A FIRST NATION'S WOODLAND ARTIST

“Our pain as a people keeps my heart wrapped in tears. Provides inspiration to my fingertips that search this realm for lost hope. I am an artist, can you feel my love reaching out through my work?” - Simone McLeod

Ojibwe artist Simone McLeod  

HER STORY 

PAINTINGS AS MEDICINE BUNDLES

Simone's paintings have a spiritual content that is reminiscent of the spirit powers of the midewiyaanag (medicine bundles) that her ancestors carried - which were living objects, or manidoog in themselves. Made of animal skin, these bags were usually filled with spirit guardians and sacrificial and healing items, including small pouches of dried herbs and roots whose spiritual and protective properties aided in the curing of ailments. Like the midewiyaan, Simone's paintings carry and represent the beliefs and identity of her ancestors, their long migration history, their strength and resilience and healing as a People, as well as their innate kindness, generosity, and faith in a better future. But her paintings, no matter how colorful and positive in nature, also reflect the frustrations of her People, their collective tears and sorrows as she, as a person and an artist, daily faces the grim consequences of hundreds of years of ethnocide and social traumas that to this day threaten Anishinaabe-bimaadiziwin, the Aboriginal Way Of Life.

"UNITY OF THOUGHTS" by Simone McLeod

ABOUT THE PAINTING

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Bezhigo-inendamowin, or bezhigwendaamowin. It means many things: the same thought, unity and conformity of thoughts and sentiments, concord; constancy. This piece, which I did in May 2013, is a tribute to friendship between people and clans and to growing together as individuals. The man in he painting, dressed in blue, represents waabizheshi doodem, the marten clan. Name doodem, the sturgeon fish clan, is represented by the woman, dressed in red. The red and yellow of the fire that I painted at the bottom is giving life to the people as depicted with the red and yellow unity circle in the male figure's arm- which is all also the centering point for the female. It is a story of Trust, Kinship, Strength, and many other of the virtues I paint into each painting that I do. I hope you all enjoy this piece. Miigwech.
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artist, Simone McLeod
May 8 

WOMAN'S POWER by Max Dashu (part 2)

Female boldness has in many societies been required simply to defend personal liberty and self-determination, carving out space to act in spite of patriarchal constraints, to become what the English called "a woman at her own commandment." Agodice practiced medicine in classical Athens disguised as a man, risking the death penalty then in force against female physicians. About two thousand years later, Miranda Stuart used the same strategy to get her M.D. As Dr. James Barry, she became Chief Surgeon for the British Navy. Her subterfuge was not discovered until her death, although she came close after being wounded in a duel.

This route of adopting a cloak of male privilege was followed by countless female adventurers, including Carmen Robles who became a colonel in the Mexican Revolutionary Army, and Elvira Cespedes, who practiced medicine and married a woman in 16th-century Spain — until she was denounced to the Inquisition and sentenced to a long term confinement and forced labor.

Female mavericks were also active in the arts and sciences. The renegade nun Okuni originated the Kabuki Theater, from which women were soon banned. In Moorish Spain, the poet Walladah bint-al-Mustakfi rejected the veil and marriage, preferring to host intellectual salons and took female, as well as male lovers. Around 975, her counterpart Aisa bint Ahmad declined a proposal by a poet she disliked with a defiant stance: "I am a lioness/ And will never consent to let/ My body be the stopping place for anyone/ But should I choose that/ I would not hearken to a dog/ And how many lions have I turned down."

The most courageous women challenged oppression. The famous Swahili singer Siti Binti Saad rose from the oppressed classes to make Taarabu music her vehicle calling for social justice in what is now Tanzania. She protested class oppression and men's abuse of women. Her song "The Police Have Stopped" sharply criticized a judge who let a rich wife-murderer go free. She seemed unafraid even of the sultan.

The battle leadership of a Pawnee elder saved a village from attackers, and so she was named "Old Lady Grieves the Enemy." Afterward, she taunted wife-beaters, telling them to go after the Poncas who came to burn up the village, and leave the women, who do no harm, alone.

There are many historical accounts of women warriors, and women often fought to defend their homes, their people and their country. However, although it is hard for many people today to conceive of such broad female authority, in some societies women had the formal power to veto the decision to go to war. The Cherokee Beloved Woman, in her capacity of representing the women at the men's council possessed this authority, and so did the Gantowisas (Matrons) of the Six Nations (Iroquois). It was the women who supplied warriors with dried food and other necessities, and they suffered the consequences of war as well. There was a saying, "Before the men can go to war, the women must make their moccasins." (See Moccasin Makers and War Breakers, below.)

The Lisu people of Yunnan (southwest China) once had a tradition that fighting had to stop if a woman of either side waved her skirt to call for an armistice. Often this would be a highly-regarded elder. The skirt, imbued with the woman's mana, symbolized the life-giver's power. A woman taking off her outer skirt was also the signal for war or peace in the Pacific island Vanatinai, where women were also the traditional protectors of prisoners of war.

© Max Dashu 2000

Stacy Keibler, pro wrestler & mother
WWE champion

a Discovery

... in the woods we found her. She didn't budge when we saw her. Her stillness was unsettling. Brad avoided looking at her. Tony didn't pay attention to the warning signs, and was the first one she killed. Me? I didn't stand a chance so I didn't move. I stood there. She held my gaze for a long time before she slowly turned her head and looked at something in the distance. Her apparent indifference was lethal and laced with implied danger.

I watched the sky change, and the sun fall, as did she. It was long minutes into the last hour before the sunset that she released me back into the consciousness of my body. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 4.23.13

Rock and a hard place ;)
www.thewomenwelove.com

The DEEP Stuff

"Speaking without the mind is needed."
-Mereana Taki
Oct. 2, 2013

"Stone is healing the planet ...taking your sorrows and emptying them without harm to the stratosphere." - Mereana Taki 10.3.13

Tumatauenga ~ Deity of malevolent energetics.

symbol of Tranquility

I often think about and wonder about the connection between women's breast cancer, and the sense of many women to hide their breasts in public out of fear and foreboding in the company of men who are often predators. Cancer is about imbalance. Fear creates imbalance. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.3.13

from Celeste's reading

Celestial Moment:

10 is the Wheel of Fortune in Tarot and with the ups and downs of life, it's a good time to connect with the Protective energy of Archangel Michael. 10 reduces down to 1 and 1 is the Energy of the Day. If it happens to be your birthday, then it's your lesson number for the whole year.

The energy of the day is 1. The number of fresh starts and new beginnings that is ruled by the SUN. The Eagle is the first card of the Medicine Cards and it is the power of the Great Spirit, the connection to the Divine. 

Our root chakra is the first energy center located at the base of the spine relates to our most basic survival needs and our sense of belonging. When we find ourselves on shaky ground, we go to the root and settle down. 1 also reveals itself as the Magician in Tarot Cards and the Magician’s ruling planet is Mercury better known as the messenger of the Gods.

The Magician utilizes all the elements (Fire, Earth, Air and Water) at his or her disposal to bring forth manifestation. The letters connected to the number 1 are A, J, and S so words like Abundance and Jubilant and Shine reflect the powerful energy contained in the number 1.

Maintain your power to create, to respond, to live and most importantly to love.~ Celeste Morgan 10.3.13

the MAGICIAN

running 

Sacheen Littlefeather

MYSTERY

A shaman can teach you about power. A magician can train you to become strong in spirit and competent in your endeavors in life. But to describe how a miracle happens or how you come to be a powerful magician is to try to explain the mystery. You can talk around the secrets of power, but if you describe them directly you lose that power and you destroy the mystery. Welcome the mystery, and allow the miracle of existence to emerge from the darkness and transform you.

Much love to all,
Lynn V. Andrew
(October 28, 2012)

DEEP MEDICINE: Karanga & MA'AT

Mereana Taki

"... the poem is my Karanga ~ the voice of my Ancients sent before me as protection for a safe Journey." - Mereana Taki







...preparing myself to travel 
a journey of Sacred Mystery 
it is a transcending of wombs
which have long protected 
which have deeply guided
the prophecies of Ancients 
...revelations are moving 
and wisdom comes to claim
the transmigrating Soul of
Oneness unto all Oneness - Mereana Taki 

Ma'at wife of Thoth archetype of balance, law, order & beauty

(Berlin Papyrus) Afrikan Yogic Philosophy

Ma'at Ankhu Ma'at – Ma'at is the source of life
Ma'at Neb Buten – Ma'at is in everywhere you are
Kha Hena Ma'at – Rise in the morning with Maat
Ankh Hena Ma'at – Live with Ma'at
Ha Senna Ma'at – Let every limb join with Ma'at
Ma'at Her Ten – Ma'at is who you are deep down
Dua Ma'at Neb Buten – Adorations/Thanks to Ma'at who is every where you are. 

Medicine Women Songs

Spirituality


Sage Words from Native American Wisdom Keepers "Medicine is a vibration within all of Creation." "The heart of healing is to accept it to come to you." "Have kindness from the heart and faith. Always pray when you start the day. We all carry the seeds within usSpiritual energies of the universe flow in a powerful, direct way from Source through Nature. She resonates in every fiber of my being and is calling me, calling each of us, to be more than we know we are. I invite you to seek out places that fill you with passion and longing and go be in loving communion with your soul and nature.

By: Silvia Mamani

Walking The Red Road

Native American art of Grandmother Moon wheel

Creator has a plan for each of us. We must strive to walk the Red Road, to fulfill our lives paths. We must learn to listen to what our heart's speak to us. We must pray and let the smoke take our prayers to Creator. Not just sometimes when we have a need, but daily. In the morning when the day is new and in the evening before we rest. We must thank Creator for our food and all he has given us. It is He who loves us and He who made us. We must do our part to care for Mother Earth as she is sick and in need. She provides us with all we need to survive. The food we eat, the air we breathe. We must do all we can to make sure she can continue to provide, for the sake of the children.

We must love one another. Love means caring, compassion, and sacrifice. To do all we can do to help each other. Whatever the need is, food, clothing, a warm place to sleep, council, prayers or a hug, we do all we can for our brothers and sisters of this world. Real love is all the time, not just when we want to, or when we have time.

We must teach the children to walk the Red Road, to care for Mother Earth. We must teach them their heritage, their culture. The children are the future, and if we fail to teach them, their heritage is lost to them, and we as Native Americans will cease to exist as a people.We must teach them to walk tall, to be proud of who and what they are. We must teach them to fight the injustices of all the Native Americans as a whole. To band together as one people, one tribe, and to put aside their differences, and focus on the rights of our people as one people. To stand together as one. To be one strong Nation. To agree to disagree for the good of our people as a whole. To fight for the protection of Mother Earth, and all creations on her.

We should never judge another person as we have not lived their lives, nor do we know what their hearts speak to them. When others do us wrong, we need to pray for them, not show anger, and vengeance. Show love and teach by example. We must never disrespect the beliefs of another as we all have to listen to what our heart's speak to us. We have no right to change their beliefs and should respect them as we wouldn't want another to do this to us and our beliefs. Always respect others beliefs, ideas, and demand they respect yours. Always treat others as you want to be treated. Strive to be the best person you can be, and grow Spiritually everyday.

Always know the words you speak can have a profound effect on another person, and chose those words so as not to inflict hurt on another's heart, as words can never truly be taken back, you can apologize, and be forgiven, but the scars left by those words are forever in the heart of those we hurt. Always remember this before you speak and ask yourself if your words will inflict hurt before you say them.

Try not to waste time with worrying as it won't change things. Use your energy on more positive things. These are just my thoughts...

Strong Heart Woman
(taken from the archives of Bear Warrior)

Native American art of woman & dream catcher !!!!

a Medicine story to ponder

“Your face has the same calm in its pull on the senses of those who admire, or wish to touch the place your calmness sits upon. As you matured your face acquired a solid grounding that created its own definition of beauty. What a journey your face took telling the stories, and condition of your life, temple, temperament, education, sense of self, and the sensuality that calls the mates, and friends you have needed to live deeply. Your face hides and reveals what hides and reveals, Thelma.”  -Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

"I made it (the dress) from a pattern provided by Whispering Winds Magazine and won first prize for Native American month at my job.  I like learning how to do things for myself and everything can be an artistic endeavor. My grandmother did and my great grandmother was a Chitimacha Medicine woman. State of Louisiana wanted to jail her for practicing medicine without license. She moved to a house boat and went up and down Bayou Teche still doing medicine. She was famous for her Water Moccasin cure and tonsil cure. She was also the tribal midwife." -Thelma Thomas