The Earthkeepers

John had many sayings that he quipped over the years.  Here are a few:

 “The problems we face will either defeat us or develop us — depending on how we respond to them.”

“Some people confuse “clearing the air” with wanting a pound of someone’s flesh.” 

“The power to change always lies in the present. Drumming, singing, dance all help to strip away the dark smoke of our illusion… it is the illusion of being in the past or future.

“To be an EarthKeeper is a spiritual act. It is a practice which is mastered as part of our everyday lives. It is about the heart, it is about our fears. It is about the limitations we have placed on ourselves and the limitations others have placed on us. It is about finding out about a very important piece of who we are as human beings.” 

“Deeply honor the land, and in so doing, we honor ourselves.”

“Christians talk about love, but they practice judgment.  New Age-ers talk about oneness, but they are the most divisive people I know.  And those who practice Native American ways are – often – like both.” 

Tanakia, Dave 

                                                                                                                                              John in Sedona 1994 and John after his final mask round at Earthkeepers Dance for Peace 2003

On January 22nd, it will be 3 years, since John moved to the Other-side Camp.  In honor of John Many Voices Armbruster, we put together a slide show with some of our memories… http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2745911&alb=0    Click on web address, turn on volume, at website click inside black box to start slide show. (forgive some of the pictures for being grainy as they are copies of copies..if anyone has better pictures of John in the earlier days or any days they want to share, please contact us youncedjt@verizon.net)

We thought folks might want to remember John’s Vision of our Earthkeeper’s Dance for Peace:

 ”The Earthkeepers Dance for Peace is an unusual chance for people to create ceremony which can change the world.  It is an opportunity for ordinary people to do extraordinary things by claiming their birthright as keepers of the sacredness of the Earth.  An Earthkeeper Ceremony is an act of sanctifying the land with our prayers, our love, and our gratitude.

It is not a small thing we do.  If we as a people completely lose our spiritual connection to the land, we lose an important aspect of our humanness.  We lose a way of being in this world with one another as a village of humans loving life and loving each other, by loving the divine gift of life on this planet.  This work is supported by the prophesies of Earthkeepers around the world and throughout time.

Even a few keeping this connection alive, are keep it alive for all.  Someday our descendants will look back and say:  “There were some who knew … they took the responsibility for parts of the human experience that most had, unknowingly, turned their backs on … we are thankful to them for their foresight …”

We invite you to join us in this keeping of life, keeping of spirit, in this celebration of mind, heart, and human passion.  Make the joyful noise.  Raise your voice.  Call the spirits of the land to join us as we dance into this mysterious future together.” 
John Armbruster

We miss you my friend…….and we carry-on the Earthkeeper Ceremonies.

As you said…Hugs All Around,

Dave, Tracy and Janisse

                                                                                                                    John at Holiday Celebration 2003/2004 in Sedona

As we prepare our celebrations for the New Year, thoughts of John come.  It was a week or so into the New Year in 2004, that I last talked with John. In that last call, he talked about his New Year’s celebration, among other things. So I thought I’d share what John taught about New Year’s Drumming.

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…

We’ll be drumming with you my friend.

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

Grandma Rosie, Earthkeeper Elder

John Many Voices Armbruster shared these words about the importance of Elders.

The Elder is the Keeper of the wisdom of time.

The Elder holds the power of time in their hands. Even as the Drum marks time, the heartbeat of the Elder brings us together in a prayer for the people, the children and the Village. The Elder leads us into the Circle in the first and final round of our ceremonies.

There is no denying their understanding of us. Their wisdom does not deter us, it opens our eyes to new possibilities. Their steps celebrate the richness of life well spent. ~ John Armbruster

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

The Winter Solstice is approaching soon and the veils are their thinnest at this time. John would say it was a good time to review the previous year, release that which no longer serves you, connect with Mother Earth and ask for guidance for the coming year. John wrote on his former website:

The Solstice time is a time of intensity and passion. It is a time of extremes.

The summer solstice is the Midsummer’s Night energy. It is the longest day of the year. Sensuous, even oppressive energy of the Sun. Unrelenting. It is a time when the planet is bursting with power. Overflowing with lifeforce. This is a time for celebration and release.

Many of the Sun dances occur around this time. The power of the Sun being strongest. In lower latitudes they are held earlier.

The Long Dance is good to be held around this time.

One ceremony we have done over the years is a nature’s Spirit Dance, where everyone dresses up as a plant or animal. Strong drumming, passionate songs, and lots of clowning are appropriate.

The Winter Solstice is a time of deep reflection. It is the longest night of the year. It is a time of deep yearning and introspection. It is a good time to become passionate about the choices you are to make in the coming years. Since the Winter Solstice comes so near Christmas (in the Northern Hemisphere) it often gets lost in the big holiday. However, it is important to remember that Christmas was actually placed in the Calendar to coincide with the winter solstice.

Meditation, deep heartfelt songs, burning of the lists is a good ceremony around this time. ~ John Armbruster

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