Time for camp and Ceremony again…
Posted by msterilinn on Jun 11, 2008
Today I am reminded how precious time truly is. We have one and a half weeks until we leave for Goldendale WA for Ceremonies and camping for two weeks. We Love to camp! There is something about living outdoors in the Summer that brings Nature into a truer focus, and helps us to honor the Land in a more intimate way. It is still quite cold at night, and the wind seems to blow often, yet for some reason we do not seem to mind those things. We just bundle up, prepare to get dirty and remember how precious fresh water is. There is just something about connecting with the Earth and utilizing her natural resources to survive that brings out the best in me. Some people love the City… I love all that is pure and natural about the great outdoors which brings about such a wonderful sense of freedom!
During this time, we all work together setting up Teepees, preparing sweat lodges, cutting wood, gathering fresh water, and getting evergreen bows for the Sundance shade arbor. My little S and I have our own special place, in the shade of an Oak tree, in which we camp each year. This sweet little spot is very near our main camp… although some folks have individual camps, there are several main camps in which we set up to cook, eat and socialize together. The greatest thing about this whole adventure is how well we all work together! Everyone pitches in, so no one is overburdened, and there is such a great feeling of comraderie. Even if we haven’t seen some people in a year or more, we just seem to come together as if it were yesterday since we last saw each other. There is so much Love, hugs and sometimes tears, and we just feel so very grateful for these lasting friendships which carry us through some difficult times.
Well then, time to get back to organizing our camping gear and supplies. We still have to some last minute things to attend to, and I need to finish up the beaded medallion of a horse, which will be presented to one of our beloved Elders at a camp meeting before Tree Day. We are honoring each of our Elders with a medallion to show our Love and Gratitude for the Wisdom they share with us, and I feel blessed to be chosen to bead one for a very dear friend who has touched my heart many times throughout the years.
So you see, about this time every year I am reminded just how precious our time together is… S and I treasure every moment spent with our friends and family who live far away. This year we have an extra special focus on the Children and teachings for them, as well as learning more about the plants and herbs around the Land, and certain survival skills. There should be some very interesting discussions and plans for the future, which I am looking forward to. I am very happy to see such positive growth. I wish to send out prayers for safe travels for our friends and family who are preparing for this journey as well.
~ Celebrating Women all over the World ~
Posted by msterilinn on Mar 12, 2008
As a woman, I am proud and honored to do what I may to present what it is to be a female in the World we live in today. We must remember to embrace that which makes up the essence of a woman, and bring about our full potential. As stewards of this planet we play many roles.
Every day, all over the world, women make countless choices that affect the environment. In their hands lie many decisions about the use of community resources - water for the household, land for agriculture, wood for heating and cooking, plants and animals for food and sale.
Yet women often lack the education to make responsible conservation decisions and are denied the resources and opportunities to control their own economic destinies. Without intervention, the cycle of poverty and inequality is repeated from mother to daughter.
Recognizing the different roles of women and men in natural resource management, WWF works with both groups to enhance their stewardship of the environment and improve livelihoods. Successful women’s programs include small business development, access to health services like family planning and maternal and child health, efficient and sustainable agriculture techniques and literacy programs.
WWF empowers women and girls - building a future where human needs are met in harmony with nature. Here are their stories…
~Today’s Girls - Tomorrow’s Leaders
~Biogas is Better - Jari Leads the Way
Enjoy!
The different languages of our World
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 31, 2008
This is one of those moments where I am feeling a bit nostalgic. My daughter and her husband are taking their three children and moving back to California. They have had a tough time of it, and felt a move would do them good. I of course feel differently, yet this is their lesson to learn, and I must respect this. We shall miss them, especially the children, as they had only been living near us for the past year. We had grown quite used to spending time with them, and I will miss them so! Perhaps soon, my daughter will learn that running away from problems is not the answer. So of course, I am looking through pictures and reliving some wonderful moments with our little ones. Did I say I am so going to miss them??
Meanwhile, we have a bit of a dilemna. Our in-laws speak very little English. Their native language is Spanish. So if we are to communicate in a good way, we shall need to learn their language, as it does not appear they are in any hurry to learn English as of yet. We do have many Spanish speaking neighbors as well, and I believe it would benefit us greatly to learn a new language. We will probably learn several other languages as well, as in our home studies we have much interest in the languages of our World. This will also help us to better understand all the different cultures of the people of this Earth.
We shall just look on the bright side. Everything happens for a reason, as there truly are no accidents. This is just another part of learning and growing for each of us, and I shall embrace the moment as always. This will truly serve to bring our family closer together and dispel the illusion of separation. For we are all connected in spirit, and should not let language be a barrier.
So… it is time to explore our options and search for some sites to learn, as in this example, the Spanish language. I prefer audio as well as video, so we shall see what more we can find to help us in this new adventure!
