Hau kola na tiyospaye (Hello friends & extended family),
Welcome to all new Circle members! Each section of the Circle of
Nations newsletter is written 'facing' one of the four sacred winds,
beginning with the east, then the south, west and finally the north.
This is to honor the old ways. It is to teach and to help us to focus
and find the center. I have designed the Native Circle website in the
same spirit. I welcome you all to the Circle....
EAST - Wiyohinyanpata - Yellow (Four Winds)
My dear Circle of Nations friends and family, I am very happy and proud
to tell you that my new CD, ‘Elk Dreamer’ has just been
pre-released, with the Official Release just a couple weeks away. This
particular project has a special, personal meaning for me. You see, in
Lakota tradition, the male elk is seen as the ultimate example and
symbol of what love is. If any of the females in his herd are ever in
danger, he will not only face that danger, but even sacrifice his life
in his effort to protect them. And sacrifice, in Lakota thought, is
the ultimate act of love. And so those who possess that love power, or
elk medicine, are referred to as Elk Dreamers. Another common trait of
those known as elk dreamers is an ability with music, and especially
with the flute and voice. Music, I have always believed, has the power
to heal. It has the power to bring about incredibly positive change.
All the music I create carries that belief and intent into the world.
As well, I have always believed in the healing power of love, and the
better part of my life has been dedicated to following my vision for
the mending of the sacred hoop. That mending cannot, and will not,
happen without love. And so, as I dreamed this music to life, I poured
all of that intent into it, knowing that music can reach deep into
places words cannot, and thus the pure power of elk medicine can be
fully experienced. Love is a multifaceted, diverse force with many
colors, faces and feelings, and this new music deeply honors that
sacred truth. There is much more to the mystery of the elk love power,
but all medicine must retain mystery to hold its power. And so I will
offer no more words, but only this new music, to speak to your spirit
of the unfathomable power of the healing medicine of love. One heart
at a time, we really can heal the world....
The NEW
‘Elk Dreamer’ CD
SOUTH - Itokagata - Red (Red Earth)
A word from Peggy....
Hello family and friends.
Been lots of busyness around here lately. Been days filled with
preparation and deadlines. Lists of 30 things to do in a day with
enough time to accomplish 5. I am not complaining because I am happy
to have so many fun and creative things to do and to have so many
wonderful people to do them for. But I must admit I am ready for a
couple hours to just float in the pool with the sun warming me and the
sweet cardinal that perches over my head in the tree and sings to me on
hot summer days.
I think about those times when I am a little weary like today. I look
for reasons to be grateful and look for ways to forgive myself for
being so spoiled.
March is a little early for spring and a little late for winter... sort
of like most of our lives, not quite where we want to be, but also far
away from where we have been.I did a lot of stupid things when I was
young..... I am a lot smarter now....but maybe not so wise as I look
forward to becoming.
I feel kind of stuck in the middle today. Ever feel that way? Time
just keeps moving on regardless of where we stand or how we feel, so
maybe it is best to just move along with the current of it and be
grateful for the ride.
I was telling Fr. Bob today that I just am getting into my comfort zone
after so many trips lately and I just wasn't sure if I want to make the
trip to Taipei next month and he gave me some great wisdom... he said,
"Well if you just don't get into your comfort zone then you won't have
so much trouble getting out of it!" Hey - that smarts.
Not much growth or learning happens in comfort zones, they are a rather
dangerous place to stay.
GREAT NEWS!!! Elk Dreamer has truly been a labor of love and I know
that you will all enjoy the music and the spirit in this new CD.
"Elk
Dreamer" is now Officially Pre-Released, and will be on its
way soon. We expect to be able to ship off CDs in a couple weeks. The
Pre-Release price will only be available for a couple of weeks so get
yours now!!
The Marriage Retreat did fill up for this year, but you can still sign
up for next year.
All other retreats have openings check them out at: The Retreats
Please come and join us in Hannibal, MO next month for the Official
Release party for "Elk Dreamer", and in St. Charles MO
for the first "Elk Dreamer" Concert!
Check out our schedule
Blessings,
Peace,
Peggy
Red Earth of Native
Circle ~ The Official John
Two-Hawks Website
WEST - Wiyohpeyata - Black or Blue (We are STILL Here!)
The one day blizzard in March....
Last Friday I performed in concert at a lovely place called The Ritz
Theatre. My last two concerts of 2007 were hit with snow storms that
were both gone by the next morning. But that was December. It’s supposed
to snow in December! Even so, it was almost laughable that the snow
came in only on the night of my concerts, not the day before, and all
was gone and melted away by the next day. So, fast forward to March
7th, and my concert at The Ritz Theatre in northeast Arkansas. Now, I’m
not an expert at how often it snows in early March in Arkansas, but
logic says it doesn’t happen all that often. So, again, the day before
my concert at The Ritz was clear. Then came the night of the show....
and in rolled the blizzard. I mean a complete white out. Snow blowing
40 miles an hour sideways, piling up faster than the fake snow in ‘Rudolph
the Red Nosed Reindeer’. It looked more like January in Minnesota
than March in Arkansas. And of course, the next day was clear, sunny
and the snow was gone before noon! So.... What is my point in all
this rambling? My point is that sometimes it can seem like some
snickering voodoo doctor has put a hex on you, or that you just are
having a run of some really bad luck. Regardless, it is important to
always remember not to curse the wind. I admit that when looked out
the back door of The Ritz Theatre on March 7th and saw a blizzard, I
wasn’t exactly thrilled! I never like weather to keep people from
coming to experience the music and medicine at the concerts I work so
hard to prepare for. But this life is about learning to roll with what
comes. It is about learning to accept the many surprising ways in
which the Great Mystery will meet your needs. And it is about honoring
and seeing the beauty in that amazing blizzard in March, even though
you were counting on clear skies. So walk with it, sit with it, roll
with it, and be one with it.... And the more you do, the more you
will see the hand of the Spirit at work in your life for the greater
good of all....
NORTH - Waziyata - White (Words of Wisdom)
Some thoughts which may or may not be confused as “wisdom”....
Laughing at yourself is an act of wisdom....
‘Being’ is what it is, nothing more, nothing less....
‘Doing’ does what it does, always more, always less....
True giving has very little to do with objects....
May Wakantanka encircle you and yours with faith to believe, hope for
the future, and love for all....
As always, in the spirit of mending the sacred hoop of the nations of
the world
Your Oglala Lakota friend and brother,
John Two-Hawks
http://www.nativecircle.com
http://www.johntwohawks.com
Reprinting of this Circle of Nations newsletter is encouraged! All I
ask is that it be printed in its entirety, with no changes, and that I
be given proper credit, unless I have otherwise okayed it. Wopila
(great thanks)!
Mar 11, 2008
March 2008
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