All posts by Barbara Ocskai

One Activist for Peace

“The differences between cultures is easy enough to see.  But I think the similarities are far greater and more important.  No matter which culture they belong to, mothers everywhere love their children.  Around the world, you, me, our families – we all feel love the same way.  If we are in a fight and get hurt, we all cry.  We all feel pain in the same way.  We all feel sorrow, anger, disillusionment in the same way.  We all hunger in the same way.  And we dream of freedom in the same way.  This is why human rights matter.”

Wei Jingsheng

Horse Medicine

Ready to adopt:  Shaman style horse hide hand drum with rabbit fur wrapped hand-hold on 16″ cedar hoop.   This drum was pulled from the withers of the horse hide, the markings are unique, strong and quite beautiful.  The accompanying drum beater is also on polished cedar wood and adorned with horse hair.

Horse medicine can set you free from physical or emotional constrictions.  Offering stamina and the strength needed to get you through, helping you to know you are more powerful than you thought you were.  The horse medicine balances sensitivity and compassion with warrior energy – it teaches patience, community leadership  while supporting you with personal freedom to wander into new adventures.  Horse medicine allows for transit and journeys into new dimensions with confidence.

Be well in all your adventures.

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin

Moccasin – Day 1

I am honored to hold space, share what I’ve learned and guide  through the processes – a long day of good work by very focused and diligent Hanbleciyapi – sewing their moccasin in preparation for their Vision Quest.  One shoe down and one to go – bring on the Day 2 – they are ready and so am I.

The end of our workday was graced with an aerial show by Bald Eagle fishing who was chased by determined Crow – who were in turn chased by Red-winged Blackbird.  Such a gift to witness both the birds flying at Echo Lake and the Questers.

Pilamaya! Pilamaya!

Trash Talk

Litter actually.  I walk the loop around Echo Lake in both directions each day. I walk for the fresh air and to move my body.  I walk both directions to pick up litter.  There is a never ending supply and variety.  Years ago Char shared that she picks up 4 pieces of litter each day.  I took that as good advice, however if I see and can reach it, I pick it all up.

Picking up the litter has been my meditation.  I have experienced a full range of emotions.  I have been disgusted and angry for all the fast food packaging – garbage in the body and garbage on the roadside.  Have you no respect?  I have found compassion and sent up a prayer of healing to whomever it was that tosses the empty single serving Sutter Home wine bottle with the cap neatly twisted back on out their car window every day – what might their life be life that a drink before arriving home be wanted or needed?   Then there are the cigarette butts – really?!  Always here and there along the loop there are butts!  Once I came across dozens all at once.  I stopped and picked up each one reflecting on the times as a little girl I had seen my father empty a full car ashtray in the parking lot.   I like to think I am making reparations, atoning for the thoughtlessness of such an act.  I have also looked closely at how I am the one who litters – maybe not actual trash tossed out a window but how have I polluted my body?  What trash has filled up my mind?  When has my spirit been in the dark places of a Sutter Home bottle?  And too, can I surrender?  There is so much trash I cannot reach deep into the blackberry canes.   Can I let it go?

An Elder man, Curtis, that I frequently see on my walks has thanked me and said on several occasions, “May your tribe increase”.  It has.  After years of saying so, Curtis now carries a bag and meditates in a similar way.  We talk about it how picking up the litter moves us, teaches us, confounds us.  Sometimes we both still find the angry places within that the trash provokes.  Mostly now for me, I just do it, I just pick it up willingly – not that I want to clean up other peoples trash but I love our Mother and I am happier picking up litter than seeing it lie on the side of the road.  I’d much rather this little stretch of Earth be clean and free of trash than complain about it or feel the distaste of it.

I am grateful for the my body’s ability to move so I might pick up the trash.  Grateful for the deep thinking that has been spurred.  Grateful for my tribe – I know you are out there helping in whatever way you are cleaning up the trash – in metaphor, in prayer, in good deed – wherever that might be.

Today… a Ho-Ho package, a piece of rope, a cardboard tube to a roll of toilet paper, a wad of pink insulation, small piece of a plastic that looks like what remains of a 6-pack ring,  a spent piece of weed-whacker cord, and of course, cigarette butts…

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin

Let’s Hear It For Teachers

Grandmothers and Grandfather.  Ancestors and Allies.  The Star Nation,  The Stone Nation.  The Standing Ones.  Those with fins and those with feathers.  The four-legged.  Mother Earth.  The waters – still, swift and big.  The light.  The dark.  Fathers.  Mothers.  Sons.  And daughters.  Other peoples children.  Lovers.  Broken hearts.  Marriage.  Divorce.  Families of origin.  Chosen ones.  Community.  Spirit Guides.  Totems.  Those whose opinions differ from our own.  The clerk in the grocery store.  The homeless.  Hunger.  Strangers.  The Mystery.  The Divine.   Teachers in skin.   Teachers who have transitioned.   Birth.  Life.  Death.  Our bodies.  Good health.  Illness.  Our minds.  Road trips.  Silence.  Listening.  Music.  Poetry.  Art.  Literature.  Laughter.   Nature.  Ceremony.   Forgiveness.  Self- love.   Abundance.  Lack.  Gratitude.  Curiosity.  The unknown.

The possibilities are endless…

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin

Moccasin Workshop Weekend

A moccasin crafting workshop is scheduled this weekend at Soul Proprietor.  It will be full for both myself and the beauties who come to sew their new shoes.  Echo Lake will hold us  with an expanse of sky – sometimes sunny sometimes gray – to color the water blue or brooding, a circle of Standing Ones surround us, and always birds are present to delight  and distract us.

When I first set out to sew custom fitted moccasin, I hadn’t any idea what in-depth information the traced and measured feet could tell.  Of course there are the obvious – shape and size, fallen arches or bunions, the splay or length of the toes.  What was unexpected was that the tracings expressed not only shape but the complexion of their owner.  I have seen the fullness of personality and withdrawn tendencies, as well as both balance and imbalance.

As the patterns that will become the moccasin come together my guides will often offer words or phrases.  These are generally mysterious to me yet meaningful for the owner of the new shoes.

Ceremony to honor the buffalo, my ancestors, my teacher and the client always comes before any further work ensues.  If I am hand-stitching for a client, I ask what prayers or intentions they might want sewn into each stitch?  What will I hold for them as I work?  If a client is sewing for themselves, I encourage them to hold themselves in high regard, to be sure to sew their devotions are into their shoes.  The medicine of the buffalo tells us we have plenty, much abundance to be grateful for.  Buffalo also reminds us anything can be achieved through right action and that we must shoulder our own responsibilities to attain success.  These powers can be held in mind and heart while we sew.  Buffalo medicine is good guardianship for our walk in the world.

Consider joining an upcoming moccasin workshop or commission a pair of moccasin to be sewn for you.

Blessing to you all.                                                        Aho Mitakuye Oyasin

 

 

Deer Medicine

So this happened this morning!

Two young White-tail deer splashing around in the lake.  They seemed to be playing.  While watching them, I saw that the first of the wild irises have begun to bloom at the waters edge which is equally exciting as I have been endeavoring to reestablish the native species.   The deer were a perfect reminder for me to remember the many paths that can be taken, to go gently – with myself and with others.

I find it an interesting duality with the medicine of deer.  The animal itself appears cautious and even timid yet the deer hide when pulled into a drum is extremely powerful and carries a loud voice.  The medicine of the deer teaches about trusting our instincts, seeking safety in negative situations and about the plenitude of life.  “Deer teaches us to use the power of gentleness to touch the hearts and minds of wounded beings” says Sams and Carson.  The world could sure use more compassion like that!  How can I apply this medicine to my own life and the situations I find myself in?  How can I use this medicine with those I love?  What new adventures will arise in our relationships to ourselves and each other when I do?

The deer rawhide is gentle to work with also.  It pulls easily into a taut drum, it dries quickly as it is on the thin side.  This speaks to me personally about having thin skin and being too sensitive, about tuning into my inner thoughts and perceptions – about seeking the bigger picture and truth.  Tanned deer hide makes durable and protective drum bags.  This leather is supple and yielding – a direct contrast to the tight drum head, again leading me to look at the dualities in both the deer and in life.  There is always two sides to the coin.

Is a new deer hide drum calling to you?  Join in for the next drum birthing workshop on Monday May 26th.

In gratitude for the plenitude… Aho Mitakuye Oyasin!

I call it FOO

FOO ~ Family of Origin.  The past 7 years or so a flock of about 40 Evening Grosbeak have been coming to my yard in the waning of the winter days.  Eagerly I awaited their arrival this year.  They didn’t return like usual until nearly half-way through spring.  Their entrance was  marked by their sharp loud calls and low whistling trill, waking me early one Saturday morning.  I was thrilled to see them back at the feeders, bickering with one another for position and the promise of sunflower seeds.  And I knew there was more, and new, work to do.

Grosbeak medicine teaches about family of origin matters, about healing the family heart.  What is it I need to learn this year?  What FOO issues will rise to the surface to be looked at, potentially healed or rejected?  What is in my heart to be cleared and allowed to be truth (with a capital T) in this new year of Grosbeak medicine?  I’ve got three sisters.  We don’t bicker but we don’t actually talk much either.  What holds me back from engaging with them?  Am I showing up?  What is it that leads me to retreat into the margins?  Am I willing to show myself for who I truly am?  Can I take a stand for myself within the dynamics of my family, shifting into a higher truth?  Can I share the seeds at the feeder so we are all nourished?  How can I heal the family heart by healing myself?

So many questions.  And now the Black-headed Grosbeak have arrived too, singing the most melodious song.  There are reminding me there is beauty in the FOO and my heart holds them.

I love you Dad.  I love you Mary.  I love you Patrice.  I love you Sandy.