The Importance of Partnership

As we move deeper into the New Era and are now in the time of the Summer Solstice, the balance point for the Winter Solstice that ushered in this powerful time, I am seeing the reflections of the importance of keeping the balance of partnership. We are no longer in a time of patriarchy, nor do we need the women to be in charge. We need the two in partnership, working together and helping balance and support each other. With the Maya in Guatemala, we always have that balance present, and the keepers of the directions are the Grandfathers and Grandmothers, holding either side of the gateways for the energies to enter: Balam Quitze & Cayi Paluna in the East, Balam Aqab & Chomiya in the West, I'q Balam & Kakixaya in the North, and Majun Kutaj & Tzununya in the South. Father Sky (Rukux Kaj) and Mother Earth (Rukux Uleu) balance each other in the Center. 

This was powerfully demonstrated during our sweatlodge rebuilding retreat at Deer Mountain from July 31st to June 7th. Where the one lodge stood that has held the prayers for hundreds of people over the past eight years, two new lodges now stand, sharing the same half-moon fire pit. Nestled in between the two lodges is the belly button of the previous lodges, holding the prayer of the original lodge. Three earthen altars hold space between the two lodges and the fire pit- one for the women's moonlodge, one as the original altar (that now has a bit more earth from the altars on either side), and one for the men's/ community lodge. The anchoring of these energies into the physical realm, through earth, stones, and the willow trees that were planted with offerings in a sacred geometry form to create two complementary wombs of the Mother, is powerful beyond words. We also happened to have two buffalo skulls on the altars, one carried by a man, and one carried by a woman. 

A small but sweet group of us worked the week before to prepare the camp, cut and gather the willows for the new lodges, and get ready for our relatives that came from Minnesota, Ontario and Vancouver Island (Canada), Santa Ynez, Portland, and the SF Bay Area. With the lodge having rested through the winter and the stones still holding the prayers from the last lodge we did with the youth, we cleaned and prepared inside of the lodge, added last year's prayer stones to the fire pit altar, and dressed the lodge for the last time. The willows were still strong from when we built the lodge in May 2009! 

As new firekeepers were initiated and learned how to work with the fire after lighting it with strikers, we made prayers of gratitude for this lodge as the sun set, and went inside to purify and pray. Many prayers were offered for all that this lodge had held over the years- for those that gathered the willows the last time, those that helped build it, all the Councils, the children's lodge, the women's lodges, the different Wisdom Keepers that had poured water... Then, after we finished and came out around midnight, we cut the ties that had bound the willows with obsidian blades and carefully unwound and pulled the willows out of the ground to offer with the fire. One of my favorite moments was working with our 9-year-old girl who was so full of energy and happy to be offering the lodge in this way. We stayed and prayed as the willows burned to clean white ash...

For the days following, we arose each morning to greet the sun at the altars of the new lodges in their different stages. The first morning we sat behind where the lodge once stood, looking over only the stones that were still in the bellybutton. Each morning's light shone on a different formation of earth, stones, and willows as the two lodges took form and were either covered by blankets or open to the air.  As men and women we measured, dug and raked; trimmed, dragged, pulled, and carefully bent the willows; dunked in the creek and worked with the water to soften and smooth the earth, and laughed, sang, and prayed under the hot sun under Tat Erick's guidance and teachings until the sun set, then ate and rested so we could continue the following day.  

As we placed the willows in the ground in the directions, again we had the partnership of male and female creating the doorways. We worked hard like the bees in collaboration, with partners working together on all aspects of the lodges, and often coming together with everyone at the same time.  These are the original instructions, the way we are coming back into alignment with. We were tired, hot, cold, and totally fulfilled. 

As we worked on the moonlodge for the women,  seven women all put our hands on the altar, rubbing water into the earth to smooth the mud, rubbing the belly of our Mother as we sang to the waters. We then took turns getting in the middle and dancing as we all sang, using our feet to smooth the bellybutton, ending with the young girl in the center. It was a beautiful highlight of love and unity as we set the energy for the altar for the first moonlodge we have had at Deer Mountain. And it was gifted to me to hold that altar and pour water for the women, an incredible honor, and my Sisters expressed their total trust and faith in me. It was incredibly, deeply humbling... And having a sacred space for women on their moon to honor each other and recreate our ceremonies is such a gift!

We are still gathering everything we need for the moonlodge, but I have been blessed by many gifts to have most of what I need to care for her in a good way. We are looking for the right sized antlers to bring the stones in- not too big that the grandmothers fall through, but big enough to keep the heat away from tender hands.  We were gifted a beautiful red blanket for the outer cover of the door, but we need more covers for the moonlodge, as we only have enough covers for one lodge at a time.  

I look forward to having the men and women having their ceremonies simultaneously... I experienced this once in New Mexico, and it was incredible to be in a still moment with the women and hear the strong songs of the men next to us, knowing they were taking care of themselves that way, and knowing that we were doing the same as women. Then we can come back together even stronger.  

The importance of partnership transcends a traditional man and woman relationship, it can be much larger than that. We encourage a direct relationship with the fire, the water, all the elementals. A strong partnership with Spirit. As above, so below. As within, so without. It is the concept of Ometeotl in the Mexica tradition- the duality becoming one as the creative energy and essence of the universe.  

I love that the two new lodges at Deer Mountain are connected by the original lodge that still stands in its energetic, spirit form- now half inside of each lodge. I see that middle altar as a powerful place for prayers wanting to heal and join the two energies. And Grandfather Fire sources both lodges simultaneously, sourcing both equally. The ceremonial meadow feels different, there has been a new anchoring of energies there. 

Many blessings to all who gave so generously to create and care for this space. The foundation was laid in such an amazing way, and I was inspired by each of you.  I am so looking forward to seeing what will emerge from this renewed ceremonial site!