blog with no name

A Night at The Castle

2011-12-30T13:31:00.002-07:00

I received an invitation to a New Years Eve, Masquerade Ball...
I didn't know what to think about it at first, but eventually I accepted...
It was to be a "Working Gig"... I was to be the security at the castle gates. Afterwards, I could attend the ball.

All went well at the gates, the costumes were all magnificent!
I must say that there was a Gypsy trying to get in, but she looked like trouble, so I refused her entry.
I did see her inside later on that evening... She didn't recognize me in costume however.

The evening was progressing when all of a sudden a roar was heard, and all went silent...
A beast asked, "Isn't there anyone that would dance with me?"
Everyone was afraid, but a gypsy said, "I will!"...
So the lion and the gypsy danced and danced!
The rest of the story you'll have to use your imagination...
All I can say is, "Gypsy's will steal your heart every time!"

Check out the Cyber Masquerade Ball yourself by clicking here.

The "Day After"

2011-12-26T10:56:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone remembers to keep this feeling of "goodwill" all through the rest of the year...

Chrismas and the birth of the "Christ Child" takes place moment by moment in our hearts...
A good friend pointed out to me the other day about the "Virgin Birth"...
It is when one renews their mind, allowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit into their heart. The two then create a "New Creature", growing until the heart gives birth to a "New Christ Child"... "A new mind and heart... His image revealed"...

So when the "Spirt of the holidays" is gone...
Are we going to treat each other with lovingkindness... Like yesterday?

Fire In The Sky

2011-12-16T06:30:00.001-07:00

It is in the end, that a new beginning is borne...

Back again...

2011-11-01T19:58:00.001-07:00

I'm back...

Home at last

2011-05-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time in the making, but I am finally back on the north rim where I belong! I have missed this place so very much I can't even describe how it feels to be back! Our internet coverage is so iffy I am posting from my work computer because it is hard-wired in to the net. I will be posting throughout the summer and will figure out how to load some pics into my system here at my desk, whenever I can... It's been a long time and I will try to catch up on the blogs that I follow and see you all later.
     God Bless Each And Every One Of You! I have not forgotten any of you and you are all in my prayers daily!

                                                                        I am what I am

A “Twist” in time saves nine…

2011-01-08T07:42:00.001-07:00

1. ”Time” is only relative to the “observer”… Your “Time” is uniquely yours because no two “observations” can ever be the same as the “flow of time” is eternal…

2. Your “Time” is not the same “Time” to THE OBSERVER… This is because of the “Point of View” of our “observations”…

3. The perception error caused by “narrowly observing” has caused great fear due to the “narrowness” of the observation itself.

4. “Time” cannot be affected by anything you do… Even the “reality” of “time travel” does nothing to stem its “flow”.

5. In “Time”, realizations come, and one “sees” that “Time” cannot affect who and what we are…

6. The “Time” that you are manifest in this form is but a “nano-second” of “Time”…

7. There is a “vibration of time”… each energy source being a “subset” of THE SOURCE… “Vibrating Contrary” to that SOURCE causes energy depletion and an unstable “flow of time”. Disrupting the natural law of “Increasing return”…

8. Ceasing the “Observing”, and returning to a “Participatory Dance” will bring about a “Perceptionless perception”… Causing a total loss of fear and a void to be filled with the SOURCE ENERGY…

9. The SOURCE ENERGY is the “Perfect Love” freely “given” by GOD…

I am what I am

How far? or It’s just up ahead…

2010-12-02T18:26:00.001-07:00

The hike down into the Grand Canyon was more than I could ever have imagined. In more ways than one… The whole idea of it had struck me with awe and wonderment from the start. But still I could not have prepared my mind and heart for what I would experience, physically, mentally, and spiritually…

Physically speaking, I’m working on my fiftieth year. Have a somewhat bad back, and terrible shoulder from years ago. Bad knees… Other than that, I’m in fine shape… As I just heard my knee crack just now… :)

Mentally, well, that would come to the test…

As far as my spirit goes, it would be broken many times over… and rebuilt even stronger…

We started off from the South Kiabab Trail head at about 10;30 in the am. The temperature was quite brisk and there was snow and ice at the top and about a half a mile or so an the trail. It was funny how when we stepped out off the pavement and onto the trail proper, my mind immediately raced with thoughts of slipping into the canyon… so we put on our ”tire chains” and went down, down and down even further… The weight I was carrying was around 65 or 70 lbs. Not overly heavy but heavy enough… Turns out I was carrying more than the weight of my pack. But also the weight of all my fears and expectations and all that kind of junk you don’t want to carry on a long hike… Or at least for more than half of it.

There were going to be three hurdles that I was going to have to get over before I could get down and back out of there. The first was the physical strength… Just the act of walking down stairs can sometimes make my knees hurt with a dull ache. Seven and a half miles of down hill, with steps as high as two feet at times, poor Gaelyn, she wished her legs were a lot longer by the time we were done. So with all that, inclimate weather, old bones, heavy pack, I was ripe for disaster.

All three hurdles would combine at times into what would seem imposable to overcome, but like Winston Churchill once said, “… when all seems lost and defeat seems certain, just take one more step forward, for that then is when the enemy is most tired”… so I did… One more step, and new strength would be found when my mind would be distracted by some amazing beauty that took my breath away…

There are places one can go that require deep strength to go there… Down into the depths of the earth in the canyon, or deep into the depths of ones own heart and soul… Both, I think were achieved on this trip…

I learned that I can be physically exhausted and not die from it… I’m not talking about the tired after a workout. I’m talking about the tired you get from feeling your femur bones bending and wondering when…

I learned that my spirit, that has been given by my creator God, can and will bring me through any physical “discomfort” I may encounter.

And I also learned that if you don’t drink enough water, the one you love the most will irritate you. Or visa versa… Gaelyn was a wonderful guide and companion. She has stolen my heart and I don’t have any intention of trying to get it back :)

We even argued about little things that didn’t mean anything… Like where we were on the trail… “How far is Phantom Ranch baby?” “I don’t know…” “You been here three times and you don’t know where we are? Common, you gotta know!” You can see the point… Drink enough water and everyone gets along! Hahahaha! Valuable stuff!

We spent two days at Phantom Ranch, camped not more than fifty feet from the most beautiful creek I’ve ever seen! Bright Angel Creek is it’s name. The water was like streams of living water, pure… It was cold at night, and during the day. But it was worth it! Then we went up to Indian Gardens for another night. Even colder than down at Phantom and a lot of deer all around, it was great…

It was all “fun and games” until I discovered that the hike out, just from Indian gardens would be the best test yet of my cardio vascular system to date. Mind you, I hit a wall at every destination, but was able to work through it successfully. Here, all three hurdles would try to gain up on me. The strongest opponent would be my own eyes and brain. At what would be interpreted as the rim from a certain point of view would only be on more layers of rock, or “liars of rock” I called them and now wish to apologize for… But we made it in one piece, and have an entirely new understanding of ourselves and one another.

I am home now, a little sore in the back but much stronger in the heart! It was an honor to be able to see and feel our Mother Earth’s “natural wounds”, compared to seeing and feeling her “un natural wounds” inflicted by mankind… She opened herself up to us and took us into her bosom and comforted us in our struggles… She showed us how really beautiful she is and just how powerfully venerable she really is…

I have had some awesome experiences in my life and they just keep getting better. I thought I would save the pictures for last… Nothing I could say could do them justice… so here goes…

He is what He is…

2010-11-05T18:08:00.001-07:00

I Am the storm…

I Am the rainbow…

I Am the canyons…

I Am , who takes wing to move Heaven and Earth…

I Am the high places…

I Am the valleys…

I Am a single drop of dew…

I Am the tree…

I Am to be seen…

Walk in Beauty, for all around is beauty…

I am what I am…

The many “Faces” of Creation

2010-10-05T07:52:00.001-07:00

There are places one can go that will make one feel small… Really small. But at the same time, part of something really huge. And all the while, being watched, and reassured…

There are “People” that have been around for a long time… Gaining eons of wisdom…

As a whole crowd gathers to watch the humans, inviting one to stand among them and tarry awhile…

So beautiful are these “faces”, I couldn’t help but feel it was all for me… and you…

Just the Creator showing off a bit, saying… “Here I am”!!!

Here’s the best part…

ALL THIS BEAUTY PALES IN COMPARRISON TO THE BEAUTY THAT WAS CREATED IN THE HUMAN HEART!!!

“ If God has made all things beautiful… then what does that make you?”

I am what I am

A “Riddle” for You

2010-09-15T17:27:00.001-07:00

What has four legs, and two heads, and one heart?

Here’s a clue…

Us…

I am what I am

Standing in Awe and Wonderment

2010-09-07T09:11:00.001-07:00

There is a point where nothing exists… Save awe and wonderment…

I am what I am

“We live by faith… not by sight”

2010-08-23T15:30:00.001-07:00

This photo was taken on Hwy. 89, heading north, just past the junction of Hwy. 160… Flying by at 60 mph…

It’s a corn field on the Navajo reservation. Sorry it’s so blurry… But it is clear enough that you can see the individual clusters of corn plants growing.

There are no water lines to the field… no way to irrigate. Hauling water is, at best, not worth the effort. All the tender of the garden has to rely on is rainfall… In the middle of the desert.

One has to believe that when the seeds are planted, they will break through the earth and grow. There can be no doubt, or it would be pointless endeavor. Then after the tender shoots appear, one must truly believe that life giving water will be given to sustain the growth of the corn.

It may not look like much now, but in a month or so it will be providing nourishing sustenance for the ones who walked by faith all summer to see it through.

It is no easy thing to do, this walking by faith and not by sight… We always want to see the end result before the beginning of something we attempt to do. It is hard to begin an unknown… something that we can’t see… We tend to be frozen in time while we stand to the side and idle.

There are certain promises that have been made to the people of the earth by the Long Life Happiness One that can make the journey a lot more relaxing…

“A seed cannot become a ear of corn until it first dies and is buried, then it returns a hundred fold”

This promise tells me many things. First of all, it is an action phrase. Meaning that something has to be done. And if those things are done, the other things will occur.

Planting… Watering… Harvesting… Two out of the three are the things that we do. The third is where the faith thing comes into be.

See it is the Long Life Happiness One Whose Ways Are Beautiful that brings the water, and causes the sun to shine… That’s the hard part… having faith enough to put into action something that you have no idea about the result…

Dry land farming in my mind has got to be the most faith testing endeavor that one could do… Faith to last you through the winter…

Just a little further down the road, this little house… Nothing to do with the cornfield… Just thought it was another lesson about building your house of stone… but that’s another day…

These photos depict a way of life that says a lot about the people that live it… Your whole existence depends upon faith in action… Easy to see that if you don’t work you don’t eat… but that work is done with faith and beauty… And the whole process brings to fruition the circle of life…

Live, love, work, play, and walk in beauty…

I am what I am

The adventures of a Gypsy and a Garbage Man…

2010-08-03T16:41:00.002-07:00

Another weekend arrived and that was our queue… Loaded up the truck and headed down the hill for another adventure and get some shopping done while we were at it.

We got to the Visitors Center, Picked up my jr ranger book, of course, and headed out side to look around…

The first person I met was this guy… He was pretty silent but it was obvious he liked the attention…

Here he is getting his head scratched… He stood there real still while I scratched behind his horns…

The next was this little pony in disguise… maybe he was wanted for something… I didn’t ask… We then looked around a bit at the bunk houses

This is one of them, east I believe…

Then we went to the “Fortress” proper… This was built directly over a natural spring…

Inside view of the front door… “Windsor Castle” is it’s name… Established in 1870 as a Mormon Tithing Ranch. Butter, cheese, and cattle were taken to St. George, UT. Also it was used for the protection of the polygamists from the federal marshals…

Out of everything in the house, the coolest thing was this cup made so you wouldn’t dip your mustache in your hot tea…

The next person we ran across was this duck… All he said was that his name was not “Daffy”…

Here is a reconstruction of a Piute dwelling… Almost looks like a sweat lodge…

Oh yea, getting sworn in for the third time as a jr ranger… This time they snuck in the part about eating all my veggies and cleaning my room…

The badge is what sets it off, don’t you think?

On the way home we had some tricky driving… But we got through it all just fine…

And so the sun set on yet another adventure for our fearless duo… Gaelyn took all the pictures and I did all the driving…Check out the video she took of us crossing an over flowing wash. So I think on our next days off we’ll spin the wheel… Round, round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows!

I am what I am

A trip with a Gypsy… or… I love this teepee livin’ !

2010-07-27T09:41:00.001-07:00

The trip to Cedar Breaks wasn't all bad and no good… Referring to the “Gnome Incident”… The scenery was awesome!

The way the rocks had eroded over time lets you stand there for a while with your mouth open in awe before you even think about getting your camera out…

The mountain in the back ground is Brian Head… Gealyn is the photographer on all the photos here… She posted on Brian Head and you can see it HERE…

We saw a lot of flowers there. My favorite though by far were the Columbine…

This Mountain Bluebell is really nice too!

One of the times where I was standing… Just looking…

While we were there, I started working on my Jr. Ranger book. It’s fun and you get to act like your smarter than a fifth grader…

Getting my book signed by Ranger Brandon. He gave a Ranger Talk about lightning. I thought he did a great job!

Getting sworn in… Check out the Ranger… Good times! He was having as much fun as I was…

So after a wonderful time at the visitors center with some great people, we went up there…

To see this… Cedar Breaks from the look out at Brian Head…

And this is the hole that the Gnome Guy was climbing in and out of…

This is the best hotel on earth! It’s got wheels and it can go where ever you want, almost…

After we left Brian Head we headed into the forest to look for a spot to camp for the night… That’s when we were met by at least 2000 sheep… They just kept coming and coming… They were led by two white dogs, and followed up my two black and white dogs and two cowboys, or sheep herders should I say. Quite a responsible job actually…

It was a wonderful day and we got to enjoy a wonderful sunset at the end of it!

I would like to thank my sweetie Gaelyn for showing me new places that I would never have seen otherwise… And also for her loving kindness…

I am what I am

Gnome guy “Breaks Free!”

2010-07-21T18:32:00.001-07:00

On my days off, Gaelyn and I went up to Cedar Breaks, and had a wonderful time! I got another Jr. Ranger badge, and all things were beautiful… We had seen some amazing things… I’m sure that even Gnome Guy, “Ollie”, was having a blast even though he was in the truck the whole time we were there until we went up to Brian’s Head look out.

We had got there and “Ollie” was rearing to go! He didn’t even have any trouble breathing at 11,000 feet above sea level. He just ran around and seemed like he was very pleased to finally be some place where the air wasn’t so thick.

Several times we had to tell him to get back from the edge, as he was climbing in and around all the rocks that hung off the side of the mountain… He was jumping through this hole he is standing in front of, and popping up un the other side of the rock. Laughing the whole time!

Here we are at the look out building… From here you can almost see to the ends of the Earth! We posed for a couple of snap shots and off he went to explore… I realized that I didn’t bring my camera and started back to the truck. The photos you are about to see are not for the squeamish…

When I was almost to the truck I heard a loud crash and Gaelyn saying in a loud panicky voice, “Oh No!”

This is the last picture of “Ollie”… He was up on the wall as he is always doing and Gaelyn said that he started dancing some kind of funny little dance and the wind just picked him up off his feet and…

CRASH!!! This is what was left of him after he was showing off and got blown off the wall… I felt so bad for Gaelyn because she thought I would blame her for it… That guy was always showing off and I kept telling him that if he didn’t slow down, his folly would be the death of him… He would just laugh and say… “When?”

So the next day, I took “Ollie” to the Zion Over look. If you’ve ever been there, you know how beautiful it is… I laid him on a piece of bark, and said my good byes, and laid him to rest.

I then placed him under a thick bush so the earth can take him back… He was a pretty cool little dude. His sense of humor was a little questionable sometimes, but all in all, he was alright in my book!

Every where we went after that we kept seeing these rather confusing signs along the road…

I wondered about those signs and came to the conclusion that “Ollie” would have said,” No driving? Huh…. Good thing you brought your lob wedge!”

So that’s exactly what I did! I pulled over on to a pullout and busted out my lob wedge! “Ollie” wouldn’t have it any other way! What do you think of the back swing?

Oh yes! Contact! I smacked that ball a good one… Made sure I wasn’t a spot where there were any plants and well, you see… Nice form I think, head down, rotating through… Ahhh, still got it!

Now when I think of friends I’ve lost in the past, I remember them like this awesome bird I caught in flight in front of a rain storm… Flying free from all that would make us mortal…

All of the pictures, except the last were taken by Gaelyn. Don't you think she does a great job? I do!

So I guess the moral of the story is this…

“Don’t go dancing on the wall when the wind is blowing… You might break free!”

I am what I am

The Face of The Long Life Happiness One Whose Ways Are Beautiful!

2010-07-14T17:50:00.001-07:00

It was two days ago that Gaelyn and I stood in the presence of the Almighty… Here is my version of the encounter… We found ourselves at Crazy Jug Point, after a somewhat long and slow ride… But I have to say that it was very beautiful! The forest had many different trees and shrubs and flowers of all kinds. All of which were beautiful. From the tallest of Ponderosas, to the smallest of little blue flowers. Gaelyn has all those pics and I’m sure you all will be seeing them soon. We arrived at our destination after many stops to take pictures, and just to look around. I didn’t even seem to find myself becoming impatient to get where we were going! The views were fantastic! And after awhile, The Lord came and showed off a little in the form of an awesome rain over the canyon…

This view was really cool from the end of the point…

There was one storm that came by with some lightning… so we just stayed in the camper for a while until it passed… Got pretty windy, but little rain. And of course Talking God had something to say… Maybe an invitation to the spectacle that was about to occur…

The show hade begun… No lightning, just a gentle, female rain. It looked as if the Spirit was washing it’s child…

As the water fell to the earth, a reassurance of the soul could be felt. All will not thirst forever… Through it all, the Light kept shining.

There’s that Geogypsy doing what she loves to do! She has really made a beautiful scene even more so! She fits right in!

The face of the Creator could be seen in every turn of the clouds, and drop of rain…

I didn’t even realize that I had gotten this image until I downloaded it from the card that evening. Can you see the face of Jesus?

A few moments later, that face had opened up into this hole and the light shined again.

The rain just got more and more spectacular! As it passed right in front of us, it began to do something that was truly amazing.

A double rainbow appeared in the rain laden sky. Gods promise and covenant with all humanity… The crowning glory of the event we had just witnessed! The second rainbow is a faint copy of the original, a reflection in the water vapor. I figure this because the colors are switched in both, see?

I am so thankful to see that smile! Just makes my millennium!!!

After a while we went inside to eat lunch, that rainbow wasn't going anywhere… In fact it stayed for more than an hour!

After lunch we came out to an eerily awesome sight… The rainbow had taken on an almost physical appearance. It began to look like a tube that you could either walk on or be taken up into… And the rain seemed as if it were coming from the rainbow itself… And believe me, my cheapo little digital camera can’t really show you what it was really like. It was something I had never in my life seen with these eyes of mine. I was blown away with the sheer size of it, and the way it seemed to declare something greater than all things, a name above all names, The name of my friend and brother… Jesus…

I am what I am

Wow! That was cool… or… Cool! Was that wow?

2010-07-07T18:55:00.001-07:00

Not to long ago, Gaelyn and I went for a little trip around and looked off the North Rim in several places… See, I have always been somewhat intimidated by heights.

When I was a much younger man, I tried to get over this “problem” by getting a job working derrick on an oil service rig. It was exciting work to say the least. I don’t have any pictures of those days, but it was a job where one would be working 25 to 96 feet off the ground, depending on what kind of rig you worked on. I remember how the rig would seem like it was ready to jump off the ground when the weight of a string of pipe, ( the deepest I’ve seen was 24,000 ft.), was being pulled out of the ground.

But although I thought I was conquering my fears of heights, most of the time I was terrified… Even though I could work and function, that same old feeling would eat at my stomach…

Now, I have been to the Canyon before, in fact, I worked on the south rim back in 1991. Never really spent much time looking off the rim. Saw all the sights, you know, the stuff without a view of the canyon…

When Gaelyn and I went for our little day trip, things changed…

Above, you can see what I’m talking about… I had to sit there for a couple of minutes to get the courage up to get close to the edge…

Above is a view of the window I was sitting on, it’s a “fin” that juts out from one of the points, sorry I can’t remember all their names. But I think it is called The Angel’s Window…

As time went by, I was able to swallow my fear enough to get out to the end, and stand at the rail and look into the depths of the canyon. While I stood there, a strange feeling came on that I wasn't familiar with. I wasn’t thinking about the rail giving way, or the rocks collapsing, or any other catastrophic event occurring. I was so blown away by the beauty of the place, that all fear was gone.

I had gotten comfortable enough that I could lay down on the edge and take some pictures. it was quite exciting to see all that splendor!

As I stood there with my arms open, I could feel the wind trying to lift me off my feet… It was so cool, I felt like I could take off and fly! When I sat down, even forgot I was wearing my pack, and just took it all in, I was totally at peace… if only for a few moments… but in those few moments, there wasn’t a care in the world, no fear, just perfect peace…

A smile came over my face, and and a whole new attitude about heights and all other irrational fear that may pop up in my head, became rooted deep in my heart.

So, the next time you feel like the wind is about to lift you off your feet… Just spread open your arms and let it take you away… What’s the worst that can happen? Something might scare you? Big deal!

I’m going to leave you with one last thought…

If we are part of this beautiful creation… Than what does that make us?

I am what I am…

Laundry Day up on the Rim

2010-06-26T12:49:00.001-07:00

Today was laundry day… something that I really don’t enjoy! But as with most things, it has to be done. The only saving grace is that I’ve got some help… Not very good help, but help none the less…

Here’s my only employee… Some times he’s a good hand with things, and other times, well you get the picture. he’s kind of small so that makes him very useful when it comes to tight spaces. Like when you have to take off an oil filter on your car, or pull things out from under the bed…

On the bigger things, he needs a boost up… as sometimes all of us do. So I just put something he can climb up on and away he goes.

Now how did you get up there? Oh well, at least I know where your at…

And he needs a bathroom brake from time to time…

I turned around for one second and he tried to fill the sink and go swimming. I had to tell him the sink was for washing his hands only, which made him sad…

But he cheered right up when I turned on the air dryer, and had a little fun. He likes it when the hot air blows his hat off, but made me promise that I wouldn’t take his picture, as he is bald on top, and is real self conscious about it so I didn’t.

After I put the clothes in the dryer, I couldn’t find him… Until I heard some faint giggling… I opened the door on the dryer, and lo and behold, there he was! going for the ride of his life!

It sure was a lot of fun doing laundry with the help of my little friend! Friends are really good to have, in fact, you can never have too many friends! Friends are part of what makes life worth living!

A true friend doesn’t care what color you are, or how much you weigh, or if you have some kind of physical handicap, or any thing else! A true friend just loves you for who you are… with all your faults and short comings!

And I am happy to say that I have lots of true friends! You know who you are, and I will leave you with this…

I love all my friends!!!

I am what I am

Why am I always doing these crazy things

2010-06-23T07:30:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I went for a hike down off the rim. It was a fairly strenuous endeavor… Well for me any way!

Actually got to meet some really nice people on the way. Something about the wild places that can bring out the

best in people… maybe it’s because they leave their pride behind…

This view is from the Kiabab trail just off the rim… Beautiful isn’t it?

Going a little farther now… Roaring Springs Canyon is below in this view… I’m going in…

This is where it got a little discouraging… 85 degrees and rising… The thermometer on the wall is at the out door rest rooms… Though I just don’t see how you could “rest” much as the compost toilets are pretty stinky! Oh well…

Here I am at the Supai tunnel, a man made (or woman made, I don’t know) tunnel, blasted through the rock many years ago. Guess you’ll have to Google it to find out how long ago…

I went as far as the Red Wall Bridge, sorry about not having any pics of it as the one thing I didn’t bring was extra batteries for my camera… Brought plenty of water, which is a MUST while hiking anywhere. EEven gave some away along the trail as some people would rather take extra batteries and not enough water… Go figure!

It was a wonderful hike and hope to be able to do a lot more of this during my time here!

I am what I am

The circle of life

2010-06-16T12:53:00.001-07:00

Today I have been blessed to be able to participate in a wonderful thing!

I was sitting at my computer and felt something crawl across my foot, thought it was a fly or something so I didn’t pay too much attention to it…

A few minutes later I saw this in the kitchen floor

It was a baby quail, I think…

So I picked it up very carefully and took some pictures of it and sang to it while I took it outside to let it go…

There are a lot of nests around the house so I had no idea of who it belonged to.

When I put it down on the ground by the trees, it bolted for the woods. Sure hope it was able to find it’s way back to its mother…

At that moment I could feel the love of all creation returning to me as the little bird ran out of sight!!!

Times like this just make me feel so good to be alive and part of this beautiful dance we call life!

Thank you to the LONG LIFE HAPPINESS ONE WHOSE WAYS ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t know how to put it into words the feeling I have right now… So I’ll just say that love will hold everything together… and give you all another look at this beautiful little creation of our God!

I am what I am…

The Parable of the pull tab

2010-06-05T20:19:00.001-07:00

This is a true story from my childhood, it took place some 40+ yrs ago, but I can remember it like it just happened…

More years ago than I would like to admit, I was going for a walk on the beach with my dad. There are five brothers in the family, so he would take us out one at a time as I remember. A few times all of us would be out there, but it is really hard to keep track of five small boys on the beach…

Any now here is the story:

One day while walking along the beach with my dad, I stepped on an old pull tab, and cut open my heel. The blood soon came and I freaked.

My dad just picked me up in his arms and tried to comfort his frightened son the best he could. He brought me into the house and set me up on the kitchen sink and started the water running.

He put my foot under the running water and my foot really began to bleed. I got even more scared and begged him to make it stop.

I will never forget what he said to me, to this day it has been a comfort in times of trouble when it seems that it would rain forever.

He said to me, “ I can’t right now, this cut has to bleed for a while, or else it will become infected. But don’t worry son, I am watching it and will not let it go on too long.”

Those words have echoed in my mind and sank deep into my heart over the years…

Whenever we are wounded, we always try too hard to get over things, heal as fast as we can. This is not a good thing.

If we try to bind our own wounds, they will become infected. Some times a wound has to bleed for a long time before it will close up properly. There is no rhyme or reason in how long it takes to heal. What seems like a minor scrape bleeds continually for a long time. And what looks like a mortal wound, some times, can bring blessing from the most un- expected places.

The thing is, each wound is different and yet the same in the sense that we don’t suffer any thing that is not common to humans.

Each individual has their own threshold of pain, so there is no one who can say that they know how your wound feels except the Long Life Happiness One Whose Ways Are Beautiful. So there are only two who fully understand the depth of the wound, and really only One who knows the duration of suffering.

We will be wounded in this life, there is no stopping it. The only thing that can be done is to renew our minds and hearts so we can better understand our own heart and soul. Thus allowing for the healing process to begin. That process usually begins shortly after the wounding. There are some things that happen first, but healing begins pretty quickly rather we know it or not.

The problem comes when healing is delayed and allows for the growth of bacteria and once again infection occurs. I’m not saying to try to forget… That’s probably the worst thing to try to do. But there are things that can be done to cleanse a wound to allow for quicker onset of the healing process… Dr.’s call it “debreeding the wound” where the edges of a wound are trimmed away so good tissue can be joined together.

Some times we are led to the threshing floor, the place where even angels fear to tread. And our hearts go through a debreeding process that is very painful at the time.

Don’t get me wrong or misunderstand, I’m not saying that the wound was for our own good, it’s what was done with that wound that is the point.

When some one I love has been wounded, the only thing that I can offer is love… It’s really the only thing worth offering!

Because we have the capacity for great sorrow, we also have the capacity for great love, and as both are traded back and forth there is a beautiful collision. When the sorrow of one heart collides with great love from another the condition for healing created… One can never truly heal alone and apart from others, we need to be comforted.

Remember, it is not necessary to remain strong during times of great sorrow, there is strength enough in others to help us. The Long Life Happiness One will move heaven and earth to come to our rescue when we are in need. To help heal our hearts.

I know that we live on a wild planet, and as our technology advances, there will have been created new ways of suffering as mankind becomes more and more ambitious with his preoccupation. I fear that we haven’t seen any thing yet…

Now having said all that let me leave you with this,

I believe that we can help heal one another with the love that has existed from ever lasting to ever lasting. We can create situations that the natural out come is healing. And it is only with love, does any one stand a chance for any kind of wound to heal properly.

So when some one you love has been wounded, just love… No need to grab the tourniquet right away… Better to just express your love and open your heart and ears…

I am what I am

All in a days work

2010-06-04T14:42:00.001-07:00

I take big pieces of steel and turn them into smaller pieces of steel. The process from start to finish is not really rocket science, if you can do simple math and have a good understanding of how to follow what is called a “cut list”, then you should do ok. By the way, a cut list tells you how much material to cut from a single piece and how much “drop” you should have left over for future use.

Not following the cut list sets one up for not having the material that is shown in inventory. Not a good thing.

Here is the steel as it lies in the rack with great anticipation, I can almost hear them saying, “Oh, choose me! Choose me!”

The next step in the process is to somehow get it out of the rack, you might have to dig one out, but the fork lift is available to help with that, just don’t turn the rack over in the process. It’s a drag to clean up. So having got it out of the rack it is placed on the roller beds to be consumed by the Great Gobbler, or the Shear of Sanity. Its the green one, and the way the punch is set up you will go crazy trying to get holes punched in the right location.

After the steel has gone through it’s transformation, it winds up in purgatory, the place where it waits for me to label it with a part number and job number. Also where it is decided whether or not it gets further transformed.

The cut list tells me what dimensions the blank will be, the coalition drawings tell me what to do with the blank. Those you see on the clip board above.

Above what you see is the final stop before going on to their place of final attachment. where they will become part of a sky scraper or a football stadium, or a race track or hospital. These in the pic are destined for an Am Track Maintenance Facility in parts unknown.

You already know what I do to feed my soul, this is what I do to feed my body.

I am what I am

The Ranger is cool

2010-06-04T08:52:00.001-07:00

Some times it seems that the world has gone mad, and the Ranger says,

The stock market crashes, and oil slicks seem to be the norm, the Ranger says,

The Mayan calendar says we only have two more years, and the Ranger says,

Our leaders some times don’t their own mind and the Ranger says,

There are times when it seems as all is lost and it’s time to let go the oars,

And the Ranger says,

So if the Ranger says don’t worry, then why should we? The world will run it’s course, and if we want to

ride along we have to learn to have more joy and less worry…

I remember Alfred E. Newman saying, “What me worry?” And now the Ranger says it too!

I guess with that kind of reasoning we should listen.

Now when I say don’t worry, It’s not that we should be apathetic towards life, or not participate. No, far from it!

We should participate in the things that are occurring in the world and our own back yards. We should be preaching

a message of love and reconciliation. The natural world will heal it’s self given enough time, regardless of what we do.

It is the world that the people created with it’s systems of governments and every other tangled web of deceit, that

can be changed with one thing and one thing only… Universal love with out condition! All the problems that people face

in their personal and national relationships are caused by the lack of unconditional love. And the fear that results from it.

For if you know that I love you, then you also know that you have nothing to fear from me. You would know and

understand that I would have no ill will, conjure up any plots or schemes to do harm, and therefore you would have no

cause to have to try to defend.

For if I love my neighbor, than I seek the betterment of that soul. And if we all have this love for one another, than all

reasons for borders, class structure, or any thing else that preoccupies us will disappear. We all have a stake in this life.

And the quality of this life can be changed completely by that one simple thing.

Never again would we hear that somebody died because they were too hungry for too long. Or that some one was killed

because of some one else's selfishness.

People would live out their natural lives to an old age, and would have been at peace with all others and

have no fear of the next part of their journey.

It’s an easy thing to do… This love thing. The hard part is letting go of ourselves. It’s hard sometimes to put others

before ourselves, and esteeming others as better than ourselves. But those two points are the biggest stumbling

blocks that keep humans from achieving what we were really intended for. A life of beauty and abounding love!

So when you hear some one say don’t worry, try not to get upset, especially when things are really rough.

Just tell them you love them and really don’t worry…

http://geogypsy.blogspot.com/

I would like to show you the Ranger in disguise… Ain’t she sweet!

I am what I am

A few days in paradise

2010-05-31T18:39:00.001-07:00

One of the places that I’ve been in my life is the Grand Canyon… I lived and worked there in 1991.

Seems like a long time ago…

I was batching and delivering concrete for the construction of the Back Country Offices and parking facilities. The South Rim had a view of the other side, and so like is often the case, I dreamed about being able to see the grass that I was sure was greener on the other side…

Well, it has been 19 years, but I finally made it! The wait was well worth it, cause when I was younger, this was just a big hole in the ground.

When I walked out the Bridle Trail, I turned the corner and caught sight of the Bright Angel Point… The pic doesn’t do it justice at all. When I saw it, the first thing I wanted to do was to stand on the big rock at the end…

So here I am, standing on Bright Angel Point… Cool view eh?

Oh yea, this view is on the other trail, if I remember right, that is the bottom end of Roaring Springs Canyon.

This is the lodge, seen from the trail below. It’s a really cool place too, and I got to see a Ranger Program on the back Sun Porch

Just in case you don’t know, this is Ranger Gealyn Olmsted. She is giving a talk on the geology of the Grand Canyon. It was an excellent program and I learned allot about rocks and the way they were laid down in layers, cool!

This is a good example of the layering…

On the walk back I saw something that brought a song to mind… You know the one, “Lean on me… when your not strong… and I’ll be your friend!” Something about the way the stronger tree was holding up his dying brother…

Then I went to another Ranger Program, a evening campfire and talk about the pottery in the region… Cool stuff and there were some really good pieces made…

So that was pretty much what I did for a few days, Oh yea, had some real “Quality Time”!

I am what I am…

Thank You!

2010-05-23T10:47:00.001-07:00

When I first started this adventure in blog land I had no idea how much fun it would be and how much I would learn.

As time went by, I was given suggestions by Gaelyn, on some blogs I should check out. I did and have had the privilege

to be associated and become friends with some really good people!

My blog has grown to 9 followers, doesn’t sound like much, but you have to consider the quality of those followers!

There is Geogypsy, Gaelyn, who was my “Mentor” in this blog-o-rama. She has been and always will be my source of inspiration for a better blog… besides that, she has captured my heart and filled it with love everlasting!

And some one I have grown close to is Joan from SAPhotographs. Joan your blog is outstanding! Your photos are of the highest quality and very beautiful.:) I feel that our friendship is one that is very special, I have been blessed to know you!

And of course Jo, of memorable meanders, We got to meet as a result of a separation that was a blessing in disguise… When Gaelyn was gone for a month, it wound up cementing our relationship. She got to go on a wonderful hike with your son and one thing led to another… I give you great respect for your living conditions, being a stranger in a strange land, so far from your home, and yet you still make the best of what is given! Your strong faith is an inspiration to me!

And a fellow blogger from Arizona is Diane AZ, You have an excellent eye for capturing the moment… The pics I have seen and the text to describe are wonderful! Thank you…

Bhavesh Chhatbar from India you are a brother and fellow soul! Thank you for all the beautiful posts… they always invoke a feeling of peace! Your thoughts are such that they provide a place for thoughts in others. Walk in beauty my friend!

Who can forget Fabgrandma, Karen, you and Jim are wonderful people and good friends! I am so glad I got the chance to spend some time with you both, it was a really good time! Thank you for that!

To my friend Tom, Fishing Guy, Thank you for your true friendship! Your way of putting things in perspective is wonderful!

I feel that I am a better person for having known you… Thank you!

There are a couple others, Raquel Cruso’, Lorac, and Anonymous from Louisiana, Thank you for listening to my wanderings, there are more to come…

I just wanted to say that I am blessed and privileged to have such a great group of followers. I haven’t been able to post as often as I would like as I have been very busy at work.

My day begins at 2::00 am when then alarm wakes me, so it’s early to bed and even earlier to rise…

I will try to get at least one post a week, and to all the blogs I follow, I will try to read at least once a week, on dial-up it is so time consuming to try to keep up with all I would like. Every body always has such great posts, it’s hard to decide who’s to read after I've read Gaelyn’s blog. By the way baby… I love you!

Once again I would like to give thanks to all you bloggers and friends for a wonderful trip so far… I am what I am!

Showdown at the O.K. Corral

2010-05-05T18:28:00.001-07:00

The sun was high in the sky that day…

A light breeze blew in from the east, and the smell of Ostrich was in the air.

A Gypsy had come into town all the way from America… heard that there was an Ostrich that was said couldn’t be ridden.

The time had come, it was do or die…

All the other Ostriches were terrified! It was Geogypsy, the famous Ostrich buster!

Tensions mounted… a hooded bird, Geogypsy at the ready, and far away, a dog barked.

Off they went! Being chased by two cowboys, or should I say, Wranglers. The Ostrich took off at break neck speeds. Nobody knew what was going to happen… Everyone held their breath and covered their eyes! The battle was on!

After a series of mad dashes, the Ostrich knew that he had been bested. And the Geogypsy dismounted with a victory shout!

“I have won the day Ostrich!” “Victory is mine!” All the while her two trusty sidekicks stood there, bewildered, in awe that that Black Bart had met his match…

And of course, the spoils to the victor!

It was a day that the Ostriches would never forget! The day that the Geogypsy came to town lookin’ for a showdown. They write songs and tell stories to their children about that day.

And that is the legend of Geogypsy, Ostrich buster…Some say,if you listen closely to the wind, you can hear the sound of Ostriches feet stomping the ground…

I am what I am

First Nite... The ceremony continues

2010-04-27T16:44:00.002-07:00

Every moment of every day, replenishing, recreating things are going on around us. All that is natural can restore us to a natural order... the walking movement called "time."
Time is the ceremony moving with rhythm and prayer. Holiness is attached to time as it moves so it creates a natural healing situation.
The ceremony begins when the "singer" begins to sing over the "one sung over." The one sung over will raise his voice with all the other participants and sing along this song:

They were given, they were given.
Those were given, those were given.
The Sons of the Sun were given. Those were given, those were given.
The Sons of White Corn were given. Those were given, those were given.
The Dark Cloud above the Earth was given. Those were given, those were given.
The Flash of Lightning was given. Those were given, those were given.
The Thin Dark Wind was given. Those were given, those were given.
The Arrow Lightning's voice was given. Those were given, those were given.
The Long Life One, the Happiness One.
Those were given, those were given.
They were given, they were given.
Those were given, those were given.
The Sons of Moon were given, those were given, those were given.
The Sons of Yellow Corn were given. Those were given, those were given.
The Ones that stand above were given. Those were given, those were given.
The White Rainbow was given. Those were given, those were given.
The White Wind with its body was given. Those were given, those were given.
The voice of the Corn Ripener was given. Those were given, those were given.
The Long Life One, The Happiness One.
Those were given, those were given.
They were given, they were given.
Those were given, those were given.

The song goes from the "Sons of the Sun". Rain falls from dark clouds, onto our mother the earth. Causing the White Corn Sons to push up through the broken soil into the light. The Arrow Lightning's voice of thunder spoke, and The Thin Dark Wind moved.
Those were given by the Long Life Happiness One.
The one who stands above, crescent moon shining in the dawn. Colors of the Rainbow appearing in the east. What the Long Life Happiness One has done to create us is being re-enacted again and again.
As the singer chants over and over again, "these are given", People remember that creation was GIVEN! The voice of the corn ripener beetle was given, their voices reminding us of corn ripening.
The rattle for singing, the herbs, the corn pollen, the white corn meal,the clouds and rain,lightning and thunder, these are given. They are the means of sustenance and healing.
All are sacred, and are just some of the things that are provided.
Sacredness is embedded in all of creation because the Creator touches it. The Giver Of All, has made it possible to work with pollen and medicines to bring balance back.

I am what I am, Walk in beauty!

Three trees

2010-04-24T04:58:00.002-07:00

I know that I was going to talk about the blessing way this time, but I just felt like telling a story first.....

There was a time when a huge tree lived on the shore of an even bigger lake. She was a very tall and strong tree, roots sunk deep into the earth...
In due course if life she put forth three little seedlings. They grew under the protection of their mother, and in time, they themselves became very strong .
Their mother spent many hours telling her children about the world and all that is in it. Explaining all the activity they saw on the lake, and telling stories about life.
She began one day to explain about the eventual "harvesting" that they would have to endure.
Their mother told them that at some point after they were fully grown, the woodsmen would come and cut them down, and create something else with them.
She asked them what they wanted to be. and the first tree answered, "I have been standing here for a long time, and I have watched mothers with their babies in a cradle, I love those little babies and I think that I would love to be a cradle."
She then asked the second tree and the answer was this, "I have been standing here for a long time, I have watched the ships on the lake carrying their cargo of beautiful goods. I would like to be a ship and carry important goods!"
Then the mother asked the third tree and the answer was this, "I have been standing here for a long time, I would like to remain standing here a just point up to the Creator!"
The time that their mother had been talking about did come, the woodsmen came and cut down the three trees.
The first tree was fashioned into a feeding trough where animals ate, and the tree was very much disappointed and heart broken.
The second tree was made into a fishing boat, with people that were rough on it and didn't keep it clean at all. The tree was very distraught also.
The third tree was just quartered and thrown into the lumber rack to season for years. This tree was also very heart broken over this.

Years had passed, their lives had not turned out the way that they had hoped for, and all three were saddened with depression.
Then it came to pass that during the winter there were a young couple traveling and the woman was heavy in labor, about to have a child. The feeding trough saw the whole thing, the effort that it took that young woman to bring forth this new life. He heard the cries of the young woman and the cries of the infant child. When this child was placed in him, all sadness drained from his soul and he was filled with joy! "Never could I imagine that I would have the honer of holding this child.... Thank You!!!"
Some thirty years would pass and that old fishing boat was out on the lake, caught up in a storm. The people on board were frightened and yelling, "Lord save us!!" All save one, He was asleep in the bow of the boat. When this man awoke, He spoke down the storm and the waters were stilled. The tree, now fishing boat, realized who was on board and said, "Never could I imagine that I would have the honer of carrying this man... Thank You!!!"
Just a short time later the third tree had become dry and hard. Someone came a took him out of the rack, and made a cross beam out of him. He was then taken to a place where there was a man ready to carry him away. The man was being chastised while trying to carry this big cross beam, he even dropped him three times on the way. But this did not anger the tree, it was being filled with remorse, and sadness for this mans treatment at the hands of others.
The man finally made it to the top of a rocky hill and the cross beam was placed over another beam and nailed together.
To the trees horror, the man was then thrown down to the ground and nailed to him, raised up and dropped into its resting place. The tree then said, "Never could I imagine that I would have the honer of holding this man, pointing Him to the Creator, Thank You!!"

The point of the story is this, There is a work that has been started in us. We don't see the end result because the work is not completed yet. We shouldn't be heart broken, or disappointed because things are not turning out the way we expected them to. Some times it requires us to go to the threshing floor of the One who has created us. Gold is not gold until it endures the refiners fire.

The work that has been started, WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED!!! So it seems better to give thanks for whatever trials that we face, for they are the bringers of true spirit taught love that comes from the broken. They are just squeezing out the pulp and creating the new wine!
Look around at all the beautiful creation, it cries out to us to see and participate in this great work that is shaping all things into the likeness of His Son...
I am what I am..... for now.....

Coyote Way Blessing Way Ceremony Part 2

2010-04-19T15:37:00.002-07:00

Te'aanagha' Bikah' hozoni, Long Life Happiness One. This is the name for the one who spoke all things into being. Te'aanagha' means something like always being of the best quality, not failing in health, always being in a good mood, that sort of idea. It is the male side, having a strong sense of direction and purpose. A sacred way of life that goes on and on, " Long Lived One."
Bikah' hozoni, is the female side, letting us know that we are loved and cared for. Feeling that we belong. Happiness is such a feeling.
When one gets out of balance with the earth, oneself, and the Creator, coming back to "life" is a process. The day moves from morning, noon and evening, and night. And it is the same with creating happiness. When a person is happy they smile, are content, and feels inner peace and joy.
The more happiness you have the better. As one gets closer to the Creator, one is given more and more ho'zho', long life happiness, through what has been given you.

When a deer or some other animal gets hurt, they lay down somewhere that they can be still, and healing begins. Healing is a simple and natural thing. The point is to be healed.
Humbleness is a good attitude for what is natural. Knowing that all is not known by any one except the Creator alone. Allowing one to get in touch with the ceremonies that are going on, around and inside us.
In my mind, I know that a person should feel free, valued and respected, and have an inner sense of worth. Enjoy every bit of food and swallow, giving thanks for the nourishment. Recognizing my gifts, and knowing that my life matters. Truly alive, vital with eyes shinning. My mind totally comprehending what is going on, and fully awake every moment. On the right path toward fulfillment, with a clear sense of purpose. Spirit filled, inspired, fully aware and in touch with the deepest reality, Te'aanagha' Bikah' hozoni.
In short, Ho'zho'.

Now having said that, There is no way that I feel that way 100% of the time. Nor do I think that anybody else does either. IT ISN'T NECESSARY!! The only necessity is that I am moving towards ho'zho'.
I feel as created, spiritual beings, we have to look beneath the surface of life and try to understand it better. Too many times people just live superficial lives, far away of what is natural and what the creator has given us in nature. Losing sight of who and what we are meant to be, and never having what was intended for us. Intentionally moving away from what is given and denying our true identity.
Looking deeply is just the start. When "going with the flow" ceases, we can be brought back to what is given and who we were meant to be... people that are selfless lovers.
That is the set up, next we move to the ceremony proper.
I am what I am

The Blessingway, a path to Long Life Happiness

2010-04-18T06:13:00.002-07:00

In this life there is a ceremony going on with all creation. Time is only the next "movement" in this ceremony. The "Blessing Way Ceremony" is just one "movement" in the dance of everlasting beauty.
The first step in introducing you to this ceremony is to tell you the story of how Coyote got himself killed.

Coyote was a bright, very curious, creative being. But he also was very "hungry" and was always running around looking for something to "eat". Someone who played both sides, showing early hunters how to catch and kill animals.
Many Humans have somewhat of a Coyote in them. We are imaginative, but always hungry. Getting ideas and plunging into action head first.
We, like Coyote, sometimes act without being mindful of results and hurt others and ourselves.
Greed and violence make Coyote sick. He steps outside the normal predator prey relationships.
But by getting himself killed, he creates a bridge between humans and Long Life Happiness.

Coyote, being very curious by nature, was watching the birds and thinking about the advantages of being able to fly.
So he began to speak with the bird people, "How come you can fly? How do you do it? Tell me your secrets!" To this the birds replied, "We are birds, we are supposed to fly. You are Coyote. You are not supposed to fly. Creator made you a coyote and you are to live as you are."
But Coyote did not change. He persisted with his questioning, and probing, and "scientific" investigations.
He even went so far as to try to force the bird people to bestow upon him something they could not. He wanted them to declare him a bird.
He had imagined who he could catch, and how much he could eat by being able to fly. His actions got so bad, the bird people got together and decided that something had to be done, if coyote could fly, things would be very bad for everyone.
So the Hawks dove down and shot him with feathered arrows and he died.
After sometime he was found by Horned Toad. Horned Toad said, "Poor coyote, he didn't know what he was doing. He should not be dead."
So Horned Toad called together the plant people, the bird people, all the animal people. They had great discussions and it was decided to let Coyote live again.
Water, plants, the whole of creation helped the arrogant one, introduced by his own behavior to suffering and death, to live again.
A healing ceremony began in a place called Narrow Canyon, Coyote himself was the first one sung over in the Coyote Way (Blessing Way) ceremony.

I will go through the major points of the ceremony beginning with the next post. It will take many parts to get through it all as it is a ceremony that lasts several nights and days.
Until next time, I am what I am....and that is different than yesterday, and hopefully not the same as tomorrow.

The "Great Awakening"

2010-04-04T13:32:00.002-07:00

It was dark that night, in the garden. A man was being tormented by the most important decision of his young life. Just in his early thirties, he was carrying the weight of the world. The decision was simple, the cost... everything.
You know the story, who doesn't in this day and age. The Physical example of the spiritual reality has been twisted by mankind for over two millennium.
The hope of Easter is a stone being rolled away, and an empty grave being all that is left.
I say why wait until you are dead to have your "stone" rolled away. The concept of death having no hold on us is true in my mind and heart. But people can walk around "dead" all their lives without even knowing it. Not realizing that the same spirit of life that is within all of us is the one that rolls away stones to reveal empty graves.
Our lives are eternal because they are all part of the same life that has been from everlasting to everlasting. The rub has always been when people tried to use " exclusive availability" to exert power over other people. The example of " first man" walking through the garden in the cool of the afternoons, with Long Life Happiness, takes care of that argument. "Exclusive availability" is a lie.
The only condition if you can call it one, is "Living" faith. If faith in itself has no power, only the object of that faith, may or may not. So it seems to me that faith in life would always be better than that which is not.
The "stone", that we sometimes place over what we have fashioned out of our hearts, can be rolled away by the renewing of our minds and hearts with that love that comes from The Most High Power Whose Ways Are Beautiful.
The concept of the resurrection has many different interpretations. But there is something in the fact that people can change in ways that they become " reborn". Reborn to a new life due to the realization that they are all one part of the Long Life Happiness, the eternal life. And joy and loving kindness abounds in their hearts and manifests in their lives.
My prayer for this Easter Sunday is this:
Mankind would wake up. Wake up to the realization that we all are children who need to mature so that we as a whole could resurrect our hearts, and all walk in beauty that we might achieve the highest love that ends all strife among people. Not just world peace, that is a by product of love, but the love that heals wounds, without scars.
I hope that this Easter, everyone remembers one thing. That it was love that spoke all things into being, and that love is available to all. Your stone doesn't have to remain in place...
I am what I am

The vision

2010-04-02T17:06:00.004-07:00

I sat on the ground one day and had a vision of my self, I was inside as well as outside

We came to the conclusion that we needed to build a sweat house, so we began to speak it into existence. We said, “Let us build a sweat house, that we might gain wisdom and knowledge, learn mercy and compassion, and have a threshing floor, a place where the wheat is separated from the chaff.”

Here it is. We used eight poles for the main support structure and then filled in the spaces with smaller ones. They are all locked together at the top. The bark from the poles was used for chinking and the dirt dug out of the floor was filled over the outside to about the height of about two feet. A layer of roofing shingles, chicken wire, and eight, eighty pound bags of pre mix , fiber reinforced, stucco. The floor is dug out to the depth of about two and a half feet, and a small hole dug to the right of the door where the grandfathers will be seated.

The sage was lit, and a blessing was sent to the four directions. The grandfathers were blessed with the smoke, all four directions around the sweat house. A blessing with corn pollen followed next. Then a prayer for thanksgiving.

Then we went inside to do the same thing. Smoke out the four directions and the place where the grandfathers sit.

All this was done with great mindfulness of the miracle of the creation, and thankfulness to the Most High Power Whose Ways Are Beautiful.

This is a place where loving kindness abounds, where there is no judgment, only truth, individual and collective. A place where one can leave oneself behind and meet oneself anew. A place of rebirth and renewal. A gift from the Holy People, for our behalf…

I would like to thank Gaelyn, who I love, for taking the pictures and showing me how to….

I am what I am

Sweathouse is here, it is finished

2010-03-26T15:20:00.002-07:00

Before I get to that I would like to thank a man named Wayne, he is a friend of mine who lives up in dine' country. The story was passed by him, in the sweat house, to an Anglo man named Da ga' shi' chee, My mustache is red. The one you know as blog with no name...

Now, on to the sweat house I have been building. It's finished! I don't know how to do a post with pictures yet, but the one who does gets home in four days.
I think that it came out really well. And the next time there will be pictures so you can see for yourselves...

This is the point of this post:
This is an open invitation to all who read this, If ever you are in need of a good sweat, it would be an honer to share my sweat house with you and suffer along with you for whatever you need prayer for. Also, if there is something that you need prayer for, and cannot be here to participate, all you have to do is email me a this address, mdiucphueyl@gmail.com, and I will suffer in your stead. When I say suffer, don't worry! I'm just saying, "earnest prayer in an uncomfortable situation", not martyrdom.
Anyway that's all I have for now, next time you'll see... maybe next Thurs. or Fri.

I am what I am

The Beggar's Son Part VII

2010-03-24T15:04:00.002-07:00

San'hode' di' begaeye returned home. The younger sister recognized him and said, "Did I not tell you that other person was not our husband, and you answered me and said there was no one like him?" And the father-in-law came out and said, "Did I not tell you that person (coyote) ate allot more than my son-in-law?"
Then the father of the two women commanded that the children begotten by the Coyote should be killed. But the young man said "No." He took them to a place called Tqo che eko, and they became little animals somewhat like a coyote, but with black faces, short tails, webbed feet, and they climbed trees. They lived along the water and were called Tapan mai, along the water edge coyote.
By this time the young man's son, San'hode'di's first born, was a youth. The beggar's son called to the youth and said, "Come here my son, and stand before me. You will now go to the mountain called Taho chee, and you will live there. You will be over all the game, because of you all the People of the Earth will have game forever."
He began his chanting, and the son began his journey. He went first to Rainbow Springs, and circled it four times. Traveling the way the sun goes. Then the antelope of the plains came and in circled the youth. Then he ran in front of the herd to the mountain that San'hode'di' had told him about and disappeared out of sight into the mountain.
The beggar's son set out for his mothers house. His two wives wanted to go along but he said that they were to remain at their fathers house in the village. After he left they said to each other, "We have nothing to do here, let's follow at a distance."
At his mother's house, he, by his chant, gathered up all the beautiful goods and wrapped them up into a small bundle which he put into his bag.
So the four set out, and they visited all of the places that the beggar woman and her son had received ill treatment. All of the places where the men and boys treated them badly, the beggar's son took their wives. This was done to get even with them for what they had done to his mother and himself.
When they arrived at the mouth of Tse gee (Sage Canyon) They found that the two young wives' moccasins were wore out. At that place there was a small rock, he stood them up on it side by side, and traced their footprints, and set his flute on their feet. He began chanting and sent them back to their father's house on his flute. Then his flute returned to him.
He built a house high up on the canyon wall. And the two lived there, the man and his mother. The house is called Kin'nee nil gaeye, the house with white bands. (Side bar: I have seen this house with my own eyes. I had gone to a prayer meeting like I have already told you about, and didn't notice it until the next day.)
At first the young man called her "Mother", but as he was a Holy Being he remained young, and his mother grew old, he then called her "Grandmother". And she called him "My Son" then "My Grandson".
I think that this is a good place to end the story. San'hode'di' had many adventures after that as it is truly a continuing story... He did much more "visiting" on the wives of the people of that region. That is why some say that you should always be kind to the poor and not treat them badly... You never know, San'hode'di' might be around....

Thanks for the patience, I am what I am

The Geggar's Son, Part VI

2010-03-23T14:31:00.002-07:00

I think maybe one, or two more episodes besides this one should wrap it up for San'hode'di'. It's been a long strange trip indeed! It gets even stranger so let's go....

The next morning the young man drew a woman with a chant. And she gave him her leg wrapping, and the young man said that she would see old age.
He made a beda like an antelope, and laced it up with the woman's leg wrapping. Early the next morning he got up and counted all the doorways in the village. Then he went to where there was a herd of antelope, he could do this for he had the beda over him. The young man killed as many antelopes as there were doorways. When he returned home he told the people that they should send one man from each doorway and go out and carry home an antelope.
When the people returned they said, "Our Son-in-Law is Great!" "He must have a Long House!" The next morning he killed two antelopes for each doorway, and told the people that they should send two from each doorway. Then the people gave him two Long Houses.
On the third morning. Three antelopes, three Long Houses. On the fourth morning, four antelopes. When the people returned they said, "Our Son-In-Law is very great! We will always have meat!" The young man was given ten Long Houses in all.
On the fifth day, San'hode'di', the beggar's son, set out for the home of the Mountain People called Tqo chee o whee tso. He started to hunt as before but when he neared the herd, Coyote hit him with his hide, and upon him he blew four times. Coyote took his beda and placed it on his own head. The young man was left in the form of a skinny coyote.
Now the coyote could not kill a single antelope, even with the beda. So he took the discharge from his eyes and laid it in a row. He stepped over it four times and it turned into fat. He then took this to the two young wives. The younger sister then told the elder , " that man that had come to them was not their husband."
The beggar's son, in the coyote skin, turned east and that night he lay under a cedar tree and ate its berries. Then the young man traveled south, that night he lay under a bush called Kin jilth ie', and ate its berries. The third night he had traveled west and lay under an iron bush, to this day the berries are called Maida, because he ate them. The fourth day he went to the north, and that night he lay under a wild rose bush and ate its berries. After the fourth day he went out and fell down... almost dead.
Now a person called Dotso went to Tqo che o whee tso and told the people there that the young man was laying down out in the open almost dead.
Then the Holy Young Man, the same one that called him brother in his mother's house, went to him.
When he found the skinny coyote he said, "What are you doing here, Tqo che o whee tso tsel kee?" The poor coyote finally managed to get to his feet, he tried to speak but all he could manage to do was howl like a coyote.
Then the "brother" made a ring out of young cedar big enough to push the coyote through. When he did the skin ripped open and the young man's head was exposed. Then he made a ring out of the kin jilth and when he pushed him through again, the skin tore down so that half the young man's body could be seen. The Holy Being made a ring out of iron bush and this time the skin dropped to the young man's knees. Then a ring of wild rose freed him.
This all took place so that the people would have medicine for a wrong that they would do. The beggar's son was instructed on this. It was necessary for the beggar's son to under go this black magic transformation so that he could make known the medicine. A certain kind of plant that attracts moths and butterflies, but when they land on it they fall over dead.
While the young man was being told as to what should take place in the ceremony by the Holy Being, they saw the coyote going by with the beda. The young man was told to go hit him with his own hide, and blow upon him four times. This he did and the creature returned to his own form. The headdress however, looked and smelled awful. The skin had spoiled it. The young man, even so, killed one antelope on his way home.
On his way home he met a little creature coming out of the ground. This person said, "I saw that you had a hard time of it." The young man answered, "I had a hard time of it grandfather."
This person said, "You were given power from the Sun and White Bead Woman, and also Tqo che o whee tso hastin, the Mountain Man. But there are one or two things they did not tell you. That's why you have had trouble. Come home with me. Then he raised up a greesewood bush and blew four times on the opening and they went into his home.
This person told the young man that he had heard that Earth People's tobacco was very sweet and he longed to taste it. So this person rolled four smokes from the young man's tobacco. Each time he smoked one he killed little animals and brought them back to life. He said, "I see, my grandson, your tobacco is very good!" Then he told the young man of the ceremony that had not been made known to him. He taught him all the chants that are to be sung.
This person then wanted a gift, so the young man put the antelope hide on him and blew four times, it became his coat. He is known as "Ha zeylth gaeye", the ground squirrel, he was well pleased.
The beggar's son then went to a place called Tse jinjeda lia. At this place he under went another prayer ceremony. It is called the Prayer of the Turquoise Boy, Des chee del ja. It was Turquoise Boy himself that offered it to the young man for his protection.
Then the young man was made so that nothing in heaven or on earth could harm him.
He was ready to return to his home....

I am what I am

The Beggar's Son, Part V

2010-03-22T15:30:00.002-07:00

The head of that little village had two daughters that were very beautiful, their names were, To chine'e, and, O chine'. They were well guarded and their father kept watch on them. One day the elder daughter went to the spring to fill her water jars.
There the young man was waiting, for he knew that she would be there early in the morning. She knew that he was standing there while she filled up the jars. But she did not look up at him. The young man asked her for a drink of water. So she dipped her dipper in the spring and gave it to him. He said," No, I want a drink from your jar." She threw the dipper away and got some from the jar and he took it and drank some and threw the rest on her.
She just brushed off the water from her clothes, still not looking up at him, she began to fill the rest of her jars. Then the young man blew on the jar with the blue gum and it tipped over. She just filled it back up and he blew on it again and it tipped over. This he did four times, and finally she looked up with a smile and asked," How did you do that?" And the young man gave her a piece of the blue gum and said," This is how I do it." So she put the piece of blue gum in her mouth and blew on the jar and it tipped over. She did this a second time and then she let the young man become her husband.
After returning home with the water, her father told her to "make water." When he saw that she had benn "visited" by a man, he went to the spring and there he measured the track with a stick. When he returned home he called all the men out and measured all their feet. Every man's foot was too small. So the father went to all the neighboring villages and measured all the men's feet there also. They were also too small. The father wound up traveling far and away searching, but could not find anyone with that size foot. So he returned home wondering whose track he measured.
Now the Little Breeze told the young man that her father would never guess where to go. So the young man used the chant, that he had learned, that drew people, and the father remembered the poor woman's son. The little breeze told the young man that her father was coming, and the young man chanted until the arrival of the father.
The father came in and sat down. The young man lay on his back and the father measured his foot, an exact match. The father said, "Son-in-law, do you know that you are an expectant father?"
When the father went on his way, he could see as he neared his home , that there were people about the house preparing for the birth of the baby. A baby boy was born.
The people made ready to carry the baby and gifts to the young man.They carried a basket full of meal. And they chanted many chants as they walked. As they neared the young man's house, they played and laughed.
They brought the baby inside and laid him in the young man's lap. Then they washed the baby. While they were washing the baby, this is the chant that they sang:
I am the Sun's Son, into my hands he is given
I am the Son's Son, into my hands he comes
He has for his moccasins the turquoise moccasins, into my hand he comes
He has for his leggings the turquoise leggings, into my hand he comes
He has for his garment the turquoise garment, into my hand he comes
He has for his earrings the turquoise earrings, into my hand he comes
A perfect turquoise is placed on his forehead, it comes to my hand
He has for his feather the turquoise feather, it comes to my hand
He is The Turquoise Boy, and he comes to my hand
Nothing can harm him as he comes to my hand
Like the Most High Power Whose Ways Are Beautiful, he comes to my hand
For all is beautiful before, behind, above and below, and it comes to my hand

The people made their gifts to the young man, then they brought his wife to him. He then gave them all gifts of venison and they carried home a quantity of meat.
When the people returned home it was found out that they had brought the younger sister to be the young man's wife also......... He had a baby, and two wives.
The next day, the young man went to the home of his father-in-law. And he was given a Long House, his mother remained in the house that the young man had spoken into existence along with all the beautiful goods...

THE BEGGAR"S SON Part IV

2010-03-21T14:08:00.002-07:00

Well it's a lazy day, not much going on so I'll continue the story... Besides I said that it was a long one, and the more I can tell in one day the farther along I'll be when the work week starts again and it's early to bed and even earlier to rise....

We left when the Holy person and the youth were at the house of the Mountain People. He had been washed and was ready to be dressed...
Then the Sun came. The Man Of The Mountain wanted to dress the youth. But the Sun said," No, he is my son and I will dress him myself." Then White Bead Woman came and said," If he is the Son of the Sun, than he is my child also, and I will dress him myself."
The four Holy Beings had different minds, they were changeable.
There are four sections to the chant that was being sung by White Bead Woman while she dressed the youth.
White Bead Woman's chant
She dressed me with her White Bead Moccasins
She dressed me with her White Bead Leggings
She dressed me with her White Bead Garment
She dressed me with her White Bead Bracelets
She dressed me with her White Bead Earrings
She dressed me with the perfect White Bead called Ha'da tehe which she had on her forehead
She dressed me with the perfect crystals of pollen, the Beautiful Goods Pollen, which are her words, and with which I can call for beautiful goods and pollen and they will come to me at my word
She dressed me with the turquoise feather, on top of which sits the Blue Bird with his beautiful song
I am dressed like The Most High Power Whose Ways Are Beautiful
All is beautiful before me
All is beautiful behind me
All is beautiful around me
All is beautiful everywhere

This chant was repeated, then sung two more times with a change. "I am dressed" instead of "She dressed me".
After all of this the Sun and White Bead Woman went back to their home. Then the Man of the Mountain gave the youth blue gum, powdered flower petals and pinon gum, and then gathered four herbs for his medicine.
From the East, a plant called Tlo cho ae tso, which had black flowers was gathered. From the South, a plant called Cholchin ilt ai, it had white flowers. From the West, a plant called Aze bi' ni i, medicine of the mind. It is a very poisonous herb that is said to cause insanity, akin to loco weed. From the North, a plant called Aze tlo' hi, it had yellow flowers. The flowers from the North had their mouths open and laughed when touched. It was called The Laughing Medicine and it was the medicine used by the Gambler among others.
Then the youth learned the chants that the Gambler used. After that the Man of the Mountain gathered up pieces of all the beautiful goods that were inside Tlo che whee tso, a small mountain below San Fransisco peak, and wrapped them into a bundle and gave them to the youth. All the trash that he saw upon entering the first room had become piles of beautiful goods and food. Then the Man of the Mountain told the youth to do this:
Climb to the top of a mountain called Dzil net chee, Red Side Mountain. Shoot an arrow into a deer bush, into four different bushes eaten by deer. This he did, and then he was told to draw the arrows out and place them pointing back in the direction in which they came. This was the price he had to pay for learning the chants, and for the medicine.
From Red Side Mountain, the Rainbow took him back to the doorway of his mother. When he entered, his mother ran past him and looked around outside but saw nobody else.
She grabbed him and asked," Where is my son, what have you done with him. Didn't I say that you would take him from me?" Then the young man said, " Mother, it is I." She did not understand,and asked him again, shaking him. She did this four times, each time becoming more and more excited. Then the young man said," Mother, don't you hear, I am your son!"
Then she fixed her eyes on him and looked for a long time, he had changed, he was different.
His hair fell around his ankles. She asked again four times and four times the answer was yes.
The young man chanted the chants that he had learned and he chewed the Blue Gum. He then blew in the four directions and they found themselves in a home like the Man of the Mountain.
It was then that the young man heard the maidens coming for their wood. When they opened the door the young man blew at them with the Blue Gum and they fell back. He also heard them whispering about the beautiful goods that they saw inside his dwelling.
Then the young man led them to the forest and cut wood until they each had their lode. they carried the wood home and were ashamed of themselves. And also glad that he had helped them...

I am what I am

THR BEGGAR'S SON. part III

2010-03-21T08:17:00.002-07:00

The story is getting good, eh?
The woman told her son thus: " When I was sitting in the shelter when all of a sudden everything inside and out turned all white. When I looked up there was a man standing there, and he was asking about you. I told him that you go out early and stay out all day, because the girls would come by and tease us because we are poor. He asked about our food and about our bedding. I had baked four little seed cakes and I showed them to him and said that we eat seed cakes and whatever rabbits you killed. I showed him the woven grass mats we use for beds and covers. Then the man took a cake and took a bite out of it and said," This is my food also." Then when I turned my head for only a moment, he was gone. So I rushed outside and found only one footprint in the sand. Look, the seed cake that he bit into is here."
The youth did not believe her story and said," It is foolish to think that any people that are as poor as we are would be visited by a Holy Being. It is you who have bitten the cake and left the track outside!"
The next morning the youth went out as usual, and upon returning in the evening his mother told him," At noon time, I saw the the Holy Person again, and he is a handsome man. This time he ate almost half of the cake. When I turned away for a moment, he was gone. When I went outside, there were two tracks."
The youth then told his mother again that it was her that ate the cake and left the tracks.
On the third day the same story. This time he had eaten almost all of the cake and left three tracks outside.
On the fourth day when the youth returned in the evening, his mother told him that she had again seen the Holy Man. And that he had eaten all the cake, and this is what he told me my son. He wants you to wash your hair in the morning, bathe your whole body, and dry yourself with cornmeal and pollen. Then you are to get some water in a jar, and sit beside it in the shelter. You are to sit there and keep looking into the water. After he left there were four prints outside in the sand.
The next morning the young man did all that his mother told him to do. She sat beside him in the shelter looking into the jar filled with water. After a time he became restless, and his mother said," Son, the Sun is at noon."
And at that moment everything inside and out turned all white. In the midst of the glow stood a young man. The Holy Being told the woman that he was taking his younger brother, her son, but that he would return.
The poor woman said," NO! You can't take him, he's all I have in this world, I'll starve to death without him!"
The mother was asked four times to let her son go. And finally the youth said," Let me go mother, did you not hear him say that I would return?" So the mother gave her consent.
They then went outside, and a white rainbow flashed about the youth's feet. He was told to raise his right foot. And on the first step, they were on top of the mountain called Sis jin de' lea. On the second step, they were at a place called Natsi'lid be'tqo, Rainbow Springs. On the third step, they were at a place called Bitoa'ho chee, Red Mountain. On the fourth step, they were on top of Tqo jin whee tsa.
There they stepped into a house. The first room they entered was full of trash. When they entered the second room someone called out," Um-m-m, I smell earthly people, the fool hearted youth must be bringing somebody home." The two got to the fourth room and saw a man, woman, and a girl. They are called, Tqo jin whee tsa Hastin, Tqo jin whee tsa Esdzan, and Tqo jin whee tsa Chike'. They were the people of the mountain, the man, his wife, and their daughter.
They washed him four times, each time drying him with corn pollen. The maiden gave him four baskets, White bead, Turquoise, White shell, and Black jet. He was then trimmed and form to look like the maiden herself. She put her head beside his and he was formed like her. All except his feet, he had big feet...

I am what I am...

THE BEGGAR'S SON, Part two

2010-03-21T04:00:00.002-07:00

The woman and her son thought that life was going pretty good. Until one day they were discovered. They had to leave their home and they traveled past Ship rock to the other side of the Carrizos. There the youth built his mother another house, as he had become a bood builder by this time. Today you can see a ruin high up on the rock, it is called Kine'gauge.
Soon the seeds and berries from the plants became scarce. and the woman told her son that they must go south if the Carrizos to a place called Beck shi'bi tqo, Cow springs, where people lived at a place called Kiet seel.
When the woman and her son climbed to the top of the mountain Dzil li'jin, the Black Mtn., they all of a sudden came upon a man gathering wood and wrapping it into a bundle.
They had startled the man where he almost lost his breath. The man was the head of the little village of Kiet seel.
He tied a bundle for the woman and her son and put some loose pieces on top, and they all headed for Kiet seel. When they arrived, the man took the loose pieces and laid them down near his house, and took the three bundles inside.
When he came back out he had a quantity of food that he gave to the two. He told them to burn the wood then he went back inside after telling them to camp next to his house.
So the two built a fire and ate their fill and went to sleep.
They were no sooner asleep, when some boys came, even some grown men and women. They bothered them all night by throwing sticks and stones, mud and water, even ashes.
The next day the two prepared to leave, but they returned the wood that they had burned for the mother had said, "The man who gave us the food must be a kind man." So they brought back more wood, but this time the food was barely enough to feed them.
They camped a little further away and all that night they received cruel treatment at the hands of the people.
The next day they brought more wood, but they only received one scrap each. So the two had gone to bed hungry. Soon the boys came and played every cruel trick that they could think of, pulling their hair, burning them with sticks etc. On the next day when they brought more wood they were given nothing for their work.
So the woman and her son left that place and went south to Ya'Kin, where again they came upon a man gathering wood. And the same thing happened to them for four nights...
So they left that place and went to a place called O'zeye.
When they neared that place they once again found a man gathering wood. He seemed pleased to see them. Same thing as before, he tied up a bundle for each and they headed for the mans house. Upon arrival they were taken inside the house and given lots of food and even some to carry away. They were told to camp outside next to his house.
When they were trying to sleep, the same cruel treatment was given to them. They just cried and hugged each other all night. On the fourth night they camped even farther away and the boys did not find them until almost dawn. So they only had to endure for a little while.
So at sunrise they headed out to a place called Tala hogan and made a shelter out of the bark of trees. But this time it was the girls who were teasing the woman and her son about a husband. For the youth had grown tall and handsome.
They would come by saying things like, "I choose him to be my husband" and "NO, I saw him first, he is to be MY husband". And this went on and on.
To avoid this harassment, the young man would start out early to hunt for rabbits or what ever else he could find.
One day when he returned, his mother told him this....

Well from here the story gets pretty wild, so more later... I am what I am

The story of SAN'HODE'DI' BEGAEYE, THE BEGGAR'S SON

2010-03-20T10:08:00.004-07:00

This is kind of a long story, so I'll have to break it up into several sections.
Now when the Great Gambler was sent up to the sky, the Sun wanted the people to know what medicine the Gambler used and took up to the sky with him.
So he made a plan:
There is a place called Gaeye net be'e at the foot of Mt. Taylor. There it was that a poor woman lived who worked hard for a living. The Sun "visited" her in secret and she brought forth a baby boy.
After he was about ten or twelve, every morning he would run a race around Tso dzil. Thus he became a great runner.
The two left Gaeye net be'e and went to live at Tse be' y i, the Place Where the Poles Hold Up the Rock, Pueblo Bonito.
Now at this time it was the peoples custom to offer turquoise stones in the split cliff rocks. And it wasn't long before the woman discovered this place and picked up all the stones and went and exchanged them for food. After the second time the people began to question as to where she got her stones.
It was finally assumed that the stones must be the offering stones. So they went to the place and they found her tracks. After reporting back to what they had seen, the head of the people decided that the woman and her son should be killed.
The two heard of the plan to kill them and they quickly left that part of the country. From there they went to a place opposite Farmington. People were living under a big cliff at that time.
They lived off of what they could find, and some people gave them food. Others drove them off and were cruel. And it wasn't long before the same thing happened.
The woman discovered the place where they were making their stone offerings. Once again she gathered them up to exchange for food. And once again she was caught.
Once again it was the plan that they should die, and someone told them of this plan. So the woman called to her son and they left that place.
They followed the ledge of the rock so that their tracks would not be seen. They stopped at a place opposite Fruitland and built themselves a little home there. There the seeds were plentiful and every once in a while they killed a rabbit or a rat.
But even there they were discovered. So they left that place and went to the Hog Back Mt's. And built themselves a little house there. Today this place is called Kinda Ligene, Little Ruin On The Side Of The Rock.
There they made grass mats for the floor and grass mats to cover themselves. They made robes of rabbit fur that were small at first, about the size of a saddle blanket, but later they were larger. By this time the boy had grown into a youth....
I am what I am

When Sweathouse was a man

2010-03-18T19:31:00.002-07:00

There is an old story that goes something like this:
There was a time when the only "People" on the surface of the earth were the "Animal People". Sweat house gathered all the "People" together and told them that there are different "People" coming, Mankind. He told them that the time had come to chose which form that they wanted to live in. So the elk came forward and Sweat house asked what he wanted to be. In which the elk replied "I want to be an elk". So sweat house said," Let me see you be an elk". So the elk gracefully ran off into the forest, not to be seen again. Then Sweat house called to the eagle and asked him what he wanted to be. The eagle said that he wanted to be an eagle. So Sweat house said," Let me see you be an eagle". So the eagle spread his wings and soared off into the sky to disappear. Then blue jay came forward and said that he wanted to be an eagle too! So Sweat house said," Let me see you be an eagle". So blue jay took off and tried to soar like an eagle but it wasn't long before he lost his balance and had to start flapping his wings to keep on flying. Sweat house told blue jay," You should be a blue jay because that's what you are. Then coyote stepped up and said that he wanted to be an elk. So Sweat house told coyote, "Let me see you be an elk". So coyote did his best to prance like an elk but it also wasn't long before he lost his balance and went back to his own gait. Sweat house told him that he is cunning and wise, and knows many things, so he should have known that he is coyote and always will be". So coyote ran off and Sweat house said to Himself, " I will lay down and wait for these "People" who are coming. To him that comes to me I will help." And so sweat house got down on his hands and knees and turned himself into a sweat house, where he waits...
I am what I am

How many more?

2010-03-12T18:36:00.002-07:00

There was this one time I can remember, Wilson, you remember him? Tall skinny man, with a wonderful sense of humor.. any way we were at a sweat in my back yard. I had just finished building it when he was at the church across the street and saw me putting the finishing touches on it. I was hanging a blanket that my mother in law had given me over the door. It wasn't but a couple of minutes that he was there... He was laughing because he saw that I was really tired, so when he said that when you build a traditional sweat house, you have to use it the same day... well you can imagine how I felt. So it just so happened that he had a load of wood in his truck, as he usually did. He was going to take it home but since there was a chance to break in a new sweat, he couldn't pass it up.
Not having to chop the wood was a blessing, giving us a chance to just sit and talk and smoke and after a while he got up and said a blessing for the sweat house and blessed it with corn pollen and we lit the fire one more time.
Great care must be taken in the placement of the wood for burning and the order in which they are placed. And even the way the rocks are placed into the fire.
Fire going, rocks getting hot, sun going down, every thing was perfect...

It was dark by the time that the rocks were hot enough to make good steam. They become so beautiful when they are red and glowing with a shimmer that looks as if they are moving around.
Inside the sweat once again, but it was in my back yard, too cool. Wilson sang as usual, it was something that I always looked forward to. After two rounds of sweating, he began to tell me the Dine' Creation story. And after he was through talking, almost an hour had gone by. The only reason I knew it was an hour was that my wife at the time came out and yelled at us to get out of there, we had been in there too long she said and that we could go back in when we cooled off. Wilson said, "Better listen, I didn't get this old by saying no to my wife!" I agreed, mad Navajo women are not wise to make madder.
We did get to the fourth round after we had some water and some fresh air and a couple rounds of a pipe. Wilson smoked what is called mountain smoke, sage and other desert plants. It's good for cleaning the dust out of your lungs, as it makes you cough pretty good if you get too much.
A story that was as wild as anything you could imagine. Part of which I will tell you because it is a really long one... But it wasn't a story of the past, it was a story of the future.
He told me that this world that we live on is the fifth world. That the People had made it through four previous worlds. Each one was not suitable for the People to live.
According to him there are still two more to go. But that from this world on it was an individual journey, rather than as a whole People at once.
By individual he meant each one being with the Holy People. And that eventually everyone would reach the next two.
The sixth world is the "World of the Spirits of Living Things". All living things have a spirit and this is their place, our place for only a while because there is still more to come.
Then he told me about the seventh world. It is called the "Place of Melting Into One". When all things are completed, and everything is restored to perfect balance.

I am what I am

Hozo'go Nasa'do

2010-03-09T16:22:00.002-07:00

Hozo'go nasa'do, tasi akenahotle'do nasa'do. Oops, sometimes I forget where I am.
Happily may I walk, thus becoming again may I walk.
This is part of a prayer from a "Night Way" cerimony. The "Night Way" is a nine day sing that is for healing. Consisting of daily "sessions" where a person is sung over, while lying on a sand painting that is later scooped up. A daily sweat. Which in itself is no small matter. And on the fifth nite the all nite sings occur. And continue until the nineth nite. Each "day" being from sundown to sundown.
Taking place in the late fall, and continuing throughout the winter. These "sings" are held no mater the weather conditions, ( can't scare the Yei Bi Chei, or Talking God, cause they bring the weather.)
Back to the daily sweat. It is done just after the first prayer session at dawn. What a way to start your day. Having someone pray over you, and then a trip to the sweathouse. That's what I call living!
Although, in the context of what is being done, the sweat house can and will get pretty rough at times. Afterall, your trying to cure illness, and castaway all that is evil or a better word is ugly. You know, the way humans behave sometimes.
Dine' belive that illness is caused by behavior and attitude. Either our own or somebody elses. The sweat is good for attitude adjustment as well as detoxification.
Lets say a little about Talking God. I can tell you that there are alot of likenesses to the Son of Man. Both are considered to be our interceders. Both talk to the "Father" in our behalf. Both are in the likeness and fullness of the creator. I could go on, like how they both were the spoken word. The Son being with and was... and Talking God speaking himself into existance. You get the point...
I just don't see a conflict between the two, maybe one in the same, along with alot of other names...
On the nineth nite is when Talking God and the Yei Bi Chei show up. Their part of the cerimony is an all nite "chantway" lasting untill just before the dawn. They are there to concolidate the whole nine days of prayer and sweating, and over fourhundred songs that have been sung in the past eight days, and make, through their chanting, all the corrections if any that need to be made in the sand paintings or the words to the songs. Remember, the medicine men must know somewhere around one thousand songs, and be able to pick the right ones for the situation. So one can see that help is needed.
This is the time when it all comes together, when it all "pays off" so to speak. More than just the one being sung over gets the benifit. Everyone present, has the same opportunity for a healing. When "they" are singing and dancing, everyones attention is on "them". Just their presence alone is enough to chase away ugliness, let alone when "they" begin shake the rattle and chant in a language of their own. I was told that if Talking God or a Yei Bi Chei spoke directly to you in human speach, that your mind couldn't take it and you might go crazy.
"They" taught the "Holy People" the songs and the "Holy People" taught them to "The surface of the Earth Poeple", or Dine'.
Anyway, that Groundhog and Talking God must be up to something, or somebody's having a "Night Way" because I hear thunder and it's snowing outside... I am what I am...

"The Sands of Iwojima, Navajo Code Talkers"

2010-03-07T05:31:00.003-07:00

I was watching the movie this weekend and it brought back a very special moment that I can remember...

During a time I was a "Funeral Director". Many times did I have my heart broken. But one time in particular, it was a completely different occasion. I had been called out in the middle of the night, which was quite often the case, to an old man's hogan out in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. When I arrived, The criminal investigators where there and also his family. The police were there only because it was what is called "an unattended death". They determined no foul play. So after several hours I was allowed to do the things I needed to do for transport, which includes waiting until the family is ready. They want to get to know you first, and that just doesn't happen right away. By the time I was ready to leave, the sun was beginning to rise. And I was met by the most beautiful scene you could imagine. After driving around in circles,so I thought, I didn't see where I was until sunrise. He lived in a hogan situated up a box canyon, with cottonwood trees, and peach colored walls on both sides with a spring flowing down one side by the canyon wall. The drive back was like a hallmark moment around every turn, I was amazed.

The family showed up sometime that afternoon. So we spent the next several hours making the short term arrangements. We didn't have to worry about tomorrow, just the next few hours is the way I put it.

After doing the things that I had to do, it was a the next day that I met with the family once more. This time all the things that were involved in the service were discussed, when and where, etc. It was at that time that I discovered that he was a "Code Talker". He also was a very respected medicine man. His life story had been revealed to me over the course of a few days.

From his boarding school days as a child, to his four wheeler that he rode because he was too old to get on his horse.

The day arrived when the family brought in the cloths that Chei would be wearing. It was his dress uniform from WWII. It still fit perfect. How many of us can say that we can wear the same cloths we wore even six months ago?

Chei was going home, and according to his son, he thought that any day was good enough. It was a beautiful service on a beautiful day. The flag had been draped on grandpa's casket, and it was time for the Color Guard to do their thing.

I was moved to tears, as was everyone else, when their handling of the flag was completed. folded and handed to his wife. Twenty one live rounds down range. Then in the stillness of the air, a drum, and a soft voice, that began to grow as the casket was being lowered. That song continued until the grave was covered up. The families up there used to say that I was the "crying man". What is meant by that is I am broken when you are broken, and what troubles you troubles me. My boss used to tell me that I shouldn't let people see me with tears in my eyes, but sometimes you just can't help it.

This man had lived a long life, full of many adventures, and his time as a "Code Talker" was one of them. People were better somehow from having known him. You know the kind. So many times I got to know people after their death through their families and friends. Some would say after it's too late. I say no. That man had an influence on me from the time I picked him up at his home.

The Navajo Code Talkers were part of history, though somewhat unknown of until recently, as they were sworn to secrecy for life in case they were needed again. God only knows what was saved or what would have been lost without them. I for one and grateful for this man's life, and his service. It was an honer and a joy to participate in the final act of love for him and his loved ones.
I am what I am

.

"The Whos last reunion tour"

2010-03-06T04:03:00.002-07:00

I remember when I lived in California, the rock band, The Who, were planning their last tour and then were going to call it quits. They were a band that had been at the grindstone for a long time. So I figured that this would be a chance to see the guys that did alot of the soundtrack from the movie of my life, thrashing about as a teenager "On the streets of Bakersfield". Anyway, long story short, the things that I had to go through at work, at home, everything. It was somewhere between the quest for the Holy Grail and Harold and Khumar go to Whitecastle. It was going to be for me a once in a lifetime, as they were retiring, so they said... Well in that same spirt, I'm continuing my series on the sweathouse. There's still too much to share and discover, and through that some other rabitts might run across our path. The last leg of the journey was fun for me, I hope that it was for you as well. This leg of the trip is going to get alot deeper... hope your ready. I am what I am

Sweat house part six: final chapter or just the begining

2010-02-28T15:55:00.002-07:00

The light was dim inside the hogan, just a small fire in the middle of the floor. More people had come, some I knew, some I didn't. But there was an underlying commonality among all present. That was the well being of Frank. People had come from far and wide to help. Frank is loved by many people and the call was answered.
After awhile the blanket was drawn over the door and some more wood was placed on the fire. Long sticks of oak about three feet long and maybe four inches across are used to feed into the fire. By this time the fire had taken on its own character. Dancing and singing, I guess it wasn't going to wait on us. For some time Wilson discussed many things that at the time didn't seem to go with what was going on. It wasn't until some time later that it all made sense to me, and what was freely given to me I will freely give to you.
The things that he talked about was the concept of first words. Better yet, "FIRST WORD." What this means is that all things were created by a spoken word. And that as this creation was being spoken into existence, special words, HOLY words were used. Words that can cause energy to form into what we perceive as matter. Many things were spoken into existence including "The people." In the beginning we were taught these words so that we as humans could be "good stewards" helping things remain in a state of balance. Somewhere along the way mistakes were made, ( not on purpose, but in the course of human events.)
And that was part of the problem, somewhere along the road, mistakes were made that caused Frank to be out of balance. Small missteps that seem little at the time lead us into a completely different direction later. What was going to be done was this...
Songs that bring healing and balance back were going to be sung. Sounds like a small thing, but remember the universe as we know it, was spoken of as though it already existed before it came to be what we see now. Songs that are centuries old, sung true to form, without mistake, can and have created new realities.
after Wilson was through speaking, he got up and went clockwise around the room, pausing at each person, giving a blessing and feeding several slices of cactus to each of us. When he got to me, I was completely amazed. Wilson's face had taken on a glow like I had read about Moses when he returned from the mountain. His face looked younger, and his smile had such a reassurance that you knew that it was going to be a wild ride but somehow, someway all things would be alright.
As I chewed on the peyote, it tasted like I was eating a dirt clod. and immediately I remembered doing that very same thing as a small boy and began to laugh. Wilson just winked a shoved in several more. By that time I looked up and Frank was watching me and he was laughing also.
Further evidence that all was going to be OK. Several times over the course of the night, Wilson would "take a break" as he would put it... when things would be getting alittle intense. It's an amazing thing when your entire being is totally one with all things and everyone involved.
Beautiful songs and the constant beat of the drum would at times seem to give you the glimpses of the way that this whole universe really is. And it is far more incredible than we could ever imagine. I just want to make one thing clear about peyote and its use in sacred ceremonies. It is not used for intoxication or anything close. Most Dine' pride themselves because of their sobriety. You can't walk in beauty that way. What this cactus does is allow you to concentrate ALL of your mind and spirit to the worship of God. And that is the main purpose of the whole thing. Leaving your flesh behind into true spirit taught behavior, which is the healing of others through unselfish love.
I have participated in enough peyote meetings to know that it is not a "heathen" activity. I have never felt the Lords' presence as much as I have inside the circle.
I hope I don't sound like I'm preaching but I truly believe that if people could actually see and hear they would feel the same as I do.
Throughout the night several special songs were sung by Wilson directly over Frank. Each time you could see burdens being lifted, peace returning, and balance being restored. How can that be anything but HOLY!
When I think back on the things that I have seen with my own eyes, i am truly humbled.
I have seen the Enemy Way Sing, ( Squaw dance for us non natives). The last night consisting of a fire three stories high, hot enough to do way more than singe your eyebrows. Yet clay covered dancers getting so close it scares you for their safety. One throwing himself down on his belly and stretching out a willow and lighting it up. Same thing later in the night but with shreds of cedar bark, lit in the same manner, and then the dancers whipping each other with the flaming bark. Called fire dance.
I have seen when the dancers gather around a century plat and sing over it and then reveal that the plant had a bud spike on it. then crowd around with more chanting, step back and see that that bud spike had completely flowered out. The spoken word creating a new reality.
Through the many wondrous things that occurred during those years, I was given a new set of eyes to see with, a new heart to see with, and a new mind to see with... and a new spirit to live with.
I hope that you have enjoyed this walk through my past... I am what I am

Sweat house part five: Sight with new eyes

2010-02-28T05:05:00.003-07:00

His truck was parked outside, in true humbleness he waited for me to come outside. Old timers like Wilson would never come and bang on your door, (impolite), but rather just sit and wait until you notice that he's there. Yah ah teh shi chei! what can I do for you? His reply was direct and to the point... " Time for a meeting, sweat on Friday, meeting Friday night." It had only been a few days since I had last seen Wilson, but it seemed as if we hadn't seen each other in years. It was always nice to see that old man whenever possible, never know with some of those old timers, just when they might decide to take flight across the great divide. A mutual friend was in desperate need of a healing. And Wilson was gathering the "troops" so to speak. I felt so honored and humbled at the same time that he would consider me as a friend, and somebody that could contribute. He said that we "need to have as many eyes as we can get to see the problem more clearly." "You have new eyes, its time to use them!" He always had a way of building you up so that you could approach any situation with confidence. So we made plans to meet at my mother-in-laws sheep camp on Friday afternoon after I got off work. I was excited about the whole thing, a chance to sweat again, and partake in an exceedingly holy event. Friday rolled around and when I got off work I went straight to sheep camp. The fire for the sweat was already lit, and I could see Wilson talking with several other men including my father-in-law, Frank. Frank is the one who gave me my name, "Dah ga shi chee", means, "My mustache is red." Frank and Wilson were friends since they were kids, and now both were in their late seventies. Well over one hundred years of experience of traditional healing between both men, I was in good company. Introductions were made, and the "patient" was introduced... it was Frank. He was suffering from what is referred to as "Moth Madness". A condition where your thoughts flutter like a moth in the fire light. Some would call it adult attention deficit disorder. It had been going on for some time and it was really affecting his life. This sweat was going to be a difficult one. It was going to involve the use of special teas to induce vomiting during the suffering that would already be taking place. But here's the thing. done properly, one would come out with a clean mind and spirit... a perfect canvass for the "nazai" medicine to weave a painting through, over, under, around, and inside ones entire being.
We were inside the sweat once again, since then it had become a familiar place and felt like going into a place of real safety, and connecting with the grandfathers. It was a labor of love, so I didn't mind throwing up a few times, it was for somebody that I have great affection for, and that makes all the difference in the world. Four rounds, each one hotter than the last, until even the tiniest bit of self pride was gone. It is then that one can see with spirit taught vision. And can also see what you've been eating for the last couple of days, some of which I didn't remember eating. After the sweat, which was used for purification, we sat around the fire for some time just drinking water and telling stories. The water was "prayer water". It had been prayed over and left outside, for when we got out of the sweat. Kind of like "Holy Water" to a Christian, but not splashed on externally, but drank so that it would help sweep out your heart of all things negative.
Inside the hogan Wilson's' wife was preparing the peyote buttons for the meeting. Someone was getting the other hogan ready, and it seemed as if things were going to be OK.
One of the reasons that the purification sweat is necessary is that the medicine is going to seek out all the things "unclean" in your body and spirit and force them up and out. Without the sweat beforehand, sickness and vomiting can occur, so it's best to get that out of the way first, so you can concentrate on the matter at hand, which is the healing of a loved one.
The time had come for the "meeting". We entered the hogan, moving clockwise around the fire pit in the middle of the floor, we all took seats on the floor along the walls. With that I will leave you for now, but I want to say a few words about the time I spent in the arms of the Dine'.
For almost twenty years, they accepted me, with loving kindness, into their family and culture. Wilson has since continued his journey to the realm of "Long life happiness". I miss him, because he was a once in a lifetime friend and father figure. He taught me many things and opened my new eyes to a world of great beauty, able to see what I never could before.
Wilson, I miss you... but we will walk in beauty together as friends once again!!
Goodbye for now, I am what I am.

Sweat house part four: Inside mothers' loving kindness

2010-02-27T05:48:00.003-07:00

The rocks were red hot and glowing like they were alive. Changing colors as if they were inviting us to the beginning of all things. The time had come to enter the sweat. Wilson told me to crawl down inside, go clockwise, (the way of the sun), and sit and be still. He was going to bring in the rocks. When I crawled down into the earth, I felt as if I was somehow returning to the womb of my mother. As I sat motionless, here came the first rock. Wilson had dug it out of the coals with a short handled pitchfork. I found out later that you have to get really low to get that close to be able to retrieve the rocks or you will singe off your eyebrows and look pretty funny. As he laid the first stone in the little recess off to the right of the doorway, he said to greet your grandfather. "Yah aah ta eh shi chei", "It is good my grandfather". Each rock gets the same greeting, because no matter how smart we think that we are, NOBODY knows the true age of a rock. He's older than us by far and that's all that matters. The rocks were placed in all four directions and another in the middle. Having finished, Wilson climbed down with me into the sweat and threw the blanket over the door. It was DARK! Dark as I've ever experienced. My eyes began to adjust, and I could see the glow of the rocks and was already feeling their presence. Wilson began to speak very softly, like you would do at the bedside of someone who was sick. He was telling me things that were important enough that I needed to understand in order to live without the feeling of impending doom. Like failure comes when you hurry and there isn't enough time, or so we think, and we are frozen with inaction and fear... the only "clock" we need is the one that rises and falls every day. He said many things that were like living bread, and I was hungry, so I ate, and was filled up. After awhile he said that we were going to start sweating and I thought that we already were! It was beginning to get Really hot in there. There was a pail of water in the middle of the floor. In it was a tea like brew that Wilson had made of different kinds of sage and other plants. It was for putting on the rocks and for drinking. He said it would help with flushing me out. He said that I was full of poison, and had to get clean if I wanted to be able to think clearly. He also made a great point in which is this: toxins from the things you eat or drink are easily gotten rid of. It's the toxins that are created by the way we think and feel that are extremely difficult to get rid of. Those are the ones that we should continue to rid ourselves of, you know, "stinking thinking." By this time I was feeling better already, but that was all about to change. Wilson threw the first water on the rocks and it sounded like an rocket just took off. Hot steam billowed out and rolled up the walls and back down on us. I felt myself about to come unglued, when that same soft voice said "It's alright, this is not the end of the world, it's the beginning. With that he began to sing. Singing is VERY important in life. Listen and you will hear natures' songs from everywhere and every thing. Mostly while under duress and change ( listen to the wood while it is burning, the rocks when water is poured on, all things have a song to be sung and be heard by us.). The song that he sang was simple, and to the point. Basically here we are, listen to us. Even though Wilson didn't wear a watch he was very aware of time, just didn't worry about it. We were inside for what he said was only about twenty minutes... seemed like a couple of hours to me. He swung back the door and said let's go outside, gettin' hot in here. When we got out I felt a sense of relief, not from the cessation of the suffering, but from the words that I was fed. The sun was already below the horizon, and the sky looked as if were ablaze! Wilson gave thanks for the picture that we had been shown by our living mother the Earth. Was time to go back in and more rocks were brought in and greetings were made and the door was closed again. Wilson began to speak once again, but it was different this time. I realized that he was revealing himself to me in all his human weaknesses, and asking if I would pray for him. Being aware of things doesn't make you totally immune to their influence. After he had finished he said it was my turn to turn myself "inside out", in doing so a person gets a view of oneself that one doesn't normally get. This is the point of "special sweat". I will suffer for YOUR wants and needs and you will suffer for MY wants and needs. Sacrificing comfort for someones betterment. This time it was even hotter than before. He began to pray in Navajo, with what sounded like great earnest. He was obviously suffering for me. Pleading with the Creator of all things in my behalf. Wow, it was all clear, the same way that I prayed for others in the name of Jesus, he took one step further. Becoming the likeness of the One who had suffered in my stead. Great awe and wonderment filled my heart as I prayed in a manner that I had never before. Giving every fiber of my being over to the prayers themselves. Several times Wilson poured water on the rocks, and several times made me keep drinking to stay "wet" inside too. It's VERY important to keep the balance of water leaving and entering. Out with the bad and in with the good. At that point my concept of who God is and who the son Jesus is, completely changed. They both got MUCH bigger. Also that we are the same as the Son. With the same possibilities! Healing each other through loving kindness. Anyway after about twenty minutes or so he threw back the door again and just sat there for a minute, Wilson thanked me for my effort in prayer and I returned the feelings. It was getting cold outside, as it does at night in the high desert. Steam could be seen rising from our bodies. Wilson said that it was the things of this world that are leaving because they can't survive in a host that is waking up from a dream state, into what is real. We went in two more times, each time it was hotter than before, more prayers and thanksgiving, and yes, more singing. The songs that were sung were handed down through the millennium. Being true to the words and even down to the way the words were sung. After all it was the spoken word, first word, that created all things. Words have the power of healing, as well as being very destructive. That is why it is of the utmost importance to speak to each other with loving kindness, and beauty. Because they are words of life! After the last round, we gave thanks for a good sweat, went and rolled in the sand to clean ourselves up. Sounds funny but it works. We went back into the hogan were the only light was a small lantern, and the moon shinning through the roof. It took me awhile to soak it all in. I had just participated in something VERY special, and felt so much better than I had before hand. If I could let go of this thing that I had tried so desperately to control, than it would carry me with it, dancing to a new rhythm, that is from everlasting to everlasting. Deep down I think everyone has the same fear, "Will I last?" Well of course we will! How can a life that has always been and always be, be stopped? Don't even give it a second thought, enjoy this part of your journey, for this journey is without beginning or end! I am what I am.

Sweat House Part Three: Earth, Wind and Fire

2010-02-25T16:48:00.003-07:00

This story happened about ten years ago... There was a time when the world seemed to be spinning out of control, one thing after another was going wrong. Home, work, even relationships where no trouble had existed before. I was totally confused about what to do. My mother-in-law ( she was Navajo, and old enough to remember first-hand stories of Bosque Redondo) suggested that I speak to a friend of hers named Wilson. He was a "Road Man", a native physician who makes house calls. So I did. He came to the house and we talked for several minutes before he came to the point of his visit. He said, "Mike, I notice that you keep looking at your watch. Is there someplace that you need to be other than here?" " That's not a good thing to try to keep hold of. You strap time to your wrist as if it were something that you can control. When it slips away, you begin to worry... that's why you can't sleep, your stomach is all ways upset, and your heading for long term sickness if you don't learn a few simple things." Talk about a kick in the head! The old man was right on the point. What happened next is really cool. Wilson came back a couple days later. And told me that he had been thinking about the best way to go about fixing the problem. First thing he said is "you gotta go to sweat!" Then we will see what happens next. So on the day of the sweat, he came and picked me up in his old truck and off we went towards Navajo Mt. We got to his sheep camp about mid day and it was a beautiful sight. There were two hogans, both male and female, sheep pens and horse coral. And way off to the side, what looked like a big mound of dirt. Turns out it was the sweat house. We went inside the hogan and sat for awhile, neither of us talking and then I looked at my watch and he started laughing. It was then I took it off and gave it to him and said you keep it. He just smiled and said that I could take it up to the sheep, maybe they might want to use it. After what seemed like hours of sitting and doing nothing I was about to go stir crazy, just when he said," It's OK Mike, I know that you feel that you need to do something so we will." When we went outside, it seemed as if the sun barely moved. Over by the sweat house there was a huge pile of wood. "Let's go chop some wood for the rocks, then we'll get the fire going." So he started chopping and could tell that I wanted to get my hand in there too. So he handed me the axe and told me to take my time and he would be inside making something for us to eat. It felt good to not have anywhere that I had to be. Just swinging the axe, hearing it split the wood, and smelling fresh cedar. He called in a soft voice that I thought was wind for a moment. Only when I turned around did I notice that it was Wilson calling my name. I had a pretty big pile split by then, but he said come and eat so that would do for now. When I went into the hogan, I was met with the smell of hominy stew and fry bread. We ate, then he asked if I could use a nap, because he sure could. We weren't going to sweat until later that night. Wow, what a nap that was, in the cool of the afternoon, with no watch or alarm. Wilson woke me up in about an hour and said that we needed to go start the fire. The wood gets arranged standing on end in a circular pattern, layer upon layer until it's about three feet across. The rocks are put on top of the wood and the fire is lit, with prayer and thanksgiving more wood is put on and the fire grows and takes on a life of its own. A really beautiful sight when all you're used to is a city fire in a BBQ. The rocks are volcanic in nature, and as Wilson said, they are done being mad so it doesn't hurt them to get really hot. And throw water on them and make them sing. It took a couple hours to get the rocks to where you can almost see through them. During that time, Wilson spent time by singing and playing his drum. One of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. It was time to go in. And the monsoon had kicked up and it began to blow. A storm was going by a ways off in the distance, and lighting could be seen... Wilson called over to get ready, and he was already out of his cloths and had his Chicago bulls trunks on. Really cool. And here I was in my old gray sweat pants that were cut off at the knee. He threw the blanket back that was covering the door and said to crawl inside. Time to go for now, I am What I am.

Sweat House: Part Two

2010-02-22T15:02:00.003-07:00

I'm glad to see such interest in this subject. With what happened a while back in Sedona, I can understand why some would call it crazy. I've been chomping at the bit to dispel some misconceptions. First of all I can tell you what sweat house IS NOT. It isn't a contest to see who can take the most punishment, or who can last the longest. That kind of behavior is extremely dangerous, physically and emotionally. Besides there was only One who could take the amount of punishment some say we deserve. But that's a different story altogether, and that is not what sweat is about anyway. It's not a gimmick or fad to loose weight, or otherwise alter your physical being other than detoxification. It certainly does not make you something that you aren't already. It won't turn you into a "super saint" or anything close. Enough of the things that it isn't. Here's what I understand it to be... from my experiences. I have been lucky and privileged enough to participate in well over one hundred sweats. Some people might say that I've cooked myself a little too much on one side but I don't think so. The last thing I will say about Sedona is this: First off that man took money from those people, thereby making HIMSELF responsible for their safety. His approach was completely, in my opinion, false and constructed on a lie. There is where all the trouble started... remember the circles? Anyhow enough of that, HE has HIMSELF to live with the rest of his days! Now let's get to some good news... Sweat house has been in human kinds culture from the beginning... or there abouts. Many different cultures have them, and are found all over the globe in one form or another. What I'll be discussing is the Navajo sweat. The main purpose of which is purification, supplication and prayer. One way it is used is for the detoxification of the body in preparation for a peyote meeting. In that case, special teas are brewed out of different desert plants to help with the flushing out through sweating. It's considered good to be as clean as possible when partaking in medicine.
Other ways it it used is for special prayers when somebody is having trouble, (health issues, or just something bothering somebody. You know, life problems.). That's when I have seen very special things happen that I'll discuss at a latter date.
Got to go for now... geogypsy just got home... I am what I am.

Sweat house... part one

2010-02-21T09:37:00.002-07:00

The sweat house is a place where many things are done, learned, and undone. I wanted to do a series about this, as it is going to take some time to explain the history, meaning of all the componants, some of which I'm fuzzy on but I'll do my best. I'm learning to put pictures on a post, so I will show you some shots of the sweat house I'm building. Or maybe It's telling me how it wants to come into being. First I'll discribe it's construction, then its symbolisim. The health benifits, and yes the hazzards. Which some have ignored, and have and are paying the price. Even some of the old timers that I've had the priveledge of suffering along side of used common sense and knew not to stay in too long without a break. Any how... more to come in the next post after I get it all straight as to how I want to present the subject. Hope you are all interested... I am what I am

Ballancing Act

2010-02-13T04:49:00.002-07:00

What I mean about a "ballancing act" is this... Seems to me that pretty much everybody is in agreement , ( ie. science, so called religion, you know what I mean.) That we as humans are constructed of the same matter as the basic elements, stardust, earth, ect. Then it also seems to me that in order to understand the universe, you have to first understand yourself. To care for the Earth, you have to care for yourself. You as yourself, are part of everything, and everything is part of you. You are one circle. The Earth and all that is on the sruface, and under, in its waters, and in its sky, are another circle. The third circle, and I make no bones about it, is God the Creator. The One who is called " Long Life Happiness, The Bringer of Joy". Here inlies the rub. What do I do with all three? Which one is more or less important? How do I even begin to see how to deal with theese things? Common questions. Simple answers, belive it or not. I don't have the answers to your questions, only you do. All I can do is discribe some things to you that are true to me. So here goes my attempt at a discription of a truth. Three things CAN and Will exist in one place at the same time if allowed to do so. Problems arise when one of the three circles is moved from a state of alighnment with the other two. It doesn't matter which one that it is, The results are the same, unballance, and catistrophic failure. It has been seen time after time! Problem one: Too much of circle one. The earth has become an idle, therefore causing suffering. Problem two: Too much of circle two. Human biengs have become their own idle, therefore causing suffering. Problem three: Too much of circle three. Humans have created something that didn't need to be created, ( the pot cannot create the potter.). Therefore causing suffering. Look at what happens when we consume the Earth like hungry wolves. "Dust Bowls" are created, men and women are lost in mines, at sea, great suffering is brought by actions done in greed. Same old story. Look at what happens when we put ourselves ahead of everything and everybody. Great suffering ensues. Look at what happens now and what has happened in the past, when circle three is out of wack. Again, great suffering occurs. This is why it is a hudge mistake to create an unballanced condition. Circle three in my opinion has caused the greatest suffering of all. War and all manner of calamity take place because of it. To me it all boils down to this: ALL THREE CIRCLES ARE OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE! ALL THREE ARE ONE IN THE SAME! The natural state of all three to exist , together in one heart that beats to its own rythem. Enjoy the Earth, for it is You. Enjoy your life, for it is of all things. Enjoy " Long Life Happiness, The One Who Brings Joy", for he is the Joy Giver. Walk in beauty.
I am what I am...

Happiness

2010-02-07T05:03:00.002-07:00

I got up this morning and saw this happiness award on my blog page. What a way to start the day! The sun isn't up yet so I still have time before I go greet the sun and all it sheds its light on. When I was living in northern az., it was called " walking in beauty". One wakes before the sun, offers corn pollen to the creator and the creation. "Long Life Happiness", "The One Who Brings Joy", are names that refer to the One. All of the creation invites you to dance in beauty, singing songs of prayer and thanksgiving." The earth under bare feet, sky over uncovered head, air filling lungs with cool air, moment by moment, step by step, walking in beauty. Earth under my feet, you feel my steps, in beauty. Mountains, you see me walking in your shadow, in beauty. All living things, on the earth and in the air, you see me walking in your presence, in beauty. Rivers and streams and all the oceans, you see me walking by, in beauty. All the heavens and all you lights, you see me live and walk in beauty." This kind of thinking was completely forign to my mind for sometime, than I began to notice some certain things. First if you don't know who you are and where you fit in this whole of creation, you can't walk in beauty. Love is the key. Knowing and understanding love is what holds everything together in ballance allows one to see and feel true love from inside first, then from EVERYTHING else. When a Human Bieng is aware and full of this love that is brought by "Long Life Happiness", that person will natrually walk in beauty. There are many more facets, sweathouse, night chants,( nine day healing ceremonies ), herding sheep, chopping wood, even down to the way you enter somones house, all these things to be done in, for, and through beauty. When I began to understand some of these things, I couldn't help but to want to live in beauty. So people can do only two things. Say what you want, but it's true. You can ONLY DO TWO THINGS!! You can either choose to walk in beauty, or not, there are no other options. I'm not saying that you have to belong to a certain religion, or be of any religion at all. You are just better off if you understand that you are loved by all of creation, and can therefore can return that love to all of creation. It can sometimes be hard for us in western society to accept certain ideas like a rock has a spirit, but misstreat one in the sweat house and see what happens. He's going to get very aggitated, and maybe even explode. Or that by shaking a 500 year old rattle in rythem, and singing a certain song the right way, and dancing in the right way, could heal someones illness. Well I'm saying that it's all just as true as any truth of western society. Anyway, it seems as if I chased a few rabbits this morning. Thank you for happiness, and I wish ALL "Long Life Happiness"! Until next time. I am what I am

Moms Washer

2010-01-30T04:40:00.002-07:00

When I first moved to Arizona, twenty something years ago, it was to the Navaho Nation that I made my home. Long story how that came to pass. Had family there, and marital ties as well through an uncle. Over those many years I saw many wonderous things. Both in the landscape, but mainly in the people. I learned to see things in a totaly new way. The physical reality, turns out for me was completely different than I imagined. And the spiritual reality. This is what I want to talk about today. Durring the monsoon season, there can be some very frightening thunder storms, the last year I was there, three tornados. Dine call them chei. Grandfather, He comes to gather up things of no value. At least that's how I understand it. Anyway, you can be somewhere and see one of these hudge thunder clouds race by in the distance, and get the feeling that things are trying to return to equalib

Frustrationater

2010-01-27T15:10:00.002-07:00

Frustrationater, otherwise known as a computer! Sometimes it seems as if it is plotting against me. Or maybe I'm just crazy. Sure would be nice if it would just call a truce. Several times I've tried to check out my gmail, facebook, and all the other stuff I'm trying to learn, and it starts behaving any way it wants to. Locking up or creating errors on every page. If it starts to shoot sparks and catch on fire I'll have to get a new one. Probably time anyway, this one is about ten years old. So It's not really the computers' fault. It's just my inability to let this one just pass away in peace. One things for sure, it's been a good teacher. Learned to bring my heart rate down a few beats on comand. Until next time, I am what I am.

change in the face of the constant inconsistancy

2010-01-24T13:53:00.005-07:00

It's said that things change. This is certainly true. Old dogs can learn to bark a different tune. Just the fact that this old dog is even blogging is testamony. A couple of weeks ago I didn't know anything about the cybor world... let alone gmail, facebook, or classmates. Wow how things change! The pace at which things can change is mind boggling... It's a good thing. It is only recently that I have been able to give up some of my preferences for nonchange... how cool! Sometimes you will read about somethings as I understand them at the time. And like the sometimers that I have, you might read something that doesnt make a bit of sense . Oh well, sometimes I like to chase rabbits. Untill next time, I am what I am.

कुएस्त फॉर रिचेस

2010-01-20T16:37:00.005-07:00

In this life we tend to loose sight of the important things. What are they? Each of us has a different set of "important things." The shack I am standing in was left behind after the gold rush in Arizona. Nothing but an empty shell. Whoever lived there is long since gone.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the pursuit of things that leave us just like that little shack. An empty shell. That no matter how we try we just can't seem to find the right furnishings to fill it up. An old worn out couch, a spool for a coffee table, and nailed up curtains. The illusion of fulfillment. Yet always wanting.
A man once said "Set your mind on Heavenly Things" and "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you."
Chase after the "Important Things" and find out for your self, what is self and nonself.

unseen things

2010-01-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

most things are just as they seem. some things come like parables. knowing the difference takes disciplin and practice. one must know him or herself first befere one can truley know anything. knowledge is a wellspring that is within each of us. without the complete knowledge of ones self, we are destined to wander aimlessly through our existance. never realizing the awesome beauty that comes from an enlightened heart.the mind is what leads us to the inner truth, the heart that lays claim on it, and the spirit person rejoices and blossoms into a true human being. or should it be said, a human that is being. full of love that is from everlasting to everlasting....

what now ...

2010-01-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

we have sent our explorers to find the answers. where are they? what now? don't wait on them because they're not comming back. They found the answers and have no intrest in returning. WHAT NOW? It's time to become the explorer ourselves. Look within to find enlightenment... Remember the questions YOU asked, the answers are within YOU ! The truth is waiting for you to discover.