Howdy!
Last time we connected I mentioned that I was about to head into the ceremony. Well...now I am finished!
The day of the ceremony I had some time to kill before I made my way to the grounds. so I figured I would go for another hike up Mt. Blue. On the way to the mountain, I happened upon a trail that led to a different mountain, Mount Tumbledown.
I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into...but I enjoyed the challenge and I especially enjoyed the scenery.
I actually started out my hike by going up the trail that people walk down (the easy trail) and down the trail people go up (the difficult trail.) Yea yea...always have to walk against the norm (story of my life.)
The top of the mountain had a beautiful lake where people could swim, fish, etc. and plenty of ground where people could camp out for a night or so. On the way down there was even something called the chute. A small little hole where people had to throw their backpacks up before climbing it themselves. It was a tight squeeze...and I had to go down it! A young backpacker told me stories about climbing up through the chute as massive amounts of water made way down through the chute. Scary!
Eventually I met Dee, Charo, and Najeh at the local market in order to drive up together. This place was waaaayyyy up in the mountains. I am surprised my little baby hatchback made it up there (a few loud clunks along the way won't hurt too much...).
I couldn't tell you how many people were there total. My guess is around 50-60. They had a huge outdoor kitchen where we prepared food for the community. Tents were strewn about the woods in order to sleep in the shade. Most of the time people would sleep during the day and stay up during the night for the dance. Kids ran around playing with all the other little ones (myself included) while the adults would tend to their chores or hang out in the shade. All in all, it was a great time. We carried with us the power that the women moondancers provided through their sacrifice and commitment to honoring themselves and the larger community. They would dance at night with the moon. Three of the nights I sat just outside the circle with my sleeping bag wrapped around me, completely taken into the calm-abiding teachings that this ceremony threw my way.
I spent a lot of my time helping and learning out in the kitchen with one of the grandmothers. She was sweet as could be and said that she would want her son to be like me (if she had one) and to tell my mother to be proud of who I am.
Surprisingly, I did not sweat that much. If I wasn't helping in the kitchen you would find me playing with the kids, swimming in the nearby mountain stream, or talking to one of the many kind folk that attended.
All in all, it was a very beautiful ceremony. I did have one major event take place while I was there.
My Aunt Linda passed away. I was supposed to visit her in Indiana...five or so days from now. I knew that she didn't have long to live, but I didn't think she was going to pass so quickly (I was initially told a month or so.) Both my parents sent messages my way and told me she was close to going and to help her out if I could. I was torn between leaving the ceremony and driving straight to Indiana or finishing the ceremony. In the end, I stuck with the latter. I entered into the next sweat (the only one I did) and told the spirits to give her a message. I asked them to let her know how grateful I am for having her in my life. She was my first spiritual mentor. I looked up to her. She was intelligent, good-natured, hard-working, and a good storyteller. On top of that, I told her that she can give me any pain that she needs to and that I will bear it for her. I'm not sure if anything was sent my way...but she died a few hours later and the spirits confirmed that she is in a good place.
I'll still make my way to her house in order to help my family in any way possible. On top of that, she helped to set up a ceremony in the town where she lives.
I left the ceremony and began driving. There was an estimated 17 hours of driving through the back-roads between ME and PA. I would say that Vermont is by far one of my more favorite areas in the states to visit (the others are what I have seen of the four corner states and MI.)
It turns out that my brother feels the same way about Vermont, as he drove through it just a few weeks back.
New York has some beautiful country too. I thoroughly enjoy the lakes with a backdrop of small, steep mountains.
Along the way I stopped at a gas station/restaurant and ordered a burger. When I walked outside a native man struck up a conversation with me. He saw my drum/sign and became excited, since they make drums and other native spiritual items. He made the offer to come join him and his wife back at their cabin. They took me right in and gave me food, drink, stories, and good conversation. Actually, I am now heading to a stone-tool craft show where I will sleep in a teepee...my first time!! I am looking forward to what else our interactions bring. For those of you who don't know, I have been keeping an eye out for a new drum for several months now.
Out of curiosity, I texted my friend Dee and asked her for the name of the Seneca Medicine Man that she is going to visit on her way home. It turns out that Tweedy and the Medicine Man know each other! How crazy is that!
Such a small, small world.
There isn't much else to report at the moment...
Oh! Guess what?
I shaved my head! I have officially joined the ranks of my Buddhist friends and bald-headed family members. I took a couple of the locks up to the top of the mountain where the moondance was held and offered them. That felt nice to do.
Sooo soft.....and cold....but I like it. More than I thought I would. Why did I do it? Well, I had a growing question in my mind as to whether or not I should do it. When I can't decide something, I ask someone else to say yes or no based on what they feel they should say (they don't know the reason.) I did this and received a yes. So I did. In a Wal-mart parking lot...at 10pm...with people driving by looking at me. It was fun.
About one week and I will be back home!
Hope you all are well.
Cheers!
Justin
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