The Earthkeepers

As part of our dance or encampment ceremonies, John included a forgiveness ceremony.

In this ceremony, forgiveness was not treated as something that is good for the person that is being forgiven. Instead, the approach to forgiveness is that carrying around resentment, hurt, or ill feeling is unhealthy. We can improve our health by forgiving and start the process of peace in our lives.

Look at the act or event, which we derived our hurt from as being real. We assume that whatever hurt we have felt is justified. Remember, we don’t have to visit that territory at all. We also do not look at forgiveness as necessarily reducing the distance between two people. Being in a state of forgiveness does not automatically require things being the way they were before. Two people being together may not be appropriate anymore after forgiveness as before.

However, what does change is that we let go of the emotions of judgment, anger, resentment, and fear, which served us when we were freeing ourselves from a situation we had decided, was not healthy or productive. Sometimes those kinds of emotions serve us well in the interim. But once those feelings no longer serve us, we go through the ceremony of forgiveness to begin the process of letting these emotions go.

The ceremony itself begins the process by forgiving the only person involved in the situation who is present at the ceremony - you.

Hugs, Tracy - take what you want…find your truths…leave the rest. ~ I share because I care.

Dear Friends - Greetings to you, your family and acquaintances, with best wishes to all.

Just a reminder that the 2006 Tecate Earth Dance in Baja California outside of El Hongo is fast approaching. This event is a multicultural, international ceremony open to all races, tribes and religions, where we hope to offer prayers and healing for Mother Earth and All Creation.

Earth Dance is a public event, open to all who come in a good way. As it is a spritual event, there is no charge for attending and participating. Donations are accepted to help meet the costs of the dance.

This may be the last year of a four year period where the dance will be held at Rancho Los Juntas. We wish to thank Horacio, his family, the ranch staff, and the representatives and residents of El Hongo for their kindness, generosity, and continual support demonstrated over the last four years.

We also wish to thank all of the supporters and donors who have offered so much to this year’s dance preparations in terms of donations of goods, work at the site, prayers throughout the year, organization and other services to date. This year’s Tecate Earth Dance will commence in two weeks. The main dance dates are May 11 - 14, 2006. Camping on site should be open between May 7 and May 18, 2006. Everyone is welcome to come as a supporter, where we arrive to provide support to dedicated dancers who vow to fast and pray for four days and nights. During time of rest between dance, supporters may choose to be involved in a wide range of activities amongst themselves, including teachings, activities for children, sweat lodges, a communal kitchen, the help of healers, etc..

As supporters, people can come to Earth Dance from one afternoon to up to two weeks duration, as their schedules and interests allow. Please go to www.earthdance8.org for complete details, including protocol, what to bring, maps to the dance site, etc. Those who feel called to be dedicated dancers are requested to call the dance leaders (men call Adam Yellow Bird DeArmon in the USA c/o 928-646-3000; women call Laura Espinoza in Mexico at (011-52) 686-566-0083 right away if they have not already done so, in order to have such participation considered, be directed as to preparations, arrival times, and so on. The Mexican Earth Dance Council is still in need of funds to support this year’s dance, and all donations from the heart will be gratefully recieved. If desired, call Laura (above) for more information on this matter. In advance, we thank you for your attendance and/or support at the 2006 Tecate Earth Dance in beautiful Baja California, Mexico.

Go to www.earthdance8.org for more information in English and in Spanish. Feel free to pass this email along to anyone who might be interested in supporting and/or coming to Earth Dance. Thanks to the Creator, the Council of Elders and Ancient Ones, Father Sun and Mother Earth.

Goyo …………………………………………

Los queridos Amigos - Los saludos a usted, su familia y los conocidos, saludos a todo. Apenas un recordatorio que el 2006 Danza de la Madre Tierra de Tecate en Baja California fuera de El Hongo se acerca rápidamente. Este acontecimiento es una ceremonia multicultural e internacional abre a todo compite, los tribus y las religiones, donde esperamos ofrecer las oraciones y curando para la Madre Tierra y Toda Creación. Es un acontecimiento público, abre a todos los que entra una manera buena.

Esto puede ser el último año de un cuatro período de año donde el baile se tendrá en Juntas de Rancho Los. Deseamos dar gracias Horacio, su familia, el personal de hacienda, y los representantes y los residentes de El Hongo para su bondad, para la generosidad, y para apoyo continuo demostrado sobre los últimos cuatro años. Deseamos también dar gracias todos los partidarios y los donantes que han ofrecido tanto a estas preparaciones del baile del año en términos de donativos de bienes, el trabajo en el sitio, las oraciones a través del año, la organización y otros servicios para fechar.

Este Danza de la Madre Tierra de año Tecate comenzará en dos semanas. Las fechas principales del baile son el 11 de mayo - 14, 2006. Acampar en el sitio debe estar abierto entre el 7 de mayo y el 18 de mayo de 2006. Todos es libre de vienen como un partidario, donde llegamos a proporcionar apoyo a bailarines dedicados que prometen a rápido y oran durante cuatro días y las noches. Durante tiempo del descanso entre el baile, los partidarios pueden escoger ser implicados en una gran variedad de actividades entre sí mismos, inclusive enseñanzas, las actividades para niños, sudan los alojamientos, una cocina comunal, la ayuda de curadores, etc..

Cuando un partidario, una persona puede venir al Danza de la Madre Tierra de una tarde hasta dos duración de semanas, como sus horarios y los intereses permiten. Vaya por favor a www.earthdance8.org para detalles completos, inclusive protocolo, lo que traer, los mapas al sitio del baile, etc.

Los que se sienten llamaron a ser dedicado a bailarines son solicitados para llamar los líderes del baile (hombres Le llaman a Adám Pájaro Amarillo DeArmon en EEUU c/o 928-646-3000; mujeres llaman Laura Espinoza en México en (011-52) 686-566-0083 )en seguida si ellos no ya han hecho para tener así, tal participación considerada, sea dirigido en cuanto a las preparaciones, tiempos de llegada, etcétera.

El Concilio Mexicano del Danza de la Madre Tierra es todavía necesitado de fondos para sostener este baile de año, y todos donativos del corazón serán con gratitud recieved. Si deseado, llama Laura (arriba) para más información en este asunto. En el avance, nosotros gracias para su asistencia y/o sostiene en el 2006 danza de la Madre Tierra de Tecate en Baja California, México. Vaya a www.earthdance8.org para más información en inglés y en español. Gracias al Creador, el Concilio de Ancianos y Antiguos, el Padre Sol y Madre Tierra. Goyo

Derived and adapted from Native American, Aborigine, Celtic, Chinese and other esoteric Earthkeeping traditions, the EarthDance Way is a living, functioning practice for today’s world.

The EarthDance Ceremonies arose out of the People’s need for a way of connecting in a fresh, spontaneous way. hrough the efforts of medicine people, spiritual guides, spiritual councilors, and ceremonial leaders thousands of people around the country have enjoyed these ceremonies for the new people. The ceremonial practice has taken its own course. Many teachers have taught that the Ceremonies come from the people’s needs, and that they are done to honor the participants not for the participants to honor the ceremony. The respect shown to the ceremony is self respect.

But there was another factor involved with the adaptation and development of the ceremonies of the EarthDance Way. This is a bit unique.

The actual energy of the Earth (the planetary aura you might say) is measured before and after the ceremonies using the passive dowsing technique and a Radionics Antennae. The effectiveness of the ceremony is evaluated based on the response of the Earth’s energy. When the response is positive then the ceremony is enhanced and expanded in that direction. When the response is sluggish those parts that seemed to dampen the power of the ceremony are changed. In this way the basic teachings of the Native Peoples and original Earthkeepers are substantiated and modified to work for today’s people and for today’s world..

In a sense, the Earth is the ultimate teacher of the ceremonies, because the form of the ceremonies is a direct result of responding to the Earth’s direction. This is a dynamic process and continues to this day.

In this way, each ceremony works as part of a network of sacred ceremony which strengthens the lifeforce or Feng Shui of the planet. In this, we are working with the Shamans, Priests, Medicine Men, Gurus, Swamis, and Spiritual leaders all around the world to hold a vision of conscious evolution for the planet. Working together in this way, we are part of a greater national Ceremonial Village.

Because of this approach, the EarthDance Way is not theological. It is experiential. It offers good questions and potential beliefs not rules and answers. It is a practice.

It is a way of training the mind, heart and spirit to open to the beauty of the gift of life, the power of the Earth’s healing. It is not exclusive in any way. It is always hoped that a person’s EarthDance Practice will stimulate them to explore other ways of expanding and enhancing their spiritual and emotional evolution.

In Northeast Illinois/ Northwest Indiana (Illiana), many had the privilege of doing ceremony over the twelve years that John Many Voices Armbruster journeyed through the Midwest. John had the gift, through his ceremonial practices, of awakening in us the understanding and connection to Mother Earth. Whether you agreed or disagreed with him, he opened each person’s heart to come in-sync with the beat of Mother Earth.

For the last four years of John’s life, the Blue Heron People of Illiana hosted the Earthkeepers Dance for Peace, which John led as the Ceremonial Leader. It was an undertaking that took a village to make happen, an undertaking that still continues today.

We were part of the group that birthed the Earthkeepers Dance for Peace and we were fortunate enough to guide the monthly ceremonies and lodges that led up to the dance.

In the twelve-year journey with John, many teachings came, each person, experiencing them in their own way. We are grateful to share our learning and experiences periodically as they come. Thank you to Mark for inviting us to do so.

Tanakia, Dave, Tracy, and Janisse Younce

John’s Foresight on Ceremonial Practice by Dave Younce

John Many Voices Armbruster taught that, “Ceremony must serve the people. The wisdom of any tradition must serve the people. It is not for the people to serve the wisdom or the tradition that produced it.”

It was so important to him that he wrote about it in a book. He said, “In order to do that, as an Earthkeeper, it is vital to look at Ceremonial Practice from a universal perspective. It is from the heart that ceremony comes.

It is done for the planet.

It is done for the people

It is done as an expression of the power of our personal Creator.

It is dynamic and ever changing as is the energy of the planet and each individual”

With that as his base, John taught that ceremonies could alter energetic reality. He saw it in four stages.

First Stage
“We are tentative. Our lives function but we are hurt, we are angry, we are happy and enjoy life now and again. We sometimes look for reasons for pain and sometimes we pray.

However, we start noticing that when we participate in ceremony, meditation or prayer, that something changes. It is as if the atmosphere of our lives clears after days of hazy weather. We look around at the world renewed and uplifted. However, old thought patterns, verbal habits and emotional baggage get in the way. The clouds come again and we wait for the next upliftment, like we wait for the weather to change.”

Second Stage

“Our confidence starts building. We are beginning to see that our practice mirrors our life. We internalize the cleansed “atmosphere” of our lives after ceremonies. It is as if the ceremonies are becoming less important and our own processes are becoming important. Often our ceremonial practice is graced with some sense of responsibility. This responsibility is either for a sacred object or a function within the ceremonial practice.”

Third Stage

“Our purpose seems to shift. The internalization of the ceremonial vibrations is part of our lives. However, though the importance of our own processes is still real, the importance of ceremony is even greater. This is because the purpose of the ceremony has changed.

In the first two stages our ceremonial practice was used to move energy. It was used to clear the sludgy vibration of our lives. At the third stage, we are taking full responsibility for creating these vibrations in our lives so we do no NEED the ceremonies, because our ceremonial practice has become a dynamic, synergistic experience that expands our energy and our zest for life. It has become a purpose in it’s own right. Our day to day lives are beginning to be celebrations.”

Fourth Stage

“We are making decisions based on the level of balance we are feeling with people and situations. We now see that as we take more and more responsibility for our choices, we have more opportunities from which to choose.

We live with great purpose. That is not to be misinterpreted as meaning that our purposes need to be great. We can live doing very ordinary things in our lives, but we can do them with clear understanding of their importance as our contribution to the world.

We can balance our energies very quickly. In other words when conditions of life,i.e. pain, can be experienced and transmuted into power fast enough that the individual seemingly never misses a beat.

The spirit calling power is quick and ever present.. It is almost like a person in the shaft of light.. Blockages appear and disappear very quickly as part of the natural synergistic process.”

He would say, “Remember that in reality, all these stages are present in our lives from time to time. It is up to us to choose the level we wish to live at, at any moment. Ceremonial Practice can help us in that choice every day.”

The Four Directions or the Four Winds or the Four Powers of Life are talked about in the cosmology of most peoples. The division of the horizon is very current for modern people in the four compass directions.

However, for many indigenous peoples, the Four Directions had symbolic meaning, ritualistic importance, and ultimately Ceremonial Power.

To acquire the power of the Four Directions it is said the Hopi traveled from their emergence point (Sipapu) to the Four Directions of the continent so that they could find the center of their world. It is said that they brought parts of each of the directions to that center and hence live in the power of life in a very strong way because of that. It is interesting that Black Mesa where the Hopi live is a core part of the North American continent. It has roots deep into the Earth’s mantle and is rotating independently of the rest of the continent. They may have truly found the “back of the turtle” of “Turtle Island” (North America).

Many people ask about the significance of the Four Powers or Four Directions. Many have written about the colors and animals associated with the directions.

However, to assign one set of meanings to the directions is to have a very narrow view of the world, much like the man who says that there is only one path to God, or the farmer who only wants one kind of crop in his field. It is dangerous. It is self defeating.

Because the planet is so different in its many aspects, so the powers are different in their aspects. In North Dakota the North represents cold, snow , long nights, and the white of blinding snow. In Florida, it might represent the great winds, shifting sand, relief from small biting insects… etc etc… So it is wise to consider the powers of the directions as they relate to the place that you are located.

However there are some universal characteristics which can be associated with the Sun. But even North and South characteristics are reversed in the southern hemisphere.

East- This is the place where the Sun rises. It is the power of beginnings and innocence. It is the place of intention and focus. Beginning, Childhood and Innocence, Spring… (more)

West- This is the place where the Sun sets. It is the place of endings. It the place where we look to see the memories of things. It is about letting go and moving on. It is in this place that we go into the dark of the night and find the wisdom which have in our inner being. Completion, Maturity and Humility, Autumn… (more)

South- This is the place where the Sun lives. In winter the Sun comes up more and more to the South and lies closer to the Southern horizon at noon each day until the winter Solstice. This is the place of vitality, the place where the lifeforce of the planet resides. This is the place of action, of doing. work, goals, passion. This is the place of desire. Growing, Youth and Impulsiveness, Summer…(more)

North- This is the place where the Sun moves towards but never really completely reaches. It is the place of night, of mystery, of hidden wisdom. It is the place of the Great Mystery. It is about stillness, and listening for the inner wisdom that comes from the experience of the other three directions. It is the place of the elders and the ancestors. Understanding, Old Age and Patience, Winter… (more)

The Sunwise or Clockwise direction (clocks run the way they do because the shadows on the sundials ran that way) is the direction of creation or advancing. The counterclockwise direction is for healing, undoing, or traveling back to a new beginning. (going back in time so to speak.)

The Medicine Wheel Ceremonies call the Four Powers and connect them for a time so that people can send their prayers to all parts of the creative process in their lives and to all parts of the world and to all parts of time.