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
~
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.
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!
Our Birth Totems
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 12, 2008
Here is a quick look at our Birth Totems. I shall be putting together some more material about our totems, in more depth, in the near future. Our Earth Medicine is what connects us to the Earth. In essence, these connections are an important part of the Balance. This is another reason why it is so important to remember our roles as stewards of this beautiful planet, and take good care of those in the Animal Nation, as they are a part of us.
The Twelve Birth times are represented by totems, each one an animal that expresses the Qualities inherent that birth time. Earth Medicine associates an animal totem to each birth time (the two sets) of dates below the animal reflect the difference in season between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These Animals help connect you to the powers and abilities that they represent.
Falcon :
21 March ~ 19 April (N.H.) ~ 22 September ~ 22 October (S.H.)
Falcons are full of initiative, but often rush in to make decisions that they may later regret. Lively and extroverted, they have enthusiasm for new experiences but can sometimes lack persistence.
Beaver :
20 April ~ 20 May (N.H.) ~ 23 October ~ 22 November (S.H.)
Practical and Steady, Beavers have a capacity for perserverence. Good Homekeepers, they are warm and affectionate, but need Harmony and Peace to avoid becoming irritable. They have a keen aesthetic sense.
Deer :
21 May ~ 20 June (N.H.) ~ 23 November ~ 21 December (S.H.)
Deer are willing to sacrifice the old for the new. They loathe routine, thriving on variety and challenges. They have a practical wild side, often leaping from one situation or relationship into another without reflection.
Wood Pecker :
21 June ~ 21 July (N.H.) ~ 22 December ~ 19 January ( S.H.)
Emotional and Sensitive, Woodpeackers are warm to those close to them, and are willing to sacrifice their needs for those of their loved ones. They have lively imaginations but can be worriers.
Salmon :
22 July ~ 21 August (N.H.) ~ 20 January ~ 18 February (S.H.)
Enthusiastic and self-confident, Salmon people enjoy running things, They are uncomprimising and forceful, and can sometimes seem alittle arogant or self-important. They are easily hurt by neglect.
Brown Bear :
22 August ~ 20 September (N.H.) ~ 19 February ~ 20 March (S.H.)
Brown Bears are hard working, Practical, and self-reliant. They do not like change, preferring to stick with what is familiar. They have a flair for fixing things, are good natured, and make good friends.
Crow :
22 September ~ 22 October (N.H.) ~ 21 March ~ 19 April (S.H.)
Crows dislike solitude and feel most comfortable in company. Although usually good - natured and pleasant they can be strongly influenced by negative atmospheres, becoming gloomy and prickly.
Snake :
23 October ~ 22 November (N.H.) ~ 20 April ~ 20 May (S.H.)
Snakes are Mysterious, and secretive, Hiding their feelings beneath a cool exterior. Adaptable, determined and imaginative, they are capable of bouncing back from tough situations encountered in life.
Owl :
23 November ~ 23 December (N.H.) ~ 21 May ~ 20 June (S.H.)
Owls need freedom of expression. They are Lively, Self-Reliant, and have an eye for detail. Inquisitive and Adaptable, They have a tendency to over - extend themselves. Owls are often physically couragous.
Goose :
22 December ~ 19 January (N.H.) ~ 21 June ~ 21 July (S.H.)
Goose people are far - sited idealists who are willing to explore the unknown. They approach life with enthusiasm, determined to fulfill their dreams. They are perfectionists, and can appear unduly serious.
Otter :
20 January ~ 18 February (N.H.) ~ 22 July ~ 21 August (S.H.)
Otters are friendly, lively and perceptive. They feel inhibited by too many rules and regulations, which often make them appear eccentric. They like cleanliness and order and have original minds.
Wolf:
19 February ~ 20 March (N.H.) ~ 22 August ~ 21 September (S.H.)
Wolves are sensitive, Artisitic, and intuitive - people to whom others turn to for help. They value freedom and their own space, and are easily affected by others. They are philosophical, Trusting and Genuine.
How do we find Happiness?
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 8, 2008
I am in general a very happy person, in spite of circumstances, and this truly shows to all who come in contact with me. Today I would like to share a message from a friend, which touched my heart and spirit. It reminds me why each day, I look for the good in all things…
A fleeting moment, or a way of seeing?
Ask any number of people to describe a moment of “perfect” happiness. Some will talk about moments of deep peace experienced in a harmonious natural setting, of a forest dappled in sunshine, of a mountain summit looking out across a vast horizon, of the shores of a tranquil lake, of a night walk through snow under a starry sky, and so on. Others will refer to a long-awaited event: an exam they’ve aced, a sporting victory, meeting someone they’ve longed to meet, the birth of a child. Still others will speak of a moment of peaceful intimacy with their family or a loved one, or of having made someone else happy.
The common factor to all of these experiences would seem to be the momentary disappearance of inner conflicts. The person feels in harmony with the world and with herself. Someone enjoying such an experience, such as walking through a serene wilderness, has no particular expectations beyond the simple act of walking. She simply is, here and now, free and open.
For just a few moments, thoughts of the past are suppressed, the mind is not burdened with plans for the future, and the present moment is liberated from all mental constructs. This moment of respite, from which all sense of emotional urgency has vanished, is experienced as one of profound peace. For someone who has achieved a goal, completed a task, or won a victory, the tension they have long carried with them relaxes. The ensuing sense of release is felt as a deep calm, free of all expectation and fear.
But this experience is just a passing glimpse brought on by a particular set of circumstances. We call it a magic moment, a state of grace. And yet the difference between these flashes of happiness seized on the fly and the immutable peacefulness of the sage, for instance, is as great as that between the tiny section of sky seen through the eye of a needle and the limitless expanses of outer space. The two conditions differ in dimension, duration, and depth.
Even so, we can learn something from these fleeting moments, these lulls in our ceaseless struggles; they can give us a sense of what true plenitude might be and help us to recognize the conditions that favour it.
A Way of Being
I remember one afternoon as I was sitting on the steps of our monastery in Nepal. The monsoon storms had turned the courtyard into an expanse of muddy water and we had set out a path of bricks to serve as stepping-stones. A friend of mine came to the edge of the water, surveyed the scene with a look of disgust, and complained about every single brick as she made her way across. When she got to me, she rolled her eyes and said, “Yuck! What if I’d fallen into that filthy muck? Everything’s so dirty in this country!” Since I knew her well, I prudently nodded, hoping to offer her some comfort through my mute sympathy. A few minutes later, Raphaèle, another friend of mine, came to the path through the swamp. “Hup, hup, hup!” she sang as she hopped, reaching dry land with the cry “What fun!” Her eyes sparkling with joy, she added: “The great thing about the monsoon is that there’s no dust.” Two people, two ways of looking at things; six billion human beings, six billion worlds.
Anyone who enjoys inner peace is no more broken by failure than he is inflated by success. He is able to fully live his experiences in the context of a vast and profound serenity, since he understands that experiences are ephemeral and that it is useless to cling to them. There will be no “hard fall” when things turn bad and he is confronted with adversity. He does not sink into depression, since his happiness rests on a solid foundation.
Once at an open meeting in Hong Kong, a young man rose from the audience to ask me: “Can you give me one reason why I should go on living?” This book is a humble response to that question, for happiness is above all a love of life.
__________________________
Excerpted with permission from Happiness: Developing Life’s Most Important Skill by Matthieu Ricard (Little, Brown and Company, 2006). Ricard, a former biochemist and Buddhist monk.
Healing the Heart of Humanity - Energy Healing
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 13, 2008
When it comes to the Spritual realm, I am an avid student. I am quite fascinated with the connection between our bodies and our spirits. I strongly believe we can heal and strengthen our own bodies, with our own spiritual energy, and therefore wish to learn as much as I possibly may on this important subject of spiritual healing.
Soul Directed Advanced Energy Healing teaches how to focus conscious awareness on the lessons of the soul. Conscious awareness provides a direct experience into the energetic disharmonies that manifest disease.
Soul Directed Advanced Energy Healing results from connecting with the higher realms of our soul. Our human body and energy system is the vehicle for the soul’s learning. Disease is a clear sign that the soul’s lesson has not been received and the circle of health (joy) is incomplete.
Soul Directed Advanced Energy Healing brings us to the core of disease. It teaches us to use our own awareness to access the body’s wisdom find and heal the places within that are waiting to be restored to wholeness.
Soul Directed Advanced Energy Healing awakens the heart chakra, and through awareness teaches us to believe in ourselves, to trust our deep truth and be willing to express our truth with compassion.
Soul Directed Advanced Energy Healing is easy to learn because it is so natural. It is an integral part of our human nature and it can be used both for healing oneself and others.
The cellular structures of our anatomy are intelligent, aware, and responsive. They interconnect the chakra systems (centers of consciousness) and allow energy to circulate. Through the chakra system, stagnant energies are released as fresh, clear energies replace the old. Disease occurs when consciousness is unable to purify itself through the release of these lower frequencies. Energy becomes stagnant and then spirals inward and upon itself unable to release. These incomplete learning’s create tension within the energy field which in turn affect the body. They form an energetic pattern that can be seen and felt, and can often be pinpointed as the cause of pain in the body. Clairvoyantly, these energies look like tightly wound masses of rubber bands. The correlation between specific soul teaching, chakras, and physical organs is called the energetic anatomy, which Advanced Energy Healers learn to feel, see, and interpret.
What makes Soul Directed
Advanced Energy Healing different?
Advanced Energy Healing is the ascension process of soul-directed healing.
Advanced Energy Healing goes to the core of an issue to heal. It activates the soul’s desire to come into wholeness and expand further into sovereignty and enlightenment. This is done through healing incompleted cycles of abuse in your life.
Soul Directed Advanced Energy Healing is an Ascension Process where …
Your conscious awareness continually expands.
A mind, body, heart connection is made that assesses your body wisdom.
You learn to love yourself and accept yourself just
the way you are.
You learn to hold a vision of wholeness for yourself and others. The vision that says “Yes! I am ascending in my healing. Yes! I too can be enlightened, and so can we all.”
You come to peace with yourself. Life’s challenges become things of beauty as you recognize their positive intent.
You come into the experience of Truth.
Perhaps you are interested in learning more about spiritual healing, and if so, you may wish to find out more by visiting Energy Healing & Spiritual Healing School - Inner Focus.
~ The Simplest Prayer ~
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 8, 2008
The Simplest Prayer
by Cynthia Sue Larson
“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”
-Dale CarnegieThere is an art to appreciation, and a reward that far outweighs any problems. The art is that appreciation is a gift of the heart, of the spirit, of the soul from you to another… there is no fixed formula for success. True appreciation is spontaneous, natural, sincere and freely offered.The reward for offering such appreciation is that whatever you appreciate shall become a bigger part of your life. Anything you spend your time and attention on will be a part of your life, but there is something extra-special about the gratitude in appreciation that brings these gifts.Gratitude has long been understood to be at the heart of living a spiritual or meaningful life, as can be seen in the writings of Melody Beattie and Meister Eckhart:“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melody Beattie“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
-Meister Eckhart Whether you share your love and gratitude with people, animals, rocks, or the wind… your grateful feelings, honestly shared will transform your life.The simplest prayer is “Thank You”. You can say it any time, and see what a difference it makes!
www.realityshifters.com
Believing in the Power of Positive Energy
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 7, 2008
I am an avid reader, and am always searching for new books to delve into. I am looking forward to reading a book written by Judith Orloff, M.D., called Positive Energy. I am a strong believer in the power of positive energy, in creating a healthy atmosphere for ourselves and the world we live in. I believe it is very important to place mental protective shields around our bodies and spirits to keep negative forces out, and to prevent those who wish to harm us or steal our energy, from doing so. This is something I have taught my daughter as well, and on many occasions I have felt my body totally relax and regenerate energy through simply throwing up my protective shields when I have felt the effects of negative drains upon my body and spirit. I do this whenever I leave my home, and especially when I drive my car, or visit crowded places. I simply visualize a protective bubble all around myself, and ask for protection, stating my wish for only positive energy to enter, whilst keeping negative or draining energy out. In this way I ask that no harm comes to myself, or others around me.
If perhaps negative or harmful energy does attatch itself to me, I am certain to burn a bit of sage, cedar, or lavender to cleanse my body and spirit of this negative energy. I regularly do this in my home as well, to dispel anything harmful that may enter through others, as negative energy attatches itself to people and objects. This is a ritual tradition of many peoples from all around the world, and was once commonplace, yet some folks have simply forgotten about this simple form of cleansing.
Along this line, I am always searching for more information on this subject, and am looking forward to a trip to my local bookstore to buy Judith Orloffs book, Positive Energy.
Dr. Orloff is the pioneer behind Energy Psychiatry, a new field that addresses the subtle energetic components of health and behavior. Energy Psychiatry blends the practice of mainstream medicine with an emerging scientific understanding of subtle energies, revered by many cross-cultural healing traditions as our life force. In Positive Energy, Dr. Orloff explains this exciting new discipline and how it led her to formulate ten essential prescriptions for boosting energy, improving relationships, and combating energy vampires. The prescriptions are:
~ Awaken your intuition and rejuvenate yourself–and learn the cure for technodespair and overload from emails, computers, and phones
~ Find a nurturing spiritual path that fits your own beliefs and inner stirrings
~ Design an energy-aware approach to diet, exercise, and health–and learn how to avoid the “energetic overeating” that sabotages attempts to lose weight–a major reasons diets fail
~ Generate positive emotional energy to counter negativity
~ Develop a heart-centered sexuality
~ Open yourself to the flow of creativity and inspiration to achieve greater joy
~ Celebrate the sacredness of laughter, pampering, and the replenishment of retreat–it’s not selfish to take care of yourself
~ Discover how to attract positive people and situations
~ Protect yourself from energy vampires with specific shielding techniques
~ Create abundance and a continuing flow of energy
Following each chapter are Dr. Orloff’s interviews with luminaries who share their personal secrets about how they use a specific prescription to generate more energy. You’ll discover how Quincy Jones’s intuition opened up after brain surgery, Larry King honed his interviewing techniques, Naomi Judd recovered from hepatitis C, and Jamie Lee Curtis deals with draining people.
If you would like to learn more, and see what others have to say about this marvelous book, please visit Positive Energy to read some reviews from folks who have had life changing experiences after reading this book.
“This compassionate and humorous book offers clear tools to safeguard one’s life force while encouraging a courageous participation in life and all it brilliantly offers us. I’m so grateful for Judith’s generosity in covering so much ground in such a succinct and wise way!” Alanis Morissette
singer-songwriter, activist
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.
Ancient Tradition of Herbs on Winter Solstice
Posted by msterilinn on Dec 22, 2007
The shortest sunlit day of the year, the Winter Solstice, is the day when the sun is farthest away and light is most remote. Celebrated the world over, and most profoundly in areas where the winter is very dark, and very long, the longest night and the shortest day of the year is when the sun who seems to be weakening and dying, is reborn, and begins to grow in radiance and renewal. Rebirth is the essence of this celebration.
At the time of the solstice on or near December 2lst seasonal plants are brought into the home to assure the woodland Spirits that they will find safe refuge during this period of darkness and cold. In many parts of the world this celebration included lighting giant bonfires to lure the sun back to earth keeping the fires burning through the night or through the dark times. Considered a sacred rite, the Yule Log is still burned in fireplaces today honoring the spirit of rebirth and regeneration.
To honor the ancient tradition in your own home try placing holly, ivy, rosemary, evergreen boughs and pine cones in areas where socializing takes place. Hang a sprig of mistletoe above a major threshold as a charm for good luck.
An ancient magical herb known for it’s life-giving powers the Mistletoe grew from the sky on the limbs of sacred oaks. Known as all-heal to the Druids, its green leaves represented the fertility of the Mother Goddess and its white berries symbolize the seed of the Forest God.
Historically Druids harvested mistletoe with golden scythes. Maidens would gather beneath the trees with bolts of white linen stretched out between them. The cloth prevented the falling mistletoe from falling to the ground. If by chance the mistletoe should touch the earth all sacred energy from the plant would pour back into the ground.
The symbolism of holly and ivy together represents the struggle for balance between the waning and the waxing Sun. Often thought a representation of the Holly King reverence for the Holly tree is much older. It was not lost on early societies that to enjoy the beauty of the lush red berries one needs both a male and female tree, only the female yields the lush fruit. The tree itself became associated with the Mother Goddess and with fertility rites.
Wreaths of holly and ivy were originally used during Yuletide - Saxon geol, meaning wheel, their circular shape symbolizing the Wheel of the Year with its completion and continuity. Holly was regarded as the resting place for elves and fairies who would lodge within the leaves and keep the house goblins from doing mischief. In a similar way, planting holly outside the home brought protection for the inhabitants. Ivy in turn was especially used for the protection of flocks and domestic animals. Wreaths or magic hoops of ivy with rowan and woodbine, were woven and placed near milk containers to protect the contents from invading sprits. Rosemary was spread on floors at Christmas as people walked over the herb releasing the fragrant scent filling the home with blessings and protection. The name rosemary is associated with the Virgin Mary, as is the Rose.
Evergreens were known for their supernatural powers as they remained green and alive during the dead of winter. Pine was used in abundance during the solstice season, and still is. The pine cone represents the continuation of life in its spiraling form, the basis for the divine mean, the essential matrix for all Life and assurance of rebirth and regeneration.
This holiday season take some time to remember the ancient traditions as you collect your seasonal plants from nature. Remember too, when you cut a live plant you are transmuting its life force. Do this with reverence. Whenever possible offer something in return by sprinkling tabacco, cornmeal, sage, or sweetgrass as an offering of your gratitude.
A very cool site about Winter Solstice.. School of the Seasons
The Sweat Lodge… House of the Stone People
Posted by msterilinn on Oct 8, 2007
The old Greeks wrote about the strange people to the north who would whip themselves with pine boughs and climb into little huts with hot stones to make their bodies perspire. A contributor for Smithsonian Magazine wrote years ago about the discovery in Siberia of structures made from the rib bones of mastodons with piles of stones in each center. In Finland it’s called a sauna. Naturopathic physicians call it hydrotherapy. My Lakota grandfather called it Tunkan Ti, the house of the Stone People, or Inipikaga, ceremony to renew the life force. The structure is called “tezi,” meaning Mother Earth’s womb. Warm, dark and safe, our spirits grow inside the structure, and as we exit we are reborn each time, greeting all of our relatives in creation with the words “Mitakuye Oyasin,” or “We are all relatives.” It is a “keya,” the turtle, as well. Shaped like a turtle with the earthen altar as its head, it represents “Turtle Island,” our North American continent, named so from old stories that speak of the Earth coming out of the water on the back of a giant turtle. It is our church, our hospital and our university that we never graduate from. The White Nation calls it Sweat Lodge, but there is so much more, in addition to sweating, that happens inside.
The Stone People Lodge is most importantly a place of purification and prayer meant to heal the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual parts of the self through ritual. Native families who have preserved the ceremony have done so by suffering through years of persecution.
Christian churches were assigned by our Government to run the early concentration camps called Reservations, where food and supplies were denied to those who would not accept forced Christian conversion. My family was one of those who suffered to keep the instructions given to us by the Creator Spirit through prayer and purification. These sacrifices are why we still have our ceremonies today.
The whole structure is gathered and assembled with prayer. Saplings used are spoken to as “spirit to spirit” and “two-legged to standing people,” as they are given offerings in exchange for their “robe.” Even a song is sung to them to ask for their help. The trees help us willingly; they rarely say “no,” and we always remember to thank them. Holes for the saplings are made into our mother Earth, and into these holes are placed prayer with tobacco or cornmeal. The cut saplings are shaped into a structure that looks like an upside-down basket.
In the center of this, a small pit is dug to receive the hot stones. When this pit is opened, it is said that Grandmother is listening to our words, thoughts and intentions for this sacred place.
Our stones are gathered far away in the West where the lava has spilled onto the earth. Offerings are made to these (stone) People, and we listen to them with our spirit to find the ones who are willing to come with us. We are reminded that all things are alive and have consciousness according to their nature. It may seem strange to talk to a stone. But, try it sometime when no one is looking. Sit quietly with a stone and listen closely. It may take a few attempts to quiet your mind and connect spirit to spirit. See what answer your mind reflects from this part of creation that will still be here long after we are earth again.
We awaken and recreate fire in a pit called “old man four generations.” The fire itself is called “oehunkeshni,” or fire without end. It is a spirit and also very much alive. This spirit enters the stones and paints their face red and is brought into the “inipi” (place where we renew our life force) through these Stone People. The structure is covered in blankets instead of traditional buffalo hide. Water, sometimes infused with plant medicines, is offered to the hot stones. The water gives them voices as they hiss in their own language. The old songs are sung in the same order they have been sung for a thousand years, like a very old, worn and familiar path. A spirit or angel shows up as it has for a thousand years and asks, “Grandson or Granddaughter, what is it you need?.” “We ask for health and help for our People!” “Wichozani na wokiyektelo.”
Those who were taught this ceremony, passed down through generations, were taught without any thought of personal gain. There is never any charge for this ritual, as it was given to the two-legged for free and must be given freely for the help of one’s people. Families and extended families will sweat together. Men and women who are unrelated rarely sweat together as they are a distraction to each other.
Also, traditional people do not sweat naked in mixed company. Men and women who have committed themselves to the responsibility of learning this way give years of service to learn the songs, the prayer and the ritual. Everyone who leads a Sweat Lodge has someone they are responsible to so that no one is on their own to do as they please.
There are many who pretend to know these ways and exploit people. There are some who mean well but may hurt people through their own inexperience. East of the Mississippi, there are fewer traditional native people due to the ethnic cleansing that took place here generations ago and the prejudice that still exists today. Fortunately, President Jimmy Carter passed the Freedom of Religion Act for Native People in 1978, and now prayer does not have to be practiced invisibly.
If you have the opportunity to participate in this ceremony, always be respectful to that family and nation’s tradition by following their guidelines of conduct. The rules are in place for important reasons that may be understood later. If you cannot find your local inipi, then jump in a sauna and do your hydrotherapy. Purify yourself and keep your prayer inside and private. Know that Spirit hears all and knows your intention, no matter where you are.
Hetchtu, Mitakuye Oyasin. As I have said, we are all related.
Paul is the son of Lakota elder Buck GhostHorse and intercessor for the Sungleska Oyate Sundance in Washington state. He follows the traditional teachings of his family.
This article is by courtesy of New Life Journal
An interesting site relating to the Sweat Lodge
Earth and Spirit… A tree planting Ceremony
Posted by msterilinn on Oct 2, 2007
Saturday morning, October 13th, Jake Swamp will preside over a Tree of Peace Planting Ceremony. Over a thousand years ago, the Peacemaker and Aiionwatha (Hiawatha) brought the Great Law of Peace (Kaianerekowa) to the warring Indian nations of what is now New York State. The message of Peace, Power, and the Good Mind resulted in the forming of the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Confederacy. These nations were instructed to bury their weapons of war under the Great Tree of Peace. The Tree Planting Ceremony that Chief Swamp shares is an effort to bring awareness to environmental and social concerns.
Jake Swamp has been a Mohawk Sub-Chief and representative on the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and is an internationally renowned speaker on Indigenous, environmental and social issues. He was directly involved in the creation of the
Akwesasne Freedom School - a Mohawk language immersion school of critical acclaim that has been an inspiration to many First Nation peoples in the
What are the indigenous roots of our democracy? Are there other traditions that point the way to a satisfying and sustainable future of peace and consensus?
Lecture: Jake Swamp, Tekaronianeken, will appear at the Natural Way-Indigenous Voices on Friday evening, October 12, 2007, to discuss the traditions of peace and democracy originating amongst his people, the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy. As the role models for the Founding Fathers in the writing of the US Constitution, the Haudenosaunee have much experience to share with younger, struggling democracies.
The Natural Way Indigenous Voices begins its ninth season in October, 2007. The mission of this program is to honor all traditions that value the earth. We provide a forum for those who strive to preserve and enhance earth-based, sustainable living to share their traditions, knowledge and beliefs about the earth.
~ Mother Goddess and Earth Goddess ~
Posted by msterilinn on Sep 20, 2007
© Sharon George Fantasy and Goddess Art
Sacred Bear Butte
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 29, 2007
On the Northeastern edge of the Black Hills, just a few miles from the small town of Sturgis, off Highway 34, lies one of the most sacred mountains to the Plains Indians from the United States and Canada.
Up to 60 different tribes traveled to Bear Butte to fast and pray. Separated by about 8 miles of prairie from the greater Black Hills, which are also considered sacred by these same nations of people, Bear Butte looks like a sleeping bear lying on its side with its head pointed toward the northeast.
Today, people from all over the world come to Bear Butte to pray, to meditate, to try to experience some of the spiritual connection that has been there from the beginning of time.
It is at Bear Butte that Native American tribes received spiritual messages and gifts. In the holy books of the Christians, Moslems, and Jews, it is stated that one of their spiritual leaders, Moses, did the same thing on Mount Sinai when he received the ten commandments.
More than 4,000 years ago, a Cheyenne man named Sweet Medicine received guidance and gifts for the Cheyenne people at Bear Butte. Today, the Cheyenne people continue to come to Bear Butte to fast and pray. Some of the Southern Cheyenne must travel hundreds of miles from Oklahoma where they were displaced by the United States cavalry in the late 1800s when the Cheyenne nation was under threat of extinction.
Geologists, on the other hand, call Bear Butte a lacolith, or a bubble of magma that did not become a complete volcano. They say this happened millions of years ago. Yet the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) people call this place, Groaning Bear. How did the Oglalas know that this mountain groaned?
Non Indian archeologists estimate that Native people have been present in the Black Hills for 11,000 years. The origin stories of the Lakota people tell of the time of the arrival of the Sioux people on the face of Mother Earth through another sacred place, now called Wind Cave. Lakota people also have stories of when dinosaurs, called giant lizards, roamed the earth, of when tiny horses were here, and cats with huge teeth stalked buffalo. These stories date back much farther than 11,000 years.
All the tribes of the Sioux people: Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota, came to Bear Butte to pray…and still do. The months of May, June, and July will see families camped at the base while a relative is standing on the side of the mountain fasting in deep meditation. Small colored pieces of cloth containing pinches of tobacco are wrapped around trees and bushes as prayer gifts to the Creator. Larger flags of red, white, black, or yellow, the sacred colors, also are tied to trees to carry the prayers to all the directions.
Bear Butte, the mountain proper, is currently a National Historic Landmark managed by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department. Although a few parcels of adjacent land has been purchased by some Native American nations, the rest of the surrounding area is ranchland, or is being sold to developers. Two drag racing strips, a biker bar, a convenience store, campgrounds, and housing developments are all located within a few miles of this sacred place.
By Charmaine Whiteface
