One week from today I head to the Sierra Nevadas for a 4-Day no food/water fast

[denbot]

Fasting w/o water is tough, and on the fourth day they head us down the mountain directly into a sweat lodge for a purification ceremony, Oy!

Later that day is a feast, and the final Bear Dance of the season.. Good times!!

Once more I will fast, pray, and listen to hear the calling of my animal spirit guide. Will I score another jackalope, or will I actually hear my ancestral calling?



It's tough being a city indian..

[LynneSin]

1. lack of water doesn't sound very safe.

I mean lack of food I can understand but water - can't that be harsh on the body?

[denbot]

3. Believe me these used to be much tougher, and nothing compared to what the Sun Dancers go through

This is relatively easy.. The whole point is to reach the edge of your physical self to reach the edge of your spiritual self.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear denbot!

Again?:scared:

Well, at least you know what to expect!

And I have no idea what you'll see...

So I can't really vote in your poll...

What do you want to see?

I hope you get to hear your ancestral calling, sweetie...

:hug:

[denbot]

4. Thanks Miss C-P

I have no idea either. Feel free to fill in a snarky animal/myth :+

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My single vote stands out!

For the Warrior Wolf!

I've always loved wolves...

[REP]

5. Does this help?

I was drinking coffee when I took these pics, though.

[denbot]

8. Nice, Humming birds are very powerful

Hummingbird medicine is very strong, and very hard medicine to carry.

[plcdude]

7. may you hear

the eagle

[denbot]

9. Thank you.

[plcdude]

10. for then you may hear

the voice of Wakan-Tanka

[ThomCat]

11. Please be careful, and safe.

I really hope they monitor you in case you are dehydrating too much and need immediate hydration. :(

:hug:

I hope it is a wonderful experience and you get a lot out of it, but I will be worried about you until I hear that you are back and you're okay.

[denbot]

12. No worries ThomCat

A elder and a wingman (sage blessing) come every morning and evening to open and close my lodge.
If I feel that I can't continue they will lead me down the mountain.

[kentauros]

13. My first thought was "Dragonfly" but that may be for me :)

So, my second thought was Hummingbird. And for those that don't know (as I'm sure you do) here is a brief bit about Hummingbird (from a book on power animals.)

Quality: Joy

Hummingbird's message for you:

"I LOVE LIFE! It's such a treat to be able to fly backward, forward, up, down, and sideways. Lots of flexibility as to which direction I go. I'm especially sensitive and careful about who I let close to me, so if something seems at all scary or intimidating, I'm outta there! Life's too precious to stay around anything that doesn't feel right. I much prefer the flowers and the trees. Speaking of the flowers, no only do I get to see all the pretty flowers, but I get to smell and drink from them, too.

"As for you, say yes to life! Taste the sweet nectar that's always nearby, even if you have to fly around for a while until you find it. Know that the only true prison you have is your belief in your limitations. Let them go, and experience the abundance of love and opportunity that's all around. It only takes a willingness to see it, taste it, and feel it. Also know that you are perfectly capable of handling any debilitating negativity by flying away to safer grounds. Whether by physically removing yourself or detaching from the situation mentally and emotionally, you don't have to just hang around because you don't what people to think bad things about you. You always have the freedom to choose love and joy!"

And if this isn't what you've learned about Hummingbird, please enlighten me, too :D

I've heard about the sweat lodge. I think that alone would kill me! :P
I'm sure you'll do well no matter which Spirit comes to you.

[denbot]

14. This is a Apache Hummingbird story..

Da go Te'
An Apache legend tells of Wind Dancer, a young warrior, who was born deaf, but could sing magical, wordless songs that brought healing and good weather. He married Bright Rain, a beautiful, young woman whom he rescued when she was being attacked by a wolf.

Wind Dancer was killed during another errand of mercy. A bitter, death-bringing winter ensued, but it suddenly and mysteriously ended after Bright Rain started taking solitary walks.

Tribal elders learned Wind Dancer had come back to her in the form of a hummingbird. He wore the same ceremonial costume and war paint he had worn as a man. In fields of spring flowers he would approach her and whisper his magical secrets in her ear. This brought her peace and joy.

Most Southwestern peoples have hummingbirds in their creation stories..

[kentauros]

18. That's a cool story and I like that.

You tell it well, whether it's your words or not :)

Do you have any initial feelings which animal will come to you? I know that's going the "preconceived notion" route, but those feelings now will likely show up again during your ordeal. Notice animals that show up in your waking life, too, not to mention your dreams :D

[denbot]

22. That story is probably western apache (I'm Eastern Chiricahua) and is all over the web.

When I restarted my spirital journey I noticed crows were always following me, and shouting at me
Apaches consider crows messengers from ancestors and between villages. I thought of them as a messengers, but don't think crows are my guides.

[kentauros]

34. That shows you're paying attention

and that's always good :)

The person's book I quoted was a "new age" one, Power Animals by Steven Farmer. I don't know which tribe he learned from or if it was many, so what I posted may be a conglomeration of many tribes' stories.

I've never been drawn to Native American spiritual journeys myself, but I do enjoy talking with those that are. If you're guided to do so, you might also post your experience in the ASAH forum (Astrology, Spirituality & Alternative Healing Group). They love stuff like this :D

[Xithras]

15. Take warm clothes

The upper Sierras have been dropping into the 20's at night for about the past week.

[denbot]

17. I'll be in the lower Sierrras, just south of Kings Canyon

I will bring warm clothes for sure.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Other : You hear

Highway 101. :P

May you hear your ancestors.

[denbot]

19. More like Hwy 99

:hi:

[gmoney]

20. Watch out for the insanity peppers...

http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0809.htm

[denbot]

27. I love that episode.

Great animation, and of course the trickster, what else could you ask from the Simpson's?

[rug]

21. I hope there's peyote soup somewhere in this mix.

[denbot]

28. I don't belong to the Peyote society.

Here's a peyote song for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlWM9q1fdCY

[rug]

31. Thanks for that. Mesmerizing.

The only time I had peyote soup was many years ago in Porcupine SD

[XemaSab]

23. You hear the vireo of ADD

:P

[denbot]

24. You may have nailed it.

When I get back ask me about a funny story about this bird and bird call.

[bluedigger]

25. Good travels, denbot!

I hope you find what you are looking for, or that what you need finds you. It's about the journey, afterall. Take care!

[denbot]

26. Thanks bluedigger.

Back at you.

[bluesbassman]

29. May your vision be clear and true my friend.

I envy your journey, but stand by you in spirit.

[denbot]

30. Thank you,

May your journey be safe, and your allies many.

[nolabear]

32. May you hear your heart. I dreamed not long ago

that I was buying silver bracelets from an Indian man. I was initially attracted to a moose imprint on the bracelet but he gave me a turtle instead. I woke up pleased, though I wouldn't think of either of them as my guide. Nice to see your post so soon after, though. Now, forget everything we've all said and just ask.

[denbot]

33. Turtles mean very high vitality.

Endurance.

[lightningandsnow]

35. Best of luck on your spiritual journey!

I've always loved hummingbirds...maybe that's who you'll hear!

I wish I had the drive to do something like that....except my non-descript pagan beliefs and jewish upbringing doesn't really leave me with anything that cool. :P

Take care, and let us know how it all goes!

[denbot]

37. Cool, pagan and Jewish...

Lots of history to draw from..

[petronius]

36. My prediction: for 2 days you hear your stomach growling,

but on day 3 you hear the Mischievous Pacific Fisher...

Be careful out there!

[denbot]

38. It would be best if he didn't wonder too close on the 4th day.

:evilgrin:

[GReedDiamond]

39. Four days...

...without food, yes, without water, don't think so. Very dangerous. Be careful.

[denbot]

40. I've done it before.

I'm now 51 so I can still manage it for a few more years.. I know medicine men who do this and more in their late sixties..

[lost-in-nj]

41. did'nt you do this

already???
Is Ally ok???
you take care of yourself

'k??

promise


:pals:


lost

[denbot]

42. Hi l-i-nj

Ummm yeah, did this last fall. I got a lot from it, but did not make the kind of break-through I wanted or hoped for.. I am going for another spiritual "tune-up".

Alley is doing fine, and well on the mend. We are going kayaking and sailing next week before I go up the mountain.

I will be fine, and will take care of myself.

[lost-in-nj]

43. ok

thats all I want to hear...

good luck

and I hope you get the break through you hope for!!!


:pals:

HI ALLEY!!!!


lost

[denbot]

44. That sick puppies hug video was suprisingly touching.

That really rocked..
:hug:

[sagetea]

45. Ho

I will send smoke and prayers your way. Brother!
Good luck and have fun, BTW, I hope your prayer ties give you abundant protection!

sage
eta: my spelling was bad!

[denbot]

47. Ah Ho!

Thanks, I can't remember if we made our own prayer ties or if the water pourer and wingmen made them while we were up the mountain. This is not a regular inipi sweat. The water pourer and his assistants stay down at the main ceremony area: arbor, community kitchen, camp, and the three sweat lodges: fasters and bear dancer's, public, and woman's lodges.

The fasters make their own sleeping lodges up the mountain. I will have tobacco and sage with me, but I don't remember making my own payer ties for my fasting lodge. I will take some extra cloth, and tobacco with me. Thanks for the reminder.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

46. Are spirit guides always animals? n/t

[denbot]

48. For the most part yes.

Our ancestors speak to us via spirit guides, be it Elk, Bear, Rabbit or what ever. The form of the guide has specific attributes, which match the needs of the guided.
Ghosts are bad ju-ju, and guides won't come in human spirit form with the exception of dreams.

[kentauros]

49. So would a centaur qualify as a spirit guide?

I perceive two of mine that way and have talked to others that have claimed other mythicals, like the griffin and dragon. I'm not sure that idea should even be crossed with Native beliefs. Just wondering if it's ever been discussed or if you've heard of such a thing...

[denbot]

51. My hosts will be Mono tribesman, and they have a bigfoot creature, so maybe.

Who knows?

[kentauros]

56. That's cool!

I'll have to look into that. Is "Mono" the name of their tribe?

Kind of reminds me of the "Thunder Beings" I once read about for protecting one's property from the destructive forces of hurricanes and other storms. I even used the ritual twice, once for Hurricane Rita and again last year for Hurricane Ike. The first time, Rita turned away from Houston and hit Beaumont and East Texas. The second time the apartments sustained only minor damage and our power was back on in less than 24 hours while the rest of the neighborhood was without for over two weeks. Either I've got some Indian in me somewhere or there's a connection I'm not fully aware of. Who knows? ;)

[denbot]

52. My hosts will be Mono tribesman, and they have a bigfoot creature, so maybe.

Who knows?

[omega minimo]

50. Otter

[denbot]

53. Sea otters were very inportent to many western coast tribes.

They are a possibility, but unlikely. I tend to identify with desert dwelling animals.

[omega minimo]

54. River otter or

other ground mammal, not a bird or reptile.......

Have you heard anything about "birds acting wierd" prior to the Pacific tsunamis and earthquakes?

Best thoughts on your quest and safe return.

[AllenVanAllen]

55. The Holy Hawk

Good luck on your journey to the edge.