Tarantula

January 30 - February 2, 2020
Bethel Horizons, Dodgeville, Wisconsin

KEYNOTE: Transformation through heightened psychism and feelings.

 

 

 

 

 

Questions

  • Do we trust what we feel?
  • Are we relying too much on appearances?
  • Do we need to protect our activities and ourselves a little more aggressively?
  • Do we need to trust our psychic impressions more?
  • Do we need to pay attention to the subtle activities going on around us?

In southern Italy, there is a popular folk dance that has circular directions and quick foot movements, which seem to reflect the convulsive movements humans that are bitten by a spider. This dance, the tarantella, is named for the spider believed to cause these convulsive movements, the tarantula.

Tarantulas are part of a group of spiders known as the hairy mygalomorphs. Most live in the ground, though some do live in trees. Their eyes are very sensitive, but they hunt mostly at night by touch. They are very sensitive to vibrations and movement around them. They can live 10-20 years, and usually when a tarantula appears as a messenger or totem, it will be important in our life for a long period of time.

Tarantulas do spin silk, but they do not create webs. They usually dig a burrow or hole in the sand or soft earth and hide in the bottom of it. Tarantulas have fibers on their legs and bodies that are sensitive to touch and rely heavily on this sense. When they feel something walking about their hole, they jump out, grab it, and pull it back into the hole. They are sensitive to the subtle in activities their environment, and they teach us how to be more aware of them as well.

If tarantulas have appeared in your life as a messenger or totem, it is important to trust your own feelings. Even though they have eight eyes, they do not see very well, relying mostly on their sense of touch. Trust what you feel, not what you see? If you do so, you will find yourself more successful in all of your endeavors.

When frightened, tarantulas will rear up and shed the hairs on their stomach, flicking them off by their legs. These hairs are very irritating to skin, and it is a defensive measure. It becomes a distraction and enables the tarantula to escape. If we find ourselves or our activities threatened in some way, we should find a way to distract the source of threat or irritation.

Female tarantulas experience molting after maturity, shedding their outer form, much in the manner snakes shed their skin. Males do not molt. Often when the tarantula appears, it is time to shed the old in some way. Do not follow the same patterns or trust the senses relied on before.

Who Should Come?

The workshop is designed for people from all walks of life. It is focused towards expanding the awareness of spiritual explorers, healing and shamanic practitioners, and the delightfully inquisitive.

What to Bring

Please bring any rocks or crystals that want to come along. A journal notebook is encouraged as well as any comforts for sitting on the floor, such as floor chairs, back supports, blankets, pillows, etc. Bring lots of grounding stones

Plan for

We will be in the outdoors of the many sacred energies of Bethel Horizons Camp. Plan for hiking and spending some in nature. Plan to learn to clear your subtle energy field and to adjust it with each moment by being a living, healing presence.

Details

The workshop is residential and will be held at a beautiful Lutheran kids camp at Dodgeville, WI. You will receive detailed directions and a list of what to bring with your registration.

Please include your email with any registration. Suzette will send out registration confirmation. These emails will come from rocksandsouls@gmail.com. Suzette and I will both be able to read any replies. The fee for the workshop is $545, which includes lodging for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, a light luncheon on Thursday evening, 3 meals on Friday, 3 meals on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Payment in full is due by December 31, 2019. There is a fee of $10 for linens and towels or you can provide your own. Class size is limited to 26.

To Register

Please send a refundable $100 deposit or the amount in full to Marie Smith 19126 Campbell Hill Dr, Richland Center, Wi. 53581 by December 1st. We eat gluten free at these workshops and you can preview the menu upon request. All special needs like vegetarian or dairy-free can be honored. I will take names for the waiting list if/when the class fills.

We will begin class at 9 am on each day and end at 2:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. If you have questions, please contact Marie Smith at marie@hawkrdg.org or (608) 647- 2366.

Presenter

Herb "One White Horse Standing" Stevenson (Shawnee and Cherokee) has been exploring indigenous healing practices for over 20 years.

Resources: Ted Andrews, Animal Wise