Compromise to Live

Oceti Sakowin 

Chief Big Foot (Spotted Elk), with his wife White Hawk in1872. Big Foot was born in the northern Great Plains. He traveled to Washington, D.C., as a tribal delegate. One of the first to raise a corn crop on the Cheyenne River.

As I look closely at this photograph thoughts come to me.
Most of the compromise was made by the Native people in our relationships with the whites. Evidence, this is, in the short narrative above. Two accomplishments Chief Big Foot made important to whites of the time were the warrior planting corn and converting in any form to Christianity. Were these strikes against a culture? Yes and no they were not. They were strategies that kept The People alive and relevant as much as history, the times and the will to live as the People allowed us to live. To say the white man kept us alive is not true. Our negotiation and our capacity for war and intelligent intercourse kept us alive. . . - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 4.6.16





Corn

Oceti Sakowin 

HOME with her ...

wife at home

Where every husband should be: at home. I learned in my living the women who have the power the way Selu had over Kanati to mirror the hunter's obscured essence back to him is a commodity in the sense these women have value worth protecting, not selling. This is the definitive cord between a man and his woman. Its texture and what it feels like in the most sacred of ways is from our Mother Earth. This is the spirit that defines manhood and masculinity more than other spirits. This is the link between a man and a woman that is the Creation story in the present, not the distant past. 

- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories (7.6.15) 

SOUL LOSS

Kill the wolves in idaho

The AMERICANS

The displays of imbalance are the unique signature of the white man who came to these shores. The land did not change his spirit. Our ancestors meant little to nothing to him. It was only the progress forward under God that mattered. The soul of the People, and the souls of living creatures were mysteriously written out of his consciousness. It was amazing the mind, and spirit that created the Doctrine of Discovery! No one had lived outside of natural order like this man! That mind had the spirit that could not see how imbalance tips Life out of sorts into chaos, and fears that are not natural to the tune of human development.

Few people share the joy white men with guns take in the taking of lives. It plays out all over the world as a religion with no temple only a set of circumstances to create conflict, and an ideology to justify the conflicts.

The white man is a restless being, and his restlessness kills him from within and us without thought to the scheme and wisdom of things created by the Creator for our well-being. The white man in our midst is very much like Kanati, the Hunter, in the Cherokee story about Corn Mother. Still in his infancy, his immaturity like Kanati in the beginning of his story, the white man has not met his 'Corn Mother' because his women have historically been chattel.

How we help this brother of ours will reflect who we are, and how we love, and reconciled with our own shadows. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 4.26.13

NOTE: After I posted this observation/prayer the administrator of the site blocked me.

Dr. Jane Goodall

I always thought she was so fine, and wondered how she balanced her life as a lover, a friend, and adventurer and an activist. I remember when this picture first hit the American television screens. I gawked then at how gentle and pretty she was, and wondered how she loved. But, I later surmised her field of endeavor found ways to compartmentalize every aspect of Life, and she forged a way to live in a field of study judged and dominated by men who themselves stole glances at her pretty legs, and beautiful face and quietly sighed within at the sound of her voice and the touch of her breath upon what was gentle and respectful within their souls. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1.9.13

AFRICAN CORN MOTHER is SELU

There is an African proverb that says, "The man who marries a beautiful woman and the farmer who grows maize by the roadside has the same problem."

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean where corn first grew Corn Mother created something within her husband, Kanati, the Hunter. She awoke his manners, and he grew, in an instant, from being self-centered, and violent into a man; a protector of his woman, the animals he once slaughtered at will, and the Earth, our Mother. It was a transformation every hunter and every man should take note of.

Kanati was First Man to the Cherokee people. The animals gathered together to complain to the Creator about Kanati. Kanati was killing animals for the pleasure of it once he discovered he could kill beyond what he needed.  Creator listened to the stories, and assured his creation he would help them. Creator laid Kanati to sleep, and gave him a dream. Kanati thought he was dreaming of a plant growing out of his chest. He awoke, and found a plant had grown next to him. At the top of the plant a beautiful brown skinned woman looked down upon  him. Kanati stood up, and remembered the manners Creator had planted within him. He gave his hand to help her down.As she was stepping down she remembered something, and reached back to retrieve two ears of corn.

"I need to remember where I come from." she said to her husband.

In one story Corn Mother, and Kanati had two sons who became great hunters, like their father, of Deer. When their mother was old they took care of their mother, Selu. She received with gratitude, and rejoicing her son's kills, and would make them a soup they could not get enough of it tasted so good. The boys never knew what the soup was made of, and Selu would not tell them.

One day one of the brothers moved like the wind, as he did on a hunt, and unseen watched his mother in her lodge raise her dress and scratch her thighs. Yellow and white kernels fell from her into a wooden bowl at her feet. He slipped away, and told his brother who sat waiting for their mother's soup. When she gave them their soup they could not eat it. Selu realized it was time for her to leave. Sadly, she told her sons she was going  to leave them. She told them when she died where and how to bury her body. She said a plant would grow in her grave, and told them how to care for it until harvest time. She told them how to keep the kernels and prepare for the next season's planting. The next day they had to bury their mother. The brothers did as Selu instructed them, and from this day forward the Cherokee people have learned from and survived and thrived off the gifts of Selu, Corn Mother.

I would like to know what tribe tells this proverb to each other. It is important to know the tribe. Each tribe's stories talk about the soul of the people, and all souls are as important as the proverbs and the creation stories that tie one person to another and to the families of the tribe, and the families to the tribe connected to the Earth, our Mother. These relationships are important. They tell us how to conduct ourselves. and this proverb will it help me, for instance, over here on Turtle Island, live  better with my beautiful wife, or enforce what I already know? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 9.5.12

MOON CEREMONIES

about MOON Ceremonies

Ceremonies were the ancient seasonal round of ceremonies practiced during ancient times by the Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya or Cherokee People in the ancient culture. Although a modern calendar year comprises 12 months, there are actually 13 cycles or phases of the moon each year. The seasonal round of ceremonies was based on 13 moons, and was considered a necessary spiritual element for growth and encouraged social gatherings among the Cherokee Clans and Cherokee Society in the ancient culture.

The Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya believed the number 13 was significant. Not only did this number correspond to the lunar cycles of the year, but by a startling coincidence, all species of turtles living in the ancient homeland (in fact, all species turtles in the world) always had 13 scales on the back of their shells. As a result, Cherokee culture associated the spaces on the back of the turtle with the 13 yearly phases of the moon. These phases have shifted over time and do not fall within the 12 month year calendar year precisely every year; therefore Ripe Corn Ceremonies (now called the Green Corn Dances or the Green Corn Ceremony in Modern Times – Ah-ga-we-la Se-lu-ut-si/old woman corn mother) fall in early September as of 2005.

Moon girl

Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni Seasonal Moon Ceremonies

Nv-da ka-na-wo-ga – COLD MOON

Nv-da ko-la – BONE MOON (so little food, people gnaw on bones and eat bone marrow soup)

Nv-da u-no-le – WIND MOON (when strong winds strip away the dead wood and foliage and prepare the land for renewal)

Nv-da a-tsi-lu-s-gi – FLOWER MOON (when plants come to life and bloom again and the Earth is renewed)

Nv-da ga-hlv-sga – PLANTING MOON (strict translation: “the putting it in a hole moon”)

Nv-da se-lu-i-tse-i-yu-s-di – GREEN CORN MOON (when the corn is up and showing itself as an identifiable crop)

Nv-da ut-si-dsa-ta – CORN IN TASSEL MOON (when the corn is displaying a tassel)

Nv-da se-lu-u-wa-nv-sa – RIPE CORN MOON

Nv-da u-da-ta-nv-a-gi-s-di u-li-s-dv – END OF FRUIT MOON

Nv-da u-da-ta-nv – NUT MOON

Nv-da tsi-yah-lo-ha – HARVEST MOON

Nv-da ga-no-ha-li-do-ha – HUNTING MOON

Nv-da gu-ti-ha – SNOW MOON (when the first snows fall in the mountains)

There were 13 traditional ceremonies each year practiced by the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni, and October saw the Renewal Ceremony (or new year), an additional ceremony, with another additional ceremony in November (Eagle Dance).

Moon Blue Woman

Modern Cherokee Moons Si-nv-da De-ka-lv-tse-gv-’i

Cold Moon….January U-no-lv-ta-na

Bone Moon…February Ka-ga-’li

Windy Moon…March Ah-nv-yi

Flower Moon…April Ka-wo-ni

Planting Moon…May Ah-n(i)-s-gv-ti

Green Corn Moon…June De-ha-lu-yi

Ripe Corn Moon…July Gu-ye-quo-na

Fruit Moon…August Ga-lo-ni

Nut Moon…September Du-li-s-di

Harvest Moon…October Du-ni-n(i)-di

Trading Moon…November Nv-da-de-qua

Snow Moon…December V-s-gi-yi

Customary and Traditional Events Associated With The Moons

JANUARY: Cold Moon, Unolvtani, This time of the season is a time for personal and ritual observance, fasting and personal purification. During this season, families prepare for the coming of the new seasons, starting in Windy Moon Anvyi or March. Personal items and tools for planting are repaired, and new ones made. Stories about ancestors and the family are imparted to the younger ones by the elders. A mid-Winter or “Cold Moon Dance” is usually held in the community as well, marking the passing or ending of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle. Hearth fires are put out and new ones made. The putting out of Fires and lighting of new ones anciently is the duty of certain holy men of certain clans, and coincides with the first new-arrival of the morning star in the east.

FEBRUARY: Bony Moon, Kaga’li, Traditional time of personal-family feast for the ones who had departed this world. A family meal is prepared with place(s) set for the departed. This is also a time of fasting and ritual observance. A community dance officiated by a “doctor” Didanawiskawi commonly referred to as a Medicine-person. Connected to this moon is the “Medicine Dance”.

MARCH: Windy Moon, Anvyi, “First New Moon” of the new seasons. Traditional start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons. New town council fires are made. The figure used to portray this moon is the historic figure of Kanati, one of the many beings created by the “Apportioner” Unethlana. These “helpers” were variously charged with the control of the life elements of the earth: air/earth/fire/water. Their domains are the sky, earth, stars and the Seven Levels of the universe.

APRIL: Flower Moon, Kawoni, First plants of the season come out at this time. New births are customary within this time frame. The first new medicine and herb plants that taught mankind how to defend against sickness and conjurey come out now. Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit being, “Long Man,” renew their lives. Ritual observances are made to “Long Man” at this time. A dance customary at this season was the “Knee Deep Dance” of the Spring or Water Frog.

MAY: Planting Moon, An(i)sgvti, Families traditionally prepare the fields and sow them with the stored seeds from last season. Corn, beans, squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, yams and sunflowers are some food planted at this time. A dance traditionally done at this time is the “Corn Dance”.

JUNE: Green Corn Moon, Dehaluyi, First signs of the “corn in tassel”, and the emerging of the various plants of the fields. People traditionally begin preparations for the upcoming festivals of the ensuing growing season. People of the AniGadugi Society begin repairs needed on town houses, family homes and generally provide for the needy. The AniGadugi Society is a volunteer help group who see to the needs of the less fortunate, the elderly and the infirm of the villages.

JULY: Ripe Corn Moon, Guyequona, First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals. Dances and celebrations of thanks to the Earth Mother and the “Apportioner” Unethlana are given. In the old times this was the traditional time of the “Green Corn Dance” or festival. A common reference of this moon is the “first roasting of ears” (of corn)…sweet corn-moon. This is the customary time for commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti, “Little War”. Today known as “LaCross”. Stick Ball dances and festivals are commonly held at this time.

AUGUST: Fruit Moon, Ga’loni, Foods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time. The various “Paint Clans” begin to gather many of the herbs and medicines for which they were historically know. Green Corn festivals are commonly held at this time in the present day. The “Wild Potato” Clans AniNudawegi, begin harvesting various foods growing along the streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.

SEPTEMBER: Nut Moon, Dulisdi, The corn harvest referred to as “Ripe Corn Festival” was customarily held in the early part of this moon to acknowledge Selu the spirit of the corn. Selu is thought of as First Woman. The festival respects Mother Earth as well for providing all foods during the growing season. The “Brush Feast Festival” also customarily takes place in this season. All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees of the forest were gathered as this time. A wide variety of nuts from the trees went into the nut breads for the various festivals throughout the seasons. Hunting traditionally began in earnest at this time.

OCTOBER: Harvest Moon, Dunin(i)di, Time of traditional “Harvest Festival” Nowatequa when the people give thanks to all the living things of the fields and earth that helped them live, and to the “Apportioner” Unethlana. Cheno i-equa or “Great New Moon” Festival is customarily held at this time. Ritual fasting would be observed seven days prior to the festival.

NOVEMBER: Trading Moon, Nvdadequa, Traditionally a time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for manufactured goods, produce and goods from hunting. The people traded with other nearby tribes as well as distant tribes, including those of Canada, Middle America and South America. Also the customary time of the “Friendship Festival” Adohuna = “new friends made”. This is also a day of atonement for the Cherokee. Ritual fasting was also observed. This was a time when all transgressions were forgiven, except for murder which traditionally was taken care of according to the law of blood by a clans person of a murdered person. The festival recalls a time before “world selfishness and greed”. This was a time also when the needy among the towns were given whatever they needed to help them through the impending lean winter season.

DECEMBER: Snow Moon, Vsgiyi, The spirit being, “Snow Man”, brings the cold and snow for the earth to cover the high places while the earth rests until the rebirth of the seasons in the Windy Moon Anuyi. Families traditionally were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of seasons. Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to the young.

Cherokee model Ashley Roberts

an excellent story

Naturally Curly Girlz

"In the old story of Corn Mother the Cherokee storytellers talk about her husband Kanati. Kanati was a great hunter until he discovered he could kill outside of necessity, and kill at will, whenever he felt like it.  The animals gathered together with the Creator, and complained about Kanati. Bear spoke for the others saying the Hunter killed and left the dead where they lay, and also slept in the open by the lake without concern for anything. The other animals were angry too. They knew Kanati would eventually kill everyone if not stopped.

Creator put Kanati into a deep sleep. Kanati dreamed a plant grew out of him, and a beautiful woman grew out of the top. Thinking it was a dream he woke up. A plant had grown up next to him. He sat up. A brown woman was atop the plant. The good manners the Creator placed in him rose up within him at the sight of this brown woman. Kanati stood to help her down. She took his hand, stopped and remembering something she turned back, and took two ears of corn to remind herself, she said, of where she came from. 

There is a deep look in a woman's eye that summons the best response, and calls out the urgent necessity to be a better man in her presence, for her, and why that is lies in the things the Creator placed within every man." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories  9.01.12

CORN MOTHER - SELU

I emerged from shafts of the first sacred corn:
From Me,and My Husband

Kanati the Hunter
the First People are descended.

I return again in each ear of corn.
I dance in the summer fields
I dance the sun and the earth
I dance for all children
I dance for the rainbow
I dance for you

by Christy Salo

CORN MOTHER mask

Selu-Corn Mother Mask Mask by Lauren Raine, Great Mother to the Cherokee People
www.rainewalker.com

http://www.rainewalker.com/selu.htm 

"When I held up an ear of calico corn" Cherokee poet Marilou Awiakta wrote,"we would think about this wisdom of the Corn Mother. How the different kernels are ranged around the cob, no one more important than the other. How each kernel respects the space of those on either side, yet remains itself - red, black, white, yellow or combinations of those colors. How the Corn-Mother, in Her physical being, exemplifies unity in diversity.

wife in closet

“We, as a nation, would be far more advanced in the important arenas, and more of our sons would have lived long productive lives had women's wisdom and insight into the fundamentals of life and death were respected. But the inability of the Western belief system and creation stories cannot support the complex relationship women have with life and death during conception or birth. Ignorant of and unable to grasp these mysteries we all suffer in needless uninformed ways that tell, in our deaths, how little we know about the vital energies that sustain and balance life for one and for all of creation.” – Gregory E. Woods

LEAH LAMAT’S beauty story

“... the deep flow of the after-effect of being loved, loving and discovering the internal mysteries of being grace the appearance of a woman who is easy to gaze upon, want, need or desire. It is the formlessness of a woman's forms, her face that connects indigenous creation stories, like Corn Mother and Kanati from the Cherokee nation, to the restoration of broken souls and lives.  When Elders talk of a woman's beauty it is but one perspective of the Divine that shoulders its way into the wildness of youth, and the deeper musings of middle age.

Yea, a woman’s divinity defined by someone’s limited visual acuity remains a simple equation to them, but the expansion of thought, and a sacred hold on things intangible is the prerequisite Sacred Women use to weigh the words of admirers, and the dumb who don't grasp how to live in the open relationships of daytime beyond mere existence.” – Gregory E. Woods

CREATION STORY: Selu, Kanati and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

["On this date in 1968 Black Americans were rioting in grief and rage over the US killing of Dr. King. Cities around the nation were in flames. Those stories were not then or now balanced by stories that would upon acceptance into the conscious spirit of a people shift us away from the belly of rage and discontent. Here is one such story needing to be digested, incorporated and sung into the soul, mind and spirit of a hurting people." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories]


When Wtsiielohino had been populated for some time, all the animals became restless. The different councils of animals pondered the situation. The Deer Tribe came to the conclusion that there was something missing from creations, so they called on the Creator and asked her to complete the Circle, and she agreed to what they had asked of her.

One day while the Deer Tribe was patrolling their land, they came across a creature they had never seen before. He stood on his hind legs and had long hair growing from his head. He was the First Man, or Lucky Hunter. The deer hid in order to watch his actions. When the First Man was put on Mother Earth, he was instructed on how to live by the Creator. She taught him how to use all the parts of the deer in order to eat, make clothing, and fasten his bow with extracted sinew. She told him to always offer tobacco so the spirit of his deer cousins would remain happy. The Creator also showed him how to build a shelter where he could stay safe and warm. He then was left to go out on his own.

Days, weeks and months passed with the Deer Tribe watching the Lucky Hunter intently. They became confused by the way he carried himself. He walked around aimlessly. Even worse, he shot too many deer with his bow and arrows until their population became very scarce. He also forgot to leave tobacco when hunting. He slept every night out on the cold or muddy earth. He never attempted to build a shelter as the Creator had instructed him to do. His walk was clumsy and awkward and he constantly muttered to himself. He was not leading a balanced life; he truly was a fool. The Deer Tribe, sensing the problem this new being was causing, called upon the Creator to correct this unfortunate situation.

Things remained the same until one afternoon when the Lucky Hunter laid down on his back for an afternoon snooze. As he lay there resting in the warm sun, a giant Selu (corn) stalk grew out of his heart extending high into the sky. The stalk grew higher and higher. As the Lucky Hunter pondered what had happened, he noticed a beautiful woman appearing from the top of the stalk. She was the First Woman or Corn Maiden. The Lucky Hunter reached high into the sky and helped her down from the top of this fine creation. He instantly fell in love, and she told the First Man that they would now go to build their home. Before leaving, the First Woman took two pieces of corn, so that she would always remember where she came from. When she found a place where they would build their home, she planted the corn. They began working on their home. Soon it was completed and they seemed very content. For two years they watched the corn come and go. How they loved to watch the beautiful corn.

Looking out the window one morning, the Corn Maiden and the Lucky Hunter spotted Gana (the Sacred Turkey) nibbling on the selu. They had never known that corn was meant to be eaten. Their diet became complete once the couple started to eat the corn. The Deer Tribe increased in numbers as the First Woman taught the First Man how to live a true life. He began to give thanks and walk in a steady way. You see, the woman is the most important of Creation; she brought balance to the world.

Years went by and life remained peaceful for them. Suddenly, one afternoon as the Lucky Hunter was chopping wood in the yard, Corn Maiden became very angry. She dashed from the house and ran towards the mountains. The First Man, in a state of confusion, chased after her, but to no avail. She ran much faster than him. For every mountain he crossed, she would cross three. Finally realizing that he would never catch her, he fell to his knees and asked the Creator to help him. The Creator promised him that she would try her best.

The Corn Maiden ran and ran. Thorn buses started to appear on her path, but she continued to run without noticing the pain they caused. Other bushes sprung onto the path of many beautiful colors and fragrant smells: Gooseberries, blue- berries, and huckleberries. The First Woman paid them no attention. As she ran she simply crushed them under her feet.

Then bushes filled with heart shaped berries appeared on the path. The smell and sight of these berries caused her to stop. She decided that she would pick some of the berries. As she gathered, the Lucky Hunter continued running until he caught up to her. As she noticed him coming, a smile came over her face. She had tested his love and respect. They gathered berries together. When they started to return home, he took two of the strawberry plants to remind him of what had saved his life. After reaching their home, he planted the two strawberry plants next to the two stalks of Selu. The world continued in balance.

And this is what I was told. ~Cedric Sunray

CORN MOTHER

Madonna story = Cherokee mother & son

CORN MOTHER reflected in life. . .

A Story Of The Origin Of Corn And Tobacco - a Koasati story

Six Indian brothers traveled about. The youngest did not have enough to eat,
so he left the people and went off by himself. He took nothing with him
except an earthen pot which he carried on his back. He went on, camping each
night and traveling in the daytime. Going on camping in this way he settled
at a certain place near which he saw that two persons had built a fire. But
he stayed by his own fire watching it. In the morning the two persons saw
him and called to him to come over. When he got there they said, "Cook and
eat," and they gave him food which he cooked and ate. He remained to watch
the camp, but when day came those two men started out to hunt. After they
were gone that Indian took the little earthen pot, made it grow large by
snapping his fingers against it, set it in the fireplace filled with water
in which he had placed some food, and kept up a fire beneath until it
boiled.

The two persons traveled about and came back. When they got there he said,
"I am cooking for you." "Alas! (Hiha)," they said, "it is spoiled for us.
Now we must leave you."[1]

"To-morrow I will drive bear," said one of them. Together they went on to
drive the game toward him. They went on and camped four nights driving bear,
and saying to him, "You must drive bear this way." Then he himself went
along the trail. The Indian went. When he got where the men were standing
together they said, "We shot in this direction. The ground is bloody."

Following the trail for a while, they saw some red corn dropped on the
ground. The Indian took it and went on with it. Again they found two ears
(or kernels) of corn in the trail. He picked them up and carried them on.
Again they found two or three lying in the trail which he picked up and
carried along. Presently it was bright in front of them because there was a
big field there. When they reached it, it was something ripe (grain). The
men said, "You must stay here," and they went off. They showed him how to
make corncribs before they went. Then they left him alone. But they also
gave him tobacco seed, saying, "Plant some of this tobacco and smoke it."



Footnotes

[1] This is not clear. Perhaps he should not have cooked the food for them
because they were supernatural beings. They leave him after showing him how
to hunt bear and giving him corn and tobacco.



Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians, by John R. Swanton; Smithsonian
Institution, USGPO, Washington, D.C.; Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin
88 [1929] and is now in the public domain.( Koasati )

MANHOOD TEACHING: dialogue between Elders

Femi Boma Ibim as art

PART 53

Selu, Corn Mother

“It is the Mother's energy that generates the life forces dormant in the men of their lives. The story of Adam and Eve has done enough damage to the psyche of people, and killed enough women, and demonized enough life affirming rites of passages, ceremonies, rituals, and essential teachings into and from the higher mysteries of Life, and foiled the dreams of Life lived more abundantly. It is time for a Creation story that will enrich and inform life from a light source without the destructive elements that has killed the wombs of our Mothers, and our Mother, the Earth. This is alive at the core of my Medicine, my teachings. This is fundamental to the birth of man. This is the introduction into the manhood you, and many other women are praying to see.” - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories


"The shame of Man is not that He commits unclean acts upon Women. It is that the masculine energetics of this worlde are so readily dedicated to the destructive force against the Sacred Feminine of all Life. In doing so Man destroys all that makes Him sustainable as a Lifeform.” –Ngaronoa Mereana Taki


“Yes, it is true. We are also in a time of the Shaking of the Old Ways. It is a frightening time as those old paradigms are being unlearned one man at a time in one circle after another in various parts of the world we live in...” - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories


“I will not dance to war drums. I will pray.” – Adam Aba-Husain


“I will dance. I will pray. I will speak the truth, and to dark powers I will continue to speak the truth, and teach as best I can under the threat of death, and the promise of light.” - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories


“I think at our core, the core of our being creation stories are alive and directing our thoughts, and actions. If anything changes it starts from the deepest places within us. At the beginning is the truth of our story. At the beginning of our story is the truth.” – Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories


“We must first understand the separation, then the duality and Oneness. We separated from what was known and within that separation we loss the balance of self, true love of self and our connection to All things. I think we must first understand that story is a part of our DNA, or human record, and I too believe it is at the core. Now! I do think we must first find true love within in order to KNOW the balance. Once we have done that we can show then tell. Most of us have known so much despair that recognizing true love is hard. I am not using unconditional love because I do not think it walks far enough.” -Grandmother Dawn Sky Weaver


“You don't think unconditional love goes far enough?” – Dawn Wolf


“No. Because True Love is the All Unconditional only defines a part of human values. True love need no definition because it is TRUE.And we know true…True love KNOWS respect, compassion, service, peace, joy, etc.” – Grandmother Dawn Sky Weaver

Femi Boma Ibim as art

ACCOMPLISHMENT

Marysol Castro, CBS newscaster

Achievement, the subject, and the work one employs to become successful leaped out at me when I first saw Marysol Castro on CBS news this morning. Her Hispanic name, the way she enunciates, and confidently moves on camera, and around the set made me sit down during her performance, and watch. I habitually tune the weather and sports out. It is too much dribble. The secrets of the day's temperature call out to all the senses if you go outside and stand still listening. I admit the vast loss of our instinctual nature; animals and forests have made it more difficult to discern the moods of seasons, and temperature. Indifferent to us, the air tells its own stories as always but people, sheep like, have relinquished the ingenuity of knowing themselves through their Mother, our Earth, and have no idea what I’m talking about. A reliance on machines, the lead of white men taught to us since birth, and the Western downplay of intuition has created a culture phenomenon: disconnection.

These news anchorwomen who are married with children I pay attention to. I listen to their banter. They talk of their children and how they balance their lives in a masculine way. In these times the nurturing required of mothers is quartered off into timed segments out of synch with their children’s rhythms. Their conversations around home life are often spoken in the tones of sportscasters flipping through subjects of vital importance with studied nonchalance. It is too masculine. Without the presence of the sacred, and the cadence of tranquility disrobing the harsh lights, and the scrutiny of millions of disconnected people placing judgment on their choices female professional women often lose the deep sense of the priestess’ craft much a part of an ancient tradition with its rituals, its depth of ceremony, its connection to the Earth, our Mother, and the vulnerable quality of mother's immersed in the ancient teachings, songs and stories, and chants about the Sacred Feminine, the Sacred Woman, the Wild Woman Songs, the Old Wise Women, the Punany, and Blood stories, the Life Sustainer, Creation stories, and their important role as Keepers of the Womb their men need to become better men. Without these how can a husband hold his Sacred Dream in the light of their wife’s energies?

How modern beliefs, and Lifeways sacrifice the depth and mystery of Womanhood is the legacy of Europe’s Inquisition, the pride of the Conservative movement, and the second wife of Adam in the Hebraic tradition. This is history. What is her story both husbands, and children ask by action more than anything else? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

 

Marysol Castro,(r) on ABC news set with Kate Snow

SPIRITUALITY

... for me there something beautiful, elusive in form, and present within this woman. She holds a power men cannot visit and walk away with, but may visit. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories

SCIENCE FICTION: urban development & Corn Mother

Marina Sirtis, actress Star  Trek

There is a deep feeling from science fiction that should alarm anyone who sees the Earth as their Mother. "Science fiction is the science of the future" a college professor told me when I was a young student. ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

actress Marina Sirtis, as Deanna Troi season 4

Corn Maiden and Lucky Hunter - Cherokee

When Wtsiielohino had been populated for some time, all the animals became restless. The different councils of animals pondered the situation. The Deer Tribe came to the conclusion that there was something missing from creations, so they called on the Creator and asked her to complete the Circle, and she agreed to what they had asked of her.

One day while the Deer Tribe was patrolling their land, they came across a creature they had never seen before. He stood on his hind legs and had long hair growing from his head. He was the First Man, or Lucky Hunter. The deer hid in order to watch his actions. When the First Man was put on Mother Earth, he was instructed on how to live by the Creator. She taught him how to use all the parts of the deer in order to eat, make clothing, and fasten his bow with extracted sinew. She told him to always offer tobacco so the spirit of his deer cousins would remain happy. The Creator also showed him how to build a shelter where he could stay safe and warm. He then was left to go out on his own.

Days, weeks and months passed with the Deer Tribe watching the Lucky Hunter intently. They became confused by the way he carried himself. He walked around aimlessly. Even worse, he shot too many deer with his bow and arrows until their population became very scarce. He also forgot to leave tobacco when hunting. He slept every night out on the cold or muddy earth. He never attempted to build a shelter as the Creator had instructed him to do. His walk was clumsy and awkward and he constantly muttered to himself. He was not leading a balanced life; he truly was a fool. The Deer Tribe, sensing the problem this new being was causing, called upon the Creator to correct this unfortunate situation.

Things remained the same until one afternoon when the Lucky Hunter laid down on his back for an afternoon snooze. As he lay there resting in the warm sun, a giant Selu (corn) stalk grew out of his heart extending high into the sky. The stalk grew higher and higher. As the Lucky Hunter pondered what had happened, he noticed a beautiful woman appearing from the top of the stalk. She was the First Woman or Corn Maiden. The Lucky Hunter reached high into the sky and helped her down from the top of this fine creation. He instantly fell in love, and she told the First Man that they would now go to build their home. Before leaving, the First Woman took two pieces of corn, so that she would always remember where she came from. When she found a place where they would build their home, she planted the corn. They began working on their home. Soon it was completed and they seemed very content. For two years they watched the corn come and go. How they loved to watch the beautiful corn.

Looking out the window one morning, the Corn Maiden and the Lucky Hunter spotted Gana (the Sacred Turkey) nibbling on the selu. They had never known that corn was meant to be eaten. Their diet became complete once the couple started to eat the corn. The Deer Tribe increased in numbers as the First Woman taught the First Man how to live a true life. He began to give thanks and walk in a steady way. You see, the woman is the most important of Creation; she brought balance to the world.

Years went by and life remained peaceful for them. Suddenly, one afternoon as the Lucky Hunter was chopping wood in the yard, Corn Maiden became very angry. She dashed from the house and ran towards the mountains. The First Man, in a state of confusion, chased after her, but to no avail. She ran much faster than him. For every mountain he crossed, she would cross three. Finally realizing that he would never catch her, he fell to his knees and asked the Creator to help him. The Creator promised him that she would try her best.

The Corn Maiden ran and ran. Thorn buses started to appear on her path, but she continued to run without noticing the pain they caused. Other bushes sprung onto the path of many beautiful colors and fragrant smells: Gooseberries, blue- berries, and huckleberries. The First Woman paid them no attention. As she ran she simply crushed them under her feet.

Then bushes filled with heart shaped berries appeared on the path. The smell and sight of these berries caused her to stop. She decided that she would pick some of the berries. As she gathered, the Lucky Hunter continued running until he caught up to her. As she noticed him coming, a smile came over her face. She had tested his love and respect. They gathered berries together. When they started to return home, he took two of the strawberry plants to remind him of what had saved his life. After reaching their home, he planted the two strawberry plants next to the two stalks of Selu. The world continued in balance.

And this is what I was told. ~Cedric Sunray

Submitted by Wolf Walker.

From archives of Blue Panther Keeper of Stories