sushii

Hum. So not so much new lately. Just school and work for the most part... BUT... I did have one majorly amazing experience this week... I got to go to a sweat lodge done by an elder in the local aboriginal community. It was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. I am not overly spiritual. I do not normally pray. But it was spectacular to feel like you were underground with a bunch of strangers, sweating, singing, praying, shaking shakers... I even rubbed bear grease on myself (it was a salve for physical healing). It was so dark inside. So close to the earth. The smell of the offerings to the "grandmothers and grandfathers" (the heated stones). The smoke stung your eyes at first... Then the weighing heat set in, so moist. Everything, everywhere dripped. It felt like my entire body was sobbing into the earth.....

Afterward we had a feast inside and ate berries and other yummy foods. I had met the elder once before, but none of the other girls/guys had. But she opened her entire home to us. People just kept dropping by. There was such a sense of community, trust and love. I was envious... Although I shouldn't be, all of the massive cultural and emotional damage caused to native people in the past that they have lived through, all the massive health problems they face at a great incidence than the rest of the population. The high incidence of poverty and "substandard" living conditions. But their communities have something that I don't have - an actual sense of community and involvement. I don't even know my neighbors names.

Anyway. Here I am, being a hippy.... haha. I don't really have any photos except a few that I stole for the Swedish exchange students that are visiting and also went....

Sweat lodge is in the background behind the Tepee...


The most spiritual 3 hours of my life took place in here....