March 2008

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)!