The ties that bind

Durante um tempo fiquei observando esse animal no cemitério, era impressionante, mas ele mantinha uma mesma postura e nunca se movia do lugar ao lado desse túmulo. Depois de uns 15 minutos ele saiu de cabeça baixa.
Então resolvi perguntar ao segurança do cemitério porque deixaste um cavalo entrar nesse local?
Para a minha surpresa, ele falou que depois que o dono dele morreu toda tarde ele estava choramigando no portão para entrá-lo. Dizem que esse cavalo era tão amigo desse homem que não poderia viver sem ele, pois foi a pessoa que salvou sua vida, sua mãe morreu de parto e ele foi criado como filho pelo seu dono. Por isso, todos os dias ele está aqui para agradecer-lo.

Moral: Nunca se esqueça daquele amigo que te deu a mão quando vc não tinha mais forças para continuar. 

Horse in the grave yard.

For a while I was watching this animal in the cemetery, it was impressive, but he kept the same posture and never moved from the place next to that tomb. After about 15 minutes he came out of his head.

So I decided to ask the cemetery security because you let a horse into this place?

To my surprise, he said that after his owner died every afternoon he was choramigando at the gate to accessed him. They say that this horse was such a friend of this man who could not live without him, for it was the person who saved his life, his mother died of childbirth and he was raised as a son by his owner. So every day he's here to thank you.

Moral: never forget that friend who gave you your hand when you had no more strength to continue. - Dr. Frases  

Do I Need a Title?

There is a rumble in a story I am going to tell beneath the surface.

Black Americans, I believe, fail their children because parents place their full trust in a system designed for their children's demise. Black people 'adore' white American's contempt. If it were not true the obvious things to protect and develop their children would be done automatically.

Abandoning our children is a deep and conscious decision made daily. Not plunging into why the system of thought about education exists is abnegation of duty. Or maybe Black Americans are lazy. There are other systems of education that fit our children that is not resistant to creativity and is resistant to social engineering. There are other battles to fight within these schools, but it is better to fight those fights with a sense of knowing the control has shifted in your favor. And then there is control. I don't believe, and I am not convinced Blacks are finished with their assigned role of subjugation.

Maybe, Blacks are waiting to be saved, or simply enjoy complaining. The onus is on us to grab the reins of the horse running amok and bring him to a halt. The reins physically control the horse's movement, but the horse studies the rider's soul, and emotions. His determination of the substance of strength or weakness in the rider supports his compliance, or rebellion. Riders know this. It is why some healers use horses to mediate the healing and balancing of disruption, disorder, psychic pain, and trauma in a wide variety of people. Water mediates and tempers the soul, balances fire's propensity to destroy by directing the heat to heal when needed. Understanding the elements are the genius of indigenous cultures. Education, at the level it is, in modern life is not based upon the structures of living in the world as co-creators, and caretakers, or nurturers. It is based on something insidious.   

What would the American education system look like if Black Americans, en masse, moved away from their norm and rode horses instead of walking mules on acreage they don't own? What would change in the social environment if Black people shifted from the slave/mastery mentality into the difficult waters of self-sufficiency, if they trained their own children's spirits?

At the core of the controversy about education is one unanswered question many white people on both ends of the spectrum ask of each other, but avoid asking Black parents: "If Black lives mattered would Colored folks be so dependent upon white's control over their lives?"  

Gregory E. Woods, Grandfather  

Dec. 15, 2016

Her Red Road Walk

When I walk, I remember the moments that add up to my life.
When I walk, I see everything, but I focus on the beauty that still wasn't destroyed by human hand and I thank you. 

When I walk, I'm smiling because there's so much that fills my heart with gratitude and beauty. The clouds of sadness they tend to disappear. 

When I walk, I'm aware of how important that we believe and know how insignificant we are with our struggles. The Earth will still be around and purificandose in itself, that's why I let her equally or more clean than it is to my step, consumption, less consumption more natural, but.... no one take my chocolate ;-) 

(Mischa Little Bear, 2016)

Little Bear (Mischa), 2016.

Cuando camino, recuerdo los instantes que suman mi vida.
Cuando camino, veo todo, pero me centro en la belleza que aún no fue destruída por mano humana y doy las gracias.

Cuando camino, sonrío porque hay tanto que llena mi corazón de gratitud y belleza. Las nubes de tristeza tienden por desaparecer.

Cuando camino, estoy consciente de lo importante que nos creemos y sé lo insignificantes que somos con nuestras luchas. La tierra seguirá rondando y purificandose en sí misma, por eso, procuro dejarla igual o más limpia de lo que esta a mi paso, consumo menos, consumo más natural, pero....que nadie me quite mi chocolate.




Little Bear is a Cherokee woman living in Valencia, Spain. She introduced me (via cyberspace) to a vibrant Native community in Spain. Years ago, I was shocked. I had not considered such a thing possible, but we are resilient people known for wandering. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories Nov. 21, 2016

There Are Some Things You Have To Live

Michelle Rodriguez, actress 

Any man who aspires to be with a 'Wild Woman' must be either a rough, wild, unruly man himself, or highly developed in the areas of his ability to ride with the highest spirited horse on the open range. Now, I am saying something provocative, which may be insulting to a segment of the population. My brief definition implies that Wild Women are crude (in the first definition), and unattainable in the second. 

I am comparing the latter man, in my assessment, and Wild Women with free roaming horses because of my experience, as a teenager, watching wild horses deep in the forest near my home.  The only boundaries free horses had bordered the places men frequented. In exchange for respecting this boundary set up by horses the horses lived longer. Men seldom found themselves in the presence of these horses because they were outmatched by the spirits these horses carried within them, and because wild, free horses were invisible to the average man. See the links? I did. 

In my future I became one of those men in the company of Wild Women, and a couple times in warm loving relationships with Wild Women. I met them sitting still in a forest listening. The comparisons beg to a question, or more, if they are not invisible to you! ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 8.24.14  

Paula Patton straddling exercise horse 

Regenerative elements IN Melanin = Freedom



Mystery Woman on Black Horse

"We need those who don't fear the oppressor to rise up with us. My people in states are still bonded in European religion so we can't convince them to put their saviour aside to complete our mission to mental freedom. We got to rise up even if it means leaving them behind because we can't save those who dismiss reality even when its been provided a million times." - Melanin Rich Coco nov. 19, 2014

mystery of an African Woman

To Travel in Style



hot rod & Amelia Jane !!!!



Hannah & her horse for Direct TV

 

FOCUS BEYOND

Running horse

art by  Kristen  - Running Horse  

The Veil Over Humanity

The cycle of birth, old and death reveals much as to the nature of our un-enlightened mind. We are under the veil of inherent slavery to mesmerisms of the media, violence and various subconscious addictions. The 3 attributes of the inner flame must be developed by prayer, decree and meditation. The attributes of wisdom, love and power are the qualities I speak of.

The veil of mesmerism includes being caught by the news and media which sends us perverted images of the inner flame. One good decree for overcoming this is:

In the name of the I AM Presence transmute (3X) all perversions of the news and media which attempt to fascinate and captivate the minds of the torch bearers.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear a minister from the Congo speak about the veil that is covering humanity. I was very surprised in that it sounded superstitious to me. It wasn't until I had a meditation in which I saw this veil as a covering. Something like a dark cloud.

This is why it is so important that lightbearers and torchbearers use the tools that they have to armor ourselves and our loved ones. Increasingly as we near the time when the consciousness of humanity is moved toward taking it's rightful place as Sons and Daughters of the most High we will be attacked by news and media. We will also be attacked by sounds, rhythms and distorted images which are perversions of the light.

This is not work that I had planned to write about. Sela. The Ascended Masters are sending us light and I AM a humble Torchbearer. 

by Warren 'Atiba' Taylor 1.18.10

elegant Black woman kneeling in the shade 

FINE

Plus Size Model Sandy Dietrich

absolutely beautiful breasts & body of Tyra Banks

Speaking of Hannah

Hannah Davis & her horse for Direct TV has enchanted me each time I've seen the commercial leaving me breathless with wonder and nudged towards switching to Direct TV. But, I catch myself at least half an hour later and realize it all boils down to dollars and quality. I don't know much about Direct TV. I think is a service with satellite dishes. I don't cater to the dishes. They are creepy associations I have with the Cold War, communism and spooky cloak and dagger types spying on citizens which is today a reality. That present day reality annoys me because it was a skillfully executed upon a people who used to value freedom, define it and fight for it.
- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories
5.24.15

Hannah Davis astride her horse !!!!

 

New Testament

The New Testament speaks of karma and resurrection in the same breaths. The words, as I recall are 'as so above so below...' 

In many churches I've learned from, or in Sunday school the subjects of multiple lives, reincarnation, and karma were either avoided, or explained away by scriptures like the one that said there is only one death, or that Jesus died for our sins. Maybe he did, but his three days after crucifiction took him to hell where he restored life to some of the dead. On the cross he promised eternal life for one thief, and the other had to face the karma of his action. What was Jesus teaching? ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 5.24.13

4 Horseman

GRACE & POISE

Nightcap Clothing

December 3, 2012

If a GODDESS had one word

"Pure life is formless."
- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories

Crystal Barrett, the art of

Samyra Gellatly-De La Torrezz

Adventure in the DARE

Pure adventure is avoided typically by the mundane who are the fearful. They are the poor character in the story Jesus told about the rich man who left talents, or money to three of his servants before he went on a trip. Each man received a different amount. When the master returned from his trip he rewarded two of the men for increasing the talents given to them, but the third man had his taken from him and given to the man with the greatest increase. Why? The poor man was fearful and buried his talent. He thought it would be safer, without risk, and prudent to return to the master what the master had given him.

That is how the average, the mundane, the fearful live their lives. Even those who simply accumulate wealth for wealth's sake are like the third man. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 3.26.13

daring you to do something

SELIKA LAZESKI

Selika Lazevski - 1891

Selika was an écuyère who performed haute école - which means she was an equestrian who rode high school dressage in French circuses in the 19th century.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS QUOTE?
“It isn't a matter of black is beautiful as much as it is white is not all that's beautiful. ” --Bill Cosby

She was photographed by Felix Nadar in 1891.

HORSE BACK

from Yasmeen Wardot's gallery

"Yasmeen, is that you in the photo?" I asked.

"Can't tell you."

"I respect that." I said to her. "I tell you this is a powerful image and the feel of it is provocative. I know the way horses go into your spirit. This image must reflect aspects of your core so in that respect this image is a representation of something engaging and profound you embody.

You need not answer that. Mystique is important and the maintenance of it is as vital as water is to the body. This is merely my reaction to something primal in the image of a woman in the most hostile of environments; the desert elegantly astride a horse!" - Gregory (12.23.12 )

Selika Lazevski

Selika Lazevski

Selika Lazevski was an écuyère who performed haute école - which means she was an equestrian who rode high school dressage in French circuses in the 19th century. Felix Nadar photographed her in 1891. Thanks to author Susanna Forrest, who shared great details on Selika Lazevski and the possible origins of her first name on her blog. from Vintage Black Glamour

... from a world, and time far from now we can't possibly 'feel'. That is a dynamic thrust into our past, our collective past. Man, many things rushed through me looking at her. She must have been an intense and incredible lover! Must have commanded respect in a way unique to the times, and certainly to these times without the social obstacles, and rules she lived within.

What did it feel like holding her?” How did she love? What drove her? How did she maintain dignity and poise against the backdrop of cultural and social prejudices, and expectations? Her personality; did it drive men away, and horrify women, colored women in particular?

I don't know. So many questions I'd ask her, or know instantly, should I fall back in time to her era. - Gregory E. Woods

“This photo speaks to the soul of every strong, proud woman of African descent. It embodies our timeless spirit, and everything we are, and can be...in one glorious portrait. I loved it when it was nameless; it stirred my curiosity to no end. I am so pleased that Selika Lazevski's name, and accomplishments weren't lost to us.” - Sarah Jackson Browne https://www.facebook.com/SarahAnnetta 7.3.12

FIRST LIGHT

SACRED MEDICINES

"The Creator teaches us nothing we don't already know. It is the guidance towards what the Creator placed within us that is the discoveries we come to recognize as what we have learned, or been taught. Or maybe I don't know what I already know and knowledge is remembering." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories  1.3.13

BEATING WOMEN

"DOMESTIC VIOLENCE cannot be restricted to 'households' and specific Families ...it takes place in the context of global divisions of power and control unevenly distributed through structured institutional 'systems of resource collection, re distribution and exclusions'. If you are serious in dealing with DOMESTIC VIOLENCE address THE WHOLE CONTEXT at its CAUSAL ROOTS not merely in its symptoms with ambulances at the bottom of predictable cliffs." - Mereana Taki

white woman astride a brown horse

GLANCE INTO A WOMAN'S LIFE: Kristy McConville

Facebook introduced me to Kristy McConville. It was a comment she made on one of my posts. It wasn't a deep or insightful comment. It was a funny aside. I'd posted an interesting illusion of a display of vegetables. Lying across the middle of the display is a woman's form composed of the vegetables on display. My first response was typical of me, "Purity blended with nourishment."

Debra Gibson, a wonderful and gift singer and composer said, “Looks like someone already grabbed the melons…

Kristy responded in good humor. “Debra....You are a hoot.... and yes, the melons have already been claimed.... haha.... do you think this is permanent tattooing?

“Kristy, you think that is a tattoo? I asked.

“I thought it was… Maybe stick ons… haha!”

Innocent enough, huh? Well, it could have been nothing or it could’ve been something. I made something of it, I guess because I looked at her profile picture and looked into her face, and saw adventure. White women, more than any other group of women in today’s world, are more associated with the distance they can walk from the image, and role of motherhood into rugged, exciting dangerous sport, and adventures. The ‘best’ of white women are both physically measured, and judged, or they are a challenge to the norm by their actions and small concerne for the frivolous concerns of the more popular aspect of being a grown woman! Women in other groups are typically associated with survival, and that in itself has its own appeal with staying alive and afloat being so vitally important.

There is a long history leading up to this modern fact of modern life in the West, and as time goes past the grave stones of those who lived, and laid down their lives for better conditions for the next generations perhaps more women will take on the challenge of their convictions, and dream of the outdoors, not as an opponent, but as an adventure, and a centerpiece of sacred matrimony, rejuvenation, centering and grounding into the memories of the female energies embedded within the dirt, and coiling around what grows out of the Earth, covers her, as well. But these thoughts came to me after I read snippets of her life revealed here and there about who she is and how she sees, and moves in the world. 

“I adored living in Wyoming....Driving the team of Belgians was at a friends Cattle/Horse Ranch out West of Pinedale Wyoming....and the picture with my Quarte Horse AJ was at another friends cattle ranch south of Jackson Hole, near the very tiny town of Bondurant...”

“I really loved living in Jackson Hole and never ever would have left but accepted a marriage proposal from an old flame....which turned out to be a real nightmare in many ways....but that is a story for another day....Went on many Pack Trips with my wonderful horse AJ......(I often packed in alone, which in retrospect was not a great idea)........up into The Windriver Wilderness and had a semi-permanent little camp set up which was wonderful....When I packed in alone, I would usually meet friends up there....”

“I worked for Ted Hatch as a Swamper and Naturalist Interpreter for 10yrs and was the first girl he ever hired and the first girl hired on the river that I know of...Georgene Billingsly was pretty close there too...I started down there in 1970....Besides Georgie White, was the first girl with 100trips thru The Grand...and Steve was first to have 100trips for a man.....”

Her interest and training in Fine Arts, Geology, Spanish Anthropology, and her  Bachelor of Science degree mask her durable vibrancy. These combinations, I am sure, are not the whole of the person, the woman, but for young women this is a life worth examining: an adventurous one. © Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

Kristy McConville

Kristy McConville

Native American horse regalia