Back from Sundance 2008
Posted by msterilinn on Jul 10, 2008
After an incredible two and a half weeks of camping, we are back to our residence near the city. We have had such wonderful experiences, and just too much to give due credit in one post, so I will just summarize it as best as I can for now. My son J helped us load up and get to the land up above Goldendale. We camped in our usual spot beneath the beautiful Oak tree, to enjoy much needed afternoon shade. As the temperatures reached above 109 degrees in the shade, we were lucky to have such a sweet place to rest upon occasion. The hottest day during the Sundance brought a welcome rainstorm, with much fanfare from the Thunder Beings, the Wakiyans. If the little girls I was caring for were not so terrified of the storm, I would have been dancing in the rain. As it were, I was able to reach out with my feet from the shelter I provided for the children to get a nice soak.
The Isnati Lawanpi (girl to young woman) Ceremony was beautiful to behold. It brought tears to many eyes to see these young girls step forth with such grace into young womanhood. What a gift it is to see this Cermony celebrating such an important time in a young girls life. It is very important to honor these steps in the lives of our boys and girls. Sometimes the events in our world move us much too rapidly to truly enjoy each moment as it unfolds.
As for the Sundance, I feel doubly honored this year. First of all, I was moved to tears to see and feel the grace of our lovely little Sundance tree. She swayed so sweetly in the breeze as she carried the prayers of the people amongst her branches. Such an image of Beauty shall be held within my heart forever. The sound of the drum and the prayer songs full of Love and Hope, as sung by the people as we danced around the Tree of Life, is a memory I shall hold dear when times in the faster world threaten to bring me down.
The greatest gift I recieved during this ceremony, was brought to me through the Children. I had the honor of caring for three young girls, besides my little S, as their mothers were otherwise occupied. The other children invariably navigated towards our little circle, and one girl in particular spent much of her time with our group. Amazingly enough, I had not even a single problem arise with these little ones for companions! Such fond memories of stories, songs, and laughter are treasures of my heart which gives such Joy to think upon. I shall miss those little ones! Although I missed the mothers of these mischievious little girls, as they are my very dear friends, this was a gift and an honor I shall never forget. My little S was such a great help in those busy days as I rose before the sun, and did not rest my head until well after the sun went down.
It truly felt good to hold my family close, as we all live so far away from each other. For two weeks we were able to catch up, sharing this time with Songs, Dance, Prayers, Laughter, Tears and Feasting. Enjoying the fellowship of our Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, Elders and Children just seems to fill me up with courage to re-enter the world that moves much faster and is filled with uncertainty and danger. For a short time we held each other close and reaffirmed our love for the Earth and all her bounties, bringing forth hope for the present and future of our children. We must move forward in a good way, honoring and respecting the Earth and all living things, until the time comes for us to gather once again when it is time to go Home.
My little S and I had an awesome Sundance, with so many memories of friends, family and walks through nature to find new magical places to sit and enjoy together. And the nights when we summed up our adventures of the day, along with silent moments of star gazing, will be held dear to our hearts forever and always.
Pilamaye,
Teri
~
Heading for Goldendale Washington…
Posted by msterilinn on Jun 20, 2008
Just so folks know why I am not around, it is that time of year when we head out to go camping for two weeks. We have an Isnati Lawanpi (young girl to woman ceremony), a memorial for a beloved family member who crossed last year, and our Sundance to attend. We choose to follow the path of the Lakota peoples, as this is a natural way, with respect for the Earth and all her inhabitants. This is such a special time for us, as it is always good to gather together with family and friends in this way. So, I just wish to say that I hope folks enjoy each moment and each other… our time on this plane is so precious.
Pilamaye,
Teri
~
Searching for a sweet new Wordpress Theme!
Posted by msterilinn on Jun 17, 2008
I have been so very busy, and have barely a moment to spare for my wonderful blogs. With just a few days to go before we leave for a two week camp-out, I am scrambling to finish gathering supplies and take care of last minute details so our home and pets will be taken care of in a good way while we are gone. Thank goodness my oldest son is living at home, so I can trust him with our little ones this time around.
Yet, I do have a plan! This is my first blog, and I also have a blog called This Virtual World, which is still just a baby, but I promise to give it the attention it deserves as soon as we get back from this well-earned vacation away from home. And the plan is to create yet another blog as soon as I can give it my entire focus. I am pretty sure about the name, though I am still trying to figure out what kind of template I will go with. I have gotten lots of compliments on the wordpress themes that I have chosen for my first two blogs, and am really happy with them. It is such fun playing around in this creation stage of building a blog, so I am pretty excited about doing this as soon as we get home!
With that said, I would like to encourage folks who may be wishing to go with a Wordpress powered blog to visit a great site loaded with some really sweet templates to choose from. Check out the great quality of these professionally designed wordpress themes, which are free to download and can be found at TopWPThemes.com.
My favourite thus far is the Rainbow Garden Theme… it looks very pretty, and may just fit quite nicely with the theme I have in mind for my new blog. I really love the overall design and having a column on each side is a great plus. There are truly so many great designs to choose from, and I like to try out a few just to get a feel for them, depending upon what I wish to add to the side columns and such. I do not like clutter, and will go for the cleanest template I can find as long as it is simple to work with. I can’t wait to get started!
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.
Some of the Most Powerful Three Words
Posted by msterilinn on May 29, 2008
The following three-word phrases can enrich every relationship. You may wish to read them; contemplate on them; and use them. They are very powerful.
I’ll Be There
If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase “I’ll be there”. Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we’re truly present for other people, important things happen to them & us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.
I Miss You
Perhaps more relationships could be saved & strengthened if couples simply & sincerely say to each other “I miss you”. This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired & loved. Consider how ecstatic you would feel if you received an unexpected message from someone you Love in the middle of your workday, just to say “I miss you.”
I Respect You / I Trust You
Respect and Trust is another way of showing Love. It conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as equals you will strengthen the bonds & become close friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.
Maybe You’re Right
This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to “maybe you’re right” is the humility of admitting maybe “I’m wrong”. Let’s face it. When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is cement the other person’s point of view. They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. In some cases, saying “maybe you’re right” can open the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner.
Please Forgive Me
Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults and failures. A person should never be ashamed to own up that he/she has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he/she is wiser today than he/she was yesterday.
I Thank You
Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don’t take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends and family for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.
Count On Me
A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating “you can count on me.”
Let Me Help
The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in and help. In most cases just being there is enough, without even saying a word.
Go For It
We are all unique individuals. It is never a good idea to try to get your friends to conform to your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how weird they seem to you. Everyone has dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only. Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to “go for it.”
I Love You
Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly Love them satisfies a person’s deepest emotional needs. The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your spouse, your children, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words “I love you.”
Love and Light
A little taste of Sunshine
Posted by msterilinn on May 19, 2008
We have experienced a very strange Spring here in Oregon. Just last week, as odd as it seems, we had some truly strong hailstorms which actually covered the ground solid and instantly soaked those caught in the freakiness of it. Luckily we were indoors when it did occur, yet could see some unfortunate folks scrambling for shelter, totally unprepared.
Well, even though it had started to warm up just enough to turn our heat completely off, it took us by suprise to pop on up to 98.5 degrees in no time at all. Usually we get some wonderfully perfect days just above or below 80 degrees this time of year and it is such a lovely time to walk through our sweet little town to the river, enjoying all the Spring blossoms. What a shock to simply wish to drive to the river and cool off. Unfortunately the river was quite swift, and higher than we have ever seen it. The instant meltoff was creating quite the flow, which made it too dangerous to do much more than stick our feet in and experience the coolness of the rivers edge. Actually I felt it was quite beautiful and exciting just to be near one of Natures wondrous life-givers, as rivers are so very special. The energy and power was simply amazing to behold!
Needless to say, we did walk a little, my daughter, grandson and I. We brought our sweet little chihuahua, Canela and walked along the river to enjoy the freshness brought on by the spring run-off. We are quite happy to prepare for a very warm Summer, and will have the air conditioner installed as soon as possible. We love to camp, swim and explore, so we are truly looking forward to our outdoor fun! Meanwhile, I thank Mother Nature for the warning and for giving us a little taste of Sunshine.
Children are the Heart of our Circle
Posted by msterilinn on Mar 28, 2008
Having a few days of down time has served to give me the opportunity to reflect upon my Path, and my thoughts and feelings surrounding those near and dear to me. We celebrated my daughters birthday, and she is now at that age between. Not quite a small child anymore, yet not quite a young woman. Although we have, and always will have, a very close relationship, I feel a definate shift in the balance. She feels this too, and in many ways she is sad and excited all in one. ‘Tweens find themselves in a confusing place at times, especially during this time of chaos in the World. In one way she wishes to stay a child, so she can just play and not let any of the adult world of stress and responsibilities intrude. Yet in another she feels the pull to do new things, setting aside her treasured childish games, seeking her own style and place in the balance of things. She feels a new sense of Self, and it is so very important to encourage her as she grows in new ways. She tells me she is lucky because I am so young at heart, and I seem to understand her so well. What an honor to feel her trust and respect. We both are very lucky and blessed to share such a strong bond.
Yet when we look around, it is not this way with a lot of children. Although we find many loving families, there are those children that are not held in the center of their Circle. They find themselves drifting along and get caught up in the Chaos. Either their parents or caregivers are too busy, or they themselves are caught up as well. Can they not understand that the most important part of our lives on this Earth are our Families, Friends and Children? Those who journey with us are what gives this Life substance and meaning.
And when my children, grandchildren, and even those other children who feel my Love, look up at me with such Love and Trust in their eyes, it makes the hard things in Life totally worth enduring. To me, there is no greater Joy, and we must always honor this trust and present our best selves in the face of things. The examples we set are meant to guide and teach. Let them be good ones.
There are Circles within Circles, and in the center of all there are the Children.. and they are the Heart of our Circle.
Pilamaye
Venturing into the Spiderwick Chronicles
Posted by msterilinn on Mar 17, 2008
Today I just have to give a glimpse into a personal adventure, in which is shared by my daughter and myself. We just so happened to read the Spiderwick Chronicles together a little over a year ago. At the time, we had just discovered a new trail by the Clackamas river, and we took turns reading out loud after finding an absolutely lovely tree filled and flower strewn spot perfect for such adventurous imaginings. We both absolutely love tales involving the world of Faerie, and this particular tale fit perfectly into our adventurous natures.
The reason I mention this today, is that we celebrated my little Stars birthday with our annual tradition of hitting the movie theatre, with a glimpse into the Spiderwick Chronicles. And we were not disappointed! From the ancient and mysterious old house, to the resident house Brownie named Thimbletack (who, incidentally, turns into a nasty old Boggart when upset, so beware of misusing this little creature), this fun little movie draws one right into the intrigue and mysteries of the invisible world of Faerie. We were especially impressed with the giant Ogre named Mulgrath who, by the way, experiences quite a fitting ending.
Alas, this enchanting story shall always hold a special place in the hearts of both my daughter and myself, and we highly recommend it to those adventurous souls who love the world of Faerie as much as we do. With Goblins, Trolls, Elves, Sylphs, Fairies, and even an unlikely ally in the form of a flying Gryphon, and so much more. I have no wish to give away any secrets, so I will just leave it up to any visitors to enter the mysterious realms of the Spiderwick Chronicles at your own risk.
Enjoy!
Creating a personal Greeting.. simply perfect!
Posted by msterilinn on Mar 14, 2008
Above all else, I am into Family. My entire family is quite secure in the knowledge of my Love and devotion to all things connecting us during our lives here on Earth. I am totally into creativity and personalization when it comes to just about everything, for any occasion or just because, including gifts, cards, calendars… you name it. I always prefer adding a personal touch, as this truly shows my Love, and how important my family and friends are by the mere fact of taking the time to create something special. I am never too busy to give special thought to giving my loved ones, and even those whom I do not know very well, gifts that are truly given from my heart.
Along with these lovely homemade gifts, the perfect form of personalization are Photo Greeting Cards. My particular favourite is the borderless full color photo card as can be created through CardsDirect. These premium folded photo cards are printed on thick 140 pound (14pt) white card stock using state of the art digital color press technology. Upload or email us your high resolution digital photo, and we will print it on the front of the cards in stunning digital full color. The finished product is a full sized 7 7/8″ x 5 5/8″ (Horizontal or Vertical orientation depending on your photo). Inside the photo cards, you can add one of our verses plus your personalized text, or create your own custom verse a choice of typestyles and ink colors at no additional cost. You will receive an electronic proof via email showing you exactly how your cards will look before your photo card order is printed. Lined envelopes are included and can also be custom imprinted with your return address.
Simply perfect!
