A Meeting with Mama Susquehanna

Mama Susquehanna

To celebrate the Spring Equinox this year, I joined Elyse Welles of Seeking Numina and three other wonderful people on the banks of the Susquehanna in Havre de Grace, MD. I have been processing the experience for several days now and would love to share my thoughts. It was a deep transformative experience.

Wye Oak at the Lock House

            We met at the Lock House under a nearby wye oak tree, which had been a sapling from one of the oldest wye oak trees in the United States. Throughout the day, we heard its rustling leaves and sometimes felt the shedding bark. Its limbs seemed to provide protection as we drew tarot cards to identify where we were currently at in our journeys and what the out come of this experience would be.

I received the Two of Cups and then the Eight of Cups. The groups shared thoughts and contemplated our goals for the day’s workings.  Elyse led us in a meditation that connected us to the deep egregore of the land. We came to know the buzz of the superficial egregore of the busy bridge nearby. To me it was a light blue and I felt cold. We then explored the earth’s energy, which was a deep maroon color in my mind’s eye. The earth gifted me these words:

                        Let me hold you, Give me your seeds

                        Grow in abundance, So everyone sees

            The earth encouraged me to fully relax and be held by her strength. We formed trust. We formed a bond I hadn’t quite discovered before with the land. We worked together to filter my energy.  

Later we ventured to the water’s edge to make an offering of oatmeal to Mama Susquehanna. I have been at the water’s edge recently, of the ocean where I made an offering too. Both times I was a bit hesitant each time. Why was I holding back? I could clearly hear the river say, “Give it to me.”

            This time, at the river, Elyse encouraged us to reflect on what we needed to let go of. I did, and gently placed the oats in the water. I worried they, my fears and worries, might come back to me. But they didn’t they gracefully dispersed until there really wasn’t a trace.

            I sat at on a piece of driftwood and watched the water lap the sandy, pebbly beach. It took my breath away when I realized that the way the water was flowing through the rock and sand made it seem as if the river was breathing! I sat and breathed with Mama Susquehanna for a couple moments.

Gifts

             I witnessed the others around me have their sacred moments. I rose and began to comb the small beach for small treasures. The river had many gifts for us. I found small shells still attached to each other. I found two small snail shells. An earthy pebble. One of the greatest gifts was an arrow head! We all found a bit of quartz as well. (Havre De Grace is built on an area with a layer of quartz.) Before we departed, we each gathered a small bottle of river water.

            We had a wonderful lunch in town and walked the streets of Havre de Grace. Then we returned to the river where we made an anointing oil in a protective bottle. Earlier in the day we had each chosen a bottle at random. We all seemed to get the perfect pick! I chose a bottle made of blue goldstone. I had recently bought a necklace made of the same stone. Blue goldstone boosts confidence and ambition.

            During the process of making the bottle, we raised energy using one of Elyse’s techniques. You could really feel it. We passed the bottles and instilled blessings into them for each other. Throughout the day, it felt as if we all had already been connected. The other participants had been in one of Elyse’s pervious containers. I didn’t feel like an outsider at all. I was instantly welcomed.

            It will be a day I never forget. It reiterated that I co-create in union with spirit (the two of cups). It supported me in realizing I am ready to move on to something new. I am leveling up! (8 of Cups).  

Mama Susquehanna helped me let go of the control I seek in parts of my life that cannot be controlled. I must trust in divine timing. For now, it is time to acknowledge the abundance I have within me and show it, share it. This aligns with my recent elevation to a second-degree High Priestess in the tradition I am initiated into. This also aligns with my goals for this blog: to step out of the broom closet and be seen for who I am in order to be active in the community. Time to step outside and share knowledge gained from my hard work.

Mama Susquehanna said she would always be there and that I could always come back to her. That space will forever me sacred to me. Those women will always be connected to me. I express my gratitude to Elyse for sharing her knowledge and gifts and friendship. I was graciously adopted into another group of hers when we both attended the Sacred Space Conference the following weekend. More on that to come!

Check out Elyse’s website at seekingnumina.com. You can find her on her own podcast “Seeking Numina” and as co-host with Leandra Witchwood for “The Magic Kitchen Podcast” and as co-host with Megan Plummer for “Cosmic Mystery Theater School.”