Where the Buffalo may roam…
Posted by msterilinn on May 6, 2008
When I think of the American plains, I imagine the sweet grasses blowing in the wind, and the wild Buffalo roaming with their herds. The Buffalo are most Sacred to my people. They were placed here for some very good reasons, as they spread the seeds and fertilized the land. Once they provided food and materials for shelter and clothing for the peoples of this land. It is amazing to imagine how brilliantly the Creator of this world set things in motion so very long ago. From the tiniest microbe to the mightiest predator. Each living creature having a purpose, and given the chance to evolve in a natural way. To think that the beings who believe themselves most intelligent cannot see the widsom behind this, and are the ones destroying the balance so painstakingly created to maintain Life on this Earth. Such folly can be credited to a foolish, yet supposed intelligent race, when we should be providing good stewardship in caring for the environment. Nature knows how to do her job… why is it so hard to do ours?
Alas, it tears at my heart when I try to find good news to pass along to my readers. I mean, shouldn’t there be a Balance of as much good as bad? I know the saying goes ‘it is always darkest before the dawn’, yet must so much be destroyed before the Balance can be restored? Our songs and traditions speak of such a Beautiful and Bountiful land, yet when we look around, where has the bounty gone? And what are we doing to all the Beautiful places? What legacy are we truly leaving our children and future generations? Wow… I am feeling depressed about this walk, and that is not good. I am usually so optimistic in feeling I can make a difference, and days like this cause me to feel so helpless and small in the scheme of things. How can one small being such as myself even hope to make a dent in this daunting task?
Well then, I suppose I must pass along the news which prompted my sadness in this moment…
For years, BioGems Defenders have fought to halt the U.S. government’s systematic capture and killing of Yellowstone’s bison — better known as American buffalo — as they roam beyond the boundaries of the park in search of food during the harsh winter months. But this year the rate of slaughter has reached unprecedented proportions with more than 1,400 buffalo dead — fully 30 percent of the buffalo population. In response, the NRDC Action Fund, our partner organization, is mobilizing a massive outcry to stop the killing.
» Tell the National Park Service to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone’s wild buffalo.
I would like to think we can make a difference if we put our minds to it and work together. I truly would like to spread some good news in letting people know there is a safe, bountiful and beautiful place in which the remaining Buffalo may roam and grow plentiful once again.
Today is Earth Day… Celebrate Life!
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 22, 2008
Although I am mindful of this wonderful and beautiful Earth each and every day, today is as fine as any to create awareness. As folks celebrate world-wide, I send out my heartfelt prayers for the healing and preservation of this Sacred planet.
We lost a Great and Ancient tree to the machinations of modernization, just recently. My daughter and I have loved to walk a path through the trees near a river by our home. Along this path lived a beautiful Cottonwood tree, the largest I have ever seen, standing watch over all the smaller plants and trees nearby. Each time we passed this Ancient Spirit we would stop and touch it, giving a prayer of thanks for the air we breathe and the wonderful shade provided during hot days. Although we love all that is green and natural, this Ancient One held a special place in our hearts. It had been here for much longer than the ugliness of some places nearby, and brought a timeless beauty to this place.
Last week we were walking across the river from this favourite tree, and I stumbled when I looked to see this tree. I could not seem to catch my breath and tears came to my eyes. My daughter grew concerned and asked me what was wrong. When I could speak I pointed across the river with a heavy heart. Our dear and beautiful tree still stood, yet all of it’s branches had been cut off. This still-living tree was about to be cut down, for no reason that I could see. It was still healthy and strong! I felt the pain of this quite deeply, and was so sad!
We crossed the river the next day. I truly dreaded approaching the part of the path where this Great tree had lived for so long. It still stood, and I swear I could feel the pain of this poor tree as it stood, with all of its branches full of new life, lying in piles around it. My daughter was very sad as well and asked me why. Why had they done this to a tree in a place where nothing was to be built and the tree represented Life, and was no danger to folks walking? I do not know why… so I approached the tree and offered tobacco to the spirit of this Ancient One. I cried and prayed and asked forgiveness for man’s folly. We said goodbye to this wonderful tree that had given us such pleasure and comfort on our many walks. This place no longer brought me pleasure, and I am not certain we shall return. I prefer to stroll in the wild places that man has not touched.
Each day it is good to take time to honor Life, and all living things. We do not own this planet… we are just here for a little while. The Earth is Ancient, and generous in her gifts. It is only right to be thankful for what we have been blessed with, and to teach our children to be caring and thankful as well. This is part of the great Balance. So each day, let us promote Life by planting seeds, and nurturing our gardens and forests. Let us care for each other as well.
Here are a few helpful tips to get started…
Reduce - Reuse – Recycle; bring your reusable grocery totes. If you must buy disposables, buy paper products rather than plastic or Styrofoam. The manufacture of Styrofoam depletes the ozone layer.
Conserve water, waste not and fix leaks.
Use fewer harmful chemicals and pollutants, and dispose of them properly.
Try to use phosphate-free laundry and dish soaps.
Don’t use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by hand.
Save your kitchen scraps for the compost pile.
Boycott tuna or buy only “dolphin-safe”
Use Seafood Watch to choose seafood that’s good for you, and good for the oceans.
Volunteer your time to conservation projects.
Participate in stream and beach cleaning programs.
Become more involved in marine environmental issues.
Vote for candidates that share your sentiments.
Write your legislators when you have an opinion about pending legislation on environmental, land use and other issues.
Plant native, insect resistant, trees and shrubs in your backyard to provide food and shelter for birds and other creatures.
Pull weeds instead of using herbicides.. Learn about natural insect controls as alternatives to pesticides.
Use public transit.. Ride your bike or walk instead.. Drive a more gas efficient car.
Sacred Buffalo.. Releasing the Spirits Ceremony
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 4, 2008
Please open your hearts and add your prayers. Mark your Calenders for this Date…
April 15th, 2008 - Noon Gardiner, MT
Simultaneous Prayer Vigils are encouraged to pray for the 1,302 (+) buffalo that have been carelessly slaughtered this winter alone and the thousands more slaughtered in the past decade since the last Releasing the Spirit Ceremony held back in 1997!
From Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Mi-ta-ku-ye (my relatives),
I have been called upon to perform the Spirit Releasing ceremony for the thousands of buffalo that have lost their lives in the last decade, in the mountains of the Yellowstone River country.
Many, many generations ago, our relatives, the Pte O-ya-te (Buffalo People) came up from Wind Cave in the Black Hills; the heart of Un-ci Ma-ka (Grandmother Earth) and prepared the way for our existence. From that time forward, they gave of themselves for our survival, as long as we respected their gift. They taught us how to live in an honorable and respectful way by example and through the teachings of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. She brought the Sacred Canupa (Pipe) to remind us of our responsibilities and also provided us with the knowledge of the sacred rites that are necessary to discipline ourselves.
From the Buffalo Nation, our ancestors learned to have an honorable relationship of being connected with Un-ci Ma-ka; this “way of life” that identifies us of who we are as an O-ya-te (a People), with all it’s sacred teachings. They understood the gifts from Un-ci and carefully lived in harmony with her wellbeing. For that reason, we hold them to be sacred. We co-existed in a good way until we were nearly destroyed. Ob un-ka-so-ta-pi tka. The sacred Buffalo Nation in these mountains are the survivors of that natural way of life. We are culturally and spiritually indebted to them and we still need their guidance, to remind us how to be at peace and harmony with Un-ci Ma-ka.
Let it be known that Yellowstone territory; the habitat of the last wild Buffalo Nation - is sacred ground, it has been a SACRED SITE for the First Nation’s people, and for all humanity who hold deep respect for all Creation. The Buffalo Nation has confirmed this fact; by where they have ended up, continuing to survive in their natural migration, struggling to live in a peaceful manner. Our ancestors also gave us this message by fasting in this area long ago, as they recognized this place of sacredness. This understanding is how we maintain the balance upon Un-ci Ma-ka, to protect these places, especially for the survival of our future generations to come.
These Buffalo that lost their lives in Yellowstone did not die by Natural Law, nor were their spirits honored with ceremony. This is why we must go there to perform a ceremony of honor for those that lost their lives by the misunderstanding of human-kind and pray to Wakan Tankan (Great Spirit) for pity of how gifts were unappreciated. We must pray with all those who grieve and be grateful for them. Many of the people who are deeply concerned of what has happened in the manner of which their lives were taken; we see this as an unnecessary massacre. We have known that this particular herd is the last original Buffalo Nation that still follows their migration pattern, the little that is left intact; they are the sign of our connection to our wellbeing of living in harmony.
I humbly ask for all People to make prayers on April 15th, at high noon; for a healing of humanity - for the decisions that are being made with no regard for the sacredness of life, for the massacred Buffalo’s spiritual journey and to protect what is left - in understanding of what our journey in this life represents in being responsible! We must pray for the healing of the human Spirit, to understand the connection to all living beings on Un-ci Ma-ka (Mother Earth).
In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning!
Can-te Mi-ta-wa I-ta-han (from my heart)
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
Note - 100’s more could be slaughtered, please let your voice be heard by visiting Defenders of Wildlife Today!
The amazing Endangered Gorilla.. Please Help!
Posted by msterilinn on Mar 11, 2008
The largest of the great apes, the gorilla is among our most endangered species. Gorillas are shy and peaceful. The only natural enemy of gorillas has always been human beings. Gorillas are still hunted for meat (bushmeat) and trophies in some parts of Africa, and they are caught in traps set for other animals. In the past, whenever an infant gorilla was captured for a zoo, the mother and often the other members of the family were killed as they defended the baby. Now the most serious threat to free-living gorillas is the human population explosion. As more and more people take over the land for agriculture, logging and other development, the gorillas have nowhere left to go.
Please come and join us at Vote4Cause and vote for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International..
Description: The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is dedicated to the conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. We are committed to promoting continued research on their threatened ecosystems and education about their relevance to the world in which we live. In collaboration with government agencies and other international partners, we also provide assistance to local communities through education, health, training and economic development initiatives.
Please join us to vote and chat…the gorillas need you!
Go here and Vote… Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Thank you!
Take a few moments to visit World Wild Life to learn more about these wonderful creatures.
You may also wish to visit Koko Kids Club to get some amazing facts about Gorillas.
All Life is Sacred…
Hawaii’s vital Wetlands going dry..
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 28, 2008
Here is another example of why we must pay very close attention to our surrounding environment as we walk through this Life. Hawaii’s wetlands are a vital part of the ecosystem, and the danger is very real. Please read the following, and let your voice be heard on this important matter…
Wetlands Going Dry
By Brandon Roberts, Molokai Dispatch, 27 February 2008
Disappearing Mana..e wetlands cause concern.
The lack of zoning enforcement on Molokai’s wetlands may bring serious environmental problems and cultural violations. Community leaders met with Mana..e (East End) residents to discuss development which is potentially damaging the wetlands in the area.
The lo..i (irrigated terrace) and the loko i..a (fishpond) are intrinsic with the culture and represent a living balance between the po..e (people) and the ..aina (land). Some of the development may be irresponsible and indiscriminate.
The non-profit organization Malama Pono O Ka ..Aina hosted the meeting last Saturday at the Kilohana Community Center, to gather input from the residents. Guest speakers included Rep. Mele Carroll, DLNR Branch Chief Randy Awo, and cultural specialist Vanda Hanakahi. Community members also gave valuable testimony.
“Indigenous knowledge cannot be ignored,” kumu ..Opu..ulani Albino said. “Best practices are found in the people who live with the land.”
Carroll revived the ‘Aha Kiole advisory council on Molokai and across the Hawaiian Islands The ..Aha Kiole exists as a bridge between the farmer, the hunter, the homesteader, the community, and state legislators.
Hanakahi, chairwoman of the ..Aha Kiole council, made a cultural presentation, explaining why the Mana..e coastal lands are a vital part of the Hawaiian culture.
“We want to create a Hawaii that Hawaiians would like to see,” Hanakahi said.
Prior to the meeting, Carroll, along with Awo and other officials took an ocean excursion to survey the development on the wetlands in Mana..e.
The meeting was a chance for Carroll to listen to residents’ concerns and receive public comments on hb2788. The bill seeks to prohibit wetlands development that did not include a “public informative meeting”before a permit is issued.
“What do you want to see in your community?” Carroll asked. “My role is to convey the message of the people.”
Awo gathered notes on community concerns, from jet skis on the reef to zoning infractions on the wetlands . He reassured the attendees that he would speak with the proper agencies and follow up on these concerns.
Possible zoning infractions were photographed by Malama Pono O Ka ..Aina and presented at the meeting in a slide show. The photographs show homes that speckle the Mana..e shoreline, some with Ho..olehua red dirt piles intended to fill the wetlands.
This imported earth may contain heptachlor, an insecticide used on the old pineapple plantation fields. Many residents fear water contamination. Exposure to heptachlor has been linked to liver damage and is associated with an increased risk of cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency banned heptaclor in 1978, yet it still lingers in the environment.
Other wetland residents may have illegal sea walls, boat ramps, and roads through the loko i..a. In some instances, shoreline trees were cut and bulldozed right into the ocean.
Attendees were frustrated with the lack of consistency and communication between various governmental agencies, as well as inadequate enforcement. Currently there is no zoning enforcement agency on Molokai, and meeting attendees feel this is one reason why there is wetlands abuse.
Malama Pono O Ka ..Aina President Linda Place wants to “work together to protect the wetlands.” She said this is possible through a “management swap,” which would transfer sensitive coastal lands into the protective custody of an appropriate governmental or non-profit entity.
Malama Pono O Ka ..Aina strives to “assure development that is lawful and respectful of the environmental health and historical culture of Mana..e, Molokai,” according to its mission statement.
Malama Pono O Ka ..Aina will host its next meeting March 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kilohana Community Center. All interested persons are encouraged to attend and share their mana..o.
Yellowstone’s Buffalo need our help now!
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 26, 2008
The Buffalo Field Campaign–a campaign to protect Yellowstone’s buffalo–is currently in 1st place but is losing ground fast! If they win they will get a pledge drive done. Voting ends in less than two days. Please vote - you can vote every two minutes here : Vote for The Buffalo Field Campaign.
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field, every day, to stop the slaughter and harassment of Yellowstone’s wild buffalo. Volunteers from around the world defend buffalo on their traditional winter habitat and advocate for their protection. Our daily patrols stand with the buffalo on the ground they choose to be on, and document every move made against them. Volunteers spend all day, from sunrise until sunset, watching and documenting actions taken against the buffalo. We run patrols from cars, skis and snowshoes to protect buffalo outside the park. Tactics range from video documentation to nonviolent civil disobedience. BFC enjoys incredible support and participation from the local community. Residents allow us to post signs on their property designating them as ‘Buffalo Safe Zones.’ We offer a fence repair service to mitigate damage caused by wildlife. Locals join us on our daily rounds, and many support our patrols with hot drinks and food. All of our work happens because people are willing to take a break from their usual schedules and come help. Over 3000 people from all over the country and around the world have joined us in our log cabin on Hebgen Lake to help stop the buffalo slaughter. We feed and house all our volunteers in our cabin and Gardner satellite camp. Volunteers patrol for buffalo by skis, snowshoes, or cars. Everyone communicates by a network of hand-held radios, and also carries a video camera. Our office runs outreach programs, including slide and video presentations, summer tabling in Yellowstone Park, website and e-mail updates, and national media coverage through press releases and video.
Come defend the buffalo by joining us on the front lines! We have had over 2400 volunteers from across the country and around the world join us on the front lines to help save the Yellowstone buffalo. The Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group living and working in the Yellowstone Ecosystem full time. We are on patrol all day, everyday, when buffalo are out of the park and in danger. Buffalo Field Campaign patrols defend the buffalo on their critical, native Montana habitat and document every move made against them.
Please consider becoming a The Buffalo Field Campaign Volunteer. The future of America’s last free-roaming herd depends on you!
How the Buffalo were released on Earth
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 25, 2008
My daughter is part Apache, so for her I shall relate a Legend of the Comanche and Apache People… Enjoy my little Star!
In the first days a powerful being named Humpback owned all the buffalo. He kept them in a corral in the mountains north of San Juan, where he lived with his young son.
Not one buffalo would Humpback release for the people on Earth, nor would he share any meat with those who lived near him.
Coyote decided that something should be done to release the buffalo from Humpback’s corral. He called the people to a council. “Humpback will not give us any buffalo,” Coyote said. “Let us all go over to his corral and make a plan to release them.”
They camped in the mountains near Humpback’s place, and after dark they made a careful inspection of his buffalo enclosure. The stone walls were too high to climb, and the only entrance was through the back door of Humpback’s house.
After four days Coyote summoned the people to another council, and asked them to offer suggestions for releasing the buffalo. “There is no way,” said one man. “To release the buffalo we must go into Humpback’s house, and he is too powerful a being for us to do that.”
“I have a plan,” Coyote said. “For four days we have secretly watched Humpback and his young son go about their daily activities. Have you not observed that the boy does not own a pet of any kind?”
The people did not understand what this had to do with releasing the buffalo, but they knew that Coyote was a great schemer and they waited for him to explain. “I shall change myself into a killdeer,” Coyote said. “In the morning when Humpback’s son goes down to the spring to get water, he will find a killdeer with a broken wing. He will want this bird for a pet and will take it back into the house. Once I am in the house I can fly into the corral, and the cries of a killdeer will frighten the buffalo into a stampede. They will come charging out through Humpback’s house and be released upon the Earth.”
The people thought this was a good plan, and the next Morning when Humpback’s son came down the path to the spring he found a killdeer with a crippled wing. As Coyote had foreseen, the boy picked up the bird and carried it into the house.
“Look here,” the boy cried. “This is a very good bird!”
“It is good for nothing!” Humpback shouted. “All the birds and animals and people are rascals and schemers.” Above his fierce nose Humpback wore a blue mask, and through its slits his eyes glittered. His basket headdress was shaped like a cloud and was painted black with a zig-zag streak of yellow to represent lightning. Buffalo horns protruded from the sides.
“It is a very good bird,” the boy repeated.
“Take it back where you found it!” roared Humpback, and his frightened son did as he was told.
As soon as the killdeer was released it returned to where the people were camped and changed back to Coyote. “I have failed,” he said, “but that makes no difference. I will try again in the morning. Perhaps a small animal will be better than a bird.”
The next morning when Humpback’s son went to the spring, he found a small dog there, lapping at the water. The boy picked up the dog at once and hurried back into the house. “Look here!” he cried. “What a nice pet I have.”
“How foolish you are, boy!” Humpback growled. “A dog is good for nothing. I’ll kill it with my club.”
The boy held tight to the dog, and started to run away crying.
“Oh, very well,” Humpback said. “But first let me test that animal to make certain it is a dog. All animals in the world are schemers.” He took a coal of fire from the hearth and brought it closer and closer to the dog’s eyes until it gave three rapid barks. “It is a real dog,” Humpback declared. “You may keep it in the buffalo corral, but not in the house.”
This of course was exactly what Coyote wanted. As soon as darkness fell and Humpback and his son went to sleep, Coyote opened the back door of the house. Then he ran among the buffalo, barking as loud as he could. The buffalo were badly frightened because they had never before heard a dog bark. When Coyote ran nipping at their heels, they stampeded toward Humpback’s house and entered the rear door. The pounding of their hooves awakened Humpback, and although he jumped out of bed and tried to stop them, the buffalo smashed down his front door and escaped.
After the last of the shaggy animals had galloped away, Humpback’s son could not find his small dog. “Where is my pet?” he cried. “Where is my little dog?”
“That was no dog,” Humpback said sadly. “That was Coyote the Trickster. He has turned loose all our buffalo.”
Thus it was that the buffalo that were released to scatter over all the Earth.
Still fighting to Save the Wolves of Yellowstone!
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 22, 2008
This is a battle we will not back down from! Even though yesterday, as of Noon Eastern time, the Bush/Cheney Administration eliminated vital Endangered Species Act protections for hundreds of wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies, we refuse to give up!
If you are wondering how you can help the fight to save these beautiful, noble and VITAL creatures, look into your situation and either donate, or let your voice be heard. Here is an example of what Defenders of Wildlife will do..
“Your donation will provide vital funding to help support our legal advocacy to stop the de-listing. It will also support the efforts of our on-the-ground staff in Idaho, Montana and across the country who are working tirelessly to save wolves and other wildlife every day by…
* Hiring range riders and paying for non lethal wolf control to reduce conflicts between wolves and ranchers;
* Motivating supporters to submit nearly half of the roughly 280,000 comments opposing the de-listing decision during the official public comment period;[1]
* Mobilizing conservationists to attend local meetings and public hearings and speak out for common-sense wolf management;
* And, much, much more.
In fact, by the time federal officials announced the de-listing, thousands of caring Defenders supporters and activists were already hard at work.
By our estimates, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received 5,000-20,000 phone calls from supporters who were outraged by the decision to allow states to kill as many as 70% [2] of the wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.
I wish federal officials could hear from each and every one of the thousands and thousands who tried to call and tell them how much they care about these wolves. But I want you to know that we are committed to making sure that your voices are heard on this important issue. And, together, we will win this fight!!”
All of Earths creatures are Sacred. Please take a few moments to visit a recent post Wolves and Trees… the Balance of Nature and see for yourself the vital relation between Wolves and the surrounding ecosystem.
**Note -
[1] E-Rulemaking Research Group, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University
[2] State wolf plans have been modified to require that minimum populations of 150 wolves be maintained, not 100 as had been the case before.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2008
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 6, 2008
Such events are wonderous to behold, and create a certain amount of awe and excitement for me. I know I am not alone in my thoughts on these most auspicious of occasions. I am referring to the Lunar and Solar eclipses, of course. I have touched upon this subject in the past, yet I shall endeavor to refresh the minds of those interested.
Eclipses come in two styles, solar and lunar, and each has its variants.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, something that can only happen at new Moon. If the lunar disk completely hides the Sun, even for a moment, the eclipse is total. Those who live within, or travel to, the narrow path of totality see the Sun’s ruby-red gaseous prominences and ghostly white outer atmosphere momentarily revealed when the brilliant solar disk is fully covered. Outside the path, about half the world is able to watch a partial eclipse as the Moon obscures a portion of the Sun.
A lunar eclipse takes place when Earth’s shadow falls onto the Moon’s surface. The type of eclipse (partial or total) depends on how deep the full Moon plunges into the umbra, our planet’s dark, central shadow. If it goes all the way in, we see a total lunar eclipse that’s preceded and followed by partial phases. If the Moon skims the umbra, only the partial phases occur.
Occasionally the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun but doesn’t completely cover it. This odd-sounding situation is an annular eclipse, so-called because at mid-eclipse a ring, or annulus, of sunlight surrounds the lunar disk. Outside the zone of annularity, observers see a partial solar eclipse.
February 7: Annular Eclipse
The path of the first eclipse of 2008 traverses a frozen corner of Antarctica and the southern waters of the Pacific Ocean. While very few will see the two-minute-long annular phase, observers in New Zealand and southeastern Australia will be treated to a partial eclipse of the Sun during the afternoon of the 7th.
February 20–21: Total Lunar Eclipse
This event is the highlight of the year for those who can’t get to the solar eclipse on August 1st. The entire lunar eclipse will be visible across Europe and western Africa on the morning of the 21st, and throughout North and South America on the evening of the 20th. Look for the full Moon to begin sliding into the umbra at 8:43 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (5:43 p.m. Pacific, 1:43 a.m. UT). Totality strikes at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and lasts for 52 minutes. The Moon exits Earth’s umbra, ending the partial phase, just after midnight (12:09 a.m. Eastern).
*Note -This is the third total lunar eclipse in less than a year, so if you’ve missed the other two, don’t neglect this one. Several partials are upcoming, but the next total eclipse of the Moon won’t take place until December 20–21, 2010.
August 1: Total Solar Eclipse
The narrow path of totality of the first total eclipse of the Sun since March 2006 will sweep across northern Canada and the Arctic, through central Russia, and into Mongolia, ending in China. At mid-eclipse near Nadym in northern Russia, observers will experience 2 minutes 27 seconds of totality. Outside the centerline track, the partial phases of the eclipse will be visible across all of Asia (excluding Japan), central and eastern Europe, and northern Canada.
August 16: Partial Lunar Eclipse
A partial eclipse of the Moon ends the 2008 eclipse season. The lunar disk will pass through the northern half of the Earth’s umbral shadow, resulting in a partial phase that lasts 3 hours 9 minutes. This eclipse will be visible in its entirety to skygazers in Africa, Europe, and central Asia. Those in eastern South America, South-East Asia, and Australia will see the partially eclipsed full Moon either rise or set.
It’s been a while since North America experienced a total solar eclipse of the Sun. But take heart, not much longer to wait, because August 21, 2017 is the date.
Visit Sun and Earth NASA Home Page to learn more indepth details and view maps.
Enjoy!
The Healing Properties of Trees and Flowers
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 1, 2008
I am deeply honored to share some knowledge of Ancient Wisdom concerning our beloved trees. Many thanks to the Witch of the North for sharing…
overcoming adversity. Use when wanting to make a fresh start &
ridding yourself of bad influences
the blessed, is for spiritual protection & prophecy.
water-seeking like the alder. Offers protection against damp diseases
&modern herbal Practioners extract salicin from the bark to be used
to ease illnesses like rheumatic fever. The gift of fertility is also
represented here.
chemistry of the soil, making undergrowth difficult for other
vegetation. Helps link the earthly and spiritual. Good medicine for
meditation.
cleansing & chastity, bringing protection from the inner magical
realms.
thirteen months. The Oak has protected England through the use of his
timbers for the building of ships. Oaks are used as boundary marker.
Oak medicine is best used for securing your pursuits, protecting
while attaining your goals. It is essential protection for those less
able, who require security in order to strengthen their characters.
like ivory. Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism
in both Pagan & Christian lore. In Arthurian legend, Gawain
(Representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who
was armed with a Holly club to represent winter. Holly medicine may
be used with difficulties in sleep and to ease the passage of death.
powers of meditation. In Celtic tradition, the Salmon of knowledge is
said to eat the nuts dropped into its sacred pool from this tree
growing beside it. Each nut eaten by the salmon becomes a spot on its
skin. In Europe and North America
Hazel is used to gain knowledge, wisdom & poetic inspiration.
Apple is associated with choice. This is good medicine to use when
your are having difficulty in making decisions, whether they are work
or relationship oriented.
used while trying to reach deeper state of consciousness and when
doing healing work.
maze of the labyrinth is also linked to Ivy, since it symbolized the
wondering soul, circling inward and outward, seeking nourishment from
within & without, leading you to ENLIGHTENMENT . A wonderful aid if
helping others on a spiritual journey.
when used before beginning healing work or soul retrievals.
after the first frost. The Gaelic word “staif” has links with English
word “strife”. Wood of Blackthorn is traditionally used with the
Irish shillelagh. It represents the strong action of fate or outside
influences in your life. Blackthorn should not be used by the novice.
rebirth. It represents the end/beginning and beginning/end.
Significant of creativity and renewal.. new beginnings.
lives into now. The color sliver links you to your SILVER THREAD
symbolizing your awareness of the progress of your spiritual journey.
Best used when searching for gift of INSIGHT.
with mistletoe create powerful healing medicine in both spiritual and
physical aspects.
Also with finding the spiritual determination to face hardship we
have to endure. This tree has the ability to resist and to shield,
also an ability with languages and speech with close relationship
with the winds.
said to grow a root into the open mouth of each corpse buried in the
graveyard. This root is the symbol of rebirth. Good medicine when
used in working with past life issues and regression.
wehre all is linked and becomes clear. Helps you look beneath the
surface of things.. whether situations or people. Medicine works with
your hidden knowledge, helping you to manifest it at the appropriate
time.
end, no matter how difficult. Good for progressing in certain areas
of your life which are of difficulty to you
false, and what is of real value on your journey. The honeysuckle
will help you tread safely - remaining true to your quest.
even surface. Beech medicine can tell you about yesterday and how it
is relevant today. Handling old objects or visiting a place connected
to your past will bring understanding of people, incidents, reviving
the memories within that are needed.
Seals, like Children, Love to Play!
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 25, 2008
When I travel to Mother Ocean, I always look forward to possibly seeing those creatures I associate with the Seas of this planet. I truly wonder how happy they are in their environment, which the Creator has designed in such thoughtful detail. Then I become sad at times, knowing man has changed this perfect balance, and in doing so has created an environment that is not as Nature intended. Can we possibly be so selfish as to think this beautiful Earth was meant for our pleasure only? This cannot be. Even as a small child I have always loved and respected Nature. Never would I have guessed everyone did not feel this way. I am no longer so naive, yet I am still appalled at times to see how widespread the acts of carelessness and outright cruelty abounds. I will continue to look for the Beauty in this Life, and pray we find the compassion in our hearts to treasure the wonderful gifts in Nature which surround and sustain us.
“In their innocence and wisdom, in their connection to the earth and its most ancient rhythms, animals show us a way back to a home they have never left.” ~ Susan Chernak McElroy
“The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
If you would like to take a few moments out of your life to see how you can make a difference in the lives of our precious Seals, my daughter would love to guide you to a wonderful site in which Children are taking action. Kids 4 Seals is an international network of schools, students and young persons interested in OPPOSING the ANNUAL CANADIAN HARP and HOOD SEAL SLAUGHTERS that take place off the Atlantic coast of Canada each year.
If you feel like we do about all of Creation, and the Sacredness of all Life, please open your hearts to help us as we champion those unable to help themselves. They should be allowed to live and play in a safe and healthy environment, just like our own children. Our lives are short in comparison to the Life of this Planet… must we take all that is good, clean and pure, and destroy it so our future generations suffer from our folly? Or will we open our eyes and our hearts to the truth and take responsibility for our World…
Wolves in danger yet again.. we can help!
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 24, 2008
Even though wolves are meant to remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, and despite the opposition of tens of thousands of Defenders supporters, the Fish & Wildlife Service just made it much easier to kill wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies region. This is totally unnaceptable! Wolves play a very important role in Nature, and all of Earths creatures are Sacred, besides.
Wildlife officials will be able to shoot, trap and kill endangered wolves — even those that wander from the safety of Yellowstone National Park and other protected areas. The states would only need to prove that wolves are a “major cause” of the inability of elk and deer to meet state management goals. Wolves could be killed even if they only have an effect on how elk herds move or behave — not just if they reduce herd numbers.
Please let your voice be heard on this outrage! Help stop this slaughter by passing along this message, and writing a message to Secretary Kempthorne as soon as possible. This is very important, as wolves may be slaughtered as soon as March. We can help save these noble creatures before it is too late.
Write to Secretary Kempthorne to express your outrage today!
Ancient foilage upon Mother Earth
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 22, 2008
These are some examples of nature persevering despite the war we have waged against her. These plants/trees are this planets oldest living companions. They witnessed Earth in her most pure form, long before the ravages of man blistered and scarred her once beautiful face. And now they bear witness to humanity as we cut down the very air we breath to build our temples and monuments. I can only hope that when the last of mankind has realized his mortality…there is mercy.
~Hiyon Zunshyne
Kings Holly:
1997; King’s Holly (Lomatia tasmanica)
Found in the rainforests of Tasmania. Scientists estimated the age of the plant using a nearby fossil of an identical plant. It was found to be over 43,000 years old! The plants appear to be sterile - incapable of producing flowers and viable seeds. Lomatia is triploid, that is, it has three sets of chromosomes instead of two. Because of this it is unable to sexually reproduce. The clonal thickets reproduce vegetatively by root suckering. Fossil leaves found in a late Pleistocene deposit may be genetically identical to present-day plants. The plant is a rare freak of nature whose origins and age are as yet unknown.
Box Huckleberry :
August, 1999; Box Huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera)
Researchers in Pennsylvania have discovered a living plant that is a remnant of the last Ice Age. Using the known rate of growth if this self-sterile plant, they estimated that this 1/4-acre colony is over 13,000 years old. Researchers are still trying to verify the growth rate to determine is that age is an accurate measure.
Mongarlowe Mallee:
March, 2004; (Eucalyptus recurva)
Also known as “Mongarlowe Mallee” or “Ice Age Gum” it is the rarest Eucalypt in Australia or the world, and is known from only 5 individual specimens. Scientists in Australia are undertaking analyses to determine the exact age of one specimen that is estimated to be 13,000 years old. This aging method also relies on determining the plant’s growth rate. Scientists are stilly verifying the growth and performing genetic analyses of neighboring specimens to determine if they are from the same organism.
Creosote Bush:
April, 1980; Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)
Scientists discovered a giant, and very ancient clone of the creosote bush in the Mojave Desert in California they estimated to be between 11,000 and 12,000 years old.
Prometheus:
1964; Bristlecone Pine (A.K.A.~Prometheus)
Prometheus, an ancient Bristlecone Pine was discovered to be among one of the oldest living trees on earth by Donald R. Curry during the summers of 1963 and 1964. In a ridiculous self-serving attempt to “prove” this, during the summer the United States Congress debated and passed the Wilderness Act of 1964, he managed to reduce the once mighty Prometheus to nothing more than a dead stump. He did this with the assistance of Donald Cox, the Forest Service District Ranger! Prometheus was later determined to be 5,100 years old. The oldest known living thing on Earth at the time. One small step for science, one giant leap for human ignorance!
Methuselah:
Methuselah (estimated germination 2832 BC)
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) in the White Mountains of California, which was 4,789 years old when sampled in 1957 by Schulman and Harlan. It is the oldest non-clonal living organism still alive, at the age of about 4,839 years old. Located in the “Forest of Ancients” in the Methuselah Grove at between 2,900–3,000 m above sea level, its exact location is currently undisclosed to the public as a protection against vandalism.
Lets hope she never falls prey to the fate of Prometheus.
Message of Hope from the Hopi & Maori Elders
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 7, 2008
Important Message~
by Larry Merculieff
I have been asked to give you some messages from the spiritual leaders of the Hopi and [also the] Maori people from New Zealand. I was invited to Sacred Ceremony by the Stony Elders. The youngest was 77 and the oldest was 106. No one spoke any English during the whole time I was in the Sacred Ceremony, which lasted 3 hours. I was asked to speak before the group ~ at the time I did not have a speech planned out, but cleared my mind, cleared my body, and prayed for the Creator to help and guide me. I also prayed for the help of the Spirit of the land; The Spirits of your ancestors; The Spirit of the river; The Spirit of the animals; The Spirit of the trees; and The Spirit of the wind, because each area of the world has their own guardian. Even this group now has it’s own guardians. They are here now they are sitting with us, and so, I ask for their help when I talk. The messages I carry, come from the Hopi, Maori and the Stony Elders, who are part of the great Sioux Nation in Alberta, also from the White Bison Society.
What the Hopi [and the] Maori wanted us to know is that we are moving into the what they call the World of the 5th Hoop. The Navajo called it moving into the 5th World. Maybe amongst some of the elders of the Athabascan people there are similar things that are being said about this time. It is a message of hope. They know of the sicknesses that made them suffer. They know of the fights that have been going on between the organization and the villages. They know of the struggle between villages and within regions and between regions. They know about the alcohol abuse and accidental deaths due to alcohol, the suicides, the high blood pressure, failing health, heart problems, all these things that our people in Alaska have been facing. In my years working for my people, I have traveled all over the State. And it is pretty much the same everywhere… the kind of problems we are experiencing.
This message is a message of hope. They say that moving into this time, of the World of the 5th Hoop, is a time when all the four sacred powers are going to be reconnected. They are the red-white-black-yellow. They wanted me to know that, among the Hopi, they are the keepers of the sacred stone tablets for the sacred red power - that includes all of us. They wanted me to know that they have the sacred stone tablets in Tibet, in the mountains, kept by the Tibetan Monks, in the same way that the Tibetans have their sacred stone tablet with the Hopi.
There are four sacred stone tablets that were given. The sacred black color has theirs in a small village in Africa. They cannot exchange it with the sacred white color because they lost theirs. But the Hopi wisdom keepers say that they are soon to find this stone. Very soon in this time. If you look at the maps where the people of Hopi live and Tibetans live, [it] is exactly on opposite parts of the world of the Mother Earth. The Hopi word for love is the Tibetan word for hate. And the Tibetan word for love is the Hopi word for hate. The same word, but exactly opposite meanings. They say that this is necessary to help keep the balance of Mother Earth. And that there are keepers of this balance that are around the world like us.
In moving into this time of the World of the 5th Hoop, it is going to be a time of great healing. There is going to be great healing that is going to start, and the Hopi say that it is going to start in the North.
The Hopi told me that this time of great healing is going to be shown by several signs. One is when a hoop of a hundred eagle feathers is completed.
In this time of healing, the message of hope from the Hopi [and] Maori and the Stony Elders,
We know that your people believe that they have lost their culture, the cultural wisdom and their ways. We are praying to the Creator. We want you to know of the message that has been given to us
The message that they received for us is that our cultures are not dead. All the wisdom that has been collected in our cultures, since time immemorial, is being kept for us, waiting for us, to awaken in our spirits. We will awaken our spirits again. When that happens things will be revealed of the old wisdoms. Things that have been forgotten for a long time are going to be brought back; Art- Music- Song- Dance- Storytelling- Spiritual- Wisdom- knowledge, and the wisdom of how to work with Mother Earth, will all be restored.
They also want us to know that among the Hopi and Maori there are people who do nothing but pray 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, every year of their lives. That is all they do. In rotation, they pray around the clock for other people. In this prayer is where they have seen some of these things that are about to happen. The healing that is going to take place, the advice that has been given to us, is “Seek not to fight evil– do not fight it– let goodness take its place.” So when we see bad things happen and when we fight those bad things, what we do hurts everybody. Fighting evil has spiritual energies that go to the ends of universe, affects everybody in the community.
When I come into community, I can feel the energies that are created. We are all affected by it. You know, sometimes you watch little kids when a stranger walks into the room [and], all of a sudden, the child just cries. Sometimes this happens, or, they love the stranger. What they are doing is taking their God given, Creator given, way of talents, skills, gifts, to feel the spirit of the other person. Because everybody give out these energies. So we have to, they say, be very careful. This is part of the wisdom amongst the great Athabascan People and most indigenous people throughout the world. We must take care of how we think– how we feel.
The signs of this time of healing that is to start are:
When the children bring back the spirit to the village; when the young start speaking with the wisdom of the elders; when the leadership energies start shifting to the feminine side; when this hoop of the 100 eagles feathers gets completed. And when the White Bison shows up. These are all the signs of the movement from the 4th to the 5th Hoop.The center of the top of the energy entrance to the Earth Mother is here through Alaska. The spiritual leaders say that a host, hosts of angels, are coming through Alaska– spreading out throughout the world for this healing to take place.
There are some predictions in the sacred stone tablets among the wisdom keepers about what is going to happen here in this World of the 5th Hoop. Not only are we going to have this healing but the Earth Mother is going to shake in a way that it has never shook before. It is going to move in a way it has never done before. There is going to be a lot of fear because of this, and the wisdom keepers want me to convey that, when this happens, we should not be afraid. Because, what is happening is that the Earth Mother is trying to help us remove the stuff that we have stuck in our bodies, inherited from the spiritual sickness of generations and generations out. And one of the ways that we do that is to scare the life out of us. This is why there is going to be time for healers.
Healers are being called from all over.
Women are now taking their place as the original healers around the world .
Not only [will there be] the shift to the feminine side of leadership, but the women are going to start taking their place as healers.The healing ways are being revived from all the cultures. People are being woken up.
How do we start this healing? When you are quiet within yourself and you sit next to the river– ask. Do not be afraid to ask. Ask the Creator. Ask whoever you feel is your higher power, “Please help me find the way because I do not know how to heal.” “Make me your history.” And when you ask that, with humility in your heart, you will get it. You will find it. And it will be given to you, you will see this healing starting to spread like wild fire. It is just exciting. Exciting to see. And the key to it is staying here, now.
I know inside, you will recognize these words to be true. Your intuition is going to tell you what I am saying is true. The world for the last 4,000 or so years has been stuck in the male energy side. The male energy is thinking from the brain. It is a management from the top down. It is more aggressive. It does not use intuition or feelings from the heart. It is a different kind of energy. It is not a bad energy. It is just different than the female energy. Female energy is healing, nurturing, loving, caring, touching, sharing. And that the world spiritual leaders know now that these energies have been male and now have shifted to the female side.
So, that is the message that I have brought to you. This is a message of hope and a message of good wisdom. Remember, our cultures are not lost. The wisdom of it is already here with us. We just do not know it yet, because we are spiritually sleeping.The people read this information are here for a reason.
It is no accident that you are hearing this message, and it is up to you whether or not you want to use this message of wisdom that has been given by the Hopi and Maori~
~~~~~The most persistent and verifiable prophecy is the one given in ancient times by the Hopi Elders. This prophecy has been passed on through oral tradition and reference to the ancient tablets.
The Elders revealed that there would be nine Signs before the 5th World emerges. This will be a world of peace and abundance—a New Earth.According to White Feather, a Hopi of the ancient Bear Clan, the prophecy goes like this:“The Fourth World shall end soon, and the Fifth World will begin. The elders everywhere know this. The Signs over many years have been fulfilled, and so few are left.“This is the First Sign: We are told of the coming of the white-skinned men, like Pahana, our lost White Brother from the Stars. But these men will not live like Pahana, they will be men who take land that is not theirs, and men who strike their enemies with thunder—guns.“This is the Second Sign: Our lands will see the coming of spinning wheels filled with voices. In his youth, my father saw this prophecy come true with his eyes—the white men bringing their families in wagons across the prairies.
