Pines blowing in the breeze across the mountains south of Morelia Mexico. The ceremonies in the spring for the renewal awareness of the moments life begins, is.Â
If one does not feel grateful for ones life then i tend to believe one must be somewhat suffering from the 'disease of conceit', as many of us, much of the time. We live in times where so much understanding of the sacredness of the simple/complex elements that shaped our existence is seen as a substance for our pleasure and use and nothing more. When we determine that we know what how when why we find ourselves vain, without meaning worth a miracle, without the clarity to see without looking.
The ceremonies here can be difficult. A commitment of four years, each with four days and nights without food and water. The basics here are Lakota ways spread across the americas from the medicine people that kept these ways alive and hidden for a century from the over-powering white european conquistadors that stole lands and massacred many tribes. These are my ancestors, my people of the past that were also conquered from their earth loving ways fifteen hundred years earlier. Christianity has a very nasty attitude towards non believers of their god. They are wrong, dangerous and for the most part have destroyed the sacredness of their own teachings. All i know is jesus said 'tear down the church' and that has not happened accept here in the forest where simple prayers are attached to the spirit of nature; fire, earth, water and wind. That is the commonality of us all. Ultimately it is all a mystery and shall remain so. When you really realize this, humility, kindness, oneness gives one the gift of love, love beyond knowledge and dreams of separateness.
The surroundings here are beautiful, tall pines, arbutus and clean clear air for the lungs, the mind, the heart. There were about eighty people for the all-night opening ceremony. All the prayers were in Spanish. I was the only one that could not understand most of the words. I had been in many ceremonies of different tribes. I found much to observe. The body language, the sincerity beyond words, expressions piecing the heart. The water drum, the ‘little boy’ sent a beat across dimensions, song/chants were carried along its waves to other worlds, depths into the ether of sacredness. Peyote spirits weaving connectedness throughout the dome shaped structure, tobacco smoke, sage, copal, other medicines adding texture to the mind, strength to the heart.
Over the days i became friends with some of the patrons. So many life stories, so many beautiful people doing the best they can in a world rolling on its side. If one is called, the way will find you, if one is ready, portals open.
The details of ceremony are left inside, not to contaminate the essence of vision. One camp to another has their unique structure of ways, the red road in its diversity and special blend of sacred procedures. If i had to describe their uniqueness i would contrast the teachings from Kapka, north of Lake Superior Canada with Ojibway ways to these altered Lakota based ways here in the mountains of South Morelia Mexico, i would say. Kapka is more like Dylan in the sixties, here in the mountains of Morelia as the Beatles. I love them both and they both have pure heart and depth to alter you into the realms of the mystery. imo……analogies are just a guide-line reaching towards the unknown, as all reason based observations….but neither dylan nor the beatles can compare to the raw energy produced thru indigenous ritualistic ceremonies; that have existed everywhere on this sacred earth since humans jumped out of the forest, from deep within the gates of eden.
With that all being said, here is a song 'Disease of Conceit' by Bob Dylan
'Disease of Conceit' by Dylan
There’s a whole lot of people suffering tonight
From the disease of conceit
Whole lot of people struggling tonight
From the disease of conceit
Comes right down the highway
Straight down the line
Rips into your senses
Through your body and your mind
Nothing about it that’s sweet
The disease of conceit
[Verse 2]
There’s a whole lot of hearts breaking tonight
From the disease of conceit
Whole lot of hearts shaking tonight
From the disease of conceit
Steps into your room
Eats your soul
Over your senses
You have no control
Ain’t nothing too discreet
About the disease of conceit
[Verse 3]
There’s a whole lot of people dying tonight
From the disease of conceit
Whole lot of people crying tonight
From the disease of conceit
Comes right out of nowhere
And you’re down for the count
From the outside world
The pressure will mount
Turn you into a piece of meat
The disease of conceit
[Bridge]
Conceit is a disease
That the doctors got no cure
They’ve done a lot of research on it
But what it is, they’re still not sure
[Verse 4]
There’s a whole lot of people in trouble tonight
From the disease of conceit
Whole lot of people seeing double tonight
From the disease of conceit
Give ya delusions of grandeur
And a evil eye
Give you the idea that
You’re too good to die
Then they bury you from your head to your feet
From the disease of conceit
Dylan
There were sweat lodge ceremonies everyday. Changes take place that you can't buy, study for. One can prepare but there are no guarantees. Understandings occur from far below the surface of the mind. One gets altered in a sacred way. It is an endless way, this way of the heart. The disease of conceit is deep and all humanity suffers from eating its irresistible tasty fruit. The walk is infinite, the path eternal, the way the way, one breath at a time.
I was authorized to document many ceremonies by Vern Harper Cree Elder, Oliver Poille Ojibway Elder, Lokota Spiritual Elder Floyd Looks for Buffalo Hand. I conducted a lodge in four different locations for over ten years and never took one photograph. I could/would not give myself permission, that is the way, respect.
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Not trying to be insulting. It's insulting to make a statement against Christian believers that put them into a category of haters. Jesus Christ is unconditional love. He is misrepresented by some that don't have true motives. There are many sincere followers that emanates His love. If the world properly represents what His word teaches, it would be a world that has no motives , but to help your fellow man. There would be no hatred, or wars, or control over others. Today's world is attacking Christians and outside forces are showing hatred towards them. That is the battle. We wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities , against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Blessings to you in your naviagtion of the spirit networks, human relations and relevant presence.