Walli Nis Hii!
A Light towards Wellness
Greetings and blessings in this new joyous season! We are amid the strongest of Springs' spirit, and it is beautiful. Mid Spring. In my ancestors' words, we are grateful for this day. In our ancestral language of Tamal Machchaw, day and sun are the same words. The sun never leaves us as day is experienced by many people on the planet even though others may not. The sun may dim, yet it comes out again. And our lives reflect the sun as well. We are still here. The sun gives us hope. Despite the dark winter and journey of last year's covid trials (in all our lives,) we are emerging through the gift of vaccine and the work and efforts of so many of our relatives that help keep us afloat. Today as I write I am so very grateful to look out my window and see the plants in my garden show their green colors, and I know that the spirit of life once again is returning to us.
My Indigenous ancestors believed and prayed for the future. When life unfolds upon the planet, life as a living testament reveals the world is good. It is something to rejoice in. Ceremonial celebration expresses the joy to being here in the world, living a good life in goodness and in wellness. Wellness and goodness were and are today highly valued qualities of being a human being in an indigenous conscious society.
My ancestors also understood when life would be difficult. They lived and died through 500 years of diasporic history upon their own lands. However, they are not the only humans that have within their genetic consciousness trauma, loss and unresolved grief. All our ancestors have passed down to us historical trauma embedded in our DNA. Many had left their own homelands to find safety and a good life because of the war induced experience they survived from. War in its many identities and definitions has been the culprit for the tragedies, trauma and the brokenness of our humanity. Unfortunately, the war business has the science and medical fields in a constant mode of research and invention. As technological advances produce more lethal and toxic manners of operation, they tax the medical field to generate methods of mending the wounds induced by war technology. As colonization has built our society, it follows suit that our people revolve around technological advances to protect us, give us more power in everything we do and acquire within the physical world necessities and enhancements in physical capabilities and attributes. However, what about the mind, heart, emotion and spirit? Isn't the internal and spiritual qualities of being a human being as valuable as the body for wellness? Our society today holds humanity's internal nature in a stepchild position regarding values within the order of healing and care compared to the physical aspects of wellness.
I return to my Indigenous ancestors. For the last 500 years, indigenous peoples have had to travel a road of healing and recovery silently and invisibly. Interestingly, within indigenous societies there is less shame or fear to find that road because they highly value healing and wellness. Being well wholistically was and is a honorable pursuit in life.
For many who do not know the histories of indigenous peoples on Turtle Island (the land mass of North/South America, Canada and Yukon/Alaska) most Indigenous peoples avoided war and held protocol, and healing practices for their community members that were preventative. Trauma and loss are life experiences and there were countless levels and modalities of healing practices applied so that our relatives could return to the community as contributing members of the society. Wellness and health is a fine guarantee for a nation to discover its excellence. Excellence for indigenous communities is that its peoples believed in a wholistic approach and awareness for life. Therefore, the spirit, emotional, intellectual and physical aspects of the human being were all incorporated in wellness and healing practices for balance. Many times trauma predominantly affects the emotional and the spiritual qualities of a person and thus was attended to first in order to prevent any possibility of a long term physical symptom or ailment. In addition, each person was treated in respect as an individual situation. Everyone experiences trauma, loss and grief individually. No one comes out of a stressful occurrence the same.
Humanity has been experiencing exponentially (and continues to experience trauma and loss), from the recent COVID-19 viral condition which has spread across the globe. Loss of jobs, homes, partners, loved ones, and security have left many in doubt, fear and despair. Though there have been vaccines administered to get us out of fear and back in the running of a more "normal" life, (as well as relief funding), the wellness methods that are available for supporting the emotional, mental, and spiritual effects of trauma within a global context are subordinate, limited and minimal compared to the medical applications toward physical conditions of trauma. A method that would offer a fuller capacity to heal, would be generated within a community because then as a social consciousness, healing for wellness is elevated and a wholistic perspective is acknowledged and practiced.
Society is slowly acknowledging the need for mental health wellness. Unfortunately, not fast enough for humanity. We must step up to regain a balance towards living. Indigenous ancestors did not wait when something had to be done. Elders who have been able to offer wisdom and understanding as well as guidance towards wellness and healing benefitted their communities. The true traditional Elders never held back knowledge but lovingly gave to the people so all would be well and wise. There were no businesses to benefit one over the other where bits and pieces were given for a price. If everyone is well then everyone benefits.
Our Elders are so revered. In Our Ancient Lands podcast we feature TerryAllaway, our local permaculture wisdom keeper. She understands the workings of an Elder. We are so grateful for her time and sharing. Take a moment to listen to her knowledge and story.
LUTEA offers support workshops and talking circles in the similar manner and practice passed down from the Elders. Our basic foundation work is from the White Bison movement and we are certified facilitators. The workshops are free, however we will gratefully accept donations.
Mending Broken Hearts Healing Journey Workshop May 23, 2021
We offer Mending Broken Hearts Indigenous Healing Journey annually. This workshop is a 16 week workshop that takes place weekly for 2 hours for 16 weeks. We open this to everyone who is experiencing, trauma, loss and unresolved grief. Held on Sunday nights at 6:00 pm to 8 pm presently online. This is the only Mending Broken Hearts workshop for this year. Please contact me if you would like to talk with me for more insights and information.
Medicine Wheel 12 Step Program Fall 2021
We offer the Medicine Wheel 12 Step program annually. This program can take up to 22 to 26 weeks and is planned for this coming fall. We open this to everyone who is working through sobriety, addictions, and character defects. Held on Sunday evenings as well at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and online for this year.
Wellness Talking Circle ongoing monthly
We presently facilitate a wellness talking circle online for those who wish to check in for support during the month. Once our workshop and program get under way, we will offer the talking circle weekly for more available support for participants. Held on the 3rd Monday evening of every month at 7:00 to 8:00 pm. May 17, 2021, June 21, 2021 and July 19, 2021.
Monthly Morning Meditation Session
LUTEA is facilitating our monthly morning meditation session on the 3rd Saturday of every month at 9:00 am until 10:00 am. Presently the session is online. However, our plans are to open it up for in person attendance once the weather is consistent for outdoor participation. We hold it near our water garden so conducive and for relaxation and for the connection to natural beauty. May 15, 2021, June 19, 2021 and July 17, 2021.
For further information or for any questions, please contact me. I look forward to meeting and sharing.
All are welcome to the circle of healing.
Walli Weyya
Diveena
530-419-4827
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