I have always had a deep love and respect for nature and the impact it has on human beings and that we have on nature. It was through this deep connection with Mother Earth and the Universe as a whole that I have finally come to a place of spiritual health and wellness that I am very excited to share with others.  

 

A little about me:   I was raised in the Church of the Brethren, a bonnet wearing congregation of deep faith.   While I followed this path thru my childhood and early adulthood, there was something in the teachings of the church that was not working for me;  I began to search in other places, reading and talking to teachers/ministers about other Christian faiths, Buddhism, Wicca, Native American traditions, ancient Egyptian traditions, on and on. 

 

In the early 1990’s I attended classes and workshops offered from a variety of “new age” teachers, studying everything from energy work, natural healing with herbs, the feminine faces of the divine, etc.   After one such workshop I reached out to one of the story tellers, an Iroquois Medicine Woman, whose story had touched me deeply.  Within a short time of my letter to her, I received a post card from her that she had been waiting for me to find her and so began 15+ yrs of study of the various Iroquois Medicine Traditions, more natural healing, the importance of ritual in our daily lives, iridology, ceremony, the medicine wheel, etc.  I was also introduced to a Penobscot Medicine Woman who continued to teach me about shamanism and the journey work it entailed.   On my 50th birthday my Iroquois teacher adopted me into her clan and named me Soaring Raven, telling me it was time for me to begin sharing what I had been learning from her and other teachers over my life.

 

In the late 1990's  I found the Universal Unitarian Church, which was open to folks with various beliefs about God, the Creator, Goddess, the Universe, or whatever name you use to identify the Divine.   As I continued to attend there I was called to study more in-depth the traditions of the various faiths of those who attended the church.  I now believe I was seeking to find and understand myself and my personal connection to the Divine and through this study I did just that.   Then in 2005 I was approached by a friend who knew of my studies and asked if I was able to perform her wedding ceremony.   I had completed my course of study to become ordained within the church with one exception.   I immediately agreed to complete this requirement and become ordained in time to perform her wedding ceremony in 2006.  Her request was just the push I needed I guess!!!

 

After having performed this initial wedding celebration, I was called upon by other friends to develop rituals for their life events; and I came to realize how much I looked forward to being with and assisting people celebrate in their times of joy and to provide a nurturing and caring shoulder in time of sorrow.   I also came to realize the power and impact on them and me when I shared the light of the Divine.  At this point of my life I see this as my “calling”.  I will also say that I follow many more of the Iroquois or Penobscot Indian traditions in my daily life than I do of the Christian ones I was raised with; however, in truth, I see very little difference in the belief structures once you get past the dogma of either.

 

I share some of my journey for several reasons:

        My spiritual journey has taken me to a number of places and given me some wondrous and amazing experiences.   I grew up in a very Christian based faith.  I am recognized by the Iroquois Nation as an Elder and Medicine Woman.   I am also ordained by the Universal Unitarian Church.    This enables me to perform ceremony work in a variety of settings and using various tools and teachings to meet the needs of the individuals and couples.

    My journey has had its ups and down, but it has been the web that has woven my life to where I am today.  I hope that by sharing my story up front, you will understand more about me and be open and trusting of inviting me into your life and sharing your personal journey.

 

                                                                                 Pamela Soaring Raven Nelson