This past weekend was full of action, adventure, and family together time. It seems to me that the cooler weather of fall brings about a little more availability to venture out and about a little bit more. I find that the shift in temperature along with the “beginning” of homeschooling adventures gets us exploring lots of fun areas together.
We went to a local monarch butterfly release and learned about monarch butterflies, their life cycles, and their migratory habits. The ones who live east of the Rocky Mountains fly to the west coast of Mexico every fall. For a creature so fragile and delicate, the mission they complete within their lifetime, of one year, is astounding.
On our way out we spotted some apple trees, and we helped ourselves to a welcome treat. This was just one of the ways that this weekend provided what we needed. Since we had forgotten to pack any snacks or lunch, we were able to hold off most cranky protesting till we returned home.
We also went to a Native American pow-wow. Besides going out to support the heritage of Native Americans whom I highly respect and look up to, my favorite part of attending a pow-wow is to hear the drumming and to watch the dancing. During the majority of a pow-wow, you can watch the traditional dancers perform in traditional garb; however, once the sun goes down, they often invite others to come into the circle to dance. This weekend was the first time I actually got up in the circle and danced, most likely because it was at night and around a fire. While I was dancing I received a very powerful message.
The beat of the drum is very rhythmic and steady. The dance is very intentional and slow. Both of them are a form of prayer and when combined can be visionary. As I danced, spiraling closer and closer toward the fire, I could feel my step connecting with the Earth. I have heard it mentioned before how each step is a prayer and each intentional step puts your intention, or prayer, into the Earth as an offering. As I danced I thought about this, and with the beat of the drum I pounded my prayers into the Earth. While I was doing this I found myself becoming so absorbed in it that everything around me seemed to disappear. Then I realized that with each of my hands, I was holding the hands of two of my children…and it hit me, how our children are so grounding to us. They are the ones here to connect us to where we need to be; they are the links between us and our prayers and our visions for this world; they are the ones who can help us to see what our lessons are and learn how to be ourselves. After I thought about that I just felt my heart swell with gratitude for this experience as a mother, and for my children, and for our adventure together here with Mother Earth.
Ah, life… for something so fragile and delicate….the mission we complete within our lifetimes…is astounding, just like the monarch butterfly. All too often I feel so small, just me, but I know that all it takes is one person to make a difference. We can all make a difference, one teeny step at a time.
In celebration of International Day of Peace, today threading light is launching a huge project called Piece Together Peace. This is one way where us busy humans can step up and make small steps toward a more peaceful path, both in our personal lives and the world. I hope you will join us on this walk for peace.
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