Many of us have been taking big hits to the core of who we are, in a way we are being tested. Tested often to our very limits of our beliefs, our traditions, values, ideologies all the way to our very souls. well it is the tide that we have to learn to roll with right now, roll with but not loose ourselves to it.
Society has gone so far off balance that we are loosing sight of the human, our very abilities to communicate with each other, to understand that we all have imperfections, faults and that is okay for that is what gives us our life experiences, it is how we grow. So today’s card is very fitting indeed, for what dropped is a true keeper of knowledge. one that has seen much over lifetimes and has learned to weather the storms of life as the world around them has changed drastically and yet have survived through it all…the Crocodile.
The Crocodile is one of the oldest creatures and has been around for ions. The wisdom and survival skill it has taken for them to live through centuries of change is something we should look closely at as they are here to teach us as human as well. Crocodile teaches us sometimes we need to reach deep within to our primal energy, things that are instinctive to move through our paths. It speaks to us of our breathing patterns to take time to take that deep breath in order to bring balance to our minds and bodies.
Crocodile is a protector and keeper of All Knowledge. So it is time to tap into what it is we need in order to inspire, manifest and walk our dreams and ambitions. Remember patience and to allow yourself time to adapt to change that may show up in your life at this time. It is a time of growth and regeneration. It is time to expand and use what you instinctively know for emotional healing, for self and perhaps even to those that you may encounter in your days.
Crocodile speaks to knowing when to roll with what life throws at us, when to show patience, when to dig deep and when it is time to wallow in mud to allow healing and regeneration, transformation to bring about healing and a new part to our journeys.
Honor your soul’s journey, from other lifetimes into our current path and continuing on as we gather energies and knowledge moving forward in positives to experience life in many forms.
Mitakuye O`yasin
bear Medicinewalker
“Dancin’ in the Light” from Wind Dreamer by Jan Michael Looking Wolf available on Itunes and at http://www.lookingwolf.com/
There is so much violence in the world that often people find themselves caught up in it and in this process they loose themselves. By that I mean they get lost deep inside, pushed their by fear and loss of self worth. The lesson of self Love is a tough one for victims of abuse, assault but part of the process and in order to allow healing to begin, we often have to release and find self acceptance again. To learn to Love self, one of the hardest lessons many of us have to learn.
The following is a story I was told long ago, and the lesson within is strong. I hope that all those that need to read and understand the lesson do, and understand there is no judgement involved in our own lives that is harsher than self judgement. Love begins with Self….
There once was a woman called Black Corn. She lived in a village that was surrounded by amazing beauty. It was plain to see everywhere, in the forest, in the plains, in the sky above and upon the earth below. Black Corn herself was extremely tall, in fact she was taller than all of the other women of her village, and truth be told she was taller than most of the men as well. She was very strong yet fair to see. however within her was hidden deeper darker emotions that were filled with discontent, doubt, anger and more than is healthy for people to live with day to day.
Black Corn was very unhappy. Her heart was filled with love yet could not seem to find the one to give it to. All she wanted was to love someone and have someone love her in return. She loved her family and people of the village dearly and did all she could for them, even to the point of sacrificing her own wants to help others. Many Gifts she had been given by Creator, but could not seem to find them when she needed them the most. Others laughed at her for things she did not understand and in turn began believing in what was being said about her. At first with doubt, then willingly that the lies and the actions were deserved.
When she looked upon her reflection in the surface of the water, she would think about all the negatives that had been spoken to her, “you are too direct, too tall, too strong, you show too much passion, too much love, too much everything, and no one wants what you have to give!” Yet the love she held inside for all the People was full to bursting within her heart and all she wanted was someone who would accept her love, for the People to accept her and love her for who she was.
Despair and heartache filled her until one day she awoke as if in a dream, “Why is it this way? What did I do that was so awful that I should be treated in this manner?” She sat looking deep inside for an answer to these questions. She went beyond all of the hurt, all of the pain that had been put upon her, past the men who had used her without her consent breaking her spirit. So many judgments had been passed on her but none so harsh as what she had passed upon herself. The deeper she looked, the uglier it became until it rose to rage! But soon she realized that this too was illusion. The anger, the rage was all self deception, a shield she had put in place in order to protect herself from what laid within.
Soon she decided that no longer would she hide behind the rage and the sorrow that she had held onto over the years and it washed over her like a tidal wave as she stood defenseless in its path. She no longer had the strength to fight it, no shield to protect her any longer. Out she ran into the forest, hearing the tiny voice inside screaming in agony, dying, dying, dying, wanting to scream out loud, knowing that all she had ever felt she was that she was slowly dying a painful death. Finally she cried out clutching at the pain in her chest, willing herself to slip away. She screamed out in pain and agony, begging for Creator to take her away from this pain.
“Creator, please I can not bear this life, this pain any more for it is simply too much, Please, please, take me home, please let me have peace!” And when she had finished crying out these words and prayers all of the ugliness that was inside her had been given voice, a sound so awful to hear that not even the creatures made a sound out of respect for her pain. She laid down on the forest floor allowing it to wrap around her body as her very soul felt as though it had been ripped open lying before the Creator. It was at that moment she finally saw the truth.
It began when she was 7 summers old; she would go into the forest to play and one day a strange man came upon her and began to speak with her. His words were intriguing and he spoke of grown-up things that she liked to hear about. Eventually this stranger seduced her as a child, and as a child, not knowing any better, had allowed it. Many years would pass before Black Corn realized what had been done to her, and when she did realize, she issued a judgment so severe upon herself that she began to believe that she was unworthy of love. She lost all respect for herself and, indeed, this is what she projected unknowingly to everyone she came into contact with. The voices of the others that would taunt her were really reflections of her own voice within that she could not, until now, listen to.
In that moment laying on the forest floor, she began to see with clarity what was that made the People treat her as they were, and with that knowing, she began to cry, heart wrenching cries that tore at the very fabric of her soul and thus began the cleansing process from within. She found that while she had forgiven that strange man his trespass against her, placing blame on herself and creating in a fantasy in her mind that she had been the victim, all the while feeling the guilt of the participant. There had been one other who had used her in this fashion, a relative, who did not know of the first stranger. But by then, the damage to her soul had been done and, while not realizing why it was so, she allowed herself to be degraded even more by this second man. After that, there was no room for self-respect or self love, feeling as she did that she was unworthy for the things she had done.
After the sobbing had subsided, Black Corn began to feel differently, having accepted everything that was ugly inside of her, she began to heal. Finally, after all of these years it was released. It took a long time, but finally she was able to understand and began to love herself as well as forgive those who took her unfairly and in bad faith, took her innocence and made something ugly out of it. With all that was released there was now room for love to enter and fill her soul. All of the love she wanted to give the People was the love that she had been denying herself. Once she could learn to love herself and accept herself, she could also love the People much more than she ever thought possible, and the People rejoiced! For they had always loved Black Corn, but because she did not love herself she could not see this and probably never would have if she had not asked herself “why am I being treated this way?”
The answer was within her all the time….Love…Love of Self. This was Creator’s answer to her prayers.
I offer prayer for all those that are victims of abuse and violence, that they too shall find Love in the souls for themselves and that the shame, the unforgiving emotions that they place upon themselves are released and replaced with the knowing that they too are loved and worthy of love. Enabling them to move to more positive places within their lives.
Empowerment through Awareness! Time to open our eyes and take a good look at our lives and what we have brought into them. Time to rid ourselves of negatives and strengthen the core of our positives. It is all about the balance, it is all about releasing fear and things that truly have no place in our lives any longer. In order to grow as humans, we need to respect that change is always occurring, even down to the smallest cellular level and truly we can not stop it, it is part of the life experience.
So why not embrace it and ride the currents of life in a positive way. Kind of like viewing the glass half full, instead of half empty. Sure we are going to have moments that are not so great, or bad days here and there…but if we look to the lessons that are hidden within those moments, those days. we are less apt to repeat those lessons and not repeating them in that vicious cycle we often create of negativity and drama. I don’t know about ya’ll, but I learned long ago that the kind of negativity and drama as humans we invite in or manipulate does not win us any awards…so set yourself up for positives and success instead.
Red Tail Hawk shows up to help us understand the meaning in ordinary experiences if open and become aware of our surroundings. The Red Tail Hawk is awakening our souls so that we may begin the journey of our spirituality, preparing us for those Life Lessons that will soon show up.
Red Tail Hawks are messengers of the between, sharing insights and knowledge extended to us from the Ancestors and the world of Spirit. They speak to us of looking from a different vantage point and thus giving us a broader view of any given situation, helping us to not only be aware that a message awaits us, but also helping us to understand those messages.
Red Tailed Hawks are sacred and as they enter our presence, we must honor them by opening our minds and keeping them sharp while we look for wisdom and answers as we walk the human.
The Red Tailed Hawk’s red tail feathers distinguish it from other hawks, and remember that it does not receive their red feathers until at a later point in life after it has matured and experienced life around it. These feathers must be earned. The color Red represents Power and Energy that will lie dormant until it is awakened by our Souls as they walk and journey life and honor its own Sacred Hoop.
To start the week off remember and honor all things Sacred…. within and outside of our Sacred Hoops. It should not be something that we have to make time for, or schedule in our days…it should be the way we walk, live and breathe each moment we are here walking the human. For when we do this, and it becomes part of who we are… our lives find balance.
White Buffalo shares with us that it is time to honor all that is sacred in and around us. It is about the power of Prayer. It is time to feed our souls, our spirituality. That in order to allow abundance into our lives we must walk the Sacred Path, but also be open to the fact that all life, all that has been shared with us no matter how small …how large, is Sacred.
The White Buffalo is connected to the teachings of the original people, the things that often are forgotten by us in this modern day world that is filled with material and greed. The White Buffalo warns us and gently nudges to remind us that we must not forget to be grateful, thankful, and take care of our Sacred Hoops.
To talk to the Universe and God Creator often, to share with others the simple positive things such as prayer, ritual, ceremony, traditions. To slow down so that we do not forget the lessons of old and where it is we come from. When we honor that process we will assist in manifesting our dreams, our goals in a more positive light. White buffalo will help to keep us grounded and on the right walk, allowing us to realize that when we are walking correctly the path is much easier to move upon.
Honor Self, Honor Creator, Honor All Life as Sacred.
Mitakuye O`yasin
~ bear Medicinewalker
Buffalo Thunder by Big City Indians and available thru bigcityindians.com
The Little People of the Cherokee are a race of Spirits who live in rock caves on the mountain side. They are little fellows and ladies reaching almost to your knees. They are well shaped and handsome, and their hair so long it almost touches the ground. They are very helpful, kind-hearted, and great wonder workers. They love music and spend most of their time drumming, singing, and dancing. They have a very gentle nature, but do not like to be disturbed.
Sometimes their drums are heard in lonely places in the mountains, but it is not safe to follow it, for they do not like to be disturbed at home, and they will throw a spell over the stranger so that he is bewildered and loses his way, and even if he does at last get back to the settlement he is like one dazed ever after.
Sometimes, also, they come near a house at night and the people inside hear them talking, but they must not go out, and in the morning they find the corn gathered or the field cleared as if a whole force of men had been at work. If anyone should go out to watch, he would die.
When a hunter finds anything in the woods, such as a knife or a trinket, he must say, ‘Little People, I would like to take this’ because it may belong to them, and if he does not ask their permission they will throw stones at him as he goes home.
Some Little People are black, some are white and some are golden like the Cherokee. Sometimes they speak in Cherokee, but at other times they speak their own ‘Indian’ language. Some call them “Brownies”. Little people are here to teach lessons about living in harmony with nature and with others. There are three kinds of Little People. The Laurel People, the Rock People, and the Dogwood People.
The Rock People are the mean ones who practice “getting even” who steal children and the like. But they are like this because their space has been invaded.
The Laurel People play tricks and are generally mischievous. When you find children laughing in their sleep – the Laurel People are humorous and enjoy sharing joy with others.
Then there are the Dogwood People who are good and take care of people.
The lessons taught by the Little People are clear. The Rock People teach us that if you do things to other people out of meanness or intentionally, it will come back on you. We must always respect other people’s limits and boundaries.
The Laurel People teach us that we shouldn’t take the world too seriously, and we must always have joy and share that joy with others. The lessons of the Dogwood People are simple – if you do something for someone, do it out of goodness of your heart. Don’t do it to have people obligated to you or for personal gain.
In Cherokee beliefs, many stories contain references to beings called the Little People. These people are supposed to be small mythical characters, and in different beliefs they serve different purposes. There are a lot of stories and legends about the Little People. You can see the people out in the forest. They can talk and they look a lot like Indian people except they’re only about two feet high, sometimes they’re smaller. Now the Little People can be very helpful, and they can also play tricks on us, too.
And at one time there was a boy. This boy never wanted to grow up. In fact, he told everyone that so much that they called him “Forever Boy” because he never wanted to be grown. When his friends would sit around and talk about: ‘Oh when I get to be a man, and when I get to be grown I’m gonna be this and I’m gonna go here and be this,’ he’d just go off and play by himself.
He didn’t even want to hear it, because he never wanted to grow up. Finally his father got real tired of this, and he said,’ Forever Boy, I will never call you that again. From now on you’re going to learn to be a man, you’re going to take responsibility for yourself, and you’re going to stop playing all day long. You have to learn these things. Starting tomorrow you’re going to go to your uncle’s, and he’s going to teach you everything that you are going to need to know.’
Forever Boy was broken hearted at what his father told him, but he could not stand the thought of growing up. He went out to the river and he cried. He cried so hard that he didn’t see his animal friends gather around him. And they were trying to tell him something, and they were trying to make him feel better, and finally he thought he understood them say, ‘Come here tomorrow, come here early.’ Well, he thought they just wanted to say goodbye to him. And he drug his feet going home. He couldn’t even sleep he was so upset.
The next morning he went out early, as he had promised, to meet his friends. And he was so sad, he could not bear the thought of telling them goodbye forever. Finally he began to get the sense that they were trying to tell him something else, and that is to look behind him.
As he looked behind him, there they were, all the Little People. And they were smiling at him and laughing and running to hug him. And they said, ‘Forever Boy you do not have to grow up. You can stay with us forever. You can come and be one of us and you will never have to grow up…we will ask the Creator to send a vision to your parents and let them know that you are safe and you are doing what you need to do.’
Forever Boy thought about it for a long time. But that is what he decided he needed to do, and he went with the Little People. And even today when you are out in the woods and you see something, and you look and it is not what you really thought it was, or if you are fishing and you feel something on the end of your line, and you think it is the biggest trout ever, and you pull it in, and all it is, is a stick that got tangled on your hook, that is what the Little People are doing. They are playing tricks on you so you will laugh and keep young in your heart. Because that is the spirit of Little People, and Forever Boy, to keep us young in our hearts.
Today focus on your own rhythm and how it connects and flows with life and the journey you are on. It’s time to make adjustments and take care of your Sacred Hoop so that it can move about more freely with the world you are walking. Make an effort to breathe in the clean clear air around you and renew your spirit for we often forget to do just that as we get lost in the busy of being human.
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 footedly 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.
So as promised to “Spirit” I will share with vision that was given to me this past week. As I began my walk in dreamtime, I was taken to a place of neither here nor there yet it was as if I was walking parallel with the world. Well let me stop for a second and take a couple of steps backwards.
When you think of people who do spiritual work, we often forget that they are also human complete with insecurities, self doubt and a need for validation and guidance. This is the place that I have been at for the past few weeks. And this is one of the reasons I retreat into the cave for introspect, clarity and healing work that I need done on self. I retreat and unplug myself from the world around me and simply am. It always amuses me for even some of my closest friends still don’t understand that this is what happens and is something I have done for years. Others of them get it rather quickly, as someone suggested to me the other day… “Well you are a bear and it’s what bear’s do.”
So what happens is people with these kinds of abilities, gifts and curses as some of us may call it, after time can wear us down making us tired and susceptible to doubt, negativity and/or a general feeling of okay are you sure I am supposed to be doing this? Or have I just lost it? Then the validations start showing up in and around our lives… we give messages to strangers that are so precise that it helps them to begin the healing process, or we connect with “spirit” in a way that connects another for transition, closure and the understanding that yes our souls are still on a journey when they leave the human.
Okay now let’s fast forward back to the beginning of the story as it began during my walk in dreamtime. When I have visions I am often in meditation or in a very light trippy spot of between sleep and awake, is the best way I can explain it. This particular time was the latter for I had been up earlier and had simply decided to go back to bed after taking care of the critters, which should have indicated to me something was up since they all decided to wake me at 4:30 a.m. very early even for them. I quickly was pulled to a meditative state, and Grandmother Moon was shining brightly on me through the window.
I was taken to a place that many people had gathered, Tribes of Many Colors and they were all there in celebration of prayer. When I looked towards the drums, there were many dancing together in a line that wrapped me in a circle that continued for farther than the eyes could see. There were people of every culture and ethnicity, dressed in the boldest and brightest of colors and regalia. There were Africans, Aboriginals, Japanese and Middle Easterners all dancing together in honor and prayer. There were Ancestors long past, and children of every color of the rainbow all singing and laughing and dancing alongside the people. It was joyous, it was harmonious, it was Life as it is meant to be…Alongside each other working together for a common goal, the goal of Balance.
I was shown artwork from around the globe, heard stories and songs from our Ancestors and from future generations. They all smiled and were eager to share the knowledge and insights that are available to each and every one of us now, in this time, in this place. They told me that humanity has lost its way and needs to go back to the beginning.. the beginning of simple to a place and time of honor, respect, shared wisdoms and knowledge, humility and love. It is tiring work for many, but we must be steadfast in what it is we are to do and how we are to walk, for the work continues to bring light to the darkness and balance to the one sided. We must set judgments aside and spread not ignorance of others, but faith in a future that can become our defining moments.
They continued to dance and sing around where I stood, and as they did creatures great and small from all their nations came to stand with me embracing me in reassurance. As I stepped away from self and looked at back as if through a two way mirror, I saw myself standing as half being and half bear.
I felt blessed and light of heart. I was shared messages for people I would be speaking with in the days ahead. I was shown directions I would be taking with creativity and my path while I walk the human. I was then instructed to step outside in the crisp air, lite my smudge and watched as the embers created the swirling smoke that danced into the early morning sky as if in greeting to the world that surrounds…
