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C-M's Family Council
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001
Hiya,
Most of you know that I have been with the native, old traditional Odawa people up here for many years, they are my 'family' who took me in with full rights and responsibilities many years ago.Their philosophy or better 'Way of Life' nurtures in me what needs nurturing, most likely because all is 'naturebound', but more important to me it just always has made sense to me what is within their belief system.To put something down and give Thanks when you pick a plant,to aknowledge all the elements that have made it grow , to apologize to their neighbors when you take their buddy away and to ask that only the GOOD of the plant will come into you when used as medicine.
Also every spring we have a council that is called to 'Welcome the Thunderers' back. And those of us who attend are always very eager to pay attention to when the first 'rumbles' are heard..hoping that the hearing of the Elders is good enough to hear them and for the Thunderers have to pass three times, representing the return of the 'gone-befores' and each have their own characteristics in their 'noise' level. Most important though, is that the bundles that contain the pipes where put away and can now come out, which means decisions can be made which to 'write' them into law, which also means that if you research treaties for our area and they were signed during the time the Thunderers were gone are much suspect.
The Council is the weekend after about 10 days when one hears the Thunderers and the Balsam Poplars are thumbthick, which makes for a fast scramble for us gals to organize for the cooking etc..all is done outdoors on private property in the boondocks and it's amazing how fast the Anishnaahbeg grapevine spreads the word, for came yesterday morning at sunrise, cars were pulling in from everywhere even Odawas that live as far away as Minnesota, Indiana.
It takes me about an hour to drive up there and on the way we had very strong winds and although it was dark, I could feel things brewing in the sky, encountered torrential rains and what seemed black walls. But at our meeting place all was dry, albeit with much humidity in the air. The sacred fire was lit with some trouble, the bundles placed around it and at that moment a ring of Thunder was heard all around us, but not a drop in sight.
During the pipeceremony, the sun broke out, all birds seemed to come cheering on the ceremony, woodpeckers providing the drumming and sure enough an eagle circled overhead..it felt like spring and it smelled like spring. First time we all really felt that up here in northern Michigan. We gave thanks by putting sacred herbs into the fire and acknowledged that by hearing the Thunderers that the lifeforce that makes things grow to nurture us, where in balance.
After a splendid breakfast cooked over the open fire people usually retreat for a bit of napping or the Elders have their private time. So I scooted over to my cabin which is close-by and started carting out the ladybugs.Scooped out one of those 5 gallonbuckets full and wasps groggily were all over too. Got stung by one in my little finger that I had the nerve to grab with my hand while it was hiding in a tablecloth and after letting out a yowl, I sprinted over to an icebank that is still out there to get relief. Also had some lavender EO with me and both worked like a charm.
Went on to dig up a good amount of leeks , stopped by a friends house who worked in the garden and was gifted with a few plants and a grocery bag of rosemary she had just cut off trimming her huge rosemary bush. She has a greenhouse and it was just humming with plants coming alive, I had perfect timing.
It was a glorious day and I am sitting here, pondering of all I can do with my rosemary. Will tincture , infuse some and try to stick just a few sprigs into my shampoo..can't hurt, might do my hair good. The sprigs have really long needles might not be good for some sachet stuff.
This morning my bones feel that another year is on them, but was it ever a good day to be alive. Must be all that rosemary getting my brain going, but I've pondered on how to make myself a little 'greenhouse' to coax and start some plants an remembered that I have one of those large clear plastic tubs under my bed to store sweaters..Aha, that tub will be my little greenhouse today to cover seedlingtrays, I want to get lemon verbena going.
C-M