A deep thanks to all who went with me in Spirit to the VisionQuest Mountain in Ireland last May. Your prayers and presence were felt!  I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity to Re-Vision my Life and my Work at Anam Cara.  One thing that became clear to me, is that I need to honor my long connection with Native American wisdom.  (In researching my French Canadian heritage, I discovered that my maternal line lived in Quebec for 10 generations (since 1652) alongside the Abenaki people, and so my connection to the Spiritual Wisdom of the NorthEast woods is as solid as I’ve always felt it to be.) I was delighted to discover that even in Ireland, they honor the Native American traditions.  During the Vision Quest, my 20 year practice of working with the Native American Medicine Wheel came alive for me in new directions and became a source of deep healing and insight.  

And so I will be offering a one day workshop to share the Medicine Wheel with you.  I will also be starting a monthly series of Spirituality Seminars to address topics of interest in the Spiritual Life, beginning with “The Vision Quest Experience.”  and “Honoring Our Ancestors, Claiming Our Roots.”  If you have a topic you would like to see addressed, please let me know. 

In January 2007 I will begin my training in Indigenous Healing Ways and I look forward to sharing that with you  

At this time, I would like to honor a dear group of 5 Anam Cara women who have been meeting for two years, first as a “Mist-Filled Path” Group, and then studying “The Spiral of Memory and Belonging” and who are continuing for their third year together, doing an Individualized Soul Work Intensive.  They have been a continual source of support and have taught me the true power of committed community. 

As they formed a circle of Elders to welcome me home from my Vision Quest Experience, they gave me a new Spirit Name:  Copper Beech Woman.  Deep thanks for your wisdom, love, and faithfulness. 

Many thanks also to an anonymous donor who has contributed toward our scholarship fund to help women who would like to do Spiritual Companioning, but can’t afford it.  Let me know if you have need.

    With Blessings & Affection to all of you in the Anam Cara Community,  

                    Jeanne Marie  (Copper Beech Woman)