Circles

Circles bear a powerful meaning. They have no beginning and no end. Time is of no significance to them for they are everlasting, growing bigger and smaller as needed and every end is a new beginning at the same time.

​Everything you do and give out, returns to you in one way, shape or another, for every deed is the beginning of a circle and it will return to you at one point on your path, so you are able to understand and learn the lesson behind it. The joy you brought, the pain you caused. 
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"White Crystal Heart", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

​When you are gathering and sitting in a circle, you are able to see each other clearly, no lie can be spoken, no word uttered behind your back. No-one is able to belittle you or dim your light.

​You look into each other’s eyes and you know the soul. The song of your heart can be heard loud and clear, when it is your turn to speak. And when it is your turn to listen, you will hear the songs of the other hearts, recognizing their beauty and uniqueness, the gift they bring.
 
A lot of my learning takes place on the other side of things, beyond the material world, behind the veils. I am often called to go on journeys and travel through the spirit realms. Each encounter with other beings bears a gift of learning, some are trials during which you get to know a part of yourself that was hidden from you until that point on your path or you yourself buried deep inside in your shadows. 
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Wasp is the guardian and protector of sacred circles. "White Wasp", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

​Shortly after receiving the gift of meeting Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq and Gayle Crosmaz during a weekend ceremony about new beginnings amidst chaos in Salzburg, and listening to Angaangaq telling us about the meaning and the power and strength of circles, I was called on another journey.

The Eldest said: “A circle is always as big as needed or as small as necessary, it can grow as need be. There is no need to take anyone’s seat by force or violence, take one away in anger or steal one in jealousy.”

I found myself in a Native American settlement. I had been there many times before. It is the place where the council of shamans gathers. It is what I call them. There are shamans who are pure light. Some of them I know, some of them are incarnated right now, others observe, dream and teach in the spirit realms.  
 
When I arrived, I was greeted by the eldest shaman, who smiled at me and put his left hand on my right shoulder. He said: “Look, there is an empty seat. The one it belongs to, is not here. Take it!” I took a look around at the other shamans that were sitting in a circle and got confused. I looked at the opening in the circle and said: “No, it is not my seat to take, it belongs to someone else.” Then I realized whose seat is it was. The shaman’s who I had met in the material realm many times and whom I had met in his light form in this settlement just as often. The Eldest said: “He hurt you and is no longer here. He has lost his way. Take his seat.” I refused again. “This is his seat, no matter what did happen or did not happen.”

I took a step away from the Eldest and created a crystal of pure light. I placed it in front of the empty seat and said: “This is a crystal of light, a beacon. It will guide him home to his seat. It is not mine to take but his to return to.” Then I took a step back. The moment I had taken the step back, the shaman appeared in his light form, took his seat and smiled at me.  I nodded at him, then I turned around to face the Eldest.

​He placed both his hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye and smiled. Then the circle of shamans grew bigger and suddenly there was an empty space. The Eldest said: “A circle is always as big as needed or as small as necessary, it can grow as need be. There is no need to take anyone’s seat by force or violence, take one away in anger or steal one in jealousy.” He pointed at the new seat. “This is yours. Take it.”

​And I did.