Mother Earth has so much raw beauty, and Tibet is no exception. This image evokes a feeling of mystery and magic; secrets the earth holds from a time beyond imagining. Such a stunningly beautiful land, with a rich spiritual background. Although the peoples of this region have had more than their fair share of trials and warfare, even to this day, the beauty of the landscape is breathtaking to behold. Sweeping views and mountainous ranges make this one of the worlds greatest natural wonders. A Shangri La to behold, my wild nature cannot resist the lure and temptation to explore.

With a population of slightly less than three million, spread over 1.2 million sq-km (0.5 million sq-mile), much of the Tibet Autonomous Region is wide open space. China has established 38 reserves to protect the region’s natural environment, which includes mountains, lakes and forests. But global warming is changing the landscape. Temperatures in Tibet are rising at more than twice the worldwide average, melting glaciers that feed some of Asia’s major rivers.

Tibetan Life and Tourism

Outside towns and cities, people mostly rely on farming to survive. Tibetans grow crops or herd animals, such as cows and yaks. Common crops include barley, potatoes and turnips. A few years ago, watermelons were introduced to the region and now seem to be the summer fruit of choice. Farmers sell them directly from roadside stalls.

China hopes to attract three million tourists to Tibet by 2020. But there are concerns that these tourists, who will need hotels, restaurants and shops, will destroy Tibet’s unique character. More visitors could lead to ugly developments around major tourist sites and damage to the region’s natural environment. Local officials maintain this will not happen, but bold statements and action are often two different things.

Buddhist tradition

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, the second Buddha, flew onto the cliff on the back of a tigress, and then meditated in a cave which now exists within the monastery walls. The monastery, formally called Taktshang Goemba, was built in 1692 and reconstructed in 1998 after a fire. Now, the monastery is restricted to practicing Buddhists on religious retreats and is off-limits to ordinary tourists.

Religion remains important for ordinary Tibetans, many of whom make pilgrimages to the region’s monasteries and temples. Pilgrims are as prominent as tourists on Lhasa’s streets, as they walk around sacred sites chanting and clutching prayer beads. Many sites have been restored after being destroyed in China’s Cultural Revolution, when the country was plunged into virtual civil war. China says there are now more than 1,700 places of worship in Tibet, and about 46,000 monks and nuns.

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
~

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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