The universe speaks and gifts us in many different ways, we have to be open to receiving.
Finding a deer skull was a perfect synchronicity for the energy of the current time.
This entire experience is teaching us on so many levels. One thing I’ve noticed we are all learning, is how to have compassion for those that might offend us. Deer medicine helps us to remember to have grace through all of life’s challenges. One way to do that is to develop the ability to adapt quickly to any situation, towards love and compassion.
We have had to adjust a lot in a short amount of time. Our world has flipped into a state that none of us ever believed could or would happen. When we are grounded and centered, we can hear our intuition reminding us to be gentle with ourselves and each other.
Deer medicine helps us walk the path of love with full consciousness and awareness, to know that love sometimes requires caring and protection, not only in how we love others, but also in how we love ourselves.
Let’s remember to be gentle, to touch the hearts and minds of wounded beings who are in our lives. Don’t push people to change, rather gently nudge them in right direction, as a doe nudges her fawn.
Love and accept people as they are.
The balance of true power lays in love and compassion.
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Grief is defined as sorrow, or to burden in old French.
Burden is defined as a load… to bear, which is to support or carry.
I am reminded of the story of two monks that go for a walk and come across a woman at the water who asked for some help crossing. The older monk picks her up right away to help her cross. The two monks go on for hours in silence, until suddenly the younger monk blurts out “why did you carry that woman across the water, we as monks aren’t supposed to touch women!” The first monk says “I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”
What do we bear and why?
I do believe that endurance is an important quality to possess. However, when does endurance become burden, and then when does burden become sorrow? When you notice that your grieving something, you know its time to check into what you’re carrying.
Since I have been home from North Dakota, a lot of things have opened up in me. I am processing and learning more about the sacrifices made by people I am related to… who have given up things that allow me to live this life.
When I got home from North Dakota I started feeling a tightness in my chest that is just recently starting to go away. I have been thinking and questioning and trying to figure out where it was coming from! Was it the change in atmosphere, was it the lack of physical exercise over the week away, was it anxiety, or just the body processing from my experience.
Now I know, it is grief causing the tightness. I am grieving many things that I had not allowed myself to express in the past, and with my new awareness of sacrifice, I am also grieving many things from before my time here.
I closed my eyes this evening and was taken back to a time and place long ago…
When my warrior had went off on his horse to stand for our traditions and against colonization. My heart wept as he left and broke when I found out he would never return.
I am taken to the kitchen where I am cleaning up before dinner, watching the wind blow over the plains. Hearing the laughter of my children, only to find them gone when I go out to call them in for dinner. My heart full of worry and sadness as my only children do not return home to me that evening. My heart wept when they did come back and were no longer the same.
Waking up in the middle of the night, crying for my mother. In an inconsolable night terror, screaming for my mommy over and over again. My heart longs for her arms to be wrapped tightly around me, keeping me safe. My heart breaks when I do get to go home and she is no longer alive, and I can no longer be held by her.
I believe we are all connected, and the grief of my ancestors runs through me…I am connected to their sorrow because I bear their blood. However it is my ability and responsibility to process this grief and transmute it, not only for myself but for the whole collective consciousness.
The pain in my heart is intense, the sorrow from this burden is aged and has deep roots. But I will to grow and be the best version of myself I can be. This means I must process and grow from these sorrows. I see this shadow within, and it is now time to release it into the light.
I am realizing that I grieve for many other things in my life… ideas, expectations, friendships, relationships, love. The pain and sorrow I have felt and not dealt with in my life have become burdens that I carry. That I unnecessarily drag along with me, wherever I go.
What good is this doing, for me or those I love?
A friend told me yesterday, there is enough love in this world that I do not have to carry these burdens alone and that I do not have to hold on to them any longer. That I deserve to receive the Love I give out…and by holding on to these burdens I am not allowing myself to receive this love.
It was such a profound thing, to feel that it wasn’t my responsibility to carry these anymore, and that essentially it was never my responsibility. That by bearing these things I was keeping myself from so many beautiful things that I deserve. By holding on to the old things, I have not had room for new things to come into my life.
Since we are all connected, in me not processing through my sorrow… I am in turn creating a ripple effect that has the ability to affect others. I believe it IS my responsibility to confront my shadows and transmute them into light.
So I say to all of you, with the deepest love I can fathom… you are not alone, and you do not have to carry these burdens any longer. It is time for us all to look into our shadows and bring them to light… by doing this together we are helping each and every person to grow in love and light.
How much less suffering would the young monk had gone through had he not waited hours to share with the older monk how he felt. We need to remember we are all connected… and are meant to be here for each other.
Ceded land is land that was given over as apart of an agreement. The eight tribes, Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, Crow, Assiniboine, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations, agreed in 1851 to live in peace on the land which was known as Native territory.
Since then peace has come and gone, and today water protectors are standing once again in peace for our earth.
After researching this more…I found a few interesting pieces of history. There were at least 2 treaties in Fort Laramie.
The second was in 1868, The Treaty of Fort Laramie (also called the Sioux Treaty of 1868). This was an agreement between the United States and the Oglala, Miniconjou, and Brulé bands of Lakota people, Yanktonai Dakota, and Arapaho Nation signed on April 29, 1868 at Fort Laramie in the Wyoming Territory, guaranteeing the Lakota ownership of the Black Hills, and further land and hunting rights in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The Powder River Country was to be henceforth closed to all whites. The treaty ended Red Cloud’s War.
The treaty of 1868 was written because of the many europeans who were traveling through Sioux land, utilizing the native’s resources without compensation.
Such a parallel with what is happening there now. The oil companies coming through to utilize resources… however the Sioux no longer want compensation… they just want what is rightfully their domain.
This treaty includes an article intended to “ensure the civilization” of the Lakota, financial incentives for them to farm land and become competitive, and stipulations that minors should be provided with an “English education” at a “mission building.” To this end the U.S. government included in the treaty that white teachers, blacksmiths, a farmer, a miller, a carpenter, an engineer and a government agent should take up residence within the reservation.
ARTICLE VII.
In order to insure the civilization of the Indians entering into this treaty, the necessity of education is admitted, especially of such of them as are or may be settled on said agricultural reservations, and they, therefore, pledge themselves to compel their children, male and female, between the ages of six and sixteen years, to attend school, and it is hereby made the duty of the agent for said Indians to see that this stipulation is strictly complied with; and the United States agrees that for every thirty children between said ages, who can be induced or compelled to attend school, a house shall be provided, and a teacher competent to teach the elementary branches of an English education shall be furnished, who will reside among said Indians and faithfully discharge his or her duties as a teacher. The provisions of this article to continue for not less than twenty years.
In the late 19th century, the federal government shifted from mission schools on reservations to establishing Indian boarding schools; the first was the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. The website for the US Army War College says that students were recruited directly from the western reservations of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, and Arapaho.
I had no idea there was an Indian boarding school here. I live very close to Carlisle, and the Appalachian trail runs right past the boarding school. Except it is not a boarding school any longer… it is the Army War College. Carlisle Barracks were used for training since the late 1700’s. I think this would make a fantastic day trip.
Its fascinating to me that I am so close to this place and have never been, and not only ties directly back to what’s happening at Standing Rock but it is also directly connected to the childhood my mother had. She was sent to attend St. Joseph’s Boarding School at the age of 6. So much of this is hitting home.
And I set off to write this blog about the buffalo medicine! I shared all of this history in connection with the present day. On October 27th, 2016 police and military stood face to face with peaceful prayer warriors who are protecting not only theirs, but each of our domains. Resources are in jeopardy, it is time to come back to center and find a way that is in harmony with the earth.
During this standoff, water protectors were hurt and some even jailed, thrown in kennels and given numbers. Horses were laid to rest, and sacred land was desecrated. Water protectors from all over witnessed the arrival of the buffalo, as they ran up over the hills where the pipeline is being built.
The Buffalo/Bison’s medicine includes manifestation, protection, earth, creativity, abundance, knowledge, generosity, hospitality, sharing work, courage, strength, challenge, survival, giving for the greater good, formulating beneficial plans.
They show us how to walk a sacred path, honouring every walk of life. Buffalo will assist you in establishing a deep connection with Mother Earth and Father Sky and will ask that you pray/meditate/focus on harmony and peace amongst all beings. Buffalo will bestow you with strength of character.
Buffalo teaches us that true prosperity comes when we are grateful for what we have and when we live in harmony and love with every body and being contained within the universe. You will live like buffalo when you know that abundance is present and when ALL relations are honoured and known as sacred, when you express gratitude for all parts, all aspects of creation. This is also the Ojibwe way, each road shines light on the others.
The story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman originates from the Lakota people, she taught them that all things are interconnected and that it is not necessary to struggle to have abundance. The one thing that is necessary, however, is to be connected with Spirit…
And this is where I am now… Spirit.
A friend of mine shared with me the prophecy of Black Elk…(after I painted this picture of a black elk).
Black Elk saw the earth becoming sick. The animals, the winged ones, and the four-legged ones grew frightened. All living things became gaunt and poor. The air and the waters dirtied and smelled foul. Below, Black Elk saw a blue man living in and empowering the sickness. The powers of the four directions, represented by four horses, charged the blue man, but were beaten back. The Grandfathers called upon Black Elk. His bow changed into a spear, and he swooped down on the blue man, destroying him. When the blue man fell, all life came back upon the earth; all things became fresh and healthy again.
So the buffalo came over the hills, sharing their message, two days ago I received a sacred buffalo medicine pouch, and yesterday I was told to paint a buffalo.
The medicine is in knowing that we are all connected… the answer is in harmony… the middle way.
And this is where I am now… Spirit.
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