WHAT SHE IS. . .

of Simone McLeod:



"I am looking into your face. It is not the beauty that holds me and keeps me looking into your face it is the statements you convey from the silence wrapped around you, and place in the shadows. Beauty isn't an announcement it is a state of being one's self, naked, firm, and in your story stoic, at times, and hard to categorize other times. What is beautiful to the eye holds my attention. What pertains to the heart stills the moment. What isn't said is as alive as what is conveyed in a glance, a song, a moment of awe and a reflection of essence..."  - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 6.15.14 [Father's Day]

Ojibwe artist Simone McLeod
May 15, 2014 

 

Simone McLeod

May 14, 2014 

 

PRACTICE 48: your face your shield

Ojibwe artist Simone McLeod
 Shared with:Public  

I look in your face and remember, "The fighter is the warrior in the dramas we create and encounter, the people and ideas we defend, and the scope of our responsibility in our communities. The warrior is defined by the crudeness of taking life and the difficulty in the details of sustaining and affirming life. It is a choice to be brave. It is a choice to be wise. It is a choice to define who you are and what kind of person you will become. All these things make up minds, and the all of the aspects of a warrior are drawn into his/her shields and embedded within the expressions worn on the face." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 6.15.14

Warrior Man holding paint brush as if it is a prayer pipe.
May 11 

, 2014

"Beauty will save the world. Brush and paint artist are a powerful weapon." -  Vasil Woodland

Find Yourself in Yesterday

Native American Ancestry 

Native warrior overlooking

REVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT

"The key is not to argue and bicker over who is allegedly more worthy. But, instead honor our ancestors who were, and are our mentors and role models. By uniting behind an agenda which advances all of our relations, our best interests, etc.; any alleged  leaders, (Red, Black or other), who aren't a reflection of that aren't worth even mentioning...FYI!" 

- Charles Thompson Jr. 9.7.14 

Native American art - MEN

Native art - Grandmother sharing 

Transposition

4 African women together

"Vulnerability, I've learned over the years, leads to strength." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 5.24.13

4 Archers

WHAT SHE CREATES. . .

Simone McLeod

Ojibwe artist Simone McLeod
May 12, 2014 

I love this illusion. It is like play when you see or perceive something or someone from the other worlds, but your vision plays tricks on your eyes until you either believe what you saw, or question it knowing it is really there! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 6.15.14

one of the artist's works of art by Simone McLeod
May 26 , 2014

MY LIFE, A STORY

Simone McLeod, Ojibwe artist
April 25, 2014 

  

by Simone McLeod

"I get tired of struggling all the time. It would be nice to stop and just feel like a woman for a while." - Simone McLeod, artist March 21, 2014 

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

______________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________

artist, Simone McLeod
May 8 

Native Woodland Art

Miniature deep etched texture canvas by Simone DeLeon 

see the featured art of Fisher Star Creations

from a conversation with a young man. . .

You are right, Fred, not every man is ready for a good woman. The game players are at the lower end of development learning and enjoying themselves. Only one's character distinguishes the game from its tendency to being demeaning and in the end cynicism is all that that will be left. It takes guidance to arrive at the place of one's manhood where he is ready for the 'right' woman. It is not by chance. It is by guidance and wise counsel one is guided to this place of being. It is very attractive a lure. - Gregory 

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"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." ~ Martin Luther

the art work of Penny Gamble-Williams titled: "Mother-Daughter".

STRENGTH OF & IN OUR ART

Ira Jonesbeautiful images of native americans

9.7.13

nine. seven. thirteen

Nine/seven/two thousand thirteen

SPEAK NATIVE AMERICAN

art - Mother's praying over Creation

Native African spiritual people

TURTLE ISLAND

Periodically, I need to remind some folks about the hidden world current of the prayers, and ceremonies that hold this land together, and have done so for thousands of years. Turtle Island is an embodiment of energies concentrated in particular ways that serve, and survive beneath the structure of the corporation of the United States as a force of Nature from sea to shining sea! ! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 5.2.13

poster of subliminal impressions

ELDER SAGE

There is always something beautiful when we look for it, and always something wrong when we expect it. Even though experience takes us through territory we would not have chosen, we can always learn something. This is one of those times when rainfall is light and gardens need extra attention, but along the fences the sunflowers are perfect. They show us how to thrive when circumstances are not ideal. Straight and tall and exceedingly strong, these summer flowers prove they can take the heat. Look for the beauty and expect things to take a turn for the better. They will—just as difficult times in the past have given way to better times. This time of trial, like others before it, will be forgotten. As a present, anything we have you can take with you ... but the land.

CHIEF BLACKFOOT, CROW

EYES: art of an Indian woman

Native woman arms outstretched

prayers

Seven is the sacred number of the Cherokee. The seven sacred directions are East, South, West, North, all above, all below, and where you now stand in the center. The seven sacred clans are the Deer, Wolf, Paint, Blue, Bird, Wild Potato, and Long Hair (or Twister). Each had an important responsibility within each village.

Wolf-Keepers of the wolf and War Chiefs, wore red,

Bird- Keepers of the birds; had hunting birds they were messengers.

Blue-Keepers of the blue medicine to keep the children well

Paint-Make red paint; used crystals; medicine men and women

Wild Potato (later Bear) - Farmers, made bread from wild potato

Deer-keepers of the deer; fast runners and hunters

I pulled out my Cherokee shield pin and will describe it to you. There is a yellow star shaped flower in the center then circle of blue with leaves etched in gold, then a circle of red within the words "Seal of the Cherokee Nation" in English and in Cherokee then an outer ring of green. In Ireland goddess tradition, three represented the Maiden, Mother and Crone and the other trio was Body, Mind and Spirit. You have chosen the two numbers most sacred to your heritage (I am of course assuming that there is some Cherokee in there somewhere). ~ Pam Tinker, Eastern band Cherokee nation (Wolf Clan), Irish & friend

DANCE SACRED

"The dances are prayers." -Pop Chalee, TAOS PUEBLO

”When we dance to the drum we pray to the Creator and attract the heartbeat of the earth. We never dance without reason; every dance has a purpose. We dance for rain; we dance for healing; we dance for seasons; we dance for joy; we dance for our children; we dance for the people; we dance for courage. The drum plays to the beat of the heart, to the beat of the Earth. The drum connects us to the Earth while we dance our prayers. Oh, Great One, let my dance and prayer be heard by You.” – Maxine Hartman 

dancing in the light of sun setting Debra Robinson

“... a few related stories come to mind hearing these words anew. Tied to the Creation story of the Drum is this very same charge when the People first met the drum. Every one of the People from the Four Walks, the Four Winds, the Four Colors heard the Drum telling its stories yesterday a long time ago. We all remember in our heart chambers the song of the first story about the relationship between heart, and dance, the mind and the heart, and sound and movement.

AHO! We dance and live.” – Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of the Drum

dancing at powwow

dancing at Temple University homecoming by Talia Woods

Here I am, Dawn Wolf, (l.) dancing at 2008 powow at Maryland University

 

MANHOOD DISCUSSION: Fatherhood & Prophets

an African woman holding her child's heart !!!!

HUSBAND



“King is always finding ways to uplift, praise, honor, and exalt his wife. It is a teaching, a spiritual practice young cats should grasp if they wish to understand the essence of manhood, and the energy of being a caretaker, a husband talking a love song to his wife as man, a priest-warrior.” - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

Mereana Taki in front of dark background

PROPHETS



In my Nativez World all visionaries who see far and work near, are also noted as Prophets. In our Nativez tongue it would be Matakite ~ Mata = eyes, kite = to see. Matakite. He uses a certain oratorical range of devices, turns it inside out on itself and gives irony and sledge hammered impact. All cultures have their Prophets, their respective due is given especially those able to rally the people through oratory which speaks straight to the Soul. Rongo is our Deity of peaceful pursuits and cultivation so symbolizing two conjoint things in ourselves as younger Kin.

(1) Peace is an INNERessence. (2) Like every sacred Garden of potential it knows seasons and cycles of change, transformation, transition and dormancy. The full range of life's seasons is also Peace's own seasons and cycles.

These are my words and eye take full responsibility for them. Ocean Sister ...Ngaronoa Mereana Taki in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Native art from Indigenouz Fellowzhip

TURTLE



Turtle Medicine from Moon Flower Wallen's site

 TURTLE STORIES




“I know a lot about Turtle from his ancient stories. His storytelling style is easy to read and listen to in the forest. Held captive as a pet Turtle doesn't tell his stories with clarity.” – Gregory E. Woods

BUFFALO WARRIOR

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