Bozho! Greetings all, from the Spirit Horse Ranch
Smiling talks: let us gather together and think on a medicine wheel tale.
It
is a windy day, here on the land ... which recalls an earth wisdom story
told to me many years ago. It is the story of the three little winters
of spring. Now, even though stories are traditionally told in the winter
when we are are spending more time inside by the fire, our time now,
seems to describe now. In many ways this is truly a little winter with
accompanying vision quest qualities. Our collective retreats at this
time bring opportunities of deep rest and healing. The spring medicine
wheel season continues to radiate rays of inspiration and illumination
which can and will penetrate and permeate all historic, tender and even
hardened layers of memory and condition, all the while delivering the
benison of light and love, capable of stimulating mental processes for
future plans (and present), and able to plow the deepest furrows of
every fertile and fallow field, be it of day or night, dream or vision.
The Winds
These
are some of the gifts of spring. Ordinarily, there is more outward
movement but spring this year, seems to be temporarily holding onto the
hands of winter for a few more weeks ... at least the hands of: the little
winters of spring. Let us give them our full attention, sit with them
and allow the strong winds of spring to reach back, on and into aspects
our innermost being, loosening and tearing away those limbs of our
sacred flowering trees that may be dead, dying or diseased; no longer
wanted or needed, winds which are scattering green winds of pollen, and
driving southern rain clouds to the fields, forests, ponds and gardens.
RedBud Winter
This
one comes first, when the redbud trees bloom...when spring has truly
seated sometime in the third week of January. Then a warm spell.
Dogwood Winter
The second little winter comes when the dogwood trees bloom. Then a warm spell.
Blackberry Winter
The
third and last winter comes when the blackberries bushes bloom. It can
seem to be the coldest and most unnecessary of the little winters..but
it is the last.
The Rains
The
cold, hard, male rains come...drumming the Mother alive and calling
upon the return of her heartbeat to bring send sap rising, invite sprout
and shoot, unfurling bud and leaf..softening, melting ice, moistening
and warming the world once more..and so, the world is renewed once again
and life begins anew with us in the northern hemisphere and reversed,
down under.
Provisions and activities
for personal ceremony come forward as we visit the shelving of memory
and practice, selecting this or that according to interest or need, that
we fashioned through decision and discipline for just such times as
these. Provisions and activities, sacred all, fashioned in solitude or
circle...to bring solace, lift the heart and lighten the mind, are our
proven and worthy tools. We will sit in circle once again. Review these
things and add to them..there will be new stories to tell..reach out to
our brothers and sisters..and in these times of relative inactivity for
some of us, remember: BEING IS A DOING. Prayers and blessings to all who
are or have ‘walked on’, to the caretakers and ones most heavily
burdened, may they and we know good health and the restoration of
balance and harmony, all ways, all days, now and forever more.
Migwech
That’s the way it is with me.
Curiosity, restlessness, patience
Inventiveness, endurance and bravery
Remembering, being breathed alive and a sun ceremony
Water song, traveling song..silent prayer songs and groans of the heart are all heard.
The drum..redbud singers and dewebenkwe rock!
A purification fire, inside on a cookie sheet or outside, w/ sema offering
Smudging and fanning off, self, others and the room, remembering to open a window
Basketry
Sage, ginger and sassafras teas..green tea, chaga thunder, miso
Wild onions and eggs, dandelion greens in salads, corn soup, fry bread ‘n salt pork
Moon time
Collecting and drinking clean rain water
‘Putting Down’ some sema, tobacco.. tobacco down-prayers up
Offering plates
Being breathed alive
And always, the inner vision quest of:
Gratitude
Migwech, Mamogosnon, prime Creator for ALL of the gifts.
Minisa and Jim Halsey
Spirit Horse Ranch
Bodewadmin Longhouse
Virtual Medicine Wheel Tale by Minisa Crumbo Halsey
... an
early summer, ancient and current women's teaching that can all be
active within ... providing valuable focus in and on the women's seat of
the soul, the woman place. A proven and worthy tool by which to live in
harmony with the Creator and the natural world.
