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Are You Observing National Indigenous History Month? Two Métis Women Explain Why You Should.
6-21-2023
Vancouver, British Columbia (June 2023)—We’ve entered a crucial season for Indigenous people. First, June is Canada’s National Indigenous History Month. And June 21—the summer solstice—was chosen by the Government of Canada as National Indigenous Peoples Day, to bring awareness to the Indigenous experience. For many Canadians, NIPD is their only exposure to Indigenous cultures and their land-based teachings.
Andrea Menard says it’s important to take part in these observances: It benefits all Canadians—and all humans—to learn about (and from!) cultures that maintain a powerful spiritual connection to the Earth.
“Most of us are in desperate need of a balanced way of life, to be more connected with the rhythms of Nature,” says Menard, author of Seeds from the Sacred Feminine: A 52-Card Wisdom Deck with Handbook (Mango Publishing, June 2023, ISBN: 978-1-64250-956-4, $34.99). “And for me, that means tapping into Sacred Feminine wisdom, which is inherently connected to the Earth herself.”
Menard says modern life forces us to identify more with our Sacred Masculine energy, which makes us competitive, assertive, and driven. This is not a bad thing, unless we drive ourselves to exhaustion and purposely disregard the gentler, emotional side of life.
“Without the calming, nurturing effect of the Sacred Feminine, we end up imbalanced and disconnected from Mother Earth, which keeps us perpetually stressed, tired, irritable, and intolerant of anything that is different from us,” she says.
“We can maintain this state of existence for a while, but eventually it catches up with us and causes deep unhappiness,” adds Leah Marie Dorion, an interdisciplinary artist whose art is featured in the wisdom cards. “By inviting in our Sacred Feminine energy, we can reestablish the balance we all crave, regardless of gender. National Indigenous History Month is a good time to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing and remember how important this grounding, calming, and healing force really is.”
Both Menard and Dorion belong to the Métis people, an Indigenous nation of Canada whose people have both Indigenous and European heritage. Menard is a singer/songwriter, actor, speaker, and influencer in feminine leadership. Dorion is an accomplished teacher, painter, filmmaker, and published writer. They partnered to create these sacred cards inspired by land-based practices of the Métis people.
The Seeds from the Sacred Feminine wisdom cards and handbook offer gentle reminders on how to connect to your feminine spirit and find your way back to your center. They channel the wisdom of the Grandmothers, gentle feminine teachers in the spiritual realm who are respected by Indigenous cultures all over the world. The messages in this deck give you direct insight and offer simple guidance to rearrange your life in a more harmonious manner. NOTE: Please see attachment for a brief sampling of the cards and handbook.
There are several ways to use the 52-card wisdom deck. For example, you can select one card and ask for clarity on a specific situation. Or you can choose four cards (each card representing one of the four sacred bodies) and absorb the messages or teachings they bring. You can also simply choose a card and ask for a seed of daily wisdom. Upon receiving any thoughts, intuitions, or messages from the cards themselves, you can read the corresponding message in the Seeds from the Sacred Feminine booklet.
Adorned with Dorion’s beautiful painted imagery, the cards, paired with the handbook, provide all the tools you need to learn how to enter the realm of the Sacred Feminine, walk in a sacred way, and live in harmony with the rest of Creation. For more information about the cards, please visit https://andreamenard.com/cards.
As you experience National Indigenous History Month this month and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, take time to slow down and awaken to your inherent feminine energy. It will pay off not only for you, but for the planet.
“There are huge rewards that come from embracing your Sacred Feminine nature,” concludes Menard. “Imagine what could happen if you slowed down long enough to discover the many ways that connecting to your compassion, stillness, and receptivity can change your life, change your perception of Indigenous knowledge, and bring you closer to the peace and healing you crave. And then, imagine how it can change humankind and our Earth. We can finally build a kinder, gentler world to pass down to those who come after us.”
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