Don't Call Me Riverwolf Anymore!

That's it--I'm so embarrassed by a certain news report that I'm ditching my spirit name, Riverwolf. Why, you ask? What cataclysmic event would cause me to take this drastic action?

Naturally, those media whores Spencer and Heidi Pratt have now adopted Native American spirit names! That's right, the same couple who have so flaunted their "Christianity" that Jesus himself has become an atheist to save face are now calling themselves White Wolf (Heidi) and Running Bear (Spencer).

The whole spectacle has outraged some Native American groups, and I'm right here with them. If I for a moment believed that any of this was sincere, I'd back 'em up--but I don't. I don't know what kind of crazy train these 2 are running, but it is out of control. And if you're scratching your head because you have no idea who I'm talking about--you have been blessed, my child. Take pride in your ignorance!

I'm sure some Native Americans would also have a problem with me calling myself "Riverwolf." However, I'm not claiming it's an authentic Native name of any sort. It simply came to me in a dream, I diligently try to live out what that name symbolizes for me, and I don't go bragging about it to everyone I know! And barely anyone in the "real world" even knows about it. I completely doubt the Pratt's motivations, and it mocks all those of us who have taken similar names as an expression of something we try and live out with integrity every damn day.

And look at me, sitting here trying to justify my name because of Heidi and Spencer! Ack! (But no, I'm really not changing my spirit name because of these 2 goobers.)

Don't Call Me Riverwolf Anymore!

That's it--I'm so embarrassed by a certain news report that I'm ditching my spirit name, Riverwolf. Why, you ask? What cataclysmic event would cause me to take this drastic action?

Naturally, those media whores Spencer and Heidi Pratt have now adopted Native American spirit names! That's right, the same couple who have so flaunted their "Christianity" that Jesus himself has become an atheist to save face are now calling themselves White Wolf (Heidi) and Running Bear (Spencer).

The whole spectacle has outraged some Native American groups, and I'm right here with them. If I for a moment believed that any of this was sincere, I'd back 'em up--but I don't. I don't know what kind of crazy train these 2 are running, but it is out of control. And if you're scratching your head because you have no idea who I'm talking about--you have been blessed, my child. Take pride in your ignorance!

I'm sure some Native Americans would also have a problem with me calling myself "Riverwolf." However, I'm not claiming it's an authentic Native name of any sort. It simply came to me in a dream, I diligently try to live out what that name symbolizes for me, and I don't go bragging about it to everyone I know! And barely anyone in the "real world" even knows about it. I completely doubt the Pratt's motivations, and it mocks all those of us who have taken similar names as an expression of something we try and live out with integrity every damn day.

And look at me, sitting here trying to justify my name because of Heidi and Spencer! Ack! (But no, I'm really not changing my spirit name because of these 2 goobers.)

I'm Buying a New Drum!

I'm excited because I just ordered my first drum! Yeah, some may say that's backwards--How can you be a shaman without a drum?--but then, I also bought a motorcycle helmet before I even had a motorcycle! All in good time, I say. Since I didn't have an actual drum, I've been using CDs and online music for my meditations, which works just fine.

And since I sold my motorcycle, I decided to channel some of that energy (money) into a really nice drum. I've had plenty of opportunities to buy one, but I wanted something special since this will be used not only for personal use but also for (hopefully) public ceremonies. Buying something more mass-produced just didn't feel right. So why not pay a little extra for something more customized?

From a friend's recommendation, I've purchased my drum from The Drum People, out of Alabama. The drum maker is Cherokee/Metis, and he and his wife hand-make all the drums, beaters and storage bags. I was attracted to them because they use reclaimed cedar wood so that living trees are not cut down. Plus there isn't any mass assembly line churning these things out. So far, my experience working with them has been great. They take time to make sure you get what you want, and they have all kinds of ways to customize your drum and any other accessories. Plus, they emphasize the spiritual energy that goes into making and using a drum, which is important to me. Unfortunately, they no longer hand-paint on the drum heads due to a busy workload, but that's fine with me.

I'll let you know when the drum arrives!

I'm Buying a New Drum!

I'm excited because I just ordered my first drum! Yeah, some may say that's backwards--How can you be a shaman without a drum?--but then, I also bought a motorcycle helmet before I even had a motorcycle! All in good time, I say. Since I didn't have an actual drum, I've been using CDs and online music for my meditations, which works just fine.

And since I sold my motorcycle, I decided to channel some of that energy (money) into a really nice drum. I've had plenty of opportunities to buy one, but I wanted something special since this will be used not only for personal use but also for (hopefully) public ceremonies. Buying something more mass-produced just didn't feel right. So why not pay a little extra for something more customized?

From a friend's recommendation, I've purchased my drum from The Drum People, out of Alabama. The drum maker is Cherokee/Metis, and he and his wife hand-make all the drums, beaters and storage bags. I was attracted to them because they use reclaimed cedar wood so that living trees are not cut down. Plus there isn't any mass assembly line churning these things out. So far, my experience working with them has been great. They take time to make sure you get what you want, and they have all kinds of ways to customize your drum and any other accessories. Plus, they emphasize the spiritual energy that goes into making and using a drum, which is important to me. Unfortunately, they no longer hand-paint on the drum heads due to a busy workload, but that's fine with me.

I'll let you know when the drum arrives!

More Shamanism at Vancouver Olympics

I haven't had time to watch much of the Vancouver Olympics, however, I see that shamanic or pagan images keep popping up. Wonder what that's all about?

Canada's Jon Montgomery (above) just won gold in the skeleton event. If you look at his helmet, it sports a stylized turtle image, in the manner of Canada's native peoples. Montgomery started wearing the helmet (pictured) after a shaman told him that his spirit animal was a turtle! Seems a few people poked fun at Jon--a racer, for wearing an image usually associated with slowness--but now he gets the last laugh. And turtle medicine is actually quite powerful. I became more familiar with it last year.

There was more shamanism evident in the Opening Ceremony: Canada's first peoples dancing and drumming, a spirit bear, mystical trees and salmon, a shaman walking north with his magickal staff, and more. Sia at Full Circle gives a good review of it here.

I don't know how deeply or seriously people are taking all this--but it can only be a good thing. Just the fact that more people are recognizing the importance of native ways, of animal wisdom, of the spirit of a particular place--I believe all of this sticks with us and affects us in ways that will one day amaze and humble us. It's spirit's way of getting our attention and leading us in the way we should go. I had this very experience this morning on my walk, and I'll post about that next.

More Shamanism at Vancouver Olympics

I haven't had time to watch much of the Vancouver Olympics, however, I see that shamanic or pagan images keep popping up. Wonder what that's all about?

Canada's Jon Montgomery (above) just won gold in the skeleton event. If you look at his helmet, it sports a stylized turtle image, in the manner of Canada's native peoples. Montgomery started wearing the helmet (pictured) after a shaman told him that his spirit animal was a turtle! Seems a few people poked fun at Jon--a racer, for wearing an image usually associated with slowness--but now he gets the last laugh. And turtle medicine is actually quite powerful. I became more familiar with it last year.

There was more shamanism evident in the Opening Ceremony: Canada's first peoples dancing and drumming, a spirit bear, mystical trees and salmon, a shaman walking north with his magickal staff, and more. Sia at Full Circle gives a good review of it here.

I don't know how deeply or seriously people are taking all this--but it can only be a good thing. Just the fact that more people are recognizing the importance of native ways, of animal wisdom, of the spirit of a particular place--I believe all of this sticks with us and affects us in ways that will one day amaze and humble us. It's spirit's way of getting our attention and leading us in the way we should go. I had this very experience this morning on my walk, and I'll post about that next.

More Cherokee and a Poem

If the Universe (or whatever you call it) repeatedly sends things your way, I suppose it means, "Pay attention!" Right? This past weekend, I heard about and attended a short--and FREE!--teaching circle given by a Cherokee man in a nearby town. Even though I live not far from ancestral Cherokee land, we don't get that many here in the big city. You may remember that, back in September, I actually went to Cherokee, NC, and attended a workshop there. (Didn't blog much about it, but maybe it's better that way.)

So, again, Cherokee stuff. I was curious to compare what this man said with the teachings I received in September. Well, their teachings both had in common the same tone--and I'm still digesting everything I heard. Having now listened to 2 different Cherokee teachers, they were both very indirect, just offering what they had and letting it help whomever it was designed to help. (What--no Powerpoints?) So I don't have much to say except that I'm keeping it mainly to myself. I'm feeling more and more that some spiritual teachings aren't meant to be shared right away. I did enjoy the ritual as well as the drumming and the short "dreaming" that the teacher led (what I would call my shamanic journey or meditation).

The second repetition was this: The teacher read a poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, a Canadian woman (not of Native descent) who is a writer and storyteller. The poem is titled "The Invitation," and I first discovered just a few months ago while researching readings for one of the weddings. When I first read it, I cried because it expressed so well many of the emotions I felt for my partner. With all the changes that we've been through, things will never be the same for us--even if we do reunite. This poem said so many of the things I longed to say but didn't know how. So I sent him a copy. And then this Cherokee man reads it this past Friday to start our teaching circle--and my partner was with me! I asked him about the poem, what he thought of it. He's a man of few words now; he said he liked it but that he would have to ask me more about it later. And that's his way, which is fine. Spirit moved me to send it, so I did.

Thought I'd reprint it here. "The Invitation":

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals,
or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,
mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,
mine or your own,
if you can dance with wildness, and let the ecstasy fill you 

to the tips of your fingers and toes,
without cautioning us to be careful,
to be realistic, 

to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty, every day.
And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
yours and mine,
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside,
when all else falls away.

I want to knowif you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

More Cherokee and a Poem

If the Universe (or whatever you call it) repeatedly sends things your way, I suppose it means, "Pay attention!" Right? This past weekend, I heard about and attended a short--and FREE!--teaching circle given by a Cherokee man in a nearby town. Even though I live not far from ancestral Cherokee land, we don't get that many here in the big city. You may remember that, back in September, I actually went to Cherokee, NC, and attended a workshop there. (Didn't blog much about it, but maybe it's better that way.)

So, again, Cherokee stuff. I was curious to compare what this man said with the teachings I received in September. Well, their teachings both had in common the same tone--and I'm still digesting everything I heard. Having now listened to 2 different Cherokee teachers, they were both very indirect, just offering what they had and letting it help whomever it was designed to help. (What--no Powerpoints?) So I don't have much to say except that I'm keeping it mainly to myself. I'm feeling more and more that some spiritual teachings aren't meant to be shared right away. I did enjoy the ritual as well as the drumming and the short "dreaming" that the teacher led (what I would call my shamanic journey or meditation).

The second repetition was this: The teacher read a poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, a Canadian woman (not of Native descent) who is a writer and storyteller. The poem is titled "The Invitation," and I first discovered just a few months ago while researching readings for one of the weddings. When I first read it, I cried because it expressed so well many of the emotions I felt for my partner. With all the changes that we've been through, things will never be the same for us--even if we do reunite. This poem said so many of the things I longed to say but didn't know how. So I sent him a copy. And then this Cherokee man reads it this past Friday to start our teaching circle--and my partner was with me! I asked him about the poem, what he thought of it. He's a man of few words now; he said he liked it but that he would have to ask me more about it later. And that's his way, which is fine. Spirit moved me to send it, so I did.

Thought I'd reprint it here. "The Invitation":

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals,
or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,
mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,
mine or your own,
if you can dance with wildness, and let the ecstasy fill you 

to the tips of your fingers and toes,
without cautioning us to be careful,
to be realistic, 

to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty, every day.
And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
yours and mine,
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside,
when all else falls away.

I want to knowif you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Bears Roam Freely in Cherokee!

Well, sorta. You might get lucky and glimpse a real bear, but these are just a few of the 15 painted bears placed throughout Cherokee as a way to highlight tribal artists.

This first one honors Sequoyah, the man who transformed the Cherokee language into a written syllabary. There's a famous portrait of Sequoyah showing him with a pipe and turban-like hat, so that's why the bear is shown in this manner. Some characters from the syllabary are also shown on the bear.

I just liked the design on this second bear, but I'm not sure if there's any special representation.

And last, I love the mountain scene painted on this bear. Beautiful colors.

Click here to see more bears and read about the art project. More Cherokee info and pics to come!

Bears Roam Freely in Cherokee!

Well, sorta. You might get lucky and glimpse a real bear, but these are just a few of the 15 painted bears placed throughout Cherokee as a way to highlight tribal artists.

This first one honors Sequoyah, the man who transformed the Cherokee language into a written syllabary. There's a famous portrait of Sequoyah showing him with a pipe and turban-like hat, so that's why the bear is shown in this manner. Some characters from the syllabary are also shown on the bear.

I just liked the design on this second bear, but I'm not sure if there's any special representation.

And last, I love the mountain scene painted on this bear. Beautiful colors.

Click here to see more bears and read about the art project. More Cherokee info and pics to come!

Bob Barker Tussles with Cherokee Over Captive Bears

Yet MORE Cherokee stuff! This was on the national news last night. Apparently, former "The Price Is Right" host and animal rights activist Bob Barker (remember, he always closed the show by reminding us to have our pets spayed or neutered!) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are not happy with how 3 businesses in Cherokee, NC, treat its captive bears. They claim that the concrete pits in which the bears are kept are unsuitable and inhumane. And they're calling for a complete tourism boycott of the reservation!

The 3 zoos are privately owned and include Santa's Land, Cherokee Bear Zoo and Chief Saunooke's Bear Park. Reservation and business leaders are not happy about the negative attention, and have told Barker and PETA to stay away and mind their own business. They claim the bears are well cared for, and their facilities are regularly inspected by federal officials to comply with the Animal Welfare Act. But apparently, there's an NC state law that says captive bears must have at least 1 acre of natural habitat--and the Cherokee reservation is exempt from that law. Hmmm, so I guess the Cherokee have to comply with federal laws but not state laws? I've never understood how all that works.

I'm torn on this. I'd prefer to see bears wandering in a natural habitat--but who's to say that's any more humane than a concrete pit? Seriously--how do we know what the bears think about this? Maybe it just makes us humans feel better about keeping them in captivity?

Well, I'm afraid I won't be joining Barker's boycott (I have that conference in September), but what do you think about concrete pits vs. natural habitats??

Bob Barker Tussles with Cherokee Over Captive Bears

Yet MORE Cherokee stuff! This was on the national news last night. Apparently, former "The Price Is Right" host and animal rights activist Bob Barker (remember, he always closed the show by reminding us to have our pets spayed or neutered!) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are not happy with how 3 businesses in Cherokee, NC, treat its captive bears. They claim that the concrete pits in which the bears are kept are unsuitable and inhumane. And they're calling for a complete tourism boycott of the reservation!

The 3 zoos are privately owned and include Santa's Land, Cherokee Bear Zoo and Chief Saunooke's Bear Park. Reservation and business leaders are not happy about the negative attention, and have told Barker and PETA to stay away and mind their own business. They claim the bears are well cared for, and their facilities are regularly inspected by federal officials to comply with the Animal Welfare Act. But apparently, there's an NC state law that says captive bears must have at least 1 acre of natural habitat--and the Cherokee reservation is exempt from that law. Hmmm, so I guess the Cherokee have to comply with federal laws but not state laws? I've never understood how all that works.

I'm torn on this. I'd prefer to see bears wandering in a natural habitat--but who's to say that's any more humane than a concrete pit? Seriously--how do we know what the bears think about this? Maybe it just makes us humans feel better about keeping them in captivity?

Well, I'm afraid I won't be joining Barker's boycott (I have that conference in September), but what do you think about concrete pits vs. natural habitats??

A Good Dose of Turtle Medicine

By medicine, I'm obviously referring to the symbolic qualities of the turtle and what these fascinating creatures can teach us. Turns out turtles have been showing up quite a bit lately in my life. The other week on my walk around the lake, I spied 2 large turtles foraging around in the mud. I stood and watched them for a long time, although I wasn't close enough to identify them. A day or so later, I spotted a box turtle on a path very close to my home. And over the weekend, I spotted another box turtle not far from the main road.

Then I thought, "maybe the turtles are talking to me!" Because I recalled that the theme for the upcoming Fall session of the Cherokee Full Circle workshop is--turtle medicine! I'm still planning to attend, and the entire workshop is based around the symbolism of turtles in the Cherokee tradition.

Funny how these things come together. So I've been reading up on turtle symbolism and taking notes. If you'd like to know more, just google "turtle totem" and you can read for days. But here's what stood out to me.

• Because of their longevity and slow mannerisms, turtles can teach us new perspectives on time and our relationship to it. It may be time to slow down and and go with the flow of life rather than against it.
  
• The turtle's shell has lots of symbolism. It may indicate we should withdraw to nurture our ideas until they're ready for expression. Or it may signal that we need to set up boundaries for personal protection from situations or persons.
  
• Turtles often symbolize the Earth itself, and some traditions even once believed the Earth sat on top of a turtle's shell. It can be a call to ground yourself more closely to the Earth, to the basics, to nature, and to tune into the Earth's energies rather than your own to better navigate life.
• Since turtles can live on land or in the water, they are often seen as a symbolic bridge between this world and the Faerie realm (not exactly sure how that works--but it sounds fun!).
  

So be alert and aware, and see what nature is trying to tell you out there!

A Good Dose of Turtle Medicine

By medicine, I'm obviously referring to the symbolic qualities of the turtle and what these fascinating creatures can teach us. Turns out turtles have been showing up quite a bit lately in my life. The other week on my walk around the lake, I spied 2 large turtles foraging around in the mud. I stood and watched them for a long time, although I wasn't close enough to identify them. A day or so later, I spotted a box turtle on a path very close to my home. And over the weekend, I spotted another box turtle not far from the main road.

Then I thought, "maybe the turtles are talking to me!" Because I recalled that the theme for the upcoming Fall session of the Cherokee Full Circle workshop is--turtle medicine! I'm still planning to attend, and the entire workshop is based around the symbolism of turtles in the Cherokee tradition.

Funny how these things come together. So I've been reading up on turtle symbolism and taking notes. If you'd like to know more, just google "turtle totem" and you can read for days. But here's what stood out to me.

• Because of their longevity and slow mannerisms, turtles can teach us new perspectives on time and our relationship to it. It may be time to slow down and and go with the flow of life rather than against it.
  
• The turtle's shell has lots of symbolism. It may indicate we should withdraw to nurture our ideas until they're ready for expression. Or it may signal that we need to set up boundaries for personal protection from situations or persons.
  
• Turtles often symbolize the Earth itself, and some traditions even once believed the Earth sat on top of a turtle's shell. It can be a call to ground yourself more closely to the Earth, to the basics, to nature, and to tune into the Earth's energies rather than your own to better navigate life.
• Since turtles can live on land or in the water, they are often seen as a symbolic bridge between this world and the Faerie realm (not exactly sure how that works--but it sounds fun!).
  

So be alert and aware, and see what nature is trying to tell you out there!

Being Led to Cherokee

With all the emotional turmoil in my life right now, I'm trying to focus on the good things I want. One of those would be a trip to Cherokee, NC. I just love this beautiful pic of a Cherokee dancer. And it seems I'm being led there by some mysterious unseen force!

Turns out there is a spiritual retreat of sorts coming up in September that lets you study Native American/Cherokee traditions. It's explained as "finding the right way of relationship with the Earth"--and I certainly want to study this more deeply. A few of the people from my shaman mystery school may travel there. It's not too far from home, and they say it's a great experience.

I start thinking about going, and then a friend gives me a necklace made from a bear claw that she bought! I should take a photo--it's beautiful, and it was quite unexpected. Where did she get it? Near Cherokee!

Next, a friend who runs a travel web site posts some recent photos of a festival held in--Cherokee!

Then just the other day, I'm browsing on the Huffington Post when up pops an ad for a sweepstakes to visit--Cherokee! Of course I entered right away!

Ok, I don't need a brick to hit me over the head (well, sometimes...)! I've been doing some research and there are all kinds of cool things in Cherokee--an outdoor drama about the Trail of Tears, a recreated Cherokee village, museums and crafts. And the town is located right at the National Forest, so I'm sure there's great hiking, too. I'll keep you posted!

Being Led to Cherokee

With all the emotional turmoil in my life right now, I'm trying to focus on the good things I want. One of those would be a trip to Cherokee, NC. I just love this beautiful pic of a Cherokee dancer. And it seems I'm being led there by some mysterious unseen force!

Turns out there is a spiritual retreat of sorts coming up in September that lets you study Native American/Cherokee traditions. It's explained as "finding the right way of relationship with the Earth"--and I certainly want to study this more deeply. A few of the people from my shaman mystery school may travel there. It's not too far from home, and they say it's a great experience.

I start thinking about going, and then a friend gives me a necklace made from a bear claw that she bought! I should take a photo--it's beautiful, and it was quite unexpected. Where did she get it? Near Cherokee!

Next, a friend who runs a travel web site posts some recent photos of a festival held in--Cherokee!

Then just the other day, I'm browsing on the Huffington Post when up pops an ad for a sweepstakes to visit--Cherokee! Of course I entered right away!

Ok, I don't need a brick to hit me over the head (well, sometimes...)! I've been doing some research and there are all kinds of cool things in Cherokee--an outdoor drama about the Trail of Tears, a recreated Cherokee village, museums and crafts. And the town is located right at the National Forest, so I'm sure there's great hiking, too. I'll keep you posted!