I have just returned from the Autumnal Equinox gathering at the Holy Land in central Missouri. It was a small but mighty gathering of women. We shared our usual drumming and fire circles, walks, and herb gatherings, and meal making and sharing. Sr. Morningstar led us in many healing rituals and conversations. I slept under the September stars in the tipee on both nights, grateful to have it all to myself, and for the peaceful star filled nights. I fell asleep each night to the hoot owl calling from the woods and woke in the morning to whipor-wills and woodpeckers. It was three days of bliss. For several months now, I have been making plans for the birth center, and becoming acclimated to midwifery school. I am taking a pharmacology class this Fall but begin my core midwifery courses in the Spring. I am also planning to return to Mexico in January to complete the nine day San Miguel Walk with Sr. Morningstar and 8 other women from our spiritual community. It is a nine day pilgrimage over the Sierra Madres of central Mexico, walking about 8 hours per day. I am also preparing to speak at MANA (Midwives Alliance of North America) this Fall in Niagra Falls Canada. I'll be speaking on maternal infant health after a disaster (based on my three trips to Haiti) and cultural competency in maternal infant health. I continue to teach full time, and will soon begin speaking nationally on active learning teaching strategies. Next year I look forward to becoming certified in nursing education through the National League of Nursing (NLN), publishing my first article in a peer reviewed journal and sitting for my lactation consultant credential. I am also working on next year's CIMS (Coalition to improve maternity services) conference, and locating a building in which to house my future birth center. It has been a busy Fall. Next year will be busier.
I am learning to trust my own intuitive knowing, when to seek the advice of others, and when to press on in my own wisdom. My lessons are many, the trials are difficult, but I am confident of my path. I press on.
