I’ve had my share of what you’d call ‘mystical’ experiences. They transcend the ordinary and intrigue the psyche on so many levels.
Even though I’m wrapped in my own space I’m aware that the space takes me beyond what I know to be true. These moments are when we meet creativity and it meets us — no boundaries.
I just let go and don’t question the truth of these spaces. They are the times that leave footprints behind in my memory to a trail that is as fresh as if I’d travelled it yesterday.
A wintery wake-up call
One morning in the middle of a crisp Northern Ontario winter in 1992, I headed off to work earlier than usual. It was cold and the sun hadn’t yet risen. Street lights cast frigid shadows on the snow that squeaked under foot and my breath blew wispy fingers that beckoned me forward.
The cold wrapped itself around me from all directions, poking at me to wake. Course, I simply withdrew further into my heavy parka. While standing at the bus stop alone and shivering, I found myself reflecting on what I’d learned about the Native American Medicine Wheel:
excerpt by Jutlia Atli…
“The Wheel basically represents the sacred directions of the cosmos and the religious beliefs and beings associated with them, it represents us at the center and then illustrates that all worlds, states, beings, etcetera are greatly affected by the myriad of forces all around and within us….”
The names of the gatekeepers of the Cherokee medicine wheel are Awahili, the Eagle (East/Truth), Waya, the Wolf (South/Family), Yona, the Bear (West/Introspection) and Yunsai, the White Buffalo (North/Renewal). As we move with the different seasons each year, so do we move with the different seasons of each day.
I had begun the practice of saying a prayer at each stage of the day that represented sunrise, high noon, sunset and midnight, to give thanks to these forces, or gatekeepers if you will; acknowledging them and establishing a connection with where I was in the cycle of my day. The practice encouraged respect for life and each and every step taken.
The vision of a new day
While standing there in those predawn moments, cowering from the cold in my parka, cheeks stinging and toes tingling, my state of being wandered. I drifted deep into thoughts that landed me in a mystical place where the imagination beckoned warmly. I gave silent acknowledgment to Awahili, the Eagle, in appreciation of the sun that was just about to rise.
I suddenly found myself hearing distant music in my thoughts; faint sounds of a travelling band. Trumpets, trombones, beating drums and other sounds of a parade advancing; saw the stepping rhythm of a marching band, batons twirling and crazily dressed, striped and spotted clowns with raggedy orange hair and red knobby noses. Tall men on stilts. Majestic floats adorned with smiling, waving passengers, decorated with a myriad of colourful flowers and such, inched forward through time; arching towards the sky.
I was dreaming and yet I was awake. I was cold and yet as I tuned into this vision; this celebratory moment, I stepped outside of the cold. The vision of the parade was marching towards me from behind, from the southeast.
I changed position and my awareness and still, I could hear the marching band from inside my thoughts. I was mesmerized. Why? Because I don’t even like parades and yet, here I was stepping into an imaginary one in the middle of winter of all things. It was not one of my own design, that was certain.
I turned to see that the sun had just risen, casting beautiful, enlightening yellow rays upwards, like open arms raised towards the sky. Awahili, the gatekeeper of the east had opened a new day in a celebratory way.
Where are you standing, right now?
What are you listening to?
Photo Credit: Vieux bandit
patricia
Hilary
Tony Single
Linda
Barbara Swafford
Deb Dorchak
Chris Edgar
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Exception,
Everything is a gift. Hm. So there is no ‘wrong’ direction. :) I’ve been sharing something I read the other day with quite a few people today… maybe even in this comment thread — something to the effect of “life is a journey, not a destination”. I love that quote because we can get so fixed on the outcome of things and forget about the actual experience in between here and then.
I’ve participated in talking circles before. They encourage a lot of respect among the participants as opposed to other kinds of discussions I’ve witnessed that end up as debates. This ‘way’ would be a welcome change.
Some more info about the drum. The wood for the drum was taken about 40 feet up from the base of the tree. I guess the base of the tree was about10 ft. in diameter. In my front yard, there is an old growth stump that is about 20 feet in diameter. Cedar is very prone to splitting and cracking. If you noticed Hilary, there were bands around the drum to stop it from splitting. Every night we put wet canvas over the drum to keep the wood moist, and tightened the bands if needed. The untanned horse hide weighed well over 200 pounds. Man did it stink! I would guess the drum would weigh about 700 pounds when finished.
The drum would be put in a long house where it would stay. Guests would be invited to the long house for feasts and ceremonies.
I think I covered all your questions Hilaray and Davina.
You have to excuse me now, while my typing “finger” gets some rest.
Hi Jim and Davina .. yes a good thread .. even if we have to pull up to 40 feet up … I wonder why he had to go so high?!
Yes – I did see the bands round the trunk .. keeping it from splitting – but interesting to know that they put wet canvas over it .. and taughtened the bands as and when.
Cedars can be enormous .. and some firs .. and then the sequoia .. and no doubt others …
The untanned horse hide weighed so much?! and stink too – how .. not too nice .. 700lbs when finished .. that’s some weight.
Ah .. it’s to go in a Long House .. I think I visited one in Cowachan .. but knowing very little and not having grown in knowledge as I have now .. I didn’t fully understand.
I’ve got some notes I took on a Scottish surveyor who came out in the 1700s or 1600s .. and only did what the native Indians did .. and learnt from them – he surveyed most of Canada .. and was the first person to reach your neck of the woods .. I think – I must do the article, because it made fascinating watching ..
Hope your one typing finger is better this morning? My 8 fingers get tired sometimes .. and my one thumb??
Happy Friday and weekend .. byeeee Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Hotspur- the Duchess and The Poison Garden =-.
Jim, Hilary,
I see typos! :-D
Okay, so I guess they wouldn’t be lugging a 700-lb drum to ceremonies, then. The ceremony would come to the drum. I didn’t realize it weighed THAT much; or, the horse hide, for that matter.
Hi Davina and Jim .. probably .. my fingers constantly get crossed .. usually the ah .. for some reason .. have is ahve .. oh well .. & my grammar.. the brain going faster than the thumping fingers …
Interesting meet up .. ceremonial feasting! Good weekend .. H
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Hotspur- the Duchess and The Poison Garden =-.
Hilary,
Can you imagine not knowing how to type? :-)
Hi Davina .. I’d be lost!!!!! But I suppose like all the millions out there – who refuse to learn .. they get by and can’t understand the advantages ..
I do hate texting though!!
Enjoy today .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Hotspur- the Duchess and The Poison Garden =-.
The whole tree was taken down in one piece. They pick the wood for the drum 40 feet from the base. That part of the tree was chosen because it was the right diameter and had no branches there. Branches cause knots in the wood.
I can imagine not knowing how to type. :)
Hilary,
I’ve never texted once in my life! I feel so out of it. I think the same way of people texting as I do of people who can do somersaults, lol.
Jim,
You’re probably a better typist today than you were a week ago.
Hi Jim and Davina .. seeing it’s your blog?! So .. it’s select the tree, then select the wood .. from where there are no knots to weaken the wood.
Another question?! In the old days .. did they do it by hand axe, or saw .. and centuries ago .. did they have such large drums – or is this a recent development … ??
Nope – I quite understand that knowing how to type would be tricky for you .. ??? Sad really … but people who can’t type don’t realise the advantages .. or won’t admit they need the dull skill – my cousin – an engineer – insisted he learnt and his kids learnt .. now in their 30s ..they’re grateful for their Dad!! pushing them.
Texting I hate .. and probably wouldn’t do it – except for the iphone makes it slightly easier .. and I only bought the iphone for my Ma as she can see the pictures on it ..especially when I expand the pictures, or odd words .. my next post will be on the one word at a time conversation we had on Friday .. with a bit of language thrown in??!!
Somersaulting .. now that’s an area I can relate to not doing .. flexibility I aint’ got .. like climbing ropes .. getting up Jim’s tree to inspect it would be extremely challenging for me .. and a non event this century?!
I’m sure by the time we’ve finished with Jim .. he’ll be better at a lot of things .. like answering questions … etc etc …????!!!
& we’ve got rain! The cool breeze is quite nice! terrible to say .. but the land is desperate for water .. trouble is – the heavy rain sets my car alarm off?! Oh well .. it’s sensitive .. like its owner ..
Hope you don’t get too many new readers here? They’ll think I’m potty … probably am too – better get on .. have great weeks .. and have a tree hug or two .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..A Century of Aces Afghanistan to Zimbabwe =-.
First Nations would use axes to fall trees. Since the worlds tallest totem pole is 173 ft. in Alert Bay BC and the thickest at just over 6 ft. in diameter in Duncan BC.. They were certainly capable of producing a drum this size. I don’t know if they made them that big, long ago.
I think my typing is getting “gooder” now :)
It is interesting to remark that those individuals known as mystics rarely write autobiographies. One grows to realize these beings do not attempt to translate indescribable mystical experiences into words. Yet, one may encounter them during astral travel or during one’s own mystical journeys. Communication occurs in infinite ways beyond the limitations of the mind.
.-= Liara Covert´s last blog ..Practice the Middle Way =-.
LOL, Hilary.
Thanks for making this comment thread so much fun. This is the longest in my blogging history.
Jim,
… the do gooder… :)
Liara,
These indescribably mystical experiences you talk of…? They come in symbolic form or through other means to enable us to make “sense” of or translate them. It’s like learning a new language. What I love about these symbols is they carry so much understanding without having to speak. I think Nature shows us that type of communication, too without us realizing it. I believe that’s what is mesmerizing about it.
Hi Jim .. Ha ha .. I’ve seen the one in Duncan .. but when I next visit (?) I will go with wider eyes and a larger knowledge base .. thank you.
Now why the tallest in Alert Bay .. on an island .. apparently in the middle of nowhere?
I wonder where they got their hides from in the old days .. I guess from the animals they’d killed themselves ..
& your typing is definitely getting betterer and betterer … and Davina’s thread is getting longer and longer … byeeeee – have good weekends .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..A Century of Aces Afghanistan to Zimbabwe =-.
Hi Hilary.
I am going to email you some links, that you will find useful.
They should have a lot of information about First Nations in Canada.
Cheers
Hi Jim .. thanks .. that will be interesting. I’m moving next week and in chaos at the moment! Had to go to hospital with my Ma on Saturday .. all well fortunately .. but that took a day away and the emotion of believing/hoping that my brother would do it for me in the circumstances .. still ne-er mind .. must get on now!
Have a good week – & cheers back .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..A Century of Aces Afghanistan to Zimbabwe =-.
Hilary,
I keep forgetting to come back to this post and the comments, lol.
I see Jim has you well taken care of. :-) Thanks, Jim.
Hilary, so sorry to hear you had to go to the hospital with your ma. I’m thankful to hear that everything is alright now. I hope you have lots of help for your move??? If I recall, you told me that you’ve downsized quite a bit, so that should help things along. How far is your new place from where you are now?
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