The Earthkeepers

We have returned from the 2006 All My Relations Sundance, Sharing the Vision of the Condor and the Eagle. John was with us as Steve Purkaple finished John’s four-year Sundance commitment. Many had visions of John. The following vision came from a 1st year dancer who had never met John except to see him dancing. He remembered him because of his distinct “chicken” style dancing reminiscent of prairie chickens.

The weather was uncompromising the first few days of this year’s Sundance with heat indexes at 100% and temperatures over the 100-degree mark. The “new bee” was having a tough go at it, because by the third round on the first day, most Sun dancers had sweated out any precious fluids that had been stored in their bodies. As ”new bee” was struggling, the “chicken dancer” appeared up in the branches of the Tree, casually sitting on a chair covered by a blue star quilt. John said, “I do not have to do this anymore”, and proceeded to share how to make it to the fourth day without water or food. John visited until the dance was completed.

Additionally, visions of Mother Earth seem to abound among Sun dancers, visions showing Mother Earth as healthy and glowing with vibrant energy. John came in another’s vision saying,

“Mother Earth is fine…it’s the people who need the ceremonies.”

When Steve completed John’s commitment, he gifted us with the medicine he danced with. A vision signaled the time of the Parting of the Ways Ceremony that John had taught, (see below John’s words on it from his former website).

So Janisse, Dave and I will be heading to Lake Michigan, where John’s ashes were given back to Mother Earth and thank John once again for his teachings. We will honor the vision, “John was telling the Younce family to do the parting of ways ceremony”…(and we thought he was done giving us direction!!!).

Thank you Steve!

Hugs, Tracy – take what you want…find your truths…leave the rest - I share because I care.

Parting of the Ways Ceremony

This ceremony is designed to create a sense of completion and resolution primarily in relationships.

In many cases, the parting of ways refers to the mutual disagreement and dissolution of a partnership. In a teacher/student relationship, the parting of the ways refers to a break in teaching, as the student is ready to stand in their own power. In most cases, the ceremony is done because of physical separation or death.

In this ceremony it is good to go to a stream or lake. It doesn’t matter if those in the relationship are all present. Each person receives a blessing and a smudging. After a calling song, each person speaks of the goodness between him/her and her/him, speaks of what is unresolved and what is complete. Then the Pipe is smoked. After that, tobacco is offered and each offers a prayer for the well being of the other. Objects that represent the relationship of the past are smudged and buried if appropriate.

Then each person does a ritual cleansing in the water, and offers a prayer or song to the Sun in thanksgiving for the gift of life.

Then the leaving song is sung. If those who were involved in the relationship are present, they each leave the place by a different route being careful not to look back.

Dancing on the grounds Saturday, June 10th at the Indiana Dunes State Park, where many folks first did ceremony with John in Illiana, got me thinking of a conversation I had with him a few weeks before he passed. He was moving to another village down the road in Georgia, unaware of his true destination, the Ultimate Village. We were talking about the challenges of an Earthkeeper. He commented that he thought the lessons were part of the dance/ceremony. That when one commits to ceremony, they commit to life-altering experiences.

Like most Earthkeepers, I seem to focus on the feel good experiences, the wonderful ceremonies and fun on the path. However, it’s good to remember that a commitment towards peace includes the lessons that come to help rid us of that which no longer serves us. That’s why balance is Yin and Yang…dark and light. I get it!!!

So when the dis-harmony comes, as it will, instead of sweeping it under the rug, we embrace it as it has come to help us move closer to peace. The tough experiences are part of our commitment. So it is truly no small thing we do, because when we commit to ceremonies and dance on the path of peace, we commit to learning the lessons that come with the path.

The Elders have always taught that the spiritual road is a rocky road. I can hear Grandma’s voice, “Be careful before you commit to it. It will be the hardest and best road you will ever walk but it is not for the faint of heart or fair weather folks.”

I would much prefer that rocky road just be an ice cream flavor!!!!

We are heading out to Sundance…we’ll be back to post in a few weeks.

Hugs, Tracy

As part of our dance or encampment ceremonies, John included a forgiveness ceremony.

In this ceremony, forgiveness was not treated as something that is good for the person that is being forgiven. Instead, the approach to forgiveness is that carrying around resentment, hurt, or ill feeling is unhealthy. We can improve our health by forgiving and start the process of peace in our lives.

Look at the act or event, which we derived our hurt from as being real. We assume that whatever hurt we have felt is justified. Remember, we don’t have to visit that territory at all. We also do not look at forgiveness as necessarily reducing the distance between two people. Being in a state of forgiveness does not automatically require things being the way they were before. Two people being together may not be appropriate anymore after forgiveness as before.

However, what does change is that we let go of the emotions of judgment, anger, resentment, and fear, which served us when we were freeing ourselves from a situation we had decided, was not healthy or productive. Sometimes those kinds of emotions serve us well in the interim. But once those feelings no longer serve us, we go through the ceremony of forgiveness to begin the process of letting these emotions go.

The ceremony itself begins the process by forgiving the only person involved in the situation who is present at the ceremony - you.

Hugs, Tracy - take what you want…find your truths…leave the rest. ~ I share because I care.

Dear Friends - Greetings to you, your family and acquaintances, with best wishes to all.

Just a reminder that the 2006 Tecate Earth Dance in Baja California outside of El Hongo is fast approaching. This event is a multicultural, international ceremony open to all races, tribes and religions, where we hope to offer prayers and healing for Mother Earth and All Creation.

Earth Dance is a public event, open to all who come in a good way. As it is a spritual event, there is no charge for attending and participating. Donations are accepted to help meet the costs of the dance.

This may be the last year of a four year period where the dance will be held at Rancho Los Juntas. We wish to thank Horacio, his family, the ranch staff, and the representatives and residents of El Hongo for their kindness, generosity, and continual support demonstrated over the last four years.

We also wish to thank all of the supporters and donors who have offered so much to this year’s dance preparations in terms of donations of goods, work at the site, prayers throughout the year, organization and other services to date. This year’s Tecate Earth Dance will commence in two weeks. The main dance dates are May 11 - 14, 2006. Camping on site should be open between May 7 and May 18, 2006. Everyone is welcome to come as a supporter, where we arrive to provide support to dedicated dancers who vow to fast and pray for four days and nights. During time of rest between dance, supporters may choose to be involved in a wide range of activities amongst themselves, including teachings, activities for children, sweat lodges, a communal kitchen, the help of healers, etc..

As supporters, people can come to Earth Dance from one afternoon to up to two weeks duration, as their schedules and interests allow. Please go to www.earthdance8.org for complete details, including protocol, what to bring, maps to the dance site, etc. Those who feel called to be dedicated dancers are requested to call the dance leaders (men call Adam Yellow Bird DeArmon in the USA c/o 928-646-3000; women call Laura Espinoza in Mexico at (011-52) 686-566-0083 right away if they have not already done so, in order to have such participation considered, be directed as to preparations, arrival times, and so on. The Mexican Earth Dance Council is still in need of funds to support this year’s dance, and all donations from the heart will be gratefully recieved. If desired, call Laura (above) for more information on this matter. In advance, we thank you for your attendance and/or support at the 2006 Tecate Earth Dance in beautiful Baja California, Mexico.

Go to www.earthdance8.org for more information in English and in Spanish. Feel free to pass this email along to anyone who might be interested in supporting and/or coming to Earth Dance. Thanks to the Creator, the Council of Elders and Ancient Ones, Father Sun and Mother Earth.

Goyo …………………………………………

Los queridos Amigos - Los saludos a usted, su familia y los conocidos, saludos a todo. Apenas un recordatorio que el 2006 Danza de la Madre Tierra de Tecate en Baja California fuera de El Hongo se acerca rápidamente. Este acontecimiento es una ceremonia multicultural e internacional abre a todo compite, los tribus y las religiones, donde esperamos ofrecer las oraciones y curando para la Madre Tierra y Toda Creación. Es un acontecimiento público, abre a todos los que entra una manera buena.

Esto puede ser el último año de un cuatro período de año donde el baile se tendrá en Juntas de Rancho Los. Deseamos dar gracias Horacio, su familia, el personal de hacienda, y los representantes y los residentes de El Hongo para su bondad, para la generosidad, y para apoyo continuo demostrado sobre los últimos cuatro años. Deseamos también dar gracias todos los partidarios y los donantes que han ofrecido tanto a estas preparaciones del baile del año en términos de donativos de bienes, el trabajo en el sitio, las oraciones a través del año, la organización y otros servicios para fechar.

Este Danza de la Madre Tierra de año Tecate comenzará en dos semanas. Las fechas principales del baile son el 11 de mayo - 14, 2006. Acampar en el sitio debe estar abierto entre el 7 de mayo y el 18 de mayo de 2006. Todos es libre de vienen como un partidario, donde llegamos a proporcionar apoyo a bailarines dedicados que prometen a rápido y oran durante cuatro días y las noches. Durante tiempo del descanso entre el baile, los partidarios pueden escoger ser implicados en una gran variedad de actividades entre sí mismos, inclusive enseñanzas, las actividades para niños, sudan los alojamientos, una cocina comunal, la ayuda de curadores, etc..

Cuando un partidario, una persona puede venir al Danza de la Madre Tierra de una tarde hasta dos duración de semanas, como sus horarios y los intereses permiten. Vaya por favor a www.earthdance8.org para detalles completos, inclusive protocolo, lo que traer, los mapas al sitio del baile, etc.

Los que se sienten llamaron a ser dedicado a bailarines son solicitados para llamar los líderes del baile (hombres Le llaman a Adám Pájaro Amarillo DeArmon en EEUU c/o 928-646-3000; mujeres llaman Laura Espinoza en México en (011-52) 686-566-0083 )en seguida si ellos no ya han hecho para tener así, tal participación considerada, sea dirigido en cuanto a las preparaciones, tiempos de llegada, etcétera.

El Concilio Mexicano del Danza de la Madre Tierra es todavía necesitado de fondos para sostener este baile de año, y todos donativos del corazón serán con gratitud recieved. Si deseado, llama Laura (arriba) para más información en este asunto. En el avance, nosotros gracias para su asistencia y/o sostiene en el 2006 danza de la Madre Tierra de Tecate en Baja California, México. Vaya a www.earthdance8.org para más información en inglés y en español. Gracias al Creador, el Concilio de Ancianos y Antiguos, el Padre Sol y Madre Tierra. Goyo

Derived and adapted from Native American, Aborigine, Celtic, Chinese and other esoteric Earthkeeping traditions, the EarthDance Way is a living, functioning practice for today’s world.

The EarthDance Ceremonies arose out of the People’s need for a way of connecting in a fresh, spontaneous way. hrough the efforts of medicine people, spiritual guides, spiritual councilors, and ceremonial leaders thousands of people around the country have enjoyed these ceremonies for the new people. The ceremonial practice has taken its own course. Many teachers have taught that the Ceremonies come from the people’s needs, and that they are done to honor the participants not for the participants to honor the ceremony. The respect shown to the ceremony is self respect.

But there was another factor involved with the adaptation and development of the ceremonies of the EarthDance Way. This is a bit unique.

The actual energy of the Earth (the planetary aura you might say) is measured before and after the ceremonies using the passive dowsing technique and a Radionics Antennae. The effectiveness of the ceremony is evaluated based on the response of the Earth’s energy. When the response is positive then the ceremony is enhanced and expanded in that direction. When the response is sluggish those parts that seemed to dampen the power of the ceremony are changed. In this way the basic teachings of the Native Peoples and original Earthkeepers are substantiated and modified to work for today’s people and for today’s world..

In a sense, the Earth is the ultimate teacher of the ceremonies, because the form of the ceremonies is a direct result of responding to the Earth’s direction. This is a dynamic process and continues to this day.

In this way, each ceremony works as part of a network of sacred ceremony which strengthens the lifeforce or Feng Shui of the planet. In this, we are working with the Shamans, Priests, Medicine Men, Gurus, Swamis, and Spiritual leaders all around the world to hold a vision of conscious evolution for the planet. Working together in this way, we are part of a greater national Ceremonial Village.

Because of this approach, the EarthDance Way is not theological. It is experiential. It offers good questions and potential beliefs not rules and answers. It is a practice.

It is a way of training the mind, heart and spirit to open to the beauty of the gift of life, the power of the Earth’s healing. It is not exclusive in any way. It is always hoped that a person’s EarthDance Practice will stimulate them to explore other ways of expanding and enhancing their spiritual and emotional evolution.