BLAHHG....BLAHHG...BLAHHG!

Threat Of Snow!

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One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it.
But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief,
that is a fate more terrible than dying.
~ Joan of Arc

Except it's going to be in the 40's today, but heck...I say...Bring it onnn! We really could use the moisture. Oh wait! I need to go to Walmart. Let me get some groceries and then it can snow all it wants to! Fa-La-La-La and all that! Ohhhh..are we in the wrong season now?

As a reminder to all Christians...I understand it's lent! What are you giving up? This, I am guessing you all call 'sacrifice'. Interesting how the Christians parallel some Native beliefs ( and you called us heathens, HA!)...for instance, in the Lakota Way. We have what is called a Sun Dance. A person is called to dance in this sacred ceremony, around the tree of life. Prior to that, there must be preparation. They will have to make prayer ties, go to Hanblechey(translated to crying for a vision) where they are placed up on a hill(we have Bear Butte), sort of like Moses going up to receive those Ten Commandments... and sit in a circle of prayer ties with only a bowl of wasna and a knife which is placed in the ground in front of you, for four days(usually, unless the spirits say something else). It is told to the Wicasa Wakan in ceremony how long and if the person should be allowed(or if they are allowed) to Sun Dance. Usually it will come in a dream for the person, or a sacrifice to help those who suffer..perhaps even a sick loved one. After they have gone up on this hill, after the fourth day, they are brought down by one of our Wicasa Wakan's helpers and they go into an Inipi Ceremony to tell of their vision(if they had one). Then they dance for four days. No food...usually just sage tea. They dance from Sun up to Sun down, calling in the spirits with an Eagle bone whistle they have made. The Eagle flies closest to Tunkashila, and it is the Eagle who assists us at this ceremony. Some are made to drag Buffalo skulls. It's sort of like Jesus carrying the cross. Whether they dance or are made to drag buffalo skulls, they are pierced and this flesh is the offering to Tunkashila for the life of others and for the continuation of life for all people. For us, there is no sacrifice...only a necessity so that life will go on and to give thanks to Tunkashila for all that is given to us.

Unfortunately, I am lacking in time today or I'd go further into detail of one of our most sacred ceremonies. Yet, I leave you this day with a song that very much describes the feeling one receives from being there at this Sun Dance. Floyd Bad Hand, I believe is the one who translates from English into Lakota. One of my favorite songs by this artist.
Wishing you peace in your moments given~

My 'Gift' For You This Day~

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