The Earthkeepers

When we talk about the past and future minds, we are referring to the fact that so much of our time is spent contemplating and contending with the past or planning, worrying, or dreading the future.

It is important to understand that in both cases the power to change always lies in the present. Our lack of awareness of the present will rob us of golden opportunities to absorb the joy and uplifting quality of the world around us. To do this we have to have an open channel to the energy of living all around us. Sorrow, regret, disgust, hurt, jealousy, anger, all sap us of the energy to see, taste, touch, FEEL the moment with all our senses and with all that we sense is us. Worry, dread, hopelessness, and hope can all turn our attention from the blessings we are receiving every moment of the day.

Drumming, singing, dance all help to strip away the dark smoke of our illusion… it is the illusion of being in the past or future. In addition, acceptance of the past will release us from that past. Faith and releasing total control will free us from the future. In the present we can let our energy flow into everything we do or everything we experience. In that way, our essential selves, the part of us that is sincere, exuberant, confident, and committed will produce the future one present moment at a time.

— John Armbruster

The give away ceremony is important in bringing together the people of the community. The passing of objects which have meaning for a person is an act of magnification and resolution.

The feelings and energy which is embodied in an object are magnified and more open for examination when the object is consciously given away. When it is done in public the energy is brought into the community circle. It is a point of vulnerability and innocence, and should be carefully respected and supported.

The give away is traditionally done when an honor or change in life status occurs. It can be part of any ceremony and acts to blend the energy of the person who is doing the give away and the energy of the community surrounding them.

The give away is very different for our culture to understand because it is in reverse to our cultural norms. When someone is getting married, we give them presents. In the give away thinking they give us presents. In a way they do just that. They give a reception. They give gifts to members of the wedding party etc… When someone has a birthday, they receive presents. In the give-away way of thinking they should give presents to all who attend the party. When we are honored, we are given an award. In the give away way of thinking the person receiving the award should do a big give away. Could you imagine what the Oscars Ceremony would look like if that were the social norm?

The give away blanket ceremony is something we use at our encampments.

It is a great way to complete the energy of the encampment. Each person brings an object which means something to them and places it on the blanket. The oldest person at the gathering begins the choosing. The person who placed the object on the blanket then says why it is important to them. Then that person picks something off the blanket. At some point the person who picked first will have his/her object picked. They then have the honor of picking someone to pick next. Often times people bring more than one object or they bring objects for others. In the case of bringing more than one object, when their second object is chosen they have the honor of picking the next person to choose. People who have not brought anything are good candidates at that point. This gets everyone included. Those people usually participate to a greater degree as time goes on.

There is something very powerful that happens at these give-away blankets. So very often, the gift chosen and what it means to the person who put it on the blanket matches the experience of the person who chooses it in a very deep and mysterious way. It sometimes feels like our hands are guided by a larger hand.

–John Armbruster

As we welcome new people into the Sacred Hoop, we thought John’s words about smudging would be beneficial.

We return to the first teachings, where it all begins in ceremonies as we embark on a new cycle of the Medicine Wheel. As the Medicine Wheel is the circle of lessons that each of us must pass through on our journey, may we honor the lessons learned, so we might see the gifts of growth that each upcoming direction will offer us as we…Step into the Circle.

Smudging

Smudging is a purifying ceremony that occurs at the beginning of most ceremonies.

We use the smudge to take time with each person. It gives them some personal attention and honors their part in the ceremony. More importantly, it is an opportunity for the smudger to transfer his/her meditative state to the participant. (Smudgers should prepare themselves carefully.)

Smudging marks the beginning of the ceremony for the participant. It is a precise beginning and is very satisfying because of that.

It is important to remind the group that they are not being smudged because there is anything wrong with them. It is just that we take on the cares of the everyday world and smudging is done to allow us to release the everyday and honor ourselves by spending some time with the Earth and our Creator. It marks the beginning of our “sacred time”. We make the effort to release outside thoughts and focus ourselves on this very special time of ceremony. ~ John Armbruster

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

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

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.