That have been my life, my witnesses, my sisters, for years now.
No description is enough to describe these Goddesses.
If you don’t know them, you should. Your life will be better for it.
In the brilliant words of my friend Shelly… I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!
Final thoughts
These words were first impressions. More a reflection of my perception in one moment of time. Every word is written with love and awe of the women I experienced.
If they ring true… that’s wonderful. Take them in.
If not… that’s wonderful. Reject them whole heartedly.
With much love and gratitude,
Carol
STORIES, CONNECTIONS, and UNFOLDINGS
10/30/24 Chris (Amy’s husband) had a dream that he was in the kitchen (his happy place of co creation where his love language is preparing food for us) and a kid comes in with a fish in a container. The kid needed help caring for the fish and the container needed water, so he was filling the container with water, when the fish jumped out. The fish gets dirty on the kitchen floor and Chris spends the rest of the dream washing the fish clean.
The Myth that was spoken at our retreat had not been spoken before. It has not been spoken since. It was co created in that moment, Chris had NO IDEA of any of the events that transpired at our gathering. I am seeing the MYTH in EVERYTHING, and it feels like the Truth. The Truth that is in the field, so much so that Chris is replaying the myth with his symbols and his understanding.
Henry Owen, the JKR Executive Director has been asking me for feedback from the Retreat. JKR and TGMF worked in partnership to make this happen, and TGMF has an understanding of it - because we were there. I have not been able to find the words to express to him - so I would love your help in that. WHEN you find the words to express your experience- would you mind sharing them? And put your name after your sharing? We were each an important piece to what was created, and the only understanding may be one with all of our input. - Amy Lyles. AKA Beloved Who Dwells By the Water, Descendant of Odin.
Our Wise Women of the Water reach out to each other for support and are held buoyant in the hands of the women ready to receive the requests. We hold each other in words, prayers, and stillness. We even hold others we may not know, but who need to be held. We are a power-full force in this world.
