Turtle Clan On Wings Of Light

I AM ONE

2011-09-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Each day when I choose to walk amongst the trees and grasses, I speak to Creator and Mother Earth and ask that they reveal something out of the ordinary during my travel. One morning I walked deeply in the woods, approaching a stream of flowing water. From behind, a faint voice called. It was a speckled fawn. From its resting place, it stood up and took a few steps toward me thinking I was its mother.

I stood quietly still. It lay down in the grass. Taking a few steps toward it, the young one stood up, took a few steps away from me and lay back down in the grass. We did this several times, and it was obvious we knew each others place in this game of life. I finally spoke kind, soothing words to the fawn and left with a full heart. My prayer was answered.

This is the way of Creator's teachings. The trees, the grasses, the water, the fawn, and me . . . we were all one at that moment in time. 'unknown'

How Can I Walk a Path of Beauty

2011-04-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your bodylove what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting— over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

-Mary Oliver

A Sioux Story - The Secret

2011-04-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Creator gathered all of Creation and said:

"I want to hide something from the humans until they are ready for it.

It is the realization that they create their own reality."

The eagle said:
"Give it to me, I will take it to the moon."

The Creator said:
"No. One day they will go there and find it."

The salmon said: "I will bury it on the bottom of the ocean." "No. They will go there too."

The buffalo said: "I will bury it on the Great Plains."

The Creator said: "They will cut into the skin of the Earth and find it even there."

Grandmother Mole: who lives in the breast of Mother Earth, and who has no physical eyes but sees with spiritual eyes, said,

"Put it inside of them."And the Creator said: "It is done."

by Author Unknown

Artwork by Charles Frizzel

Mayan Elder on Maya Calendar Confusion

2011-04-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Carlos Barrios, Mayan elder and Ajq'ij (is a ceremonial priest and spiritual guide) of the Eagle Clan. Carlos initiated an investigation into the different Mayan calendars circulating. Carlos along with his brother Gerardo studied with many teachers and interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to widen their scope of knowledge.

Carlos found out quickly there were several conflicting interpretations of Mayan hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, Sacred Books of 'Chilam Balam' and various ancient text. Carlos found some strong words for those who may have contributed to the confusion:

Carlos Barrios: "Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It's just their imagination. Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed."

"We are no longer in the World of the Fourth Sun, but we are not yet in the World of the Fifth Sun. This is the time in-between, the time of transition. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war, and ongoing Earth Changes."

He continues: "Humanity will continue, but in a different way. Material structures will change. From this we will have the opportunity to be more human. We are living in the most important era of the Mayan calendars and prophecies. All the prophecies of the world, all the traditions are converging now. There is no time for games. The spiritual ideal of this era is action."

Carlos tells us: "The indigenous have the calendars and know how to accurately interpret it -- not others. The Mayan Calendars comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya understand 17 different calendars such as the Tzolk'in or Cholq'ij, some of them charting time accurately over a span of more than ten million years.

"All was predicted by the mathematical cycles of the Mayan calendars. -- It will change --everything will change. Mayan Day-keepers view the Dec. 21, 2012 date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator and the Earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy."

At sunrise on December 21, 2012 for the first time in 26,000 years the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree, The Tree of Life, a tree remembered in all the world's spiritual traditions.

Some observers say this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the Earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher level of vibration. Carlos reminds us: "This process has already begun. Change is accelerating now and it will continue to accelerate.

If the people of the Earth can get to this 2012 date in good shape without having destroyed too much of the Earth, we will rise to a new, higher level. But to get there we must transform enormously powerful forces that seek to block the way."

The date specified in the calendar Winter Solstice in the year 2012 does not mark the end of the world. Many outside people writing about the Mayan calendar sensationalize this date, but they do not know. The ones who know are the indigenous elders who are entrusted with keeping the tradition.

Carlos tells us: "The economy now is a fiction. The first five-year stretch of transition from August 1987 to August 1992 was the beginning of the destruction of the material world. We have progressed ten years deeper into the transition phase by now, and many of the so-called sources of financial stability are in fact hollow. The banks are weak. This is a delicate moment for them. They could crash globally, if we don't pay attention. Now, people are paying attention."

The North and South Poles are both breaking up. The level of the water in the oceans is going to rise. But at the same time land in the ocean, especially near Cuba, is also going to rise. Carlos tells a story about the most recent Mayan New Year ceremonies in Guatemala. He said that one respected Mam elder, who lives all year in a solitary mountain cave, journeyed to Chichicastenango to speak with the people at the ceremony. The elder delivered a simple, direct message. He called for human beings to come together in support of life and light.

"Right now each person and group is going his or her own way. The elder of the mountains said there is hope if the people of the light can come together and unite in some way. We live in a world of polarity -- day and night, man and woman, positive and negative. Light and darkness need each other. They are a balance."

"Just now the dark side is very strong, and very clear about what they want. They have their vision and their priorities clearly held, and also their hierarchy. They are working in many ways so that we will be unable to connect with the spiral Fifth World in 2012."

"On the light side everyone thinks they are the most important, that their own understandings, or their group's understandings, are the key. There's a diversity of cultures and opinions, so there is competition, diffusion, and no single focus."

Carlos believes the dark side works to block unity through denial and materialism. It also works to destroy those who are working with the light to get the Earth to a higher level. They like the energy of the old, declining Fourth World, the materialism. They do not want it to change. They do not want unity. They want to stay at this level, and are afraid of the next level.

The dark power of the declining Fourth World cannot be destroyed or overpowered. It's too strong and clear for that, and that is the wrong strategy. The dark can only be transformed when confronted with simplicity and open-heartedness. This is what leads to unity, a key concept for the World of the Fifth Sun.

Carlos said the emerging era of the Fifth Sun will call attention to a much-overlooked element. Whereas the four traditional elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water have dominated various epochs in the past, there will be a fifth element to reckon with in the time of the Fifth Sun --- that element is 'ETHER'.

The dictionary defines Ether as a "hypothetical substance supposed to occupy all space, postulated to account for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space." Perhaps it could be defined as the "space between space". I would suggest it could be manifest as the alignment of charged particles from our solar system (Sun), and our galaxy (Milky Way) surge. The Ether element represents spiritual energy.

"The element of the Fifth Sun is celestial. Within the context of Ether there can be a joining of the polarities. No more darkness or light in the people, but an uplifted unity. But right now the realm of darkness is not interested in this. They are organized to block it. They seek to unbalance the Earth and its environment so we will be unready for the alignment in 2012."

"We need to work together for peace, and balance with the other side. We need to take care of the Earth that feeds and shelters us. We need to put our entire mind and heart into pursuing unity and unity now, to confront the other side and preserve life."

"We are disturbed -- we can't play anymore. Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action. Everyone is needed. You are not here for no reason. Everyone who is here now has an important purpose. This is a hard but a special time. We have the opportunity for growth, but we must be ready for this moment in history."

Carlos says: "The prophesied changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are. We need to act, to make changes, and to elect people to represent us who understand and who will take political action to respect the Earth."

"Meditation and spiritual practice are good, but also action. It's very important to be clear about who you are, and also about your relation to the Earth. Develop yourself according to your own tradition and the call of your heart. But remember to respect differences, and strive for unity. Eat wisely --- a lot of food is corrupt in either subtle or gross ways. Pay attention to what you are taking into your body. Learn to preserve food, and to conserve energy. Learn some good breathing techniques, so you have mastery of your breath. Be clear. Follow a tradition with great roots. It is not important what tradition, your heart will tell you, but it must have great roots."

"We live in a world of energy. An important task at this time is to learn to sense or see the energy of everyone and everything -- people, plants, animals. This becomes increasingly important as we draw close to the World of the Fifth Sun, for it is associated with the element 'ether' -- the realm where energy lives and weaves. Go to the sacred places of the Earth to pray for peace, and have respect for the Earth which gives us our food, clothing, and shelter. We need to reactivate the energy of these sacred places. That is our work."

"One simple but effective prayer technique is to light white or baby-blue colored candles. Think of a moment in peace. Speak your intention to the flame and send the light of it on to the leaders who have the power to make war or peace."

Carlos reminds us this is a crucially important moment for humanity and for Earth. Each person is important.

He said the elders have opened the doors so that other races can come to the Mayan world to receive the tradition. "The Maya have long appreciated and respected that there are other colors, other races, and other spiritual systems. They know that the destiny of the Mayan world is related to the destiny of the whole world."

"The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way."

http://jenniferlauck.blogspot.com/ has posted this as have others. I believe it to be a very in-depth view of the Maya Calendar. Please if you feel called, pass this along to others. Ty

Arvol Looking Horse of Lakota Elders

2011-03-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is an email I received and felt well worth passing along. Some of you may not be aware of who Arvol Looking Horse is, this is something to understand.

I had heard about the white buffalo calf born in Pennsylvania but I obviously had not heard the Whole story. Most of you know that I went to see Arvol Looking Horse talk at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA on February 13th. I have a friend that works on a magazine called SACRED FIRE--she was there too. She wanted my thoughts on the evening.

Two things immediately struck me about Arvol Looking Horse as he walked down the aisle, flanked by security, to the stage. First, He is really tall. Second, THAT is a Very Serious Man. I didn't remember a lot of details about what he said because most of it I have already heard and knew deep in my heart to be Sad and TRUE. Mother Earth and all her Children are in pain and in danger of ceasing to live--Life is out of balance and the Hoop (Circle of Life) is Broken. Creator has warned all peoples in all places of the danger we are currently facing and what we have to do to repair the damage we two-leggeds have done-or face the consequences--extinction.

About 2,000 years ago the people that were the ancestors of the Native People now known as the Sioux were living in an "out-of-balance" way. The people were starving. Two scouts were out looking for the buffalo herds when they saw a woman walking toward them across the plains. She carried a bundle with her. One of the men had "evil" thoughts and she let him approach her. A wind carrying a cloud of dust and thunder and lightning spun around the pair and when the dust settled down the man was a pile of bones. The second scout knew this was a Wakan (Holy) Person and asked what he could do for her. She told him that she was aware of the desperate situation of his people and that she wanted him to return to the village and tell them what had just happened and to prepare a place for her. She said that she was coming and would be staying with them for a while and teaching them things they needed to know.

This Holy Woman taught the people the Seven Sacred Rites that are the core beliefs of the Sioux people. Among these rites is the Sacred Pipe--which is what she was carrying in her bundle.

When her time with the people was done, she left the pipe with them. This original pipe is still in existence and Arvol Looking Horse is the current caretaker of it. When this Holy Woman left the people she walked away from the village toward a herd of buffalo passing by. She lay down and rolled on the ground and when she stood up she was a black buffalo calf. She lay down and rolled again and got up as a red buffalo calf. She lay down again and stood as a yellow buffalo calf. The fourth time she lay down and rolled she got up as a white buffalo calf. From that day on she was known as White Buffalo Calf Woman.

White Buffalo Calf Woman had told the people that when things were really bad and the Hoop of the Nation was broken she would return as a White Buffalo Calf. During her life she would wear coats of all the colors of the races of man-White, Yellow, Red, Black and Brown.

It is generally acknowledged that the Hoop of the Nation was finally broken at Wounded Knee in 1890. The next 100 years can only be described as "Really Bad Years" as the US Government did everything in their power to totally annihilate the original inhabitants of this continent.

Arvol Looking Horse became the Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Bundle in 1966 at the age of 12 years. He was raised with the knowledge of the prophecies but didn't think the long-awaited White Buffalo would be born in his generation. Then MIRACLE was born in 1994 on a small farm in Wisconsin. Her coat turned all five colors as she grew up. Miracle was NOT an albino buffalo and her DNA was tested to prove she was 100% buffalo. Her birth brought a resurgence of Hope to all people-Native and non-Native alike. I kept a newspaper clipping about her birth on my office wall until the day I retired.

According to Arvol Looking Horse white animals show the Sacred Color. Many white animals are surfacing around the world. Beside white tigers there are white lions, kangaroo, alligator, deer, black bears, hedgehogs, elephants, ravens, moose and more. Arvol says, "When you see a white animal it is a Blessing but it is also a Warning that there are going to be some Big Changes, Earth Changes, Weather Changes on a Global Scale. We are in those changes now. A handfull of people cannot stop these changes. There HAS TO BE A SPIRITUAL UNITY IN THE WORLD. It takes ALL the people coming together with Good Hearts and Good Minds in order for this Earth to survive. There has to be Peace and Harmony. That is the Balance we have to create. In this new millennium we are going to create this. We are going to make history. We are going to make a change for the benefit of our children and our grandchildren. Our leaders today need to connect to help each other. There is no one person in the circle that is higher than another. It doesn't matter what part of the world we are in-we are all being effected globally. We must try to Walk In Prayer-there has to be a Spiritual Unity."

Arvol Looking Horse is the embodiment of Practicing what he Preaches. Starting with his own people, Arvol established the UNITY RIDE in 1995 from Wahpeton, Saskatchewan to the Black Hills. This ride unites the Dakota people forced from Minnesota into Canada by General Sibley in the winter of 1862-1863 with their southern relatives.

Arvol spoke with pride of riding on horseback with the Bigfoot Riders each December 15-29 through severe weather and extreme temperatures to understand the immensity of hardships suffered by Chief Bigfoot and his band. This past winter a teenage girl completed the ride. This extreme undertaking has been going on since 1986 and was started to fulfill the prophecy of "Mending the Sacred Hoop of the Nation."

The birth of MIRACLE in 1994 signaled that NOW is the time to step forward, and Arvol says "as caretakers of the heart of Mother Earth (the Black Hills) it is our responsibility to tell our brothers and sisters to seek Peace. We ask every nations to declare June 21, 1996 World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites Day. Pray at this time with us for your sacred areas."

In 1995 Arvol Looking Horse met with and obtained support from indigenous leaders in Canada, Malaysia, the Mayans and Maori. Each nations agreed to pray and hold ceremony at their sacred sites. Since then Arvol has traveled all over the world talking, praying and holding ceremonies that inspires and unite all peoples regardless of race and faith. Arvol Looking Horse was asked by the Elders of his nation to travel to Iraq and pray with the pipe for Peace. The Elders were concerned that this conflict could trigger World War III

At Evergreen State College Arvol talked about the sacred sites of the Earth. He mentioned the energy ley lines of the world and that where these lines cross each other there is a sacred site. The ancient peoples knew these sites and built places of worship there. Arvol said these are also places where we find deposits of oil, gold and other precious materials.

After Arvol talked his wife took the podium and she told many entertaining stories of places they had been and how their coming had been part of the prophecies of other cultures. One really sad note is that some of Arvol's own people are jealous and do not appreciate or understand the Work he is doing. While they are freezing on the rez in winter they can only think he is enjoying summer at the beach in South Africa or Australia.

I am happy my friend asked me for my thoughts about Arvol Looking Horses' presentation because it made me do some research. One thing not mentioned at the talk is the fact that Arvol is a Sun Dancer. When Arvol was made Keeper of the Sacred Pipe and chief at 12 years old he was told, "You do not have to Sun Dance because your whole life will be a sacrifice for the people. The people take care of the Keeper so you never work because you are the center and cultural carriers." Arvol said his decision to Sun Dance was a commitment to pray for the people for things to change for the good as they were not good now and seem only to worsen.....It was the right time to Sun Dance......at a time when the people were suffering from all the effects of genocide and religious suppression, alcohol and abuse was the way of life we saw.

I am trying to change that cycle of abuse we have toward one another. It is not an easy time to be the spiritual leader of this Nation. There is literally no support from the people. Our family has long been persecuted from remaining Lakota and traditional culture keepers.

As Keeper and chief, I ask people to look at the big picture. Look past your own personal situation and ask what have you volunteered for your people lately.

I don't expect all people to support me as it is as the traditional Lakota elders said it is to be, but at least show respect for our ways and prophecies. Our cycle of life where there is no ending and no beginning. Mitakuye Oyasin"

I cannot begin to imagine the weight of the burden the rests on the shoulders of Chief Arvol Looking Horse. I stick with my first impression of him--Tall and Very Serious. There is no slump to his shoulders. He bears his burden well. Serious-yes-and rightly so. Our time is running out and most people aren't even aware of how tenuous our life line with Mother Earth is. The Gulf Oil Spill, the unusual and extreme weather patterns, the massive die-offs of birds, fish and animals are all "Canaries in the Mines." The Canaries have stopped singing. Has anyone noticed? Arvol Looking Horse has. Can you hear White Buffalo Calf Woman speaking through him? Lay down your arms and embrace your brother and sister. Mitakuye Oyasin.

Statement from
Looking Chief Arvol Horse,

19th Generation Keeper
of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe

November 12, 2007

Edited by: Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer
Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)

Mitakuye,

Another great message has come to us from the animal nation. This time, it is more urgent then ever! It has come to my attention of another birth of a white buffalo, this time it is more different then any other sign.

So far since 1994, the same time that Global Warming was being announced; there have been at least 4-6 every year of these sacred buffalo calves that have stood upon the earth. Not only the buffalo have showed these signs to tell us of this great urgency that is upon us, but in many parts of the world, there have been other animal nations showing this sacred color. This color represents the south, the direction in which we pass through to the spirit world, a completed cycle. This interpretation has to do with the Bundle I take care of; that carries a prophesy from the White Buffalo Calf Woman. She told of a time when her spirit would stand upon the earth, a time of great changes were about to come to us all. A time when the two legged would have to make a decision to change their ways to heal the damage that they have created. Boundaries in respecting life and spirit will have become violated.

This birth is yet another sign, but brings more awareness of this urgency. This new birth has to do with 2 female buffalo kept in captivity, with no male buffalo present. It would be hard to believe, but in this instance, the place they live has kept this quiet, because they did not want to be accused of artificially inseminating the female buffalo. There have been these types of instances that have been done in the past, concerning publicity in owning a white buffalo calf.

The Woodland Zoo in Farmington, Pennsylvania decided to bring in two female buffalo to their facility. One of the females was pregnant when she arrived. After she had the calf, it was sold, 6 months later, she gave birth to another calf, this time it was white. Buffalo carry for 9 months as humans do. The other female she lived with, gave birth 9 months later to a black buffalo after the white calf stood upon the earth, again no male buffalo present.

This was brought to my attention a while back. I did not want to state anything till I took this through ceremony, to understand the truth and the message.

Since 1994, these kinds of signs have been coming, but it seems that people do not listen or want to see anything important from the animal nation’s messages.

This has a lot to do with faith.

What was told is as follows: This is a very dangerous time we are in! The minds of the people on Unc’i Maka (Grandmother Earth) are choosing to focus on a new way of life that is hurting us all in the global community. This way of life chooses war, hurting one another physically and verbally, and continued desecration to Unc’i Maka in taking more then what we truly need in her resources. These decisions not only hurt our own People, but the animal nations are dying in large numbers to extinction by this new way of life we are accepting. Unc’i Maka is going to have a hard time to continue to bring food to all life. These decisions need to be changed very soon and are in each and every one of your hands more then ever. Respect to the spirit of life needs to be brought back; boundaries need to put back into place and faith needs to be present in everyone’s life once again.

We have no choice but to listen!

May Peace prevail on Earth, in a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning!

Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox

2011-03-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

"Spring Equinox. It is one of only two days during the year - the other being the autumnal equinox - when the amount of daylight and the amount of darkness we experience is exactly equal.

The word equinox derives from the Latin words "aequus" (equal) and "nox" (night).

In celestial terms, this is the day that the sun is positioned directly above the Earth's equator, or more correctly, the day that the center of the sun crosses the celestial equator (the projection of the Earth's equator onto the sky).

The spring, or "vernal" equinox marks the official first day of spring. Well, at least in the northern hemisphere it does. If you live in Australia or other points below the equator, it marks the first day of autumn. For this reason, many modern-day astronomers and scientists prefer to use the terms "March equinox" and "September equinox" to be more accurate, and to divorce the names from their origins in a time during history when the Northern viewpoint ruled the rest of the world.

In the United States, this auspicious day, which carries connotations of rebirth, growth, and fertility, is rarely celebrated or even noticed. Earth Day, when it was first created in 1970, was celebrated on March 21, but has since been moved to April 22.

The equinox does have something of an association with Easter, which is not surprising considering the correlations between the Resurrection, and the cycle of life that re-starts with the beginning of spring and the end of winter.

The canonical rule states that Easter must fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. This year the full moon and the vernal equinox both fall on March 21, so Easter is on Sunday March 23.

If you are a practicing Wiccan, you may celebrate Ostara today. In Wiccanism, a pagan, earth-based form of worship, Ostara is roughly equivalent to Easter. The feast of Ostara celebrates the coming of spring, fertility, and the exuberance of nature.

In other countries, March 21 is quite a big deal. Many cultures and religions celebrate the equinox both formally and informally. Often these celebrations have their origins in ancient pagan agricultural traditions and practices that acknowledge the start of spring as a time of rebirth and growth.

In Iran, the festival of Nowruz is celebrated on March 21, which actually represents the first day of the New Year on the ancient Persian calendar. Legend says that Jamshid, the mythical king of Persia, ascended to the throne on this day, an event that is commemorated with two weeks of festivities. The celebration is rooted in Persia's 3,000 year old links with Zoroastrianism, and recalls the ancient creation myths and cosmology of the Persian people.

In Japan, Vernal Equinox Day (shunbon no hi) is a national holiday, a day that the Japanese people spend admiring nature and living things, and visiting the graves of their ancestors. This holiday was first celebrated way back in the year 806.

In Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Albania, Kurdistan, Zanzibar and various countries of central Asia, the day is also an official holiday.

Many archaeological structures and monuments were built with the equinox in mind. In Egypt, it is believed that the great Sphinx was intentionally built pointed directly at the sun on the day of the vernal equinox.

Historians believe that Stonehenge, the famous stone monument on the Salisbury Plain in southern England, was built by sun-worshiping Stone Age people to predict and track the various equinoxes and solstices."

By Francisca Rivas/The Signal

Can White People be Shamans?

2011-02-24T16:23:00.000-08:00

A Shaman’s Voice

"I suppose the question might be absurd, but I guess here's the place to ask right? I'm interested in shamanic practices, but I'm afraid how well I'd be received by others. It seems I've heard both sides of the story. I've been told that white people have treated the earth with such disrespect for so long that they no longer possess the connection and skills to listen to her. On the other hand, I've been told that shamanism more or less finds you, and its a matter of the spirit, rather than the color of your skin. Uggh. I'm so confused. I would really like some feedback on this."

By Shamans Portal Newsletter April 2010

I've been giving this some thoughts on this subject. I get phone calls frequently asking to take a class (often for a weekend) that will make someone a Shaman. Yes, let's wave the magic rattle and take the pill that does the job, for a stiff fee of course. Why people teach like that can only be explained by greed for money and ignorance. Strong statement but something that has been bothering me. So there it is.

I've been studying Core Shamanism for many years and believe that for the most part the various tribes and cultures around the world believe someone is just born that way. Yes, even in our USA modern world white people come from countries from all over the world, our blood is mixed with many tribes, our DNA makes us brother and sisters, of the global village.

Shamanism is not a Native American word but is from Siberia and has been somewhat 'coined' to stand for a certain type of healer. This is NOT to take from our US Native brothers and sisters, just history that some are not familiar with.

Shamanism and the healing arts have been and still are practiced in every country of the world and no one holds the 'rights' to say they belong to one people alone.

Now being a Shaman and Walking a Shamanic Path are two entirely different things. Anyone, willing to spend time working with the Spirits, Elements, Nature in all her forms, talking the time to learn to walk with Earth based Spiritually, can walk a Shamanic Path.

Being a Shaman when called takes years of study, commitment to the community of man and a willingness to live a life of service to the various communities. It is a choice and one that a person can say no to. All our choices, actions and reactions have effects. It is not some glamorous job and often Shamans live a very solitary life. In some areas they live outside the community but close as to be there as needed.

It is very confusing to someone walking that path in an average US area (outside of tribal) because the needs of the Shaman are not met by the community; wood for their fires, food to eat and other necessities. In tribal areas around the world a person rarely holds a straight job which is discordant with the energy that a shaman works with and the time needed to find the stillness to be available to the Spirits.

"It seems to me to be an absurd question, for thousands of years Shamans ( a Siberian word ) to mean Medicine Person who works with specific types of healing and teachings. They have been and still are found in every country, going back for hundreds of years. Shaman never has meant Native American Healer alone, and I think that is where a lot of the confusion comes from. No one takes a weekend warrior class or reads a book to become a Shaman. I agree that anyone can learn to walk a 'shamanic path', regardless of religion or not, ethnic background, etc. Being a Shaman is to be in Service of the Community, not just their local circle or clan, but the community of human kind and the balance of Mother Earth. It is not a label that makes one special, yet their ethics and how they live says it all about who they are. Choose your healer or mentor carefully. Listen with your heart and your head. Blessings .... Tana Rose - Blue Deer Woman

Ancient Techniques in Modern Journeys

2011-02-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

I found this site by the researcher Edie Stone, MA, LPC. It is an excellent resource on Shamanism in many forms. Although I might not agree with every point, I feel it is well worth passing to you for your contemplation. With her permission this is shared and the link to continue at the bottom. Enjoy!

"Shamans were the world's first healers, priests, and therapists. The word "shaman" or "saman" comes from a Siberian tribe, but most indigenous societies around the world relied on someone who could perform this role when they faced illness, loss of spirit, or other crises. Cave paintings in southern France suggest that shamanic practices are at least 20,000 years old.

Scientists have studied contemporary shamans, and the shamanic state of consciousness (or SSC). Although tribal shamans are often skilled at herbal remedies and other healing techniques, the essential quality of shamans is their ability to "journey." In a typical journey, a shaman enters a special state of consciousness, encounters spirit beings, and returns with knowledge or healing for a client or the community.

Recent research and practical experience show that some aspects of shamanic healing and awareness are accessible to all of us, even though we live in the modern world. Almost everyone can learn to journey. It is a natural state of consciousness that I believe is part of our spiritual birthright as human beings.

The Shamanic State of Consciousness (SSC)

The shamanic state of consciousness has several qualities that distinguish it from other altered states of consciousness such as meditation, dreaming, channeling, hypnosis, or daydreaming. The first quality is the degree of control: like mediators, shamanic practitioners enter and leave a journey by choice. Within the journey, they are able to exercise their free will, maintain focus on their intentions, and make conscious choices.

Most people are quite alert and able to concentrate, even speak, within the journey. Unlike some forms of hypnosis and channeling, the SSC does not produce amnesia. People return from journeying with clear, vivid memories. However, techniques for processing the journey are important for maintaining and integrating the shamanic experience into one's life.

The content of a journey depends directly on the intention. People typically travel through a landscape and encounter animals, spirit beings, guides, angels, saints, or ancestors who have wisdom and healing to share. Sometimes people visit scenes from their childhood or past lives, or reclaim power and soul qualities that were lost during traumatic events. Most journeys have a strong visual aspect, but some are experienced through sound, physical sensations, flows of energy, movement, or a deep inner knowing. Some journeys are serene and joyful, others involve a deep release of emotion, followed by an experience of love, power, or healing energy. Many people are surprised to find what a good sense of humor their spirit guides have."

http://www.ediestone.com/ancient_techniques.html

Unity in Diversity

2011-01-14T15:17:00.001-08:00

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things,
but look what they can do when they stick together.

- Vesta M. Kelly

What is community or family all about, global or local? Truly honoring each other, which includes our differences, makes us like a beautiful garden, where many colors, styles and shapes brings incredible beauty. We have Unity in Diversity when Spiritually aware.

North Gate Buffalo Totem

2010-12-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

Why pay attention to the animals that come to us? Each animal is imbued with an essence of the Creator, each is a powerful teach from the humble slug to the powerful Buffalo. Look to their life style, pray and predator relationships. What do they eat, and in what seasons do they change to adapt to the life style. Basically, be here now and pay attention to our animal brother and sisters. They are your teachers.

"Buffalo's humped shoulders and horns indicate stored-up power. When threatened, buffalo create a defensive circle in which cows encircle the calves, and bulls encircle the cows. When provoked, buffalo can be unpredictably dangerous.

The Plains Indians hold the buffalo sacred. Tribes would offer prayers of gratitude both before a hunt and after a buffalo was killed to honor the spirit of the animal that provided them meat, shelter, and clothing.

Buffalo reminds us to give thanks for what we have, and pay tribute to the sacrifice of life that allows us to survive. It comes to teach us to reconnect with the Earth, respect all life, and honor our own divine essence."

http://www.animaltotem.com/

Birth Scripts

2010-09-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

The dragonfly is a reminder that when our deeper thoughts rise to the surface we must pay attention - there are lessons to be learned, and we are also reminded that what we think is directly proportionate to what we "see on the surface."

From the moment in life when we take our first breath, we are programmed and imprinted by our culture, our family’s customs, and all the aspects of our environment. We learn by observance, and are truly beings of imitation. Our adult life is thus spent when one is spiritually awaking, in examining which of the scripts, habits and imprints that we have picked up along the way, serve us and the world, and which ones do not.

The good news about being such malleable creatures is that through intentionality we can releases that which does not serve us, our families, our communities and the world.

We learn through spiritual practice to stay in the perennial moment of now, each day and each moment is a chance to make choices for the highest good. As spiritual beings we can use the energy of this time of year to begin anew. We, too can “take the first light of day” each day and thus create our own unique Path of Beauty.

Comman Core Shamanic Beliefs

2010-09-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

"Shamans have been found in every period of history, world-wide. There are certain core beliefs that all shamans hold in common, which give meaning, comfort, and wisdom to millions of people.

Find out if you are aligned with the principles of shamanism. Read the seven core beliefs here:

1. The belief that everything and everyone is part of a pattern and thus interconnected.

2. The belief in the existence of an alternate reality, often referred to as the spirit world or dream time by traditional people, or as non ordinary reality by modern mystics.

3. The belief in the ability of some individuals to achieve transcendent states of consciousness and enter the alternate reality for problem solving and healing of self and others; this belief is usually accompanied by a strong desire to personally experience the alternate reality.

4. The belief in the existence of spirit helpers and teachers who reside in the alternate reality. Although most modern mystics tend not to affiliate with organized religion, Jesus of Nazareth is regarded as a spirit teacher of great power, and most profess the belief in some form of supernatural godlike being or consciousness.

5. The belief that everything, both animate and inanimate, is imbued with a personal supernatural essence or soul; thus, everything everywhere is aware and thus “minded” to some degree.

6. The belief in the existence of an impersonal power or vital force that pervades all things and is expressed as life force in animate beings–the mana of the Polynesians, the chi of the Chinese, the prana of yoga, the num of the Kalahari bushmen, or the baraka of the Muslims.

7. The belief in the existence of a personal energy body that can be perceived by some as an aura and can be enhanced through the energy centers within it–called chakras and meridians in Eastern thought."

Adapted from Visionseeker, by Hank Wesselman, PhD (Hay House, 2001).

Core Shamanism Indigenous Beliefs

2010-09-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

While groups of indigenous people are certainly unique, the core spiritual beliefs of most native people are remarkably similar.

Find out if you have any beliefs in common with Lakota Sioux, or Quero Apache, with Kenyan Kikuyu, or Australian Aboriginal. The answer may surprise you, and these core principles will certainly inspire you and give you food for thought.

Most indigenous people are still deeply connected to the earth. Here are the common spiritual beliefs that many native people hold sacred:

1. The earth is sacred, and so is everything which lives in or upon it. This precludes unthinking killing, destruction, or waste. When life must be taken–to nourish yourself, for instance–you do it with gratitude and in a spirit of mindfulness.

2. Everything is alive and has spirit. There is no such thing as an inanimate object: rocks and trees, no less than animals or humans, are alive and are the keepers of wisdom and information that wants to be communicated to humans.

3. Everything is related. We are all connected inextricably to all there is.

4. It is vital to connect with others through group ritual. Bonding with others through shared ritual experience is a celebration of the great All. This feeling of deep belonging and interrelationship is quite different from the cultural disconnectedness from which we are currently suffering.

5. You can experience Spirit directly and with joy. The ecstatic experience is a human birthright, making numinous communion with Spirit a joyous possibility.

Cait Johnson posted this comments on Shamanic Beliefs

The Garden

2010-08-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Where My Garden Grows My Soul Blooms

Plant three rows of peas:

Peace of mind

Peace of heart

Peace of soul.

Plant four rows of squash:

Squash gossip

Squash indifference

Squash grumbling

Squash selfishness.

Plant four rows of lettuce:

Lettuce be faithful

Lettuce be kind

Lettuce be happy

Lettuce really love one another.

No garden should be without turnips:

Turnip for service when needed

Turnip to help one another

Turnip the music and dance.

Water freely with patience and

Cultivate with love.

There is much fruit in your garden.

Because you reap what you sow.

To conclude our garden

We must have thyme:

Thyme for fun

Thyme for rest

Thyme for ourselves.

Unknown

I Want to Love Today!

2010-08-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

I want to love today.

Right now.

For every time I felt anger.

Every time I was on the side of hate.

I want to love.

For every time I was struck down by pain.
When I was left out in the rain.

I want to love.

To make things whole again.

~DP Daniella Pawl

The Children Dance

2010-06-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

And the Children of the World Will Lead Us ~ Listen

As many of you know, we dance the Naraya each year, it is in many locations around the US. It is a dance of peace, prayer, comunity, growth and the many blessings of life ...

This prayer was for the Children that danced this year and of course for all the children of the world. Never more than now has it been true, it takes a village to raise a child, a global villiage.

I dance . . .

. . . for my great grandmother.
. . . to go to school, to play and learn new things.
. . . for my parents (for them to be nicer) and for my family never to get sick.
. . . for my mama holding me in her arms.
. . . to dance, drum, and sing.
. . . for an end to my sorrow (about my dad), for happiness.
. . . for a smooth red rock and for all the plants that have died.
. . . for peace, love, and a houseboat.

Please keep the prayers of these young ones in your hearts.
Love, Thomas, gatekeeper for the children

Love Has Always been the Key to Life, Health and Joy

2010-06-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

The greatest weapon of any Spiritual Warrior is love.

Love will change minds; love will forgive;

love will let go; love will cause good luck;

love will heal; love will cry;

love will get rid of resentments; love will overcome fear.

Love loves love.

Any human who is loving will be guaranteed respect.

Respect loves love.

We need to love and respect ourselves.

Courtesy of Jeanne Chen

The Children and Songs Say it All - Let it Spill

2010-06-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to the oil spills of our beloved Mother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfEUbZQAlU&feature=related

The Time Has Come to Speak to the Hearts of our Nations and their Leaders

2010-06-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

From:
Oyate, Arvol Looking Horse:

Chief Looking Horse

A Great Urgency: To All World Religious and Spiritual Leaders

My Relatives,

Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their Leaders. I ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together from the Spirit of your Nations in prayer.

We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the World; we are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing their sacred color, which have been signs for us to pray for the sacred life of all things. As I am sending this message to you, many Animal Nations are being threatened, those that swim, those that crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations, eventually all will be affect from the oil disaster in the Gulf.

The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we cannot afford to continue to make.

I asked, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in prayer with the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these serious issues will continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our Ancestors have warned us of in their Prophecies.

I know in my heart there are millions of people that feel our united prayers for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I believe we as Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our thoughts and prayers to allow the healing of the many wounds that have been inflicted on the Earth.

As we honor the Cycle of Life, let us call for Prayer circles globally to assist in healing Grandmother Earth (our Unc¹I Maka).

We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.

As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And that what we create can have lasting effects on all life.

So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us make a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our children's future and well-being, and the generations to come.

Onipikte (that we shall live),

Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
http://www.Wolakota.org

Since the early 90's, Chief Looking Horse has been on the Board of the Society of Peace of Prayer that plants Peace Poles around the world, carrying the inscription "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in four different languages. His biography can be found at http://arvollookinghorse.homestead.com/chief_arvol_bio_2001.html

Please pass this message along....
May 12th, 2010

URGENT MESSAGE FROM KIESHA, LITTLE GRANDMOTHER

2010-06-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

Our Earth Mother

On June 6th... at 12:00 noon Mountain standard time (2 PM EST)... i ask that all the tribe of many colors join together in prayer.. meditation.. journey.. for the loving, healing and embracing of our hurting Mother Earth.. I call you all with a thundering voice to hear me.. Gather yourselves together..Let us pray together to help hold space for our hurting Mother.. Spread the message to all that will hear!
Spread the message to all that will hear you, this is very important!

This is our first main act as the Tribe of many colors to make a difference for our Mother.. We must act as one.. We are the Tribe the ancient ones have spoken about and now it is time to assemble ourselves to call for a change.. to use our hearts and our love to call out to ... See Moregreat spirit, the star brothers and sisters to join us in giving our Mother Earth Love and healing light..

They will hear you, our star brothers and sisters are listening and waiting for us to call out to them... they are real and willing to help us.. We must join our hearts and our souls.. its now time to pray for our Beloved Mother.. the time is now.. we MUST ACT .. and act as one.. Spread the message to all that will hear you.. On June 6th at Noon.. 12:00 Mountain Standard time (2 PM EST) gather your hearts together and your prayers..

As Little Grandmother, as the shaman of this tribe of Many Colors, as Wisdom Keeper of Mother Earth and Council Woman and Shaman I call to all those who will hear my cry.. We must pray for our Mother.. as one heart.. as one people, as one tribe and we Will be heard!!

Great changes are upon us.. they will come! they are on their way.. when it looks frightening know that the change is for the greatest good.. and we Have Help!! now my family.. my tribe.. go and spread the message where ever you can.. we pray together on the 6th !!!!!!!!!! go now.. go with my blessing and go with my love.. i love you

Your Little Grandmother! Tuswecaskawin / WhiteHummingbird

Call from Chief Arvol Looking Horse

2010-05-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

Chief Arvol Looking Horse : A Great Urgency

Great Urgency

To All World Religious and Spiritual Leaders

My Relatives,

Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their Leaders. I
ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together from the Spirit
of your Nations in prayer.

We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the World; we
are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing their sacred color,
which have been signs for us to pray for the sacred life of all things. As
I am sending this message to you, many Animal Nations are being threatened,
those that swim, those that crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations,
eventually all will be affect from the oil disaster in the Gulf.

The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The
catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the
bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we
cannot afford to continue to make.

I asked, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in prayer with
the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these serious issues will
continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our Ancestors have warned us of
in their Prophecies.

I know in my heart there are millions of people that feel our united prayers
for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I believe we as
Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our thoughts and prayers to
allow the healing of the many wounds that have been inflicted on the Earth.
As we honor the Cycle of Life, let us call for Prayer circles globally to
assist in healing Grandmother Earth (our Unc¹I Maka).

We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the
winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be guided in
repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we
make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.

As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And that
what we create can have lasting effects on all life.

So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along
with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World
Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether it is a natural
site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us
make a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our
children¹s future and well-being, and the generations to come.

Onipikte (that we shall live),

Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
(Wolakota.org)

We are all One Family ~ Woman Must take Their Place

2010-04-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, Wilma Mankiller, the FIRST WOMAN CHIEF of the Cherokee Nation crossed over from complications of cancer. She was Chief from 1985-1995 and during her presiding, the Western Band of the Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma based where she was born) and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation (where my ancestors are from before the Trail of Tears took them to Oklahoma) were ceremonially reunited for the first time.

She was an activist for not only tribal rights and women's rights but provided a role model of grace, strength and spirit. Her near death experience in graduate school in San Francisco coupled with kidney cancer and neurological challenges not only did not keep her from rising to a position of leadership, they, as she herself told it, made her unflappable and strong and pure of heart.

As they say in today's terms:"You go Girl!!!"

Oddly and not coincidentally, there was a woman chief of the Northern Alabama Tribe of the Cherokees a few years back under whose guidance Sequoia Caverns began a process of being returned to the Cherokees. That hasn't happened yet and it seems that the Eastern Band wants to take it over and build a casino there like the massive Harrah's here in Cherokee, NC.

The role of women in tribal governance is symptomatic of the increasing role of women in all walks of life and government. Women of all colors and tribes are helping shape international policy and are bringing back a much needed and much missed balance of men and women in everything from our immediate families to our extended families to our global families.

Let us celebrate the crossing over of a Great Chief. Let us further resolve to live according to the standards and values that she epitomized.

Blessing All of Our Relations.

Franklin
PIXIE
Son of the Cherokee Nation

Imbolc - Celebration of the Old Ways Today

2010-02-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

The peope of the earth walk many paths and all are a part of the great circle of life. Some paths cross over others without people even being aware. An example is the celebration of Imbolc. No matter your way, as their is no 'THE' way, you can say 'Our Way as One People' with many paths!

THE CHILDREN of planet earth are subject to many systems that hold sway over their daily lives -- some of them, like government, tribe and family, are localized. Others are broader still, like environment, physical science and, we assert, astrology. Some are ancient and powerful and have been largely forgotten. With the constant and amazing astrology of these last months (and the months ahead) creating a slipstream of change and turmoil, we enter the period Wiccans and people of the old religion call Imbolc.

Imbolc, occurring February 2 - 6, is a midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere) -- it's a cross-quarter of the solar wheel. It calls for the blessing of the seeds, and the awareness of new life, still unseen, springing from within. It's one of our ancient turning points, a shift in awareness away from the dormancy of winter and into anticipation of the birthing that spring brings us. Many consider it a sacred doorway of energy, and the Wiccans hold that the quarter-points are even more potent than the Cardinal points of Equinox or Solstice, the Druids referencing them as Major High Days and celebrations. The Catholic church adopted this date for its celebration of Candlemas, a commemoration of the purification of Mary after giving birth, as well as the presentation of Jesus in the temple forty days after his birth. It signifies both an ending and a beginning.

In the secular world, this same time frame brings us Groundhog Day. We will discover how long winter will remain with us based on the comings and goings of a pudgy rat-type mammal with buck teeth. While that seems somewhat absurd to me, given that we are no longer witness to a natural and undisturbed world as were our forefathers, it makes me smile to think of Bill Murray clutching a chattering groundhog (in the movie Groundhog Day) and speeding toward a cliff, telling it not to "drive angry." That movie fascinates me, anyway, it is wise well beyond its gag lines. In fact, it's a portrait of human enlightenment in slow motion. There comes a moment in the long looping days of the anti-hero in which he understands that contributing to the happiness and well being of others is the way in which he will find his own. He turns his attention to changing himself instead of manipulating those around him, and finds that his world has changed for the better. It even delivers him a "happy ending."

My daughter sent me an e-mail this week, one I'd received dozens of times in my in-box, containing a bit of wisdom I'd heard well before there was an Internet. It was something I was mindful of, a kind of 'default truth,' and yet it jumped off the page at me this time. It reminded me that bits of information come to us like seeds, planted and awaiting their moment to break through the barriers of our attention. It seemed to me the perfect message to meet this period of Imbolc, of eclipse, of energies gone direct and retrograde, of major planetary change.

The old spiritual saws remind us of our connection with all that's outside of us, not in the way we usually think of it but as an extension of our internal process: as above, so below -- as within, so without. All we think of as outside of us begins within us, in our attitudes, our ability to meet life with honesty and integrity, our aptitude for getting out of our own way and glimpsing a larger picture of our own activity and behavior. What does that look like?

by Judith Gale

How Do You See Me?

2010-02-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

If you give Me a Name,
your eyes will see Me with that Feeling.

If you give Me an Age,
your mind may know Me with that much Energy.

If you give Me a Personality,
you may think you Know Me.

Allow Me to be Nameless and ever Changing.
Allow Me to be Ageless and to live in this Moment.
Allow Me to be Non- discreet and to melt in...to your Needs.
If you feel you must name ME,

let my name be LOVE.
If you feel you must age ME,

let my age be FOREVER.
And if you must know ME,

then know ME as YOURSELF :)

- Unknown -

Who Should We Care For?

2009-12-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

Let us take care of the children,
for they have a long way to go.
Let us take care of the elders,
for they have come a long way.
Let us take care of those in-between,
for they are doing the work.

-African Prayer

Prayers for Full Moon Ceromony

2009-10-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Father Heaven, Mother Moon, Friend Earth I am a part of you.
I appreciate that you let me stay here.

I am here as expression of love and joy.
I humbly swear that I will share love with people.

Please bring peace, hope and joy to this world through me as your tool.
I live as a person who is kind to the familiar people.

I live as a person who loves unknown people.
Please guide me so.

May this world be filled with a lot of love and light.
May people be happy with big smile

May all the children always be safe and happy.
Father Heaven, Mother Moon, Friend Earth I pray from my heart.
Aho Blessed One, Aho

Sweet Darkness

2009-10-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the nigh

At has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love

The dark will be your womb tonight.

The night will give you a horizon further than you can see.

You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn that

anything or anyone that does not bring you alive you have made too small for you.

The House of Belonging

by David Whyte

Let Go

2009-10-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

How often do we carry judgement and anger which in reallity even if justified, only hurts us and often over time brings illness to our body, not only mentally or emotionally, but many illnesses of the body caused due to holding this energy.

FIRST STEP OF WISDOM: Acceptance without judgement 'nor rancor AND with out needing to know why! Work to embed this into who you are over the next few years and I'll give you number Two. Step One is the difficult one, rest a breaze if you ask me!

To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny,
but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.

-excerpt from "Letting Go Takes Love"
Author Unknown

Sweet Lodge Dates Change

2009-10-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

PLEASE NOTE: CHANGING SWEAT LODGE DAYS TO SATURDAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER ON YOU!

THIS STARTS IN OCTOBER 19TH. Everything else is the same, RSVP really helps when you can.

See info on Sweats on the left column of this blog, all new folks welcome. Please call with any questions.

Tana Hamiter ~ Blue Deer Woman

360-708-6916

Turtle Clan is an open clan and welcomes old and new alike, healing ceremonies, releasing rituals, namings, and what ever you are asking for.

Spirits of the Trees

2009-09-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Spirits of the Trees . . .

I ask that your guiding presence be strong,rooted deeply and firmly while reaching ever greater expanses.Teach the people of this earth.And may we live peacefrom our feet to our fingersfrom coccyx to crownfrom Inside to Outside.

Aho Blessed Ones, Aho!

Pray for For Friends and Enemies - Why?

2009-09-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Pray for your friends, but by all means, pray for your enemies. And don't pray that they'll change; pray that you might change-- from an accusatory mind to a loving one.

-- A Course in Miracles

Prayer ~ Oh Great Spirit

2009-09-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

O Great Spirit,

Whose voice I hear in the winds,
and whose breath gives life to all the world,

hear me! I am small and weak,

I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in Beauty, and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy- myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

- Native American prayer

From the Highest Mountain I Could See

2009-08-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being. And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy.

- Black Elk
1863-1950

Great Mystery

2009-08-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

Great Mystery!

In a flash of awakening
I see around me
all the medicine you have sent to me.
What enormous power sits before me as my pipe.
What awesome blessing sits before me as the loving presence of Buffalo.
What incredible help and assistance overflows my altar with the presence of Grandfather Fire Sacred Water Turtle Froggy Rock Nation Angel of Brazil Sage Horsey Eagle Rattles Grandma Emma Red Dog & Sapphire Arrow Bundle Ancestors Pictures Galore!

Thank you Great Mystery for reminding me of the overflowing spiritual abundance all around me, ALL the time.

But there are days, Great Mystery
I forget my Source, entangling myself in illusion and drama Forget to receive and take in the medicine all around me as if I am a starving beggar at my own banquet.

I pray today for peace, to open my heart wide and invite the abundance of medicine in, to feed and nourish my mind, body, and spirit.

by BabaSink

Lost ~ David Wagoner

2009-07-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

LOST

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you Are not lost.

Wherever you are is called Here,

And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,

Must ask permission to know it and be known.

The forest breathes. Listen. It answers, I have made this place around you.

If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.

No two branches are the same to Wren.

If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,

You are surely lost. Stand still.

The forest knows Where you are.

You must let it find you.

by David Wagoner

We the Children of the World Ask -

2009-07-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Prayers for Peace: 7-4-09

The third graders of Dewey Elementary School in Evanston, IL, wrote the following letter to the adults of the world out of a discussion concerning peace. The class, under the auspices of Ms. Pat Cleveland, used the talking circle as the foundation to learning in her classroom. She held a peace ceremony with her kids which culminated with the planting of a symbolic tree on the school grounds. From that ceremony came the following statement. These words have been sent around the world and read at the United Nations in General Assembly:

WE THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD are asking the adults to listen. We think that you need us to help you find peace in yourselves. If you start from the heart, peace can spread to other adults and it will get bigger. We ask you to forgive and be kind to one another. We are asking you to be respectful and to treat others the way you want to be treated. We want you to try a different way to solve problems. If everybody thought fighting was the only way, then the whole world would be at war. If you don't give peace to others then they won't give it to you.

This is a world we love but we would love it more if all the wars and fighting stopped. We have hope to bring peace to the world. We want our loved ones safe. We want our families safe - no matter where they are.

If we didn't fight, the grass would be greener, the water would be cleaner, and the animals would be healthier. The world would be the best place. We want you to stop cutting down trees and hurting living things.

We are saying "ENOUGH!" We want the land mines, the nukes and suicide bombing to stop. We want the judging people to stop and want to know people by who they are on the inside.

We need to try and understand each other and to learn about each other. We want people to come together and share their hearts. We want the adults to be nice and to make your voices count. We are asking you to help our families get along. We know that peace starts with a thought. You need to let that thought come out. We are telling you that this is important because peace can change your life, our lives, someone else's and even the world.

There is a wonderful world waiting for us. We just need to believe in peace and in ourselves. That's the beginning. We can help each other.
Peace can go on forever. Peace can be so great.

3rd grade class
Dewey Elementary School
Evanston, IL

Support of Sacred Land Film Project

2009-07-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

Institute’s Sacred Land Film Project produces a variety of media and educational materials — films, videos, DVDs, articles, photographs, school curricula materials and Web site content — to deepen public understanding of sacred places, indigenous cultures and environmental justice. Winnemem Wintu War Dancers

Our mission is to use journalism, organizing and activism to rekindle reverence for land, increase respect for cultural diversity, stimulate dialogue about connections between nature and culture, and protect sacred lands and diverse spiritual practices.

For the last decade we have focused on the production and distribution of the documentary film, In the Light of Reverence. We are currently developing a four-part series on sacred places around the world, entitled Losing Sacred Ground.

http://www.sacredland.org/

Let Us Care for For Each Other with Love!

2009-06-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

ONE WORLD PLEASE ~ EVERY LIFE IS A GIFT FROM THE CREATOR!

Let us take care of the children, for they have a long way to go.

Let us take care of the elders, for they have come a long way.

Let us take care of those in-between, for they are doing the work. - African Prayer

Let this be a prayer of us all!

Earth - Air - Fire - Water

2009-05-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

I found my element - What is yours?

Earth is the element of substance. The people of the element are diverse and strong. They are persistant and enduring. Earth is usually related to being dedicated, determined, relaxed, and loyal.

What Element are YOU ~ Earth - Air - Fire or Water

You must be logged into your Face Book first, kinda fun!

Take the Test {Click Here}

I Have the Soul of Raven and Puma to Walk With

2009-05-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

Raven Soars the Dawn Sky Line

You have come out with Raven as your soul representation. This is a very interesting path for a being. I suppose the most important thing to remember about a persons life when they are under the Ravens wing would be, you have been here before.. you know all about this stuff and what you don't know you are about to find out. There is really nothing too surprising or amazing to a Raven person.. new things, sure, but as they have been witness to so many massive shifts over the miriad of lifetimes required to lead a Raven life, there are virtually no real surprises.

The danger for a raven soul is landing in an area where there are no other ravens and no real competition for them. A Raven needs some powerful reflection and only another Raven can do that for them as they know that they are the only ones who really understand. An old soul does not protect a person from falling into a trap of getting too comfortable and growing lazy. Laziness is deadly for a Raven, they need the power of their wings to carry their great bodies high above the world so that they can gain the perspective that they so need in order fulfill their ultimate destinies here on earth. For each Raven has a particular mission to complete their earth cycle. Find out what it is Raven. You may be comfortable and unshaken, but are you alert and fulfilling your vision. Puma Walks With Me at Night

Prayer for Honoring All that Is

2009-04-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

Grandfather, Mysterious One,

We search for you along this

Great Red Road you have set us on.

Sky Father, Tunkashila,

We thank you for this world.

We thank you for our own existence.

We ask only for your blessing and for your instruction.

Grandfather, Sacred One,

Put our feet on the holy path that leads to you,

and give us the strength and the will to lead

ourselves and our children past the darkness we have entered.

Teach us to heal ourselves,

to heal each other and to heal the world.
Let us begin this very day,this very hour,

the Great Healing to come.

Let us walk the Red Road in Peace.

Pine Ridge Reservation in Need of YOUR Help

2009-01-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

I recieved the following prayer request and feel a deep call to pass it on to YOU. For those following and earth based path and those that realize the land we live on is from the true Native People, please read the following and give if at all possiable. These are dear people we know and work with, they also help others selflessly, but life and death is in our hands. We are all ONE people.

Siz'l Moon Song requests our help on behalf of the people:

Dear Ones,

I received this cry for help as my work with elders takes on many forms, and felt the need to pass it on to you my fellow dancers, with a heartfelt belief we can make a difference to these native folks in desperate need of food, blankets, money etc ... Please read, pray, and do what you can, and notify others you think might be help in this crisis.

''Emergency Winter Heating/Utility Assistance Program for the Elders, Disabled, and Seriously Ill.''

Winter in South Dakota started early Autumn 2008 and has been exceptionally brutal with days and nights already breaking many records for below 0*F temperatures and reported wind chill factors defying comprehension at -72*F. On the Pine Ridge Oglala Sioux Reservation, this has set even the most solid of reservation organizations scrambling for heating fuel. Add to the problem a 33% increase in propane costs this year and it has become a very tenuous situation.

Sadly, like everywhere, it's always the elders and sick who are the most at risk. Still there are many qualified elders and disabled from the Reservation on a waiting list for assistance.

Bitter cold temperatures and snow still persist and are expected to continue well into March 2009. But with the early onset of winter and the blizzards and extended frigid temperatures creating extreme need, funding is low or depleted at this point for most of them. The ultimate goal will be the programs provided which will continue to keep people alive and warm, one family at a time. FEMA is not helping.

More info can be found at http://www.republicoflakotah.com/ or Please visit http://www.nativeprogress.org to help send money, food, blankets etc...

The following address for mailing supplies:

ONE SPIRIT
28080 ALLEN RD.
ALLEN, SOUTH DAKOTA 57714

The woman in charge of directly working with the elderly on the reservation is:
Linda Bull Bear 605-454-0007 lbullbear@nativeprogress.org

Thank you Sooper Bear and Crow's World for bringing this to my attention...

Please- lets all pray and do whatever we can and also pass along this message to anyone else who might help... Thanks

Blessed Be - My Dear Family - thank you for sharing in my vision of and abundance for those in serious need!
Siz'l Moon Song
danehyde@hotmail.com

Biggest Full Moon 2009 - Jan. 10th

2009-01-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Earth, the moon and the sun are all bound together by gravity, which keeps us going around the sun and keeps the moon going around us as it goes through phases. The moon makes a trip around Earth every 29.5 days. Both the moon and the earth’s orbit are not perfect circle which is why there will be seasons when the moon or sun will be closer to our planet. This Saturday night (Jan. 10, 2009) the moon will be at perigee, the closest point to us on this orbit. This is the biggest full Moon of 2009.

How will you see it, celebrate or experience the event? What does the moon phases mean in your life?

It will appear about 14 percent bigger in our sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moons during 2009, according to NASA. (A similar setup occurred in December, making that month’s full moon the largest of 2008.)

Wisdom Tested and Release of a Sister

2008-12-30T21:22:00.000-08:00

What is an Elder, a wise one or old woman - really depends on the culture and how one feels about ourself!

What happens when a mother, great-grandmother, healer and medicine woman to do to honor her 60th year of Life? Really wanted to test and celebrate.

Well going for the traditional dinner and move or a surprise with fiends just didn’t cut the mustard, as they say. Wanting to know what the old gal still had in her, I asked for a couple of friends took me on a good hike up the North Cascade Mountain area heading towards the Pickets.

It was a full day outing and I packed my pack heavy to see if I can still lead the normal Vision Quest we offer each year. There was a glimmer of doubting myself but the other part of me said, “No pain no glory”. I can do it; my days of going out back are not over.

Yes, stubborn is a middle name at time, but one must know when to gracefully say enough is enough.

For me spending most of my life in either the Olympics where I grew up back packing since age 1o years old. Where we thought we were in hog heaven with a piece of plastic to sleep on and some MRIs from the military donated to the Girl Scouts.

But through it I grew to love the back country, raging rivers, wild life in abundance and glistening snow peaks.

Mark Ward, Kirk Williams, Dave (my hubby) and I dawned packs and headed up the river. Crisp cool but beautiful day, couldn’t have asked for better. First we went to the River and asked the Spirits of the land if we could walk in peace and harmony.

Our dear Friend Mickie had died earlier and this was the first time I could get her ashes back to where she last did a Vision Quest with us. I carried her ashes for the day and on our return that night, we made a feather fetish from things she had given me and asked that to go in a tree over where she quested.

Then we went to the River and while the Eagle Whistle blew, her ashes were released to the river and her favorite medicine song was sung.

“If we have courage, we shall be healers, like the sun we shall rise, we are alive as the earth is alive, we have the power to create our freedom, if we have courage we will be healers, like the sun we shall rise, if we have courage we shall be healers, like the sun we shall rise.

For you our Sister Mickie, we will always remember you, your spirit of strength and compassion, of courage and grace. Your dreams and your song. Thank you for letting us know you. Bless you Sister as you walk on before us. Aho Blessed One Aho!

Fall Equinox Celebration

2008-09-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Fall Equinox Celebration at Unity House

When : September 22: 2008, 2009: September 23, 2010

We gathered for a Sweat Lodge and fire, followed by a feast and then a Equinox Celebration Ceremony. It was a delightful surprise that one of my teacher, Lynette Edge, a medicine Woman from a long linage of the Swinomish Tribe came to join with us and share her medicine as well. It was a deep and delightfut event as we gathered.

The Autumn equinox signals the beginning of Fall. It is the point where there are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness at the equator. If you live anywhere else, however, you will see a little bit more or a little bit less than 12 hours of daylight. The daylight hours are dwindling and will continue to do so until we reach the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the start of winter.

Song: We Are Opening up to the Sweat Surrender

Dragon Medicine Lodge

Our Celtic ancestors celebrated Dragon Day at the spring and autumn equinoxes. The Dragon is an ancient symbol representing Earth energy, dynamism, fire, will and courage. At this time of autumn equinox we will invoke the Spirit of Dragon to carry the fire energy into the inner realms as Dragon retreats underground to prepare for the winter season. Hence this time of year gives us the opportunity to re-kindle the fire within to shine light onto our inner power and strength, our inner focus that allows us to connect with our wisdom. It is the time to stop and look within.

The double spiral is the Celtic symbol of the autumn equinox illustrating the in-breath and the out-breath, the point of balance between the worlds, the inner and outer journey.

Lamplight glimmers in darkened rooms
And you fold your hands across a swelling belly
Cradling the fruits of your labor.
The rich scent of new-mown hay, the dark Earth beneath it
Where seeds that fall soon deeply sleep
Here as we move towards the darkness of Samhain
The shadow that brings the light of Yule
Teach us to be willing to pause for a moment
To reflect on the season of growth
The crisp bite of air and the comfort of firelight and shadow.
Demeter, Isis, Arianrhod, Inanna, Freya,
Mother of Shadows,
Welcome!

Smoke hangs like haze over harvested fields
The gold of stubble, the brown of turned earth
And you walk under the red light of fall
The scent of fallen apples, the dust of threshed grain
The sharp, gentle chill of fall.
Here as we move into the shadows of autumn
The night that brings the morning of spring
Come to us, Lord of Harvest
Teach us to be thankful for the gifts you bring us
The bounty of your sacrifice
The warmth and the light of friends gathered around the bounty of the earth.
Dionysus, Osiris, Cernunnos, Dumuzi, Frey,
Lord of the grain,
Welcome!

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn;
All that dies shall be reborn!
Corn and grain, corn and grain,
All that dies shall live again!

We talked for sometime of the misconception the the Equinox is a Celtic Celebration when in fact it is held and has been for thousands of years through all cutures, lands and peoples. Each having their own way of honoring the turning of the season. It is easy to Google Search for Autumn Exquinox or Autumn Exquinox Rituals. Much is wrttten of the Celtic way becaue it is popular at this time, but dig a bit deeper and you will find a wealth of information to round out your awearness.

Autumn Equinox - Meditation

Breathe deeply and relax. Close your eyes. Let your breathing become slow, even, more and more relaxing. Relax, relax into the darkness. Relax deeper into yourself. Descend into yourself as deeply as you desire. As you descend, experience fully the sense of darkness. And know that although you descend to the depths of darkness, you are safe. And experience, too, that although you are deep within yourself, you are connected to all those here, and to many who have come before, and also to future generations.

In this darkness tonight we remember especially those who have come before us in this life and have passed from it. We may have experienced their death as darkness and we know that both darkness and light are part of nature's cycle.

You may want to remember now one particular person. You may even be able to sense their presence, here, now. See them now, if you wish, in the darkness surrounded by light. They are your past, but they can light your present and your future. (Pause)

On this night of balance, we seek to restore the balance in the world, and in ourselves. On this night of increasing darkness, we ask guidance in seeing clearly. On this night of beginnings and endings, we seek to understand the past, to fully experience the present, and to know what is necessary to continue successfully into the future.

Let us take a few minutes to gaze into the flames--or if you prefer, you may keep your eyes closed--to see, to know, these things. Let us look first to the past. See in the flame, or in your mind's eye, a time in the past that still concerns you. (Pause)

Ask what you need to know about that time to put it to rest. See it clearly now. (Pause)
And now see it fade, slowly, slowly, fade into the darkness. And as it fades you are at peace with it. It is over now, it has faded until you can no longer see it. And you are ready to look at the present. And so a second time you look into the flame with your eyes, or with your mind's eye. And you see a present situation. (Pause)

See it now clearly. (Pause)

If you are happy with this situation, keep it clearly in your sight. If there is something in this situation you would like to change, see it change now to exactly what you would like. See it clearly. (Pause)
And now, for the third time, look into the flame. And if there is anything about the future you need to know, you see it now, you know it now. (Pause)

And now, in your own way, you thank Our Great Mother for these visions and for this guidance now, as in the past, and in the future. (Pause)

And when you are ready, come back to this place and time.

Then with a round of chanting we all focused on sound or ward, saying what you need to express! -Love for Life

A Poem Shared
I am so small and yet I’m always cared for, My Share of abundance awaits.
And your life is yours just for the cost of living it - And even that is up to you.
“I love myself exactly the way I am” Counting Blessings and Thanking the Land
Connecting to the source of life -Opening hearts in simple gratitude and Returning love for life
So sit on the hill and watch the sunrise - Forget your hardships, break your bread
We give so much – We give so little - The balance settles with gratitude
Courting blessings, thanking the land, connoting to the source of life
Opening hearts in simple gratitude and return love for life
Returning love for life returning – love for life returning for the Love
Returning Love for Life

As we honored the seeds that we planted last Autumn, we examined what came to pass. We brought awearness to what we had followed up on and put our true intent behind. Then we looked at the year to come. "I let go of the past – then state your intentions (suggest writting them down)

We had each brought a gift or two, some wrapped, others not. Then in a Gifting Cermenoy that was lead by Spirit and we each shared why we brought that gift and the recieve looked at what the teaching or message was to them. It was quite delightful how it all turned out.

End with love of Life Poem and closing of the circle

Blessings to you all

Tana Hamiter - Blue Deer Woman

On Wings Of Light Web

Shamanism in Todays World

2008-08-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

Although Shamanism in thousands of years old and has been practiced in various forms in all around the world, today many people find themselves living in an industrialized nation with only a wisp of memory of the times we lived as tribal units. Does that mean Shamanism is a dead spiritual &cultural practice? NO, for much of the world time moved on but people still live in small groups, clans or tribes.

So where does that leave us that no longer have any Tribal communities or often even any cultural connections left. Is Shamanism still needed for the people? Yes, even perhaps more so and the crazy hustle and bustle of modern life can be quite disorienting to the natural ebb and flow of our being.

When we walk the Shamanic Path we learn that everything has its own spirit and that in these challenging times of turmoil and even distrust, becoming or developing shamanic awareness can be more important and useful than ever.

How do we / you see each other, not just locally in the family, neighborhood, country but globally? Do you see each other as spiritual beings, each and every one?

We are here to learn about love and unity; sharing willingly, seeing each person as a brother or sister. This is the time of chaos and challenge and it can be confusing, even a fearful time. But it helps to know that so many are awakening to a common goal – unity and peace. Global awareness of the beauty found in such diversity is truly a gift from the Creator.

It is time that we become so much more aware of the need to leave a lighter footprint on our Earth Mother. It shows Spiritual Maturity when we can honor all and walk in gratitude for how can we help others who are lost in confusion; some refer to as the shadow self? That can also be a great teaching. Respect, Service, Unity – the three sisters of Spirit.

It is an honor to walk the Shamanic Way as an Elder, Teacher and forever a Student.

Tana Hamiter – 'Blue Deer Woman'

http://www.onwingsoflight.com

Conclusion of Circle Gathers for the Season

2008-06-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

June 7th was the closure of out Soul Flight and Beyond Circle for the season.

We were hoping to spend the day in the mountains but alas, the weather was quite cold, wet and most folks don’t have the necessary clothing to go out and embrace the elements. I found getting out all year long a part of my physical, mental and certainly spiritual health. So if you don’t have the clothing necessary in your area of the world, suggest this is the year to hit yard sales, good will, or the camping stores and get it. There is nothing more invigorating that standing the river’s edge, with the river boiling, rain falling, winds blowing; it can make your feel so very alive. Let’s not just wait for balmy summer days! Anyway, off my soap box, grin!

We spent the day working deeply on Shamanic Journey, working with skills and how to phrase questions, taking one journey into the next to go deeper and deeper. It was rewarding and brought the power of the Shamanic journey back to us, who might have put it on the back shelf as a once in a while thing. It is best when remembering, you never lose your ability to journey BUT ‘use it or lose it’ as far as the depth of information you area able to receive and your relationships with your totems and guides.

We also talked about ideas for the summer and perhaps a new way to hold circle and events for the coming year. We are forming an inner circle of those people who want to have input into what we do, the flow and intent, ceremonies, etc. for Turtle Clan. Anyone who wants to be involved with that so their voice can be heard should contact me.

Of course drumming and song as always fills and heals the spirit. Singing, stories and drumming is at the heart of community every where I’ve been in the world, working with different Shamans, learning their ways. As the wheel turns we now look to the Summer Solstice and a new energy that flows. Blessings to you all. Tana ‘Blue Deer Woman’

Passing of our Sister Mickey McMahon

2008-05-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Our Dear Sister in Spirit,,,, Mickey McMahon passed on shortly after doing one last gathering with her community. She had so wanted to come to one last sweat lodge and be with her circle family. She came with a smile and twinkle in her eye and a deep knowing this would be her last time to be with us. We were blessed to have known Mickey and I’ll always remember how open and loving she was.

Always giving unselfishly of herself; never once complaining of the many years of relentless pain she was to endure. Her heart was open to each and every person. She taught by her living and by her dying that love is all we have to give. Help each other; be open and willing to forgive. Walk without judgment and always look for the rainbow within.

This is the River Where Mickey Did Her Last Vision Quest and Where Her Ashes are to be placed so that she can travel free .... that was her wish and so it shall be.

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush; I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight, I am the star shine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there. I do not die.

Mickey asked that her ‘soul was sung back home’ …. Friends gathered by the waters and we drummed and sang to her, shared the poem above that she would have read to us and then ended with the song, “We are sisters on a journey, with no beginning and never ending”.

With laughter and tears we remember and always will her smiling face and full heart, the times we shared and how blessed we are were to have known her.

Good by dear sister until we meet again. Your family the ‘Turtle Clan’.

The troubles of this world pass, and what we have left is what we have made of our souls.

Medicine Wheel and Wholeness

2008-04-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

My teachers and mentors have tought me in the Medicine Way that there is no greater responsibility than to live and express fully the essence of who we are – in concert and harmony with other humans and with all of life. We are all one and in that one is the grandest of diversity leading to unity. Each of us has our song, our path to follow as we walk this earth walk.

“Finding and voicing our soul's longing is not enough…. If our intention is to change who we essentially are, we will fail. If our intention is to become who we essentially are, we cannot help but live true to the deepest longings of our soul.” --Oriah Mountain Dreamer, The Dance

What is a Medicine Wheel? Medicine Wheels are maps of wholeness and balance derived from thousands of years of observing natural systems. Each wheel is related to and builds upon every other wheel. There are wheels for knowing ourselves, wheels for gathering wisdom, for making decisions, wheels for healing and wheels for seeing into and resolving life’s difficult challenges.

One way we might think of them is as compasses that help us find our way when we are lost, in danger or seeking to discover the next layer of awareness of who we are, how we choose to live and what is ours to do in this life.

What is your life path and where is it leading you? Are you listening and learning as you are gently lead forward in life to lean the important lessons of oneness and unity. To truly experience the beauty of the many paths weaving in and out as we transverse the medicine wheel of life.

Soul Flight and Beyond April 2008

2008-04-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

As alwys we gathered with drumming and singing, sharing and renewing relationships, welcoming anyone new to Turtle Clan Circle.

As we passed the talking stick we reflected:

Wisdom Lessons learned from the North Gate – each person shared something:

*Go with the flow – don’t’ push the river.
*Remember today could be the ‘last day’ of someone you are interacting with or someone you haven’t seen recently.
*Trusting and letting go! (Sometimes, often it doesn’t happen the way I want it to or expected.) Then just need to let go again!
*Creator has something in store for me soon; something wonderful. It is easy, it will flow and in the unfolding is a magical experience.
*Being more OK with just being ME! It’s ok for me not to be the super __, __,__. Me is a good thing and I am blessed.
*I’m learning how to create true unconditional love for humans, tolerance and “expectations”. When expectations are gone then I can live in the moment and that is where not only life happens but the magic is found; where the flow is strong and steady.

Your Life Line

Supplies: 3 pieces of paper, tape, colored pens and markers, yard stick or ruler.

1. Take 3 sheets of typing paper and connect them end to end – the long way.
2. Draw a line in the middle from one end to the other end
3. Label each page at the top with the year – 2005 2006 2007
4. Mark along the line of each page, making some mark that breaks each year into four seasons: Winter (North Gate), Spring (East Gate), Summer (South Gate), Autumn (West Gate).

Start by marking off major holidays, birthdays, deaths, marriages, moving homes, new jobs, new people joining family, those leaving. Special times (like vacations or anything that pops into your mind as a memorable special time). Chart where you were physically (health issues and overall health) including self care on all levels, emotionally, mentally (which includes your financial ups and downs), spiritual connections or when you felt lost along the path. Especially look to your emotional healthy, crisis and triumphs. Watch for patterns to start showing up. Where do the tests come from, how did you handle it? Where are you in re-act or healthy action, whatever that might be? What are you drawing into your life? Take your time with this as it will really reveal a pattern for the last three years.

Now is the time of truth for you…. Take a good look. Do you want this next year to be the same as the last three? Do you want different outcomes, goals, friends, relationships, emotional and financial health, etc? If you want more of the same, do nothing, you know how to create where you are right now and you’ve been practicing that.

However if you want to chart a new course, make a commitment to yourself and go for it!

We took tag board about 2’ x 3’ and drew a circle in the middle, marked the medicine wheel (although you don’t have to do it this way). Then took the day going through magazines, working with our journals and cutting/pasting and creating a strong visual of the year we are to manifest. It was powerful work and everyone was surprised at their life line and what they learned about themselves.
Post this motivational chart of your year to come where you will see it often. Do your personal work to plan for the changes that you are willing to make and go for it … your life is in your hands. What you think and believe YOU will create.

PLEASE HEAR ME

Don't be fooled by me. Don't be fooled by the face I wear, for I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks, Masks that I am afraid to take off and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that's second nature with me; But don't be fooled, for God's sake don't be fooled!I give you the impression that I'm secure, That all is sunny & unruffled in me, Within as well as without, That confidence is my name and coolness my game,That the water's calm, I'm in command, And that I need no one. But don't believe me.

My surface may seem smooth,but my surface is my mask,My ever-varying andever-concealing mask.Beneath lies no smugness,no complacence.

Beneath dwells the real me, in confusion, in fear, in aloneness. But I hide this. I panic at the thought of my weaknessand fear being exposed. That is why I frantically create a mask to hide behind. A nonchalant, sophisticated facade, to help me pretend, To shield me fromthe glance that knows.

But such a glanceis precisely my salvation. That is, if it's followed by acceptance, If it is followed by love, It's the only thing that canliberate me from myself. From my own self-built prison walls, From the barriers that I so painstakingly erect. It is the only thing that will assure me of what I can't assure myself: That I'm really worth something... But I don't tell you this, I don't dare.. I'm afraid to.

I'm afraid your glance will not be followedby acceptance and love. I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh...And your laugh will kill me. I'm afraid that deep down I'm nothing,that I'm just no good, And that you will see this and reject me. So I play my game, my desperate pretending game, And my life becomes a front.

I dislike the superficial game I'm playing, The superficial, phony game. I'd really like to be genuine and spontaneous, and me. But you've got to help me. You've got to hold out your hand... Even when that's the last thing I seem to want or need. Only you can wipe away from my eyes the blank stare of the breathing dead... Only you can call me into aliveness.

Each time you are kind and gentle, and encouraging, Each time you try to understand because you really care. My heart begins to grow wings...Very small wings, very feeble wings, but wings. With your sensitivity and sympathy, And your power of understanding,You can breath life into me. I want you to know that. I want you to know how important you are to me.

How you can be a creatorof the person that is me, If you choose to. It will not be easy for you. A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls. The nearer you approach me, the blinder I may strike back; It's irrational, but despite what the books say about man, I'm irrational! I fight against the very thing that I cry out for, But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls, And in this lies my hope. My only hope.

Please try to beat down those walls with firm hands, But with gentle hands --for a childis very sensitive. Who am I, you may wonder? I'm someone you know very well. For I am every manor woman you meet. -by Charles C. Finn

We each are creating our 'mission statements', who we are, what we stand for, the core of our being.

Closing ceremony with one of the mission statments being shared. We will do that as each person is ready.

Spring Time I look for my Garden Fairys

2008-04-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

Fairy: An imaginary supernatural being or spirt supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See elf. "Elves and fairies in a ring."--Shakespeare

Sit very still in your garden or walk softly and with aweakness while in the woods. If your blessed, out of the woods or gardens will come our Fairy Friends. Be still and Listen. You are a guest in their home. Offer them a gift and ask what you might learn from them or what help they need form you. Be open minded and you might just be 'gifted'.

They are rather shy and still around the 'human' folks. So it is us that must gain their trust and friendship.

Shamans Death or Sickness

2008-03-25T21:22:00.001-07:00

There was no place to walk in this world where there are no elders, no medicine people or even knowledge of such things. A child growing up, seeing and being aware of realities, thoughts and such that others seemed not to notice. Being smart enough not to talk of what I experienced, lest I be punished or put into some mental ward as often happens in our society Diagnosed MPD and other medical and mental illnesses, treated by western medicine and never healed. But then they didn’t know what they were dealing with. How many others wander the streets or seem ‘odd’ to others we will never know in a society that lost touch with its routs and history.

By the time I was taken to a Shaman at about 40 years of age, I was seeing my body in a state of decomposition in a mirror or window as I walked by. It was normal for me to be in and out of my body, into different times and places. Over time I’d finally lost control to hide what was happening to me. It is referred to as the Shamans Death but that would have meant nothing to me.

In one Soul Retrieval this man took me from the point of insanity to my defined illnesses being gone. It was only much later I learned what had happened and started putting the pieces together with help of both native and non-native Shamans who took me under their wing and helped through the awakening process.

This article explains some of the process.

"The “shamanic sickness” is a common theme, though many shamans never experience any such “death” and “rebirth.” This is almost certainly the basis for the common beliefs in a dying and rising god, as detailed by James Frazer in his classic, The Golden Bough. The shaman experiences some crushing trauma, whether physical or emotional, which threatens death (even if only by suicide). This usually culminates in a dream featuring the vivid, painful and terrifying dismemberment of the afflicted. Once dismembered, the afflicted is re-assembled by the spirits.

The shaman’s task is very often portrayed as a painful ordeal, but this “shamanic sickness” provides a severe impetus to pursue that path. The afflicted is forced to become a shaman. The alternative is to die. As a “wounded healer,” the shaman may then use the skills and spiritual alliances she formed during her own healing to help others. Her own brush with death leaves her somehow “touched” with the spirits, drawing her forever afterwards closer to that world. In this excruciating way, the shaman neither chooses her own path, nor is chosen by the people; rather, the shaman is chosen by the spirits.

Shamanic cultures also consistently teach that the most valuable training a shaman recieves is not from other people–not even other shamans–but from the spirits themselves. The spirits teach shamans “power songs” and other information they will need to be effective shamans." The Shaman’s Vision by Jason Godesky

Shamanism History

2008-03-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Wurges speaks of Shaminsm History

"Shamanism is the oldest form of healing. It is a form of religious medicine that originated over 25,000 years ago in the Paleolithic hunting cultures of Siberia and Central Asia. The word shaman is derived from the Siberian Tungus word "saman," which is defined as a technique of ecstasy. The shaman is considered a great master of trance and ecstasy. He is the dominating figure in certain indigenous populations.

Most early cultures' healing practices stem from a shamanic tradition. For instance, when visiting the sick, Egyptian magicians often brought a papyrus roll filled with incantations and amulets in order to drive out demons.
The shaman is often the religious leader or priest of the tribe. He is believed to have magical powers that can heal the sick. The shaman is called upon to mediate between the people of the community and the spirit world to cure disease, exorcize evil spirits, and to promote success in hunting and food production and to keep the tribal community in balance. Traditional shamanic rituals included singing, dancing, chanting, drumming, storytelling, and healing. The shaman is a specialist in human souls. He is able to see them and know their form and destiny. The shaman controls the spirits. Rather than being possessed by them, he communicates with the dead, demons, and nature spirits.
The shaman's work is based on the belief that the soul can forsake the body even while a person is alive and can stray into other cosmic realms where it falls prey to demons and sorcerers. The shaman diagnoses the problem, then goes in search of the wandering soul and makes it return to the body.

Shamanism is still practiced all over the world, although each culture's shamanic tradition has evolved in different ways. Native American medicine men perform soul flights and vision quests to heal. North American Inuit shamans undertake undersea spirit journeys to ensure a plentiful supply of game. Tibetan shamans use a drum to help them in spirit flight and soul retrieval. Central and South American shamans often use hallucinogenic plants to invoke their shamanic journeys. Australian aborigine shamans believe that crystals can be inserted into the body for power. Author: Jennifer Wurges

Soul Flight and Beyond March 2008

2008-03-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

As we gathered around the last North Gate circle with a sweet alter; buffalo skull looking towards our Ancestors, the place of Wisdom, Lori called to the directions in a way I'd not heard it done before. Our hearts were touched by her sincerity and purity. We had a great time, seems like just the coming together in circle, always knowing there is a place where you belong and that we will always be here for you ... well ... that seems to be such a support to many folks and has for many years. For this we are grateful.

Since it was the time of Wisdom there were a few teaching we discussed. Two are Honorable Closure and the Blessing Basket. Links to these and other articles are on our web site onwingsoflight.com --- for those that missed circle, I encourage you to read and ponder on them.

Much of the day was spent on practicing our Shamanic skills … to see what we can see. To that end we now have an ongoing monthly challenge for you. Mark gave us a dark brown wicker box, about 5 inches wide x 10 inches long and about 4 inches tall. Inside it I put something; it will always be at the beginning of each month. For now it will be animal, vegetable or mineral. It will be kept very simple until many of us get good at this.

I had this box on the medicine wheel. We journeyed to our middle world teacher to have them show us what was in the box; did a very fast middle world look as if you were looking for your lost car keys or something, we worked with totem animal; used pendulum asking yes or no on each: animal, vegetable or mineral, to discover what it was made of. We also did the same with muscle testing (covering again 3 easy ways to muscle test), practiced bi-location, scanning with eyes and hands, etc. Of course you can use many other shamanic tools as well. In this session it was a folk. So mineral and several had little pieces of info but no one was totally right on which is to be expected in the beginning. This takes practice.

So now this box sits on the small book shelf right inside the door where you enter for circle. Visualize it in your mind and then practice your skills. I suggest you also dream walk to look into the box. I’ve opened the shield to the entry door from the yellow gate. You will be able to enter into the entry way and look at the box. We’ll take it down to the medicine wheel each circle and discuss what any one got for those that are working on their skills. If you aren’t coming but want to let us know what you are receiving, email. And if you don’t feel called to do this, heavens, don’t worry about it. This is an advanced skill but one any of you can work towards if you feel called to.

We spent time working with the Stone People and suggested that everyone spend time outside this month finding a stone or boulder. Be dressed very comfortably warm. Sit or drape yourself over the stone, sill you heart, breathing and mind. Ask ONE question and repeat it 3 X’s. Then be still and only listen. When your mind drifts away, take a deep breath and bring yourself back to center. Listen … this requires the ability of ‘be here now’. Have patience with yourself. I’ve sometimes spent several hours in the stillness listening to the old ones, the stone people. It is very rewarding. BTW if you don’t have a question in mind, a good one I use is: ‘show me what I need to see and take me where I need to go”.

Felipe the Bundle keeper let us know not only how our bundle is doing but what it feels like to be a new bundle keeper. Cher kindly is going to work with him to guide him as she has carried this bundles several times in the past years.

Work to prepare for next Circle April 5th. We are writing our Personal Mission Statements. As we enter the East Gate, the time of new beginnings, rebirth, spiritual awakening, it was felt this was the perfect time to look deep into the pool of self and get clarity. So if you feel called, write a statement of who you are, what you stand for, what is your purpose in this earth walk, etc. It defines what your life is about. It will take many drafts buy once you get it you’ll know in the depth of your bones that it is your core you. Bring it to circle and those willing will share and have a claiming ceremony. If you are not ready to do this, then put it in your basket for ‘someday’ things to do and let it rest.

As always many blessings, Aho Blessed One, Aho Tana ‘Blue Deer Woman