White Sagewho’s scientific name Salvia Apiana comes from the Latin root salvare, meaning “To Heal” therefor many use it when offering it up in prayer as well as using White Sage for medicinal purposes. The plant itself is actually a member of the mint family. Found mostly in the northwestern Mexico and southwestern United States and more commonly found on the coast of Baja and Southern California on the west border of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. It is said that the White Sage cleanses negative energies and evil spirits that may linger.
Today’s card White Sage falls to the table and speaks all about the Sacred Within each of us! Today we need to take the time to honor that and all that is Sacred in and around our lives. Time to recognize it and send thanks and gratitude up to the Creator and Ancestors, keeping us strong of mind, heart, body and keeping our intents positive.
It is simply time to change the path of the negatives that surround us in the world today by shielding ourselves with positives! Sometimes we need to look deep within ourselves to see the destructive cycles that we have placed ourselves in most of the time without even realizing it, and then set about releasing them. Thus changing our very thought patterns. Learn to look in the mirror and see the reflection understanding that we are in deed human and have flaws. But that those flaws do not mean we are unlovable, incapable, unwanted, rather they mean we have opportunity to grow, to expand to better ourselves, and heal.
So today begin by giving yourself the love you deserve… Self Love. All the time understanding and knowing that the Creator and the Ancestors that walked before us support and assist us if we are open to it. We simply have to believe and have faith. Life does not work by pushing the “Easy” button… it is all about the journey and the process we go through to make us whole, balanced and walking in positives.
Honor your family, your friends, all people and creatures that have walked with you and that have yet to enter your path. Honor your Guides, the Spirit that assist you each day. Honor the Elementals, the Directions, the Great Mother Earth and Father Sky. Honor Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun….This is what the Sacred Sage reminds us of, this is the tone it sets for us to follow. Remember it is not owned by anyone, it is one of the Great Mother Earth’s many gifts to us and it is up to all of us to keep all that is Sacred safe and thriving.
One of the most Sacred of herbs among many cultures and people, White Sage assists in clearing our energy fields, driving out the negative and strengthening the positives. Sage is held Sacred because of it’s effective purifying energies. It heals by bringing us back to balance cleansing the body and mind of negative spirits and impurities. Leaves are at times burned to drive away bad spirits, evil influences, bad dreams, bad thoughts, and illness.
Add some White Sage to your healing and prayer rituals and put yourself on a path to balance and honoring the Sacred Within!
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing Native Cultures with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Mitakuye O’yasin ~bear Medicinewalker
“Join Me as I continue the Sacred Hoop Project into this Year 2016…the Year of Truths!”
Swirling Smoke [The Spoken Word Mix]” from Pathway to Destiny: Songs of Healing and Contemplation by Louie Gonnie. Released: 2012. Available at http://canyonrecords.com/shop/
Rocks… we use them to build houses, structures that reach the sky. They serve as containers for rivers and lakes, they have been used to create weapons, and tools… they come in all kinds of shapes and colors, and sizes. Some are clear, some are dense… but they all have been around longer than any of us put together. They are the Keepers of Wisdom; they are referred to as the Ancient Ones. I will share a little of the stories I have been told with you.
The People have told a story that in the beginning everything was in the mind of Creator. All things which were to be existed only as spirit. The spirits moved about in space seeking a place that they would be able to manifest and become. They traveled until they reached father Sun, but that was not a good place for Creation to begin for the heat was too extreme. Finally they settled on earth, and the Great Mother welcomed them. She was without life, but covered with the great waters. There was at that time no dry land for life to begin upon. Soon out of the waters came a great burning rock…it rose so high that it created dry lands as far as the eyes could behold. Then the clouds appeared and formed from the rivers and streams that were created. Then life on earth began. This is why the Rock people …Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks’ are to be given so much respect, for they are the oldest ones. The Keepers of the Wisdom’s of our time here, back to our very beginnings they take us. We respect them within the sweat lodges, as when they are placed there and water hits their surface, steam rises again recreating that moment of Creation.
Crystals have always seemed magical to me, they are used for gazing, they can hold energy and power, they have been used by Seers and mystics, Shaman and Medicine people of all races and religions for as long as time can be recorded. I will share with you now the “Legend of the Crystals”
In times long past, we lived in harmony with Nature. We spoke the same language as the four-legged and the plant people. We hunted for food only to satisfy our hunger and needs, always offering prayer of thanks for what was had taken from Nature. As time went on, we lost this innocence, harmony and balance. We became greedy and took more then we needed. Forgetting prayers of gratitude, we began killing animals, and each other, for sport and pleasure.
The Bear Clan, Chief among the animals, called a meeting of all the animals. They decided that something had to be done. The bears suggested that they shoot back when humans shot at them, but the bow and arrow required too great a sacrifice, for one bear would have to give up his life so that his sinew could be used for the bow string. The bear’s claws were too long for shooting a bow anyway, and would become entangled on the string.
The deer Clan offered another method of dealing with the problem. One of their clan said, “We will bring disease into the world. Each of us will be responsible for a different illness. When humans live out of balance with nature, when they forgotten give thanks for their food, they will get sick.” and in fact the deer did involve rheumatism and arthritis; each animal then decided to invoke a different disease.
The Plant Clan was more sympathetic and felt that this was too harsh a punishment, so they volunteered their help. They said that for every disease a human gets, one of them would be present to cure it. That way, if people used their intelligence they would be able to cure their ailments and regain their balance.
All of nature agreed to this strategy, One plant in particular spoke out. This was Tobacco, the chief of the plants. He said, “I will be the sacred herb. I will not cure any specific disease, but I will help people return to the scared way of life, provided I am smoked or offered with prayers and ceremony .But if I am misused, if I am merely smoked for pleasure, I will cause cancer, the worst disease of all.”
The close friends of the Plant Clan, the Rock Clan and the Mineral Clan, agreed to help. Each mineral would have a spiritual power, a subtle vibration that could be used to regain perfect health. The Ruby, worn as an amulet, would heal the heart; the emerald would heal the liver and eyes, and so on.
The chief of the mineral tribe, Quartz Crystal, was clear, like the light of creation itself. Quartz put his arms around his brother Tobacco and said, “I will be the scared mineral. I will heal the mind. I will help human beings see the origin of disease. I will help to bring wisdom and clarity in dreams. And I will record their spiritual history, including our meeting today, so that in the future, if humans gaze into me, they may see their origin and the way of harmony.” And so it is today.
I call to the sacred winds…to carry my words
To the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the North, the south, the east, the west, Above …below and within…
I call to the sacred winds to carry my words to the Winged ones…the Four Leggeds…the Plant People…the Crystal Keepers, the Thunder Beings, the Angelic Realm…Mother Mary and Magdalene…my Brother Christ and all the nations that love us.
I thank you for all the many blessings that you have shared with us today and beyond and I ask that you hear our prayers whether spoken our held silently within our hearts.
Today I ask that you hear our prayers as we stand humbly before you, small and human.
Help us to remember we are all but a tiny part of a great universe, that we are all connected as one…
Bring us the strength we need to walk our paths without ego or judgment…
Allow our hearts to hear what our ears are missing
Teach us how to allow forgiveness for others and ourselves
Fill our being with the unconditional love that you so freely offer all.
I call that we be reminded we are all no better than or less than one another.
Guide us through our days, to help us with our humanness…that we learn to reconnect with others in a gentle and positive way. Offering smiles when they are needed without thought, shoulders or ears to help ease another…and words that will uplift or soothe.
Keep our children safe and strong in this troubled world… I ask that on this day and days to come…guidance is shared with our children to help them as they walk their paths. Help open their eyes so they can learn and see the right way of things, teach them to respect all life no matter how small, open their ears and minds so that they may understand things that are being taught to them in a good and gentle manner…open their hearts so that when the harshness of the world falls at their feet, they can cope and handle it with compassion and understanding.
I ask that today and all days ahead, that the Ancient Ones continue to share their knowledge with us, that they are able to continue to support us and remind us we are all related. That we honor them as the Great Wisdom Keepers that they are, that the lessons they have shared do not fall upon deaf ears, but rather help us to build the foundations to a better way of life, one that may honor all life as Sacred.
I thank all those who have walked with us and answer our calls…this day and in days to come…and honor you
… Aho
So my wish to you all today is when you are out and about. Look around you and see the Rock People…the Crystal keepers and as they shine at us with the warmth of Father Sun, or sparkle from beneath the rivers and waters of the Great Mother, we are reminded of how important they are, and that like each one of them, we are different …unique and all serve a purpose for the foundation of Life… life as we share it today.
I send you all peace…today… and may the love that is in my heart reach and find you all today, and fill your life with blessings.
Elephant paid a visit in dreamwalk and dropped in the cards this morning with a powerful message of family, protection and commitment. making sure we all remember to cherish the youth and care for them properly so they will grow strong and walk in positive ways on their paths. Too often we get caught in ego and the shuffle of life around us that we often forget that the Children, the Youth of today look to us to set examples of how to be. Many not having the same family values that were instilled in people long ago we need to remember and set positive examples for them to follow and not ones filled with ego, hate and ignorance…but more nurturing, loving and focused on the future generations. Teach them, but teach them well and before you do, look to the mirror and place your souls intent to balance.
Elephant brings with it determination and loyalty that are needed to walk through our human. Not to give up easily for if we stay the course smartly, our goals will be met. They remind us all we must look after ourselves first before can help others, and to follow our instincts they will show us where we need to go and what we need to nourish within our souls.
Family is an important aspect and to remember to focus on the very young and our Elders, it is our duty to care for both. Loyalty is another trait the Elephant brings out in us, reminding us ever so gently that sometimes we need to remain loyal in spite of difficult circumstances in all situations, for all will be made clear as we move ahead in positive steps.
Elephant communicates with its family intuitively and suggests that there is a memory that is being held on to tightly that needs to be let go, let go of the past, it is what has assisted us to this point, but needs to remain in the past. Elephant is reminding us about gentleness, commitment, and communication for ourselves and all relationships in and about our own Sacred Hoops. That all of it is powerful medicine much needed as it helps us to keep relationships healthy.
So today I challenge you all to teach positives, set good examples so that our futures will be more balanced …
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing Native cultures with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Mitakuye O’yasin ~bear Medicinewalker
“Join Me as I continue the Sacred Hoop Project into this Year 2016…the Year of Truths!”
Today I call upon our Brothers and Sisters from the Wolf packs… teach us that we are Universal beings… and that through accepting all aspects of life you can help us bring about balance and light the fire so we can cast the shadows out.
Definition of DARK ENERGY
Many explanations have been proposed for dark energy; the simplest is that it is an energy density inherent to empty space. “Empty Space”
Definition of LIGHT
1a : something that makes vision possible
b : the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual receptors
: a source of light: as
a : a celestial body
a : spiritual illumination
b : inner light
c : enlightenment
d : truth
Fear…darkness… evil… shadows… demons…hell …the devil… all labels given to bad things that as humans we may witness throughout our lives. If you don’t think they exist, or don’t want to believe they exist, that is your choice. But myself…I feel that we are better prepared if we understand it…so that we can walk in balance and stay the course of light.
As our voices are heard for good…and as they grow louder…we are often challenged with doubts and fears, sometimes we are challenged by the darkness itself… and when that happens we need to be true to who we are…and allow that energy no place with in our lives. I am not a Preacher…or a Prophet… But I am not naive in thinking that the darkness will not grow if we allow it to seep and flow into our lives….
Dark and Light
This is a story I will share… it is the Story of Two Wolves…
An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, “Let me tell you a story.
I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.
But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times.” He continued, “It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.
But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit.”
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather’s eyes and asked, “Which one wins, Grandfather?”
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, “The one I feed.”
So should we be scared of darkness? My answer to that is no…we simply must be aware of it… we must understand it… so that in turn we do not feed it. I ask that today and all days ahead, that we are held in your loving Grace Creator…that we are able to understand the darkness that shadows parts of our world and allow the light to shine upon those very shadows. May we feed the good in ourselves and others. May we be protected from the very shadows that challenge the lights we all carry…Knowing that in the end… shadows will exist no longer when light shines through.
So my wish to you all today is that you feed the light, with an understanding of the darkness…the shadows… use that knowledge to move forward and into a better space of mind, body and soul… and remember we are in control of the energies…the things that can affect us… be a positive to a world filled with negatives…and let yourself outshine all the shadows…and stop to think…which one will you feed?
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing Native cultures with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Mitakuye O’yasin ~bear Medicinewalker
“Join Me as I continue the Sacred Hoop Project into this Year 2016…the Year of Truths!”
Elementals… let’s look at how we can implement and work with them a little in our own lives.
Let’s start with Air… well what is that first thing that comes to mind… stress chaos…. Frustration… so what do we do… lets work with the Elemental Air…..stop and breathe it in… I mean really breathe it in… it clears our minds, calms the nerves and resets the panic button so we can think a little more clearly.
So when things are a little foggy, a slight bit stressful, open a window…open a door and just breathe. Allow that breath to center us… I often do this when getting ready for a reading or going into a meditation or prayer state. It’s always amazing to me just how it assists me. Think of taking that breath as opening the door after a long winter to air the house out…Wind power…
Can’t hear you all…take a deep deep breath and fill it all the way til you can fit no more… then let it slowly out releasing all the negative stuff we are holding….
Okay the next step …lets do Water….
Water is refreshing revitalizing renewing. It gives life, it sustains life… Our bodies are made up of water… so reach out for that elemental, step into a shower… and let it rinse away the negativity, feel its renewal of energy as it refreshingly wakes you up…or gets your day moving in the right direction…
Step out into a warm summers rain…there is nothing like it… or the smell of a rain in the spring as it brings the world back to sleep after a long winters rest… live it and take the experience in…enjoy that rebirth of energy
Earth…. Grounding…. When life is crazy and we are so out of touch with things… and nothing makes sense… go out and take a walk… plant your feet onto the grass…or in some dirt… ot snow for that matter… just get outside and connect…hug a tree… it will ground you… it will make you forget for a little and you will be able to put things in perspective again…
The great mother is here in support of us… so honor her…respect her… and tell her you love her…tap into that energy…
Fire…. One of my favorite elementals… fire the power of the burn… when you need to get motivated they tell us lets get fired up… the heat… the energy from that… Father Sun… helps all things to grow… keeps us warm… gives us energy in the form of Fire….We cook with it… we pray with it… we dance with it…
So think about all the possibilities, or realize the potential we all have at our fingertips if we only would take a minute to channel the power of the Elementals… For The miracle of life is the miracle of the elementals.
Let us raise our intentions to our consciousness and voice by sending healing energies and prayer up this day… Today I pray for all those who ask, all those in need, all those who do not ask … I pray that we are given the strength, the joy and the love that is needed in our days…
I call to the sacred winds…to carry my words
To the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the North, the south, the east, the west, Above …below and within…
I call to the sacred winds to carry my words to the Winged ones…the Four Leggeds…the Plant People…the Crystal Keepers, the Thunder Beings, the Angelic Realm…Mother Mary and Magdalene…my Brother Christ and all the nations that love us.
I thank you for all the many blessings that you have shared with us today and beyond and I ask that you hear our prayers whether spoken our held silently within our hearts.
Today I ask that you hear our prayers as we stand humbly before you, small and human.
Help us to remember we are all but a tiny part of a great universe, that we are all connected as one…
Bring us the strength we need to walk our paths without ego or judgment…
Allow our hearts to hear what our ears are missing
Teach us how to allow forgiveness for others and ourselves
Fill our being with the unconditional love that you so freely offer all.
I call that we be reminded we are all no better than or less than one another.
Guide us through our days, to help us with our humanness…that we learn to reconnect with others in a gentle and positive way. Offering smiles when they are needed without thought, shoulders or ears to help ease another…and words that will uplift or soothe.
Keep our children safe and strong in this troubled world… I ask that on this day and days to come…guidance is shared with them to help them as they walk their paths. Help open their eyes so they can learn and see the right way of things, teach them to respect all life as sacred no matter how small, open their ears and minds so that they may understand things that are being taught to them in good and gentle manners…open their hearts so that when the harshness of the world falls at their feet, they can cope and handle it with compassion and understanding.
I ask that today and all days ahead that our awareness of the Elementals and the energies they offer become keener, sharper. So that we can understand how to use and harness that power to better our lives, our health our states of mind. For us to be thankful for all that we need to survive and walk productive positive lives has been provided for… if we simply open our eyes to the magic of the world around us. I call to the Element of Water…cleanse and refresh us…nurture our bodies and our Souls! I call to the Elemental of Air… clear our minds and thoughts… jump start our being, help us gain new perspectives! I call to the Great Mother Earth and give thanks for all she shares… help us to ground and center ourselves again… and I call out to the elemental of Fire… Ignite within us all a new way of thinking, give us the energy we need to become better people to ourselves and others…
I thank all those who have walked with us and answer our calls…this day and in days to come…and honor you …
AHO
So today…give yourself a gift, and play with the magic of the elementals… and allow them to bring magic and miracles into your lives!
I wish you a wonderful and magical day…may the love in my heart reach and fill yours.
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing the Native culture with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Mitakuye O’yasin ~bear Medicinewalker
“Join Me as I continue the Sacred Hoop Project into this Year 2016…the Year of Truths!”
“Never Fading Spirit of Mother Earth” by Big City Indians and available at http://bigcityindians.com
Well the Horse shares some insights with us all and asks what we are going to do when the barn door gets thrown open? Horse speaks to ALL the “STUFF” that we have locked away and don’t want to deal with! Do we think that it will all just go away, or that it will somehow disappear without any kind of impact? Well we locked it up and hid it for a reason right? The reason is we don’t want to deal with truths… we feed the fears and negatives in hopes that somehow at some point it will work itself out without us not having to do doing anything about it. Don’t be ashamed of it, we all do it at some point… why ? Because we are Human!
However if you want to move ahead in your life being free to experience and feel all the magic of it and positives in it… we must deal with TRUTHS of everything, good bad and indifferent. It won’t kill us, it will simply help us to bring about balance again to our own Sacred Hoops. So no matter if it is something you did, didn’t do… felt, didn’t feel whatever it is… DEAL WITH IT AND MOVE FORWARD!Go ahead and open that barn door and let it OUT! You will feel better with it all after dealing with it head on and releasing it.
Horse brings with it the joy of wide open spaces and the ability to move freely about. It shares that it is time to open the barn doors and venture out into the world to experience what the Universe is offering for all of us if we are willing to open to it in positive ways. They help to guide us swiftly and sure footed to the next part of the path we are to reach.
However in doing so Horse also shares that the herd is important. The ones that are within our Sacred Hoop…family…friends… that they are there to assist us as we move forward and not stay in the old ways, with things that need to be let loose. Mend fences and move forward with everything, but truly mend them do not just go through the motions, for if you don’t take the time needed you will loose the positives that are part of that same Sacred Hoop.
Horse tells us to awaken our souls and honor our true self, our true dreams and aspirations. Feel the wind, feel the earth beneath you, feel the sun share its warmth and energy, feel the water as it nourishes and cleanses. Allow your senses to be in a place of all that is Sacred.
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing Native cultures with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Mitakuye O’yasin ~bear Medicinewalker
“Join Me as I continue the Sacred Hoop Project into this Year 2016…the Year of Truths!”
The Praying Mantis boldly yells, “SLOW DOWN!!!! Take a breathe and relax so that the positives that are meant to be on your paths are visible to you and can be utilized!” We need to slow our pace in order to honor the spiritual, All that is Sacred. To be grateful for what we have…and release the greed that drives the wants. When we begin to walk in balance with the world, the wants and desires will be attracted to our own Hoops in a healthy manner!
But we first need to respect the process of being. We are but one small piece of a universal puzzle. There is no easy button, no magic wand to make dreams come true. There is only the relationship we have with life itself, and in order to manifest those dreams and desires… we must first honor ourselves and the process in order to invite into our lives those very positives. If you seem to have too many negatives in your life, then look into the mirror and see what we are reflecting outward. If what you see is not what is desired…than work on upgrading the image.
Praying Mantis shares that we have gotten lost in the daily activity and chaos of our own lives. That we have forgotten to listen to our own voice. With that said it is time to take a step back and breathe in the 7 Sacred breathes. Reground, replenish what we have given away to this moment. Possibly do some simple meditation to recenter ourselves and remember our true self, our true path.
Take a moment and breathe, look at all that is Sacred around us. the beauty of even the simplest thing or thought. Time to contemplate before stepping back into life. By doing this you will rekindle the purpose and meaning that are needed at this time. Praying Mantis teaches us to return to the core of who we are born as. To step on our path with thoughtful placement of how we will imprint ourselves into the world around us. To carefully consider how we will move forward in positives and be prepared to step quickly and decisively when we need to.
It is time to listen to our intuition, do not push it away it has guided you through your life sometimes without us realizing. Trust what you are sensing, what you are feeling and move or stand accordingly to that inner voice.
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing the Native culture with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Mitakuye O’yasin ~bear Medicinewalker
“Join Me as I continue the Sacred Hoop Project into this Year 2016…the year of Truths!”
Wind in My Mind – Joseph FireCrow available on Itunes
