Welcome to the 1999 Gathering of Circles
Cloudcroft NM
August 5 thru 8

Cliff Buchanan Cliff presides at the GOC Planning Meeting that is held each year and receives input from the people who attend the meeting and others who have concerns to be considered at the meeting. He tries to combine the information into a cohesive plan for the event and solicit volunteers to be a facilitator for the many tasks required to have a successful event. He also maintains the web site, the mailing list, designs and produces the brochures and mail outs each year.

Kirsten Berghmans - Workshop coordinator: Kirsten coordinates and schedules all the various workshops. It involves contacting all the workshop leaders from the previous year, and soliciting new workshops and presentations for this year. Each workshop presenter must have three things: (1) a picture. (2) a title and description of the workshop, and (3) a biographical sketch of the presenter. The coordinator must get this information together and have it available to include in the Schedule of Events. Kirsten Berghams has accepted this position for 1999. Thanks Kirsten! All you workshop presenters, please get your info to Kirsten ASAP.

Wilma Delao - Sweet Medicine Dance coordinator: This person is responsible for preparing the circle for the dance, (with a lot of help), explaining the purpose of the dance, and coordinating the drumming, the lighting of the fire, the processional, etc. Also, must solicit four male/female greeters for each of the four entry ways and make sure they have smudge paraphernalia.

Suzan Greenwood - Children's coordinator: This involves setting up children's activities of your choice. They might be a campfire, nature hike, scavenger hunt, craft making, etc. Your choice. One of the most fantastic things about the GOC is that it is a family affair. We can't forget to make it fun for the children too. You are welcome to solicit other people to help you. It is a big job.

Cliff Buchanan - Sweat Lodge coordinator: This person will be responsible for making sure every sweat has a sweat lodge leader, that the sweat lodges are available, rocks are available, wood is available and so forth. They would also be responsible to see that our dress code is followed. Last year we brought in cut wood which seemed to work well. Sweat lodges and leaders should be scheduled ahead of time so they can be included in the Schedule of Events.

Talking Stick and Give-a-Way coordinator: this person is responsible for this ceremony which is done on Sunday morning. They explain how it is done and deciding on one group or two and making sure it is completed in a timely fashion. Pamela Scheler and Brett Messer is handling this for us this year.

Dan

Tom

Dan Leonard & Tom Casey - Port-a-potties and Forest Service permit: This person is responsible for obtaining the Forest Service Permit and makes sure we follow any Forest Service requirements. It is dry as usual this year and there always exist the possibility that we may not be able to have open fires. This person makes sure that port-o-potties are contracted for and delivered on time and that toilet paper is always available, etc. Also, makes sure that we clean up properly at the end of the weekend. All trash get carries out, etc. Thanks to Dan for taking care of our S__T and Tom for dealing with the Forest Service.

Bobby Ashworth (right) & Dan Leonard - Acquaintancing Activities A Disinhibiting Activity will be used to allow you to "get over what ever is holding you back" (if you want to). We will learn what is "Communication Consciousness" and "Trust Building." Bobby and Dan will fill in the blanks on a lot of this for us. Bobby and Dan work for Alliance Hospital in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. They run the activities programs for the hospital and operate their own business, Southwest Adventures, doing wilderness workshops for businesses and organizations. Don't miss the powerful healing in the work that these men offer.

Mike Andrews - Special guest speaker coordinator: Last year we were fortunate to have Bearheart speak to us on Friday morning. This was very well received. I think it would be good to have a guest speaker come and talk to us every year. The coordinator would be responsible for suggesting guest speakers to the planning committee and then when one was selected continue to communicate with that guest speaker and coordinate their fees and be sure they showed up, etc. Please forward any suggestions to Mike.

Cliff Buchanan

Rene St. John

Kiethlee Camp

Cliff Buchanan, Kiethlee Camp, Rene St. John - T-shirt design cordinator: We need a person or persons to create the design for the T-shirts this year. It should be a design that reflects the Spirit of the GOC. Last year we had several designs to choose from at the planning meeting. I would hope the same is true this year. So get your designs made and in to us. This person must also coordinate the design with he T-shirt coordinator. T-shirt coordinator: This person implements the T-shirt design with the T-shirt manufacturer in order to produce the T-shirts before the Gathering. They also solicit orders for various colors and sizes in order to prepare the order for the manufacturer. They also pay the manufacturer and collect monies for the T-shirts. The T-shirts have Allowed us to keep the GOC fee a "love offering" only so this is an extremely important function. This year, we should have enough to pay the manufacturer up front instead of putting it on someone's credit card like we did last year.

This workshop will utilize an Art Therapy technique known as the "House-Tree-Person" projective drawing technique. This assessment is utilized to elicit information about how an individual experiences their self in relation to others and to their home environment. It allows the participant to identify personality elements as well as areas of conflict, opening the participant to have more insight into themselves.
Kirsten is an Occupational Therapist working for the Moriarty Schools. She is also working towards a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UNM. She has two beautiful daughters. Kirsten has been following a path of spirituality and self- growth for several years.
Mark has been walking in the Earth Spirit places for the past 10 years. He holds a Ph.D. in the Integration of Psychology and Theology and is a Licensed Psychologist in Las Cruces, NM. He is a counselor and runs treatment programs for substance dependent people bringing to the circle twenty years of clinical experience. He has studied Jungian Psychology and psychological types.

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Gather with Wilma and discuss the aura, the chakras and different methods of balancing and healing these energy centers like Reki, Healing with Stones, Visualization, Yoga, Candles, Massage, etc. Also discuss Earth Religions like WICCA, maybe Druidism, whatever areas or paths you have studied. "Take what you like and leave the rest." What paths have gotton us to where we are? Wilma is from Odessa, Texas and has studied WICCA for seven years. Living tolerance and acceptance is very important to Wilma and believes sharing experiences helps manifests peace and teaches us empathy.

The Sacred Pipe in healing. Prayer and ceremony for the community. The "why" of the ceremonies. The Elders and their place in the Community. Healing and the sources of wisdom. Tradition and healing…...honoring the relationship between man and the land. Each topic will be a presentation followed by a discussion. Robert BlackWolf is a Native American of Lakota and Cree heritage. His education includes a BBA in Management form Georgia State University, MSEd in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Southern California, MPA in Public Administration from UTEP, and a PhD in Education from the California Western Reserve University. Additionally, Dr. BlackWolf is a traditional Sundancer for over 10 years, Gourd Dancer and teaches traditional ceremonies and customs.

Cliff will lead a "Shamanic Journey" to the "lower world" to find your "power animal". Your power animal is a "helper" to help you understand yourself through understanding the various traits and characteristics of your power animal. Cliff will use the powerful sound of the drum as a vehicle for your travels. Discussion will follow. Cliff is a computer consultant in Odessa, Texas and has led many Shamanic Journeys, sweat lodges, and gatherings.

A synopsis of Metaphysics that offers a deeper understanding, insight and appreciation of familiar and not so familiar topics. Learn keys to more effective meditation and pronunciation of mantras (vowel sounds) by group participation. Enhance the spiritual evolution and unfoldment of your thoughts and understanding of the circle, square and triangle thus revealing the value of ritual in our lives. Find how this understanding can assist in personal and business affairs when used with the Natural and Cosmic cycles of life. Learn simple but effective principles and exercises that will improve your conscious awareness of your inner soul personality and your attunement with It. Mr. St, John was raised Catholic, Jesuit educated and has been an active student in an authentic Mystery school for 30 years. Essays offered on a Love offering basis. Free guide and reference handout available.

Carol Dawn

Susan Murray

Carol and Susan will facilitate early morning activities with various forms of Yoga. Begin the day with physical stretching and Hatha yoga postures by Susan. Raja yoga meditation with Carol will follow. This combination provides an energy wake up and awakens higher levels of consciousness. The goal is to awaken the sleeping powers of self-realization into the Bliss of Samadhi. Carol Whitewater Dawn has taught on the Navajo Reservation at Navajo Community College in Tsaile, Arizona for the past nine years and is currently living in Odessa, Texas where she is working on a book. She has been studying medicine teachings for more than 25 years including Native American, Tantra Buddhism and Christian. Susan Murray lives and teaches in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has practiced yoga for many years. This is her third year teaching at her own private early elementary school.

Suzanne Greenwood

As a young person in the world today, you have an incredible opportunity to make positive change on the planet. These activities have been created to encourage the strengthening of your inner voice and personal power. You are the bright light of hope for us all. You are the future generations.

The meeting ceremony-During the ceremony we will pass the talking stick and have fun getting to know one another with a couple of activities. Come and meet all the other kids who are at the gathering.

Nature walk: There will be two nature walks. The first one will be to collect objects in nature that "speak" to you. Sometimes the shape of a stick or the lines in a rock have a personal message that on;y you can hear or see. You will spend time collecting these objects to use on your very own alter which you will discover during the second nature walk. What is an alter? Come and find out!

Sweat lodge: We will take a warm adventure into the sacred darkness of the sweat lodge. This is an ancient worldwide tradition used to send prayers and explore your human experience. Wear your swimsuit and bring a towel and water bottle.

Nature as art/Art as nature: this will be an activity that involves nature as expression. A variety of art materials will be available and you are welcome to bring your own things or art supplies.

This workshop will use two techniques, "The Cube" and "Shapes Preference", to help you find out more about yourself. "The Cube" is rumored to be a Sufi teaching technique that uses guided visualization, but that is all that can be revealed to you at this time. "The Shapes Preference" uses the five universal shapes found in all cultures' art to discover your current world view. Come to the workshop and experience these two techniques, then you will analyze the results.

Mike Andrews lived in Midland, TX for 13 years, then moved to NM three years ago. He has been living in Taos, NM for the last 1.5 years doing art full-time. Mike has been an engineer, radio disc-jockey, high school science teacher, and professional photographer, but, more importantly, has been learning to balance human doing and human being.

This 45-minute session will introduce you to the technique of Yoga Nidra, which employs guided mediation while lying on your back (no back pain from unsupported semi-Lotus postures!). This is an excellent technique for learning how to remain aware, alert, and profoundly relaxed at the same time. When this happens, consciousness can break free of the hypnotic domination of the five external senses (taste, touch, sight, sound, smell), resulting in a sense of well-being and increased positive energy flow into the physical and subtle bodies of the self. You should wear loose, comfortable clothing for this workshop and bring a blanket or towel to place under you during the meditation. You may also want to bring a light cloth to put over your eyes if the sun is bright during the workshop. Gary Rogers is a father of two boys, a computer software developer, dreamwork facilitator, and hypnotherapist. He has been interested in meditation and dream imagery since 1980 and has led groups in guided meditation and dreamwork for over 15 years.

This will be a workshop about touching and being touched. People of our society have so many issues about touching another person. This will be about being able to put your hands on another person and connecting with that person in a non-sexual way. Also, you will be receiving touch and energy from others in this fashion. It is an experience you will not want to miss. Carol is from Odessa, Texas and has been following the path since 1994. "I have been in circles of like minds for the past five years. It has opened many doors in my life. I am a Massage Therapist and this has been a true gift that I have received. It is a wonderful thing to be able to share myself with each person I am given to work on."