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www.shamansociety.org 5 U K C O N F E R E N C E Dancing with the Four Directions by Martha Lucier SSP Board Member It was a pleasure to attend the seventh annual SSP UK Shamanic Conference in Dorset England September 5-8th. The conference theme was Dancing with the Four Directions and was held at Gaunts House an 18th century mansion set on 2000 acres of beautiful Dorset countryside. We arrived to a warm greeting with plenty of time to be with the land ancestors and nature spirits on the sunny fall day before the opening ceremony. Gathering in the Theatre we chose a red yellow black or white piece of yarn symbol- izing each of the directions. We offered our prayers con- necting the yarn pieces to make a large Medicine Wheel. While maintaining our connection to this wheel we journeyed as one out to the sacred fire that was waiting. Prayers of gratitude were offered to the fire the heart flame of our gathering which was kept fed throughout the weekend. Beyond the fire was a conical structure built of sticks and tree limbs where prayers were offered to the spirit of air with milk. An invitation was offered to make prayers each day to the wind by tying a prayer flag onto the altar. We proceeded to an ancient oak tree where a pool of water surrounded by candlelight was nestled up close to an opening like a womb. As daylight faded we each added water from our home to the pool like many rivers flowing into the ocean of- fering gratitude for the waters of life that sustain us. In the darkness we came to a standing log where the faces of many nature spirits peered out at us. Offerings of flowers leaves seeds and fruit within the logs many nooks and crevices brought the Spirit of the log alive with beauty. Here we offered prayers of gratitude to the Earth contributing a rock from our home to the altar connecting the lands we each came from and our hearts. Each day was like a beautiful feast of workshop offerings exploring the many ways that shamans work and live with the Four Direc- tions. They each tempted the palate quenched the senses and touched the heart while dancing with the elements. This conference was the seventh SSP UK Conference organized by Elsa and Howard Malpas. On behalf of the entire SSP community we offer our gratitude to Elsa and Howard for their deep commitment to creating space for the community to gather share and be inspired to continue our shamanic prac- tice promoting healthy individuals and viable communities. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Martha Lucier is a shamanic practitioner and Board Member of the Society for Shamanic Practitioners. Along with her husband Todd Lucier she has co-founded Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre to provide experiences in nature that enable us to rediscover ourselves empower each other and heal our connection to the Earth. Martha has evolved her own shamanic practice as principal teacher at the Canadian Centre for Shamanic Studies offering Introductory and Advanced Shamanism Trainings and Sacred Journeys into the heart of Algonquin Provincial Park.