I heard something else...

WALKING AWAY IS A HARD THING! Even slaves have a hard time walking away. You have done it for so long; no place to go, no one to turn to. You find yourself being free but not free indeed. Doors are being open. The way is being shown; yet eyes cannot see, ears cannot hear, mouths can no longer talk; yet you want me to walk away. How dare you to insult my intelligence.
I am staying right where I am. SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS... - Richard Pryor 

"Richard, apparently you are deeply connected to the significance of the language of the grandchildren of ex-slaves, and the sound within the voices of slaves newly freed. You put words to it all of a sudden in the midst of a time when it is still the value system of a significant number of Black Americans.

Well said.

Negro slaves clung to a Jesus told to them by slave owners, and slave hungers, and preachers and politicians that has not changed much in form and content up until this day! Without changing that Jesus the bondage of the grandchildren of ex-slaves is the same as their fore parents before and immediately after 1865. To understand freedom one has to understand its denials. Unfortunately, that is not the concern, or the spiritual work of millions although it obviously is the need for the times, and times past." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.7.13

Celestial Moment with Celeste Morgan
October 6, 2013

4 is the energy running today... 4 speaks of order, groundedness and balance. The Number 4 is also ruled by the planet Uranus, which represents all that is original and inventive and out of the box! It rules freedom and originality. So we are going to stop calling 4 people square little worker bees! 4 also has authority. It makes an appearance as the Emperor in Tarot and the Emperor is astrologically connected to the sign of ARIES. The number 4 is also the sacred number of the Orisha of Thunder, Lightning and Fire......King SHANGO has fire in his mouth. With this masculine energy, we are able to put FORM and ORDER to our DREAMS with passion.

Interesting that 4 also has a feminine touch. It is the 4th Chakra which is the HEART Chakra. When it is balanced, we experience AGAPE LOVE. The number 4 also makes an appearance as the DEER in Medicine Cards. And the Deer gifts us gentleness.

When we learn to dance with the fullness of the 4 energies, we learn to walk with Compassionate Power! Blessing all those we meet including ourselves. ~ Celeste Morgan, Oct. 6, 2013

Sky beings

slaves resting

AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE

Seven Stone People

It is by no mistake that stones were used as the visual, and the corresponding energy to accompany the quote, "No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence." from T.S. Eliot's pen, and life force. The Stone People are receptive storytellers and containers of memories of stories they've witnessed and held many a millennium. The Stone People sit upon the Earth, our Mother, or nestle beneath her, or live in the Waters of the World as witnesses holding countless stories. Their abilities are their responsibility ours is to be receptive, and listen to the Stone People. 

Didn't Jesus say that if people don't praise and honor the Creator the rocks would cry out praise for the Creator? Yes, it is true.  The Stone People are deep in their responsibilities caring for their understandings. Let us live in the depth of our spiritual responsibilities, and abilities the Creator gave us. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 7.25.13

symbol of teaching

DEER PEOPLE on the Red Road

A Deer is an animal of love, tenderness,and swiftness. There is an old story about
the animal kingdom wanting to get into heaven to see the Almighty God.
At a council meeting all the animals stood up to tell why they would be the most appropriate one
to get to the kingdom of God. The Bear stood up and said,

" I, Bear , who is the strongest bravest creature will go to see the Creator".

Upon the road to the Creator stood a big , nasty, monster. The bear took one look and ran back to the animal kingdom to tell of the nasty, monster.

The Eagle Screeched, "I will fly over the monster to get to see the Creator". Off went the eagle.
He flew higher and higher and got closer to the kingdom of the Creator than any other animal before.
He started to screech a prayer. "Almighty Great Creator, I so would like to see You".
The Almighty Creator said, "It is true you are the best at reaching high enough to talk to me,
but a messenger is all you will be. Tell the rest of the animals that they have to go through the red road of truth to find me".
The eagle said to The Almighty Creator," But there is a monster in the way , how can we cross?
The Almighty said no further. The eagle went back and told all the animals of what the Almighty had said to him.
and all the animals started to fight and argue. 

The Deer hearing such a roar jumped so high he landed right in front of the nasty monster.
The deer looked into the eyes of the monster and stared. 
The monster looked deep into the deer's eyes and saw
love, warmth and tenderness, and upon seeing that the monster melted away. 
And so the deer was the first to go through the red road of truth to see the Almighty.

http://www.phoenixarises.com/spirits/spiritshome.htm

Turning Conflict Into Art

Native American woman Junal Gerlach in her power

There is real difficulty in naming, acknowledging, and owning the experience of violation, and potentially trauma, which can sometimes occur in intense conflicts. It can be even more challenging to move on from conflicts that offer no balm or accountability for the unethical actions of others. We can be hurt so deeply when the acknowledgement of our voice, our perspective, our strength, and the integrity of our intentions is refused. The 'easy', (and sometimes brutish) route of blaming and scapegoating for a conflict situation emerges when another's humanity is denied.


Speaking truth to power is one of the most paradoxically powerful and vulnerable forms of conflict that emerges in our world. Toxic authority — both the kind that is entrenched in outer systems, as well as in inner ways of relating that are learned behaviours - does not like to be challenged, or have its actions questioned in any way. Toxic power can respond to questioning with rage, panic, and ruthlessness. Rather than allow the truth to emerge, cover-ups and denial are the learned modes of operating, thereby creating more and more confusion and despair within the self-regulating system of life. Healthy life systems have their own exquisitely tuned feedback loops, which are always co-creating towards greater self-expression, self-expansion and wholeness.


Learning from the dance of opposites that we find in the natural world, we see the stunning co-creativity that is constantly at work in all dynamics. If we could remember, and truly trust this instinct and impulse, our trauma could potentially become the canvas of the greatest form of expression of the deepest source of our selves. The artist of life, through honouring and expressing the comedy and tragedy of the dance can turn painful conflict into an exquisite new creation.


By MARIA VAMVALIS
MAY 21, 2010
http://rememberingtheancientdeer.blogspot.com/2010/05/turning-conflict-into-art.html