ALL WINTER LONG....Celebrating the life to come forth beyond winter and it's Solstice

All winter long

Behind every thunder

guess what we heard!

---Behind every thunder 

the song

of a bird, 

a trumpeting bird.

All winter long

beneath every snowing

guess what we saw!

---beneath every snowing 

a thaw

and a growing, 

a greening and growing.

Where did we run

beyond the gate and guardsman?

Guess, if you can!

---all winter long

we ran

to the sun,

 the dance of the sun!

Native American Song

Happy Winter Solstice 2016 

As after sunset fadeth in the west William Shakespeare

 

That time of year thou mayest in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,

Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang.

In me thou see'st the twilight of such day

As after sunset fadeth in the west,

Which by  and by black night doth take away,

Death's second self, that seals up all in rest

In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire

That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,

As the deathbed whereon it must expire,

Consumed with that which it was nourished by

This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong

To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

 

William Shakespeare 

 

 

THE MOUNTAIN MELTED a prayer for The Water People at Standing Rock

  Ice Mountain melted

ages ago

and made this ridge, 

this place of changes

now we are rooted in it,

we of the old ones, 

we of the new ones from afar;

oatgrass meadow, douglas fir thicket,

we are rooted in the ridge of changes in the time of changes

The winds carry strange smells, this is a day of change

Great Ones above and below, bless us!

O shining One above, feed us with your light;

O soft ones, sky darkeners, wash us  with your rain drops!

O powers above us , bless us with your gifts,

for we reach up to you, branching wood and sap.

O Earthmother from whom we grow,

 sandy gravel into whom our roots branch wood

and sap deep down,

bless us in our night sleep, in our death and decay.

Bless us, dark earth as we give back

that which we have received

as we make a forest of blessing a ridge of blessing

for the future to grow upon.

Chinook Psalter

 

MERCADO SAGRADO A FANTASTIC EVENT AT THE PARAMOUNT RANCH IN MALIBU..PHOTOS

THIS IS A MOVIE RANCH used in  the making of TV series like Gunsmoke and Dr. Quinn

This is a State Park and is popular with  horse riders and joggers as well as hikers

This is where I worked..my magic space

This was a weekend gathering of like minded artisans, for the well being of people and the Planet, food, clothing, furniture, massages, lectures and workshops and it is held every year in Malibu, CA.
This was the third one held, and I think the busiest.
I have now branched into selling crystals and elementals..will post photos later this year.
There is talk of Mercado Sagrado going global now so look for ones in Europe in the upcoming years

TRIED AND TRUE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE...DAILY "RITUALS" The teachings of Eaglewolf

These are just some of the techniques I have learned over the past 40 years to improve one's life and help remove some of the excess baggage we accumulate over our lives on Earth.


To live your life without regret (no more looking back and saying "if only.....")
Every morning upon rising, have both feet on the floor, you may be sitting on your bed or standing up, say out loud:
"TODAY IS A GOOD DAY, TO DIE"

Lakota Sioux warriors used to say this before they went into battle, so that if they died on the battlefield they would not greet Great Spirit with fear in their eyes (fear represents distrust).
This phrase is not a death wish, rather the opposite.

 

To bring more "respect and balance" to your life:
If you are spending most of your time giving your energy and time to others with no return, make copies of the following and place on any surface where OTHERS will see it (desktop, dashboard, behind front and back doors of house & etc.)

ALL FAVORS MUST BE RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS

This means that the energy/intention used in the favors has to be returned to YOU, not necessarily the same favor eg. you take a friend to the store and back in your car, they then offer to babysit one evening for you.

 

Learning to share and TREAT your SELF better:
Every time you gift a friend with a "present" buy one of equal value for yourself.

UNDERSTANDING WORDS:
Also the spoken word has immense power, when you read ANY prayer or affirmation, read it slowly, with intention.
As children we all learn prayers and phrases "parrot fashion" almost "just to get them out of the way".
By reading them, out loud, slowly, and understanding the meaning in those words, you release their power.
This is one of the ways the spoken word heals.

Forgiving Your SELF daily, reducing self guilt:
This is one of the strongest, and sometimes the most difficult of rituals...
Every night before bed, face yourself in the bathroom mirror, (or a mirror with a glass of water* besides you), and using your own name, tell your image that you forgive (using your name) eg. "John I forgive you".
That is all you don't have to say what you are forgiving yourself for. 


LET LOVE IN:
Everyone needs to  be loved more, but one has to be "open" to receive it when offered.
When someone thanks you, wait 10 seonds and absorb the words, let them fill your heart chakra, then simply reply,
"I appreciate that".
Thanking someone is offering them love, when you reply "you are welcome", "no problem", "thank You"..you are brushing them off..which in turn means you are disrespecting them and The Universe..this disrespect will return to you, in many ways of negativity.
Being open to love is not being vulnerable quite the opposite, the same goes for asking for help..asking for help makes you stronger.







*Water represents life.

These simple techniques WORK, especially  when  done daily or regularly.

Eaglewolf 

 

UNDERSTANDING THE "OLD WAYS" OF LEARNING....Native American 1800-1900's

" Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library"  
Chief Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux

Look at me     I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches, but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love.

Red Cloud  Sioux

It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. It's appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one's spiritual balance. Therefore, children must learn early the beauty of generosity.
They re taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving.
If a child is inclined to be grasping, or to cling to any of his or her little possessions, legends are related about the contempt and disgrace falling upon the ungenerous and mean person.
The Native Americans in their simplicity literally give away all that they have, to relatives, to guests of other tribes or clans, but above all to the poor and the aged, from whom they can hope for no return.

Charles Alexander Eastman ( Ohiyesa) Santee Sioux

..." Everything was possessed of personality, only differing from us in form. Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and it's books were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks, and the birds and animals that shared, alike with us, the storms and blessings of the earth.
 We learned to do what only the student of nature ever learns, and that was to feel beauty. We never railed at the storms, the furious winds,and the biting frosts and snows. To do so intensified the human futility, so whatever came we adjusted ourselves, by more effort and energy if necessary, but without complaint.
Even the lightening did us no harm, for whenever it came too close, mothers and grandmothers in every tipi put cedar leaves on the coals and their magic kept danger away.
Bright days and dark days were both expressions of the Great Mystery, and the Native American reveled in being close to the Great Holiness.

......This appreciation enriched Lakota existence. Life was vivid and pulsing; nothing was casual and commonplace. The Native American lived    lived in every sense of the word...from his first to his last breath."

Chief Luther Standing Bear  Teton Sioux

  I hope that by reading and understanding these simple words, written by so called "savages"  that we all may learn the knowledge that has remained "hidden" for hundreds of years...waiting to be rediscovered, by Nature Lovers and people of Peace and Love, and in doing so, we will improve our lives and those of generations to come. John Nigel Crook

WEAVING GARMENTS OF BRIGHTNESS Tewa Pueblo prayer

O our mother the earth, O our father the sky,
Your children are we, and with tired backs 
We bring you the gifts that you love.
Then weave for us a garment of brightness,
May the warp be the white light of morning,
May the weft be the red light of 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 the grass is green,
O our mother the earth,
O our father the sky.

WEAVING GARMENTS OF BRIGHTNESS Tewa Pueblo prayer

O our mother the earth, O our father the sky,
Your children are we, and with tired backs 
We bring you the gifts that you love.
Then weave for us a garment of brightness,
May the warp be the white light of morning,
May the weft be the red light of 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 the grass is green,
O our mother the earth,
O our father the sky.

 

SIT A SPELL...SIMPLE HERBAL TEAS TO INCREASE THE "MAGIC" IN YOUR LIFE

A HERBAL TEA IS SIMPLY A TSP OF POWDERED, MIXED DRIED HERBS/SPICES, (OR 2 TSP FRESH FINELY CHOPPED HERBS) PLACED IN A MUG/CUP AND COVERED IN BOILING FRESH WATER, ALLOWED TO STEEP FOR 5 MINS THEN STRAINED.
PLACE YOUR HANDS OVER THE CUP OF STRAINED TEA AND SAY A SIMPLE PRAYER OR WISH, FOR THE TEA TO BRING THE DESIRED ENERGY INTO YOUR LIFE.
THEN ALLOW TO SLIGHTLY COOL AND SIP IT SLOWLY IN AN ACT OF MEDITATION.
THESE ARE TEAS USED AS "MEDICINAL" NOT SERVED WITH CAKES AND SANDWICHES.
ANY NATURAL SWEETENER MAYBE BE USED TO.

TO WARD OFF NEGATIVE ENERGY;
use culinary sage


TO BRING IN LOVING ENERGY
dried orange rind, rose hips, cinnamon, and place a copper penny in the cup before straining.

LUCK AND OPPORTUNITY
lemon or lemongrass with a raw almond again before straining

WEALTH AND ABUNDANCE
1 part ginger and a pinch of both ground cloves and ground nutmeg

COURAGE 
fresh parsley, raspberry leaf, nettle, aniseed and ginger

Make the tea  and find a quiet place to sip it...all the time reflecting on the healing energy coming into your being.

Take time out for this practice and you WILL begin to understand yourself and your precious place in this Universe.

NEW ADDITION TO THIS BLOG : Spells and practices to make your life better

These basic ideas are ways of using natural oils and essences of flowers and plants to create a more harmonious atmosphere in your home and maybe office.
You may us an oil infuser or water aromatherapy burner or simply oil infused incense sticks/cones.

"SPELL" implies harnessing Earth's healing energy NOT the "Black Arts".
Nothing is used to manipulate nor enforce your will, over others.

PROTECTION BLEND:  when feeling threatened.
  cedarwood, sandalwood, and the spice, clove..adding some peppercorns and if you can find them, spider webs/cobwebs.


INTUITIVE BLEND: for understanding your own intuition
Frankincense, sandalwood and saffron threads 


PROSPERITY BLEND: to draw prosperity/wealth to the home
Peppermint, basil and lemongrass or lemon rind..in a water aromatherapy add a few silver coins

LUCK AND SUCCESS BLEND: to draw energies of luck and success
cinnamon, lemongrass or lemon peel, cinnamon bark and citronella


PURIFYING BLEND: when moving into a new home or to move out negative energy in the home/office
sage, rosemary and the spice, clove and a pinch of sea salt


GROUNDING BLEND: when feeling unsettled or depressed, fearful
lemongrass or lemon peel, lavender, pine and a pinch of  soil


EASY SLEEP BLEND: to inspire prophetic dreams
marjoram or oregano, lavender


LOVE BLEND:
patchouli, orange, cinnamon, clove.

I have learned from past classes with students and human nature, that there is absolutely no reason or need to go out and buy expensive blended oils or fragrances.
 Use whatever plants, spices and herbs are available to you.
It is your INTENTION that matters, not the amount you spend on any ingredient and the best intentions come from the heart.


Be well and allow Mother Earth  to become whole as you do.

MY HEART SOARS....Chief Dan George

The beauty of the trees, 
the softness of the air, 
the fragrance of the grass, 
speaks to me.

The summit of the mountain,
the thunder of the sky,
the rhythm of the sea,
speaks to me.

The faintness of the stars.
the freshness of the morning,
the dewdrop on the flower, 
speaks to me.

The strength of fire, 
the taste of salmon, 
the trail of the sun, 
and the life that never goes away.
they speak to me.


And my heart soars!
 

Leading the people..Native American Lesson Winnebago

Try to do something for your people---------something difficult.
Have pity on your people and love them. If a man is poor, help him. Give him and his family food, give them whatever they ask for.
If there is discord among your people, intercede.
Take your sacred pipe and walk into their midst. Die if necessary in your attempt to bring reconciliation. Then, when order has been restored and they see you lying dead on the ground, still holding in your hand the sacred pipe, the symbol of peace and reconciliation, then assuredly will they know that you have been a real chief.

Winnebago Nation

 

SILENCE AND THE LAKOTA SIOUX..Chief Luther Standing Bear, Teton Sioux

Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a  space of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regardful of the rule that "Thought comes before speech".

And in the midst of sorrow, sickness, death, or misfortune of any kind, and in the presence of the notable and great, silence was the mark of respect. More powerful than words was silence with the Lakota.

In strict observance of his tenet of good behavior was the reason no doubt, for his being given the false characterization by the white man of being a stoic.
He was judged to be dumb, stupid, indifferent and unfeeling.

As a matter or truth, he was most sympathetic of men, but his emotions of depth and sincerity were tempered with control. Silence meant to the Lakota what it meant to Disraeli when he said "Silence in the mother of truth" for the silent man was ever trusted, while the man ever ready with speech was never taken seriously.
 
 

FOR THE PEOPLE OF ORLANDO FLORIDA/OUR WORLD...Ohbway Prayer

GRANDFATHER
LOOK AT OUR BROKENNESS.

WE KNOW THAT IN ALL CREATION
ONLY THE HUMAN FAMILY 
HAS STRAYED FROM THE SACRED WAY.

WE KNOW WE ARE THE ONES
WHO ARE DIVIDED
AND WE ARE THE ONES
WHO MUST COMEBACK TOGETHER
TO WALK THE SACRED WAY.

GRANDFATHER,
SACRED ONE, TEACH US LOVE, COMPASSION AND HONOR
THAT WE MAY HEAL THE EARTH
AND HEAL EACH OTHER.


Still reeling from the worst mass murder in American history, no words can describe the horror and shock of our nation and the world.
STOP THE VIOLENCE
STOP THE KILLING

STANDING TALL WITH ORLANDO RIGHT NOW

HOW TO BRING IN ABUNDANCE..Native American

In my work ,the question that leads to the greatest upheaval is " How do you handle Gratitude?"
"Do you give and receive it equally?"

In variably the answer is No.

Probably since the Industrial revolution we (Western Civilization) have become a society of "do unto others", but not for the "SELF".


Here are some simple rules for a better and  more productive life.

When someone thanks you for a job well done, stay silent for 10 seconds then answer
"Thank you I appreciate it". 

Because, when you immediately brush them off with a "Oh it's OK, or NOT at all" you are not only disrespecting them you are also slighting the Universe, and creating an imbalance around you.

It is great to GIVE Love ... and it has to be GREAT to RECEIVE Love .....in EQUAL amounts.

Creating  harmony and balance for your LIFE is so very easy.


There is also a Prayer..that will shift blocks in your ability to receive abundance:

This is to be said, out loud every night for a month, as you fall asleep, NOT when you just go to bed:

Now Talking God
With your feet I walk
I walk with your limbs
I carry forth your body
For me your mind thinks
Your voice speaks for me
Beauty is before me
And beauty is behind me
Above and below me hovers the beautiful
I am surrounded by it
I am immersed in it
In my youth I am aware of it
And in my old age
I shall walk quietly
The Beautiful Trail


For the first week of saying this once every night, nothing will happen.
The second  & third weeks, again saying every night, you will be DAILY  "tested" by the Universe to see just how well equipped you really are to handle abundance...
Simple tasks will take longer
Days will not go as planned
You WILL get frustrated..just learn to DEAL with every obstacle as it appears, don't put them off, blame someone else or pass them on to someone else to deal with.
After 2-3 weeks abundance will follow...just be open to it.


THIS DOES WORK   ..just have faith


You should continue to say this prayer at least 3 times a week for the rest of your very happy life.

DANCING THE DANCE & CIRCLE OF TREES Chinook Psalters

May all things move and be moved in me
  and know and be known in me
May all creation
  dance for joy within me.

How lovely are thy holy groves
  God of heaven and earth
My soul longs and faints 
  for the circle of thy trees.
My heart and my flesh
  sing with joy to thee
      O God of life 

I have posted these simple verses to honor our remaining trees in Southern California. The 5 year drought has left us with 49 million less trees.
Please don't take any tree or living thing for granted...honor all things of Mother Earth..John Nigel