I have finally been contacted to join in on a drumming session next week. It will be in Grand Isle on the lake.
8/5/09 - Again, the drumming session location has changed, but it’s still on – only now it’s in Waterbury. We are to bring a dish for a pot luck dinner before the session. One of the healers I had emailed has replied and suggested that I call and speak with her husband first and to have some tobacco alongside the telephone. So today I was able to get out and purchase some and have been preparing some questions. I also looked up tobacco, knowing it’s used for ceremonies and gifts to Elders so that they know there will be a request. According to an Elder, tobacco is the first plant that the Creator gave to the Native people and is the main activator of all the plant spirits. Along with sage, cedar and sweetgrass, they are referred to as the four sacred medicines, which are used in everyday life and ceremonies. It is believed that traditional tobacco was given to be able to communicate with the spirit world, by opening up the door that allows communication to take place. By offering tobacco, thoughts and feelings are communicated through it as we pray for ourselves, our family, relatives and others. I spoke with Bill Wereley this evening. And when I said I had an offering of tobacco he said they don’t do tobacco and ceremony at night since they don’t know what kind of spirits are out there. I asked if he was a healer and he said, no, he considered himself a helper, that a healer would probably use herbs and medicines, or was the Creator. He talked about doing this work widens the view of the world. I asked who is considered an Elder and Bill said there were several answers to that. Any person who is older is given respect and considered an Elder. We decided he was my Elder. Then there are those who do fasts where they do a lodge at sunrise, then fast for four days and four nights, and a lodge at the end. During that time they are often with the spirit world. Part of you stays there and the more often you do it, you are more and more in the spirit world – therefore, saying that one leg is in the spirit world and the other in this world. This person may not be older, but treated with respect as an Elder. He mentioned the lodge stones – giving deference to the stones because they have been here for so long and carry a lot of information and knowledge. And mentioned that to hold a stone before and after a lodge and notice the difference. At night my speech often becomes difficult because of the health problem I currently have, and he suggested I come and visit during the day and bring tobacco to offer to the Grandfather and we would sit and talk. So I will give him a call in a week or so to schedule a visit. Last night I joined the drumming group for a session. They have been meeting for quite some time and whoever can make it shows up – there were 8 of us. We had ‘pot luck’ before hand then did the drumming session at 7:30. I won’t go into detail, but it was great, a powerful experience. Diane --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CulturalandTraditionalHealthandHealing" group. To post to this group, send email to culturalandtraditionalhealthandhealing@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to culturalandtraditionalhealthandhealing+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.ca/group/culturalandtraditionalhealthandhealing?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
