September: Hollow Stalks - Straight to the Point


"To be a “good girl” in this world is to be fed by this colonial worldview. It is to be starving of a connection to Earth. To be a good girl is a symbol of this assimilation. I'm a fed girl, not a good girl."

- The Forest is a Fed Girl, blog excerpt by Frankie Edwards


September Tree: Reed

Hey Reader,

In the Celtic Ogam (the Irish tree language), the REED is in its time.

Ogam is a bit like the astrological calendar but with earth-based trees instead of faraway planets.

Back to school, back to business, back to keeping it real.

September is here and I've got some wisdom whispering from the trees for you.

Here's this month update in Video format:

video preview

The day I spoke through the veil to my great great grandfather

was an eventful day to say the least.

I had been led through a deep guided journey to meet my guides by John Cantwell and Dr. Karen Ward of Slí An Chroí Shamanism. It was a gloomy day in early Sept 2025.

John took the reins and spoke in his rhythmic voice, first in Irish then English then Irish again. The drum entered in, carrying my heart on its beat.

I did not know I would meet my great great great grandfather that day. Everything in me was skeptical of the process. I did not know these John and Karen at the time. I did not even know my ancestry!!

But one thing I did know -- I had an inextricable urge to remember.

Not like, remember as in, just a thought memory.

But an urge to embody the memory of my ancestors.

Before I knew it. I was lost in the journey, fully aware of pacing back and forth in the room I was physically in, yet always facing north. John kept guiding the meditative journey and eventually his voice stopped. I'm not sure if he actually stopped speaking through my headphones or if my ears just astral travelled to the place I found myself next:

I was in a field.

Wearing huge suspenders and what felt like rubber boots -- but less-so rubbery and more-so dense, as if my shoes were made from a thick clay that had hardened. The boots were extremely heavy, and my feet were wet inside them.

They squished into the brown mud below with a squelch.

I looked up out over the landscape. Rolling green hills far as the eye could see. Cloudy day but not terrible fog as I've seen. This was a sprawling inland, but close to the coast. Everything was SO green and SO brown but I couldn't see any crops growing. The land had all been plowed.

I got the impression I was some kind of farmer. And I also got the impression I did not have much choice in this occupation.

Lost in between worlds, I heard John's voice come back in --

"Ask your ancestor for words, or for images, or for guidance in whatever way works best for you".

The green fields came back and I started walking and walking and walking. I walked up the hill and down the hill and up the hill again. I thought to myself, "my god they sure as hell got their steps in didn't they?"

I realized my eyes were his eyes. My thoughts his thoughts.

He rolled up my left sleeve. I rolled up his right.

And then, I heard my great great great grandfather's voice speak so crisply and so clearly to me that said:

"PULL YOUR BOOTSTRAPS UP SONNY BOY"

.. Say what...?

Yes you heard that right. Basically he said, "get to work".

So I said, alright I will do just that. I bent down to pull them up, but then I fell. All the way down the hill.

And I kept falling. And falling ...and falling.

Then I was spiraling in my mind and I felt like I had been knocked out and I began to see stars.

Then I tumbled right back into my own body. This dimension. My office. 2025 (was when it happened).

Drum beating rhythmically.

Drum beat changing rhythm.

Drum beat slowing down.

Fingers and toes wiggling in place.

Lungs breathing.

Okay. Okay.

Okay -- I was back. Sitting on the floor.

Still trying to pull my boot straps up.

I was left wondering...

Wondering if my great great great grandfather just gave me some really tough love from the after-life.

Now, I could sit here and say I don't know why he told me that, but no. I know exactly why he told me that.

I had been fighting with myself to get this business going. This vision. This more-than-business-spiritual-calling. I was hesitant to just finally say YES.

And later that day, I sat down and wrote in my journal about the experience.

All I could muster to him, was thank you, and a promise that I would pull up my bootstraps.

I went to work, and Abundance World was registered as a business a few weeks later.

Whew. It was the best advice for someone like me, who likes to weigh all the options and calculate pros and cons, etc before deciding.

And now, when days get hard, I'm reminded that I can decide. I choose and I go with that decision. Life is a series of roads taken simply because of decisions.

---------------------------------

This month, who are you choosing to remember?

If it helps, check out Dr Karen's and John's work, they have a free self-paced Bodhrán drum circle here.

Please try the drum circle video linked above, and see where the drumming takes you! I'd love to know who you are remembering.



Three upcoming events at Abundance World - won't you join us?

1. Thursday Sept 24th: Bridging Worlds with Tea

Featuring Pause for Tea New Zealand

My dear friend Timmy Smith and I are tea-ing up to bring you a meditative tea ceremony and tasting experience. This time, bringing you the steeped wisdom of the motto we both live by -- "When we pause, we connect; and when we connect, we care; and when we care, we respect; and when we respect, we protect." (- direct quote from Timmy Smith! You must meet this woman!)

** You will have the opportunity to taste and purchase more herbal teas and sparkling cans from Pause for Tea NZ on-site during this event, available in limited supply here in Canada!!

Registration is first come, first serve and the event is in Little Italy, Toronto.

Who is Timmy Smith?

Timmy Smith (she/her) is a Māori entrepreneur, founder, and creative force behind PAUSE for Tea, based on Waiheke Island, Aotearoa.
Of Whakatohea, Te Upokorehe, Te Arawa and Ngāti Porou descent, her work is grounded in kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (care for people), weaving together wellness, culture, and connection to whenua (land).


2. Sunday November 1st: The Samhain Ancestors Retreat (is back!)

The opportunity to remember and recount loved ones and/or guides, gently facilitated by Frankie but mostly led by your ancestors across the veil.

The Celtic Wheel of the year restarts on November 1st. We welcome the dark half of the year.

Have you been working with a guide? Want the opportunity to get more in touch with them?

Join us for this in-person half-day retreat in Toronto.

Tea, coffee, guided journey, intuitive practice time and creative works will be flowing! Plus some amazing goodie bag items from local queer entrepreneurs.

Click here to read a bit more info, or;

Simply click the link below to register (it's sliding scale).

(Seats are intentionally limited to maintain protection for the gathering, register sooner rather than later.)

CA$89.00

Abundance World: Ancestors Samhain Retreat

November 1st marks a day in which we remember — it's when the Celtic Wheel of the Year restarts it's journey and the... Read more

3. You Belong to the Land: JUNE 2027

  • CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS and FACILITATORS.
    If you want to be involved in 2027 retreat and have always wanted to go to Newfoundland, email me now!
  • If you're interested in being a participant in this year's You Belong to the Land retreat in Flatrock, NL -- the waitlist for the next one -- June 2027 is now open. Applications are open for next year's retreat in Jan 2027.
    Be the first to be notified -> sign up here.

Anyone can walk in the woods alone. Together is better.

Guided forest bathing can help you regain the confidence you need to start a new chapter.

Reed / Ngetal

~ Pronounced "n-yeht-ul" in Gaeilge ~
“Focus. Direct action. Conviction. Purpose. Double helix DNA. Hollow bone."

"As the autumnal equinox nears this month, honour completions. Set and deliver your intentions for the year's end. No more apathy. Align with your power and ask for direction. I believe in you. I send you courage and fortitude for a positive outcome for you. You are here for a purpose. Fulfil your own choices."

- paraphrased from Celtic Tree Oracle by Sharlyn Hidalgo


Have an abundant September.

~ Big Love // Gra mor ~

Frankie


This newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace advice given from a healthcare provider. Please do not attempt to make botanical medicinal remedies at home.

Abundance World stewards transformative human:nature immersions you crave (retreats, forest baths, sound healing, Celtic & Druid cosmology) for teams and individuals.
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