The Secret Art of Ceremony |
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A Nine-Week Tele-Class Taking You Into the Heart of
Ceremony
Ceremony is an intentional act
of creation, inviting us to go deeper into
our most profound relationship with the Divine. —Reverend
Misa
Announcing Our Favorite Class at New Dream Where Cindy Is Personally Teaching You the Ancient Art of Ceremonialists—
How to Create and Hold Powerful Ceremonial Space
Cindy Mills, Instructor
Misa Hopkins,
Program Creator
Dear Ceremonialists,
Whether you are a seasoned ceremonialist or new to creating ceremonies, it can be challenging to create and facilitate the kind of deep and meaningful experiences that transform people's lives. But if you understand what ceremonialsts do to create powerful space, it can be pure joy each and every time you create and offer ceremony.
—Have you been thinking about creating and offering a special ceremony?
—Do you offer ceremonies now and would like to make them deeper, more enriching
experiences?
—Would you like to be able to offer the Women's Water Bowl Ceremonies in your
community?
—Do you feel like you are winging it and creating some beautiful moments, but not quite getting the depth of experience that you would like?
—Are you frustrated because you understand some of the ritual elements, yet don't know how to create a space where deep spiritual transformation occurs?
—Do you find yourself copying ceremonies from other traditions because you don't know the key elements of ceremony and how to put them together in a ceremony that is uniquely your own?
—Are you a seasoned ceremonialist that is looking to stretch yourself and your regular participants beyond your current experiences into a space of even greater depth and awakening?
—Do you have a ceremony you do, but have a difficult time getting people to participate?
Because we are both educators, we understand the key elements of ceremony across traditions.
Because we see and sense the energy, we understand how to hold space that calls people deeply into themselves and into the Mystery.
If you are someone who has received a calling to offer ceremony outside the parameters of any particular spiritual tradition or religion, you have a unique set of challenges. Very likely, you hear the call, but either don't know how to put all the pieces together or have not been shown how to become the space you are creating.
That is how it was for Reverend Misa before she created the Secret Art of Ceremony.
Though a trained ceremonialist
in specific Native American ceremonies, she was also called to create and offer
ceremonies outside the scope of her traditional spiritual practice. In the
process of creating new ceremonies, she discovered basic elements of ceremony
she now shares with others. Trained as an educator, it was only natural for
her to notice elements both common and unique to ceremonial practice around
the world. When you know these elements, it is much easier to create
and offer both traditional and new ceremonies with greater confidence.
Cindy Mills, MA, later became the instructor of the class since this class is required for women choosing to become Keepers of the Water Ceremonies, and she is their Apprenticeship Coordinator. Cindy has a vast background in the study of various traditions, and someone Reverend Misa believes to be a true shaman. She understands the very heart-beat of ceremony, facilitating on-going, well-attended ceremonies in Pueblo, Colorado.
The
Secret Art of Ceremony is all about learning how to live in ceremony,
so that when you decide to create a ritual experience for yourselves and others,
you become the sacred space. Of course, such a way of being, may take a life-time
to master, yet in class you will learn the key elements that help you get
into that space quickly and effectively.
You will learn the secrets
to creating meaningful ritual, knowing that each time you offer a ceremony,
your capacity to hold sacred space will be growing and growing.
Have you ever been to ceremonies that eventually became boring, must-do activities
rather than meaningful expressions of your Divine love?
Do you know how to
prevent this from happening? Discovering how to prevent meaningful
ceremony from sliding into a meaningless habit is one of the first topics
addressed in this class.
Ceremony is pointless if its meaning dies in our hearts. Knowing how
to keep ceremony present, fresh, alive and soul filling is where the journey
of this class begins. That is the beginning, so imagine the new insights
and awareness that are going to become a part of who you are as a ceremonialist.
This is not about learning a bunch of unnecessary stuff. It is about developing
yourself into the loving and creative ceremonialist you want to be—living
each and every day in depth of your personal purpose and meaning.
Ceremony is a microcosmic moment of the greater macrocosm of life. Ceremony
is a reflection
about who we are and what we value in the whole of our lives.—Reverend
Misa
The Secret Art of Ceremony
This course helps you, as a ceremonialist, refine and enhance your skills,
so that you are better able to offer meaningful and powerful ceremony for
the people Spirit sends to you.
During
the course you will discover how to:
Identify the qualities that
give a ceremony true power
Prepare yourself appropriately to hold sacred
space
Identify and fulfilling the
unspoken needs of your participants
Honor legal responsibilities and ethics of wise ceremonial
practice
Safely take people into
the mystical world of ceremony
Prevent
ceremonies from becoming boring and meaningless
Utilize key elements of life-inspiring
ritual and ceremony
Facilitate
effective talking circles
Put the elements together to create unique, new ceremonies
Be in integrity when learning ceremony or ritual from established traditions
And Includes:
- nine, 60 minute, weekly tele-class training sessions with Cindy Mills
- audio recording of any one class you are unable to attend (with prior notification)
- downloadable workbook for your personal use throughout the class
- question and answer opportunities during each session
- nine weekly exercises for honing your skills as a ceremonialist
- input and ideas from other class attendees
- e-mail support between classes
- real examples and stories from real experience
You will leave with a greater sense of confidence and comfort
in your skills to address the fears and hopes of the people who attend your
ceremonies, your ability to create life-enriching ceremonies and holding sacred
space in the most profound way possible.
Educational
Approach
Classes
are taught using experiential and Socratic teaching methodologies. You
learn best when you are involved. Both of these techniques are designed
for you to be involved,helping you discover more about and develop the unique
ceremonialist and/or spiritualist in you.
During
tele-classes you will spend more time participating in discussions than listening
to an instructor.
You will be asked you to prepare for each class by using a
workbook provided for you. The workbook asks you to consider questions
intended to stimulate your thoughts and beliefs about how to be a true ceremonialist
in your life and during ritual practice. the instructor will share her
own thoughts and experiences, yet the emphasis on each class is for you to
discover your own intuitive wisdom about ceremony.
After classes, you will be asked to develop yourself
further by engaging in assignments that take you deeper into your spiritual
awareness and natural skills as a ceremonialist/spiritualist. This ensures you will be experiencing more and more ceremony, rather than
merely talking or hearing about it.
Because
of this approach, classes provide opportunity for growth among seasoned
and brand new practitioners. If your intention is to create deeper ritual experience for yourself
personally, or to hold sacred space for ceremonies with many people,or
you simply want to expand your experience of the Divine, this teaching approach
will assist you greatly in your evolution in ceremony and your spiritual practice.
This class is required for women considering Apprenticeship for the
Women's Water Ceremonies. Your registration for apprenticeship automatically includes this class, so you will not need to sign up on this web page, unless you want to take this class while you are making your decision about becoming a Keeper of the Water Ceremonies. The remainder of the apprenticeship occurs once this class is completed.
Your Program Creator
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Reverend Misa
Misa and the environment
she creates through her being, presence and insight bring about wonderful
opportunities for exploration of the inner realm and growth in Spirit.
-Eric L. Lundgaard |
If
you are a ceremonialist, there is a profound connection to Spirit, an energy,
a rhythm, focus, and flexibility that become a part of your every action,
every breath. Slide into this space, and it demands to become a part of who
you are every moment of the day. Ceremony is more than a ritual, it is a way
of life.
—Reverend Misa
Reverend
Misa, the creator of the Secret Art of Ceremony, has been creating new ceremonies
and offering traditional Native ceremonies for over 16 years. She has been
a professional teacher and facilitator for nearly 30 years. Reverend Misa
has taken numerous people on quests and sacred journeys, then helps them process
their mystical experiences for application in their daily lives. As a psychic, mystic, as well as a teacher
of dream and vision analysis, Reverend Misa has a profound sensitivity to
mystical reality, having her own regular visionary meditation practice, and
having completed several quests herself. Further, as a woman who has healed herself
from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, and multiple life-threatening illnesses,
she has deep compassion for the process of transforming sacred awareness into
joyful, sacred living. After studying ceremonies with a Cherokee
elder, she went on to develop an appreciation for the power of ritual in all
spiritual traditions, and therefore is able to help individuals discover and
create their own rituals for personal growth. As a ceremonialist and teacher, she stirs the heart and mind to new
levels of spiritual and social awareness. Because of her commitment
to enriching the planet with more rituals of the heart, she created the Spiritual
Leadership Training Program and this class for the New Dream Foundation.
Reverend
Misa is delighted to introduce your Instructor
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Cynthia
Mills, MA
A true Curandera (Shaman
in Hispanic tradition) we gladly welcome Ms. Mills as an instructor
in our Spiritual Leadership Training Program.
Her depth of understanding
in the mystical realms, her experience with ceremony, and her knowledge
about how to apply mystical insight into everyday life are exceptional.
Any one who chooses to study with her will be hearing wisdom from someone
who is authentically living a Spirit-led life from a place of true spiritual
and heart-felt power.
—Reverend
Misa, Founder of the Spiritual Leadership Program |
Cynthia
Mills, MA Ms. Mills is an ordained
Keeper of the Women’s Water Ceremonies, with a Masters degree in Vocational
Rehabilitation and undergraduate degree in Social Work. For over 50 years,
Ms. Mills has offered numerous ceremonies and initiations, uniquely created
as well as ceremonies from various traditions. She describes herself as an
avid student of history, religion and culture, including metaphysics and the
mystical realms. She has been trained in both Hawaiian, African and Incan forms of
Shamanism, Vedic practices and Reikki. And she is knowledgeable in Native
American, Hispanic, Celtic, Catholic and Bahai traditional practices. Having
been a teacher for over 30 years, Ms. Mills has taught classes in meditation,
self-realization, performing arts, poetry, mantras, mudras, metaphysics, personal
empowerment, and communication. Using her creative talents, she developed
and co-developed programs for alternative counseling, handicap assistance,
women’s crisis, and learning disabilities at the University of Southern
Colorado. Ms. Mills has a strong commitment to helping people discover their
hidden talents—recognizing what service they have to offer while acknowledging
their personal intrinsic value.
A true Curandera, she was welcomed as
an instructor because of her depth of understanding in the mystical realms
and the application of mystical wisdom into every day life.
What Others
Have Experienced
Effective Class
I highly recommend this course
if it appeals to you at this time of your life. The class is wonderful. I took it and it gives a structure to the concept
and content of ceremony. Taking it by phone is effective and efficient.
—Reverend Ariann
Thomas, Administrative Director, New Dream Foundation, Sedona, AZ
About Cindy as a ceremonialist and instructor in the program
Better prepared through Cindy's sharing of experience
I've been thinking about you much lately—how much I appreciate you, what I have learned in relationship with you! How my own ceremonial practice has grown since our direct time together in the Art of Ceremony class. Your new sudents are very lucky!
—Shalahnia
Better prepared through Cindy's sharing of experience
It was so supportive to have
Cindy as our teacher for this class. Her experience in ceremony is very rich,
her inner sight is profound, her heart is beautiful, and her devoltion and
willingness to give is extraordinary. I learned a great deal from one who
has dedicated her life to Spirit's call and expression in ceremony. Through
her experience leading circle and ceremony, Cindy offered much wisdom referencing
situations that she encountered and dealt with expertly that never even occurred
to me. I have already experienced the benefit of this gift as a couple of
similar situations have presented in my circles over the course of this training
period. I feel so much better and prepared and more confident in my ability
to lead and to manage unexpected situations.
— Susan Gold, Two Moons
Tea, Keeper of the Water Ceremonies
Clearer vision of how to create and hold sacred space
Participating in "The Secret Art of Ceremony" class was such a sweet experience on a very personal level. It gave a clear voice to so many aspects of ceremony that before had been somehow not clear. By offering basic details (difference between ritual and ceremony, elements of ceremony, what makes something a sacred object, etc.) I have a clearer vision of how to create and hold sacred space for myself and others. Although holding sacred space is something I have done intuitively in the past, I lacked the awareness of how to do it with conscious intent. This class created a stable foundation for me to expand my intuitive inclinations into a more focused, conscious path...I found Cindy to be an extraordinary wealth of information and insight. She is very supportive and approachable. I miss speaking with her and learning from her every week.
—Kimberly Wight, Keeper of the Water Ceremonies.
About Reverend Misa as a ceremonialist and creator of the program
Deep, committed and powerful
Misa is fearless. Coupled
with that is her searing love that never falters. She is a master alchemist
-- guiding gently and powerfully while she assists and holds people greatly
so that they may turn their base metals and darkness into light and gold.
Her boundaries are impeccable; masterfully ensuring that there is no dependence
or other strange or unhealthy dynamics in the process of spiritual growth. I have the pleasure and honor of having
three true Shaman healers in my life and she is doubtlessly one of them. The
real thing. You may not realize this at first with her humble, sweet and unassuming
ways, however you will come to see petal by petal as she blossoms slowly before
your eyes as the true, deep, committed and powerful healer that she is. Any
one would be lucky to have her in their life and will assuredly come to deeply
value her service and insight.
—D. Davis, Sound Healer, OR
Her ability to hold space
Misa's strength and gentleness
as a healer and in ceremony is unmatched. Whenever I have participated in
ceremony with her I totally trust that she knows what she is doing. I am amazed
at her ability to hold space in such a loving and authentic way. Her commitment,
her training, her experience and her heart shine through in such an unobtrusive,
quiet way that she makes it appear effortless. She's a natural, fulfilling
her purpose, following her calling.
—Richard Bienvenu, Musician,
Author, Hurricane Katrina Survivor
Overseas Participants
Overseas participants (outside the US) will be accommodated as best we can. Skype is recommended when possible. When it is not possible, calls will be recorded and your questionsand class assignments will be received by e-mail.
Dates and Times
Evening Tele-class, 9 sessions, 5:30 Pacific time; Mondays, August 22-October 24
Personal Guarantee
— My Promise to You
You may receive a full refund if you cancel immediately after the end of the first class and before the second class begins. Limited scholarships are available for people with financial need.
Yes I'm Ready to Begin Now
I understand that the Secret Art of Ceremony will support me in using key ceremonial elements to create new ceremonies and I will learn how to hold even deeper ceremonial space for myself and others.
The Secret Art of Ceremony
I understand that I will receive:
Nine, 60 minute, weekly tele-class training sessions with Cindy Mills
Audio recording of any one class I am unable to attend (with prior notification)
Downloadable workbook for my personal use throughout the class
Nine weekly exercises for honing your skills as a ceremonialist
Input and ideas from other class attendees
E-mail support between classes
Real examples and stories from real experience
I am ready to venture more deeply into my service as a ceremonialist,
sign me up now!
Class
will be held every Monday night for 9 weeks beginning August 22
5:30 PM PST; 8:30 PM EST
One payment of $197.
(Once registered, you'll receive confirmation via e-mail.)
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Your email address will never be rented, traded or sold.
We guarantee your confidentiality |
Need
to talk to someone? Contact us at HelpingHands@NewDreamFoundation.com
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