In my journey of late, I have had amazing experiences on my shamanic path, feeling so very connected to Spirit and my guidance, with my one foot in the Spirit world, and the other in the physical world. And still it seems challenging to traverse the physical world appears to be linear most of the time. Yet, the magic of my shamanic path has reminded me that all I have to do is “just take one more step…” and to look for the magic in the journey.

As the world turns and the planets re-arrange themselves, 2012 comes closer and closer with the promise of one world dying and a new era being born. The new era is a promise of greater love and light, often referred to as a new Golden Age. All we have to do is look around us and know that the change is not eminent, it is happening NOW. We are experiencing many Earth changes, with the Great Mama spewing volcanoes and cracking up in earthquakes that bring tsunamis. The earth changes are reflective of the changes we as a species must make to survive the shift. Our great Mama Gaia is doing all she can to help us crack open our hearts and break away our old patterns of fear, stubbornness and separation. She is asking us to come together as humankind once more, with compassion, interconnectedness and assistance for all.

These changes are occurring not only in our earth and the patterns of our climate, there are volcanoes erupting in the minds and emotions of people everywhere. Many people’s lives are breaking apart, just as the Earth Mother’s body is breaking open around the world. People are letting off steam that has been held in for way too long, and cracking patterns of fear that have held them hostage to relationships, jobs, attitudes and habits of being. The changes are difficult, like giving birth in hot lava, so uncomfortable. Yet, there is no waiting for the change, it is upon us all. And for any who have ignored their discomfort and pushed it aside over the years, you can be assured that the eruptions will be all the more powerful, urging change, to let go, and to fill up with something different than what has been accepted in the past.

It can be overwhelming when we are being pressured to change. Yet, there is no escaping it all. The stars are rearranging and aligning, sending energies through every one of us and every thing on this planet, rearranging the very molecules that create our reality.

So now is the time to stop for a moment, and remember that we are not alone, that this is manageable, if only we will slow down and breathe. If only we will know that all we have to do is take one step at a time.

Recently I was on a beautiful sacred pilgrimage in Mexico to some ancient, Aztec lands. Upon this journey I trekked to the top of a sacred mountain one day with a small group of fellow pilgrims. We went from 9,000 to 11,000 feet over the course of a few hours, each of us in our own prayerful spaces. At the top of the mountain we stopped in several places to pray in ceremony together. Each stopping place held great power and gave us all healing, support and personal power. We were on the mountain for several hours, receiving blessed guidance, love and healing. Finally it was time to complete our time on the mountain and to begin our journey back down to town, to rest, to walk in the village and to have an evening dinner and celebration.

Upon the walk down the mountain I realized I was very tired. I had not only walked this mountain and been on it for many hours now, I was completing the last part of a sacred pilgrimage. I had driven many hours to reach our sacred lands, had already done a full day and night ceremony with no sleep, and had little sleep the night before this ceremonial day. Though I was so filled with love, joy, gratitude and satisfaction, my body was tired and the walk was long even for a walk down a mountain. Fortunately, as I walked I was in conversation with Jesus, Mary and Grandfather. I was being instructed the entire way down the mountain to “just take one more step.”

At times I felt alone when I could not see any amigos on the trail, and I would be told, “there are many before you and behind you. If you keep walking you will eventually find the ones before you. There is always someone waiting. And if you get tired, sit down, and someone will find you. And if you will just take one more step, then another, then another, you will eventually arrive at your destination… along the way, enjoy the beauty. We are with you supporting you through your tiredness. Focus on the beauty and you will be there before you know it.”

As I adjusted my attention to the joy of my conversation with my amazing guides, and to the beauty and teachings along the path, I found myself in town shortly. And, as I walked across the bridge that leads to this small mountain town, I looked up and saw a dear amigo from my group, waiting. Tears came to my eyes as my heart opened even wider and I knew how my guides had gifted me with an experience confirming their words of guidance. “If you will just take one more step, someone will be there for you.”

So my dear friends, as you walk through this time of deep transformation, “just take one more step.” You are not alone. There are many around you, seen and unseen, who love you and support you through times of change. Keep your eyes and your heart on the beauty. Do not be afraid to let go of the pressure within, and break away the old patterns that are born of fear, self-deprecation and resistance to your own beauty. You will be refreshed and regenerated when you let go and move to your heart.

Trust in a new pattern of greater love replacing what has been hard. Just take one more step… just one more, and then another, and another. You will move through what is difficult by focusing on the beauty along the way, appreciating the scenery as you go on the path. Look to what is good, what is beauty, what is nourishing.

You will find your way. You are not lost. Someone is before you, and someone is behind you. You are exactly where you need to be. Just take one more step.

About The Author:  Katherine Skaggs is a visionary artist, an intuitive channel, a painter of souls, an author, shamanic practitioner, teacher and spiritual counselor. She is inspired to bring beauty, love, inspiration and empowerment to others through visionary art, inspirational writing, classes and playshops, shamanic healing, psychic readings, and soul portrait sessions — a process unique to Katherine and her intuitive guidance.  She is the leader of The Satiama Urban Shamanism Community, an online community designed to help each member to learn and incorporate shamanic principles and and practices into everyday living.

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The Early Years – Child Artist

Katherine has been an artist since she was only 3 years of age! She learned to oil paint at age 14 and paint in watercolor at age 19. With a wide range of interests, Katherine graduated with a teaching certificate and a BS in health and education from Oklahoma State University at age 21. At age 28 she earned a BFA in painting from Kansas City Art Institute.

Early Spiritual Trainings

In her early 20s, Katherine deepened her spiritual curiosity in the world of metaphysics. She ravenously devoured books and videos on metaphysics, channeling, dreams, mind/body healing and psychic phenomenon. Guided by curiosity she stopped in a Psychic Fair at the School of Metaphysics. During a reading that knocked her socks off, Katherine was told “You can do this intuitive work too.” Though Katherine couldn’t believe such a thing, she signed up for night classes to learn dream interpretation, meditation and concentration exercises that resulted in accessing her psychic self.

As soon as Katherine began doing the spiritual exercises, she began having mystical experiences that amazed her beyond belief. From dream interpretations that were unbelievably accurate, to healing her eye sight, Katherine was on an amazing journey to unveiling her own destiny. Katherine went on to become a teacher and director of schools with the School of Metaphysics, with one year at the College of Metaphysics, where she completed advanced studies in mystery school teachings.

The White Light

While exploring shamanic journeying in the early 90s Katherine had a mystical White Light experience. Her heart and mind burst wide open, giving her access to complete knowledge, wisdom and love. Upon leaving this superconscious state, Katherine understood that there was nothing to do but to follow her heart, and her intuition.

Soon afterwards Katherine founded DreamWeaver, a metaphysical bookstore and gift shop, which was shown to her in a vision. From 1991 to 1997 this little shop grew to serve 1000s of people through retail, classes, psychic readings and holistic practitioners.

Visionary Art, Soul Portraits and Intuitive Guidance

During this time, Katherine merged her art skills with her intuition and inner visions. The visions began to flow through her hands onto canvas. Katherine knew there was more to come, and soon heard inwardly, “Soul Portraits.” Now was the time to assist others through this spiritual painting process, channeling imagery, energy and information to assist people in remembering their soul selves!

Today Katherine works as a visionary artist and painter of souls, using her intuitive skills to channel guidance and healing imagery and energy for clients. She also works with high vibrational Beings of Light to bring messages of healing for humanity.

Mother Mary – the Beginning

In 2003 Katherine became aware of Mother Mary’s presence in her field, presenting her with a vision to paint. Katherine awoke in the middle of the night with Mary’s urgent instructions to get up and paint. So, Katherine got up and proceeded to paint the painting, Textures of Mary. Katherine was amazed at the contact with Mother Mary — she was benevolent, full of light and intense unconditional love and humility. Mother Mary communicated the importance of her unconditional love, and how to expand this within ourselves. She was very clear that she is holding humanity in a journey of awakening. She also let Katherine know that the painting was a way to bring this love to others, through the sacred imagery, the messages and the energy in it.

Channeling the Divine Feminine

After a tour of Rome through the Eyes of the Goddess in April 2006, Katherine became aware of her assignment to awaken the Goddess to others through art and education. Subsequently Katherine partnered with author Sage Holloway to create the Mythical Goddess Tarot. In this collaboration, Katherine channeled 78 paintings, birthing the Divine Feminine within the map of the tarot. In this process, Katherine deepened her connection and understanding of the teachings of the Sacred Feminine from each Goddess, as well as a deep rapport with each one.

Teacher

Katherine is known for her unique and empowering teaching style, bringing art, creativity, guided imagery and intuition into the classroom, creating a dynamic chemistry for personal empowerment and transformation. She inspires others to paint the canvas of their lives into an authentic, colorful expression of courageous, original strokes regardless of the esoteric subject matter.

Shamanic Practitioner

Katherine has been studying and practicing energy healing for more than 20 years now. She recognizes the mind, body, spirit relationship as a vast frontier of exploration for miracles and manifestation.

Katherine practices a metaphysical and shamanic path for healing herself and for working with others. As a shamanic practitioner and metaphysician, Katherine works with intention, Spirit, allies and nature, as well as breath, sound, art and shamanic techniques and practices. Katherine is part of an advanced multi-cultural shamanic study to deepen her abilities to transform patterns of dis-ease and suffering to patterns of love and harmony.

Katherine recognizes that she does not heal anyone, but that she only creates a container for others to heal and discover their inner power. She recognizes the true healer as Spirit that lives within each of us. Her experience tells her that if someone wants to emerge well, then he/she must accept that healing occurs from the inside out. The miracle occurs as we are receptive to Spirit shifting the illusion of illness into the reality of well being. In Shamanism, it is understood that this “world” is a dream… understanding this helps us to dream a better dream, and release the dreams of suffering.

Katherine has a home and studio in Fort Collins, Colorado. She enjoys traveling to remote areas to learn from wise shamans of the indigenous worlds.

To see Katherine’s work or to purchase, click here.

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