In preparing my comments on the state of the world in this year 2023 as the spring equinox approaches, I realized that I could no longer publish them freely for the general public. Too high a percentage of our populations are so intensely brainwashed that they have no control over the hatred and aggression they direct toward those who are not slaves to the system. We have seen millions of examples of this with the discrimination against those who chose not to vaccinate for covid, state, social, corporate, workplaces and even family discrimination that has thrown siblings against each other in this madness brought on by the belief in these sanitary measures that have been thousands of times more damaging than the covid virus. So, I will be creating a new blog at ancestralwisdomtoday.com and it will be reserved only for those who follow the beauty way. Stay tuned here, that’s what the newsletter is for, to be notified. I will try to create this as soon as I can…
The equinox is a point of balance, the day equals the night, the opposite of the solstice. Thus, it’s what we seek in our rituals and ceremonies to tune and harmonize our lives with the world around us. To walk in beauty and balance on mother earth.
Hope is what spring is all about, the beginning of things, renewal. Our ceremonies here in the far north were often held later in the season, as snow still covers the country in late March. Full or new moon in April usually.
In preparation for the spring equinox here is an excerpt from my book THE BEAUTY WAY.
Cyclical ceremonies are important for our communication with nature but also for the community. It is important to gather regularly to share, exchange, sing, dance, participate in rituals, laugh, celebrate and rejoice together in the blessings that the earth gives us. It is necessary to share regularly in unity, in a spirit of communion. It is also an opportunity for young people to find the person with whom they can create a family and children. These events are therefore very important for the future of the community and the families. They are also teachable moments where the elders share their knowledge, where the keepers of the tradition tell myths and legends and where the musicians and dancers inspire us with their beauty. These are also the moments to show the artistic talents of the best embroiderers and those who make the most beautiful clothes and all sorts of handicraft. The exchange of goods is also part of these meetings.
All nations are composed of human beings with their share of clashes, quarrels and pettiness. We all have personality conflicts at times. Natives bicker like us over nonsense and sometimes carry the bitterness of these clashes with them for a long time. Thus, Native American traditions provide for times during the year to purify human relationships. These ceremonies are often performed in the spring, which is a good season for purification. There is no better time to practise these conflict resolution rituals than in community ceremonial gatherings. One particularly powerful ceremony for the Cherokee people is called the “Friendship Renewal Ceremony.”
During the winter, in pre-colonial times and even today, everyone lived in small houses, very close together because of the intense cold outside. During the cold season, people go out less because of the high winds and the snow that accumulates everywhere. During the winter, many animosities and quarrels will have developed because of the constant proximity. We all sometimes step on each other’s toes and pull each other’s hair out when there is not enough space! When spring finally arrives, it’s time to cleanse our bodies, minds and friendships. Fasts and sweat lodges are a great way to remove the bitterness accumulated by the body during the winter. It is a time to purge the body by drinking emetics and herbs that purify the digestive system, or maple water, or by eating the same purifying food for several days in a row without eating anything else.
Thus, following these physical purifications, “Friendship Renewal Ceremony” takes place. In the company of those toward whom we have had abrupt gestures or words, we go to the edge of a lake, a stream or a river. There, we express the difficulties we have experienced and the understanding that we too have not always been perfect in our relationships.
We acknowledge these difficulties to the person by stating our willingness to put these mistakes behind us because we choose to hold on to the positive aspects of our relationship. We want to forgive and purify the difficulties we have experienced. After expressing our feelings, we open our hearts to receive that person and they do the same for us. We bend over the water, and seven times we immerse ourselves completely in the water to wash away any impurities that may have tainted our friendship with that person.
Throughout the ceremonies, the sacred fire burns and the sweat lodges are animated. At the end, with the feast prepared, we gather around the sacred fire for the sacred dances, those that will awaken the earth. The movements of the dance and the tapping of feet on the ground will awaken the forces of germination and fertility that lie dormant within the earth. We sing to the earth: “wake up, the good weather is coming, the time for sowing has arrived.” We place the seeds that we will sow in the next season near the sacred fire, so that they are energized by the fire and by our celebrations. We perform the joyful dances to celebrate the happiness of being all good friends again, for this is our greatest wealth. Nothing is more precious than our family and friends.
This is our ceremony in a few words. Maybe a bit more meaningful than the Easter Bunny? : D LOL
Happy Equinox to all!