BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Native American The Campfire Circle

My prayers are sent your way, lcp. I am glad everyone is ok. It is so wonderful to hear that everyone is coming together to help and support each other. Take care. I will tie some prayer ties on my tree for all of you.

I have settled into my new home and all is well, except I have no computer. I can only get to the library to use their computer about once a week.

My new home is very peaceful and spiritual for me. It is at the foot of a mountain range that is covered with sage, big rocks and many, many critters. I have not heard the cougar yet, but, I know he lives up there somewhere. There are jack rabbits, squirrels, quail, and hawks galore. I sit on my patio and can watch the animals and birds busy at their day.

I will leave my blaket here at the campfire to let you know I will be back. Thank you, Vance and lcp for taking the Talking Stick and for keeping the campfire burning brightly.

lcp, I have taken several pics of my beloved mountain and definitely will post one as soon as I can. Thanks for keeping my blanket warm.

So glad to have you back, even if it's just a pop-in for now. I can't wait to see a picture of your mountain and for you to get back on-line at home. I feel that will be soon.

We're all gathered on your blanket, keeping it warm.

We're on our way to the Tibal Grounds this morning. My boss wanted a float built for the Mardi Gras parade, so I had to miss the Camp Meeting. I know I'll be fussed at when we arrive, but I'm bringing lunch for everyone.

We've had some substantial winds this past week. No doubt there will be another ton of sticks to pick up, and much more raking. But we're getting close. April seems "months" away, but it's only a few short weeks. Preparing for Pow-Wow week is hectic enough without a tornado thrown into the mix. We'll be ready and I've already started my prayers for wonderful weather and good attendance.

lcp, every time I read your posts I am amazed at how much you do and how busy your life is. You always seem to have time to help when Mother Earth calls. Here is a prayer for you and all who work to protect Mother Earth:


Indian Prayer
Oh our Mother the earth, Oh our Father the sky,
Your children are we, and with tired backs
We bring you the gifts you love.
Then weave for us a garment of brightness;

May the Warp be the white light of the morning,
May the weft be the red light of the evening,
May the fringes be the falling rain,
May the border be the standing rainbow.

Thus weave for us a garment of brightness,
That we may walk fittingly where birds sing,
That we may walk fittingly where grass is green,
Oh our Mother Earth, Oh our Father Sky.

(prayer retrieved from: First People

Phyllis, That is so lovely and so timely. Just finished up researching some "fabric" for my daughter's wedding. I know it will come to me soon.

My "circles" have been short and wonderful of late, finding the items needed to make my daughter's wedding wonderful, easily and affordably. I have such a long list of things to be thankful for, your name included.

This past weekend I was in the library at the Tribal Grounds, sorting donations for the bunkhouse. There is a T style dress hanging on the wall, just like the one I want to make with the leather I got in October. I can't wait to get started next month.

An old Dakota saying is:

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.

You are leaving good tracks, lcp.

The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us, that which we put into the ground she returns to us....

Big Thunder (Bedagi) - Wabanaki

Whirlwind and Panther

Long ago, in a Seneca village, a party of men was preparing to go on a hunting expedition. In that village was a young man whom people thought was foolish, not strong of mind. He knew that hunters were getting ready for an expedition and he went to them and asked to go with them, but no one would let him go.

After the hunters started a young woman took pity on the young man, went to him, and said, "Let us marry and go hunting." He was willing. They started off together and after going some distance camped in the forest. The man couldn't find any big game, but he killed squirrels and small game. He made traps to catch deer and put them down where he thought deer would come.

One morning, when the young man went to look at his traps, he heard some one crying; the sound came nearer and nearer. Soon he saw a woman and two little boys. The woman was crying.

As she came up she said to the young man, "Help me, or we will be killed. One of my little boys stole a feather and pulled it to bits and we are going to be killed for it. I want you to shoot the hawk on that tree over there and when the person comes whose feather my little boy took, throw the hawk at him and call out, 'Here is your feather!'"

The man killed the hawk and no sooner had he done so than he heard a terrible roar and noise, and trees began to fall. A man came and stood on a tree close by. This man had enormous eyes and long hair, and that was all there was of him, just a great head without a body. The young man threw the hawk at him, and said, "Here is your feather." The Head caught it, said, "Thank you," and was satisfied.

The woman was a panther and the children were her cubs, but to the young man she appeared to be a real woman. She told him that she lived among the rocks and that the Head (Whirlwind) was her neighbor. While he was away from home, her little boy went to his cabin, found his feathers and spoiled one of them. When Whirlwind came home he was angry and chased her.

She told the young man that she knew he was poor, that no man would hunt with him, and she said, "Hereafter I will help you and you will get more game than any of the hunters, I do this because you saved me and my boys."

After that the young man killed more game than any other hunter in the village.

We're leaving for Pow-Wow in a little while. Everyone have a great week