Women find inspirational encouragement during annual event

Julie Severn

11/8/2002 12:00:00 AM

Several dozen women recently gathered to share in a sisterhood exchange of positive energy and knowledge during the Seventh Annual Feather Link Tea on Oct. 15 at the Soaring Eagle Resort.

Keynote speaker Denise Alley offered inspirational encouragement in an effort to spiritually guide women to a more focused, positive daily life.

"We're busy concentrating on so many things-worrying about finances, our families, work, school, shopping, and everybody else-that we often have little energy left to focus on our wants and needs as women," she explained. "We are alive to serve and care for our families and community, but we need to renew and recommit to love and nurture ourselves as our Creator and Father in heaven wants us to do. This comes from opening our hearts and healing them from within."

In today's fast-paced society, the best way to obtain personal happiness is to imagine it, get excited about it, and allow it to happen, according to Alley.

"If you don't like the life you are experiencing, change your thoughts now," she stated. "Start believing in the life that you desire as if it were already happening. If you think and worry about what you don't want, believing that it's the way to fix things or safeguard yourself, you're fooling yourself."

Alley said it is easy to get caught up in the past especially when it comes to negative experiences. By dwelling on the bad, a negative energy is recreated.

"That's when we become drama queens, which drains our energy," she said. "We need to live in the moment and feel the positive energy flow from Mother Earth through the Creator.

As Native American people we are good at visualizing. We can close our eyes and visualize strawberries one second, stop and visualize lemons the next. Anytime we find ourselves on a downward spiral, bitchin' and moanin', just stop and change focus."

Alley said to have control over a situation, one should harness their emotions and learn a lesson from each unpleasant encounter.

"Get the negative emotion out in a positive way," she explained. "Whatever is bringing you down, just blow it out. Say �I choose to release this,' take a deep breath and blow it out to the left. Turn to the right and breath in peace and love, whether it be from Grandfather, the Great Spirit, God, our heavenly Father or Mother Earth."

Other techniques offered to replace negative energy with positive include, getting up and moving around, breathing exercises, praying, or tapping your fingers lightly on your chest or head to get control of thoughts and energy.

"We as women and daughters of God have great power in our words and thoughts, just as they have power over our energy. Bad thoughts can weaken our energy and good can bring us strength. We are like magnets, whatever our belief system is-we draw that energy to us."

Alley also cautioned against unintentionally draining others of their energy by asking too many questions or by dwelling on negative circumstances including poor health, mishaps at work or bad luck.

"We as women don't need to take energy from anybody," she said. "We renew our energy from the water, breathing in the air and the sky.

We don't need to compare ourselves to other people. Let go of any resentments that you may have. It will help you heal, as we are always healing. How can we be happy when we are judging? To take care of ourselves is to forgive."

Balance life by caring for yourself as is done for family, friends and work, Alley encouraged. She also suggested to take one minute to reflect on personal issues a few times every day.

"My emotions come from my heart to yours as a sister," said Alley. "May we create beauty and goodness within ourselves and our families. We should always be searching for ways to do better and be better. Our Father in heaven gave us that power. I honor you today as beautiful women."