Earth & Spirit
Council

This ceremony was developed by Linda Neale in 1996, has spread to locales throughout Oregon, and replicated in other states. The primary intention is to help participants understand the deeper meaning of the medicine wheel. A secondary purpose is to help women develop their ceremonial leadership skills and expand their awareness of ceremony in general. Structure: Eight women travel to a site during each of the four seasons and spend a weekend in a ceremony focused on teachings from the medicine wheel. In Spring, they go to the east, in summer they travel to the south; in fall, they go to the west, and in winter, they travel to the north. Two women agree to act as ceremonial facilitators for each direction. The facilitators work together to develop the ceremony. Location: Locations are chosen based on the characteristics of the land. Usually, a home is rented that can accommodate eight women for a weekend. In each of the four directions, an altar is constructed, and the women spend time alone and in silence out on the land, focusing on a particular teaching from their direction. There are many available resources for these teachings. One foundational book is The Sacred Tree by Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp et. al. The ceremony begins in the East in the springtime, so the women facilitators rent a home somewhere east of Portland in a location with easy access to hiking trails and nature. In the summer, the group travels to the south; in the fall they travel west (usually the coast); and in the winter they travel north. This ceremony emerges from the land itself – THE EARTH IS THE REAL TEACHER. It requires a year-long commitment. This kind of commitment is not a small thing and should be considered carefully. The medicine wheel is not for beginners; it is for women grounded in ceremony and spiritual practice. Commitment: When women commit to this ceremony they commit to four three-day weekends per year. This means that if they work, they usually need to take Fridays off, especially, in Portland, for the East and the South. Intercessors need to be mindful of the time needed to drive home and plan accordingly. Other commitments include commitments to one’s co-intercessor, to the land on which the ceremony is done, the commitment to provide food for the group, and a commitment to pay one’s share of the expenses. Expectations of Facilitators: - Work together with their co-intercessor to develop the intention and ceremonial structure. - Select the site for the direction, provide any teachings and hold the intention and energy for the duration of the ceremony. It is best if the intercessors visit the site prior to the ceremony before selecting it. - Create a ceremony that allows for learning from the land, the season, and the different attributes of each direction - Communicate to the rest of their wheel directions to the site and what to bring 3-4 weeks prior to their ceremony - Ensure that participants stay focused during the ceremony and limit social and non- ceremonial talk. - Open and close the ceremony with prayers and/or songs. If you are interested in participating in or learning more about the Women’s Medicine Wheel ceremony, please contact us at info@earthandspirit.org

This ceremony began in 1987 to honor women through the sacred stages of life, with particular reverence for women who have entered menopause. While there are traditionally 13 moons in a year, the 14th Moon symbolically honors menopausal women—recognizing this time as a powerful threshold of rebirth and new beginning. Rooted in the cycles of the moon and nature, the Women of the 14th Moon ceremony offers a meaningful rite of passage into this new phase of life. It celebrates wisdom, resilience, and the unique gifts each woman carries, empowering participants to step fully into their emerging role with clarity and confidence. Women are invited to share their voices—poetic, spoken, or simply witnessed—within a supportive community that honors diversity and belonging. Connecting with the cycles of Grandmother Moon and the inherent connection with nature women carry, this ceremony creates a space that transcends age, culture, religion, politics, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, and race. Women of the 14th Moon ceremonies are held in Portland, throughout the greater Oregon area and regionally in other states. If you feel called to learn more or to connect with this ceremony, please reach out with your questions. You are warmly invited. This year, Chakeipi 14th Moon is July 18, in Beaverton, Oregon. This is a one day event, unlike other 14th Moon ceremonies that generally last three days. Contact JJ Crow (503) 484-6851, revjjcrow@gmail.com for more information. Starting February 2, 6:30PM at Cedar Hills UCC's A frame chapel, once a month we'll be practicing 14th Moon songs. This practice is open to any woman who'd like to attend, regardless if they intend to go to one of the 14th Moon ceremonies this summer. Children of all ages are welcome. Please wear a long skirt and shawl.

The intention of this ceremony is to create a space where we can all reconnect with our ancestral heritage, appreciate diverse cultural practices, and engage with each other in meaningful ceremony. This is an opportunity to remember and honor those who came before us and learn more about how to keep our ancestor's memory alive within ourselves and our communities. Many cultures around the world honor their ancestors with ceremony. Guidelines: Decide which of your ancestors you would like to honor. Take some time to organize all your memories and thoughts around your ancestor. Here are some tips: Talk to others in your family about your relative, look at old photographs, learn about the time and place your ancestor lived, and/or consider doing some genetic research. You may decide to honor someone who is not genetically related to you, perhaps a a teacher, mentor, or other person who's direct presence in your life has been important to you. Learn as much as you can about their story. What to Bring: Your Ancestor's Symbol: a photo, drawing, icon/figurine, stone, emblem, or any item that represents a connection to your ancestor. Stories and history known of your ancestor Food: a favorite dish of the ancestor you are honoring or a traditional ancestral food to share. Flowers: If you know your ancestor’s favorite flowers, please bring some to place on the altar, though any bouquet of flowers will add to the beauty of the ceremony. Everyone may participate, whether you choose to share about an ancestor or simply wish to listen and learn. This is a time to remember ALL ancestors. Schedule: Arrive, set up food, place photo or items on altar Introductions, story of where you learned this ceremony or any history you want to share, and setting the intention and steps for carrying out the ceremony with attendees. Depending how many people are participating and how much time you have, divide into smaller groups or stay together and form a circle – each person has 5-10 minutes to share their ancestors story with the group. Introduce your dish and the connection to your ancestors. Share food with everyone - Eat! Close with reflections and what people got out of this experience.

"With the right conscious intent, even the simplest and most ordinary action can be transformed into a sacred ceremony. For example, take something we all do every day – the act of drinking water. Our intention in drinking the water makes all the difference between an unconscious action and a ceremony. when you drink a glass of water you could say, ‘This is the blood of the holy, sacred Mother.’ Rod’s words and guidance at that moment changed my entire experience of water and of ceremony. Thirty-five years later, I continue a daily practice of drinking water and remembering Mother Earth as I do so." - Linda Neale

Do you hold a special ceremony to honor your birthday?