Year 2: The Land Dreams in Ceremonies: Reparation #1
Please note that these ceremonies took place from Sept 2022 - Sept 2023
Year 2: The Land Dreams in Ceremonies: Reparation
Ceremony #1 ~ Bright Angel Park
I felt quite overwhelmed in the beginning and up a very steep learning curve with respect to the project, especially in teaching myself dyeing and eco-printing while also producing the volume of art that I had intended in the timeframe of each lunar cycle: 3 Motanky (one for the land, one for exhibit, and one for gifting), 3 Pysanky, 2 Rushnyky, one written Ancestor Bone, and dyes for the fabric and eggs used in the crafting.
By the time I felt grounded with the materials, needs,
tasks, and movements it was already full moon, which meant I had only two weeks
left for production.
The first offering-walk was calming, though felt much
too short. I visited the far-side of the
river and park looking for potential dye plants. Given my lack of experience in dyeing, I
really didn’t know what would qualify as useful. In the end, I only found some washed-up cedar
bark on the shoreline.
Shortly after this walk, our landlord decided to sell
the trailer he had let us use as storage for our myriad of boxes, art supplies,
and so on. We only had 1 day of notice
and needed to move everything over to the older trailer. That was the beginning of feelings of
“weirdness” which continued with and through each of us contracting Covid. I felt constant psychic attacks which showed
up in dreamtime as well as the general emotional and energetic tone on the land
– I had so much anxiety every time I stepped onto the land. The landlords and their children went away
for a week-long family holiday, and upon their return, the landlady simply
stopped talking or interacting with us, and the landlord became distant and strained.
In the midst of recovering from Covid, I made a second
offering-walk which brought me to the opposite side of the park from where I
usually sit with folks. I walked to the
river’s edge and was greeted by five river otters, playing, fishing, and
snorting at me. They tolerated my
presence and I felt like this was a good sign for the upcoming ceremony.
On September 2nd, we were given “notice”
from the landlord – I was distressed, and yet also not surprised. I actually felt relieved to know that the
anxiety and other feelings were simply a result of their decision that had
previously not been communicated in words, but rather on the felt-level, as
well as through gestures and posturing.
The third walk was on September 24th, the
day before ceremony. I went to the
forest sit-spot I usually visit, and after making offerings, I asked to be
shown where to bury the Motanka and Pysanka.
It took some time, and eventually I felt that a cave under the tree that
with the dancing roots – the one where I had placed a fallen nest – would be
best.
Ceremony was going to be at 8:30am on the 25th,
as the park would be hosting Watershed-River festivities and workshops starting
at 10am. I was also due to start a
client session at 9:30am. So, as I
prepared the night before, my husband had misplaced our only phone. We spent hours looking for it. That night I dreamt he had left it in the
storage-trailer. The next morning, he
asked our landlord to call the phone, and indeed, it was where I had dreamt.
As with the way of ceremony, even the best planning does
not make room for “life.” Whether
intentional or not, my husband had also scheduled (last minute) the pick-up of a retiring
flock of laying hens from one of his clients at 8am. Because I am the only driver in the family,
it means that I am “on driving duty” for any of my family members’ needs. I reminded him I needed to be at the park by
8:30am. By the time it was all done, I
arrived at 8:42am. I wasn’t sure how
busy the parking might become, so I parked on the side-road and entered the
park from one of the side-entrances. I
began to hastily walk to the sit-spot.
However, within 30 seconds or so, I stopped, looked – really looked – at
the trees and path, and from there, continued more mindfully, with absolute
gratitude for all this place has offered me and the many people I work with.
I walked directly to the moving water of the river to pay respects and make offerings. Turning to enter the bush-path that leads to the forest sit-spot and Dancing Tree, I saw that I was no longer alone. On the opposite shore – directly opposite the ceremony spot – a fellow and his dog were arriving.
I paused at the roots of Dancing Tree and waited a
short while. The fellow began to stretch
and practice martial arts, so I decided to quietly proceed. I place the Motanka under one root and
Pysanka under another and covered each with moss and detritus from the
ground. Then I leaned against the tree,
breathing and listening. It was a
beautiful morning. And when I was
complete, I left with gratitude and love.
Just as I was exiting the park and about to get into
my car, I heard Della’s booming voice, likely emanating from near the shelters
in the middle of the park. She sang out
to the spirits of the land, the trees, the ancestors, birds and animals, and
waters. I waited, absorbed in her
powerful sounds, and smiled…
I returned home to finish the gifts I had prepared for
her. Once a week, we have a simple
exchange of food, herbs and medicine…
The next day was our regular exchange day, and in addition to my usual
offerings, I gifted her a Motanka, Pysanka and embroidered Rushnyk. When I explained the Motanka and handed it to
her, she hugged it to her bosom and exclaimed, “Oh, my little medicine-lady!”
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