Motherly Love

 

As the Spirits prepare the way for the 2007 Earthkeeper Family Ceremonies, our 13th year of doing ceremonies at the Dunes of Lake Michigan, may we come together on April 14th, 2007, in harmony to pray for others.   John Armbruster shared a ceremony that prepares us:  

This ceremony should be treated like a vigil. Take an evening and start at dinner and go until midnight. In that span of time make several rounds of prayers with breaks in between.

Open with a prayer and the making of an altar. Those who are ill, those in need of healing or those who are experiencing difficulty, should have pictures on the altar. The opening prayers should state their problems and a prayer for spiritual help and support should be made. 

Then break for dinner. 

The second round should include a calling song followed by prayers by each person attending for each person on the altar. A closing song ends the round.

Take some time to talk together and be with one another.

The third round should involve the offering of tobacco and burning sage and cedar to “clear the air around the people who are experiencing difficulty.” A pipe filling song and prayer song should be next. Again prayers are made by each person attending for each person on the altar. A single closing prayer should emphasize surrendering the outcome to the higher power, whatever that happens to be for each person in the group.

Take some time to feel yourself release the people you are praying for to the higher power.

The fourth round starts with the  smoking of the Pipe (Chooch). A celebration song is appropriate. This will be the round where each person attending will make a prayer about seeing each person on the altar being better, having a better life and better health. A final song ends the ceremony. 

~ John Many Voices Armbruster

The ceremony is done in preparation for the 2007, Earthkeeper Family Ceremonies in Appreciation of the Ancestors who Ride the Winds that starts April, 21st.

Ceremony:   Healing Prayers Ceremony 

Date:            Saturday, April 14, 2007 

Time:            5:00 pm to 12:00-ish midnight

Place:            Wilson Shelter, an outdoor shelter, Indiana Dunes State Park, north of Chesterton on Hiway 49. We will have a fire in the fireplace.

Bring:    

  • Your joy, laughter, and rattles. 
  • A food dish to share.  There are no electrical plug-ins.
  • A sacred item to place on the altar to hold your prayer for this ceremony.
  • A picture (s) or item (s) of folks in need of healing to place on an Altar.
  • A blanket will be needed to sit on in the circle at times and bring a chair as well. 
  • Women may wear a shawl. 
  • Dress appropriately for the weather and ceremony. 
  • A flashlight will be needed as it will get dark. 
  • Chooch (pipe) carriers may bring your Chooch.

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    Thank you John for gifting us all with the ceremonies. 

    Hugs,  Dave, Tracy and Janisse ~ Take what you want…leave the rest…we share because we care.