On Saturday, April 24th (7 Q'anil), Earth Peoples United presented "Mayan Prophecies- Earth Wisdom for a New Millennium" at the Women's Building in San Francisco.  This was a beautiful answer to our prayers on Waqxaqui B'atz (the ceremonies of spiritual renewal) in February - to expand our spiritual family and strengthen support for our mission. 

Utilizing sacred geometry, a circle of chairs open to the four directions were placed around a table in the center.  A crystal bowl of water surrounded by flower petals the colors of the four directions held the center of this medicine wheel.  As the ceremony began, youth came forward to offer flower petals to the water, holding the center of the prayer. The Mexica dancers and musicians then called in the four directions with their powerful dances.

We heard amazing words from ChoQosh Auh'Ho'Oh about honoring the beauty of life, bringing tears to many eyes. ChoQosh is the keeper of the Hopi Blanket of Hope and an elderof Coastal Native Indian descent.

We also heard a powerful sharing from Hua Anwa, a Metis Elder and teacher of mixed Mayan and Cherokee descent and an adopted Chumash who has been leading ceremony on the Central Coast for nearly thirty years. She spoke of the strength of women and how they are needed in these times. 

Tata OmeAkaEhekatl Erick Gonzalez spoke about this extraordinary time we are living in and what has been preserved through the generations to guide us when we really need it.  After the closing prayer, the participants - led by ChoQosh -  did a circle dance around the Wisdom Keepers and dancers in honor of their presence and their gifts.   Throughout the presentation, we had amazing music from Karen Rae Wilson, Louis Virie Blanche, David Kobza, Astarius Miraculli, and Ernesto Olmos.

Around the perimeter of the auditorium there were information tables, Mayan Marketplace arts and crafts for sale, and beautiful food. We were also graced by a large mural by Ernesto Olmos hanging on the wall and a Flower of Life art original by another artist.  

The next day, on 8 Toj, our spiritual family gathered for an incredibly beautiful day in the Marin Headlands, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, to offer prayers of gratitude to the Grandfather Fire, and to listen to the wisdom of the elders. Once again the Mexica offered their prayers through dance and music throughout the ceremony.  We also heard more powerful words from Hua Anwa and Tata Erick.

This time we were honored to also hear the words of Medicine Grizzly Bear, also known as Bobby Lake-Thom.  Medicine Grizzly Bear is a half Karuk, part Seneca, Cherokee, and Caucasian author, traditional Native Healer, and spiritual teacher from northwestern California.

A young man and young woman were the Fire Keepers, and many children played among the circle of people gathered.  Each person came to the fire with such reverence and gratitude for the wisdom being shared at this time, including the children. Many birds and butterflies flew all around, adding to the incredible beauty of the day.

As the ceremony began, a hawk grabbed a snake and flew right over the shoulder of a man and to the power pole behind us, where it spent quite awhile enjoying its meal. Towards the end of the ceremony, after many powerful healings had taken place in front of the fire, a skunk kept coming out of the bushes and coming near the altar. Then a hawk flew into the circle and landed on the flagpole right above the altar, where it watched and protected us as we closed the ceremony, gave thanks, and watched the sunset.

As we cleaned up and loaded our cars, we watched the skunk scurry around, and then a kit fox also came into the circle, sniffing all around everywhere we had been. We were truly blessed by our animal relatives in many ways on this powerful day! 

We are so grateful for the huge efforts made by the elders who came from long distances to share with us, and also to the incredible work of the team that made this weekend possible. People drove from Santa Barbara, Southern Oregon, and even flew in from Colorado to help out at the event, from cooking incredible quantities of food to moving large screens and audio equipment...   Many seeds were planted on this day and we look forward to the growth that will come.

It is truly amazing to see what can be created when people work hard and in collaboration and cooperation like the bees.  We hope that many people were able to enjoy the honey that was created to be shared widely!  We also filmed the events on both days and will be creating a video to use for further fundraising and promotions...

For more information about ChoQosh Auh'Ho'Oh, please see http://www.blanketofhope.org/1.html

For more information about Hua Anwa, please see http://www.churchofempowerment.org

For more information about Medicine Grizzly Bear - Bobby Lake-Thom, please see http://www.nativehealer.net/