She Stands Tall in Her Sacred Feminine ...: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Council: My New Friends that I could get on Camera..

There are so many more dear friends I met. I am using the word "met" instead of "made" because it was instant connection and friendship like we were always friends. Big Hug to all of you wonderful amazing people! Many I couldn't get on camera but they are residing in my heart and some on my address book. :)

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."

Council Memoirs: July 26th 1st Day of Conference

Fri, July 27th 6 PM…

Yesterday my laptop ran out of battery and I couldn't do my sharing. Today is the second day of the conference an it is around 6 PM. I am sitting here in the ritual arena next to a pole which has power outlet - sharing my yesterday with you!

It has been an amazing journey so far! The simplicity, love and beauty of the grandmothers fills my heart. They have come together beyond language, cultural differences, ethnicities to give us a message of love and peace. They are showing us how to be love, peace, laughter, generosity, beauty, innocence and a child - all at the same time! At this age of their life, they are traveling around the world - inspiring their world children to wake up and connect within - care for the earth, live a conscious life with minimal needs. Minimize your consumption! People from every age group are here: pregnant mothers, new born babies, little babies, children, youth, middle aged and many many grandmothers from across the world -definitely more women than men. The connection and , belongingness you feel is beautiful! Everyone takes care of the other. There is no fear of stealth or anything! Everyone shares what they have with each other.

Yesterday was a day full of amazing rituals led by the grandmothers. EVeryday we get the honor of participating in a hour long ritual led by one grandmother - three in a day. The sun has been crazy hot here and yet, the spirit of everyone is high! The ritual arena is cool!

For me it has been a beautiful experience of living within my needs. I have my world in this little tent. I cook something simple -e at it. I have learned many things about camping and I love it! I sleep towards one end of the tent where I can open the netted window and I sleep looking at the star filled sky. Yesterday night, the moon shone into my tent the whole night. I also love the almost completely open shower area for women. I have realized how far I have come with my comfort in my body. I had no shame of my nakedness - there was not a moment's hesitation. I was amazed at that. I loved the shower. It is a very temporary outdoor setup with the water falling right into the grass. The door is a flapping curtain as the wind is really strong.

Yesterday evening the sweat lodges are up. I might make my entry tomorrow morning - maybe. I have made so many friends here. We eat together, walk together. Every session I have been sitting in different area of the ritual arena and have met many amazing grandmothers from across the US.

Yesterday the Chayenne CHief was here and he addressed the grandmothers and the guests. It is amazing to witness the amount of wisdom the tribes have. Tehir life is integrated with nature - wind, water, fire, sound are all so honored and respected! The Chief was talking about gender roles and he said something so beautiful - "We do not believe in equality. We believe in balance". That is what the indigenous cultures are about - Balance. It has made me think about so many things and the life that I want to live going forward on this earth.

This whole trip has reaffirmed my calling and need to do women's work. It is time!

Council Memoirs: Wed, July 25th

It is 10:18 PM. I am writing from inside my tent - sitting on my sleeping bag - bed. What an amazing end to an even amazing day!

The drive all day was beautiful! It began with Grand Teton National Park. My pictures do no justice to the beauty of Mother Nature. The sheer magnanimity of the peaks and the sky and the expansive infinite space simply blows the mind away. I stopped again and again and again. It was simply breathtaking! And then I drove into Yellowstone. I just drove a little and took the East entrance exit and drove straight to Montana. And then again my mind was blow away - not once but three times. Leaving Yellowstone behind the vegetation changed drastically. At one point I was driving through these huge ravines or canyons. They were mind blowing. I forgot the name of this park. The gigantic mud canyons and the river flowing through them was sight to behold. My mind kept saying - where am I! What is this! Oh My God! And then as if it was not enough - I encountered the wild wild west like in the movies as I drove through Buffalo Bill National Park. It has topped the list! It has even beaten Grand Tetons! The mountain range here were definitely bigger than Grand Tetons and they were GIGANTIC - my jaw dropped! And the infinite expansive space made me feel so tiny. It was directly out of a western B/W movie. I felt as though I have gone to a different time and place and even planet! This was in a place called Cody. I think it was still in Wyoming. And then we entered Montana. I love this place too. The shapes of the mountains and the dry yellow covering is beautiful! And by the time I drove closer to where I was supposed to be there was no signal. At first, I was a little scared as it was nowhere land and there was no sign. My GPS also gave up! This thought did cross my mind - Imagine you drove all this was and there is nothing! And I surprised myself as there was no disappointment at that! My first thought was - where will I stay tonight! :)

And then the signs started showing up and I arrived! It was a huge reserve - empty land whee there were tipis, ritual arena and many tents already setup. People had already arrived and setup. And they are continuing to arrive even now! There are so many people! I registered and then had to drive and figure out a place to setup. I picked a spot and then got out of my car - thinking - "Oh God! Let this tent setup work out smoothly". And just as I thought, I heard a voice - "Can I help you with your tent? I looked up and saw this most beautiful young lady walk towards me. She is my neighbor now. She helped me setup the tent. Thanks Karen! It was a piece of cake and was done in less than 10 inutes. She also helped me get all the stuff out! And then I Spent the next 30 minutes setting up all the stuff inside and outside. I realized so many things I didn't bring which was essential for a Camping trip. I will have to be creative and innovative. The biggest challenge is shower and portable potties! It will all be interesting! I made myself a little sandwich. And then took my camera and walked around! Met lot of people - from france, and other parts of Europe and so many states of US. There are so many Native Indians. I am soooo excited! In the ritual arena, the fire is already setup and one of the grandfathers who is the fire bearer already did some cleansing ritual! I met his daughter - Billy Joe. She is sweet! I then walked back to my tent. Before going to sleep, I decided to draw a mother peace card from the Major Arcana to know what strength of mine is showing up and guess what - MAgician! And that is all about fire and manifesting and creating something powerful -s tearing change! Oh! Well!

Now I am going to go o sleep. No Cell phones here. And looks like my laptop only has 34 minutes left. Soon she will disappear too. Then I will go for my book. I am going to do some painting. Images are already forming shape in my mind.

Before going to bed, will peek out to see the sky - the stars began popping few minutes ago. Since the lights are so few, you can even see the galaxies. Cant wait! Good Night Everyone!