Post by Okwes on Sept 10, 2006 19:33:34 GMT -5
The Green Corn
Posted by: "Susan Lake" wrenlk_ssn@yahoo.com wrenlk_ssn
Mon Sep 4, 2006 7:37 pm (PST)
Osiyo Everyone and Blessings....I would share with you the beauty of the Green Corn Ceremony i attended last Saterday....If i may....
The gathering was large...and there were many new faces....many to greet, eager to join and to learn the ways of thier people..the Tsalagi....and so many that i love there....intimate family members...Sun Bear and Whitebird and all my dear sisters...my Chief and cousin..and his lovely wife....so many beloved friends and brothers and sisters..it was a great reunion....
The Ceremony started with the building of the sacred fire....Willy Whitefeather demonstrated how to start the fire with just two sticks and a bow...no flint.....and the fire was started in the fashion of our ansestors....from long ago....He is great at this craft....Then the fire was blessed by our Chief and Elders...Our smudging of each individual commenses...and the smudge is carried around the circle, for all to be cleansed and blessed.....
Then the calling of the four directions..and the singing of the prayers to our Creator at this time....the honoring of all seven directions with prayer....North ..South..East.. West...and up to Father Sky..and down to Mother Earth..and Within oneself....are honored...with song and prayer...
We all stood in a circle around the fire...entering from the East Gate...into the circle of rocks...situated around the fire pit....situated in the traditional way of the People, Tsalagi....
As We all stood..the Beloved Woman askes her questions...,''Is everyone here? Does everone have a place to stay..Does everyone have enough food to eat...Does everyone have fire and comfort for the coming Winter...?''When each answers we do and we have...and yes we are here...then we sing the Welcoming song....to welcome our new guests...to our fire circle...
The Elders then come forward to tell their stories of the Corn Mother...Selu...and give of their wisdom and advice to us all....and prayers to the Great Spirit...
Then we sing a happy song before leaving the circle ...leaving as we came...by the East Gate...to have our wonderful feast....
Oh! But before that..we sing and do the special corn dance....to honor the Corn Mother...almost forgot....it is a beautiful dance...and a long ceremony...much to do and pray about....
OH!! the Food!....Every corn dish imaginable...corn breads with cheese and peppers...corn... fresh grown from the gardens....and corn fritters...corn dishes that were incredible, spicy and bland...garden fresh and from south of the border.... and as individual as the cooks..who made them...it was all so wonderful!....
The deserts ..oh! ...now the deserts...they were Chocolate upon choclate with cherries..a chocoholics paradice..all we women had the same idea! lol.......and, of course.. the chocolate was heaven!....We all ate our fill to bursting..and then some!...lol..
We visited and laughed .told jokes and listened to our elders regail us with stories....Willy always has at least 3 new jokes to tell..and always keeps us laughing...We had catching up to do...and so much news to share...just enjoying each others company....in loving friendship...
There was one young girl i took under my wing....of course...( you know me..) just 12 years old...and so lovely..inside and out...I helped to teach her the dance..at Pow Wow, last...to the delight of her Grandmother...who is now a very dear friend...and new sister...
This girl has a hard time at home...her home life is not good...and she so needed a friend...to give her some lovely clothes to wear and a shawl to carry....i have extra stuff that i always bring ....to share...thank goodness..it made all the difference to her....
i also taught her the dance at our ceremony too...She is my little shadow now...nice.....and i adore her....You know me..delighting in all the children....like i do...and this girl was in real need...so my heart went out to her...however i could bring joy....
Well now.....back to the Green Corn...ahem...Well stuffed....lol...we began the good ole' fashioned Stomp Dance...Howa! and V V !!....My big brother Atuni and i lead the dance....we did the Bear Dance...and the Gar Fish Dance...the Ant Dance..Willy's favorite dance..he leads that one....We did the couples dance..Willy and i danced this one together...it is so lovely....We did the 'follow the leader' dance...where what ever Atuni and i do everyone else had to do...lol...and the fun snake dance too...we danced our mocks off! lol Howa!...
Well fed...and exausted with dancing...the croud thins and folks begin to leave...saying their farewells and thanks to everyone..a thousand hugs..and exchanges of phone numbers and names..email and all..(so i can send them Willy's stories)....and the croud leaves for home..leaving we, the intimate family and tribe to the magic of the after hours...Where family business is discussed..and things of a private nature..sharing love and caring...and so much wisdom...advice, where needed...and fun events and goins on...this is the real magic of this time for me...the intimate shaing of love and family....
So ends a glorious day...at sunset...everyone loathe to leave....and knowing they must....leaving with warmth in their hearts...and such joy..such gratitude...for each other..and the tribe...our tribe....our family..and that every one is doing well...so much to be thankful for....
I hope i have been able to transport you a bit..to our tribal gathering...and yes...always... you are welcome guests at our fire...with much love and many blessings..your sister..Wren
Posted by: "Susan Lake" wrenlk_ssn@yahoo.com wrenlk_ssn
Mon Sep 4, 2006 7:37 pm (PST)
Osiyo Everyone and Blessings....I would share with you the beauty of the Green Corn Ceremony i attended last Saterday....If i may....
The gathering was large...and there were many new faces....many to greet, eager to join and to learn the ways of thier people..the Tsalagi....and so many that i love there....intimate family members...Sun Bear and Whitebird and all my dear sisters...my Chief and cousin..and his lovely wife....so many beloved friends and brothers and sisters..it was a great reunion....
The Ceremony started with the building of the sacred fire....Willy Whitefeather demonstrated how to start the fire with just two sticks and a bow...no flint.....and the fire was started in the fashion of our ansestors....from long ago....He is great at this craft....Then the fire was blessed by our Chief and Elders...Our smudging of each individual commenses...and the smudge is carried around the circle, for all to be cleansed and blessed.....
Then the calling of the four directions..and the singing of the prayers to our Creator at this time....the honoring of all seven directions with prayer....North ..South..East.. West...and up to Father Sky..and down to Mother Earth..and Within oneself....are honored...with song and prayer...
We all stood in a circle around the fire...entering from the East Gate...into the circle of rocks...situated around the fire pit....situated in the traditional way of the People, Tsalagi....
As We all stood..the Beloved Woman askes her questions...,''Is everyone here? Does everone have a place to stay..Does everyone have enough food to eat...Does everyone have fire and comfort for the coming Winter...?''When each answers we do and we have...and yes we are here...then we sing the Welcoming song....to welcome our new guests...to our fire circle...
The Elders then come forward to tell their stories of the Corn Mother...Selu...and give of their wisdom and advice to us all....and prayers to the Great Spirit...
Then we sing a happy song before leaving the circle ...leaving as we came...by the East Gate...to have our wonderful feast....
Oh! But before that..we sing and do the special corn dance....to honor the Corn Mother...almost forgot....it is a beautiful dance...and a long ceremony...much to do and pray about....
OH!! the Food!....Every corn dish imaginable...corn breads with cheese and peppers...corn... fresh grown from the gardens....and corn fritters...corn dishes that were incredible, spicy and bland...garden fresh and from south of the border.... and as individual as the cooks..who made them...it was all so wonderful!....
The deserts ..oh! ...now the deserts...they were Chocolate upon choclate with cherries..a chocoholics paradice..all we women had the same idea! lol.......and, of course.. the chocolate was heaven!....We all ate our fill to bursting..and then some!...lol..
We visited and laughed .told jokes and listened to our elders regail us with stories....Willy always has at least 3 new jokes to tell..and always keeps us laughing...We had catching up to do...and so much news to share...just enjoying each others company....in loving friendship...
There was one young girl i took under my wing....of course...( you know me..) just 12 years old...and so lovely..inside and out...I helped to teach her the dance..at Pow Wow, last...to the delight of her Grandmother...who is now a very dear friend...and new sister...
This girl has a hard time at home...her home life is not good...and she so needed a friend...to give her some lovely clothes to wear and a shawl to carry....i have extra stuff that i always bring ....to share...thank goodness..it made all the difference to her....
i also taught her the dance at our ceremony too...She is my little shadow now...nice.....and i adore her....You know me..delighting in all the children....like i do...and this girl was in real need...so my heart went out to her...however i could bring joy....
Well now.....back to the Green Corn...ahem...Well stuffed....lol...we began the good ole' fashioned Stomp Dance...Howa! and V V !!....My big brother Atuni and i lead the dance....we did the Bear Dance...and the Gar Fish Dance...the Ant Dance..Willy's favorite dance..he leads that one....We did the couples dance..Willy and i danced this one together...it is so lovely....We did the 'follow the leader' dance...where what ever Atuni and i do everyone else had to do...lol...and the fun snake dance too...we danced our mocks off! lol Howa!...
Well fed...and exausted with dancing...the croud thins and folks begin to leave...saying their farewells and thanks to everyone..a thousand hugs..and exchanges of phone numbers and names..email and all..(so i can send them Willy's stories)....and the croud leaves for home..leaving we, the intimate family and tribe to the magic of the after hours...Where family business is discussed..and things of a private nature..sharing love and caring...and so much wisdom...advice, where needed...and fun events and goins on...this is the real magic of this time for me...the intimate shaing of love and family....
So ends a glorious day...at sunset...everyone loathe to leave....and knowing they must....leaving with warmth in their hearts...and such joy..such gratitude...for each other..and the tribe...our tribe....our family..and that every one is doing well...so much to be thankful for....
I hope i have been able to transport you a bit..to our tribal gathering...and yes...always... you are welcome guests at our fire...with much love and many blessings..your sister..Wren