This year we tried something new and invited others w/o family close by to dinner. We ate till we were full. Then we lazied around for the rest of the day enjoying each others company and expecting at least one drop in, which happened. I ate about 1400 calories for the day but have decided that two days in November w/o testing is o k by me. Now that it is the day after Turkey Day, I can relax and try to not focus on what is next.
I will be traveling to Southern California and visit with my Sister and her family, plus Heather. It is hard to not have Heather about at this time of year.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Looking for Mr. Big
Looking For Mr. Big
by Bernadette Voorhees
Have you ever had a time in your life when something you needed turned up missing? Something you counted on?
I’m not talking about little things like socks or keys or phone numbers written on scrap paper, things that routinely fall between the cushions on the sofa & get sucked into the netherworld between galaxies or those things you chalk up to something the dog chewed up & carried away. Those things you can forget & attach a little sticky note to the refrigerator asking other people in the family if they’ve seen it. I’m talking about bigger things, things we can spend months or even years looking for like our sanity or our identity or our purpose in life, the kind of things that don’t fit on sticky notes or refrigerators.
In Woody Allen’s short play, “Mr. Big,” a detective named Kaiser Lupowitz is hired by a Vassar philosophy major to find something that turned up missing, a missing person to be exact. Kaiser questions her & discovers, early on, that the person she wants to find is God. When Kaiser asks her what God looks like, she admits she has never seen him. “Oh great!” he responds. “Then you don’t know what he looks like? Or where to begin looking?” “No. Not really,” she replies. “Although I suspect he’s everywhere. In the air, in every flower, in you & I & in this leather sectional sofa.”
“Uh-huh,” Kaiser thinks. “So, she’s a pantheist.” Following
the twists & turns of the parody investigation, Kaiser later talks to the police. He is asked if he’s still looking for God, the ‘Great Oneness, the connection between all things, Creator of the Universe, Mr. Big?”
When the detective nods the police tell him that somebody answering to that description has just showed up at the morgue. After reviewing the facts, Kaiser & the policeman conclude that the divine murder wasn’t a professional job.
‘Couldn’t have been,’ they say. ‘Probably done by an existentialist,’ they surmise. When Kaiser asks how they could know, the sergeant answers, “Haphazard way it was done. Doesn’t seem to be any system followed.”
I know of families where, if God turned up missing, it wouldn’t be much of a problem. Families where it would be a problem if someone left a sticky note on the refrigerator asking if they’d seen God, or if they wouldn’t mind helping to look for God. Families where it would be a problem if their teenage son came home from school & said that he’d FOUND God. In many households, seeing God’s picture on a milk carton wouldn’t raise many eyebrows.
For some, God just turned up missing one day & they never bothered to file a report & some people were so turned off by a long history of personal experiences with hell & brimstone pastors preaching sin & shame & misguided people in their lives who told them so many times that ‘God was going to punish them for this or that;’ that they finally summoned the courage & good common sense to get rid of such a hurtful & destructive God themselves. Many people in Unity share a history like that & say that even thought they finally understood that the role of God was never meant to be a harmful or negative thing in our lives that their family or friends still believe otherwise & while they held on to God, their family & friends went missing.
Woody Allen wasn’t the first to write about the killing of God. Many people before & since have reflected on the idea of ‘theocide’ if not carried it out themselves. The point I’m making here is that since the purpose of worshipping God is to inspire you to become more God-like, when you realize that the God you’ve been taught to believe in is a vengeful, condemning & punishing God, isn’t it better to kill off such a God than to become more like Him.
But then what do you do when all that’s left is the chalk outline of where God used to be in your life. ‘What do you do to fill that place?’ What do you turn to? What do you believe in? What do you worship if all you are left with is a God-sized hole? Nothing? Anything? Does this matter?
Carl Jung, one of the father’s of modern psychology, wrote a book called “Modern Man in Search of a Soul.” In it he said, “About a third of my cases are suffering from no clinically define-able neurosis; but [instead] from the senselessness & emptiness of their lives. This can be described as the general neurosis of our time.”
The general neurosis of our times is meaninglessness, emptiness, the feeling that something is missing. And the questions that cry to us out of our emptiness are simple: ‘What should I be doing with my life?’ What can I do so that I can someday look back & feel like my life was significant? When I die will my own disappearance leave the world richer, poorer, sadder, or just less crowded? Unlike some other religions, the question we in Unity wrestle with isn’t whether there is ‘life after death,’ but whether there ‘life after birth & life before death.’ These are questions that we usually turn to God with for help. But when we’re worshipping a God that demands blind allegiance, or for whom we can find no allegiance, we must contend with the emptiness on our own & make no
bones about it, rather than living with emptiness, we will learn to fill it by turning to something or someone.
In his essay on the Oversoul, Ralph Waldo Emerson talked about this saying: “A person will worship something – have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret, in the dark recesses of our hearts – but it will get out. That which dominates our imaginations & our thoughts will determine our lives & character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.”
“What we are worshipping, we are becoming.” This is so true. Yet how many of us are always aware of exactly what we are worshipping? How many of us will honestly admit to what habitually dominates our imaginations? If you asksomeone what’s more important: having the latest computer, boat, car or thing off Madison avenue or devotion to family, their answer will likely be family. But if you watch how they live their lives & what they spend their time, energy & money on you are likely to see otherwise.
Emerson is referring to the idolatry we commit when we confuse or simply replace the worship of something meaningful with something that’s merely alluring. The voices that call us to keep up with the Jones’ or look as good as the people around us are just a few of the voices that often live in the available emptiness of our soul. They can, as Emerson notes, ‘dominate our imaginations & determine our character.’ But possessions, success & vanity are only a few of the tempting false gods that will try to roost in an empty nest.
The world is not unfamiliar with the gods of power, fame & influence. Jesus & other Master’s all warned against their seduction saying such things don’t bring peace. The drive for power & fame, like wealth, leads people to see their lives in terms of competition & attempts at domination rather than cooperation & relationship with the highest & the best for all concerned as the end result. The exercise of power can make human relationships very difficult not to mention unbalanced.
Rabbi Harold Kushner said “There is a tricky link between the quest for love & the quest for power. If you love someone because they always try to please you, because they always do what you want them to, that isn’t love, that is just a round about way of loving yourself. Power, like water, flows downhill from someone in a higher position to someone lower down. Love can be generated only between people who see themselves as equals, between people who can be mutually fulfilling to each other. Where one commands & one obeys, there can be loyalty & gratitude, but not love.”
If we need an example of those who would try to convince us that love will come through approval, obedience & submission, we only need look at how a cultured, educated people like the Germans could have let a man like Hitler come to power to know this is true. Likewise, words of such gods of approval are also found in the journal of a medieval Spanish monk when he wrote, “I am confident that, after my death, I will go to heaven because I have never made a decision on my own. I have always followed the orders of superiors & if I ever erred, the sin is theirs, not mine.” Such a heaven could only be filled with souls who spent their lives as sycophants & know only conformity and obedience. For myself, I couldn’t imagine a greater hell.
The Roman poet Ovid told a story of 2 characters who were dominated by false gods & the fate they encountered. It is about a young pair named Echo & Narcissus.
“Echo” was a maiden so named by the God Juno whom she served as a handmaiden. Juno wouldn’t stand for brazenness & when she heard Echo’s tongue speak for itself, she cast spell over the maiden that reduced her ability for speech to the shallow mimicry of other people’s words. No independent, original thought of her own could escape her lips. This would become a tragedy for Echo, later on when she met a young boy named Narcissus. Narcissus was endowed with beauty so great no one could resist him. It was prophesied at his birth that he would live to an old age, unless he somehow caught sight of himself. Echo, seeing his beauty, tried to draw Narcissus to her, but she had no words of her own to attract him. When he rejected her, she hid behind some trees where she pined & pined until her body wasted away leaving only her voice to echo others around her. Narcissus escaped Echo by running to a still & clear stream, where he bent down to get a drink. As he did, he saw his reflection on the surface of the water. Thinking it was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen looking up at him, he bent down to kiss the surface. This he did over & over, never able to coax the reflection out of the water & thus pining away there for his inability to take his eyes off himself. In his last few breaths he lamented his unrequited love, saying ‘Alas,’ & from the trees nearby came Echo’s haunting voice, ‘alas, alas, alas,’
The ‘kingdom of God’ is found by people learning how to come together with all of their beauty & brazen independence, a kingdom built on recognition of mutual strengths. Echo & Narcissus were not able to achieve this kind of relationship& for good reason, they had chosen to follow, or were directed by what Ovid calls ‘smaller Gods.’
Any God worth following wouldn’t prompt or expect us to become blindly obedient, only able to echo other people’s words or ways. Parroting scripture is a way to be religious, but without some authentic insight & voice of our own, there is nothing significant within us that will allow more than the most shallow connection with others, this is what Jesus called ‘second hand light’ & blind repetition that results in the sins of the Father being visited on the son.
When we seek to fill that God-sized hole with gods of Power, wealth, fame or vanity we become narcissistic; Trying to captivate or control others & draw them & bind them to us never allows us to see beyond our own image which we have to do in order to truly appreciate who they really are, what they really think & what they have to offer & what they actually do as individualized expressions of God.
Now more than ever, it feels gods that demand obedience or who rule through the power of shame are turning up more & more as missing or in the morgue. & ‘We the people’ seem to be taking on more and more responsibility to fill the emptiness – in our own souls and in our own country & in the world – with something godly of our own. A new vision for transparency & accountability that seems to elude the olds Gods of power.
& If you wonder what guided & inspired me this morning with such a hopeful vision where the powers tells us that things are still bleak, I ask you to reflect on the principles Robert Steyn followed in his efforts to rid South Africa of Apartheid.
1st “First, finding compassion for those other than myself’
2nd practicing non-judgmentalism & acceptance of all people, including their ability to learn & do!
3rd & third, “When living amidst a society with a sick & twisted ideology it is imperative to hold up a vision of that which is good and decent and kind in our humanity.”
These 3 ideas are as holy as any I’ve read in the Bible or heard anywhere else. & in the end it doesn’t matter whether the acts of our conscience come from God’s word, the words of those acting in godly ways or Jiminy Cricket. It’s only important that we begin to ask ourselves some hard questions & begin to consider what we worship & what we are becoming individually & as a family & as a church & as a country and that we begin to take ourselves seriously. If we don’t know one else will.
I’d like to close with these thoughts from Buddha.
The thought manifests as the word.
The word manifests as the deed.
The deed develops into a habit,
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love,
Out of respect for all beings.
by Bernadette Voorhees
Have you ever had a time in your life when something you needed turned up missing? Something you counted on?
I’m not talking about little things like socks or keys or phone numbers written on scrap paper, things that routinely fall between the cushions on the sofa & get sucked into the netherworld between galaxies or those things you chalk up to something the dog chewed up & carried away. Those things you can forget & attach a little sticky note to the refrigerator asking other people in the family if they’ve seen it. I’m talking about bigger things, things we can spend months or even years looking for like our sanity or our identity or our purpose in life, the kind of things that don’t fit on sticky notes or refrigerators.
In Woody Allen’s short play, “Mr. Big,” a detective named Kaiser Lupowitz is hired by a Vassar philosophy major to find something that turned up missing, a missing person to be exact. Kaiser questions her & discovers, early on, that the person she wants to find is God. When Kaiser asks her what God looks like, she admits she has never seen him. “Oh great!” he responds. “Then you don’t know what he looks like? Or where to begin looking?” “No. Not really,” she replies. “Although I suspect he’s everywhere. In the air, in every flower, in you & I & in this leather sectional sofa.”
“Uh-huh,” Kaiser thinks. “So, she’s a pantheist.” Following
the twists & turns of the parody investigation, Kaiser later talks to the police. He is asked if he’s still looking for God, the ‘Great Oneness, the connection between all things, Creator of the Universe, Mr. Big?”
When the detective nods the police tell him that somebody answering to that description has just showed up at the morgue. After reviewing the facts, Kaiser & the policeman conclude that the divine murder wasn’t a professional job.
‘Couldn’t have been,’ they say. ‘Probably done by an existentialist,’ they surmise. When Kaiser asks how they could know, the sergeant answers, “Haphazard way it was done. Doesn’t seem to be any system followed.”
I know of families where, if God turned up missing, it wouldn’t be much of a problem. Families where it would be a problem if someone left a sticky note on the refrigerator asking if they’d seen God, or if they wouldn’t mind helping to look for God. Families where it would be a problem if their teenage son came home from school & said that he’d FOUND God. In many households, seeing God’s picture on a milk carton wouldn’t raise many eyebrows.
For some, God just turned up missing one day & they never bothered to file a report & some people were so turned off by a long history of personal experiences with hell & brimstone pastors preaching sin & shame & misguided people in their lives who told them so many times that ‘God was going to punish them for this or that;’ that they finally summoned the courage & good common sense to get rid of such a hurtful & destructive God themselves. Many people in Unity share a history like that & say that even thought they finally understood that the role of God was never meant to be a harmful or negative thing in our lives that their family or friends still believe otherwise & while they held on to God, their family & friends went missing.
Woody Allen wasn’t the first to write about the killing of God. Many people before & since have reflected on the idea of ‘theocide’ if not carried it out themselves. The point I’m making here is that since the purpose of worshipping God is to inspire you to become more God-like, when you realize that the God you’ve been taught to believe in is a vengeful, condemning & punishing God, isn’t it better to kill off such a God than to become more like Him.
But then what do you do when all that’s left is the chalk outline of where God used to be in your life. ‘What do you do to fill that place?’ What do you turn to? What do you believe in? What do you worship if all you are left with is a God-sized hole? Nothing? Anything? Does this matter?
Carl Jung, one of the father’s of modern psychology, wrote a book called “Modern Man in Search of a Soul.” In it he said, “About a third of my cases are suffering from no clinically define-able neurosis; but [instead] from the senselessness & emptiness of their lives. This can be described as the general neurosis of our time.”
The general neurosis of our times is meaninglessness, emptiness, the feeling that something is missing. And the questions that cry to us out of our emptiness are simple: ‘What should I be doing with my life?’ What can I do so that I can someday look back & feel like my life was significant? When I die will my own disappearance leave the world richer, poorer, sadder, or just less crowded? Unlike some other religions, the question we in Unity wrestle with isn’t whether there is ‘life after death,’ but whether there ‘life after birth & life before death.’ These are questions that we usually turn to God with for help. But when we’re worshipping a God that demands blind allegiance, or for whom we can find no allegiance, we must contend with the emptiness on our own & make no
bones about it, rather than living with emptiness, we will learn to fill it by turning to something or someone.
In his essay on the Oversoul, Ralph Waldo Emerson talked about this saying: “A person will worship something – have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret, in the dark recesses of our hearts – but it will get out. That which dominates our imaginations & our thoughts will determine our lives & character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.”
“What we are worshipping, we are becoming.” This is so true. Yet how many of us are always aware of exactly what we are worshipping? How many of us will honestly admit to what habitually dominates our imaginations? If you asksomeone what’s more important: having the latest computer, boat, car or thing off Madison avenue or devotion to family, their answer will likely be family. But if you watch how they live their lives & what they spend their time, energy & money on you are likely to see otherwise.
Emerson is referring to the idolatry we commit when we confuse or simply replace the worship of something meaningful with something that’s merely alluring. The voices that call us to keep up with the Jones’ or look as good as the people around us are just a few of the voices that often live in the available emptiness of our soul. They can, as Emerson notes, ‘dominate our imaginations & determine our character.’ But possessions, success & vanity are only a few of the tempting false gods that will try to roost in an empty nest.
The world is not unfamiliar with the gods of power, fame & influence. Jesus & other Master’s all warned against their seduction saying such things don’t bring peace. The drive for power & fame, like wealth, leads people to see their lives in terms of competition & attempts at domination rather than cooperation & relationship with the highest & the best for all concerned as the end result. The exercise of power can make human relationships very difficult not to mention unbalanced.
Rabbi Harold Kushner said “There is a tricky link between the quest for love & the quest for power. If you love someone because they always try to please you, because they always do what you want them to, that isn’t love, that is just a round about way of loving yourself. Power, like water, flows downhill from someone in a higher position to someone lower down. Love can be generated only between people who see themselves as equals, between people who can be mutually fulfilling to each other. Where one commands & one obeys, there can be loyalty & gratitude, but not love.”
If we need an example of those who would try to convince us that love will come through approval, obedience & submission, we only need look at how a cultured, educated people like the Germans could have let a man like Hitler come to power to know this is true. Likewise, words of such gods of approval are also found in the journal of a medieval Spanish monk when he wrote, “I am confident that, after my death, I will go to heaven because I have never made a decision on my own. I have always followed the orders of superiors & if I ever erred, the sin is theirs, not mine.” Such a heaven could only be filled with souls who spent their lives as sycophants & know only conformity and obedience. For myself, I couldn’t imagine a greater hell.
The Roman poet Ovid told a story of 2 characters who were dominated by false gods & the fate they encountered. It is about a young pair named Echo & Narcissus.
“Echo” was a maiden so named by the God Juno whom she served as a handmaiden. Juno wouldn’t stand for brazenness & when she heard Echo’s tongue speak for itself, she cast spell over the maiden that reduced her ability for speech to the shallow mimicry of other people’s words. No independent, original thought of her own could escape her lips. This would become a tragedy for Echo, later on when she met a young boy named Narcissus. Narcissus was endowed with beauty so great no one could resist him. It was prophesied at his birth that he would live to an old age, unless he somehow caught sight of himself. Echo, seeing his beauty, tried to draw Narcissus to her, but she had no words of her own to attract him. When he rejected her, she hid behind some trees where she pined & pined until her body wasted away leaving only her voice to echo others around her. Narcissus escaped Echo by running to a still & clear stream, where he bent down to get a drink. As he did, he saw his reflection on the surface of the water. Thinking it was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen looking up at him, he bent down to kiss the surface. This he did over & over, never able to coax the reflection out of the water & thus pining away there for his inability to take his eyes off himself. In his last few breaths he lamented his unrequited love, saying ‘Alas,’ & from the trees nearby came Echo’s haunting voice, ‘alas, alas, alas,’
The ‘kingdom of God’ is found by people learning how to come together with all of their beauty & brazen independence, a kingdom built on recognition of mutual strengths. Echo & Narcissus were not able to achieve this kind of relationship& for good reason, they had chosen to follow, or were directed by what Ovid calls ‘smaller Gods.’
Any God worth following wouldn’t prompt or expect us to become blindly obedient, only able to echo other people’s words or ways. Parroting scripture is a way to be religious, but without some authentic insight & voice of our own, there is nothing significant within us that will allow more than the most shallow connection with others, this is what Jesus called ‘second hand light’ & blind repetition that results in the sins of the Father being visited on the son.
When we seek to fill that God-sized hole with gods of Power, wealth, fame or vanity we become narcissistic; Trying to captivate or control others & draw them & bind them to us never allows us to see beyond our own image which we have to do in order to truly appreciate who they really are, what they really think & what they have to offer & what they actually do as individualized expressions of God.
Now more than ever, it feels gods that demand obedience or who rule through the power of shame are turning up more & more as missing or in the morgue. & ‘We the people’ seem to be taking on more and more responsibility to fill the emptiness – in our own souls and in our own country & in the world – with something godly of our own. A new vision for transparency & accountability that seems to elude the olds Gods of power.
& If you wonder what guided & inspired me this morning with such a hopeful vision where the powers tells us that things are still bleak, I ask you to reflect on the principles Robert Steyn followed in his efforts to rid South Africa of Apartheid.
1st “First, finding compassion for those other than myself’
2nd practicing non-judgmentalism & acceptance of all people, including their ability to learn & do!
3rd & third, “When living amidst a society with a sick & twisted ideology it is imperative to hold up a vision of that which is good and decent and kind in our humanity.”
These 3 ideas are as holy as any I’ve read in the Bible or heard anywhere else. & in the end it doesn’t matter whether the acts of our conscience come from God’s word, the words of those acting in godly ways or Jiminy Cricket. It’s only important that we begin to ask ourselves some hard questions & begin to consider what we worship & what we are becoming individually & as a family & as a church & as a country and that we begin to take ourselves seriously. If we don’t know one else will.
I’d like to close with these thoughts from Buddha.
The thought manifests as the word.
The word manifests as the deed.
The deed develops into a habit,
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love,
Out of respect for all beings.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Circles
Pow-Wow’s, Sweat Lodge’s, Gatherings, Ceremonies, Elders, Medicine Man and Woman, Chief, Warrior, Clan, Brave, and Circles of all kinds. These make up the world of a Native American both First Nation and Métis. Our lives are governed by the code for sacred living, honoring all that is created. We have lived and now live knowing who we are what our relationship is to the Creator and Mother Earth. We live with a series of circles, where we teach, play, learn and age.
Powwow is when different tribes or clans come together to celebrate an event. Maybe a good hunt and to share the bounty from Mother Earth. Maybe it is a time when many tribes come together, usually once a year, to make marriage contracts and weddings with a give-a-way for the new couple to gain in the wealth of the families. It is also time when a tribe does ceremony because of a season ritual. Maybe it is harvest time, planting time, hunting time. Maybe it is a ceremony for the rite of passage from a boy to a man or a girl to a woman.
Sweat Lodge is for the healing of the body, mind and spirit of an individual. There is a Sacred Way to make these healings work. Songs to sing, herbs to use and a pipe to smoke for prayers to travel on to reach The Creator.
Women’s and Men’s circles are gatherings in the interest of bonding, sharing, and creating ritual. The origins of these circles are ancient, but they are as modern and important as when they were first created. There are no hard and fast rules to form a circle. Some circles invent their own agendas, goals, and ceremonies. Some circles are open to new members at all times, while others are by invitation
In a typical circle, the members sit in a circle. Generally, for the sake of cohesiveness, an Elder or Chief leads the circle. . One circle leader may choose to teach a rite using song to release negative energy, while another leader may feel inspired to lead a silent meditation. On the other hand, a circle may choose to focus over the long term and gather around a particular intention, such as working to determine a way for healing Mother Earth.
At their best, circles perfectly illustrate the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The work that can be accomplished, within the loving embrace of our brothers and sisters, is far more powerful than what we could achieve on our own. If you are not already part of a circle, you may want to start or join one. It need not be just your blood family. Friends holding concerns about some idea or other can meet and through prayer and meditation make a difference in the community or neighborhood. Follow your intuition as to those with whom you would like to work, reach out to them, and set a date to begin. After that, stay focused on what you are concerned or thankful for.
Our church community is an example of such a circle. When we gather here to glorify The Creator, we act in consert to make our lives more Christ-like. Here we are able to listen to the Elders of the past sharing their sage advice on how to live with each other as well as what to do when we come to a crisis. Here we learn to love one another.
When we share our wealth with the greater circle by the tithe of our bounty, we become part of a circle that helps provide the funding for the many circles our votes have elected to support. Other circles help provide us with a grounding in the Church Community.
Sharing our time and support can be shown by participating in the Friendship Gathering after Mass in the Fellowship Hall.
Shareing our time by volunteering for any one of the many circles (committees ) needed to be manned to help lead the way in our greater Circle called St. Luke’s/San Lucas and to Vancouver.
When I was a small child, I lived in a village governed by a circle of Elders who held the wisdom of my People. I was expected to participate in village life with both my time and my funds. At six years of age, I sold newspapers on the corner of Main Street and Bond Ave, giving a share of what I earned as a gift to the greater circle. I taught by living example to the younger children the values taught me by my Elders.
When the time came to share a story, I knew to share a story from my young life. Other children shared their day’s adventure as well.
By the time I moved away, I had been taught the value of Family. Not only the Birth Family, but also this included close family from all walks of my life. I knew the necessity of giving my time, my funds and to share my life with others. I was taught that, because I have little, I am blessed. My best is to share my Knowledge with those younger than me. As an Elder, I must share my life experiences or there will be no one to tell the history and teach the Medicine Way and tell the stories to the next generation. Then they will be lost and not know their Way to the land across the other side.
Being generous with what we have, is nothing more than being rich with what abounds from Mother Earth. Returning the blessings we receive freely shows our love for our Church, our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our Family as well as ourselves.
If we are able, after Mass, instead of leaving, try something new and join your church family in a shared circle of love and fellowship. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for a cup of hot drink and some small treat.
It is pledge time, when you can see your opportunity to share what you have, as the old woman in the parable of the two coppers. You will be blessed 10 fold for your gifts. Share of your learning by joining in a circle of friend who have a like interest, or maybe experience a new interesting talent by learning from someone who is sharing his or her talents.
To become a part of your church family is to become part of a circle for health, wealth, companionship and spiritual growth.
May the Great Spirit be with you as you travel this life and may Mother Earth heap gifts upon you beyond measure; I pray this day in His Name. Amen!
Powwow is when different tribes or clans come together to celebrate an event. Maybe a good hunt and to share the bounty from Mother Earth. Maybe it is a time when many tribes come together, usually once a year, to make marriage contracts and weddings with a give-a-way for the new couple to gain in the wealth of the families. It is also time when a tribe does ceremony because of a season ritual. Maybe it is harvest time, planting time, hunting time. Maybe it is a ceremony for the rite of passage from a boy to a man or a girl to a woman.
Sweat Lodge is for the healing of the body, mind and spirit of an individual. There is a Sacred Way to make these healings work. Songs to sing, herbs to use and a pipe to smoke for prayers to travel on to reach The Creator.
Women’s and Men’s circles are gatherings in the interest of bonding, sharing, and creating ritual. The origins of these circles are ancient, but they are as modern and important as when they were first created. There are no hard and fast rules to form a circle. Some circles invent their own agendas, goals, and ceremonies. Some circles are open to new members at all times, while others are by invitation
In a typical circle, the members sit in a circle. Generally, for the sake of cohesiveness, an Elder or Chief leads the circle. . One circle leader may choose to teach a rite using song to release negative energy, while another leader may feel inspired to lead a silent meditation. On the other hand, a circle may choose to focus over the long term and gather around a particular intention, such as working to determine a way for healing Mother Earth.
At their best, circles perfectly illustrate the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The work that can be accomplished, within the loving embrace of our brothers and sisters, is far more powerful than what we could achieve on our own. If you are not already part of a circle, you may want to start or join one. It need not be just your blood family. Friends holding concerns about some idea or other can meet and through prayer and meditation make a difference in the community or neighborhood. Follow your intuition as to those with whom you would like to work, reach out to them, and set a date to begin. After that, stay focused on what you are concerned or thankful for.
Our church community is an example of such a circle. When we gather here to glorify The Creator, we act in consert to make our lives more Christ-like. Here we are able to listen to the Elders of the past sharing their sage advice on how to live with each other as well as what to do when we come to a crisis. Here we learn to love one another.
When we share our wealth with the greater circle by the tithe of our bounty, we become part of a circle that helps provide the funding for the many circles our votes have elected to support. Other circles help provide us with a grounding in the Church Community.
Sharing our time and support can be shown by participating in the Friendship Gathering after Mass in the Fellowship Hall.
Shareing our time by volunteering for any one of the many circles (committees ) needed to be manned to help lead the way in our greater Circle called St. Luke’s/San Lucas and to Vancouver.
When I was a small child, I lived in a village governed by a circle of Elders who held the wisdom of my People. I was expected to participate in village life with both my time and my funds. At six years of age, I sold newspapers on the corner of Main Street and Bond Ave, giving a share of what I earned as a gift to the greater circle. I taught by living example to the younger children the values taught me by my Elders.
When the time came to share a story, I knew to share a story from my young life. Other children shared their day’s adventure as well.
By the time I moved away, I had been taught the value of Family. Not only the Birth Family, but also this included close family from all walks of my life. I knew the necessity of giving my time, my funds and to share my life with others. I was taught that, because I have little, I am blessed. My best is to share my Knowledge with those younger than me. As an Elder, I must share my life experiences or there will be no one to tell the history and teach the Medicine Way and tell the stories to the next generation. Then they will be lost and not know their Way to the land across the other side.
Being generous with what we have, is nothing more than being rich with what abounds from Mother Earth. Returning the blessings we receive freely shows our love for our Church, our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our Family as well as ourselves.
If we are able, after Mass, instead of leaving, try something new and join your church family in a shared circle of love and fellowship. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for a cup of hot drink and some small treat.
It is pledge time, when you can see your opportunity to share what you have, as the old woman in the parable of the two coppers. You will be blessed 10 fold for your gifts. Share of your learning by joining in a circle of friend who have a like interest, or maybe experience a new interesting talent by learning from someone who is sharing his or her talents.
To become a part of your church family is to become part of a circle for health, wealth, companionship and spiritual growth.
May the Great Spirit be with you as you travel this life and may Mother Earth heap gifts upon you beyond measure; I pray this day in His Name. Amen!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Life changes
Good morning to my world,
I have recently heard that I am now a member of the Diabetes Club. Yesterday, I start on my lifetime use of oral medications for this haunting disease. My wonderful bride of 20+ years is helping me to adjust to my newly developing regiment for food and drink. I am slowly going more toward a vegetarian way of eating. Part of what I would like is to have many folks communicate with me on line. This "one more thing" series of life's lessons is trying and exhausting. To do it alone or with no outward communications, is not good for me.
I have recently heard that I am now a member of the Diabetes Club. Yesterday, I start on my lifetime use of oral medications for this haunting disease. My wonderful bride of 20+ years is helping me to adjust to my newly developing regiment for food and drink. I am slowly going more toward a vegetarian way of eating. Part of what I would like is to have many folks communicate with me on line. This "one more thing" series of life's lessons is trying and exhausting. To do it alone or with no outward communications, is not good for me.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
My yesterdays
I have been having a hard time these past few weeks. My body has given up in many ways. Leg cramps are here to stay, even as I try to adjust to the leg cramps with minerals as supplements. Driving has fallen off to almost nothing and I prefer to stay home and doodle my days away.
My book is almost finished and with about 4 chapters to edit, I will be able to close it before Christmas. I would like to have it published in time for the holidays. It has been a long hard struggle to get to this point in creating the book. It's title is "The Storytellers Gathering" set in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. The book is mostly [95%] native stories either created by myself or retold from stories I have heard. I think there will be about 325 pages plus photos, maps, charts and the like.
Another thing on my hobby list is the coloring of 19th century sketches. I use a multi media [ie. pastel oils and pastel pencils, water colors, coloring pencils, and chalk]. I've sold none of them but I've not tried either. Could be this coming Fall season I will find the courage to have a small showing at some location here in Vancouver, Washington.
My jewelry making is still slow and confined to; Silver and Turquoise or Hematite and Turquoise. I finished one piece that was evaluated and valued at $350.00. I hope to produce three more at around the same value. Make photo copies of them and place a notice that they will be for sale at the high bid price of the first piece. That is, if the committee will allow me to do that.
Well keep your heads up and your hearts open to new love. Be sure you allow the higher power in you to shine forward as a beacon to all you meet and all you try to heal with Love and Empathy.
My book is almost finished and with about 4 chapters to edit, I will be able to close it before Christmas. I would like to have it published in time for the holidays. It has been a long hard struggle to get to this point in creating the book. It's title is "The Storytellers Gathering" set in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. The book is mostly [95%] native stories either created by myself or retold from stories I have heard. I think there will be about 325 pages plus photos, maps, charts and the like.
Another thing on my hobby list is the coloring of 19th century sketches. I use a multi media [ie. pastel oils and pastel pencils, water colors, coloring pencils, and chalk]. I've sold none of them but I've not tried either. Could be this coming Fall season I will find the courage to have a small showing at some location here in Vancouver, Washington.
My jewelry making is still slow and confined to; Silver and Turquoise or Hematite and Turquoise. I finished one piece that was evaluated and valued at $350.00. I hope to produce three more at around the same value. Make photo copies of them and place a notice that they will be for sale at the high bid price of the first piece. That is, if the committee will allow me to do that.
Well keep your heads up and your hearts open to new love. Be sure you allow the higher power in you to shine forward as a beacon to all you meet and all you try to heal with Love and Empathy.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
RULES TO LIVE BY
A Dog's Purpose?
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,' 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,' 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
RULES TO LIVE BY

A Dog's Purpose?
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,' 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
A Dog's Purpose?
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,' 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Welcoming new members
The dynamics of the families we belong to evolve over time. When we welcome an individual into our family—whether that individual is human or not—a transformation takes place, a shift in the energy of the family unit. The birth or adoption of a child, the introduction of a spouse or stepparent, or a pet, can mark a new direction in the life’s flow of energies for the family as a whole. A simple welcoming ritual can serve as the platform upon which every member of the household, old and new, gathers together to joyfully mark this new phase of family life. Encouraging every member of the family to take part in the ceremony, will foster a sense of unity and help members come together to grow into the new family paradigm as a group.
The transition from one family dynamic to another isn’t always clear. The needs and desires of new members may not always correspond with those of other members of the household. It is precisely because the introduction of a new family member can interrupt the flow of energy which the family previously thrived that it is so important to respect the change and honor the induction of the new member.
When welcoming an adult into the family unit, a simple sand ceremony can reinforce each member’s individuality and symbolically integrate the newest family member into the whole. During the ceremony, parents, children, and extended relations are given sand of a different color or texture and, one by one, pour it into a thoughtfully chosen container. The rainbow of sand can then be displayed as a reminder of family unanimity. To honor the introduction of a child, parents can hold a ritual during which they formally introduce their child to the other members of the family and invite each to speak a blessing over the child.
Animals can be honored by having the family form a circle around the animal and shower it with words of greeting and love. Keeping a special place as a safe haven for the animal, will show a feeling of respect for the animals well being.
Each family is different and may feel more comfortable using a ritual or ceremony of their own design to welcome the new member to their household. However it chooses to honor a new family member, know that the decision to acknowledge the manner in which the household has grown, will make the transition a beautiful and memorable event in the family history.
The transition from one family dynamic to another isn’t always clear. The needs and desires of new members may not always correspond with those of other members of the household. It is precisely because the introduction of a new family member can interrupt the flow of energy which the family previously thrived that it is so important to respect the change and honor the induction of the new member.
When welcoming an adult into the family unit, a simple sand ceremony can reinforce each member’s individuality and symbolically integrate the newest family member into the whole. During the ceremony, parents, children, and extended relations are given sand of a different color or texture and, one by one, pour it into a thoughtfully chosen container. The rainbow of sand can then be displayed as a reminder of family unanimity. To honor the introduction of a child, parents can hold a ritual during which they formally introduce their child to the other members of the family and invite each to speak a blessing over the child.
Animals can be honored by having the family form a circle around the animal and shower it with words of greeting and love. Keeping a special place as a safe haven for the animal, will show a feeling of respect for the animals well being.
Each family is different and may feel more comfortable using a ritual or ceremony of their own design to welcome the new member to their household. However it chooses to honor a new family member, know that the decision to acknowledge the manner in which the household has grown, will make the transition a beautiful and memorable event in the family history.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Where Do You Put Your Indian When You Are Acting White
Where Do You Put Your Indian When You’re Acting White
Many years ago when I asked my Grandfather (Dragging Wolf) why he did not buy him self some new clothes and dress up a little. He smiled and said, “it is time for a lesson child. Just yesterday I was asked the very same question that I had asked Grandfather so many years ago, so, time for this lesson.” I hope this enlightens you as much as it did me.
Grandfather and I walked the short distance to a large oak tree, who's branches nearly touched the ground and we sat beneath it. Grandfather patted the trunk of this enormous tree and asked ,“if we took all of the leaves from this tree and put them on the willow over there, and brought all the willow leaves over here, would this still be an oak tree? Would the willow still be a willow tree?”
As I pondered this question, he drew out his pipe and slowly filled it with his favorite Cherokee blend tobacco. As the aroma of rich southern tobacco billowed around us he asked me one of the most important questions of my life.
“WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR INDIAN WHEN YOU ARE ACTING WHITE?”
I looked quickly at him wondering what I was supposed to say, my Indian? Where do I put it?
Softly he said, “Many people work very hard to be some thing other that who they are. they must have the finest clothes, the biggest hat, but all of that finery does not change who you are. You can not take who you were born as and put it away until you decide to be yourself again.”
“When you wrap a box for a birthday or Christmas, you work to put the wrapping on perfectly so it will be pleasing to an others eye, but once the box is unwrapped it is still the same box, the wrapping does not change the contents. People may darken their skin or lighten their hair, but they still can not change what is within. You may work hard to act or look white, but to accomplish this you must first put your Indian away, and so I must ask...how and where?”“So when you are working hard to be someone else, what do you do with the Indian you were born to be? If you continue to cover up who you are you will soon forget where you came from.”
“Being born Indian or White or Black or Asian is not a choice, it is a privilege. Our Great Creator honors us with life. We are to honor HIM by being the best caretakers of that life we can be. This Life gift is not ours to keep and hide away with fancy wrappings or pretense, we are to embrace life around us, be proud of who we were born to be, and honor our Great Creator. The drums will always beat loudly in our hearts even through the noise of the white world, and every time your feet touch our Mother's breast our souls will feel the pull of those who walked before us.”
“So when you go to buy that fancy suit or dress ask your self, do I dress because it makes me feel good, or do I dress to hide?”
Many years ago when I asked my Grandfather (Dragging Wolf) why he did not buy him self some new clothes and dress up a little. He smiled and said, “it is time for a lesson child. Just yesterday I was asked the very same question that I had asked Grandfather so many years ago, so, time for this lesson.” I hope this enlightens you as much as it did me.
Grandfather and I walked the short distance to a large oak tree, who's branches nearly touched the ground and we sat beneath it. Grandfather patted the trunk of this enormous tree and asked ,“if we took all of the leaves from this tree and put them on the willow over there, and brought all the willow leaves over here, would this still be an oak tree? Would the willow still be a willow tree?”
As I pondered this question, he drew out his pipe and slowly filled it with his favorite Cherokee blend tobacco. As the aroma of rich southern tobacco billowed around us he asked me one of the most important questions of my life.
“WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR INDIAN WHEN YOU ARE ACTING WHITE?”
I looked quickly at him wondering what I was supposed to say, my Indian? Where do I put it?
Softly he said, “Many people work very hard to be some thing other that who they are. they must have the finest clothes, the biggest hat, but all of that finery does not change who you are. You can not take who you were born as and put it away until you decide to be yourself again.”
“When you wrap a box for a birthday or Christmas, you work to put the wrapping on perfectly so it will be pleasing to an others eye, but once the box is unwrapped it is still the same box, the wrapping does not change the contents. People may darken their skin or lighten their hair, but they still can not change what is within. You may work hard to act or look white, but to accomplish this you must first put your Indian away, and so I must ask...how and where?”“So when you are working hard to be someone else, what do you do with the Indian you were born to be? If you continue to cover up who you are you will soon forget where you came from.”
“Being born Indian or White or Black or Asian is not a choice, it is a privilege. Our Great Creator honors us with life. We are to honor HIM by being the best caretakers of that life we can be. This Life gift is not ours to keep and hide away with fancy wrappings or pretense, we are to embrace life around us, be proud of who we were born to be, and honor our Great Creator. The drums will always beat loudly in our hearts even through the noise of the white world, and every time your feet touch our Mother's breast our souls will feel the pull of those who walked before us.”
“So when you go to buy that fancy suit or dress ask your self, do I dress because it makes me feel good, or do I dress to hide?”
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Supple Minds
Supple Minds
A lot of people feel threatened if they are being asked to question about their cherished beliefs or their perception of reality. Questioning is what keeps our minds supple and strong. Simply settling on one way of seeing things and refusing to be open to other possibilities, makes the mind rigid, and generally creates a restrictive, uncomfortable atmosphere. We know someone who refuses to budge on one or more issues. We may have our own taboos that could use a little prodding. Being open-minded, means we are willing to question everything and anything, including things we take for granted.
A willingness to question everything, even those things we are right about, can reinvigorate our minds, opening us to understanding people and perspectives that were alien to us before. This alone is good reason to remain inquisitive. In the Zen tradition, this willingness to question is known as beginner’s mind, and it has a way of generating possibilities we couldn’t have from the point of view of knowing something with certainty. The willingness to question doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t believe in anything at all, and it doesn’t mean we must question every single thing in the world every minute of every day. It simply means we are humble enough to acknowledge how little we actually know about the mysterious universe and planet we call home.
A commitment of staying inquisitive in our own individual lives will lead us to new personal revolutions and truths, truths that we will hopefully, for the sake of our growth, remain open to questioning.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Drum Making
Thanks to some very sweet friends, I will be teaching Drum Making at the Unity Church here in Vancouver, WA.. I've been teaching drum making these past 20 years or so and have had a wonderful time doing so.
Now I am teaching other than Metis how to make a Personal Drum. There is also soon to be a ceremony circle for Non-natives. These people are interested in a Prayer Circle and Meditation techniques for living a closer life to Earth Mother.
In my M.N.U.S. Sacred Circle I am looking to put together a medicine teaching class and a more formal Medicine Way group. This group will be responsible in the gathering and preparing local herbs in each region of the country to make them available to our People Across North America. I have mofre to share as I go along.
Peace
Now I am teaching other than Metis how to make a Personal Drum. There is also soon to be a ceremony circle for Non-natives. These people are interested in a Prayer Circle and Meditation techniques for living a closer life to Earth Mother.
In my M.N.U.S. Sacred Circle I am looking to put together a medicine teaching class and a more formal Medicine Way group. This group will be responsible in the gathering and preparing local herbs in each region of the country to make them available to our People Across North America. I have mofre to share as I go along.
Peace
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Your Pain Helps Others
Pain is a fact of life and one that invades all life to some degree. Since the pain we feel may be a part of the experiences that touched us most deeply, we are often reluctant to let it go. It is frequently easier to keep our pain where it can act as a shield sheltering us from others and gives us an identity. However, pain can also empower us to use our it to help others heal. Since no pain is any greater or more profound than any other, what you feel can give you the ability to help bring about the recovery of individuals whose hurts are both similar to and vastly different from your own. You can channel your pain into healing love that aids you in helping individuals on a one-to-one basis and spreading a tide of curative energy throughout the world.
The capacity to heal others evolves naturally within those who are ready to disassociate themselves from their victim identity. In fact, a simple decision to put aside the pain we have is what grants us the strength to ease that pain through service. There are many ways to use the limitations you feel to help others. Your pain gives you a unique insight into the minds of people who have experienced trauma and heartache. You can use the wellspring of strength that allowed you to cope with your pain or emerge on the other side of a painful experience and pass that strength to others still suffering from their wounds. You may be able to council individuals in need by showing them coping methods that have helped you survive. A kinship can develop that allows you to relate more closely with those you are trying to help and comfort.
Your efforts can be a restorative experience that makes your own heart grow stronger. In channeling your pain into compassionate service and watching others successfully recover, you may feel a sense of euphoria that leads to increased feelings of self-worth and optimism. Your courageous decision to reach out to others can be the best way to declare to yourself and the world that your pain didn’t defeat you, and in fact it helped you heal.
The capacity to heal others evolves naturally within those who are ready to disassociate themselves from their victim identity. In fact, a simple decision to put aside the pain we have is what grants us the strength to ease that pain through service. There are many ways to use the limitations you feel to help others. Your pain gives you a unique insight into the minds of people who have experienced trauma and heartache. You can use the wellspring of strength that allowed you to cope with your pain or emerge on the other side of a painful experience and pass that strength to others still suffering from their wounds. You may be able to council individuals in need by showing them coping methods that have helped you survive. A kinship can develop that allows you to relate more closely with those you are trying to help and comfort.
Your efforts can be a restorative experience that makes your own heart grow stronger. In channeling your pain into compassionate service and watching others successfully recover, you may feel a sense of euphoria that leads to increased feelings of self-worth and optimism. Your courageous decision to reach out to others can be the best way to declare to yourself and the world that your pain didn’t defeat you, and in fact it helped you heal.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Kindness
Kindness
Wanting to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. It is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are replete with situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, and friendly to loved ones and associates, as well as strangers. The selfless acts of kindness that have the most profoundly uplifting effects are often the simplest: a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courtesy, or a smile. Such small kindnesses represent an unconditional, unrestricted form of love that we are free to give or withhold at will. When you give the gift of kindness, whether in the form of assistance, concern, or friendliness, your actions create a beacon of happiness and hope that warms people’s hearts.
The components of kindness are compassion, respect, and generosity. Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether the individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person’s entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet—even those who make you feel like frowning—can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed the act as well as the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.
Weaving the thread of kindness into your everyday life can be as easy as choosing to offer a hearty “Good morning” and “Good night” to your coworkers or neighbors, a stranger on the street, or the grocery store clerk. When you commit a kind act, you are disconnected from your ego and bonded with the individual who has benefited from your kindness. Being fully present in each moment of your life facilitates kindness as it increases your awareness of the people around you. You’ll discover that each act of kindness you engage in makes the world a better place.
Wanting to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. It is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are replete with situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, and friendly to loved ones and associates, as well as strangers. The selfless acts of kindness that have the most profoundly uplifting effects are often the simplest: a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courtesy, or a smile. Such small kindnesses represent an unconditional, unrestricted form of love that we are free to give or withhold at will. When you give the gift of kindness, whether in the form of assistance, concern, or friendliness, your actions create a beacon of happiness and hope that warms people’s hearts.
The components of kindness are compassion, respect, and generosity. Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether the individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person’s entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet—even those who make you feel like frowning—can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed the act as well as the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.
Weaving the thread of kindness into your everyday life can be as easy as choosing to offer a hearty “Good morning” and “Good night” to your coworkers or neighbors, a stranger on the street, or the grocery store clerk. When you commit a kind act, you are disconnected from your ego and bonded with the individual who has benefited from your kindness. Being fully present in each moment of your life facilitates kindness as it increases your awareness of the people around you. You’ll discover that each act of kindness you engage in makes the world a better place.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake!
THE 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR ONE PERSON.......LOOK OUT WORLD LOL
I'll send it to 2 people, then you send it to 2 people, and so on, and so on, and so on.
5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (Micro-Safe)
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (Micro-Safe)
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
my day 3.15.2009
Today was an interesting day, March 15th. It is a Lent Day, A Saint Patrick Day and The Ides of March, Most interesting about today was how I spent it. First I pacified a church by attending, then I went to a luncheon for Irish Potatoes with a lot of fixin's ( not to Irish for my way of thinking). From there we went to enjoy a major display of Leonardo Da Vinci's science and engeenering. There was a fine display of his Art work. The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, with the Mona Lisa holding center stage at OMSI. While we were there it was crowded and noisy. I enjoyed the show but not the unruly children in a very adult display.
I will try to go back when there are fewer children and less noise for a deeper view at Da Vinci and his world. Much of the arts are at a loss to me and if I am to paint, I feel the need to be better informed as well as be better virsed in the way people see art.
It should help me to better understand the Native Art I own and see all about me. Archeology and Art go hand in hand as well.
I will try to go back when there are fewer children and less noise for a deeper view at Da Vinci and his world. Much of the arts are at a loss to me and if I am to paint, I feel the need to be better informed as well as be better virsed in the way people see art.
It should help me to better understand the Native Art I own and see all about me. Archeology and Art go hand in hand as well.
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