2007 Mission: Mexico and Mothers

The small but mighty social change project in Mexico where I have volunteered for 15 years is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this summer. The United Nations is now showing significant interest in this successful prototype for creating needed professional midwives, especially in at risk populations. CASA’s brilliance begins with daughter’s of indigenous rural village midwives and then adds field service, daily clinical experience, apprenticeship and inter discipline teaching to create new midwives with a balance between the science and art of healing. The issue of maternal and infant mortality is a global concern. The United Nations is only one of the many groups and individuals who care enough to get involved. I am another.

I am honored to have been with CASA through her first opening of a Maternal Hospital and Midwifery School to serve at risk wimyn and children in the state of Guanajuato. I am proud of the students, teachers, staff, guiding boards and most importantly, the mothers and babies born into the hands of CASA graduates. Together they have made the world a safer, kinder, more hopeful place with a brighter future for thousands of Mexican families.

For fifteen years you have helped me help them. I hope to return this summer to teach, work in the hospital, serve on the international advisory board and share in their celebration of 25 years of selfless service. A new Ricki Lake Film which includes the work of CASA will be one of the new means for interfacing with international figures who have the potential to affect maternal infant health care world wide. These and other decisions will be made this summer as CASA moves forward in her ever expanding service to mothers and babies.

If you or someone you know has frequent flyer miles to share, that would decrease one of the major expenses in making this summer trip possible. I will share lodging and eat fresh fruit which is readily available. Other expenses include bus fares, cooked meals, alms for the poor, personal supplies and supplies for the hospital and school.

Supplies are nearly impossible to get across the boarder. Money makes buying supplies possible once I am there.

Your financial contributions are tax deductible. Checks may be addressed to MorningStar Community and mailed to: MorningStar Community, 22 Blue Jay Road, Kaiser, MO 65047- 2106

Your prayers are priceless to me. I promise to kiss all the babies twice; once for you.

Shining with Gratitude,

Sr. MorningStar

The Creation is the result of generations of Instinctual Birth. I have been privileged to have spent a lifetime supporting wimyn of many cultures and their families birth instinctually and reclaim personal power to live more soulfully and mother more heart fully.

It was created for my great, great grandchildren. For a generation yet unseen. A gift to those who come after to share in the power their ancestors. A gift to our ancestors for the power they passed down.

I welcome you. Your ancestors. Your descendants.


A potion of the proceeds will go to MorningStar Community and her holy work of preserving instinctual life. You may visit MSC or myself on line at: www.sistermorningstar.com or www.morningstarcommunity.org .

It is our tradition to offer a prayer for the sacred moments in our lives. Here is my prayer for the Creation, for Creation, and for you.


Four Direction: For Creation ~

To the East: Great Spirit, take me from the limited to a world beyond limits.

To the South: Speak to my Soul of the Radiance that brings all things into Creation.

To the West: May my words to others be an echo of your words to me.

To the North: Beyond time and space, bless Creation yet to be.

Cherokee Four Directional Prayer - A devotional about traditional and Instinctual prayer by MorningStar

For an autographed copy write: morningstar@sistermorningstar.com. Book price is $20.00 plus tax and shipping/handing. A portion of all proceeds returns to MorningStar Community. Enjoy and Share with a friend.....

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.

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

The first gathering was 1 January 2006. After the first meeting and evaluation longing was expressed for more sacredness, less talk and more traditional native flow.

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 monthly gatherings are the first Sunday of each month at 11 am. All are welcome.

The Way of the Sacred Circle Ledge Gatherings
Preparations
Build fire, create altar
heartbeat drumming
People enter to the left
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!!!

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.

MorningStar Community Activities Calendar 2007
All activities are held on the Holyland in Kaiser, Mo. unless otherwise indicated.

September 21-23 ~ Community Retreat

October 6 ~ WP Walk and WP Yoga Fall Retreat

December 2 ~ Thanksgifting Day (1 - 5 pm Studio in the Woods at the Lake)

December 8 ~ OMS Associates

MorningStar Community Activities Calendar 2008
All activities are held on the Holyland in Kaiser, Mo. unless otherwise indicated.

January ~ Wild Myn’s Winter Retreat - Date Pending

~ Maiden Retreat

February 8-10 ~ Wolf Council Retreat

March ? ~ Vagina Monologues performance 7pm

March 7-8 ~ Wild Wimyn's Spring Retreat

~ Wild Myn's Summer Retreat - date pending

May 9-11 ~ Soul Blossom Production

June 20-22 ~ Wild Wimyn's Summer Retreat (Immersion 23-25)

August 3-4 ~ MSC Annual Board Retreat / August 18 MSC Board Meeting conference call

September 26-28 ~ MSC Community Retreat

October ? ~ WP Walk and WP Yoga Fall Retreat

December 8 ~ OMS Associates

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. May your spiritual journey include sacred circles.

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:

Eric Homan ~ Web Design

Carol Zeman ~ Graphic Art