Balance in the Wind

Good morning Relatives !

Im in Aspen Colorado!  One my way to a Grandmothers gathering in Arizona.  I'm staying with a friend I met at GMa Margaret's gathering in Lame Deer Montana.  She is also a Firekeeper. I drove the motorcycle down from Pipestone through South Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado.  It was sooooo windy.  The landscape was so pretty.  All through South Dakota, Nebraska, and East of the Rockies were great expanses of flat plains or rolling hills.  The majority of Nebraska that I drove through was the "sandhills." Miles and miles of sand dunes covered in tufted grass with marshlands scattered between.  I had no idea that in the middle of America was this ocean of sand.

Along the way I came across patches of sage growing wild in the ditches. When I see this sage I think of the Ancestors who have gone before. Of the Traveller's and the ceremonies and prayers that were made here long before my rubber hit the road. I think of them and accept and honor them for the lives they lived, the fires they kept, and the prayers they took the time to make.  It takes time to make ceremony, to offer tobacco, to sit alone or together and be with the Spirits in prayer. I am grateful that they did this. That in their doing they made me and made my journey easier.  I also saw a female and a young male black tail deer. The female was crossing the road headed East. The male was crossing headed West.  He was just beginning his antlers, they were all rounded and covered in soft antler velvet. So there I was traveling South from the North, between the female going East and the male going West. Very cool

the wind was kind.  it was so very strong.  but I did not get blown off the road which is good.  I stopped and gave an offering to The Wind, thanking it for being kind.  Driving the motorcycle through the wind for 10 hour days can really make me think about commitment.  Lots of thoughts go through my head. I practiced holding my intention with the bike and not fighting the wind.  I asked it what could be learned from its strength and persistence.  Is traveling across the path of the wind going the right way?  Is there a right way?  LOL. I thought of the 13 Gma's traveling around the world and the country teaching and giving, constantly giving. I wondered if they missed traveling alone, seeing the lessons in the private time on the road.  I wondered if my going so far (MN - AZ) to listen and visit with GMa's was worth the effort?  Is it? do you think that driving so far and spending the resources to bring The Pipes and the learning that has come this year to share at the fire is a journey worth taking?

I was taking a break from working on the house, I would miss my dogs every day that I was gone from them and long to come home.  yet like The Wind I had to go. I wanted to go.  I've learned so much from the GMa gatherings.  We give and receive, to and with each other. I believe that we strengthen our hearts. That we encourage each other in developing our skills in communication, listening, finding our voice, and activating in our daily lives the different way of doing with each human being, each sister brother being, each element, each life being that we are surrounded with to make a better balance.

The Wind showed me that if all I think about is the wind and me then it is more tricky, easier to flip out of balance in my journey.  Yet if i also think about the earth that the wind moves across. so steadfast in her purpose. So calm beneath the push right above her.  If I think about the earth enjoying the wind and letting her play with her skin or hair but not dissuade her from her intention her purpose then I felt more of the balance in me. Its easier to stay upright.  It is good to have the journey across America on my way to see the GMa's.  It helps keep me honest and focused in my intent.  There are great subtleties in the lessons of the open road. Many things to be seen, people to meet and signs to observe.

On Wednesday morning I got up at 5:34 and got things ready for the day with the bike. Outside in the morning sky in Nebraska the beautiful blue of the morning was interspersed with the last stars of the night and the steadfast Morning Star.  How lovely to greet them to say Thank You, for watching over us at night.  To say Thank You for the songs the stars sing in the night. Thank You for the dreams you give.  The Light of the Morning Star that I see has travelled how many millions of miles through the void of Space to reach me. To encourage me, to share her own song and to witness mine. She had no guarantee that I would be out there to greet her. But she continued on through Space, through the void and the silence, steady in her intent. I think of her and I am grateful to go out and greet her and appreciate her light watching over all of us in the night.

AS the sky changed with the dawn there appeared in the clouds a Great Angel  in the East looking North, her wings were magnificent, above her were three faces  three elders in the sky, behind her was a great bird winging with her, then I looked to the North and all along the Northern Morning sky was a herd of horses galloping to meet the Angel. What an amazing morning and great promise for the journey.

So Balance in the wind.  Balance in our work, Balance in our play, in our prayer, in our thought of how we are in our journey.  Thinking not only just of the thing that impedes or challenges us.  But of that also which supports, nourishes, and cleanses us.  When i got past Denver into the mountains all the heat and push and wind went away.  The rocks pulled the tiredness out of my mind and my arms. The trees evergreen and amazing aspen gold reaching for the sky took my breath away.  I've never seen the liquid gold in the trees captured here before the snow comes.  I drove through Independence pass which was amazing.  So much life, so much change and rock and water and peacefulness in the mountains.  So many things all together making a great visual symphony. I understand the temptation to stop here and live and never move again! ha! Then I thought of the spirit of it all. Each Spirit with its own song, its own influence, its own story and medicine. Each One Being, Being itself and could I let go of my resistance and let it Each One flow through me and keep me? That is the question the mountains gave me.  A closer thought and understanding of Being in The Circle.

I am glad I came here.  glad I made the journey.  I don't know what will come together at the GMa's. We have discussed talking about the Shadow, about Circle Practice, about honoring vulnerability, I brought the Kung Fu Panda (of course) and as well, The Pipes are making their own journey and will Hold the fire, Wait for the prayer, and then give it at the right time.  So for me; this is who I am  this traveller, balanced between home and going. Giving and Receiving. Existing in the Center of the East and West Gate, Its been important for me to learn to receive. The GMa's have and are helping me learn this important skill.  To Give... And.. To Receive.  To be in the circle.  To ask for what we need and to give what we can.  It's up to me to Find my place in The Circle and travel in it.

Tonight I will log back in and tell you the story of my exploding batteries this year.  It's a good travel story.

Thank you Relatives for your love, for receiving my love and for the honor that you give to our beautiful earth for living this Day, as you in the way that you do.  I love you, I honor you, I respect you, and I appreciate you. Every minute of every day

peace
mb