Golden Gate
Community Water Ceremonies
and River Clean-up

Community Folk, 

Greetings. 

Prayers today for this Earth who while I write this is hemorrhaging another 200,000 gallons of dark blood into Holy Mother Ocean. Prayers that more people wake up from this tragedy, that more people embrace needed changes, that more people remember how inseparable we are from the Others, from the Earth, from one another. And prayers that somebody clever finds a way to put the tourniquet on this leak.

In the coming weeks there are three different water-focused ceremonies or gatherings in the Bay Area.  As always the community circles are by donation and open to all.  We'll probably lodge on the morning of June 13th in Los Gatos but it's not confirmed yet; I'll know by the next newsletter. 

Cheers to all the folks in the quest group, upcoming ancestors weekend, earth medicine training, and other community circles; I look forward to being in ceremony with you soon.

Love and clean water,

Daniel

(650) 248-8917
www.ancestralmedicine.org
 
Gratitude Ceremony for the Rain Spirits
Private Residence, Woodside, CA
Monday, May 10th, 6:15pm-8:15pm


Rain    In November of 2009 our committed ceremonial circle in Woodside made an agreement with the rain spirits that if we received above average levels of rain this year that we would offer a ceremony of gratitude for them in May of 2010. They have clearly delivered, and we have decided to open this gratitude ceremony up to the larger community in case anyone else wants to also express their gratitude for the Live-Giver in the context of a nourishing community ceremony.

     We are a circle of about 12 and there is space for another 10 community folks for this one, so I'm asking that you let me know ASAP  by email if you plan to be there. At that point I can also get you directions and other "to bring" kinds of things. On Monday, we'll start arriving around 6pm, open circle around 6:30pm and be out the door by 8:30pm. Giving due respect to the Rains and Fresh Water is also an excellent way to call in the power of cleansing grief as well as fertility, new growth, and abundance.
 
Ceremony of Making Repairs for Past Harms
Coyote Point County Park in San Mateo
Saturday, May 22nd, 11am-2pm

Otter    This ceremony is the fourth in a year-long series of water ceremonies snaking our way up the San Francisco Peninsula. See the article to the right for more context on the intent of this one.

   For ceremony consider bringing natural offerings such as (local/ethically grown) flowers, shells, beads, cornmeal, tobacco, things made with your hands from natural materials, sweetness like honey and molasses, and whatever else supports the intention. Drums, rattles, and songs are also welcome. 

    We'll gather just before 11am on Saturday, May 22nd outside the main visitor's center at Coyote Point County Park in San Mateo, CA, and we'll be back to the parking lot by 2pm. If you arrive late, look around for us at the park, and of course best to arrive on time.

    Ceremony will still be held in light rain and canceled for torrential storms.  Bring what you need to be  comfortable in the elements. We'll walk as much as a mile total on established trails. We'll share lunch together in the park after ceremony; fine to bring your lunch and maybe a snack to share. Suggested donation for ceremony is $20-$35. All are welcome including those with no experience with ritual. It's OK to bring a friend.  It's OK to decide last minute. Thanks!

The image is a North American River Otter.
 
  Guadalupe Devotional River Gathering:
a.k.a. Holy Garbage Clean-up & Weeding
Sunday, May 23rd from 12noon - 4pm

Snowy Egret    In 2009 we focused a year of earth healing ceremonies in the Guadalupe Watershed and the Mt Umunhum area of the South Bay.  Part of this devotional earth practice included adopting a stretch of the beloved Guadalupe River for regular community clean-ups.  As the generous Rain-makers begin to recede this Spring,  receptive river waters will be bringing us abundant trash from our human relatives in the South Bay. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage in service for the Earth, spend some time getting to know a natural area in the South Bay, and enjoy some new community connections. An afternoon of service, embodied spiritual practice, and community building.

     During this May clean-up we'll also be offering some time and energy in collaboration with friends at the adjacent Ulistac Natural Area. (see info here). How excellent that we were guided to adopt this particular stretch of the Guadalupe for regular clean-ups!  Jeanne-Michele Salander, a local steward at Ulistac, will support interested volunteers on this day in doing weeding and mulching at Ulistac and in doing so also learning a bit about the native plant restoration projects and rich cultural history of this forty-acre open space preserve.

    There is obviously no cost for this event and all are welcome. including younger ones.  We'll meet this time at Ulistac Natural area on the West side of the river and head in from there.  Parking is on Lick Mill Blvd in Santa Clara between Tasman and Montague.  Across the street from the entrance to Ulistac is Lick Mill Park which also has restrooms.  You can park in the lot there or along Lick Mill Blvd itself.  Specifically, we will meet at the entrance to Ulistac right across the street from Lick Mill Park at 12noon.  There is no pressure to stay for the entire time; however, arriving at 12noon is best as we will walk in to our clean-up areas.  Wear old clothes and sturdy shoes, and bring whatever you need to be comfortable (e.g. sunscreen, water, snacks)..  Hope you can join us!  





On the Tending of Unpaid Debts

antelope

Most of us can relate with the experience of feeling wronged and with the slow putrefaction over time of such feelings into something more like resentment, bitterness, or righteous anger. Think of the apology or acknowledgment you feel entitled to and have long since given up hope of receiving.  Chances are we each have a few people in our lives from whom we would love to receive some heartfelt apology and a few who quietly want the same from us.

So, I've been reflecting on the relevance of actually making these kinds of often-abandoned amends, including in the context of earth-honoring spirituality. For example, in a recent peace tree ceremony at Olompali State Historic Park in Novato we made offerings to and called upon Bear to assist us in the work with the other spirits of place. This is the same Bear that we two-leggeds, especially of European ancestry, hunted to extinction in the Bay Area in just over 100 years. The same Bear that many earth spirituality folks work with as a powerful teacher and healer.

 We have also hunted to local extinction or endangered status at various times in Bay Area history relatives such as Otter, Seal, Whale, Elk, Antelope, Egret, Oyster, and Salmon. This shortened list does not begin to include those who we have displaced just by our way of life. How does this history of taking-without-respect, of abandoning unpaid debts, impact our relations with the Others?

All I know for sure is that there *is* an impact that is worth considering and that the other beings are still listening. If our recent ancestors die with unpaid debt, this does not remove the obligation they incurred. If we move to an area where the human ancestors have unpaid debts with the local powers, these debts still pertain. The land and the other beings remember. And while they remember and watch, they continue to give and give and give to sustain our lives. How does this cycle end? How much of our interpersonal dysfunction as humans is fed by these unpaid debts with the natural world?

These kinds of concerns are informing our May community water ceremony and, depending on how this goes and what the spirits have to say, possibly other ceremonies this year.  If you feel drawn to participate in this kind of inter-species reparations, consider joining us in ceremony with abundant heart-felt offerings and acknowledgment for our extended relations here.