Star Nations Magazine July 2020 Issue 86

S tar N ations

Yo u r B r i d g e t o A n c i e n t a n d M o d e r n S p i r i t u a l I n f o r m a t i o n

THE

PROMISE OF SUNSET FRIENDSHIP KEEPING YOUR

ELDER SERIES:

ELDERSHIP

BALANCE

SUDDENLY AN ELDER

BONUS:

Th e B a l a nc i ng Sc ale July 2020 | Issue 86 Credit: MaryAndersonFrey

Contents Featured Articles On Our Cover: Suddenly an Elder

by Kristine Pollock (Featured Article)

6

I’m now an Elder?! In her featured article, Kristine shares her realization that she is now the oldest female on her mother’s side of her family. She also shares how she worked through grief and her love of her female ancestors. Check out this soulful article and Kristine’s art pieces.

The Promise of Sunset

by Sharon Rosenblum (Nourishing Body & Soul)

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Sharon shares about a beautiful sunset. Sunset is a time to honor the day, every day, for all that we have done or been able to do. It is a promise that another day will come, we will have another opportunity to make amends, get it right, correct errors, and forge a new way of life. If you love sunsets, you will love this article!

Keeping Your Balance

by Ed Langan (LIFE Wisdom)

15

Would you like to experience a more balanced life? In our modern world, maintaining inner balance can be difficult. It can feel like we’re walking a tightrope, doing the best we can to balance and not fall off. Ed shares his insight into creating balance in your life. Read this article to find out more about balance.

The Balancing Scale

by Ortrun Franklin (The Mystery School)

20

The message of balance and harmony, a foundational Law of the Universe, is intertwined in nearly all ancient teachings as well as modern perspectives. Ortrun shares about the Egyptian Goddess Maat and balance. Ortrun also shares with us a guided meditation about our inner balance scale.

Friendship

by Minnie Kansman (Nature Connections)

33

What kind of Friend are you? Minnie shares with us about friendship. There is work involved in friendship—commitment, persistence, attention, and trust, to name a few. There is much to be gained from these labors. Real friends are like gemstones to be cherished and loved. A must-read if you would like to be a better friend.

Elders Series: Eldership

by Yvette Neshi Lokotz (The Sacred Hoop)

36

Neshi resumes her column, The Sacred Hoop. She kicks off the restart with a series about embracing Eldership. If you are an Elder or know an Elder, you will want to understand the need to acknowledge, respect, and honor Elders Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA | Robert Frost Photo via WikiCommons Public Domain

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 2

Contents Monthly Columns From the Editor: Neshi Lokotz

4

Angel Therapy

Featured Article

6

The Mystery School

Nature Connections

33

Communicating with Sacred Animals

The Sacred Hoop

36

The Witch's Cauldron

Nourishing Body & Soul

12 15

20 23

Cosmic Conversations

26

30

Communications from Home

39

Highlights of Next Issue

44

Credit: Pixabay.com

Life Wisdom

11

18

Sacred Masculine

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 3

From the Editor

Sunset and Balance

By Yvette Neshi Lokotz

“When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.” —Mahatma Gandhi

Sunsets are magical. I love that time of day when, just at that moment, all goes quiet. We pause for the sun to settle on the horizon and begin its slow descent; the gloaming time.

Twilight begins.

Twilight is the in-between time— it is not daylight and it is not night. Many of my students and those who watch my live stream show, Communications from Home, have heard me quote an old Celtic saying, “The betwixt and the between is where the magic lies.”

In the classes I teach, I consistently encourage my students to

reach a balanced state. Balance, to me, means we have an equal or near equal amount of mental and emotional energies and an equal or near equal amount of sacred female and sacred male energies—balance with being active and quiet.

Also, in the culture I grew up in, there is a belief that the Creator has given us everything in nature we need to have a good life.

When we feel the love of everything around us and feel we a part of everything around us, we radiate a certain energy, a certain vibration. We radiate love.

One of my teachers, Drunvalo Melchizedek, says, “Industrial Humans need to remember their connection to nature and can do this with imagery.” In the “Unity

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 4

Breath” guided meditation, I ask my students to bring to them an image of either a sunrise or sunset.

The betwixt and the between is where the magic lies When we use our imagination to create an image, we can remember the colors, sounds, scents, and even textures of a sunset to make it “real” for ourselves. Our brain recognizes the image we have created as a real sunset and we can appreciate its beauty.

This remembered sunset brings our energy to the frequency

Credit: Francesca Marron

Do you like to watch the sunset?

Many of us are drawn to the beauty of the setting sun.

From the Editor

In this month’s Star Nations Magazine, we have some wonderful articles about Freedom, Sunset, Balance, Loneliness, Friendship, and the Spirit of Fire.

Friendship, and the Spirit of Fire.

Our contributing writers share with you from their experience and wisdom to assist you on your journey. of love and reconnects us to nature. There is another additional benefit, and that is, we remember our love and connection for Grandmother Earth and Grandfather Sky. A sunset is the coming together of Grandmother Earth and Grandfather Sky to show us how much they love each other and how much they love us. We receive this gift twice a day, in the sunrise and the sunset.

Perhaps, the love that is shown to us Industrial Humans through the sunset helps us to remember our own balance, our own love, and our connection to all of creation. I found a video that shows the beauty of sunsets. Please click the image below to watch the video.

In this month’s Star Nations Magazine, we have some wonderful articles about Freedom, Sunset, Balance, Loneliness,

The cover image is our nod to the Sunset and Balance. Please enjoy your time with us as you read the articles, listen to the audio recordings, and watch the videos.

Jage Nagonan (All Our Relatives), Neshi

The sunset also is a metaphor for the balance between the sacred feminine and sacred masculine.

When the sun begins to sink into the horizon, there is a moment of balance. Grandmother Earth is the sacred female, and the Sun/ Grandfather Sky is the sacred masculine, so when they come together at that moment, it is a beautiful balance.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 5

Featured Article

By Kristine Pollack

SUDDENLY AN ELDER

Earth’s Moon

Featured Article

In the spring of 2019, I received a call from my Uncle that my Aunt Dory had passed. Dory had been the last living female in my Mother’s birth family.

As I stopped to reminisce about Dory, Mom, and Nana, I remembered all the love and support they provided throughout my life and I felt a very deep loss settle into my bones.

Each of these women had loved and encouraged me to follow my passions and now they were all on the other side. My first thought was what was I going to do? I no longer had an elder with whom I could talk over my troubles, ask for advice, cry, and laugh. I suddenly felt so very, very alone and sad.

As I sat with these thoughts, I remembered as a child how much they encouraged my curiosity. I wanted to know about everything: planets, bugs, animals, birds, the ocean and its creatures. You name it, I had questions about it!

Credit: All Images Kristine Pollock

These kind, loving women helped and encouraged me by supplying books full of pictures and information. Then they would sit with me answering my endless questions.

While I sat reminiscing, it suddenly dawned on me—I am now the oldest female in my Mom’s family line! Holy WHAT! I am an ELDER!!!!

I was in such shock! I’m now an Elder??!!!

Thoughts started racing through my mind; What does it mean to

be and elder? Do I have specific responsibilities? Does anyone in my family even recognize these types of things? What if anything am I supposed to do? I truly didn’t think anyone would acknowledge this change or treat me any differently, but I wanted to do something to honor the women who had gone before me.

While I sat reminiscing, it suddenly dawned on me—I am now the oldest female in my Mom’s family line!

Holy WHAT! I am an ELDER!!!!

After sitting with this new revelation and spending time in meditation; I decided I would paint one painting for each month of the year in honor of the women who had preceded me.

This idea felt right, and I could feel my ancestor’s encouragement and love as I started to lay out my plan. “Yes this is a

positive way for me to honor my ancestors; a way to deal with my deep sorrow, loneliness, and overwhelming emotions while adjusting to my new position in the family as an elder.”

I came up with a plan for my art project. I decided to paint all the planets in our solar system.

I had always been fascinated with the stars, sun, and sky and it brought back memories sitting on the front porch on a hot summer night with Mom, Nana, and Dory pointing out different planets, stars, and constellations as we talked and laughed into the evening.

Laying out my art project, I decided to associate the planets with the Zodiac and the twelve months of the year.

I had so much fun researching each planet before I started a new painting. The process took me back to my time with the women in my family. I felt very at home out in space with the planets and my ancestors.

My new artistic endeavor stretched my need to create a different feel to each painting. I wanted a different movement of my models, different colors, and an overall different feel to each painting that would reflect the energy of each planet.

In this process, I found myself wanting to push myself and change my perspective from my subjects looking straight at me from the canvas to more movement with each subject. In my

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 7

Featured Article

Mother Earth

painting of Saturn, the woman has ram horns and is looking down at the planet from the right side of the painting as she reaches over to spin the planet like a top. This epiphany was a major breakthrough with my artwork! I was so excited to break out of the facing forward stiffness of my previous straight on subjects! Now I had a feeling of action and humor!

Mother Earth became a woman with green flowing hair laying on her back in the stars, pregnant with planet Earth with the moon

is floating just off to the upper left of the painting.

The planet Jupiter is wearing a blue, jewel encrusted crown and is signing the word “Love” with her right hand as the large planet slowly rotates behind her.

I wanted to include the new generation, family female in my project and decided to add my daughter’s face to the mix in the painting for the planet “Venus”.

She is her own strong-minded person without apology. She knows what she wants, and goes after it.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 8

I painted her standing forward, a large sword in her right hand pointed up covering one eye and shooting off the top of the painting. She has short green, sassy hair and a miniature dragon on her right shoulder as her cohort. It just felt right…. she is a warrior woman fearlessly taking on the world.

As I was progressing along through the project and coming close to the end of the twelve planets, Neshi contacted me and suggested I include Moons and Nebulas within the project

Featured Article

and extending the number of paintings for a possible Mayan Calendar. WOW, that’s a few more paintings!

I decided to create paintings of all the different Moons around many of the planets and some of the beautiful Nebulas with the airy swirling atmospheres.

One of my favorite paintings is of Earth’s Moon. In this painting I have a young freckled faced girl with green hair and wearing a butterfly mask. The full moon is just above her head as she looks

Kristine Pollock

Professional Artist Kristine is an accomplished oil pastel artist specializing in, Spirit Paintings. These are commissioned paintings depicting people, animals, and energy symbols customized to each client via mediation.

Always expanding and exploring new ways of creating energetic, spiritual art she has expanded her choices of mediums to include Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor, Inktense Pencils, Alcohol Inks and Acrylic Inks.

forward into the camera. This one was very special to me as it brought me back to all those summer nights with the wonderful women in my life. 

Blessings to you.

May you enjoy the night skies with your family,

Kristine

Saturn

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 9

S tar N ations Yo u r B r i d g e t o A n c i e n t a n d M o d e r n S p i r i t u a l I n f o r m a t i o n

MORE INFO:

The Witch’s Cauldron

The Ring of Fire

By Adriane Campbell

Hello all! I am currently in the middle of moving so I would like to share with you a ritual that I feel is perfect for this current time of transition and shadow in place of my typical article. I will be back in the Star Nations Magazine August issue with a full article. Until then, please enjoy the ritual to ignite the shadow with light into full circle.

THE RING of FIRE RITUAL Items Needed:

4 black candles of any size (tealights, votives, pillar, etc.)

Salt Fireproof container filled with sand or salt

Credit: unsplash.com

Begin the ritual by gathering your ritual items so that you will be ready once you have cleansed the area. Then using the smudging application of your choice, start to cleanse yourself as well as your space. Call on your guides, ancestors, and any being who you are connecting with currently.

Once you feel that you are ready, sit or lie on the floor. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.

Set the intention to embrace your shadows and your light. Allow any thoughts, feelings, and emotions to come up. Paying attention to

where you physically feel this as well as the details to the answers you are receiving. Stay here as long as you need to and when you are ready open your eyes.

Go to your ritual table or the surface on which you will be working.

While you are focusing on what came to you during your previous meditation, carefully make a circle with the salt. Make sure that there are no openings and add more if necessary.

Place the candles at each of the four directions. Representing your shadow and light, the medicine wheel, and full cycles. Light each candle; once they are all lit take another deep breath and close your eyes. Envision and feel yourself dancing with your shadows.

Embrace each one, holding hands as you move wildly and freely.

Accept every single part of who you are in love and compassion.

Feel the freedom and joy flowing throughout your being. Dance in this space for as long as you wish.

When you are ready return to your body, ground the bottoms of your feet, and open your eyes.

Allow the candles to burn out naturally if you are able. If you are more comfortable or need to extinguish them, I do recommend using a snuffer versus blowing them out. Express gratitude to yourself, the spirits, and energies involved. Discard the candles safely and sweep up the salt.

Carry the salt outside and release it to the wind.

You can repeat this ritual whenever you would like. Embrace every part of your true wild soul.

You are magic.

Have a beautiful experience. —Adriane Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 11

The Promise of Sunset While living on the island of Maui, I found myself constantly drawn to the sunset. Of course, the sunsets are beautiful there, but I felt more than just the beauty of the colors in the sky.

Nearly every evening I would walk to the edge of the rise of our street to watch the magic of the night sky unfold.

The view was always spectacular! I would look out over Maliko Gulch towards the mountains of West Maui and beyond to the island of Lanai. There the sun would slowly drop down below the horizon creating the infamous “green flash”. Following that would be the beautiful bright colors that would fill the sky – red, yellows, orange, purples, and pinks all flowing and blending together.

Every time I watch the sunset, I find myself feeling and connecting to the “beyond”. By the beyond, I mean the existence of life beyond this planet. As a Starchild, I am well aware of and

in tune with life out there in the universe. Often I find it hard to be here with all this density and the negative emotions of humanity towards one another.

Lately, I have had the intense need to go outside and to be in nature. It is as if I cannot breathe when I’m inside, I feel so confined. Once I am outside with the trees, by the “big lake” (Lake Michigan), and seeing the big, open sky, I can relax and be comfortable. The sunsets in Wisconsin are not as colorful as Maui but they are just as meaningful.

While I love the stars and the night sky, it is the transition to night that fascinates me. How is it that as the sun drops below the horizon, there is a moment of absolute quiet? It is as if all life on the planet knows that there something big is taking place and everything pauses to honor that moment of transition.

Can you hear it? A completely hushed moment.

by Sharon Rosenblum It is a moment of gratitude for all that has been offered to us during the day. A moment to honor the great wisdom of Mother Earth and Father Sky as they work in harmony — together — to keep life going on the planet. It is another miracle of time, of space, and place for all of humanity and all life forms on the planet.

Sunset is a time to honor the day, every day, for all that we have done or been able to do during the day. It is also a time of promise. A promise that another day will come, we will have another opportunity to make amends, get it right, to correct errors, and to forge a new way of life.

Sunset is the applause of the day, the crowning glory as such.

Each day at sunset is a time to evaluate our actions of the day.

Did we do well? Did we make a difference? Did we put forth our best to help each other? Did we fulfill our promise that we made in coming here to this life, or at least get closer to fulfilling it? Did we act with compassion and love for all living things and beings on the planet? Did we act with honor and respect?

These are the basic items we need to be addressing each day.

We are all in this together. I’m not speaking of the pandemic, rather I’m referencing why we are here on the planet. That is the basic question we all have.

Why am I here?

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 12

Credit: All Photos Sharon Rosenblum

Nourishing Body & Soul

Nourishing Body & Soul

GLUTEN FREE STRAWBERRY CRÈME BARS No Bake Cookie Crust 6 pitted Medjool dates ¾ cup raw cashews ¼ cup almond flour ¼ cup finely shredded coconut ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ tsp sea salt Crème Filling ½ pound strawberries, chopped ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar 2 cups whole raw cashews ½ cup full fat coconut milk 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice ¹∕₃ cup maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons coconut oil Directions: Soak 2 cups of raw cashews in water overnight for the crème filling.

Next, cut ½ pound of strawberries into small pieces. Pour half a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar over the strawberries and stir until they are coated.

Spread the strawberries into an even layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and roast

at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Add the crust ingredients to a food processor or high powered blender and pulse until a sticky dough forms. Press the dough into an 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Put the crust in the fridge or freezer while you prepare the crème filling.

Add the soaked cashews, lemon juice, maple syrup, coconut oil, coconut milk, and vanilla extract to your food processor or high powered blender.

Blend the mixture until silky smooth and creamy.

Transfer the filling to a mixing bowl and add the cool, roasted strawberries. Gently fold the roasted strawberries into the filling. Taste the filling, then adjust the level of sweetness or tartness to your taste.

Pour the crème filling over the prepared crust.

Freeze overnight or until completely solid.

To serve, remove the crème bars from the freezer and let them sit on the counter for about 5 minutes to slightly soften. Use a sharp knife to slice into bars or bite size pieces.

I like to add slices of fresh strawberries on top as a decoration. Enjoy!

I have been thinking of my time living on Maui as I write this column. I also find myself thinking of the yummy foods I learned to make there. Here is my recipe for GF Strawberry Crème Bars. They require no baking and taste a lot like cheesecake bars. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does!  The answer to that one question can be found in the responses to the above questions. Once you live life by answering those questions in the affirmative, then you will know the promise of the sunset, the reason you are here, and the true beauty of each new day as you walk the journey of your life. Take the time to enjoy and be one with the sunset, it will transform your life.

Sharon Rosenblum

adopted a Gluten Free and Whole Food lifestyle and is adept at modifying recipes to suit different dietary needs. A healthy approach to eating also serves her as an Empath and Intuitive. Eating “clean” foods brings clarity when working with her guides and spirit. And, her joints are no longer achy or sore.

Sharon is an Assistant Editor on our Star Nations Magazine Executive Staff and has her own editing business—The Feathering Quill. | FB: The Feathering Quill

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 13

You Asked! We Delivered!

Different ways to purchase and read our magazine!

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you Take your Star Nations Magazine with no matter where you are in the world!

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LIFE Wisdom Keeping with Ed Langan

Your Balance

Credit: DerzulyaZaza_Unsplash.com

“Each one has to find [their] peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”

—Mahatma Gandhi In our modern world, maintaining inner balance can be difficult.

It can feel like we’re walking across a tightrope, doing the best we can to stay in balance and not fall off. As the pressures of modern life build up, it’s easy to fall out of balance. For some, the current state of the world has made it even harder to stay in balance.

When most of our focus is fixated on outside circumstances, we can lose touch with our inner balance and circadian rhythms.

Circadian rhythms are biological processes that happen on a 24 hour cycle. It’s an internal rhythm that regulates our sleepwake cycle.

Circadian rhythm is the natural rhythm of life. It can be seen the world over in plants, animals, insects, and even in some bacteria.

As we observe our world, we see that the natural order of things is to be in balance – sunrise/ sunset. Day/night. Male/female.

High tide/low tide. Summer/ winter. Autumn/spring. Hot/cold.

Up/down. Left/right. Sleeping/ waking. The list goes on.

A powerful example of the natural order of balance is that it takes both female and male to create new life.

When we are overly focused on outside circumstances, we can fall out of balance. Whether it’s

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 15

Life Wisdom

Other examples include the feeling of running out of hours in a day, or trying to keep everyone happy by putting the needs of others before our own. We can also fall out of balance by not being mindful of our habits surrounding food, exercise, rest, and feeding our minds and soul.

When we are unaware that we are out of balance and don’t do anything to re-center, we can experience burnout, anger, frustration, or even health concerns. The Guides have said, “if you don’t stop to take care of your body, your body will stop you!”

Henry David Thoreau said, “[People] lead lives of quiet desperation.” I believe he is talking about living out of balance.

Credit: AshleyBatz_Unsplash.com

As a result of our focus on outside circumstances instead

of self-care, a large portion of our society is out of balance.

We have forgotten the powerful symbol of the yin/yang as a metaphor for how our life, our world, and our universe works.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 16

Balance is about self-care. I ask people in my readings/sessions, where are you on your list of priorities? Many people, especially mothers, say that they’re at the bottom. They put everyone else first. But it’s not selfish to take care of yourself. If you’re not your own best friend, who is?

Your goldfish?

With the current state in the world and everything on pause, this is a good time to look at your life and notice where you’re out of balance. As Rumi said, “Life is a balance between holding on and letting go.” Are you ready to let some things go?

Credit: andrewjenkins_unsplash.com

chasing money to keep up or get ahead, working long hours, or working at a very demanding job, these conventional societal values can knock us out of our internal balance and natural rhythms.

Life Wisdom

In order to get yourself in balance and stay there, you have to make yourself a priority. Start with one or two easy things and work your way up from there. Here are some things you can do to get started:

to paddle upstream? When you stop fighting against the current and stop resisting, you will return to a natural state of balance and flow.

Ground – Get outside and put your bare feet on the earth. This reconnects you to natural order and takes static charge out of your body. As the energy of the earth comes up through your feet, allow it to recharge your body and mind.

Meditate – Calm your mind with regular meditation. This practice pulls your brain waves out of a beta loop and puts you into a calming alpha state. There are plenty of meditations available through Star Nations. Neshi does a meditation for the Star Nations community every day.

Walk – Combine the two above for a walking meditation. Being in nature puts your brain waves into an alpha state. Simply looking at trees can balance the hemispheres of your brain.

Breathe – Breathing properly puts your body back into balance.

When we get frightened, we usually hold our breath. Similarly, when you are in fight-or-flight mode, your breathing is usually very shallow.

When you breathe deeply into the bottom of your lungs, you’re letting your body know that it’s okay to relax. It also pumps blood back into all of your organs including your brain, which helps you think clearly.

Sing or Dance – Put on your favorite music and sing/dance along. I have a playlist of my favorite songs that I listen to when I feel myself getting out of balance. Singing and moving your body are easy, fun ways to shift your energy. One of my favorite quotes is, “We don’t sing to be happy, singing makes us happy.” – Anonymous Help Others – When you get stuck in the feeling that you’re out of balance, doing things for others helps change your focus and your energy. When you change your focus, your energy will do what it does naturally and start putting you back into balance.

Let’s see what the guides have to say about this: “Joy and balance are your natural states. When you release your focus on the external things that are putting you out of balance, your system will automatically rebalance itself.

Homeostasis is your natural energetic state. It’s a matter of paying attention to where your

focus is most of the time. If your focus is on external things and you’re trying to control them, that is a recipe to put yourself out of balance.

“For example, how stressful is it to get into a canoe in a river that has a very strong current, and then use all of your energy

“You came into this world a joyful, happy, balanced being. As you grew up, the adults around you taught you by example to lose your internal balance by focusing on external things. That joyful, happy, balanced state is still within you.

“Well-being is the most dominant energy in the universe. If we were in your physical shoes, we would do whatever we could to get ourselves in balance.”

The Guides want you to know that you are worthy!  Until next time, Light & Love, Ed Ed Langan

is a psychic channel for ascended masters, a law of attraction expert, and a spiritual teacher.

He feels people’s energy and helps them shift that energy to allow: • More Money • Finding A Soulmate • Improved Relationships • Finding Your Life’s Purpose • Business Growth Join Ed on the second Thursday each month at 4pm EST for his Star Nations live stream show: LIFE Wisdom with Ed Langan and check out his book, Creating With The Law of Attraction: 10 Principles That Will Change Your Life, and his CD, Meditations for Improved Well Being.

Website: www.edwardlangan.com Facebook: LIFE Wisdom with Ed Langan

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 17

Angel Therapy

By Maureen Mann

Balancing Solitude & Connection

Loneliness is a state of being during which we feel disconnected from ourselves and the divine. If we are not comfortable with ourselves, being alone can be an anxiety-provoking or depressing experience. The ego will do anything to escape these feelings. Sometimes our outer child will engage in destructive or self-sabotaging behaviors.

We may choose to numb ourselves with food, substances, shopping, tv, or scrolling through social media. Other times we

activate and indulge our feelings by sinking further into our wounded inner child’s narrative, telling us we are not worthy of connection.

We can become almost paralyzed with grief and see the world through the hurt child we once were. This skewed perspective uses evidence from previous and anticipated interactions with others to prove we are unloved, thus isolating us further.

Embracing solitude is a light side practice of aloneness. Solitude is essential for processing, reflection, and growth. With a healthy sense of self, we are able to know our worth regardless of whether we are engaged with others or not. Solitude is a gift.

Embracing solitude gives our inner child the message that we are worthy of spending time with ourselves. We enjoy our own company. We choose loving thoughts and actions. We are able to comfort and nurture our inner child when feelings arise,

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 18

versus abandoning her by engaging in self-defeating behaviors.

How does being alone relate to friendship? Those we attract into our lives as friends offer us soul lessons often having to do with boundaries, mirroring, connection, and compassion. In order to be in healthy relationships with others, we need to love ourselves enough be able to establish and maintain healthy boundaries.

Boundaries are the energetic messages we give to the universe for what and whom we give permission. If one operates from a place of loneliness, or low selfworth, the messages are often inconsistent or codependent.

Without clear boundaries, you give the message you will accept anyone as a friend and often attract people who will not be respectful of you or your time.

You may find yourself feeling guilty saying no to someone, because you’re afraid they will be upset with you or not want to be your friend.

Credit: HelmutGervert_FreeImages.com

When I read the topics for this month’s magazine, I got a visual of the words - Balance, Loneliness, and Friendship, all interwoven together on an infinity loop. Most of us have felt the pain of loneliness, the elusiveness of seeking balance, and the intimacy of friendship.

Each of these states provide us with tremendous learning experiences in our dualistic world. Let us explore each one in terms of its light and shadow sides.

Angel Therapy

When we have clear boundaries, we do not take people’s behavior personally, or as a reflection of our desirability as a human being. Because we are comfortable being alone, we don’t worry about having enough friends, or missing out on opportunities.

We know we are worthy of friendships that mirror high self-regard and are at ease waiting for those people to enter our lives. There is healthy respect and autonomy in our interactions versus possessive enmeshment.

Balancing our need for solitude and friendship can be challenging. The human struggle with balance is a hallmark of our dualistic world. If we are constantly trying to keep the seesaw of life perfectly even, our ego is going to tell us we are failing at life almost all of the time.

In our friendships, with ourselves, and others, the seesaw is not meant to remain static. If we honor life’s natural ups and downs, we will not feel the need to judge the times when we are alone versus in connection.

When you have judged yourself as being a good or bad friend, what are you judging yourself for? Chances are these are the indicators of what is unhealed within you. It is important to regularly ask yourself in times of solitude how good of a friend you are being to yourself.

If you are ignoring your needs and desires, that is likely going to be reflected in your friendships.

If you are practicing self-care, practicing gratitude for yourself, and your inner narrative is giving you loving messages, then you are more likely to have balanced, healthy friendships.

A time to build up, a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn A time to cast away stones

Balance accepts that some days we are going to have more to give of ourselves, and on others we will be more reclusive.

Balance allows us to be compassionate and understanding when life’s unpredictable events arise in others’ lives which may take them away from us. Balance helps us see patterns in our friendships and to ask for what we need without fear of recourse.

To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven

As The Byrds have told us in their song, Turn! Turn! Turn! - “To everything there is a season”.

To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to laugh, a time to weep A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time to gather stones together

A time of love, a time of hate A time of war, a time of peace A time you may embrace A time to refrain from embracing To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time for love, a time for hate A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late!

Wishing you the ability to find peace within yourself in the coming months, so your outer world can be a reflection of selflove, nourishing friendships, and a knowing that change supports balance.  Take care,

Maureen

Maureen Mann

Private practice specialties include navigating life transitions; stress management; and developing a spiritual practice to support a healthy and fulfilling life. AAP, EMP, LICSW, RMT maureenmann.com FB: Angel Therapy with Maureen Mann FB: maureenmannlicsw

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 19

The Mystery School

By Ortrun Franklin

The Balancing Scale

The message of balance and harmony, a foundational Law of the Universe is intertwined in nearly all ancient teachings as well as modern perspectives. Listed below are some examples.

The Ancient Egyptian Teachings were based on Ma’at, the Goddess of Harmony and Balance.

Ma’at was created at the beginning of time when the Universe and the Earth were formed by the gods. She is the embodiment of the God Heka.

The Egyptians believed that heka or magic was a divine force of power and strength in the Universe.

Ma’at’s connection to Heka allowed the Universe and life on Earth to function as it should, in balance and harmony.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 20

Hinduism, in their Purusharthas, regards four basic aims of life: (1) Dharma or life purpose, higher calling and personal truth; (2) Artha or personal responsibility and duties to fulfill; (3) Kama or personal pleasure, love and happiness; and (4) Moksha or a spiritual practice that bring about a sense of peace and in turn becomes a universal contribution. They believe that some measure of worldly life has to be experienced by doing their part and maintaining a healthy communal life.

Once that is achieved, they can turn away from the transient world and attach themselves to the changeless realty that lies veiled beyond material existence. The end result is attaining inner harmony and balance or everlasting joy.

Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Everything that is, is made up of Divine Energy. The universes, planets, religions, philosophies and ancient teachings, even we pulsate with Divine Energy. This energy is finite and constantly recycles itself from one form to another bringing about balance and harmony. Some consider this pulsation a phenomena, magic, or heka.

The Mystery School

In Buddhism, equanimity is one of the four sublime attitudes. It is neither a thought nor an emotion, but rather the steady conscious realization of reality’s transience. Within equanimity is cetisaka and citti.

Cetisaka relates to the intellectual side of the mind where citti emphasizes the emotive or meditative side of the mind. Thus, the goal of equanimity is the balance and harmony conveyed at the heart/mind level of consciousness.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, (in the Old Testament Greek translation of the Hebrew Qohelet), it states: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.”

The presence of the Universal Balancing Scale is indicated in all of the examples above. As it is present there, so it is also present within each one of us. We are products of the Universe; we are Spiritual Beings walking upon planet Earth having a human experience. It is important to understand that we are more than we seem.

We carry our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. The Spiritual body includes 144,000 chakras of which there are seven main chakras, five secondary chakras, plus the numerous sub-chakras aligned throughout. In addition, beyond the obvious physical layers, we have subtle bodies—etheric, causal and soul bodies.

These bodies, merged together, form our integrated Spiritual Body.

Within the integrated Spiritual Body are two sacred polarities, masculine and feminine. They are constantly trying to maintain mutual respect and balance between all the vibratory frequencies that make up our whole. The more our inner scale is in balance, the greater power and strength comes forth. This in turn, allows our Soul to bloom into the fully Realized Self.

What is inner balance? Inner balance is the synchronization of the emotional, mental, physical spiritual and subtle bodies. It can seem very mysterious for it is pliable energy that can be shaped and formed. It needs to be handled carefully since it is fragile but carries enormous strength.

It is constantly in motion and as we change, it changes with us.

Realize that there are many things that can cause inner imbalance; pollution, noise, stress, weather, responsibility, lack of money, health, fear, food, alcohol and the lists goes on.

Balance is another major Law of the Universe. It applies to all that there is. It is our personal responsibility to build our perfect blueprint of inner and outer balance. In other words, it is imperative that harmony exists between the Spiritual World and the Material World.

So, how do we build the perfect blueprint and keep it functioning in harmony? Intuition and the five senses are the first line of defense. They are special tools that assist us in recognizing the triggers that can cause us to fall out of balance and the choices we can make that can bring us back into balance. There are ways of attaining inner balance by practicing self discipline. These include monitoring thoughts and emotions, praying and listening to prayer, listening to music, healing by journaling, going into the silence and meditating.

Another way of building the perfect blueprint is by working with Universal Energy. Many of you can feel energy vibrations in places, things and within people. Have you ever considered that you have the ability to tap into Universal Energy and utilize its heka or magic? It is there for your use. The only precaution is that you use it only for higher good. If it is not used for good, it can be harmful.

Universal Energy has no alignment, nor does Light Energy. They are completely neutral. They can be used for positive or negative. Since Universal Energy or Light Energy is neutral, be certain that you incorporate a positive energy, such as Love with it. Then beautiful, positive results will occur.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 21

The Mystery School

To familiarize you with Universal Energy: Take a deep breath Become still Focus your mind Ask your Divine family to join with you, surround you and place you in a space of protection Let your mind be quiet Take another deep breath

Now, place your hands together

Begin to sense energy building between your hands

Take another deep breath

The longer you use this procedure, the further your hands will separate and a pulsation begins

Begin to slowly separate your hands Focus upon your hands Slowly, bring them back together

Universal Energy is flowing through you

Slowly, separate your hands, then bring them together

Set your intention and utilize its flow

Become familiar with Universal Energy, respect it and practice with it. It is your friend. Take advantage and use this energy with positive thoughts and feelings. The purer of heart you are the more Light and Love dwells within you. The Goddess Ma’at will be over-lighting you. She will place your heart on your inner balancing scale along with her ostrich feather. If your heart is pure, you will be uplifted to yet higher levels of awareness and consciousness.  To assist you in experiencing your Inner balancing scale, I have prepared a guided meditation/ visualization for you. Make yourself comfortable, become still…. * Remember that being in the meditative state slows down your reflexes. It is advised that you do not listen to the meditation while driving or performing services where acute attention is required.

Ortrun Franklin is a columnist for Star Nations Magazine.

She is the co-host of the live stream show “Living in Two Worlds” which focuses on the connecting the physical world with the spiritual world. It airs the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT. www.ourspiritualascension.com Ortrun71@aol.com FB: Living in Two Worlds

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/Hinduism https://www.ancient.eu/article/1126/balance— the-law-in-ancient-egypt/ https://biranadragon.com/ the-way-of-universal-balance/

Credit: kalhh_Pixabay.com

Music Credit: “Relaxing Piano Music” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License; http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 22

Communicating with Sacred Animals

by Leslie Cirinesi

More Alone Than Ever

Like most people, I head to my office each morning to spend my day doing what I do. I often work long hours and when it gets too late, I come home and finish working at home, if need be. Often I need to because my dogs need to be let out to do their business and they need to be fed.

Also, like most people, that all changed in March of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and we were ordered to “Shelter in Place” and stay at home. I started working from home every day.

Credit: Leslie Cirinesi

All routines that I had and was used to, had to change. I set up my office in the dining room so I could use the table for my laptop. My dogs, who usually lay on the couch during the day started laying at my feet in the dining room.

likes to chime in from time-totime with her opinions or concerns for the Animals.

I like being home during the day and one of my favorite things is getting to stop work and get Dog kisses and cuddles when I have earned a well-deserved break.

I like talking to both my Dogs, Barney and Luna, telling them about my day and the Animals that I had talked to.

I do understand however that many single people are struggling with being alone without face-to-face human contact. In my case though, it’s a win-win for both myself and the Dogs. So even though I haven’t been able to visit my friends and family during the pandemic, my Dogs are less lonely.

in Place somewhere calmer, somewhere safer, and somewhere less crowded. We spent 4 days driving cross country with the Dogs and finally reached our destination. We plan to stay for a couple of months and then see where it goes from there.

The only problem is that now we have to come up with a whole new routine. I decided to consult the Dogs first and let them have first say in where they hung out during the day. I didn’t want to assume that they had to be in the same room with me or my husband. So I let them have first dibs where our “office” would be.

So, I asked them if this is where they would like to hang out during the day? They both answered that they would like this to be their spot because they could lay in the sun for the most part of the day and also be close to me. They started to tell me how much they missed me during the day when I go to work. I knew they did, but I didn’t realize how much until this all happened and we took the time to discuss it.

Many of the Animals that I have been communicating with during this pandemic are feeling the same way. They are happy that their human families are at home more.

They both looked around, they talked amongst themselves about it and they decided that they wanted to all be out on the front porch as much as possible and then when that wasn’t feasible, they wanted to “work” in the guest room because it has a good view. I followed their lead and set up my office in the guest room as they requested.

They like to listen to my phone calls when I do Animal Communication sessions. Well, my Dog Luna does anyway. She

A few days ago, my husband and I loaded up the Dogs in the minivan and headed west to Montana. We decided to Shelter

I hooked up a Wi-Fi extender so that the internet would reach to the front porch and I ordered some patio furniture so that we

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 23

Communicating with Sacred Animals

as well. Why didn’t I have an outdoor space in Michigan too? They definitely put more thought into it than I did. I gave no thought to anything other than sitting near a window and having a spot to put my computer.

They considered views, sunlight, indoor spots, outdoor spots, refreshments, comfortable “seating” and more. Apparently, I need to leave these important decisions up to my Dogs from now on!

As I am sitting here (at their request) on the front porch, writing my article, I am calm and at peace. I looked over and thanked both Luna and Barney for their thoughtfulness. Luna thanked me for bringing us to Montana and said that she loved the new routine.

can hang out there as a family (right now we have one rocking chair and some cheap plastic Adirondack chairs out there). I went today and got some nice thick foam Dog beds so that they aren’t laying on the hard boards and I got an extra water bowl to keep out here for when they get thirsty.

As I sat looking at my finished product, I was very pleased with myself. I sat down in the rocking chair on the porch and I started to wonder why I didn’t put this much effort into my work at home place in Michigan? Why

did I just slap my laptop on the dining room table and not give the rest much thought?

The Dogs picked the room with the best view here and wanted some outdoor space

Leslie Cirinesi

My only concern is that when this is over and I need to go back to the office, how will we all cope? How will we get used to the loneliness again? Won’t we be more alone than ever?  Speaking for your pets,

Leslie

is an Animal Communicator and Reiki Master/Teacher located in Clarkston, MI. She volunteers at the Detroit Zoo and with many Animal rescues. She is available to communicate with your Animals by using a photo and does phone consultations all over the world.

Leslie@AETherapy.com www.AdvancedEnergyTherapy.com www.ISpeakToAnimals.com FB: Advanced-Energy-Therapy-and-wwwispeaktoanimalscom

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 24

Lulu.com - http://bit.ly/2odfa6m

Cosmic Conversations

Explore The Cosmos Within You! WITH

JULIE HEDGES

Belonging & Becoming

“

We are made of the same ingredients as the planets and stars, and when we consciously tune into the Stars and Planets for a cosmic conversation, we can draw upon the power of the Cosmos.

—Julie Hedges

”

Cancer in Profile July is the time of Cancer, and Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere. The Summer Solstice, which usually occurs between June 20-22 (depending on the year), is the initiator of the Summer Season and is marked by the Sun’s entry into the mansion of Cancer. The Summer Solstice marks the midpoint of the year, as well as the longest day of the year.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 26

One such celebration is the Lakota “Sundance,” celebrated by the Sioux and Plains Indians to commemorate the blessings that Wakan Tanka (Creator) bestows upon the people.

The entire dance itself was dedicated to the celebration of Earth and Sun…. Individual dancers… danced for their personal wishes, praying for better future, or their family members or friends, or wishing to determine their place in the universe.1

Credit: DarkWorkX_Pixabay.com

The zodiac sign of Cancer is known as the Gateway of Man. Particularly, as an archetype, Cancer is referred to as The Great Mother, Nurturer and Sustainer. It is through The Great Mother that Man is born unto the Earth. During this season, and especially near the Summer Solstice, many cultures celebrate the blessing of the Earth by the Sun.

Cosmic Conversations

Additionally, celebrations of the Summer Solstice occur at sacred sites around the globe.

Each summer, people gather at Stonehenge, the famous stone formation in Wiltshire, England. The new Summer Sun rises through the entrance way of Stonehenge, greeting the Earth through this ancient passage that scientists say was built in 3000 BCE. Cancer represents the nurturing, watery sensitivity of a Mother with her newborn. She senses exactly what her child needs by an intuitive sensing ability. During the month of Cancer, our consciousness is nudged inward, invited to explore intuition and bodily comfort, which are the resting centers of Home.

It is also during the month of Cancer that themes of Home, Country and Belonging are presented in the world consciousness. In the United States of America, for example, July 4 is celebrated as the Birth of Independence. The USA was born during the month of Cancer as an independent nation, formed on the value that “all men are created equal,” which was a very different concept from the ancient view of the “divine right of kings.”

Yes, we are still learning exactly what it means to be created equal (and learning to treat each other as equal). Yet, our world consciousness has come so far!

In the body, Cancer rules the stomach and breasts, the places of giving and receiving nourishment. These places of the body also signal Comfort. Do you have favorite “comfort foods?”

When you gather with family or in the place called Home, do you spend time cooking, eating and sharing meals? Also, mothers spend precious time cuddling their babies to their breasts, to share sustenance as well as loving closeness that both baby and mother need for a sense of Belonging.

Each of us has Cancer energy within our personal make-up, whether we were born during the time of Cancer or not. We demonstrate Cancer attributes through our individual Soul charts (our personal Astrology natal charts) and by our personal choices.

Cancer Attributes:

Maternal Intuitive Sensitive Sentimental Nurturing

What you need to be comforted Find Cancer in your personal astrology chart to understand the area of life wisdom that is calling you to nurture and be nurtured. This domain of your personal astrology chart is asking you to: Understand the meaning of & Develop a sense of Home Cultivate Intuitive Sensing Allow yourself to Comfort & Be comforted Attune to Self-Care Cancer played a huge role in Human Consciousness development from December 2018 to May 2020. During that time, the world was presented lesson after lesson about Belonging, Nurturing, Responsibility, Home, Family and Self-Care.

In astrological terms, the Node of the Moon was working through the sign of Cancer to help all of us on planet earth to develop more Cancer skills. In fact, these same lessons are presented to humanity every 18 years. As an exercise, I invite you to look back 18 years to think about themes and lessons you encountered then. How do those Life Lessons fit with the Cancer themes named above?

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 27

Cosmic Conversations

P lanets In Transit The Astro-Energy of July 2020 presents the final eclipse of the Cancer-Capricorn axis. This axis was activated in December 2018 and is presenting its final eclipse in 2020. This axis won’t be active again for another 9 years.

5 July: Lunar Eclipse 13° Capricorn; This is the last eclipse in the Cancer -Capricorn axis for 9 years. The message is: This is our final lesson in clarifying how much Responsibility we take for Self-Care.

20 July: New Moon in Cancer – Sun (Consciousness) and Moon (Intuition) meet within the sign that invented Intuition. During this New Moon, FEEL the still, soft nudge of your Inner Sanctuary calling you Home.

12 July: Mercury turns direct at 5° Cancer. The Mind (Mercury) traveled into the watery Psyche (Cancer) to examine Intuitive Intelligence. Are you listening to and acting from your Inner Voice?

22 July: Sun enters the mansion of Leo, The Sun King. Let the lion roar!

14-15 July: Sun in Cancer opposes Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn. This could be a dynamic opposition! Typically, Pluto and Jupiter together signify the bubbling up of buried sludge, personal and collective. It can also mean something hidden can arise in a Huge way. ** Please be extra cautious in your social distancing and excursions during this Summer. Remember that what we can’t see with the naked eye (Invisible/Hidden - Pluto) might have a Huge (Jupiter) Impact on us.

During challenging times, we need extra TLC. To serve readers, viewers and Conscious Cosmonauts during these times, I’m offering special sessions to support you. Visit: www.

4SoulEmpowerment.com to learn more.

Julie Hedges

is an author, Evolutionary Astrologer, Reiki Master/Teacher and seer. She is the host of Cosmic Conversations live stream show on Star Nations Live Stream Shows the third Monday each month at 8pm ET. She offers readings and healing sessions to those around the globe.

Julie’s breakthrough book, The Tarot Journey Volume 1, is full of practical Tarot tips and tools to help readers develop a deeper relationship with the Tarot.

TheTarotJourney@gmail.com JulieSoliloquy.weebly.com TheTarotJourneyVolume1.weebly.com FB: CosmicConversationsWithJulieHedges

Sources: 1 “Sun Dance – Ceremony of the American Indians.” Dancefacts.net. 2020. Web. 28 Jun. 2020. http://www.dancefacts.net/dance-list/sun-dance/ “July 2020: Planetary Overview – Major Astrological Aspects and Transits.” Tarot-Astrology.Co. 16 Apr. 2020. Web. 28 Jun. 2020. https://tarot-astrology.co.uk /2020/04/16/july-2020-planetary-overview-major-astrological-aspects-and-transits/

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 28

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FREEDOM, GRACE, KINDNESS, AND JOY

Boozhoo!

With a warm sun as well breezy wind gently blowing around my desk as I sit to write on the topic of “Freedom,” I paused to grab a glass of ice tea from the kitchen in order to help gather and center my thoughts.

Indeed, as I figured since I was already up, a little dish of M/M’s wouldn’t hurt the process of creativity, so with those treats in hand; I’m ready to dive into the discussion of the many faces of “Freedom.”

To write on a topic that is covered in the media, daily, hourly, as well weekly, made me have to do some deep thinking on what I possibly could add as a writer and what more would the reader like to see written on this topic?

It dawned on me while reflecting on those questions, perhaps the Universe, itself, may have not quite exhausted all it has to say on that very idea. Fingers crossed.

We all no doubt have paid close attention to the political and social landscape of the last three or four weeks, right? We’ve seen as well as

By Tony Cherette

read articles, opinion pieces, and viewed news that has propelled us to discussions with our peers.

The American public has spoken with a loud, loud voice with regard to its multiple points of view on racism, bias, statues, relics, law, police, and one another. In fact, unless you were meditating on a rock in the middle of the ocean, it would be difficult to ignore the fire, the fury, and the passion of public discussion, right now.

With all of that occurring, it can become vastly difficult to ascertain, within the never-ending area of information, how to sort oneself out, and what to think in a changing landscape.

I’d like to take a moment and speak about how that intersects, if you will, with freedom. In other words, how other people’s points of view may or may not be held by you in various forms. That in of itself, the chance to have an individual point of view, is a freedom.

For many U.S. citizens, depending on their geographical location, this

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 30

word may have different iterations.

For those located behind fences on reservation land, freedom may seem like a word that represents a world vastly different than life on a reserve.

That particular form of enslavement (centering around lack of ability to roam and move at will) is one that has happened in the U.S. since 1851.

Another example of freedom recently in the news is regarding how the SCOTUS gave a ruling around the rights of GLBT citizens to now feel more free of the fear of job loss, due to orientation, due to a change in the law prohibiting job dismissal based upon orientation. That striking down of the Damocles sword, which had hung over our friends and loved ones will contribute more joy, kindness, personal wellness, and safety to the workforce, in that the community will now have equal standing with co-­ workers, etc. That is certainly a deeply overdue form of justice that we have the privilege of now seeing enacted.

The next thought on the topic of freedom is one having to do with the present-day discussion of racial/ ethnic/cultural inequality.

Credit: Dreamstime.com

Sacred Masculine

Sacred Masculine

Many of us have listened to discussions of “defunding the police” calls for justice for people who are murdered, conversations around just prison reform, and the like, as well had conversations on these topics with our friends and loved ones.

As a Native American person, I find myself thinking about all of these things in regard to the history of the U.S. in ways that have not always favored people in a fair and equal manner. In fact, in Indian Country, we have had lots of questions, concerns, and stress with regard to how the changing landscape will affect the Original People. More on that in another article.

With all the information swirling around and people calling for others to have clear ideas of support and education on multiple topics, I’ve also found that this can be a vastly confusing time for people who lead with their heart. People who feel that the wisdom of their heart provides them empathy—in order to digest social change issues—often wonder how that intersects with the new terminology outlining theories on race, etc.

Credit: Dreamstime.com

Today’s dialogue further lends itself to some very tough questions. Ones such as ‘how do I help?’ ‘Am I a good ally’ ‘Do I voice an opinion or ask questions? Etc. When people experience the type of social upheaval that we have seen, it does, in fact, leave many wondering where they actually belong in the discussion of privilege and a right to be in the world.

A few of the discussions I have found myself in have been eye-opening and sometimes heart wrenching with regard to place and how it relates to freedom. I’ve found I have had to do an immense amount of listening to my heart, prior to speaking.

Fortunately, the human heart and the human spirit have great wisdom to plumb at these times when a path of action seems rocky. In fact, the heart and the spirit are inestimable in their value, as they can be counted upon to innovate and contribute in unique ways.

While we may not each have the correct answer to solve today’s issues, we all share the ability to touch home base within our heart and let that help lead us when moving within the community.

How do you wish at this time to interact within your community at large?

Do you wish to participate in marches? Protests? Legislative sessions on behalf of others?

What freedom do you possess that you feel you can share to uplift humanity?

With the heart leading us on this path, I think we stand a very good chance to move the needle of uncertainty for some people to a place of more safety. In other words, the heart remains a stalwart friend who keeps us informed as to the feelings and experiences of others. I can’t think of a better explanation of kindness than that very thing.

Be well friends in this time of opportunity. 

Tony Anthony D. Cherette

is a Medium with 35 years of experience.

He is also an Elder and registered tribal member of the Annishnabeg Nation. Anthony is also a legal professional, a parent, a community activist and Two-Spirit human.

He is a contributing writer of Star Nations Magazine who is happy you are reading his articles. www.starnations.org

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 31

ature onnections

By Minnie Kansman

Friendship

Frog and Butterfly

Credit: pixabay.com

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Making friends has always come easy for me. I think that is because I have always been willing to invest the time into being one. There is work involved in friendship—commitment, persistence, attention, and trust to name a few. I have found there is much to gain from these labors and true friends are like gemstones to be cherished and loved.

Aristotle figured there were three kinds of friendships: 1. Friendships of Utility 2. Friendships of Pleasure 3. Friendships of the Good.

The first, friendships of utility, are people it is advantageous to know for our jobs or to make our lives easier. They usually come into our experience for a specific period of time.

Sometimes utility friends move through the list to friendships of pleasure and even good.

But most often, once the task is over the friendship is too. I have had this type of friendship in a past business partner. As much as I desired to take it to a deeper level, the relationship for them was only about the business we shared. This doesn’t mean it wasn’t a fruitful

alliance, it just ended when the business did.

The second type of friend is social and for our pleasure. These are the people you hang out with to have a good time. My social friends often join me on my Nature Travel Adventure excursions, and I often add new social friends to my list after each trip. We laugh a lot, have mystical experiences together, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Sharing a common interest, like spiritual growth, helps to nourish and sustain these relationships over time.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 33

Nature Connections

I have been attending The Great Lakes Retreat in Olivet Michigan for over 30 years.

This is a social gathering of almost one hundred friends I visit with every summer. We stay connected through social media throughout the year, but only physically gather for one week in July. I rarely see any of them between retreats, but I cherish the friendships of pleasure they give me.

Aristotle’s third level of friends are deep friends.

Consider yourself lucky if you have two or three of these types of relationships.

I feel extremely grateful to have many friendships in this category in my life right now. These are the friends you can share anything with. The ones you can call in the middle of the night, the ones who would put their life on hold if you needed them. They understand you, and listen deeply and compassionately to your life’s challenges.

They are also there to rejoice in your joys, the first ones you desire to call or text with good news. These relationships are based on mutual respect and admiration. I believe they give deep meaning to our lives and also they take mindful nurturing to maintain and grow.

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 34

I have been part of a women’s group for over eight years called the SiStars. Sister, because we feel like a very close chosen family of sisters, and Stars, because we are all shining stars with our own uniqueness. We talk monthly on Skype calls and sometimes daily on our Messenger group.

If someone is in need that day one or many are present in the moment to be with them. It is an incredible feeling of support to know these deep friends are always there for me. But it is a commitment we have made to each other, and one taken seriously.

Credit: All Photos by Minnie Kansman unless otherwise indicated

Travel Friends

Nature Connections

Sometimes deep friends are dropped right into our lap from Spirit, without a lot of introduction or need for socialization.

My dear friend Terry moved to my hometown one year before I moved from Michigan to Colorado. From the moment we met we knew there was a strong bond of knowingness and friendship flowing between us. We adored each other, and took a week long road trip several months after we met. A past life perhaps?

Terry and Minnie

It feels like we are starting from the middle of a very familiar story, and I know our deep friendship will last a lifetime. It is like we have finally found each other again. This reminds me of a Jim Henson quote, “There is not a word yet for old friends who just met.” I feel Terry is a very old friend.

Some friendships begin as utility friends and move into the other layers of social and even eventually into deep. These are the relationships nurtured through time and shared experiences. They are often called Lifetime Friends.

I have had friendships that have lasted for over thirty years and some for only a few months.

They are all relationships in my life that have shaped who I am today. I honor and trust each one to be a catalyst for my sacred journey here on earth, I only hope they feel the same way about me. 

SiStars

Minnie Kansman

and her business Eco~Balance Humanity in Harmony with Nature have assisted others with Feng Shui, Sacred Space Clearing, and Nature Spirit Connection since 1994. A certified Master Feng Shui Consultant and Educator and Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, Minnie lives lightly on the land and honors the power of Spirit in all things.

The author of Spirit Gardens: Rekindling our Nature Connection, and Missing Nana: Lessons from the Nature Spirits, a playful children’s story about the afterlife based on love, available on her website.

Join Minnie for her Nature Connections live stream the fourth Weds. of the month at 4 pm ET, and contact her for long distance and on-site Feng Shui Consultations and Space Clearing Ceremonies. Check out her website for a Forest Therapy walk near you. www.minniekansman.com ecobalance99@gmail.com FB: minniekansman99 FB: Nature Connections with Minnie Kansman

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 35

THE SACRED HOOP

By Yvette Neshi Lokotz

ELDERS SERIES:

Eldership

As I return to my column “Sacred Hoop”, I am making a small title edit: “The Sacred Hoop”.

This alteration reflects the life changes I experienced from 2017 to the present. The Sacred Hoop allows me to share life events that occur on the one hoop of life that we all share.

Recently, I began a new series on my live stream show, Communications from Home on Star Nations Live Stream Shows. The new series is about being an Elder.

In my research, I found Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ books about

Elders. I have very little time to spend reading and need to carefully balance my time so, I purchased her writings as audible books; that way I can listen while doing other activities.

Listening to the information about Elders, I realized that I was being guided by my Spiritual Team to attend to my own Elder experience. All this took place as the whole world paused to contend with the pandemic: no coincidence, no fluke, or luck, but rather direction from Spirit.

I want to share my thoughts, insights, and experiences in the hopes that you receive your own moments of awareness about your Eldership. Let’s start at the beginning and build our Elder Path.

What is an Elder?

The dictionary describes an Elder as, “any person who is older than you; superior; one having

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 36

authority by virtue of age and experience”. Of course, the “real” meaning of Elder is far more expansive as we must include our emotions and experiences.

There are several perspectives that define an Elder. The first perspective is by chronological age, meaning the actual number of years you have been alive and experiencing life. Many of the Indigenous people on Turtle Island (North America) who are recognized by a Federal government must define and identify their tribal membership as the services rendered may be subject to an age requirement. I am an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Nation – Prairie Band. The Prairie Band defines an Elder as any tribal member 55 years and older.

I can honestly say, at 55 years old, I didn’t feel like an Elder. I have had life experience, but I

Credit: LuisMachado_Unsplash.com

I am happy to share with you, my dear reader, that I am returning to writing a monthly column for Star Nations Magazine. I took a long break as I stabilized the Star Nations Organization and went through a personal spiritual growth spurt that some call a Dark Night of the Soul.

The Sacred Hoop

did not include myself in the esteemed fellowship of Elders.

That group of people is stereotyped as gray-haired, slow gaited denture wearers. As I look back on that time, I certainly accepted that stereotype.

Credit: TaylorRuecker_Unsplash.com, ArtyomPJ_Unsplash.com

For me, Eldership is all about sharing your wisdom. I do know that our wisdom comes from our life lessons. Our life lessons are about soul growth. We take what we learn from those life lessons and begin to apply them by weaving them into our everyday lives. The application builds experience and knowledge, which eventually becomes wisdom.

we are in service to them as they experience their Earth Walk or life journey.

One insight I got from Clarissa Pinkola Estes was about “Loce Sabe” and “Noce Sabe.”

These terms are in the Spanish language. Loce Sabe means one who knows, in other words, one who has knowledge.

Noce Sabe means one who has little or no knowledge; they have little experience.

I could relate to both Loce Sabe and Noce Sabe.

There are many aspects of life about which I have a deep understanding, while there are other aspects of life that I have little or no experience with, so I have little to share with others as I am learning.

The Native American Medicine Wheel that I live by, The Sacred Hoop, includes the Good Red Road, which runs from the South of the hoop due North.

The South is all about energy, Spirit, the fire of our soul, and your young adulthood. The North energy is all about our wisdom, our community, and our Elder years.

The experience of sharing life wisdom and the feeling of others being attentive to what I am saying reminds me of traveling The Good Red Road. For example, my experience with drums and drum making—I often relate how the act of making a hand drum is a snapshot of where you are in life and drum making can help you with understanding the aspects of your life.

We travel the Good Red Road by sharing our wisdom with others, especially those in our community. One could say all of humanity is our community. By sharing our wisdom with others,

Noce Sabe is also a place I recognize. At 60 years old I’m at an age where I have many life experiences, but I still have areas where I have little experience. For instance, I have never

lived completely on my own. I married when I was 19 years old and went from my parents’ home to make a home with my new husband. My husband Paul and I have been married for 40 years and have created a good life together, but I have yet to experience life on my own.

I have learned that Elderhood refers to age. Eldership denotes sharing wisdom. An Elder with wisdom can be any age.

Elderhood is a state of being.

Eldership is a state of giving.

In Native America, some young people call those in Elderhood, Oldsters.

Oldsters still live a life filled with drama, much like those in their teenage years. Oldsters demand respect but give little regard to others. They also tend to lecture others rather than using their own life experience (which holds no judgment of others) as an example.

As you begin your exploration of what Eldership means to you and dream about what kind of Elder you would like to be, please remember we are all here for soul growth and to walk each other home.  Next month’s article for The Sacred Hoop is about the Reluctant Elder.

Until then, Bama Mine, (until we meet again).

Neshi

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 37

Communications from Home

By Yvette Neshi Lokotz

July 2020 Update Star Nations Academy News Law of Attraction Part 1 with Ed Langan, July 25

Meeting With The Guides with Ed Langan, August 29

6 Steps to Manifesting Anything!

When you change your thinking your life changes. This workshop will change your thinking. We invite you to join Ed Langan, author of Creating With The Law of Attraction: 10 Principles That Will Change your Life. In this interactive workshop he will show you how to fully understand and use the Law of Attraction. http://starnations.org/ star-nations-academy/

In this interactive workshop, Ed’s Guides will answer questions about finding your way in current times, understanding your relationships in all forms (parental, partnerships, work, yourself) or any aspect of this physical life!

Law of Attraction Part 2 with Ed Langan, August 22 Everything you’re creating in your life starts with what you believe.

What you believe about yourself, your value, and your worth. Your beliefs about the world, money, love, your job, relationships, and people. All of that is what you’re creating from. How do you shift that and get past being stuck?

If you have a block in any of the five keys, the Law of Attraction will not work fully for you. It will be hard for you to create, to manifest, and live the life you dream of and desire. The life that you deserve.

Ed will show you how to unlock the five keys to your unlimited potential, using brain research, science, and the latest understanding of the law of attraction. http://starnations.org/ star-nations-academy/

The intention is to uplift, inspire, and awaken; to offer wisdom and guidance from the Guides, and to help you with whatever you are working on as you move along your path. It is about teaching while answering questions. The more focused and powerful the question is the more focused and powerful the answer will be from the Guides.

The Guides refer to the guidance they give as LIFE wisdom: L = Love, I = Inspiration, F = Faith, E = Empowerment. http://starnations. org/star-nations-academy/ Karmic Communication & Conscious Expression with Julie Hedges, Online Course — Sept. 19 and 26 Join Julie Hedges for a 2-part course on Karmic Communication & Conscious Expression to discover your inner Karmic Communicator that was divinely designed within your personal astrology blueprint.

Your Soul and the Creator-Of-All knew just the right skills and “spices” to add into the beautiful blueprint

of You. Let’s awaken and revitalize your Karmic Communicator, so you know that you are Seen and Heard for Who You Truly Are! http://starnations.org/star-nations-academy/ Special Manifesting Online Class “Star Nations Deep Dive Manifesting Weekend” is an online weekend workshop on October 3-4, 2020.

The bundled manifesting classes held previously are the foundational work to the weekend class in October. The earlier bundled manifesting online classes were meant to assist students in identifying their blocks and frustrations with creating the best life they would like to live.

In the October online class, the 4 teachers will take this foundational information even deeper for students. The primary classwork in October is about removing or healing what is necessary to bring the student’s manifesting into the physical world.

Our 4 teachers: Maureen Mann, Ed Langan, Polly Jo Labbe and Neshi Lokotz, each have very unique perspectives regarding manifesting.

Join us for Mastery, Manifesting, and Merriment! http://starnations. org/star-nations-academy/

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 39

Communications from Home

Sacred Drum Making with Neshi The sacred drum making workshop with Neshi Lokotz on Saturday, September 12, at WoodsEdge Retreat near Hastings, Michigan.

We continue to offer free, miniclasses on the Facebook Star Nations Academy closed group. Join the closed group to have access to the free mini-classes — https://www.facebook.com/ groups/StarNationsAcademy/

Star Nations Academy also offers classes at our physical location in Tomah, Wisconsin. For more information, see the Events page in this issue and visit our website: http://starnations.org/ star-nations-academy/

Star Nations Magazine – Your Bridge Between Ancient and Modern Spiritual Information.

The Sacred Hoop column returns!

After a long while in hiatus, the monthly column by Star Nations, CEO and Executive Editor, Yvette Neshi Lokotz returns. Native American perspective and information is one of the bedrock elements at Star Nations. Neshi resurrects her column to provide a deeper understanding about the issues of the day and also of the topics provided each month in the Star Nations Magazine from a Native American female perspective.

Star Nations proudly partners with Issuu.com for digital (iTunes

& Google), PDF, and web viewer versions of the Star Nations Magazine. Existing digital iTunes Connect and Google Play Store subscriptions will be converted to our new partners. Please contact Deborah, Star Nations Magazine Assistant with your name, email address, Apple ID subscription number. starnationsmagazineassistant@gmail.com Issuu.com offers Star Nations Magazine in Digital, PDF and Web Viewer versions. You will need to download their free app to your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Visit issuu.com

to download the app. Then visit our publishing page: http://bit. ly/SNMIssuu.

Visit our website to purchase your subscription of Star Nations Magazine https://starnations. org/star-nations-magazine/ purchase-star-nations-magazine/ We understand that our readers enjoy reading in very specific ways. To accommodate everyone’s needs, our partners at MagCloud. com continue to assist us in providing Star Nations Magazine in print on demand version. http:// www.magcloud.com/user/ starnationsmagazine

Star Nations Live Stream Shows News Star Nations Live Stream Shows are recorded as video and audio.

For those who prefer to listen to a recorded show; visit us at our SoundCloud page. Here is the link to the Star Nations Radio Network SoundCloud account.

Please “like” and follow us on SoundCloud. https://soundcloud. com/starnationsradionetwork We have archived all of the Star Nations Live Stream Shows on

Facebook at the Star Nations Organization YouTube channel.

Many people in the Star Nations community share the shows’ YouTube video links with others outside of Facebook. We would appreciate it if you would take the time to visit our YouTube channel and click the “like” button to “like” the channel. Here is the link to our Star Nations Organization YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StarNationsRadio8

Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 40

From all of us at Star Nations, we wish you an enjoyable summer!

Bama Mine (Potawatomi for Until We See Each Other Again), Neshi Lokotz - C.E.O. Star Nations Organization, LLC www.starnations.org

www.starnations.org @StarNationsOrganization

www.starnations.org @StarNationsOrganization

Star Nations Magazine Guest Contributing Writers Leslie Cirinesi Sharon Rosenblum

Star Nations Publishing Staff Executive Staff C.E.O. & Executive Publisher: Neshi Lokotz, Tomah, WI Neshi@starnations.org

Adriane Campbell Karen Crowley Susani Tony Cherette Kristine Pollock

SNRN Show Host Writers

Star Nations Academy Manager:

Julie Shumway Hill, Wisconsin Dells, WI AcademyManager@starnations.org

Social Media Manager:

Stephanie Williams, Cold Springs, CO SocialMediaManager@starnations.org

Neshi Lokotz Ed Langan Ortrun Franklin Polly Jo Labbe Julie Hedges Minnie Kansman Maureen Mann

BIAR (Beans in a Row): Bookkeeping and Organizing beansinarow@gmail.com 608-477-1162

Associate Editor:

Sharon Rosenblum, Fox Point, WI TheFeatheringQuill@gmail.com

www.starnations.org

Live Stream Producer: Robert Colter, Detroit, MI

Subscriptions Assistant:

Deborah Clark Clemens, New Lisbon, WI

Graphic Layout:

Elf Elm Publishing www.elfelmpublishing.com

Website & Bkgd Photos:

Dan McCormack, www.elfelm.com

S tar N ations

Yo u r B r i d g e t o A n c i e n t a n d M o d e r n S p i r i t u a l I n f o r m a t i o n

August Issue Highlights Happiness, Romance, Honey Bees, Angels, 7th Day of the 7th Day, Meteor Showers, Clairsentient

“

Everything on Earth is borrowed. There is no Mine or Yours, there is only Ours. Even time is borrowed. We kill over a plot of land, that belongs only to our Mother Earth. All you have is what you came with, and what you will leave with….Your Spirit.”

— Native American Proverb

”

Credit: ENASA/Chandra X-Ray Observatory