Articles by BlueHeron

INIPI CEREMONY (Published September 2002)

When a thought form takes shape and energy rises from the intentions, there is always the possibility and probability that something will happen. It may not always be what we thought it would be, but nonetheless the mind creates the space for something to happen, and Spirit sends the manifestation that is for our highest good.

A collective consciousness has power that extends beyond the individual focus and brings a flowing stream into action, which crests into a reality. Tiny seeds planted months ago were harvested at Harmony Landing on Saturday.

Beautiful sisters gathered on Saturday to build a sweat lodge. Cutting bamboo, gathering wood, linking hoses for a water supply, consecrating the space, laying sacred fire to heat the rocks, digging holes in the dry parched earth, lashing together bamboo, learning how to build a lodge, laughing, reflecting on the limit of our strength, engaging in community effort, trusting that our intentions would surely build the first sweat lodge that would withstand our ignorance and lack of skills. It was a lodge for womyn, built by womyn!!!

No one said anything about the final shape of our lodge, except, "It's really cute; it has character." So, what we thought was going to be a perfectly round lodge, actually came out a little more like our own figures....a little bulge here, an indention there, and a sag around the edges. But, standing firmly rooted in the Earth Mother, we had built our lodge and it stood waiting for us with warmth and darkness.

Our fire keeper kept the rocks hot, and our water freshened and plentiful. When we called for him, he brought in four rocks for each round. Red hot, like molten lava, they were laid in the rock cradle in the center, in the navel of the Earth. Not knowing any better, BlueHeron had put some small cedar branches in the pit, and the first indication that this was not a good idea, was the immense amount of smoke that came billowing up when the first rocks were placed in the pit. Oh, how each experience is a teacher and a lesson! No wood in the pit next time.....promise!!!

The water of the oceans, the drip of the rain, and the rivers flowing met the sweat of our bodies joining us to the All. We became human waterfalls, glistening pools, and misty mornings. Sweating our prayers, our fears, our weaknesses, our strengths brought us to the place where we recognized the purpose of our being in the sweat and in the world is to love; to be love and to be loved and loving.

Coming out of the lodge into the clear starry night, we sank deeply into the waiting cooling waters, immersing ourselves seven times to honor the energies of the seven sacred directions. Standing nude under Father Sky, arms outstretched to give thanks, we experienced beauty in a new profound way, surrounded by quiet, bright stars, and the absolute presence of Spirit. A-ho!

A tiny seed was harvested at Harmony Landing by nine incredible Goddesses on Saturday. We closed our ceremony by joining hands in circle, and singing "we are a circle, within a circle, with no beginning, and never ending."