October 27th was an extremely powerful day. First though, I need to begin with the eve of the 26th. My housemate and friend Rita White, fashion designer and inventor, was describing new layers and levels to her current manifestation rituals. She asked me to help her with a candle ritual to manifest money. I told her to purchase a "green" candle. Within a few hours of sharing past manifestation stories and results,,, we had come up with a power Feng Shui corner (actually dedicated for her handwritten prayer to manifest) that was pretty rockin'. Soooo I had suggested the green candle as well as help her design the power symbol,"infinity" into the corner table display by looping her handmade scarf into the shape of an "eight".
My only intention for the 27th was to finally find a ride to the Red Rock State Park to see Roanna. I had previously asked at least 15 people prior to the 27th. My day went as follows...
Woke up at 5am, got ready for work. Did some gratitude prayers and chanting. Arrive at work. Within the first hour I was getting many approvals from bosses about how I was doing a great job setting the deli case. (new job) Then, twenty minutes after the store opened, I waited on Happy Oasis.
She and her beloved were coming into the store to buy wheatgrass juices and do their promoting for upcoming lectures by renowned doctor Brian Clement. But this was not just a typical run-in with a local changemaker and event promoter. The synchronicities happening in my life were happening in such a sequence that I just felt as if I was actually living in a dream I never could believe would become a reality.
She asked me can "we order a drink here?" AND... there was no delegated juice bar person available,,, so then ummmm it was "me"! Then she is telling me about the benefits of ordering the wheatgrass shot separate from the veggie juice; in this case the Tijuana Iguana. I said "good to know". When we got to the finite details of the order, I had to ask her name. I thought this was Happy but had to ask to be sure. She said Happy and I said "Oh yeah, You are Happy Oasis." YES!
Then she said, and who are you! So just like in my dream, in this case dream/waking life, I say if you look at the back of my name tag you will read my Spirit name. I proceeded to pull out the tag that was hanging around my neck and place it flush against the metallic deli case to display it with pride. She says, Serpentbird Tribemaker. Wow! And I say somewhere in all of this excitement that I had been to the Raw Spirit festival in Sedona in 2008 and now I live here. We yam it up a bit more and then I proclaim in a sort of bitter but soft activist voice... "I was a volunteer". Her eyes rolled back slightly, because, well perhaps she should have known that such a Serpentbird was not only in attendance at her festival; but a part of the backbone, of the operation.
She tells me that they have many events coming up with Brian Clement and such, and then says well, maybe you could volunteer. Her partner chimes in that there is no more availability for volunteers. Later she runs over to another part of the store and scoops up the flyers about the upcoming events she is organising and tells me her number is on them AND to call her. Hmmm my day just beginning and already in paradise.
Later, my friend William comes into the store. He is flying around the salad bar and quickly selecting his lunch. I notice that he is happier and lighter. I ask him if he has landed his job yet, and he said yes. He goes on to tell me he has a job working for Oolee and will be wrapping up sacred chocolates all day. I said, Maaaaaan THAT is awesome!
Then I said, "Hey do you mind giving me a ride to Red Rock State Park anytime after 1 pm today and he immediately says "Yeah, I can do that." DAMN ... I am thinking... Jesus and Hallelujah.
Next I am looking momentarily at the company community bulletin board, to discover that there is someone who is willing to rent out their van on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, if you just call the number. I am NOW thinking... that this ritual not only worked, but it made my experience feel as if there was no way that Spirit would let me down in terms of finding a solution to my lack of transportation to see the Hopi grandmother.
1:15pm ... I finally run with my backpack to the timeclock, a bit worried that William had left me. I get to the tables where he said he would be and he was there .... wheeew!
He introduces me to his friend and they're discussing a way for me to get out of the park fee at the loop, by saying I know Tina down by the trailer park at 55.
I'm still thinking ... I am going to get into the park just fine,,, but here is this man trying to organize the universe for me anyway.
So William and I head out to the gas station, and I pay for $6 in gas. Then I buy a package of Bugler tobacco with the quarters in the zipper side of my purse. I get dropped off at the loop where the Ranger guard station was, and we explain that I am going to walk in so I should only have to pay 3.00 to get in after William turns around. The ranger looks half-way convinced but we shoved the three dollar bills at him and he is fine with it. I get out of the red ford pick-up and head not even 200 feet toward the road to the upper parking lot where the teach-in would be, and these ladies, ask me if I want a ride in their spanking new "on-star" equipped mini-van. I said, "yes, THank you!"
Now for the <u>real</u> challenge. I was supposed to have called in and registered my measly $5 bucks to pre-register on the phone, but I didn't even have a ride to get there, so I hadn't called it in. I found up that the 2pm talk was sold out, but "SERPENTBIRD" "WENT" "ANYWAY". I get to the very white-washed credit card/pre-paid room where the lecture would be, and find a nice woman ranger at the "gate".
She said, did you sign up? I said, "YES!" So then I wait for her to scan the list, and there to her surprise and confusion, I was not on the list atop clipboard and black ink. So she said, "Hmm well, Um (in a cheery with anticipation voice) can you look and see if you are on there?" I said, Okay um well I do see one woman's name is on there twice but I am not on there. She bowed her head down as if to avoid a minor capitalist infraction from her superiors, said, "It's alright, just go in."
I went in and sat down in the tiny indoor amphitheater and wrote a letter of gratitude to the Grandmother for coming and sharing her wisdom. I wrapped the tobacco and ten dollars in the paper and put it in the glass donation jar down at the stage area down the stairs. I am in awe at a slideshow playing; of at least 20 stunning still photos of sacred ceremonies that were being shown on a big screen inside the theater. Feathers, body paint, small brick and sand buildings, elders, children, the mesas, the sunsets. There is a table down in the front as well with handmade grass bowls and cornmeal, and other herbs. The Ranger comes in and introduces Grandmother. He says in a very respectful and moved tone, that she had spent a lot of time preparing for the talk and that it is very harsh "up there" on the mesa. I knew exactly what he meant. He was saying that she made a lot of effort to then still come and do the talk at such a low cost and mentioned the donation jar.
Soon Roanna entered and she began <u>thanking</u> us for the first five minutes. {"Thank You" (as another wonderful elder "Firedancer" taught me,) is prayer.} She thanks us in a way as to describe that we are at this lecture to; remember who we are! She says that humanity has forgotten who they are and what they are here to do. She says we all have a job to fulfill and we all have to do our part. Her words were simple but she gave everything power. She says that she knows what her job is and that she is very traditional.
She was wearing an all white cotton dress and a predominantly red designed handmade/traditional woven belt. She says that she felt like she got a welcome from us like she was a movie star or something. She says "I am Roanna, and I am from the Sand Clan which represents the land or "our" foundation. There was power in everything she said. Even if the word was simple, it had weight which then drove the depth and meaning. She said a prayer then for a few minutes in her native Hopi language to us all, and of course we were already in awe and silent. She said that the Hopi's pray for ALL of humanity and that their prayers <u>protect</u> ALL of humanity.
Next she described that she had many items on the table to share with us. Her hands kept going into the corn pollen bowl. She says that Corn Pollen is the purification of all presence. She said that the Hopi's are made of corn. The corn is small, "like her". She laughs and says "I am small, and "we" Hopi's are short just like the "short" corn." She holds up a piece of short corn with a stalk at the end in her little hand. She says that the corn pollen is sacred and it is used in ceremony and healing for protection. She said that the pollen is ground up with their hands and that it is so powerful that it can heal your heart. She said, that she knows her job, and that all that come to her, she will pray for them with the pollen and heal their heart. Even though she is small, Little Rowenna is small, she can use the pollen and her faith in her prayer to heal people. Corn Pollen she says is the opening of our prayer; it opens our path. She said they have 4 colors of corn to represent all of humanity. One of the varieties is "spackle" corn which represents all of the races. When it is put in a bowl (which also represents the circle of life) then it is also representative of all of us coming together. They use White and Blue corn in their ceremonies. The White represents feminine and the Blue represents masculine. In ceremony White is representative of their presence here today and Blue is the connection to travel of the deceased. White Corn Powder is a blessing of regression. They put the powder on their faces in the ceremony to receive that blessing of regression. I can imagine it would give you insight into your past incarnations and help you "see" beyond what you know of yourself in this life.
She then introduces the paper thin rolls on the table called Piki Bread, which she pronounces as "pee kee"!. (So cute!) Roanna says it is 1000 year old bread. It is a paper thin bread that is made with nothing but find ground Blue Corn, Hot Stone slabs and a Womans' bare hands. She goes on saying that it is such an important craft in their tradition because it is where they gain so much of their wisdom. I could imagine the bonding that women must find in participating in this sacred act. They are very connected to their food because they grow it themselves without irrigation. To plant a small blue corn seed in the desert is truly creating their own people. They meld that with the act of prayer, to all of the rain spirits and thunderbeings.
She showed us a long grassy implement and says, "We use the broom for cleansing!" The way she held the thin grass "tool" in between her fingers and held it at different angles to with her sharp intent to express its power was amazing. It was just a bundle of grasses! She swept over her arms and face and said that in ceremony you can not touch yourself, so you use this tool to do that. She said, a broom cleans everything! She said they use the boom to comb their hair and then spoke at length about her role raising her sons and daughter. She said that there were some generations of Hopi that were not taught the traditions, and there are many that don't want to learn. She said that is okay... they will reach a "dead end" and come right back. We are always making a circle. She said she asks why her sons want to cut their hair, and said that this is like cutting off their wisdom. The hair connects you to the earth and gives you wisdom. Roanna has beautiful silver hair down to her waist.
Then she went back to describing the corn in another bowl which she said is made of yucca and is a spiral to represent the universe and also a navel which represents the beginning. She described 3 kinds of teas that she had prepared for us to sample after the talk. Juniper, Hoo Hoosie (Hopi Tea), and Osha. Juniper is for medicine and smudge and tea which can be used to cleanse you internally or externally. Hoo Hoosie which is boiled and made into a tea for cleansing, and Osha is a meditation root from under the Universe. It smells good and is used to protect their circles for ceremony. I tried Osha root tea that she had in the carafe and it was sooo tasty!
Next she said that we have to have faith and believe in ourselves and begins to tell us more about how she has "stepped up" more into her purpose. She said that most women elders in her tradition do not travel with Eagle feathers; they travel with corn. In her life though she has been initiated by her clan to carry this medicine. She showed us three Eagle feathers bound with leather. Eagle feathers are the Father of our prayer. Eagle touches the Sun; Wings feathers are representative of masculine and the Tips of the feathers represent the top of the head or feminine principle. The Eagle Staff represents "you" as an individual and you become a warrior. She said that Eagles who land in their reservation are all given special names and are given special ceremonies before they are released. Eagles and Red Tail Hawks protect the land. Then she says that her Spirit name given to her means Red Tail Hawk and that people call her Mother Earth.
She describes that when Hopi go gaming for Elk and Deer that Corn is always involved. Corn is used to recognize all of the elements and that it is the "eye of humaninty". She said that some of the villages in Hopi land are still working with snakes and that snakes are also guardians of the universe.
Roanna says "be strong within yourself". "help yourself in order to help others" We are in a constant blessing every day of our life. She said that she is up every day at 4 am and in bed at 2am, there is no time to rest for the women!
She is a carver of Kachina dolls and a potter. Other words of wisdom; "If you hesitate you won't learn" We are hesitant to one another." "When you come to Hopiland everything is a mirror. You look around and you see yourself."
Next she sang us a Deer Song with her drum, and yet again explains that most women don't play the drum in her culture but she has had the authority given to her. She said that all the Hopi practice is given through the mother, the learning is given through the Uncle and Fathers stay in "their" mothers' clan.
At the end of the talk she opened up the floor for questions. I asked the question that would press the buttons of course. First I said that the question was a difficult one to formulate. If Corn is the central element in their practice, and our world environment is threatened by what is happening with the worlds food supply of corn, then what "ideas" do the Hopi have in what this mean for "us" Spiritually?
She says that the Hopi's are protecting this cycle (the 5th cycle) and using their prayers for all of humanity. She looked straight at me the whole time with piercing integrity. "WE" are the change ... so the Hopi don't SPEAK of prophecy because if they speak it then IT WILL HAPPEN!
I am so grateful to have met Roanna, because she had so much to share from her heart. She has a lot of exuberance for life and energy too! I am invited to visit her and eat at her place in Hopi land... so for all of you... ....to be continued.
My only intention for the 27th was to finally find a ride to the Red Rock State Park to see Roanna. I had previously asked at least 15 people prior to the 27th. My day went as follows...
Woke up at 5am, got ready for work. Did some gratitude prayers and chanting. Arrive at work. Within the first hour I was getting many approvals from bosses about how I was doing a great job setting the deli case. (new job) Then, twenty minutes after the store opened, I waited on Happy Oasis.
She and her beloved were coming into the store to buy wheatgrass juices and do their promoting for upcoming lectures by renowned doctor Brian Clement. But this was not just a typical run-in with a local changemaker and event promoter. The synchronicities happening in my life were happening in such a sequence that I just felt as if I was actually living in a dream I never could believe would become a reality.
She asked me can "we order a drink here?" AND... there was no delegated juice bar person available,,, so then ummmm it was "me"! Then she is telling me about the benefits of ordering the wheatgrass shot separate from the veggie juice; in this case the Tijuana Iguana. I said "good to know". When we got to the finite details of the order, I had to ask her name. I thought this was Happy but had to ask to be sure. She said Happy and I said "Oh yeah, You are Happy Oasis." YES!
Then she said, and who are you! So just like in my dream, in this case dream/waking life, I say if you look at the back of my name tag you will read my Spirit name. I proceeded to pull out the tag that was hanging around my neck and place it flush against the metallic deli case to display it with pride. She says, Serpentbird Tribemaker. Wow! And I say somewhere in all of this excitement that I had been to the Raw Spirit festival in Sedona in 2008 and now I live here. We yam it up a bit more and then I proclaim in a sort of bitter but soft activist voice... "I was a volunteer". Her eyes rolled back slightly, because, well perhaps she should have known that such a Serpentbird was not only in attendance at her festival; but a part of the backbone, of the operation.
She tells me that they have many events coming up with Brian Clement and such, and then says well, maybe you could volunteer. Her partner chimes in that there is no more availability for volunteers. Later she runs over to another part of the store and scoops up the flyers about the upcoming events she is organising and tells me her number is on them AND to call her. Hmmm my day just beginning and already in paradise.
Later, my friend William comes into the store. He is flying around the salad bar and quickly selecting his lunch. I notice that he is happier and lighter. I ask him if he has landed his job yet, and he said yes. He goes on to tell me he has a job working for Oolee and will be wrapping up sacred chocolates all day. I said, Maaaaaan THAT is awesome!
Then I said, "Hey do you mind giving me a ride to Red Rock State Park anytime after 1 pm today and he immediately says "Yeah, I can do that." DAMN ... I am thinking... Jesus and Hallelujah.
Next I am looking momentarily at the company community bulletin board, to discover that there is someone who is willing to rent out their van on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, if you just call the number. I am NOW thinking... that this ritual not only worked, but it made my experience feel as if there was no way that Spirit would let me down in terms of finding a solution to my lack of transportation to see the Hopi grandmother.
1:15pm ... I finally run with my backpack to the timeclock, a bit worried that William had left me. I get to the tables where he said he would be and he was there .... wheeew!
He introduces me to his friend and they're discussing a way for me to get out of the park fee at the loop, by saying I know Tina down by the trailer park at 55.
I'm still thinking ... I am going to get into the park just fine,,, but here is this man trying to organize the universe for me anyway.
So William and I head out to the gas station, and I pay for $6 in gas. Then I buy a package of Bugler tobacco with the quarters in the zipper side of my purse. I get dropped off at the loop where the Ranger guard station was, and we explain that I am going to walk in so I should only have to pay 3.00 to get in after William turns around. The ranger looks half-way convinced but we shoved the three dollar bills at him and he is fine with it. I get out of the red ford pick-up and head not even 200 feet toward the road to the upper parking lot where the teach-in would be, and these ladies, ask me if I want a ride in their spanking new "on-star" equipped mini-van. I said, "yes, THank you!"
Now for the <u>real</u> challenge. I was supposed to have called in and registered my measly $5 bucks to pre-register on the phone, but I didn't even have a ride to get there, so I hadn't called it in. I found up that the 2pm talk was sold out, but "SERPENTBIRD" "WENT" "ANYWAY". I get to the very white-washed credit card/pre-paid room where the lecture would be, and find a nice woman ranger at the "gate".
She said, did you sign up? I said, "YES!" So then I wait for her to scan the list, and there to her surprise and confusion, I was not on the list atop clipboard and black ink. So she said, "Hmm well, Um (in a cheery with anticipation voice) can you look and see if you are on there?" I said, Okay um well I do see one woman's name is on there twice but I am not on there. She bowed her head down as if to avoid a minor capitalist infraction from her superiors, said, "It's alright, just go in."
I went in and sat down in the tiny indoor amphitheater and wrote a letter of gratitude to the Grandmother for coming and sharing her wisdom. I wrapped the tobacco and ten dollars in the paper and put it in the glass donation jar down at the stage area down the stairs. I am in awe at a slideshow playing; of at least 20 stunning still photos of sacred ceremonies that were being shown on a big screen inside the theater. Feathers, body paint, small brick and sand buildings, elders, children, the mesas, the sunsets. There is a table down in the front as well with handmade grass bowls and cornmeal, and other herbs. The Ranger comes in and introduces Grandmother. He says in a very respectful and moved tone, that she had spent a lot of time preparing for the talk and that it is very harsh "up there" on the mesa. I knew exactly what he meant. He was saying that she made a lot of effort to then still come and do the talk at such a low cost and mentioned the donation jar.
Soon Roanna entered and she began <u>thanking</u> us for the first five minutes. {"Thank You" (as another wonderful elder "Firedancer" taught me,) is prayer.} She thanks us in a way as to describe that we are at this lecture to; remember who we are! She says that humanity has forgotten who they are and what they are here to do. She says we all have a job to fulfill and we all have to do our part. Her words were simple but she gave everything power. She says that she knows what her job is and that she is very traditional.
She was wearing an all white cotton dress and a predominantly red designed handmade/traditional woven belt. She says that she felt like she got a welcome from us like she was a movie star or something. She says "I am Roanna, and I am from the Sand Clan which represents the land or "our" foundation. There was power in everything she said. Even if the word was simple, it had weight which then drove the depth and meaning. She said a prayer then for a few minutes in her native Hopi language to us all, and of course we were already in awe and silent. She said that the Hopi's pray for ALL of humanity and that their prayers <u>protect</u> ALL of humanity.
Next she described that she had many items on the table to share with us. Her hands kept going into the corn pollen bowl. She says that Corn Pollen is the purification of all presence. She said that the Hopi's are made of corn. The corn is small, "like her". She laughs and says "I am small, and "we" Hopi's are short just like the "short" corn." She holds up a piece of short corn with a stalk at the end in her little hand. She says that the corn pollen is sacred and it is used in ceremony and healing for protection. She said that the pollen is ground up with their hands and that it is so powerful that it can heal your heart. She said, that she knows her job, and that all that come to her, she will pray for them with the pollen and heal their heart. Even though she is small, Little Rowenna is small, she can use the pollen and her faith in her prayer to heal people. Corn Pollen she says is the opening of our prayer; it opens our path. She said they have 4 colors of corn to represent all of humanity. One of the varieties is "spackle" corn which represents all of the races. When it is put in a bowl (which also represents the circle of life) then it is also representative of all of us coming together. They use White and Blue corn in their ceremonies. The White represents feminine and the Blue represents masculine. In ceremony White is representative of their presence here today and Blue is the connection to travel of the deceased. White Corn Powder is a blessing of regression. They put the powder on their faces in the ceremony to receive that blessing of regression. I can imagine it would give you insight into your past incarnations and help you "see" beyond what you know of yourself in this life.
She then introduces the paper thin rolls on the table called Piki Bread, which she pronounces as "pee kee"!. (So cute!) Roanna says it is 1000 year old bread. It is a paper thin bread that is made with nothing but find ground Blue Corn, Hot Stone slabs and a Womans' bare hands. She goes on saying that it is such an important craft in their tradition because it is where they gain so much of their wisdom. I could imagine the bonding that women must find in participating in this sacred act. They are very connected to their food because they grow it themselves without irrigation. To plant a small blue corn seed in the desert is truly creating their own people. They meld that with the act of prayer, to all of the rain spirits and thunderbeings.
She showed us a long grassy implement and says, "We use the broom for cleansing!" The way she held the thin grass "tool" in between her fingers and held it at different angles to with her sharp intent to express its power was amazing. It was just a bundle of grasses! She swept over her arms and face and said that in ceremony you can not touch yourself, so you use this tool to do that. She said, a broom cleans everything! She said they use the boom to comb their hair and then spoke at length about her role raising her sons and daughter. She said that there were some generations of Hopi that were not taught the traditions, and there are many that don't want to learn. She said that is okay... they will reach a "dead end" and come right back. We are always making a circle. She said she asks why her sons want to cut their hair, and said that this is like cutting off their wisdom. The hair connects you to the earth and gives you wisdom. Roanna has beautiful silver hair down to her waist.
Then she went back to describing the corn in another bowl which she said is made of yucca and is a spiral to represent the universe and also a navel which represents the beginning. She described 3 kinds of teas that she had prepared for us to sample after the talk. Juniper, Hoo Hoosie (Hopi Tea), and Osha. Juniper is for medicine and smudge and tea which can be used to cleanse you internally or externally. Hoo Hoosie which is boiled and made into a tea for cleansing, and Osha is a meditation root from under the Universe. It smells good and is used to protect their circles for ceremony. I tried Osha root tea that she had in the carafe and it was sooo tasty!
Next she said that we have to have faith and believe in ourselves and begins to tell us more about how she has "stepped up" more into her purpose. She said that most women elders in her tradition do not travel with Eagle feathers; they travel with corn. In her life though she has been initiated by her clan to carry this medicine. She showed us three Eagle feathers bound with leather. Eagle feathers are the Father of our prayer. Eagle touches the Sun; Wings feathers are representative of masculine and the Tips of the feathers represent the top of the head or feminine principle. The Eagle Staff represents "you" as an individual and you become a warrior. She said that Eagles who land in their reservation are all given special names and are given special ceremonies before they are released. Eagles and Red Tail Hawks protect the land. Then she says that her Spirit name given to her means Red Tail Hawk and that people call her Mother Earth.
She describes that when Hopi go gaming for Elk and Deer that Corn is always involved. Corn is used to recognize all of the elements and that it is the "eye of humaninty". She said that some of the villages in Hopi land are still working with snakes and that snakes are also guardians of the universe.
Roanna says "be strong within yourself". "help yourself in order to help others" We are in a constant blessing every day of our life. She said that she is up every day at 4 am and in bed at 2am, there is no time to rest for the women!
She is a carver of Kachina dolls and a potter. Other words of wisdom; "If you hesitate you won't learn" We are hesitant to one another." "When you come to Hopiland everything is a mirror. You look around and you see yourself."
Next she sang us a Deer Song with her drum, and yet again explains that most women don't play the drum in her culture but she has had the authority given to her. She said that all the Hopi practice is given through the mother, the learning is given through the Uncle and Fathers stay in "their" mothers' clan.
At the end of the talk she opened up the floor for questions. I asked the question that would press the buttons of course. First I said that the question was a difficult one to formulate. If Corn is the central element in their practice, and our world environment is threatened by what is happening with the worlds food supply of corn, then what "ideas" do the Hopi have in what this mean for "us" Spiritually?
She says that the Hopi's are protecting this cycle (the 5th cycle) and using their prayers for all of humanity. She looked straight at me the whole time with piercing integrity. "WE" are the change ... so the Hopi don't SPEAK of prophecy because if they speak it then IT WILL HAPPEN!
I am so grateful to have met Roanna, because she had so much to share from her heart. She has a lot of exuberance for life and energy too! I am invited to visit her and eat at her place in Hopi land... so for all of you... ....to be continued.
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