Council Memoirs: 2nd Day, July 27th

Fri, July 27th 6:30 PM

Today morning I woke up so full and content like I could live this life forever. When did we get so attached to having a house and filling it up with unnecessary garbage that destroys the earth in every possible way! What is happening to us humans. 

I had a real cold shower today morning in my favorite shower area. The energy from that shower has lasted me all day. I am still sitting in the arena waiting for the sun to go down so I can walk to my tent. I forgot to say - their is a group here with 5 wolves. These wolves are amazing animals. They have a deep sense of knowing. The Chayenne deeply care for the wolves and buffalos. In Fact wild buffalo is their most revered animal. The Chayenne tribe has a great history. This land/reserve is the land of their ancestors. In the early 19th century, the conquests and the white army moved them out of their land. They were only given to option - exterminate or move. They were moved to Oklahoma. In that forced evacuation many of their elders lost their lives. In Oklahoma they felt displaced and far away from home. They longed to come back here. They were kept like prisoners - children were taken away from families and made to forget their native tongue and traditions. It is truly sad! There was a group which tried to make their way home to Lame Deer, Montana but they were destroyed all the way home. It was a tragic and traumatic past. This gathering or council's sole purpose is to heal that wound and wipe it out so that the everyone can move forward in peace. Some years ago the government for the first time acknowledged this land and gave it back to them. There is around 440000 acres of land here that belongs to the Chayenne tribe. Once they came back within years, the wild buffaloes showed up. And with the buffaloes slowly all their land animals returned - elk, mountain lion, wolves. The story and connection to the land is so beautiful. The CHief shared the story with us.

Today the Nepalese and Mayan grandmother held the ceremonies.  It was straight from the heart - no elaborate rituals - simple. The Nepalese grandmother went into a complete trance. People around were having so many emotional and spiritual experiences. I was just touched so deeply by the innocence of the grandmothers - Naturalness is the Best. She then gave blessing to everyone. All we are doing is praying together - again and again and again. Praying to heal the trauma of the land. 

There have been many new experiences like one of the tribesmen hunted a buffalo - killed  and presented it to the conference. And he shared today the way they do it. Before going they pray and then they go inside into the forest and pray to the buffalo to show up and share the purpose with the buffalo. The buffalo shows up and the kill is made. The understanding between man and human is so moving. Every part of the buffalo is used. The hyde of the buffalo is pinned and getting dried. The meat is getting cooked and served to the guests.  I am realizing that I have no judgement of any of this. It is not something I would ever do and I don't even see the purpose in eating meat. Humans can totally avoid it. But then every culture and tradition has its ways and I honor it. Here it is happening very consciously. I don't think I can honor and love the buffalo the way the tribe does - so who am I to comment.

And the most amazing is their greeting before and after - Aho! The way they say it is so powerful. I feel like I am hearing Janaka exclaim - Aho! Niranjano. And the "ho" comes out loud and strong like the air is pushed right out. It brought to memory a meditation that Guruji leads with us using the sound "Ho". 

It seems every 2 weeks an indigenous tribe is becoming extinct. This is the statistics. It is sad. We definitely need to stop this. The indigenous tribes are the protectors of this land and still strongly connected to this land and its mysteries without any influences of man made religion and religious ideologies. It is pure and natural!

I am just in awe and so grateful for this experience! My heart filled up and throat chokes just at the remembrance of this opportunity. As I am writing there is a group of people playing the indigenous flute. It invokes such a longing in the heart for the beloved. The grandmothers kept talking about the beloved and the breath. I love grandmothers. We need to become a society that treasures the grandmothers and grandfathers, and gives them the highest status. 

Tonight they are going to screen the grandmothers movie called - For the Next 7 Generations around 9 PM. We bring our blankets and popcorn and wtahc it. I am excited! I have bought the DVD - would love to watch it with you.

The altar fire is still burning. I am waiting for the sun to set. I will go and have my dinner. 

One of the biggest message from the grandmothers was "Slow Down. Slow Down. Slow Down."