Happy Fall to All,
This is meant to be a short note to wish everyone a pleasant holiday season. Though much is going on in all aspects of our daily lives it is important, in my way of thinking, to stay focused on the beauty of change that is happening in our lives.
Last week we returned to Mt Monadnock after a six week
travel throughout this beautiful land. The we being my son Nick and me. Sharing
some of that trip might lend to healing of many so I will share what I
can.
We left the mountain in the last week of September and
drove to Greensburg, Pennsylvania to visit my good friend and brother, John
Bukovac, at Alternative Living Solutions. John’s facility takes in youth and
provides a living, school and work program. His work is dedicated to helping
young people to build well balanced lives and to give them a chance in this
incredibly complex world. John has helped thousands of youth over his career and
makes a difference in this important time.
We stayed at the facility for two days visiting with the
youth and staff. Thank you John and all of the people at Alternative Living
Solutions for your kind hospitality and the opportunity to
share.
We left Greensburg and traveled to Burgettstown, PA
to visit The Mesa Creative Arts Center run by Brad and Kate Silberberg. Brad and Kate have been experiencing some
very serious health issues with Kate. Aside from that they still wanted very
much for us to come and share with people at Mesa
Arts.
The first thing we did when
we arrived was to build a fire to Honor Brad and Kate. It is understood when
someone is sick or need of healing to have a four day fire to ask spirit to
help. That being done we conducted talking circles and provided two work shop
over the four day visit. The first workshop on Animal Guides and the second on
Medicine Wheel (Shield) . Both were well attended and it felt so great to share
with these people the little that I have been given to share. On the third
evening we did a lodge and Nick was my firekeeper for that lodge. It always
feels so good to work with my son.
On the next day we departed
from Mesa to drive to Strongsville, Ohio and to visit Chris Reynolds at Angel
House. Angel House sponsors all sorts of holistic programs and provides a center
to support their various programs. We provided a talking circle, Medicine Wheel
(Shield) workshop and did a lodge while there. Our visit was for three days. On
the second day at Angel House, Chris asked me to come to work with him for the
day. It was one of the highlights of our trip for me.
Chris works at a local High
School and had arranged for a visit with classes for the day to tell stories to
the students. I have done this many times over the years and have always enjoyed
sharing with young people. This was different though. In the old ways, when
someone would come to a community, the community would gather and sing a welcome
song to the person coming to visit. Chris taught the classes to sing a Cherokee
welcome song and I was greeted at each class with a song. WOW! I in turn sang an
Ojibwe gratitude song to each class in response.
On the last day of our visit
we had a lodge and many students from the school attended. For most of them it
was their first lodge. What a beautiful healing to prepare us to move
on..
Nick and I pulled out the
next day to travel to London, Ontario to attend ceremonies of the Midewiwin. We
were two days late due to our scheduled visits on the way but right on time in a
Native way. I have never found a way to explain the ceremonies and the impact
they have on the people. Nick had not been for a couple of years and when we
arrived Elders immediately went up to welcome him and make him feel comfortable.
His response to this was so heartfelt that I still feel the fulfillment of
happiness in my heart for my son. The ceremony was packed with experiences but
many are not what I would want to write about. It was a beautiful, memorable
time with many brothers, sisters and friends. Both Nick and I walked away
feeling changed from the experience. I guess that’s not new either because I
always feel that when I attend ceremony.
We left ceremonies and drove
to Lake Lena, Minnesota to visit my brother Brian Matrious. I have seldom seen
my brother in such good spirits and our stay there was so good that I did not
want to leave. Brian would want me to say that he is well and working hard to
help people. He wishes all a good way and hopes to be East to visit
soon.
By now you are probably getting tired of how this “short
note” goes on. We continued to visit my sister in Minneapolis and then travel to
Pipestone, Minn to get some pipestone. We then went to the Black Hills and
camped in Custer State Park for two days. After that we went to Colorado and
visited my daughter Kathy and Meagan and their families. We stayed in Colorado
for two and a half weeks. A little longer than intended because Hurricane Sandy
was coming into the coast.
To sum up. So many things happened. So many people
enjoying, growing, living, suffering. I feel that I have a full binder of things
to write about for the winter. Must be coincidence. My prayer was to have
something to do for the winter.
Oh yes! One other thing. I am thinking that I would like
to offer a workshop on Medicine Wheel (Shield) in the next month or two. If
anyone is interested please let me know.
Apane [ always ]
nibaa mukwa, maang indodeim
a.k.a. Nick Beard&
noodin indizhinikaz, maang indodeim
a.k.a. Jim Beard
Cultural Story Teller, Educator, Speaker, Author
Phone: 603 261 7228
NEWS STREAM for NORTHEAST AMERICAN CULTURAL RESOURCE ~ Go to: http://www.northeastcultural.com/northeastnews.htm
"White Mocs on the Red Road / Walking Spirit in a Native Way" ~ Go to: http://www.northeastcultural.com/WhiteMocsontheRedRoad.htm
"Wisdom of the Wind" - (Listen to Noodin's interview with Hannah Thomas) ~ http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-rising-podcasts/id449446669
Copyright © 2012 James B. Beard
All rights reserved.
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