MorningStar Community

NEWSPEACE
“We promise to value relationship; to stand by our part, on good relations with all people;
to honor and respect the crossing of paths…” ~ MorningStar Community Guiding Principle

Consider a personal Retreat for Silence and Solitude

Rebecca Pryor Enjoying a Walk with Nature

MorningStar and Ivy

Personal Testimonies

I have had the miraculous honor of sharing this Holy Land with you, God and nature. The pure joy of setting aside all "civilized" thinking and behaviors is not only fabulous, but I have found it essential. I will carry my new-found wildness with me forever. And you can trust that I will be back for a fresh dose whenever possible. This is Real Living!

~Dawn Crystal Kleuser of Mid Missouri

I am full of gratitude for the blessing of being here at The Holyland. The incredible rocks, and trees with their dancing leaves shaken free by the breezes playing those trees like a harp. The insect symphony. The blue herons. The creeks. The quiet beauty... Miriam Rose of Portland Oregon

Thank you for providing such a wonderful, loving place for me to learn and grow. --Richard

Blue Moon Retreats

I really enjoyed the Blue Moon retreat and would absolutely do this sort of retreat again and again. It brought me joy to observe my sister-friends who were on their first visit to the holyland. Each mama brought love and stories and an open heart. We stayed up late into the night eating chocolate, sharing current life concerns, lighting candles, nursing babies back to sleep and blessing each other in a circle of held hands. Our stew was delicious. Our free bodied swim with the boys a delight! Blue Moon gave us an opportunity to know each other on a deeper level. I have a new respect for each woman and look forward to spending more time with them all in our home town. I look forward to returning to the holyland once again full of gifts and full of love! Gratitude and blessings, -- Alysia

Blue Moon Retreats are special retreats designed by a small group of like minded people. Below is a wonderful example of a group of mothers and their babies who enjoyed time celebrating motherhood and communing with one another and the holiness on The Holyland.

Wolf Council 2012

Traditional Style Sacred Circle Tipi

Come and Renew your spirit in our Traditional Style Sacred Circle Tipi!. Come alone, with your family or with a small group of friends. Our tipi is located in a meadow with a fire circle by a stream in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. Enjoy the ancient traditions along with the modern amenities of our companion guest cottage, Casita, with whirlpool, sauna, sitting room and small kitchenette. It is being used for Spiritual Gatherings, Personal Retreats and our famous Blue Moon Retreats. Blue Moon retreats became popular as small groups of people with common interests began to schedule time together and found the Tipi and Casita the perfect place. For reservation contact us: morningstar@morningstarcommunity.org or 573.348.6288. Our Tipi door is open to you.

Do naught with the body but relax
Shut firm the mouth and silent remain
Empty the mind and think of naught
Like a hollow bamboo.
Rest at Ease the Body
Giving Naught nor Taking
Put at Rest the Mind

--Tibetan Mantra

MorningStar Community Activities Calendar 2012-13

All activities are held on the Holyland in the Missouri Ozarks unless otherwise indicated. Contact morningstar@morningstarcommunity.org for inquiries.

2013 MSC Calendar

† Feb 8-10 - Wolf Council Leadership Retreat (6pm….3pm)

† March 23 - Wild Wimyn's Spring Retreat (9am-4pm)

† April 19-21 - Red Earth Youth Camp (sundown….3pm)

† May 18-19 - Maidens' Spring Retreat (noon….3pm)

† June 21-23 - Wild Wimyn's Summer Solstice Retreat (6pm….4pm)

† August 10 - Community Work Day (9am-4pm)

† August 10-11 - MSC Board Retreat (7pm…..2pm)

† September 13-15 - MSCommunity Retreat (6pm….3pm)

† September 14 - MSC 20th Anniversary Celebration (11am-3pm)

† September 27-29 - RAINDATE - MSC Retreat (6pm….3pm)

† September 28 - RAINDATE - MSC 20th Anniversary Celebration (11am-3pm)

† November 10 - MSC Thanksgifting Day (11-3pm)

† December 8 - OMS Gathering (10-4pm)

The Church of Many Nations, a native ceremony, at 11:30 a.m. in the Tipi, and The Feminine Mass, a
Catholic ceremony at Vespers in the Sanctuary, are both celebrated on the first Sunday of Each Month.
All are welcome.

Various fund raising events are scheduled each year for MSC. Please check the website:
morningstarcommunity.org or request email contact: morningstar@morningstarcommunity.org.

The MSC 2012 Annual Report ~ A Wealth of Greatness

MSC BOARD

Work! Wheels Talking

2012 MorningStar Womyn's Empowerment Award

Recipient: Amber Sparks
Amber and Olivia, present and past recipients

Amber and MorningStar

I am completely humbled and honored to be nominated for the Morningstar Womyn’s Empowerment Award. When first hearing of the nomination, I thought…”Who, me?” .... I can say with absolute certainty that I now instinctually mother with more loving-kindness and respect towards my children as sacred beings. ... I will humbly use this award to further my work in helping mothers with young children uncover that instinctual knowing within themselves and relate to their children as the sacred beings and teachers that they are. ... I am visioning becoming trained in prenatal yoga so that I can open up avenues for women to tap into their own power before birth and bond with their babies prior to them coming earth side. ... I am so grateful that it has led me to you all and in this community.

Church of Many Nations

The origin of Church of Many Nations birthed from a desire among various members of MSC to have spiritual expression regularly and within the growing and mutual love of their families.

The first gathering was 1 January 2006.

We believe in the Great Spirit. We believe that each child is divine and comes from the Great Spirit and is a reflection of the Great Spirit among us. We believe in a one world family, the instinctual nature as sacred, the presence of our ancestors, and the passing on of wisdom through ritual and story telling.

The gatherings are the first Sunday of each month. All are welcome.

The Way of The Church of Many Nations

Preparations
Build fire, create altar
heartbeat drumming
People enter to the left 1
Smudging at the inner door

Enter the tipi moving to the left. An elder will use a feather fan to purify the members as they enter. Icons can be placed on the altar as you pass around the circle. An elder will lead the drumming of a tribal heartbeat sound. Anyone who wishes may sing “Ya na ho wey ya ho way nay”.

Wisdom/Talking Stick Sharing - An elder begins, offering time for reflection and opportunity to pass or speak. Those who pass may be given a second opportunity to speak.

To begin and end periods of silence one strong drumbeat will inform the circle that the silence begins or ends.

Sacred Prayers - An elder begins, members come forward and face fire and make prayers and toss sage or lavender in fire symbolizing the smoke carrying the prayers to the Great Spirit. Children may make silent prayers and toss in herbs with their parents. Flute sounds will carry the spoken and unspoken prayers to our ancestors.

Sacred Meal - An elder begins, offering gratitude for all that nourishes us. Anyone wishing may come forward for bread and wine or a blessing. (bring snacks for hungry children) Drumming the heartbeat of the tribe quietly may be done. One final long drumbeat signals the end of the meal.

A final drumming and chant ends the gathering.

The circle ends with all standing and offering the sign of mutual love - Arms lifted in a howl carries the power of the tribe to other tribes.

Depart the tipi moving opposite of entering and take home any personal icons from the altar.
A picnic in the meadow follows - all invited!!!

Ongoing World Peace Prayer Vigil

– Full Moon Nights– 9pm CST ~

Rhythmic and harmonious gathering is a conscious and effective way to contribute to world peace. MorningStar Community invites you to join us on full moon nights at 9PM to pause and offer the following or a similar heartfelt prayer.

Four Directional Prayer ~ For the People

To the East: Within us, Before us, Behind us, Around us, Life Eternal, Call us Awake.

To the South: Open our ears to the song of Creation.

To the West: Teach us that what must be said, must be said.

To the North: Commit us to our future, sustain us from our past, Great One, gift us Courage and Wisdom and Love.

Donations may be made electronically through Paypal or contributions can be mailed to:

22 Blue Jay Road * Kaiser, MO * 65047

MSC is a not for profit tax deductible organization.
morningstarcommunity.org

Open the door for more. Give from your abundance.

Acknowledgements ~

This web site is the divine accomplishment and sacrificial love offering of many. We extend heartfelt gratitude and special acknowledgement to each of the following:

David Mountjoy ~ Web Design ~ Dave@DavidMountjoy.com
Carol Zeman ~ Graphic Art

Sister MorningStar
22 Blue Jay Road
Kaiser, MO 65047-2106
(573) 348-6288
E-mail: morningstar@morningstarcommunity.org

MorningStar Community is an intentional, ecumenical community founded by a Cherokee Hermitess and Catholic mystic. Our mission is to preserve and protect the simple and sacred through instinctual living, educational experiences, spiritual direction, personal disciplines, and collective and individual spiritual retreats. Our vision is thus: we honor the wildish nature by finding sacred and encouraging in our selves and our kinsters the ways of instinctive knowing, of inner growth and spritual expansion and the passing on of wisdom through ritual and storytelling. We strive for world peace and global solidarity. While on the Holyland we uphold these principles: peaceful ways, not harming or forcing life, vegetarian lifestyle, gratitude/gratefulness, cherishing life, valuing relationships, simplistic living, loving as our divine spirit loves.

Only MSIE provides background music.

Website managed by: David Mountjoy