Contemplating the Universe

The Compassion of the Rose

Leslie — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:20:11 GMT

In 2001 I did a workshop with Ian Watson on the Australian Bush Flower Essences. Ian started the class by having us each pick a flower from a bouquet. He asked us to choose the one that 'speaks' to us.

I, of course, chose a red rose. I love them. I love the essence as well. The essence is used for the heart chakra, for compassion. I knew that, and had used it for that. There is something about real rose essence that is intoxicating. It is the perfect example of how an imitation fragrance can never even approach a real essence. Imitation rose is almost nauseating. If you have never smelled the real thing go out and find some! It is incredible.

In Egypt it is said that the angels smell like rose. When ever you spontaneously smell rose there are angels present. This experience I have had many times, and it is truly glorious.

The essence, which is usually an absolute not an essential oil, has very interesting properties. Essential oils are distilled, Absolutes are solvent extracted. This is done because of the low yield produced through distillation. Although pink flowers are used the essence it’s self is yellow.

In the workshop he asked us to just 'listen' to the flower and hear what it was saying. At this point I still had not done my shamanic work with plants. I was sure I would not be able to ‘hear’ anything but I tried anyway.

I first put it on my third eye. It gave me a headache. I then put it on my heart chakra, which was much better. Then I listened. And yes the flower did speak to me through the heart, our center of knowing. The information I received was quite a surprise. I understood that the flower was not just about compassion, but also about self-love (yellow the solar plexus) and that is what true compassion is all about.

It was also through being forced into this experience (thank you Ian) that I learned that I CAN ‘hear’ the Devas, and went on to develop the Egyptian Flower Remedies. I had made the Remedies the previous year, through guidance, but didn’t know what to do with them! Not surprising that it would happen in this way as many years earlier when I met one of my spirit guides her name was ‘Rose’! It all unfolds in Divine time.

On my own spiritual path I have done a lot of shadow work. Shadow work is about embracing your shadow side. The concept is that we each carry all the human traits good/bad, beautiful/ugly… but in varying degrees. The ones we like and value we embrace and define ourselves by. The traits we don't like or accept about ourselves we put into our shadow side, just out of view, where we can’t see them. The problem is they are still in us, drawing energy we just don’t see it, consciously.

Very often the traits we really dislike in others are ones that we dislike about ourselves and can be found hiding in our shadow side. In this regard we can actually use others as mirrors to reflect what is in our shadow. If someone really annoys you look at that trait and see HOW (not if) it is a part of your self. Through this process we can come to know which traits we have placed in our shadow.

Once we illuminate what is on the shadow side in is no longer in the 'shadow' it is in the light. When we can finally see the trait in ourselves and embrace it we can then begin to accept it in others, because then they become like us. Not unlike us. It is no longer an I/other dynamic but us, a part of both of us.

Once these traits are illuminated they begin to lose their electrical charge because there is no energy of resistance or suppression going into the system. This is true COMPASSION embracing all the traits, in ourselves, and in others. Not accepting, ignoring or allowing but by embracing. The way to do that is by seeing that it is a part of ourselves, 'connectedness'. Once we embrace these traits in ourselves we are then free to work with them. We either embrace and accept the trait or transmute it into a positive aspect if it is not presenting it’s self in its best form. Once we shift the energy in ourselves it often shifts in others. Either way it is still one of our traits and we still have the connection to others having the same trait.

Like the sun (solar plexus) we (the ego/Self) contain all colors of light (all traits). Compassion, in the form of self love/worth/respect resides in the solar plexus. Or shall I say we are made aware of it through the solar plexus. It becomes personal or ‘human’ through the solar plexus. We can embrace all of these qualities in ourselves, but in the solar plexus it is still in its polar form (good/bad, beautiful/ugly). It is only when it moves up to the heart chakra that it loses its polarity and becomes one/unified/'God-like' (rather than the 2, duality).

All the lower charkas are polar (earth plane, physical, dual). Once we move up to the heart chakra we move into to the one, unity. This higher vibration of compassion is Gods love, off of the earthly plane. If we try to go to the heart directly with out moving through the solar plexus we are left without the necessary consciousness or awareness. When on a spiritual path we must always remember that we have lower chakras as well. It is through these chakras that we gain personal experience. We ground and quantitate our experience. This is why we live in a polar world. Adam wanted to ‘know’ consciously through experience. We quantitate through polarity, resistance, the interface between yin and yang.

That Rose had a lot to say! Thank God it comes as Knowing in a second rather than a long dissertation like I have written just here. I would have spent the whole workshop interacting with the rose and missed what I ‘thought’ I was there for.

The second part of this understanding came during another workshop with Rita Hiri, Numerology and Spiritual Mindfulness. In Rita’s work she uses Mandalas to access the vibrational levels of the numbers. For each numerical vibration we draw a mandala, or should I say color a mandala because the shape is already printed on the page. Needless to say what came out of that expression was the rose, right in the center of the mandala for the 3rd light center. As always once the door is open the information floods in. Drawing or coloring a mandala is an excellent way to access the higher realms. The clarity that I had was:

In ancient Egypt when a person died the Judgment ceremony was performed by Maat (Justice /balance/order) and Anubis (Scorpio/transformation). In the ceremony the heart is weighted on a balance. In this ceremony the heart was not weighted for ‘goodness’, or how many ‘good’ things a person had done in their life. That is a concept that is very much ingrained in western mentality. But it is not based on wisdom. It is often the ‘worst’ or ‘bad’ things we have done in our lives that have taught us the greatest lessons, so was it REALLY ‘bad’, or ‘good’?

Satan is named Lucifer, from ‘luz’, light, the great illuminator. He illuminates our impurities, guides us to our lessons. That isn’t to say that anything goes, we are always responsible for our intentions, not the outcome. When one focuses on this concept of doing only ‘good’ generally it leads people to justify any actions in the name of ‘good’. Rather than facing and assessing what really happened and gaining the wisdom from the event, the mind twists it in order to maintain the illusion of goodness created by the Self.

Wisdom and intention come from the heart not the mind. In fact in ancient Egypt the heart and the other vital organs were embalmed. The brain was thrown away, not considered a vital organ. It was regarded, as it still should be, as a tool for the soul.

In the weighing ceremony the heart was weighed for balance and lightness. How balanced was the person in their life? On one side of a scale was the person’s heart, on the other side a feather. The feather is well known as a symbol of spirit. It is often used by shamans as a symbol of spirit and Light.

This becomes very obvious if you have ever seen a feather through Kirlian photography. The feather holds a very interesting property. Many objects under Kirlian photography will shine bright with white light. The life force is very strong but usually only as long as it is connected to a living system, a tree, a body. Once it is disconnected it begins to lose its strong light. For example if a person dies their auric field diminishes over time. This can be seen through Kirlian photography. If a leaf is removed from a tree it will burn bright just after removal but in time the life force diminishes and we see less and less light in the photograph. This is not true of the feather. The lone feather detached from the bird burns with white light. Incredible white light, that doesn’t diminish!

This is why it is considered a symbol of spirit. We can see it in the photographs! Even when it is not connected to any ‘apparent' source it still burns bright. It still maintains its life force or spirit. Shamans know this even with out Kirlian photography, we need ‘proof’.

There is a Hadis about this as well. The Hadis are the spiritual wisdom spoken by the Prophet Mohamed. (similar to the writings by the Apostles in the Bible). He states that if there is even one spot of ego in the heart the spirit will be too heavy to ascend to heaven. This brings up again the importance of the heart and its lightness, that we must clear our hearts of ego to attain that lightness.

When our heart is pure, with out one speck of ego then it will be as light as a feather, pure spirit. The ancients were weighting the heart to see if the person had ‘lightened’ himself, transmuted the lower vibration the ego into the higher vibration of the heart, compassion. Jesus, setting an example for humanity, also had the same message. We seem to be having a problem getting the message.

Interestingly enough we NOW live in the Age of Aquarius (the same message). We know that Aquarius is about humanity. But when considering any process, we always have to look at where we came from, the opposite end, what is pulling us. Not just where we are going to but where we are coming from. In this case Aquarius is on an axis with Leo. Leo represents the ego or Self. The spiritual lesson again is reflected in the age we are living in, moving from Self or ego to humanity, a higher vibration of Self. So learn from the rose, take her as your teacher, and follow her to a higher vibration of Self.

©2005 Leslie Zehr

Leslie Zehr-CV

Leslie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:42:00 GMT

P E R S O N A L

I was born in Peru. I have been living in Egypt since 1985. I live with my two children in Cairo. I received my primary and University education in the USA. As a child I was a competitive Ice Skater. In my teenage years I studied dance and voice and was very active in semi-professional theatre. After High School I completed a certification as a Cosmetition/Make-up Artist. I worked for several years as a Make-up Artist in several theatres as well as for several large cosmetics companies. I then studied nutrition and worked (self-employed) selling nutritional supplements. I studied Biochemistry for four years at Virginia Tech; in my last year I changed my major and graduated with a BS in Psychology. While living in Egypt, I continued to study either through classes and workshops, or correspondence courses. In 1996 I began on of the first groups and Centers for Health and Well-being in Egypt. My Great Work is the Universal Dancer, which includes Sacred Dance, Alchemy and esoteric teachings. I also developed the Al-chemia Remedies (Egyptian Flower and Sacred Sites Remedies). Presently I am an instructor with the IMU, running The Centre in Cairo as well as teaching Sacred Dance and other workshops in Cairo and internationally.

E D U C A T I O N- C E R T I F I C A T I O N- D I P L O M A

Certified Cosmetition, Cosmetic Academy, USA, 1978

Dietary Consultant, International Institute of Natural Health Sciences, USA, 1980

BS in Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, USA, 1986

Swedish Massage, Massage and Body Institute, UK, 1995

Diploma in Hypnotherapy, Institute of Natural Therapy, UK, 1996

International Certification in Aromatherapy, Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, USA, 1997

Reiki Master, Egypt, 1997

International Certificate in Classical Homeopathy (LICH), London International College of Homeopathy, 2000

Touch for Health International Certificate-Part 1, January 2002

Touch for Health International Certificate-Part 2, April 2002

Psyche & Soma: Psychotherapy and the Body: Sandplay & Play Therapy April 2003

Sandplay: The Sacred Healing, April 2003

Crystal Therapy, Part 1, April 2003

Touch for Health International Certificate-Part 3, May 2007

Touch for Health International Certificate-Part 4, October 2007

Mayan Calendar and the Transformation of Consciousness with Carl Johan Calleman Ph.D.-IMU, November 2010

E D U C A T I O N - W O R K S H O P S & S H O R T C O U R S E S

Voice, Harry Ailster

Voice, Laverne Smith

Tap, Gerald Cummins

Jazz, Jay Norman

Ballet, New Jersey Ballet

Tai Chi, Elisa DeStephano

Voice, Antje Schimpf

Yoga, various instructors

Feldenkrais, Carol Ann Clouston

Astrology Essentials, Jenny Seymore, June 1999

Lotus Medicine & Qigong, November 2000

Healing Emotional Trauma, Mary Swaine, January 2001

Lotus Astrology, Robin Murphy

Bush Flower Essences, Ian Watson

Dreams & Alchemy, Marianne Fitzgerald, April 2002

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Osman Young, 2002

Tai Chi, Dr. Yehia Fawzy, 2002

Philosophy and Metaphysics, Dr. Juan Martin, June 2002

Tarot, Jacqueline Percy, July 2002

Introduction to Symbology and Numerology, Rita Hiri, January 2003

Flower of Life, Maureen St. Germain, May 2003

You are the Genie in the Bottle, Maureen St. Germain, May 2003

Numerology and Spiritual Mindfulness, Rita Hiri, February 2004

Numerology and Spiritual Mindfulness, Rita Hiri, March 2004

Cosmic Cross, Rita Hiri, December 2004

Tango Workshop 2008

P U B L I C A T I O N S – B O O K S

The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer, December 2008

P U B L I C A T I O N S – M A G A Z I N E S

Time Acceleration and the Mayan Calendar, BCA Chronicle, November 2008

Empowerment through the Healing Arts, BCA Chronicle, May 2008

Dance as a Spiritual Practice, BCA Chronicle, February 2008

Touch For Health: An Interview with Birgit Lindum, BCA Chronicle, December 2007

Aromatherapy and the Essential Oils of Egypt, BCA Chronicle, May 2007

The Uranus Opposition: “Life Begins at 40” or “Mid-life Crisis”? BCA Chronicle, April 2007

Al-chemia Remedies, Alchemy Journal, Winter 2006

http://www.alchemylab.com/AJ7-3.htm#Al-chemia_Remedies

Personal Alchemy, BCA Chronicle, May 2006

The Alchemy of Dance, Alchemy Journal, Autumn 2005

http://www.alchemylab.com/AJ6-3.htm#The_Alchemy_of_Dance_

Sacred Dance, Healing Springs Journal, August 2005

The Exotic Mango, Heliopolis Magazine, Summer 2001

Aromatherapy Pregnancy and Childbirth, Heliopolis Magazine, June 2001

Aromatherapy and Skin Care, Heliopolis Magazine, May 2001

The Sensual Way to Health, Insight Magazine, December 2000

P U B L I S H E D I N T E R V I E W S & R E V I E W S

All Time Therapies, Community Times, April 2011

Sphinx Festival A Belly Dancer’s Cultural Tour, NAFOURA Magazine, January 2010

Connect with Your Subconscious, Mother & Child Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007

Scent and sensibility, Al-Ahram Weekly, 27 April 2006

T H E A T R E – P E R F O R M A N C E

Leading Roles

On Broadway: A Musical Review, various songs

Tartuffe-Marianne

Scapino-Giancinta

Godspell-Robin

Hair-Crissy

Fantasticks-Mute

Company-Jenny

West Side Story-Graziella

Beyond America, various roles

Minor Roles/Chorus/Dancer

Annie Get You Gun-Chorus, Anything Goes-Angel, Once Upon a Mattress-Lady Lucille, No, No, Nannette-Dancer, Cabaret-Kit Kat Girl, Camelot-Lady of the Court

T H E A T R E – P R O D U C T I O N

Specialty Make-up

Rashoman. Zombie Prom

T V , I N T E R N E T & R A D I O I N T E R V I E W S

Sacred Dance Guild & Natural Rhythms, USA, July 2011

95.4 Radio Cairo, Cairo EGYPT, February 2011

WOON 1240, USA, August 2010

IMU Radio, USA, August 2010

http://imu.podbean.com/2010/08/12/imu-radio-interviews-leslie-zehr

MBC Korean TV September 2008

WRPI Radio USA, August 2005

C O N F E R E N C E S & E X P O S

The Body Temple, 8 January 2011, Veggie Fest Cairo, Giza, Egypt

The Alchemy of Dance, 5 December 2009 Sphinx Festival Egypt, Le Meridian Hotel, Giza Egypt

The Mayan Calendar, 1 November 2008, Body, Mind & Spirit Festival, Cairo Egypt

AROMATHERAPY presented by Leslie Zehr 27 February 2006, National Research Center, Dokki-Cairo, Egypt

R E S E A R C H

Al-chemia Remedies (Egyptian Flower and Sacred Sites Remedies) (2001-2004)

These flower and sacred sites remedies are made from plants indigenous to Egypt and two very sacred sites. The flower essences were prepared in Egypt 2001. The sacred site remedies in 2004.

Visit them at: www.EgyptianFlowerRemedies.com

Universal Dancer (2002-present)

This ancient dance is similar to the temple dances performed at Dendera temple in Luxor, Egypt. The dance works on the emotional, physical, spiritual and energetic level. www.UniversalDancer.com

W E B S I T E S – I N T E R N E T

Al-chemia Remedies-Egyptian Flower and Sacred Sites Remedies

www.EgyptianFlowerRemedies.com

Universal Dancer

www.UniversalDancer.com

The Essences of Egypt

www.TheEssencesofEgypt.com

Women’s Group for Health and Well-being Cairo (moderator)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/womensgroupforhealth

Grandmother Spider (moderator)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GrandmotherSpider

Blog: Contemplating the Universe

http://blog.universaldancer.com

E M P L O Y M E N T

Cairo Coordinator, London International College of Homeopathy 1998-2000

I managed the Cairo side of the course, working with the students, keeping records of attendance, correspondence with the school, anything that needed to be done on this end.

Fitness and Wellness Program for CSA December 2002

Based on my experience, developing my own practice and the Women’s Group for Health and Well-being, I was hired to develop a Fitness and Wellness program for Community Services Association, Maadi-Cairo, EGYPT

Holistic Therapist, Self Employed 1996-current

I work with individuals on health and emotional related problems. I use many different body-mind modalities, Homeopathy, Hypnotherapy, Aromatherapy, Reiki, TFH, Sandplay and Chakra work.

Founder and Coordinator, Women’s Group for Health and Well-being 1996-current

The group offers monthly meeting for women interested in alternative therapies and self-awareness.

The Essences of Egypt 2004-current

A hub for Egypt past and present including a website, Al-chemia Remedies, essential oils, Aromatherapy products, education both in Egypt and exported.

Founder and Coordinator, Cairo Centre for Health and Well-being 2007-current

Formerly the Women’s Centre for Health and Well-being (1996-2007). The Centre now offers a sacred space for both men and women. I teach my own classes and workshops as well as hosting workshops for other instructors in related fields. The instructors are both from Egypt and abroad.

Lecturer & Workshop Instructor 2000-current

I do lectures and run workshops in Aromatherapy, Al-chemia Remedies (Egyptian Flower and Sacred Sites Remedies), Universal Dancer, Sacred Dance, Spiritual Astrology, Natural Beauty, Mayan Calendar and Reiki both in Egypt and abroad.

International Metaphysical University Instructor 2010-current

Al-chemia Remedies Course

Global Water Dances-Cairo Event Coordinator, Choreographer 2011

International event bringing public awareness to local water issues through the medium of dance.

L E C T U R E S, W O R K S H O P S & G A T H E R I N G S

2011

Ritual Trance Postures, December 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Circle of Sound Global Harmonization Winter Solstice, December 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

12:12 Portal Gathering, December 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Women's Full Moon Circle, December 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Ritual Trance Postures, November 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

11:11 Portal Gathering, November 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Women's Full Moon Circle, November 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Oneness Ceremony, October 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, October 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Circle of Sound Global Harmonization Autumn Equinox Ceremony, September 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, September 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Heroine’s Journey, September 2011, Edgar Cayce Institute ARE NYC, NYC, NY

The Heroine’s Journey, September 2011, Joy Lane Healing Center, Hollywood, MD

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, September 2011, Joy Lane Healing Center, Hollywood, MD

The Heroine’s Journey, August 2011, Alignment Center, NYC, NY

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, August 2011, Alignment Center, NYC, NY

Reiki 1, June 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Global Water Dances-Cairo, June 2011, Imbaba-Cairo, Egypt

Circle of Sound Global Harmonization Summer Solstice Ceremony, June 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, June 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, June 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Blending Workshop, May 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, May 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, May 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Heroine’s Journey, April 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, April 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, April 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

4:4:4 Portal Gathering, April 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, April 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Mayan Calendar: Welcome to the Evolution, March 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Circle of Sound Global Harmonization Spring Equinox Ceremony, March 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, March 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, March 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Mayan Calendar: Welcome to the Evolution, February 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Heroine’s Journey, February 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, February 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Revolution/Peace Meditation, February 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, January 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Body Temple, Veggie Fest Cairo, January 2011, Giza, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, January 2011, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

2010

Circle of Sound Global Harmonization Winter Solstice Ceremony, December 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, December 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

12:12 Portal Gathering, December 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, December 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Universal Dance Tour November 2010, Cairo, Egypt,

11:11 Portal Gathering, November 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Conscious Co-creation Gathering, November 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, November 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, October 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, October 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

10:10 Portal Gathering, October 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, October 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, September 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies Lecture- 9/11 Open House, September 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Egyptian Sacred Dance-Intermediate, September 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

The Mayan Calendar: Welcome to the Evolution, August 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Aromatherapy and the Essential Oils of Egypt, August 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Embodying the Divine Feminine, August 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Aspects of the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine, August 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Al-chemia Remedies Practitioners Training Course, August-September 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Egyptian Temple Dance Workshop, August-September 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Conscious Convergence-Unity Gathering, July 2010, Central Park, NYC, NY

Egyptian Sacred Dance Workshop, July 2010, META Center, NYC, NY

Egyptian Sacred Dance-Intermediate, June-July 2010, Keystone Dance Studio, NYC, NY

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, June 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, May 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Intermediate Level, February-May 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, May 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, May 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Mayan Calendar: Welcome to the Evolution, May 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Intensive, April 26-30, 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, April 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, April 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, March 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, March 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, February 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon Gathering, February 2010, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Sacred Dance, January 2010, Keystone Dance Studio, NYC, NY

Egyptian Sacred Dance, January 2010, Alignment Center, NYC, NY

2009

Sacred Dance Course-Intermediate Level, September-December 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon, December 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

12:12 Portal Meditation, December 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, December 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Workshop, December 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sphinx Festival Egypt, December 2009, Le Meridian Hotel, Giza Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, December 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies and New Moon, November 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, November 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

11:11 Portal Meditation, November 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, November 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Autumn Equinox Celebration, October 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Reiki 1, October 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, October 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

09-09-09 Activation, September 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, September 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Sacred Dance, August 2009, Keystone Dance Studio, NYC, NY

Al-chemia Remedies, November 2009, META Center, NYC, NY

Egyptian Sacred Dance, August 2009, META Center, NYC, NY

The Essences of Egypt, July 2009, META Center, NYC, NY

Tarot Course, June 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, May 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, March-June 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Intermediate Level, January-June 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

6^th Day Midpoint Mayan Calendar Celebration, May 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, April 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Mayan Calendar: Welcome to the Evolution, April 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, March 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Vibrational Archetypes, March 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, February 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Workshop, February 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Healing Massage Workshop, January 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Full Moon Meditation, January 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Workshop, January 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Essences of Egypt, January 2009, Le Meridian Hotel, Giza Egypt

Reiki 1, January 2009, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

2008

Healing Massage Workshop, November-December 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

6^th Day Mayan Calendar Celebration, November 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Al-chemia Remedies, November 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Sacred Dance, August 2008, Nurtures Path, NYC, NY

Egyptian Sacred Dance, July 2008, META Center, NYC, NY

Sacred Dance Workshop, June 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Aromatherapy Skincare Workshop, June 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Everyday Aromatherapy Workshop, May 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

The Mayan Calendar, May 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

5^th Night Midpoint Mayan Calendar Celebration, May 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Everyday Aromatherapy Workshop, March 2008, Maadi-Cairo, Egypt

Aromatherapy and the EO of Egypt Lecture, March 2008, Maadi-Cairo Egypt

Sacred Dance Workshop, March 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Massage Workshop, February 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Workshop, February 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Intermediate Level, January-June 2008, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

2007

Sacred Dance Course-Intermediate Level, October-December 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Sacred Dance, September 2007, NYC, NY

Rebirthing the Goddess Retreat, August 2007, Olney, Maryland

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, July 2007, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Aromatherapy/Healing Massage, May 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Esoteric Aromatherapy Workshop, May 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Aromatherapy and the EO of Egypt Lecture, April 2007, Maadi-Cairo Egypt

Natural Beauty Workshop, March 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, March-June, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Aromatherapy for Kids Course, March 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Spiritual Astrology Course Part 2, March 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Aromatherapy and the EO of Egypt Lecture, February 2007, Zamalek-Cairo Egypt

Tap for Kids Course, February-March 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Spiritual Astrology Course Part 1, February 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance for Kids Course, January-May 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Intermediate Level, January-June 2007, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

2006

Aromatherapy Skincare Workshop, December 2006, Zamalek-Cairo Egypt

Aromatherapy and the EO of Egypt Workshop, November 2006, Zamalek-Cairo Egypt

Natural Beauty Workshop, November 2006, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Tap for Kids Course, November 2006, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Aromatherapy and the EO of Egypt Workshop, October 2006, Maadi-Cairo Egypt

Aromatherapy and the EO of Egypt Lecture, October 2006, Maadi-Cairo Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, September-October 2006-, Zamalek-Cairo, Egypt

Hypnotherapy Lecture, September 2006, Maadi-Cairo Egypt

Sacred Dance Course-Beginners Level, September-December 2006, Maadi- Cairo, Egypt

The Alchemy of Dance Lecture, August 2006, Seattle, WA, USA

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, August 2006, Redmond WA, USA

The Essences of Egypt Workshop, August 2006, Redmond WA, USA

Universal Dancer Lecture, August 2006, Grass Valley, CA, USA

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, July 2006, Saratoga Springs NY, USA

2005

The Alchemy of Dance Lecture, 2005, Silver Springs MD, USA

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, 2005, Silver Springs MD, USA

The Alchemy of Dance Lecture, 2005, Madison WI, USA

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, 2005, Madison WI, USA

The Alchemy of Dance Workshop, 2005, Saratoga Springs NY, USA

Universal Dancer Lecture, 2005, Saratoga Springs NY, USA

Global Water Dances

Leslie — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:42:00 GMT

Global Water Dances is a world event planned for June 25, 2011. On this day, a 24 hour series of dances around the globe will be danced, centered around water issues. Beginning in the Western Pacific Rim, and encircling the globe, the series of dances will also be broadcast online.

Global Water Dances is a model of how to use participatory art-making to raise consciousness about environmental problems and how to bring people together to work on solving these problems. Participants and viewers of Global Water Dances will learn about the critical role of humans in protecting water supplies.

Flow, the medium of dance/movement, can connect community, just as water connects people. Communities grew up and were often defined by the water nearby. Through Global Water Dances we want to connect the local to the global community to safeguard that all humans have access to clean drinking water, so that the water flowing through us is sustaining and not harming us. Taking responsibility for, valuing and protecting water, can shift people easily into other ways of caring for the planet.

The original piece we will perform here in Cairo is entitled Nun (pronounced ‘noon’). Nun is the primordial waters in the ancient Egyptian creation story. The Dance came to me fully formed as a vision, a moving Mandala, a drop of water. This happened in February during our revolution here in Egypt, a very creative time.

As a teacher of sacred dance I work with energy or the inner world more than being an ‘environmentalist’ or working with the external world, therefore I was not really clear at first what my role in this event was. Then on March 30^th Dr. Emoto (Messages of Water) called for a global prayer to heal the radioactive waters around Japan. I then understood the significance of this Dance, Nun. It is about healing water on the energetic/quantum level, the new pollutant we are facing. The Dance was the prayer that I did on March 30^th for the waters of Japan. And now each time I do the Dance I do it with the intention of healing the waters on this planet.

I work with water a lot as a Homeopath and the creator of the Egyptian Flower Remedies. Water has the unique ability to shift its matrix, which is why it is used as the medium for energetic substance. Because of this quality it is possible to shift the matrix of the water using vibration, intention, prayer or movement. In this Dance we use intention, love and primordial wave movement to shift and recalibrate the matrix of the water to its pure primordial state, full of potential.

I believe that doing this Dance as a community on June 25^th will add even more healing power to the intention. And given the events in Japan it is clear that we need to add energetic ‘cleaning’ to our long list of water issues. I look forward to doing this dance with our community as well as sharing it with other is the future.

In this Dance we have the opportunity to bring together movement, healing, love, joy and the potential for everything as we come together, with a sense of community, for a common goal, the healing of the earth’s waters. As this is a global event please join from wherever you are in the world on June 25^th. There are many groups in many countries; it’s easy to get involved. Go to: http://www.globalwaterdances.org/

Leslie Zehr (Choreographer/Event Organizer-Egypt): Leslie began performing in theatre production at the age of six with the encouragement of her mother who is an actress and director. Through her childhood and teen years she studied tap, jazz, ballet, voice and was also a competitive ice skater. She continued performing on stage until the age of 21 at which time her attention then turned towards health and healing. She attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute where she studied Biochemistry and Psychology. In 1986 Leslie left western culture and immigrated to Egypt where she has resided ever since. Her main work is with The Universal Dancer which incorporates Sacred Dance and esoteric wisdom which she teaches both in Egypt and abroad. Leslie is the author of The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer. Through the Dance she teaches esoteric wisdom as well as empowering women by reconnecting them to the Divine Feminine within. Leslie is a story teller though the medium of Dance. The Dances are both healing and transformational. She retells the archetypal stories using music, primordial energies, sacred geometry, wave motion and vibration. Taking us back through time to the essence of our being, initiating and unlocking the esoteric knowledge buried deep within our psyche. If you would like to join the event in Egypt contact Leslie at leslie@UniversalDancer.com.

The Sun Mirrors the Self

Leslie — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:12:00 GMT

Well it had to happen…my computer crashed. Luckily/Divinely I backed up all my files to my son’s external hard drive last night! May I repeat myself, for the one millionth time, trust your intuition. Actually it was not only intuition it was the universe showing me clearly where I was going. What was divine was that I got it done before the crash.

All of this is not surprising in light of recent events. On Tuesday the 15^th a friend, Mai, posted on Facebook an article about the solar eruption on February 13^th. This spurred a discussion on the sun and the fact that we are moving into the period of highest solar activity in recorded history. I am talking even about the information from indigenous people and ancient sources. The ancients were excellent astronomers so there is a lot of very interesting and accurate information available. So this is REALLY big.

One explanation for this increase solar activity relates to the galactic centre and the Mayan calendar. The Mayan people explain that the calendar was sent via a wave from the galactic center, from an ‘intelligence’ that resides there. Well we know that there is a black hole in the center of our galaxy. Depending on how much you know about black holes, or want to know about black holes it seems that light cannot escape, there is probably a parallel universe on the other side and time may be warped or disappear there. Some would also say that this ‘intelligence’ that resides in the black hole (or emanates from it) is God or the Divine. Clearly there is too much to be said about it and in fact what does anyone really ‘know’.

We do know from science that there IS a pulse or wave emanating from the center of the galaxy. We also know that the frequency of that wave has increased. In 1998 our solar system moved to its closest point to the galactic center. We were bombarded with particles the earths magnetic fields began changing. In 1999 we moved into the Galactic Underworld on the Mayan calendar. According to the Mayan calendar time line time increased 20 fold with each new underworld. The increased frequency of the wave is what produces this increase in ‘time’. I think if we look back over the past 12 years or so we can agree, from personal experience that this is true.

The wave that emanates seems to be increasing our own personal frequency as well, which is what is causing the evolution of consciousness. This pervasive energy field is called the ‘Psi-Bank’. We know that different frequencies cause interactions with diffent levels of our consciousness. We also know that the earth its self emanates the same waves as our brains. We are in resonance with the earth and the galaxy far more than we consciously realize (for information on these waves see Dr. Carl Calleman or Barbara Hand Clow’s work).

The increase in solar activity seems to also be a direct response to the increased frequency of the waves from the galactic center. As we now move into the Universal underworld the frequency will increase again 20 fold. Meaning that what happened in a 20 year period of time before 1999, then took 360 days in the Galactic Underworld and will now take only 20 days in the Universal Underworld. I think many people are already seeing and feeling that increase as the events of the day increase in magnitude.

It makes sense that if the increased frequency is effecting, the earth, and our brains then of course it will affect the sun. And the sun being huge and at the center of our solar system is quite easy to monitor. If we are evolving then the sun is evolving as well. There is SO much fascinating ‘scientific’ information out there. I wish they would teach that in school rather that what they are teaching. (It is interesting to note that a solar flare last about 13 days. 13 days is one Trecena in the Mayan calendar. Trecenas are the number frequencies 1-13, one of the two alternating cycles that make up the Tzolkin).

The sun has always been a symbol of the Self. It is the ruling ‘planet’ of the astrological sign Leo. I don’t think in the past we have paid much attention to the sun. We have been so much in our heads. Not even noticing that the sun is mirroring what we seem to be most focused on, the Self, sometimes known as the ego. The sun was just there, it causes day and night, eclipses once in a while everyone just took it for granted. In recent times interest in nature has made a revival. The recent earth changes have MADE themselves known is very dramatic ways, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes. It seems to take a lot to get out attention. Now the sun whose evolution reflects our own evolution is ready to be heard.

About five years ago I began to notice the effects of the sun, the solar flares, on our emotions and also wireless technology. The realization came as an epiphany. One day I was getting phone calls one right after the other. ‘What is going on? I am deep in anger. What is happening?!’ Because I work as a therapist/counselor and also as an astrologer people tend to call me when things are not making sense. I don’t need to go and look for data it comes to me. I take note of what comes to me and try to make sense of it.

At the same time that everyone was calling with the same question I was noticing that the network (cell phones) was not working. Dropped calls, not getting through…I happened to be walking in the street when I got the last call. I then noticed that a sandstorm was building. All of the sudden I said to the person on the phone ‘I wonder if there is a solar flare’. Some of my most profound insights come when I am explaining something, which I know nothing about, to someone else.

Sure enough. We both went to the internet and did some research and found that there had been a huge solar flare. Now we knew what it felt like. We began to monitor these ‘feelings’ and observations with data from spaceweather and NASA. I also started reading more about what science was saying about solar flares. I found that it did interfere with wireless technology and even navigational equipment on airplanes! That seemed kind of important to me. Why are they flying planes during solar flares? I only hope they know what they are doing.

Then about three years ago I had the most profound experience that I have had up to this point in my life. I had gone to Maadi, a suburb of Cairo, to give a talk. I gave the talk and was leaving to drive home. I started to feel a bit ill, like I was having a sugar low although I had eaten lunch previous to the talk. I got in my car and started home. It was rush hour, the traffic was really bad. I got about halfway home and felt like I was going to pass out. It had been getting progressively worse but now my vision was being affected. I had a bit of a headache but that was not the worst of it. It was similar to a migraine but very different at the same time. I felt as if the top of my head was opening up and I was somehow going out!

I realized I wasn’t going to make it home but what could I do. I was going to call my son to come and get me, which is when I realized my vision was off. There was no way to pull over and even if I did call him he would never be able to get to me. Stopping was not an option so I had to keep going. My car is a stick shift and because I was in bumper to bumper traffic I was not going very fast. I decided I would just keep going. If I passed out the car would just roll into the car ahead of me and stop. Tapping someone from behind is not as big an issue here as is it would be somewhere else. I kept going.

Somehow I made it home. I really don’t know how because it continued to get worse. The next challenge was getting up the steps but by then I thought if I passed out at least it would be right in front of my door. By now I just wanted to get inside and lay down.

I made it up the steps, in the house and laid down on the couch. That really didn’t make me feel better; I sat, I leaned. Nothing was helping. My kids had friends at home. One of them passed by the room I was in and asked what was wrong with me. He was terrified, so was I. He asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I said ‘no’. What would I tell them, my head is opening up? Anytime I sought medical intervention, especially in a hospital, I have regretted it. Better to die at home on the couch than being prodded and poked in a hospital.

I survived the evening. Things got better when I realized and reminded myself that I just needed to get through it. That is my mantra when I am in turbulence on an airplane ‘you have to go through it to get to the other side’. I went to bed.

When I work up the next morning I had a headache, a familiar headache. Later that day we had a huge sandstorm. One of my migraine ‘commiseraters’ called and we compared notes. No great surprise. I am very Mercurial ‘a human barometer’ I always feel the weather changing but this was so far beyond anything I had ever experienced before. The migraine I understood, the rest was new. For what ever reason the rest of that year I had similar ‘head opening’ experiences, which I have never had since then.

Needless to say I am familiar with the ‘solar flare experience’. But I feel there is more to it than that. There is obviously a whole range of possible experiences. Someone told me that the ‘head opening’ experience is downloading information. She had a similar experience around the same time. Perhaps. And this may lend support for the idea that the higher frequencies are causing our brains to change and that they in fact hold information.

This last flare on Sunday brought the oh-so-familiar anger. It was so extreme that I was asking the people around me what they felt was happening to me. I felt my anger rising. I know that feeling. And I know that always, when we ‘think’ we have worked through something the universe comes to test us. I was being tested. I would react and then think to myself ‘what should I do? Respond?’ the answer was always ‘no’. I felt at peace with that and then bam! Someone else would hit me with some comment! I would ask myself the same question. The answer again was ‘no don’t respond’.

Well, this went on all day! In the evening I was chatting with my daughter telling her that this was getting extreme and although I felt the correct answer was not to react the universe was NOT leaving me alone, I was still being tested. So that was clearly not the correct answer. I needed to look for a new option. It was late, I decided to go to bed and respond the next day, which is always a good strategy. Create space for a NEW option to arise.

On top of the aggravation from human being my computer had decided that it also wanted to antagonize me. I have to admit that it is usually a reaction to my mood. If I am upset my computer freezes. But again this was extreme. Every 20 minutes I had to reboot! This went on all day Sunday and Monday.

I slept and awoke with the conclusion that the universe was compelling me to be truthful even if I would throw myself into the fire. Thoughts were fighting to get out of my head. My computer still didn’t feel the need participate in this dilemma. I had to reboot three times before I could actually use it. In the mean time I had taken copious notes on how I would, most clearly and with the least provocation, express my thoughts, that clearly no one understood. I had about seven pages of hand written notes! I was going to be understood this time.

When I finally got into Facebook I found Mai’s post about the solar flare. It all made sense. And at that point I could release all my obligations ‘to BE understood’. Those people couldn’t help provoking me; they were reacting to the sun as well. My computer continued freezing until Wednesday morning when it absolutely refused to go on and crashed. Luckily I managed to recover everything and now it is working as if nothing ever happened.

But in the process the universe had conspired to make me focus and write about something I should have done a long time ago. I have deciphered my seven pages of notes, almost. My handwriting is so bad I can’t even read it. But at least now I have it all written on my computer and I can take my time without anger or stress to mold it into a piece that will hopefully be clear and illuminating. Even if the universe had to kick me in the butt to get me write it! Coming soon…

Sound Meditation and Mayan Calendar Talk

Leslie — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:41:00 GMT

Sacred Circle of Sound Meditation and Mayan Calendar Talk

On Wednesday, February 23^rd at 7:00pm we will be having another Sacred Circle of Sound Meditation and Talk on the Mayan Calendar at The Centre.

The purpose of this gathering is twofold to come together as friends and share an intention for the best possible outcome for Egypt in these times of change and to discuss the Mayan Calendar and it’s relevance to these times.

Huge steps have been taken already but we want to continue to hold the energy and set the intention for the highest possible good or best possible out come. This is not a political gathering in anyway it is meant for friends to come together for healing, emotional support, and to realign our selves with Divine unfolding.

February 11^th was the first day of the Universal Underworld on the Mayan Calendar; perfect synchronicity with the events that unfolded in Egypt on that day. Many people have asked for more information on this and it’s relevance to the events unfolding in Egypt. In the Universal Underworld we learn how to live in timelessness, with no limiting thoughts, anything IS possible. The 1^stphase in any underworld is sowing. We are now sowing the seeds of the Universal Underworld, the new consciousness.

At the gathering we will be playing the crystal bowls donated to Egypt by the Circle of Sound organization as well as setting an intention for of Harmony, Acceptance, Unity, Joy and Compassion for all, then a silent group meditation. There will then be a short break before the talk. Those who are only interested in the meditation part of the evening may leave during the break.

If anyone would like to use the Al-chemia remedies they will be available. Please bring a clean container to the gathering to take the remedy home with you. You will use the remedy at home in your own sacred space.

The format will be:

-We will begin by observing a minute of silence for all those who have died on all sides.

-Then form the circle with bowls and players and everyone, sitting around the circle.

-Clarify the intentions of Harmony, Acceptance, Unity, Joy and Compassion among all beings of the planet.

-Play the bowls for approximately fifteen minutes.

-Reaffirm our intentions of Harmony, Acceptance, Unity, Joy and Compassion among all beings of the planet.

-Observe a twenty minute silent meditation.

After the meditation we will take a short break. Those that wish to stay for the talk may do so.

-A presentation and informal talk on the Mayan Calendar and it relevance to these times.

-Dispense remedies to anyone who would like to use them.

Evolution vs. Revolution

Leslie — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:53:00 GMT

I sit here just having witnessed a miracle. The Egyptian Evolution. I prefer ‘evolution’ to ‘revolution’ because we have never been here before. Revolution is defined as a turn or coming back to something. We are not coming back to anything this is a shift in consciousness. We have made a leap not a turn.

And as the universe is perfect and divine the 11^th of February 2011 was the beginning of the Universal Underworld on the Mayan calendar. I had forgotten all about it. I got distracted being IN the process.

In the Universal Underworld we learn how to live in timelessness, with no limiting thoughts, anything IS possible. I believe we had the winter intensive course in that lesson in that over the past 18 days! The 1^stphase in any underworld is sowing. We will sow the seeds of the Universal Underworld, the new consciousness.

Even though the events took place in Egypt the sowing was not limited to Egypt. Thanks to the Aquarian world-wide-web the seeds of cosmic consciousness were planted in the minds of everyone on earth. This was reflected in Obama’s speech (as well as other world leaders) when he thanked the people of Egypt for presenting a model of non-violence.

The 1^st Day (there is a day and a night in each phase) lasts only 20 days, until the 3^rd of March. The 1^st Night begins on the 3^rd of March. It is the time when we assimilate this new consciousness. It will also last for 20 of our calendar days. And it goes on, changing every 20 days. I won’t go on with each phase as all this information is available on http://www.calleman.com or http://www.mayanmajix.com .

The Universal Underworld is also the time when we will integrate both sides of the brain. We will use both the left and right hemispheres of the brain equally (Indigo children have always done this). And when there is no hemispheric (neither cerebral nor planetary) dominance there will be no polar (masculine/feminine, yin/yang) dominance either. We will need this integration in order deal with timelessness and the present time acceleration.

In relation to the concept of time acceleration, in this new underworld what use to take 360 days in the Galactic Underworld (the period from January 5^th, 1999 until now) will now take only 20 days in the Universal Underworld. Hang on to your hats boys and girls we are in the fast lane now!

It is interesting to note that the Long Count on the Mayan calendar began in 3115BC and will end 28^th of October 2011. The event that marked the beginning of the Long Count is the uniting of Upper and Lower Egypt. So it is only fitting that Egypt unite in a more personal, humanitarian, way as we move into the last cycle and approach the end of the Long Count, on the first day of the Universal Underworld.(see Dr. Calleman’s book The Mayan Calendar and the Transformation of Consciousness). I have tears in my eyes just writing this. The universe is truly in Divine order and we are witnessing that before our very eyes.

I have to say that due to my upbringing I had a lot of resistance to the idea of the army taking control. When I heard that was what was going to happen I asked my son ‘and that’s a good thing?’ He said ‘yes! They won’t shoot their own people!’ I was not so convinced of that but I kept my thoughts to myself trying not to add negativity to the situation. Seems he was right. And when I saw the footage of the people in Tahrir Square last night, everyone celebrating together, people climbing all over the tanks, soldiers carrying and kissing babies on the head, I was really moved.

Then today it hit me that the army, in theory, in their purest form, actually represents an aspect of the Divine Masculine, the protector. And IF that is the role they play, not of being an aggressor or repressor, but protecting Om el Donya then wow! We are witnessing ‘national alchemy’, the sacred marriage! And from what I have seen in the past three weeks, anything IS possible! Perhaps we need to leave our minds open to a new definition of ‘army’; and everything we ‘thought’ we knew.

As the Hopi people say ‘We are the ones we are waiting for’.

Allahu akbar

Leslie — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:46:00 GMT

What an experience. I always knew that I would know the moment Mubarak stepped down. I don’t have a TV or radio. I didn’t need one. I was typing and all of the sudden I heard a guy running through the streets yelling ‘Allahu akbar’ (God is Greatest). Then it got louder, more people chimed in ‘Allahu akbar’, then people cheering, horns honking. I went out on the balcony to see people on the street, yelling and waving flags. It was already dark out. I could see the lights of the screens from their cell phones as everyone called their friends and loved ones to share the news. You could feel the joy, the relief. Something lifted, lightened. It has been a tense time these last 18 days. The pressure has been building since the 25^th of January. What a beautiful moment. The streets sounded like they do after a football match but the feeling was different.

The energy has been a bit heavy since last night when Mubarak gave a speech saying he would NOT step down. When it was announced that he would give a speech everyone thought he would step down. There had been more demonstrations arranged for this Friday after prayers, just like there have been for the past two weeks. Everyone thought he would step down avoiding that. He didn’t. People were shocked and disturbed. You could feel the heaviness and disappointment. His speech backfired. People were not intimidated. All it did was strengthen their resolve. More people turned out in Tahrir Square than ever before. My son went to the demonstration for awhile and then left saying there were so many people he couldn’t breathe.

Wow! Amazing! Miraculous! Words cannot describe what I feel at this moment. We have witnessed something…unbelievable. That people just through sheer perseverance and resolve, without violence, without a leader, a collective mind moving towards a goal with only a sense of community and solidarity, that they could accomplish so much. Truly amazing!

Illumination. The truth came out and everyone showed their best and worse faces. The word ‘transparency’ keeps coming up for me. I think we have become too connected, information is too accessible, to think we can hide anything in the shadows anymore. People will need to be accountable for their actions.

There is still a long road ahead. This is only the beginning. But it is one huge step in our evolution. We now hold in our consciousness the knowing that it is possible for great change to occur with out violence and through collective effort. I ask that people continue to hold the intention for the best possible outcome as we continue this journey.

Om el Donya

Leslie — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:27:00 GMT

I wrote this ‘poem’ for Egypt (Om el Donya, Mother of the World). It came more as a guided visualization or intention than a ‘poem’. I saw myself (and other women who wish to participate) creating a sacred space for rebirth, holding this powerful energy of creation and emerging for Egypt deep within my womb. These are the words that came:

Om el Donya

The cycle continues beyond space and time,

throughout all eternity.

Death and Re-birth.

Just as you (re)birthed me and allowed me to emerge fully realized,

I hold the space, not only in my heart but deep within my womb, for you to gestate.

I do not know what, or who, you will be,

but I love you unconditionally, unwaveringly, eternally.

I sit in anticipation.

I feel you move, and kick, and know, that you are alive,

forming and reforming, until that day when you must undergo the most powerful of transitions,

to die from one world into another so that you may live and breathe for all to see.

Leslie Zehr, Feb 2011

Centering

Leslie — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:07:00 GMT

We had a beautiful meditation. Very powerful. We honored the dead, played the crystal bowls, set an intention for Harmony, Acceptance, Unity, Joy and Compassion for all and meditated together in silence for 20 minutes. it was very healing and centering.

To feel the energy of everyone collectively experiencing an intense and amazing moment in time is truly a gift. People are tired but not giving up. There is tremendous stamina and resolve in individuals for what is happening and has been happening since the 25^th of January. Talk about holding energy and focus…wow! This is truly a new wave in consciousness. There is grief about the people that have been lost. But the feeling of overwhelming courage is something to be admired. Although some people are angry or frustrated that is not the feeling that comes across, empowerment, commitment and determination for a new Egypt is what is felt.

The room was full and it made me happy that people want change on all levels. Many of the people had been out in Tahrir Square everyday, vigilance. But they still made time to join us and work for our cause, change on the subtle level.

People from all over the world responded to me that they would be joining us in spirit. Their presence was felt and appreciated by the whole group. The feeling of global solidarity and community is lovely.

Everyone shared stories of joy, tragedy and hardship, a sacred space to decompress. We all felt healing, something that is greatly needed. I am truly honored to have been able to participate is such a profound experience. The idea to gather came in a moment of inspiration, not as a thought, so I knew it needed to happen. I have little to say because it truly needed to be felt.

I hope to continue to have these gatherings. No matter what the outcome of the next few days we all need to hold the intention for the highest possible good. Clearly from all that has happened thus far anything IS possible. Miracles are happening right in front of us.

The Heroines Journey

Leslie — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:27:00 GMT

This is an excerpt from a larger work on this subject. It relates to yesterdays post which is why I am posting it here.

The Heroines Journey

We are all very familiar with the Hero’s Journey. It is written about in all mythology, in the Iliad, the story of Horus…Joseph Campbell even wrote a book about it The Hero with a Thousand Faces. As women living in these times we too take the hero’s journey. We go out in the world and ‘make’ something of ourselves.

But there is another journey often neglected or spoken about in a negative way and that is the Heroines Journey. Sylvia Brinton Perera, a psychotherapist, calls it the Descent to the Goddess. It is in the mythology and our consciousness but doesn’t get much notice. When masculine/eternal/manifested values took the focus we left this other journey by the wayside to decay. Even as women our focus became the hero’s journey and we forgot our own path. Women are the tenders of the underworld the unconscious/unmanifested. We got distracted and now no one is tending the underworld or the subtle realm.

This is a very dangerous situation. When we tended the underworld we knew how to navigate it, for our selves and others. We knew what was in there and what to watch out for. Now no one is tending this realm, we have forgotten how to navigate it and it has left us all very vulnerable and fearful.

Over time this journey even began to take on negative names such as depression. Depression became a fearful thing, something we want to avoid at any cost, even if it means taking medication. There are some forms of depression that are pathological and dangerous. But perhaps if we understood this journey better we would be able to differentiate between the pathological and the spiritual. Instead we made it all ‘bad’. In the end ‘what we resist persists’. The more we try to hold down this dragon the stronger it will emerge. Better to find our courage and face it.

The concept gained a small revival in spirituality with the idea of ‘the dark night of the soul’; but that is usually a fleeting experience, one that we need to somehow endure. I contend that like the shaman we need to embrace the journey to the underworld and learn how to navigate it in order to remove the fear. Fear in general comes from the unconscious mind which is why it is so potent. Fear is the perfect example of what is in the underworld that we need to conquer. Rage is another. We need to stop being afraid of the unknown, unseen, because until we do we will always be vulnerable. I personally feel that one of the reasons there is so much fear is because no one is tending the underworld.

The story of Innana/Ishtar is one example of this descent in mythology. Innana descends to visit her dark sister in the underworld. She is dressed in symbols of her ‘power’. One by one as she goes through the gates of the underworld she is humbled, stripped of her power, piece by piece until finally she stands naked and disempowered. Before she embarks on this journey she tells her handmaiden that if she does not return in three days and three nights that the handmaiden should go to the gods to ask for help for her return. When Innana does not return her handmaiden first goes to one of the most powerful gods who tells her that Innana should have know better than to go to the underworld. The handmaiden then goes to Innana’s father who also refuses saying that Innana is always acting out.

Finally the handmaiden goes to the god of the primordial waters who sends two helpers to the underworld to retrieve Innana’s body and resurrect her. They go to the underworld to appease Innana’s dark sister who is suffering. They appease her with compassion, reflection and healing. As a gift for their healing they are given Innana’s body. They resuscitate her. As she ascends moving back through the gates one by one she reclaims her power, but this time with great wisdom and ‘empowerment’.

That is a VERY simplified version of a very beautiful story filled with wisdom. It is work reading in it’s entirety to extract all the important details. There are two important points that I would like to make here. One is that although Innana knows she must make the journey alone she leaves instructions with her handmaiden to help her return if she is unable. We need other women to help us back, whether we are men or women taking the journey. Women are the midwives to help us re-birth, because of our knowledge of this process and birthing.

The second point which I didn’t go into deeply in my explanation but needs to be looked at is how she is allowed to return. The helpers ease the pain and transform the goddess of the underworld through compassion, reflection and healing. When the dark goddess is healed Innana is allowed to return. In other words the outer state reflects the inner state and transformation needs to take place in both places. As women regain their navigational skills all will benefit.

Just as women embark on the Hero’s journey men often make this descent to the underworld. But I think it is more difficult for men. Women still have the skills, the ability to navigate the darkness. We have not yet completely lost our intuition. Women have a monthly death/rebirth cycle that could be seen as a mild version of this greater journey. Experiencing the death and release of what could have been (a child) before we begin a new cycle. In ancient times this was something that brought women together a time of bonding. Women were not banished outside the tribe because it was disgusting. It was a time of healing for women, a time to bond in a moment when they were taking the journey. They were in a state of consciousness that was overly sensitive and very receptive, a time to be with other women (see Anita Diamant, The Red Tent). As women regain their navigational skills all will benefit.

When men and women stop battling with each other, between the sexes, and begin to move to co-creation we will see the importance of this cooperation. We will see why it is so important for each of the sexes to embrace their divine aspects. Navigating the darkness is one of the aspects of the Divine Feminine. We need to reclaim it so that all of humanity can benefit.

I had a very prophetic dream several years ago that I only understood recently, during one of our gatherings. When I had the understanding I knew that the illumination was correct because it brought tears to my eyes as I was telling the story.

In the dream I am with my animus (who I spent a lot of time with in those days). We are running out of what looks like a 7 Eleven or On the Run. As we are exiting the store I can see something that looks like thick black smoke progressively filling the store. It is not smoke, the store is not on fire, it is the ‘darkness’ moving in.

We run out of the store to our car which is parked in front. The car is a sports car I had when I was about 18, a brown Triumph Spitfire (haven’t yet understood why it was THIS car, but it was very clear). Quickly we jump into our car. He gets in the drivers side I get in the passengers side (no he didn’t open the car door for me; we were in a bit of a hurry).

Once inside I put my arm around his shoulders and embrace him. He grabs the steering wheel with both hands. In almost slow motion I take out a gold key (very large), put it in the ignition and turn it. The car starts. He begins driving. In the mean time the ‘darkness’ is now not only filling the store but it is all around us. It is becoming difficult to see. I KNOW that I must continue to embrace him, support him to keep him calm and centered. As long as I am holding him I am empowering him. He KNOWS that he must focus and follow my instructions because it is the only way out of the ‘darkness’. I am the one who can navigate the darkness with out being able to see. There is mutual respect for our roles. He can stay focused on what he is doing because I am guiding and supporting him. There is no conflict between us we move as one, respecting and acknowledging each others ‘power’, co-creating our destiny. (It is interesting to note that in many carvings in the ancient temples in Egypt you have exactly this scene of the queen embracing and empowering the king).

At the time I had the dream I felt it was a beautiful dream of having a powerful intimate experience with my animus. At the gathering when I told the story and tears came to my eyes I realized the profundity of the dream. I had never told it aloud before. All the women in the room felt the power of the dream as I told it. Because it was not just an intimate experience, it WAS the coming together of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine in their empowered states. I had glimpsed behind the curtain and witnessed co-creation, the sacred marriage. The dream showed me the immense importance of the period of time we are moving into. Somehow telling it aloud I was able to transmit it to the women in the room. I had this dream in 2002 but didn’t fully understand then. It was merely a seed that was planted in me who’s time to come to fruition is now.

After I finished writing this entry I pulled a goddess card. What did I get? The Tower of course! Confirmation. ‘I have faith. All is not lost if I am committed to my spiritual beliefs, even in times of great pain’ (Wells, Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess).

*Please note that when I use masculine/feminine I am speaking about polarities such as yin/yang not gender roles which change from culture to culture.