Drum Journey (Recording): ~30 minutes
This journey was to inquire more deeply about the purpose of my incarnation. I was called to Upper World. I arrived barefoot and in the usual muslin outfit I wear in Lower World. I entered the Hall of Knowledge, as I was immediately drawn there. Hummingbird met me in the hall. I entered the library and Hummingbird brought me a large, red book. I knew the answer to my question was inside, but I was unable to look. Teacher (Bell'ana) arrived to take me away on a different journey. I realized that the journey was within the book. There were no words or pages, but a vortex I needed to enter. So, with the CHSes in attendance, I opened the cover and dove into the bright circles of light. As it was with my meditations in OR recently, I received the message that I was here to "observe and report." This was no life of ambition; I am on a "vacation" life. Nothing grand will happen. I will not be influential or famous. Let all that go. I am her merely to observe and report. I am not special. I have no real gifts beyond what anyone else is capable of having. This was depressing. Do you believe these words? Bell'ana asked. I checked my body for a response. "Not really," I said. On the one hand, it was a relief not to have to strive for anything. On the other, it was sad to think I will not experience the metaphysical at my will in this lifetime (beyond random synchronicities). I returned to the library table and wept (also in OR). Hummingbird was there. "I have no Spirit. It's true," I said. "I am not special. I have no gifts. All this is made up. That is why I cannot receive anything helpful; I cannot imagine it." I went on lamenting my skeptical and logical mind. I asked Spirit to remove it from me, or at least lessen it considerably so it wouldn't get in my way. Bargaining! I would give up punctuality or organizational skills just to be closer to/communicate with Spirit... It was all a it pathetic, and I knew that, so I let it all go. The Callback sounded. I thanked Hummingbird and Bell'ana and returned.
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Drum Journey (Recording): ~15 minutes
During my morning meditation, I received a call to journey. I had no intention except to find out for what I was being called. I was immediately drawn to Upper World. Upper World: I entered and Teacher (Bell'anna) emerged from a stone in the walkway to the Hall of Knowledge. She took me into the main library, which had been redecorated into more of a rustic atmosphere, with wooden furniture and a small fire pit at the center. I sat there and she told me Grandmother would be joining us. Teacher brought down a large red book and handed it to me. These are the stories of your female ancestors, Teacher said. Grandmother had appeared now and was tending the fire as I looked through the book. I saw my mother, her mother, her mother, and so on. I saw men as well, being abusive to the women, physically, sexually, and emotionally. finally landed on an image of a smiling, upturned face of a woman who could have been in her 20s as easily as her 50s. Youthful and joyful. Your have entered the croning time. You have no daughters. This is your time to end the cycle of violence. Draw your power to you. The pain ends with you. Teacher handed me a staff that had a bird on top of it—a hawk?—which flew away, leaving the feathers behind attached to the top of the staff. The top was encrusted with gemstones (mainly moonstone) and had a smooth space where the hand would go. The base was orange and red with fire colors and from it came vines that snaked up the staff in various shades of green. This is your crone staff, Nashawe. You will recreate it in Ordinary Reality. She threw it on the fire, where Grandmother poked at it. The staff dissolved into sparks of fire. It will be here for you when you are in Non-ordinary Reality, Teacher told me. Then, Grandmother gave me a capsule, which I swallowed. This is moss beneath the Tree of Knowledge outside of my home, Grandmother said. Let it fill you with ancestral knowledge and belief in your own experience. You are no longer a child. You are stepping into elder. You will come to us for more training, but it is time for you to embrace your own knowledge and share it. I sat for a moment with my teachers and watched the fire. Callback sounded. I thanked them both deeply and returned. Drum Journey (Self-drumming): ~10 minutes Upper World When I arrived, I was prostrate on the bricks leading to the Hall of Knowledge. I stood up and retrieved my drum from its space by the entry. I continued to walk, with purpose, past the Hall and behind it, even though I was unsure where I was going. The path led into a snowy area. The snow became white crystals. I kept walking. Past the crystal land, the landscape became cloudy, as though I were walking in fog. The drum scooped me up and I rode in it, floating through the fog. I saw now that it was smoke. The drum was bing smudged by burning leaves. They were long and thin leaves. I saw the word sativa in the air. The drum showed me that I could smudge it by blowing this smoke on it. I asked what other offerings I could make. Just then, the spirit of the buffalo whose hide is on my drum came to me again. It was grazing. On the ground were purple flowers with a yellow center. They may have been like this thunbergia erecta flower shown. Buffalo told me that I could find these and leave them as an offering. Also, leaving a "spirit meal" of corn meal is also a good idea. Now the drum was in front of me and I gazed into it. The drum face became a scrying mirror, and I saw the faces of all my relatives—back as far as my great-grandparents. Once the faces moved through, one by one, my father's returned. He was mouthing something, but I could not understand. Then I heard, "The root is real" repeated over and over. I was moved to see my father's face and wanted to communicate with him. But just as I got emotional, he sent a burst of fire across the drum head, blazing out all the images there. Callback I thanked the CHSes and left. Return to Ordinary Reality Drum Journey (Recording): ~15 minutes
Upper World I was called to the Hall of Knowledge. When I entered the library, the ornate room full of books, tables, and reading chairs changed into an Algonquin longhouse. At one end, I saw Great Walker making a drum. This will be your final project after the initiation. You will make your own drum. I asked what it should be made of. Deer, likely. There are many where you live and you are connected to them. They can carry you on your journeys. "What kind of wood?" I asked. Maple, cedar... That is not as important as every tree is connected to you and you to it. I asked what my lesson was for this visit. Great Walker moved a long table that was in the center of the longhouse. Underneath it was a long pit for fires. He lit it and told me that today I would learn the foot movements for drumming. When moving around a circle, the steps are:
When standing still, the steps are:
Next, Great Walker told me that the beads for the necklace will come. I am to make a necklace that will be worn during ceremonies. The beads must be white and made of either stone, clay, or deer bone. Finally, Great Walker told me that I was invited to merge with him when drumming for others' journeys if I wish. It may be helpful especially at the beginning. I could call him before the merge by playing the heartbeat rhythm on the drum. I asked if I could merge with him now so that I could feel what it was like. He agreed. When I merged, I immediately felt power in my muscles. As we drummed, I felt a clear connection between the drum and my/his/our heart. The heart seemed to resonate with each beat, triangulating the drummer, the drum and the heart. I also felt Great Walker's old-body, like scars of a human form that were distant and infused with spirit energy. We drummed together for some time. Callback I disengaged and thanked Great Walker before returning. Return to Ordinary Reality |
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