The East Direction of Illumination

Tansi and welcome

The rituals you are about to learn are based on the 4 directions of the Medicine Wheel and we will travel around the Medicine Wheel beginning at the East direction. The East is the direction of illumination that leads us into a deeper relationship with self. It is the eternal love of a supreme being.

East is also for the earth and the color is yellow like the rising sun. It represents the mental part of our mind. It is for the earth, the Great Mother, and Love for self and life. The East direction of illumination is used especially for guidance.
This ritual is a meditation to help us recognize that there is a starting place on a daily basis. It gives us strength knowing that no matter what we have done, we get to start again. This practice has been used as far back as we care to go and in many nations. Each person brings to their place the sacredness within themselves.

It so simple and gives us hope, so why not take a minute and breathe and go within. Find a quiet place to sit and be comfortable. Be gentle with yourself as you strive to go inward, as if on a small boat that gently lulls you on a wonderful body of water. Be patient as you go still deeper into the quiet. You may ask your inner Holy place for an answer to a problem that you have been pondering and/or you can picture anything that you are concerned about.

Go beyond the complexities of life–the worries and fears, and into the pure essence of life. Strive toward a deeper and closer walk with the Creator or God, or whatever you feel comfortable with.

When a thought comes, let the east light of illumination wipe it from your mind. Do not struggle. Let go, let east light shine and bathe you in peace and think of your mind as a temple where many people go in and come out. You are not the gatekeeper, for these are only your thoughts. You are the entrance. Watch and listen for a few moments. Perhaps a prayer comes to you.

My recent prayer was, “Oh Great Holy One, you are the east light that comes every morning and rides across the sky. Let me, your earthly child, walk in this light. Let me, with gentleness on this day, begin my day with all my relations in a good way. Let the love of the universe flood my mind with hope, strength, and faith in the process of life. I let this east light shine through me and in me and I walk this journey with assurance and balance.”

When you want to come out of your mediation, thank the east for the guidance coming to you in different forms. Feel the gentleness you have brought yourself, and even if brief, your connection with your higher power. Often seemingly unrelated events turn out to be the answer to your prayer.

If the situation allows you take a minute or two, face the East and once again thank this East direction of illumination for being there for you to turn to and know that your prayers and quests are now being answered. If nothing else, say, “Great One, hear me, your earthly child. I need your lite, the illuminating light of the East that comes up every morning, to help me see your face in everything today”.

Continued practice will develop your sense of belonging and extend into all place and phrases of your life.

rejoice and pray

Great Spirit, Father of Heaven and Earth, Creator of all,

Let all things rejoice, for we are sending you a voice

Power of the four directions, we call upon your wisdom

so we may have knowledge of all that you behold.

Father quiet the inner turmoil and let us us hear your voice

in the wind that whispers our name.

all my relations, amen

morningstar woman

listening to soul-song

today in this moment i listen, to the song of my heart.

breathing in i look within toapool of calm water.

here lies the passions of my soul that i can’t forget.

creator help me quiet the chatter of my mind so i can remember these longings of myheart.

i take small steps and bring them forward so that i may follow the path. i have failed at times to hear the things that bring joy to my woman-soul and give meaning to my journey for i am an earthly child and get lost in my own mind.

creator hear the prayers of the women who thought they had lost their way and now find themselves coming home to the instinctual awarness of their soul song.

we give thanks for the blessings and the guidance.

we rejoice in the companionship of other women as we help each other home.

from this quietnesswe haveclear seeing and know what we must do.

this i do Great One in love of myself and all the sisters of the world.

all my relations

morningstar woman

childhood lost

childhood lost – the residential school experience

Childhood Lost examines the experiences of four individuals who were sent to residential schools when they were very young. While their stories represent different generations panning over fifty years, they share a common sense of loneliness, despair and trauma.

We learn how some are coping with the many years of sexual abuse and the effects it has had on their lives. Each story is intensely personal.

At the close of the documentary, the individuals are brought together for a chance to share their experiences. In the talking circle they share memories of pain and humour. For each of them this is a healing journey. This is a journey that may never end.

COMPANY – Blue Hill Productions
DIRECTOR – Doug Cuthand
PRODUCER – Chalen Ewing
COPYRIGHT – 2001
RUN TIME – 52 minutes

To view an excerpt of this award winning documentary click here

mountain prayer

i sent my prayers on eagle wings

way up into the sky

so i can see from mountains high

where angels go to cry.

Find a place that is quiet or set up an altar for yourself, but remember the altar that resides within your being.

You may see it in a cave dimly lit by a glowing campfire, or it may be on a quiet windswept beach. Whatever you see in yourself will be the right thing. Use this place to let your sacredness come forth.

Awareness of breathing is the most important practice. Close your eyes and breathe fully in and relax your body. You are connecting to the Great One; to the God of your understanding. There is no wrong.

Observe your thoughts without judgement. Let them come and go. This is the entrance to your temple. Realign yourself with spirit. Know you are holy and a child of creation. Relax, breathe, and when it is time, close the door to your temple and take your place in life knowing all is well.

rejoice and pray

Great Spirit, Father of Heaven and Earth, Creator of all,

Let all things rejoice, for we are sending you a voice

Power of the four directions, we call upon your wisdom so we may have knowledge of all that you behold.

Father quiet the inner turmoil and let us us hear your voice in the wind
that whispers our name.

all my relations, amen

morningstar woman

i stand still

assurance

Great Holy One, Divine Mother and all things sacred

Let me remember that divine order is in my being.

In this moment i follow my breathe into the stillness

i am assured that love is eternal, for i see itin all placesin the
world today.

i let go of one phase and begin a new one as i follow grandmother moon.

i rebirth and am reborn and excited forthis gift of life.

From this place, i send to the sick, the poor and the suffering, the white healing light of love.

assurance is mine as i breathe in newness and revitalize my being.

Now is the time, for spirit is here in my stillness every guiding and giving.

All things rejoice for we are sending you a voice.

All my relations

morningstar woman

Great Father, Holy Mother and all things…

i come to you in this moment in time knowing that i must journey into myself where there is darkness in the corners of my mind.

i light my candle and as sure as light floods my room and warmth begins to radiate around me, i am reassured the light from your great love will guide me.

we are sisters in spirit and many of us have hidden fears, worries and unresolved grief in our being and stored in our bodies. i breathe in and ask for the very light of love to pulsate through my being. Lighting the corners of my mind and illuminating the worries, concerns and fears crouched in the darkness.

pain is often the ribbon that wraps the gifts of life and only now in your presence, do i bring order to the past. i let go, assured that i did the best i could. i take comfort knowing i stand on the shoulders of the elders who hold me up and whisper encouragement to take deliberate steps in the direction of my dreams.

in this moment, i need not hurry. i have no urgency, for new understanding is here from my significant past.

here is insight and courage, and the past is but a marker on my path.

i choose and yearn for a deeper life. Now i see a door that opens, and the whispers from the other side encourage me to go forward and imagine a destiny so joyous that i am humbled and bow my head in gratitude.

I thank you most holy one, you who loves all things for this flame and passion i now feel within my being.

for this and more i am grateful, and today i am sheltered.

all my relations

morningstar woman

Technorati Tags: 

morning prayers