I mentioned a lotus when we were talking about ideas for a theme for the retreat. My reasonings were exactly what Leitha mentioned, plus another reason...

A flower is a flower. We see flowers everywhere, but unless we get to know the special characteristics of that flower, we will never know it's strengths and appreciate what makes it special. A lotus does not act like another flower. The way it grows, roots, and finds strengths in numbers (proliferating outwards) is unique. So... while we as survivors may look like everyone else, we are often rooted in "muck" that at first has been suffocating, but has made for strength to grow through tremendous obstacles, always striving toward light.

The next tattoo I'm going to get is a cadaceus. Instead of the snakes serapantining up the staff, I'm going to get a lotus flower bloming at the base with pedaled vines taking the snakes place. This for me represents new growth with my new profession, both very special symbols to me. I've had this picked out for a while. I like the lotus, lol

I don't have anything to add, but I really love these images - especially the tree description. It's nice to be able to think about healing as progressive and positive and "reaching up" somehow. Thanks for the warm pictures.

I've had a few different symbols over the years, as the mood takes me.
The rose, well as the old saying goes "you need shit to make roses grow"! Something beautiful growing out of the things we'd rather not have to deal with. And its thorns suggest boundaries, a certain self-protection - you have to approach it with some respect and caution.

Recently I picked up a few acorns on one of my walks, not sure yet what this new symbol is going to mean in my life but potential for new growth is one of the many things it suggests to me.

What about symbolic rituals to commemorate healing? Any suggestions for those? I've known people who have gotten symbolic tattoos, gone through a sweat lodge ceremony, been to a mountaintop to pray, shaved their head (that remains one of my favorite stories!), bought a piece of jewelry with a significant image in it, burned old mementos of trauma, candlelight ceremonies or vigils, planting a "survivor's tree," etc. What are some other good ones?

One of my fav things to do....

My family and I go up north to Flagstaff every year to ride the Polar Express to "The North Pole" to pick up santa and bring him back. Sometimes there is snow, sometimes, there isn't. One thing I always try to do, snow or not is to find 1 hr to myself and go find a nice secluded (not in a creepy way) spot that I can relax. I bring my itouch with my music and my journal. I sit somewhere, usually a rock or log, or if I can find a clean spot, my favorite is "indian style" and sing. I have all my inspirational stuff on my itouch. If the mood strikes me right, then I bust out my journal and write. I have found the most amazing things have come from that. Regarding all topics. Nature is a HUGE source of healing for me. So peaceful... I live in the valley in AZ, so we have no pine tress, hardly any grass, just mesquite trees, cacti, and gravel. For me, NOT inspirational. Yucky, brown, gross, and hot. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate AZ??

Anyway, it was last year. We were up there, and there was no snow. But I still went out in the woods, with my itouch and journal and sat and sang. I was singing Christina Aguileras "Beautiful" when I felt something on my nose. I opened my eyes and it was snowing. It was their first snow that season and the VERY first time EVER I have seen snow actually fall. I've seen it on the ground, but not falling. It was one of the most beautiful, peaceful moments in my life. So much so I couldnt even journal about it. I just sat and enjoyed it. It was so spiritual that I've never told anyone. Until just now, lol :) I didnt even have the words to tell my husband other than I was excited to see the snow.

So...... singing is very ritualistic to me. Nature is very ritualistic to me. Together, they are awesome. :)

If you like singing and nature, you're going to LOVE the sweatlodge.

Speaking of which, I'm going tonight. If anyone has requests for prayers, or if you want to send me messages to print and burn for them, now's the time.

Did you forget the part about me hating the heat???? J/k, I hear the sweatlodge is awesome. I've been talked into it :)

Scuba, that is such a great story!

As for rituals, some day I'm going to do a white dove release ceremony. I figure I'll know when the time is right for that.

Climbing up a remote hill in time to see the sun come up, no-one else around except for the sheep - that was quite a powerful one for me.

Hey for all of the talk about how everyone Hates where they live....travel north and we'd be happy to have you here in 'Sconsin'! You'd love it! Not to hot...sorta cold, but beautiful nature scenes. Sconsin is the Tahiti of North America..lol

As for the symbolism, Hubby and I are planting a tree. Just trying to choose one that fits.

I'd love to be in Sconsin!!! I do love it there :) We try to travel to Chicago on the fourth of July on years that we can swing it (not a chance past 2 years with nursing school). We have family who live there. We go for The Taste, then for the actual July 4th holiday, we skip on up to Shawano, WI where they have a lake house and we water ski, jet ski, swim at the sand bar, boat around, and its never a complete trip without a visit to the walmart.

Ohhhh, I miss those vaca's :) How close to Shawano are you Jude?

Shawno is spelled S-H-A-W-N-O...LOL and it's pronounce Sha-No, not sha-wa-no. Just clarifying cuz they get soooo mad when people misprounounce the name of the town.LOL

Its an hour from where I live...Shawno Lake is Awesome..good swimming, jet skiing, boating AND fishing.

Hopefully you can make your way up north and we can meet up for a day at the beach:)

That's what I thought but I didn't want to look dumb so I googled it and that's how they spelled it! Oh well. At least they always made sure I pronounced it right! It would be so much fun to see u!!!