The Earthkeepers

Today we remember John Many Voices Armbruster, who five years ago, took off to sing for the Other Side Camp. We miss you my friend.

Hugs All Around, Dave, Tracy and Janisse

I watched Obama’s inauguration speech today. He spoke of addressing nearly every concern I hold about our America and the world. I hope he really means what he said. It’s nice to have hope again about America after 8 years of darkness.

I think John would have liked Obama and his vision. I do believe having a President who actually acknowledges global warming and our other challenges is a huge step in the right direction for America.
How about you? Are you hopeful?

We have interesting times ahead in 2009. Here’s what John wrote about the new year:

There are so many different ways to celebrate the New Year. It is a time of catharsis, of new beginnings, of rejuvenation and new starts. Yet many celebrate this very important time by trying to forget. May auld acquaintance be forgot…

But this can be an exciting time to remember. To remember all the very important parts of your life that you have enjoyed or that you have neglected. It doesn’t matter, because the promise of the New Year is that there are always new opportunities to enjoy even more deeply or to attend to those parts of your life that you have neglected, and in so doing, find resolution and perhaps even emancipation and joy in the process. Remember, when you are drumming and singing and praying that it is always about possibilities and promise. There are 364 days out of the year to worry about the details. Take this night to concentrate on the promise of freshness and newness in every new day and in every new breath..

There is a Cherokee song that we sing in the sweat lodge when things feel very hard. It basically says “the dew is on the grass.” But in saying that it is pointing to the freshness that is important in the spiritual experience. The dew is so delicate, so special, and it usually comes just before dawn in the “wolf tails ” time of the night. It is a cool, fresh, quiet time of the night. The song suggests that our experience of life when we are truly in tune with our Creator is very much like that. New Year’s Eve is a good time to affirm and celebrate this.