July is for Jumping, as in Quantum Leaping towards an October PowWow!

Welcome to July, one of the hottest months of the year where Mother Nature's beauty is evident as she bursts through the seams of abundant growth. Nature is one of our best teachers whose reflection this month reminds us to give extra water for quantum leaps towards whatever intentions we are endeavoring.

And omgosh, my intentions for the last 10 years have been to manifest something of a spiritual nature in the Berkshire area of Western Mass. So grab your favorite beverage and pull up a chair while I share this story of Reiki Shamanism, Bear Medicine, Spiritual Synchronicity and Intention with you...

Many moons ago in October of 2014, I had the great honor of assisting my teacher Jim PathFinder Ewing in presenting his class "Reiki Shamanism" at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge MA. The day he arrived, we had about an hour to explore the area and so I drove him over to the little town center in Lenox where we had time enough to venture into one shop. He pointed to The Outfitter Shop and as we went inside he began to speak with the shopkeeper about fly fishing and enjoyed learning about the opportunities in the area to fly-fish. Curious about what brought us to Lenox, the shopkeeper asked to which Jim replied that he was teaching a class at Kripalu on Reiki Shamanism. A sparkle came to the shopkeepers eye and he asked if we minded that he ask us a question. He told us that he was a hunter and every time he planned to go hunt Bear with his buddies something would come up and he couldn't go. Did we think that meant something? Those of you who know me may remember that I danced the BEAR in sacred ceremony under Jim's BEAR tutelage for 7 years with the Mississippi Bear Society. For this total stranger to ask the two of us that question was a profound "divine arrow", as I like to call those moments when SPIRIT is getting your attention because more is happening than meets the eye. In true teacher fashion, Jim replied "I'll let Grace answer that question for you".

My response was something like 'maybe you're not supposed to hunt the Bear, rather maybe BEAR is trying to tell you something and is asking you to listen'.

We exchanged business cards as I knew this conversation wasn't finished and we went on our way.

The shopkeeper and I have stayed in touch since via text, email and phone calls and every year when my husband and I would travel to the Berkshires we would always meet for coffee or lunch to catch up share messages of BEAR SPIRIT. The stories only got deeper and more profound that something greater than us had connected us. We listened.

Year after year, I continued to hear the calling of the Land Spirits there, always feeling a deep spiritual connection with the native ancestors of that place even though I knew nothing about them; yet the calling was palpable. We continued to talk about what this meant, about hosting possible gatherings or creating a new Bear Dance out there in the Berkshires. Nothing seemed to line up.

Fast forward to October of 2023. This shopkeeper, who is also a Hospitality Professional, was working as manager at one of the Inns in Lenox on Indigenous Peoples Weekend and literally bumped into one of the Mohican Native Americans who was in town for the celebrations and had been staying there, visiting by request from her home on the reservation in Wisconsin. He asked if she had time to hear our story and visions and help discern these messages of SPIRIT. She agreed to meet later on with her brother who was also there for indigenous teachings and ceremony.

He shared how BEAR brought us together and how we've stayed connected year after year, listening to the callings of the mountains and land, BEAR and the ancestors. They in turn shared heartfelt BEAR stories of their own and agreed there was something greater than us calling and before they left, exchanged contact information to keep in touch. In January of 2024 we had a lengthy zoom call that would be the first of many, happening weekly until this day.

A bit of history for you if you're not familiar with these Massachusetts Indians and a little bit of unauthorized quoting and/or paraphrasing from Patrick Frazier's book "The Mohicans of Stockbridge".

'On a small rez in Shawano County, Wisconsin, live several hundred descendants of people immortalized by James Fenimore Cooper who was a boy growing up in NY. These people lived about 50 miles from him but their ancestors had concentrated along the Housatonic Village in Stockbridge MA; which is why they are officially known as the Stockbridge Indians. The mythic characters created by Cooper (Last of the Mohicans) helped sustain the impression that like the Knights of the Round Table, the Mohicans were legendary figures of a misty romantic past who may have never existed.' His book endeavors to bring public awareness of their existence and their contributions to a significant segment of American history. Their story is one of genuine nobility of spirit, of quiet strength and loyalty almost beyond belief.

As is true for many Native Americans who were forced from their homelands, the story line is the same though the tribes and locations vary. Once thriving along the MA/NY border, they eventually moved further north to the now reservation in Bowler, Wisconsin where many live today, including our ceremonial elders who will be dancing and celebrating in the Berkshires this fall; finally coming to their homelands to dance and honor their history in the first of many celebrations and powwows to come.

And you are invited to join us in our inaugural year! Whether you'd like to attend in person, make a donation to support a family's journey home, have your company sponsor us or volunteer during the weekend, please do not hesitate to reach out for more information or with any questions.

Contact me at gpwalsh@comcast.net or by phone 781-608-8020.

You can also buy tickets, fill out a volunteer application, make a donation or request to sponsor us at our website here (or with the Q code in the image):

https://homelandspowwow.org/

Thanks so much for taking time to read this amazing story and subsequent Homelands PowWow Gathering. We hope to see you there!

Bear Blessings!

~*~

Grace