Crafting Sacred Ceremony Spaces with Intention & Ritual

Ready to turn a circle into a true ceremony? We open the door to what makes a space feel sacred by walking through the nuts and bolts that most people skip. From the first breath to the final closing, we share how intention, clear roles, and grounded presence transform a gathering into a container where people can release, receive, and remember who they are.

In this episode, we’ll explore: 

• Ceremony as cornerstone of practice and community
• Defining sacred containers
• Facilitator presence, grounding, and energetic check‑ins
• Talking sticks, time limits, and pacing
• Drum circles with intention not noise
• Balancing depth, play, and collective energy
• Trusting small groups, themes, and alignment
• Mentorship, collaboration, and elevating details
• The Art Of Creating Ceremony training logistics

We dive into practical tools: building an altar as a living offering, calling the directions or ancestors in a way that fits your lineage, and using a talking stick to balance voices. We break down facilitator skills you can practice today—reading the room, setting time boundaries with kindness, and choosing elemental focus to match the moment. Our candid stories reveal how the elements teach in real time, including a fire that roared two feet high indoors and a stubborn scrap of “fear” that refused to burn. These moments aren’t accidents; they’re messages. Learn to notice, reflect, and integrate the signs so participants leave lighter and clearer.

If you’ve felt the nudge to lead—whether you’re a Reiki practitioner, coach, yoga teacher, or community builder—we map the path from curiosity to confident spaceholding. We also unveil The Art of Creating Ceremony, our six‑week training that blends learning with live creation: moon circles, cacao, elemental rites, drum journeys, candle magic, and prosperity rituals. You’ll rotate into the facilitator seat, receive feedback, and leave with adaptable templates and the nervous‑system steadiness that makes every tool work.

Come for grounded guidance, stay for the stories, and leave with a blueprint you can apply to your next circle. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who’s ready to lead, and leave a review telling us: which element are you called to work with first?

Learn More and Join the Art of Creating Ceremony intensive here: https://moonrisinginstitute.circle.so/c/the-art-of-ceremony/

Moon Rising Shamanic Institute Links:
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Book a session with Christine: https://calendly.com/christinerenee/90-minutes-intensive

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Transcript

Welcome And Why Ceremony Matters

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Wisdom Rising, the podcast of Moon Rising Shamanic Institute. Join shamanic Reiki practitioners Christine Rene and Chantel Ochoa as we dance between worlds of shamanism, mysticism, and energy healing. Each week we illuminate your path to self-sourced wisdom and attune you to the whispers of wisdom rising from within. So welcome, welcome back to our Whispers of Wisdom. We've got a bonus episode going on this week because Chantel and I were super excited about this topic of creating ceremonial spaces. So if you've been following along on the podcast, if you've been following along live in our Facebook group, we have been talking a lot about sacred space and how to hold space. And I love this element of how do you create the sacred container? How do you show up for ceremony? And I'm really excited that Chantelle is with us because I feel like she is the queen bee of ceremonies because you're doing them all the time. You are constantly creating ceremony. So tell me a little bit about how ceremony is part of your regular practice. I just kind of want the our listeners to hear how how impactful it is in your in your normal Reiki practice.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

So ceremony literally is like the cornerstone of my practice. Anything that can be created into a ceremony that an altar can come out of, I feel like we do that. That's what I do. So um, of course, I do all like the moon ceremonies, and we do, we've done cacao, we do women's groups, we do like just monthly um coming together in community. And so I really that's where I think all of our insights come from. Like I was saying before when we started, was we get to mirror each other in ceremony. You get to come and do like your inner work and really connect with each other and recognize like you're going through this, I'm going through this, but also where are the insights, right? So that's a it's the opportunity to bring in teachings to help people to raise their conscious awareness to release, to let go, to grow, to evolve. And um, so ceremony is an amazing place to be able to do that kind of work.

Defining Sacred Containers And Community

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Yeah. And it just seems like every time I see you doing something, it's very much weaved into it. And so many different types and so many different styles. And I started trying to get back into in-person stuff, you know, a year and a half ago, maybe two years ago. I'm like, yes, I'm missing community. I'll I'll go do some things. And so I've done a lot of cacao ceremonies, I've done lots of women's circles, and I love creating that that space for us to be held in, because that's what it feels like. It feels like you can you're by the ritual, the creation, the welcoming into the space, opening the ceremony, creating whatever the container is for the space. And then how do we close space? It's like this cozy nest you're walking into and getting to snuggle down into. And um, I know that that, like, since you're doing so many in-person events, I I love reflecting back on like, how's that working for you? And and like reflecting back on like, well, these are the things that I really enjoy about how I'm doing it. And so I'm really excited to come together and kind of like share these whispers of wisdom that we have. Um, because I think it's so there's so many of our listeners who are practitioners, who are um facilitators of some kind or want to be stepping into that space. It's like, well, let's let's have that conversation.

Facilitator Presence And Holding Energy

SPEAKER_02 3:59

Yeah. Um, so definitely with a ceremony, like I said, it's it's it is holding space. So one of my things that I do with it is is I wait until so I might have like an idea. There's a seed that has been planted, and then I kind of just wait for the downloads to come. I wait for the inspiration to show up. And so the most recent one that I did was um a drum circle. And I love that because it was not only to teach them, but also to let them like go and free play and find their own medicine and their own sounds and their own drum beat within, right? So you're connecting to the earth, but at the same time, they're able to drum away the things that they are holding on to, and that vibration can break it free for them, right? So then they come together, there's laughter, there's lightness, and so whatever's going out, going on out in the world or going on in their inner world, they can come together and just and release it. And then I get to hold that container to say, okay, now let's shift this way, let's move it that way, let's look at this kind of this piece of it. And so the facilitator plays a big part on the energy of the ceremony and how it unfolds and what really does what gets produced in it.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

So true. Like, I have been to some shamanic drum circles where I'm like, this is amazing. They're really holding space for an emotional arising and release and letting it go. And then I've been to some shamanic drum circles that have just been chaotic. And the facilitator really didn't start off in a ceremonial way. Like it didn't, they didn't create the container. It's just like, everyone grab a drum and now we're beating up this rhythm. And I'm like, wait, well, wait, aren't we, aren't we missing something here? And it's so often that's there's there's pieces of it. Like, how do we set the stage? How do we hold the container? And I and you know, I've just been um, I've just had experiences time and time again where I'm like, wow, they really missed their marks. Like right. And I and I and I find this, and I I think I I talked to one of our our students, one of my clients yesterday, and she had been to a ceremony and she was like, they didn't do this and they didn't do this, and now I'm all angry because they didn't do it right. And I'm like, we need to take that passion, we need to take that anger, and we need to take that rage and go, well, how do I want to do it? How do you want to do it? How could you find that space of, well, if they didn't, if they missed the mark for you and you want to be offering ceremony, if you want to be doing it for yourself, then go create it. Like, let's learn the ways of going, like, okay, just because there's facilitators that are meeting a certain certain subset of their community and they like what they're doing, doesn't mean you have to do it their way. It's like you can create and make it your own and you can up level it. And um, it's almost like being drenched in spirituality. If that's what you're looking for, if that's what that is what I'm looking for, that is what I want, that is what I need. And I just want to feel like every part is like in this ooey gooey yumminess of connection to the earth, connection to the divine, and connection to each other. And so, how do we create spaces that you really feel held in by all of the energies that are called forth?

Drum Circles: Intention Over Chaos

SPEAKER_02 7:37

Yeah. Uh well, ceremony is very intentional, right? So it's not just what you want your outcome to be, but it is all the different layers of it. So calling in our directions, um, calling in our like our ancestors and and and our like those who create that energetic space for us in the spiritual realm, right? So, whatever that is, because there's different ways of calling in direction. So I don't want to be like, there's just one way. No, there's so many different ways. But when you call in that energy for protection, you call in that energy of sacredness, people, one, they feel that instantly. They're like, oh, we're doing something, we're doing something big here, right? Having an altar of some level of or degree, um, whether it's a candle, whether it's a big altar, it can just be some, you know, feathers or flowers or whatever, but you're creating an offering, right? So the altar becomes the offering. And I find that too pulls people in. They start to see the visuals, they hear what's going on, and then they they're like, okay, we're coming into a sacredness, we're coming into a space where I'm gonna do some work. And I think that's what it does. You have a talking stick, right? So then everyone has time to talk and share, but no one person gets to overpower the the whole sacred energy or the the conversation, because if they don't have the talking stick, then it's like kind of not your turn, right? So I like to do things like that. I open up the circle with um typically the person that is starting over on my left, and then they have their talking stick, they introduce themselves, or some kind of check-in, right? And then that goes around the table, and then we we start to share and the ceremony begins, but there's always going to be a check-in point somewhere. How are we all feeling? How is this landing for you? What are you getting? What's your aha moments? And it's not even so much those words, right? But it is just a check-in with your group because you want everyone to be in aligned. Yeah. And you don't want anyone to feel like they're left out, they're not being heard, not being seen, or even if this is new for them and they're like feeling really overwhelmed because they've never sat in ceremony, right? So it really is tuning into your own energetic um energies of saying, How is everyone feeling right now? So do a verbal check-in, but also do an energetic check-in.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Well, and I love that because even as the facilitator, you're energetically checking in with them while they're speaking. You can feel their energy. Are they super excited? Do they actually need to be brought down in groundedness? Are they super shy? And they're going to be the quiet one in the group. Like there's you can really start to feel the energy when people start talking. So I'm also a huge advocate of when we open circle, we do a check-in. And my favorite way to do check-ins these days is what I call a rose share. So this is where the invitation is to share your thorn, your bud, and your bloom. So the thorn is that piece of this is my struggle. This is my challenge in my life going on right now. This is my bud, which is the thing that's coming to fruition. It's budding, it's like just about to like get good. And then there's your blossom, which is your celebration, the win in your life, right? And so you can have this round table of honoring all of our aspects, right? Not the just the celebratory pieces, but like all of us. And so it's this is my favorite way, but those can run long. So it's kind of depends on what type of circle we're holding. So in my women's circle, this is a big part of the intention, is to do these check-ins. Like we might take 20 minutes just for our check-in because that is part of the purpose of the ceremony in and of itself, is to feel connected in a group of women. And so it's it's it's this beautiful touch point so everyone can be witnessed and heard, right?

Altars, Directions, And Talking Sticks

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Yeah, because I think really people we have a purging point, right? Everyone has something they want to share because everybody's going through something, right? And so it is really important to have that. Um, and it doesn't have to be long. Some that maybe that is the foundation of it is to be have that 20 minutes to be able to let it all out, give, you know, give the circle what you have. But at the same time, you maybe only have a minute or two. So we can limit it to, hey, we're just gonna pick one word, we're just gonna create one word, one sentence, you know, and and that's okay too. It really is what is your time frame? And then what is the intention intention for the group? Exactly. That helps lead them and guide them, it gives them like the boundaries, so to speak.

SPEAKER_01 12:25

And that's the facilitator's responsibility. It really truly is. So that if you're holding space, it you have to be the timekeeper. Like I have been in and cacao ceremonies where there is 30 people and everyone is going around the circle and they're supposed to, and when the facilitator doesn't say this should be 30 to 60 seconds, you'll have someone there talking for over five minutes. And it's like, well, they just took the group's time when that wasn't the full intention of the space. So you have to, as a facilitator, as a spaceholder, we have to really watch how we facilitate to make sure that full intention of the activity is being able to be held, right? So sometimes it's going to be shorter intentions or shorter speaking of um your share, your connection, the beginning. Um, and sometimes it's very much, it can be very much related to the topic, right? So if you're doing um a let's say a drum circle, and it's like, what are you coming here to release today? And everyone going around the circle, and it's like they can share specifically on that thing, right? And so that can that in a way focuses the attention on where you want it to go.

SPEAKER_02 13:49

Yeah. And when you are like working with drums, let's say you're also working with the elements. So if you're drumming to the earth or you're drumming to fire, water, you know, air, what can what intention can be completely connected to what your focus is on, right? So it is, it's it all weaves and all is a thread together. So a ceremony only feels like it's chaos when there's no direction. But when you have direction, then it feels like everything's in flow, right? And the the best part about being a facilitator, I think to watch a facilitator that can even make chaos feel like it's in flow. Yes. And that's an important skill to have is to be able to take a chaotic situation and make it feel even and make it feel like it's it's all good. We got this, right? And it's okay because everyone then feels calm, relaxed, and it's not a chaotic experience.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Exactly. And I think that is where some serious magic comes in, is because the facilitator has done, they've done the work to really understand what the energy is coming forward in that chaotic moment, and how do we bring that energy? And it's like a keto, you know, you're moving with that energy that they're bringing forward and going, how do I want to play with this? How does it need to, does it need to go into a grounding thing? Does it need to be lifted up? Like, how can we energetically move it so that they're feeling honored and and that they're being heard and witnessed, and also shift it so that we can get back to the intention of what this the space is being held for.

SPEAKER_02 15:30

Yeah, yeah. And that that is like it is so key to the success of your ceremonies. And you know, not only that, but that you feel successful because there is nothing worse than being in the hot spot and you feel like you're not making it happen, right? And so this does come with some practice and everything, but really it is up to the the um practitioner or the facilitator to also ground before they even step into it, right? So we have to come in grounded and ready to do the work and receiving whatever energies that we're meant to receive, it's important for us to do it, even if we're like racing against the clock, right? But we still are in control of what how we're showing up in our own energy. Do we walk in all, oh my gosh, it's so late. I'm so late. No, you still walk in like you know what's going on, you know. And so it really is important for the facilitator to be grounded, to be connected, to understand their role. And and if you've got that piece, that's the biggest piece of the puzzle. If you got that part, everything else will happen for you.

Check‑Ins, Timekeeping, And Boundaries

SPEAKER_01 16:38

I was at a retreat a couple of weeks ago, and that was probably one of my most triggering aspects of the retreat is that they would end one short workshop and be like, now we have to hurry and we've got to move quickly. And it was this like rush from one thing to the next without any kind of integration. And I'm just like, holy moly, you guys. Um like your that that energy, that energy of of um, it felt like they were bringing the chaos, right? Instead of a grounded, solid, spiritual holding space. Because there are so many ways of to be a facilitator and know that you have to go from one one point to win the next point in so much time and still do it in such a space-holding way. Like there's a at the cause, there's an art to that of going, all right, we're all gonna take a breath together. We're gonna look around and see how we can support one another to transform the space magically into this next phase. Who can help? Right. Like go to the bathroom if you need to, get your journals, get organized, and we're all gonna support the space and its transformation. And it would have been completely different energy, right? And so it's it's so amazing how the energy of facilitators can really make or break a retreat, a workshop. And it's not to, I'm not saying that to scare people because I think we all have a learning curve of how to do this. I think we should all be trying to be in our full energy of ourselves, but I think it's so true. What energy are we coming in with? Like, have you gotten there early enough to ground, to breathe, to do your own practice, to connect with the divine, to connect with the earth, to connect to your higher source, to connect to your soul space? Like, are you fully present so that you're solid? Your energy is is the is a calling in of I can be a rock solid spaceholder for whoever is in the space with me. And I think that is so important.

SPEAKER_02 18:45

It is, it is because like I said, if nothing, if nobody else even notices it, you notice it. And then you feel like all shaky in the moment. And I've been there, I've done that, you know, where I was rushing through traffic and or whatever, and I wasn't on like on the timeline that I wanted. And then for me, then having to breathe through it, but you know what ends up helping you are the little rituals that you do. So you can show up to your ceremony table and be like, okay, I'm here. And now we're gonna bring in the breath, we're gonna burn something, we're going to drum or we're gonna rattle, we're gonna do something that literally grounds you in the moment. And so instead of just running right into the ceremony part of it, no, now we're gonna do some things that are gonna help us to connect, to embody our physical self, to let the thoughts and all the chaos go. And so it there really are steps to this, to your practice, but it's your rituals that really show up for you.

SPEAKER_01 19:47

Right, exactly. And it and I love how we were recently on a call and you're over here smudging, and I'm over here ready doing breath work, and I'm like, and this is how it can show up unique to individuals of like what's gonna help you come into alignment. Okay, I've got a question for you, Chantel, because I've never heard of this before, and I hear that you're facilitating them, and I gotta know what it is. You ready? Okay, yeah, sand bath rebirth ceremonies. What are you doing?

Reading The Room And Elemental Focus

SPEAKER_02 20:21

That's funny that you even ask about that one. That is one I'm actually learning about right now, but it really is about connecting with the element of earth and how are you bringing yourself into it? How do you become one with the earth? So there are different elements to bringing that forward, but um yeah, that's actually it's just a way of us rebirthing ourselves through the earth's energy.

SPEAKER_01 20:47

So, what I mean by we going down to the beach and like getting buried in the sand, like walk me through this a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 20:53

No, you're not, because not everyone is near the near the beach, but there are different elements that you can bring in. You can bring in dirt, you can get sand, you can work with those elements of it and bringing it to your altar, to your table, right? But even if you're taking on the meditation aspect of that, that is also just as powerful. So if you don't have the the beach to go to, it's not right there with you. Um, yeah, there's a lot to it. But that's also there's some some um hidden aspects to that because it's a part of a ceremony that when you're going through it, you want to have some parts that you don't know.

SPEAKER_01 21:29

Okay, so you I have to go experience this sometime to know all of the elements. Is that what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 21:34

Yeah, sounds like you're gonna have to come to the ceremony itself.

SPEAKER_01 21:38

Yeah, sounds good. Or we can do a retreat together and then you can lead the ceremony so I can be a part of it. Okay. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 21:44

Sounds good.

SPEAKER_01 21:45

Yeah, and I think that that is um one of the things I like about what you bring forward is this elemental pieces to your ceremonial work. So this might be a very earthy ceremony. And then I know that you have other elements for different ceremonies. Like I know I do fire.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

ceremonies and I know you do fire ceremonies and I think what's your favorite what's your favorite element to work with in ceremony it is fire yeah yeah definitely um it makes me sad when I can't when people are like oh wait we can't burn or we can't I'm like really I don't know it's just something in me that um from day one when I started doing this work it just has always called to me I love bonfires I love the fire just in general um it is one of my favorite elements but the ocean you know water any of them they're just so powerful and I think as long as we're connecting with them and we're using their medicine to help clear us it just it helps clear everything around us so it's just the intention and what we work with them. What about you and what's yours?

SPEAKER_01 22:52

You know I'm I'm very tempted to say fire too. And I think one of my craziest ceremonialist things that has happened was with fire. And so I'm gonna share my story and then I want to know what your craziest ceremonialist thing had that has happened for you. So I'm doing a New Year's fire ceremony to release the previous year. And so we were in ceremony everyone's got their piece of paper they're coming to the altar to burn it in the in the fire and the fire is only like two inches high you know it's a small fire in a cast iron pan because this is indoors and it's the middle of winter, right? And so everyone's taking their turn and it it's just you know spurts of flames it's going up maybe an inch or two. Well I had a very new person to energy work there and they came forward and they placed their their piece of paper in the fire and the fire grew and it grew and it grew some more until it was about two to three feet tall and we had sprinklers over this fire and I'm like oh my God this has got to settle down and it just is it's intense and the and I'm holding space for this guy and like we're burning it away. We're letting it all go just let like let the fire take all of it and it's just getting bigger and it's now I'm holding space for for it's been about 10 minutes and the fire is not going down. And so I go so at some point because I'm really worried we're gonna set the sprinklers off that's going to be not a good thing. It's like just know that everything that you're ready to give to the fire it's in process it's happening and I'm gonna invite you to slowly back away. And so he started backing away and the flames did settle down and and then the next person came up it's a couple inches you know it really was his energy that he was really ready to do this work and he was really ready to transform it. And I think that is the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in ceremony.

Grounding Rituals For Leaders

SPEAKER_02 24:58

I feel like um that is a great way for people to realize that it's real work. It is right a lot of times people are like oh my gosh you're just you know you're you're burning a piece of paper with some words on no you're not you're truly there is a true intention with that you're connecting with that element and it's your energy that is going to help it grow or not right so that was big medicine for him to be able to burn it and release it like that. Exactly that's crazy. Yeah I had I have a couple actually but I was at um at my house and I was having a ceremony and we had one of those like Mexican um kind of like a terracotta like um jar chimney. Yeah it's like a little chimney okay and um like a little fireplace man that thing was blowing out the front it was blowing out the top and I have a lot of concrete in my backyard and rock and we had to literally go search for dirt to go and put the fire out because it was so huge and we were all just watching it and it it was safe in a in a sense but it could have gotten pretty crazy but I was like my gosh look at us look if we're burning away and once we had the dirt on it it was done. But um I was at a ceremony and I wrote on um I wrote down what I was releasing and one of the things I had on there was fear and this was really funny because I had fear on my paper and then you go we have a where I'm at we have a big 1800 century um cauldron and so we just put a candle in there and that's what you burn it onto and so I burned my paper did my announcement this is what I'm releasing I burn it and as I'm watching it burn the word fear got stuck to the side of the candle and would not burn and I had to reach in there. I'm like no you are burning away that fear wanted to get stuck it was like and so I really like in myself I'm like was I ready to release fear like why was it so difficult?

Sand Bath Rebirth And Earth Work

SPEAKER_01 26:59

Like that it was so resistant to burning right and so is that my stubbornness to releasing it and what was a symbology of that well you know that's one of my favorite things about the fire ceremonies is like noticing how whose paper instantly bursts into flames and is gone and the other ones that is like a slow burn and they're really there's resistance there and I'm and to reflect that back onto your participants of like notice how does your papers burn and what does that tell you about where you are in releasing this like I think there's so much medicine and those small little reflections right yeah kind of like your money bowl when she was when you burned it and it was like the whole thing was gone. It was like oh well that money bowl almost burnt my house down like I really was like it's a small little candle like how bad can this be and I just so I let it burn overnight and it burnt everything. I was like oh my god okay okay I hear you spirit divine soul voice right but and I think that's why I love doing these things right because there's so much medicine that can come out of the intention of what we're putting forward and so ritual ceremonies can be the space of creation with spirit and the spirit is going to come through it yeah and if you're open to what the messages are symbolic through symbology and everything the messages are powerful and they will stick with you and it works and you feel lighter and you feel like oh my gosh that was so heavy and I finally was able to release it. Yeah yeah and I love doing them I honestly do like I I tend to like I'm remembering a ceremony I did for one of my spiritual societies like free potlucks and when I go into ceremony it's almost like I am in a trance like state like I am I am embodying the priestess I am bodying the shaman and when I do the four directions like I'm not looking at a piece of paper. I am fully in it I'm totally in a trance and I'm going into the next phase and I'm like I have no idea what time it is like oftentimes when I'm in ceremony I need to delegate who my timekeeper is because when I'm in meditation I have no idea how long I'm going because I'm so energetically in it but that feels so good. It feels like I feels like I am in in unison or one with the divine and like what is coming out of my mouth is coming through some higher source, right? And so when you're in this co-collaborative space it's like it feels amazing. It feels so amazing you know you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing in your life like you feel like I feel so alive in it.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

Yeah it it really is and that's why this is such an invitation to people for people to step into their own facilitator right into their role like if you feel that calling there is that go and build it create it right anybody can do this as you just learn to within yourself to be that spacekeeper that spaceholder and when you do that you really can sit and facilitate amazing amazing ceremonies because everybody has something to offer it's just being that grounded person. It's being able to hold the space that you know for a collective of people that feel you know there's chaos or you know whatever their world is happening. And there are others you will see in the circle who are also keeping that holding space with you that are those container holders right so we have those two that show up for us. So it's not like it's all on you but at the same time you can really look out into your into your circle and go, oh yeah I see you I see you you're here and you're we're partners we're aligned you know and that's amazing yeah oh it feels so collaboration is amazing.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

It is like and I think that's it it's like you're not only collaborating with the vine you're like the universe has brought these specific people into your space. Yes right and I think there's magic in that and so I don't get too fouled up with oh man I only got two people in my ceremony or the only there's six people that's pretty good. Like I don't judge it. Like cool if I have 20 people awesome it was meant for those 20 people if I have two it was meant for those two people and the exact way that it needs to come forward. So I I have a lot of clients who are afraid of low numbers and I'm like well do it anyway just do it anyway like those two people can then go tell five friends and then your next one it's got to grow somehow right and so it's like don't don't don't be hard on yourself if you're having small ceremonies like it's no not at all because they are also co-creating what they need.

Fire Ceremonies And Big Energy Stories

SPEAKER_02 32:14

Exactly not everybody is comfortable in big groups of people some people only want a couple people and then they put that energy forward and that's you know so I am in a true belief of um in alignment right and so like I have I host um every month a Zoom Reiki share and so to my students everything. So I do it in person once a month and Zoom once a month. And this month I had um two people and usually I'll have like 10 or whatever you know but I had two people that came and they were both level ones. And I've been working and playing with the idea of just hosting a Zoom for level ones and also a Zoom for twos and then a um collaboration of all of them because I think I feel that ones we can teach deeper, right? Like if I'm just working with level ones like let's work on what level one is all about and let's focus on level twos, right? So anyways one of the ladies goes oh there's just two of us and I said that's okay it's all in alignment and and she goes well then what will we do? Because it was her first time and I said well we're gonna work on level one things. Well then a third person showed up a little bit late and she was a level one too and I was like right there. And so we ended up doing our own Reiki thing. We did an egg cleanse we did chakra spinning we did so many things that you know we went back to the manual what is it in level one I want you to Reiki your water. We've worked on our waters we did some energy healing in our home and that's all the stuff for level one. So in the end it was like it was in a perfect alignment because they were all new they've never been to um any of the shares before and they're all level ones and I was like and that's how it works. So don't have the fear of there's not enough because they're yeah it's all in flow.

SPEAKER_01 33:55

It's all happening the way it's meant to yeah and I always find it um interesting too when there's like a theme everyone's an ex-Catholic everyone is was a an alcohol like they're they're working through alcoholism and they're an AA like I always find it so interesting of like what's the common theme of this group and what are we working on? You know because it happens all the time and it's like okay I see what's going on here. I'm so I'm so blessed to be able to hold space for this group and their needs and whatever that dynamic is so it's it's recognizing you're in service to a higher source. And when you're in service the universe the creator is going to create the dynamics that's going to best serve those people and if you can believe that and trust it everything is going to be so much easier.

SPEAKER_02 34:50

Yeah it is and next month you'll have a bigger group and then it'll grow there's always a fluctuation there always is right it's just open who can come comes who can't can't but it it's that alignment that pool because the worst thing is you don't want people to run around with FOMO you know where there's like this fear of missing out no you're not you are where you need to be at the same time if you come to ceremony you're meant to be here and if you're not you're meant to be where you're at so it's helping to also eliminate those things like you are exactly where you need to be in the moment right and and it's a great place to be because I can I've struggled with that I'm always like I want to be there I want and I'm like no and it's funny because I was asking my husband a couple weeks ago because there was an event going on that I wanted to go to and I wasn't there and I asked him like you ever get FOMO and he's like what's that and I told him and he goes no he goes why would I have why would I be feeling like I'm missing out on something when I'm living in my moment right now I was like he's on it like I know your husband always looking like gosh never mind like he couldn't even relate to what I was saying and I was like you know what I'll I'll take that oh yeah it's all good it's no good good wise point love it yeah yeah for sure for sure so I would love to know is in your cultivation of a new ceremony how does that work for you like I like I know that like we have a lot of people who are listening who have a lot of different types of backgrounds and it's kind of like how do you listen and go yes this is how I want to do it I just do I surrender to it. I just learned to to fill into my intuition so like I said earlier if there's a plant that's or a seed that's planted I fill into that and then you know when the date comes I put it on the calendar okay now we're gonna work on this and you literally like every new moon because I do new moon every new moon I just wait for the day and the day tells me what I need there's gonna be some spark of inspiration either in my morning meditation or something I listen to. It could just literally be a word and I'm like oh and that's it and I just feel it it like I don't know it just runs through me and I feel that and I just create something based off of that idea. And um I think that's when you know that you're really in flow with where you're at within yourself, right? And and we all have that we all have it some do big scale and others do smaller scale and it's all good. Yeah right but it's it's listening to your inner voice for sure.

SPEAKER_01 37:41

Well you know it's it's interesting because sometimes I'll get the hit I'll get the download and then I'm like really you want me to do this oh you want me to do this oh okay and then I'm I sit with it for a while like sometimes I act right away but sometimes it comes in edgy because it's hitting up against my own healing that I'm needing do you ever notice that like oh I'm doing the ceremony partly because I need it too yes yeah yes so I've got and that's a big part of it too what are we working on?

SPEAKER_02 38:12

Yeah because we're a part of the group we're a part of the circle even though you're the facilitator or whatever you're still receiving you're still releasing you're still doing the work right along with everyone else there is no hierarchy of person. It's just someone's got to show up and do do the facilitation so that others can come. So if it's you then give thanks to the messages you receive but also engage partake in it. Totally when it's time to share share yeah don't just bypass yourself because you're giving time for everyone else no we need to share too we need to release we need to call in we need to bring it for ourselves I think there's a sweetness to that when the facilitator there's a balance there like I can hold space but I can also do the work that everyone else is doing.

Interpreting Signs And Symbolic Messages

SPEAKER_01 38:59

And there's and I love that because I do feel like a lot of times I create the thing that I need and so like right now the the download that that was has been coming in through for months like all of these details for this two hour ceremony it's all on how do you mix energetic cord cutting with body image like body image um programming that we've received throughout our lifetimes and how do we energetically like make something that we can cut off share with the group and like burn it and so it's and then how do we receive new messaging and new reprogramming and so it's like wow okay we can do that we can definitely do that. And I think there's when you have especially when you start having regulars there's a trust in the group that that you being a part of it is to be special right that you they're able to hold space for you as well this doesn't mean the facilitator is breaking down and going into a big trigger or trauma it just means that they have also the capacity to hold within them both both aspects.

SPEAKER_02 40:12

Yes yes because part of being the facilitator too and I will talk on this for a second is that you don't want to be triggered by what your group is also sharing. Exactly right that's why we do the work to be able to before we become a facilitator is because we don't want to be triggered but if that does happen we're human shit happens if that happens you you gotta you know you got to put that on the table for a minute like you got to put that aside recognize it in the moment do your inner work but then later take care of that go what was that all about within yourself right um but it also it lets people see that you're human that you too go through things because I think a lot of times when there's the facilitator a lot of people think well they don't have anything they you know no we're still going through stuff but really if you knew my whole life you'd go wow yeah she's she has gone through a lot of stuff you know what I mean well I think so it's just I've also done a lot of healing.

SPEAKER_01 41:12

Yeah right and I think there's there's all like healers come to this type of work because of their wounds. You know exactly we have so much empathy for everyone's rigors and trauma because we've been there. We've done that right and so I think that there's something to the wounded healer like that is an archetype for a reason because it's so commonplace. And so it's like what types of spaces do you enter into like there are really um deep dive ceremonial work and then there are some that are much lighter weight you know like you can have a very playful ceremony around like let's say inner child work and we're not going to get into the inner child trauma. We're just going to create art like we would as a kid and like scribble on piece of papers and blow bubbles and hula hoop and that could be part of the ceremony and we're not actually getting into the trauma side of it. So you are recognizing what am I available for what how how deep do I want to bring this group and how am I marketing that how am I telling people what level this kind of experience will be yeah having the fun and play aspect is really really important.

SPEAKER_02 42:24

Nobody wants to go to a stuffy ceremony all the time you know serious all the time we have to break it up right especially if you're doing monthly right you have to be able to break it up and that's where I think I feel like tuning into the collective energy of who's coming right you're tuning into that you're tuning into like the big energy and then the micro energy of your group that's that's showing up you want to feel into that because then you know you know what today is a day for fun and play. Today is a day for silence. Today is a day for introspection today is a day for yelling and screaming you know what does the energy feel like that's coming forward and I think that's what I tune into and I can go now I can build a ceremony based off of that because there's times I'll just put out a bunch of yoga mats and I tell them I'll put a thing up come in silence find a spot and then they go and there's going to be a deck of cards there's gonna be maybe maybe you're just on a mat meditating there's gonna be music there's different things but they all are doing that inner work right well and then we come and share.

SPEAKER_01 43:30

And you've created the culture that everyone who shows up trusts you yes right there's that is important. That is so like right like some people who would just come and see like this little form of like just coming in silence they don't know what they're getting into. You know like there's a part of you have built a reputation so even if a friend of a friend was like yeah you got to check out Chantel stuff you have this level of trust within your community of going it could be fun it can be playful it can be deep and she She's gonna know how to read the energy of the room and bring it.

SPEAKER_00 44:06

That's pretty cool. Yeah, I think that's what you do for sure.

Trance States And Delegating Roles

SPEAKER_02 44:11

Uh-huh. You know, and it's it is a trip because, you know, I I look at, but I've I've had a lot of really good mentors too. And I think that's what's important too. Who have we learned with? Who have we partnered with, right? Like we have worked together and lots of ceremony. And it's amazing when we can do that. And it's like, whether it's here, whether it's in person, right? So I feel like we bring forward to the right people that we need to learn from, or they need to learn from us, but it is that energetic um just exchange with each other. Like, what do you have and what do I have? Right. And you bring it to the table, and it's just like, oh, that worked. And that was amazing. And that was amazing, you know, and it's all the elements of it. You know, last year we did a women's group, uh cacao ceremony, and it was down to the gold plates. We had gold candles and gold plates, and you know, and it was just the little bit of details that make a huge difference, right? That we're bringing up, we're elevating just that energy just by the things that we're putting out.

SPEAKER_01 45:17

Absolutely. Absolutely. And so I love this segue of like needing mentors, needing teachers, needing people to kind of help you cultivate the energy of what do I want to be as a facilitator? How do I want to be like step into the role of a ceremonialist? What will that look like? What do I need to pay attention to? And what can I let go of? And so Chantel is creating our second, our second part of our facilitator training three-part series called The Art of Creating Ceremony. And this is a once again, another six-week training intensive, but this time an embodied ritual. And so she's gonna be your primary facilitator and spaceholder and mentor for this six-week program. I'm gonna be her backup support person. And I'm really excited with what you have already put together and created for this master class that's starting on March 22nd.

SPEAKER_02 46:17

Yeah, I know it's coming up so fast, and I'm so excited for it. Um, so we will go through multiple, most some of the most popular um ceremonies right now with um doing the moon ceremonies, cacao ceremony, elemental ceremony, um, shamanic drum circles, candle rituals. So these are just a few. We're gonna go through money bowls and prosperity rituals and stuff like that. But the part that I really find exciting is one day a week we're gonna come together and learn. And a second day a week is we're gonna come and we're going to actually create the um the ritual itself, right? So one of the things is you will come and you will also participate and become the facilitator, but then the class itself is going to perform it as well. So I love that. I love that we're gonna do candle work together, that we are gonna be, you know, working with each of the elements or we're gonna be drumming or whatever. So it's very interactive. And at the same time, you get to step in that facilitator role and teach us too.

Stepping Into Leadership Despite Low Numbers

SPEAKER_01 47:23

Yeah, I love it. It's gonna be so yummy, and I'm really excited for you to be creating this one. And um, I yeah, it's just gonna be so good. So, yes, two calls a week. They're gonna be on Sundays and Tuesdays, they're gonna be in the evenings, you're going to have six weeks. And since I just completed The Art of Holding Space, our first one in the series, um, I can tell you it is an intensive, it is a deep dive. The container is held really well because there are times for practice, there's times to ask questions. And even between the calls, there's conversations being had and practices that you're collaborating on. So let's say you want to be like, I've never co-facilitated a ceremony before. I want to collaborate with someone else in the class to do it together. Like, how cool would that be? Right. So there is some flexibility and like challenging you. So I would often be in class and go, okay, notice which of the things that we've learned so far are easy and which one feel more of a challenge to lean into where are you at today and if you're available to practice the things that are a little bit more challenging and how is that going to serve you? Because we have a tight, small six-week container to do this work. Let's take advantage of it. And so this is another opportunity to go. I've got tools in my tool belt. Maybe you're a Reiki practitioner, maybe you're a coach, maybe you are an EFT practitioner or whatever it is, whatever certification you already have, a yoga teacher, whatever it may be. And you're like, I want to learn how to take my craft and create more ceremony. And so, regardless of what your spiritual background is, you can come into this if you're ready to start holding space for other people. And I'm really excited that it is kind of an open door invitation of like, if you are ready to facilitate, if you're ready to hold ceremony, how can you take this to invite that um leadership role within yourself to hold space for others because the world needs you right now?

SPEAKER_02 49:30

Yeah, yeah. It is. It's just stepping up and being the leader of your community, right? And that's what I really love. It's not like we're only focused on one group or one niche. We're like, no, it's open to everyone because we all have something to offer, right? You already have a community wherever you are, you already have a community of people. So if we want to step up into this kind of leadership or be more into a ceremony, because like I said, it's ceremony is a very much, it's like letting that medicine, that medicine woman come out of you, the medicine man come out of you, right? It's a remembering of self as well. And so if you are feeling like, yes, I do want to do this, this is a great place to start. And you're gonna walk away with great tools and you're gonna know like this is how you do it, and this is how to read a candle, and this is how to work with all of this, you know, information. And um, I'm excited to be on this journey with everyone.

SPEAKER_01 50:27

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. So we'll put the link in the show notes. Once again, it starts March 22nd. If you have questions, feel free to reach out directly to Chantel or myself. And I'm happy to send more information out there. But yeah, Chantel is gonna be the primary mentor, facilitator for this, and I'm really excited. It's gonna be so yummy. So if you have any questions, reach out. And until next time, thanks everyone for listening. Thanks for tuning in to today's show, the Wisdom Rising Podcast is sponsored by Moonrising Shamanic Institute. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting app and be the first to know when we release a new episode. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Moonrising Institute, or visit our website, Moonrising Institute.com. Once again, thanks for sharing space with us today. And until next time, may you awaken to the whispers of wisdom rising from within.