Stepping in to a New World
Greetings Beloved Kin,
The Elders say you can change your life in 4 days of Sacred Ceremony. The Power lies in a choice of a retreat from the world to live wholly in the realm of Spirit. The sacred dance traditions of the Native Americans include a 4-day fast of food and water. The Intention was to live by the Breath of Spirit. The Dance was a 4-year commitment carried out over the weekend of the Fall Equinox.
Cherokee Dancer
We danced in silence through the Sun/Moon Dance, and no eye contact was made between one and another. We lived up-close and personal with Mother Earth and Father Sky. The only sound of a Communion in Divine Trinity was the turkey-bone whistle and the sounds of our feet, moving back and forth from the parameter of the circle to the center pole. Entering in to the dance arbor was symbolic of stepping into a realm above. We were covered by a sheet when we left to use the facilities or to bring an offering to the sacred fires that burned through the night. Each dancer was assigned a support person who served from outside the circle and the Moon Mothers watched over the whole from within.
There was no shame for those who fell early. The same as the sweat-lodge tradition, they were celebrated as they were carried out for the work they finished on behalf of the whole. I only made it through on the 4th and final dance. The hardest time of all was kneeling in line at the end, each waiting their turn for the water blessing on our head before we re-entered a world of physicality. That experience was sacred to know we faced death and claimed the truth of a “good way to die.” More than one dancer has shared that this would be their choice over taking up arms to kill another human being. The Dance offered a sacred way to leave in Right Relationship with the whole.
The 4-year commitment was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, though many carry on to re-enlist at the end. It’s hard to carry out a 4 day retreat “living in the world.” Though, it is just as powerful when we make a choice to hold our thoughts by Intention to live in the circle of a body of consciousness, defining the boundaries and parameters of thoughts that will be held within. It was no different in the dance circle. It takes Time to disconnect our thoughts from the illusions of the world below.
Conscious Choices and Intentions hold the power to remember who we are and where we’ve chosen to be. The choice of a personal retreat from worldly matters can be just as powerful, when we keep turning back to the center from the thoughts that attempt to cross the boundaries we’ve chosen.
The easiest way I know is to start each day claiming that all time is ordered by the Creator, and every experience of our life on Mother Earth holds a Divine Meaning and Purpose. Life is a lesson that always tests us. Both the “good” and the “bad” experiences serve to raise the Inner Strength of our Spirit. We can’t help but be changed by Time. We can choose how we will be changed from a beginning to an end.
Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth, and Great Spirit, our Creator, be with all who make the choice to dedicate a Time to the Purpose. May we listen to hear the sound of our own breath and the feet that beat the rhythm of a sacred way to live and die. Cover our heart with the Truth of righteousness in a choice to Live within and to let all life be what it will be. May we remember the whole for the “hard road” that is the truth of the journey below. Watch over the whole as we make a Divine Journey to Holy Ground. Help us to uphold the offering of forgiveness so our hearts can be made as light as a feather, carried by the Breath of Life and the Breath of Spirit.
We offer our thanks and appreciation for the beauty of this first day.
AHO!
love, in lak’ech,
Debra, 9 Eagle/MEN
mo sah thee way ney
1 Earth/CABAN (Cherokee, Heron/GUWI’SGUWI)
Galactic Tone 1: Unity. One is the beginning of all things, the first, the whole and the all in one. One’s are assertive and self-guided and give a good push to whatever project they are associated with. One persons work best when meeting a challenge. Do not expect One-persons to be attentive to details or to put the finishing touches on things.
Earth/Caban: Earth/Caban: Keeper of the garden of Earth. Profound synchronistic connections to Earth’s natural cycles and energies provide power of creations and memories of ancient wisdom. Earth persons help dispel bad intentions, habits and ideas. This makes them very good counselors and masters of all arts. Studious and intelligent, Earth persons endeavor to bring a flow of natural order to all aspects of life. Being connected to the dynamic forces of nature, Earth persons need much liberty to facilitate their expression of migration or the sending of long distance communications such as the whales, elephants, birds and many other creatures. Sometimes Earth’s delicate sensitivities are upset resulting in quakes of emotion even the display of volcanic temper.
Cherokee, Heron/GUWI’SGUWI: Sign of movement and perpetual motion, Heron is symbolized by Deneb, located in the Northern Cross beside the Milky Way. “The Northern Cross is the Tree of Life, Beside the Milky Way River & Perched atop is Guwi’ sguwi, the Cherokee Heron Spirit Bird, comparable to the Phoenix that rises from the ashes of the past.
The Northern Cross is referred to as the backbone of the Milky Way. The constellation Cygnus is the Swan. EarthSky.org
The Swan is a symbol of Transformation from the “ugly duckling” into a thing of beauty.
[Text in italics was the primary source of inspiration for my journal. These are the sources that started my journey and they are the reference for interpretation each day. By providing the original text, I hope to offer a way to see what inspired my thoughts and by including all the aspects – allow for something more to inspire you. Mayan descriptions are those written by Ian Lungold. Cherokee descriptions came from multiple sources. Links to sources and other resources of study are offered on the Daykeeper Resources Page. ~Debra]
Jaguar Spirit 