Community/Tribe…

The story that follows from my sweet friend Ray, it’s a story that at some point we all experience. I am convinced that we are going through a energy shift and many times when this happens we have this huge quiet, resting, deep cleaning/clearing that takes place, so we can make the higher vibration shift when it arrives. We may feel shut down, feel isolated or just be a in dang funk that has a questioning what the HEY.
This is where community/tribe can band to gather for the good of each other. I have read so many places and I am sure you have to, about how important it is to find a group of people that are like minded that you can connect with. To know that the Ancient Ones already were doing it. Again we see how the Ancient/Future Ways can impact our lives.
Enjoy this wonderful story.

Spiritual Hibernation…Ray Stickler
A change happened to me about the end of October. It is now the
beginning of February. Maybe I can blame it on the shorter days, the colder
weather, the presidential elections, my turning 60 or the just plain winter
blahs.
But my mind, body and spirit shut down.
Don’t get me wrong, I carried out my duties and practiced my morning and
evening prayers. I wasn’t hunkered down in a snow cave. I spent the time
in the comfort and warmth of my house. But I had promised myself and had
asked Spirit for guidance, to spend this time preparing for the seasons ahead.
Instead, I didn’t want to move.
At first, I was frustrated with myself. But I became comfortable with the
silence and calm. My body enjoyed the longer hours spent sleeping. I had
gone long periods of time with out a thought. I became aware of the days
getting longer, minute by minute, each day after the winter solstice. Is this
how the bear spends his winter?
I’ve been told of how the Kiva would become a community center during
the winter. For practical reasons, it is easier to keep a lot of people warm,
under ground, in one room, than to heat individual family dwellings.
There was time for ceremony, story telling and daily activities, but most of
the time was spent as a community, politely silent.This was for practical
reasons too.
It has been told; During the season of the Brown Leaves, the people would
prepare themselves and their families to move into the Clan Kivas. They
would abandon the Pueblo homes. Leaving behind their personal possessions
and move underground as a community. Winter was slowly approaching .
It was not only winter, but the return of the Great White Giant from the
North. This Spirit was known to kill the living. It would live off of stolen
souls. No plant, animal or human was safe. The White Giant would send out
witches to fly over the land looking for the weak. Looking for the cluttered
minds and voices. Only a clear mind and quiet voice would be passed over.
The punishment for any offender would be severe. They would be accused
of working with the witches and then cast out into the cold.
I thought about this story as I was hibernating. How silence reflected
natures way during the winter. How the ancient ones followed nature’s
example. How a clear and quiet mind was the path to take during the winter.
How this modern world allows us to pass over the natural change of the
seasons.
I feel myself starting to stir from this sleep and now I’m looking for
answers. I did a little research about this spiritual hibernation. What
example were the ancient ones telling me? What is the natural path? And
what was my experience?
Not only do the Bear and the Turtle, two important power animals,
hibernate underground. But even the humming bird goes into a winter slow
down.
I searched through my small library of books and came across This
message in “A retreat with Black Elk, Living the Sacred Hoop” by Marie
Therese Archambault. The chapter titled, The North: The Great
Purifier,Humility. I’ll pass along a bit of what is said.
Dark movements of the heart such as jealousy, lust, rage, sloth and pride
are compressed within our heart’s space.
– they twist the human heart, weigh it down, push it out of balance with all
life. –the results can be more destructive than winter blizzards.
–the North, the direction of purification. Purification is not an option in
Lakota ritual, it is demanded.
(prayer) “O Great Spirit, Through the power in the North we are now
making ourselves pure and clean, leaving all impure thoughts and
ignorance… to become as children newly born”
–the hardship of winter was a time of spiritual purification and cleansing
of the soul. — it was a time for facing the dark emotions of inner turmoil hatred
and fear-
By cleansing themselves of excessive pride, the season helped the people
to grow into the virtue of humility. Humility is the proper stance before
Wakan-Tanka.
–attempt to purify your thoughts of all noise and interior dialogue. With
chaos –made silent, we prepare ourselves to enter the spiritual universe.
I had promised myself and had asked Spirit for guidance, to prepare me
for the seasons ahead. I was frustrated with my inactivity. I now realize I had
been given a blessing. The ancient ones told me their story.
Black Elk’s wisdom, once again, shines through the clutter.
Seek out Nature’s example of how to live. Stillness is part of the constant
flow of life. This hibernation was the preparation I was looking for.
I can’t wait to see the beauty ahead on this good path.