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Some
Universal Teachings
about the Gatherings
The Centre of the World
Then I was
standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round
about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I
stood there I saw more than I can tell and understood more than I
saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in
the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together
like one being . . . And I say the sacred hoop of my people was one
of the many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as
starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter
all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy . . .
But anywhere is the center of the world.
-BLACK ELK,
OGLALA SIOUX, 1863-1950
The Gathering is a traditional gathering of tribes to bring the vision of Black
Elk into fruition. (see the article 'Circles,
Cycles, Spirals and Spheres'
on my web site.)
As the above extract from the account of Black Elk's vision indicates,
when we are centred and in balance with our spirit, emotions, body, and
mind we are at the centre of the world and we are seeing in a sacred
manner. This is when we see the connectedness, oneness, and interdependent
(not independent) nature of life. As Eckhart Tolle' says there is only
one life and everything we see that appears separate are just the myriad
of forms that life can manifest, of which there is no limit. All forms
are impermanent and so come and go, but the eternal life that animates
all forms is never changing.
So if we are going to live a good life in harmony with 'All Our
Relations' (see 'Mitakuye Oyasin')
and in a sacred manner we must keep these things in
mind; be aware of the eternal Spirit, and follow it's guidance. The
material world of work, money and all manner of form are impermanent and
are of secondary importance. When we have a good relationship with
Spirit, both the personal God, Great Spirit or whatever you call it; and
the impersonal Great Mystery aspect of God, then all the other aspects
of our life will fall into harmony.
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Three
Stages of Living
The first and most important aspect of living with the physical body is
for the whole community or tribe to put equal effort into the 'Hunting
and Gathering'.
This is preparing, getting, building all manner
of food, fire wood and shelter; that is, everything that is needed
physically. Here we find ourselves tested by Great Spirit to see if we
are truly committed to this act of life, if we are dedicated to Spirit
or if we think it all too much of a hassle and interference with job,
school, money and the impermanent little things of form.
Only when everything is prepared and ready can we begin the second stage
of performing the 'Ceremony'.
This is
usually guided or performed by the Shaman or person who has the
strongest connection to Spirit. When this is done properly everyone will
feel the awesomeness and sacredness of life as it is lived through every
aspect, all the things that have been hunted and gathered will be as if
they were glowing with the sacred blessings of Great Spirit, God or
whatever. The Shelter and fire at the centre will be the sacred place,
the church for all to commune with Spirit.
When the ceremony is fully completed only then does every one join in
the grand finale of the 'Song and Dance'.
If all the previous stages have been done by all to the best of each
one's ability, the song and dance will be in perfect harmony with 'All
Our Relations' and the experience for all will be unspeakable and
indescribably blissful, but if anything is left out or done half heartedly,
the song and dance can turn to disaster; and that can be individually or
as a whole group. For example one person sits back and lets everyone
else do all the hunting and gathering and is in their own little mind
during the ceremony. When the time comes for the song and dance everyone
would have a marvellous time except the one who knows not why, but just
doesn't enjoy any part of the experience of life; all manner of things
seem to go wrong for them.
Yours
in Spirit
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The Vision of
Spiritual Unity of the Tribes (S.U.T.)
To
bring to the people medicine through ceremony to preserve and in some cases
re-teach elements of the old ways of living. To enable the vision of Black Elk
which was for the reunification of all peoples, all colours, all religions, all
classes. To work towards the sacred unity of all.
Black
Elk Lakota Holy Man
Black
Elk's Final Prayer
This
prayer embodies the message of S.U.T.
With tears running, O Great Spirit, Great Spirit
my Grandfather with running tears I must say now that the tree has never
bloomed. A pitiful old man, you see me here, and I have fallen away and have
done nothing. Here at the center of the world, when you took me when I was young
and taught me; here, old, I stand, and the tree is withered, Grandfather, my
Grandfather. Again, and maybe the last time on this earth, I recall the great
vision you sent me. It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still
lives. Nourish it then, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds.
Hear me, not for myself, but for my people.
I am old. Hear me that they may once more go back
into the sacred hoop and find the good red road, the shielding tree.
from Black Elk Speaks by John
Niehardt
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The History of the Gatherings
The Beginning
In 1986
Grandmother IronEagle had a vision in which to
help fulfil the vision of Black Elk. That was to see the unification of the four
coloured races of the world. To
this end she enlisted the help of Jim Walton, Tlingit elder and Wolf Clan Chief.
Jim went between the many medicine people seeking permission to hold a
gathering of Medicine people to help with a problem
being experienced in Grandmother's village.
The youth of
the village were leaving the old ways, showing less respect for the elders and
being drawn to the cities. This was
having a devastating effect on
their spiritual, moral and physical health. Grandmother hoped that the medicine
people would be able to help the
youth and the village. However it
came to Jim's attention that this problem was not limited to a few villages but
was a world-wide phenomenon. He
asked the medicine people if all people could share these gatherings and that
these gatherings be taken all over Turtle Island (North America).
These
gatherings started in 1989 on the Pasqua Reservation where the first two were
held. The third was held on the Nambe Reservation in New Mexico in 1991.
These gatherings were coordinated by a small group of Elders and Medicine
people: Jim Walton, Ernest Mirabal, Harvey Iron Eagle and Ben Rhodd. At
the next gathering (Tanacross, Alaska, 1992) a group of these elders agreed to
ask Don O'Connor to take the gatherings to Australia. To enable this Spiritual
Unity of the Tribes Incorporated Association was formed.
Spiritual
Unity of the Tribes
Easter
1999 saw the first Spiritual Unity of the Tribes Gathering held on Don and Sue's
property 'Dja Willam' near Daylesford Victoria. The picture below was taken
after the Closing Ceremony.
After
that there were the following SUT gatherings: The second at
Hatfield, NSW in November 1999; the third at Lake Mungo, Easter
2000. The fourth gathering was held at Menindee Mission, NSW in
September 2000. The fifth at Weldborough, Tasmania, January 2001
and the sixth at Wood Wood, Victoria, Easter 2002. The seventh
was at Daylesford, Victoria, March 2005; the eighth at Menindee,
NSW Nov.2005; the ninth at the Coorong March 2006; and the tenth
also at the Coorong March 2007. The eleventh was at Kangaroo
Island, S.A. Sept.2007; and just finished was the twelfth again
back at Daylesford April 2010. Announced at the closing of this
was gathering was the thirteenth gathering to be held again at
Menindee Mission; as Auntie Beryl Carmichael is keen to bring
health, help and healing to her people and her traditional land.
Honouring
of Elders and Red Blanket Gatherings
Between
Wood Wood and the second Daylesford gathering SUT went into legal
hibernation; as a result Rick and Josie, who wanted to run an SUT
gathering, ran their own in 2004 and called it the 'Honouring of
Elders Gathering. Raven attended this gathering and was so
impressed by it, and the gift of a blanket there, that she and
Todd decided to run a gathering on Bruney Island in Tasmania. In
February 2006 the almighty Red Blanket Gathering was born. Again
inspired by the awesomeness of that gathering Catherine and
Michael decided to have a similar Red Blanket Gathering at Bunya
Mountain in Queensland. In Feb. 2007 this gathering saw members
from many Aboriginal tribes rebirth their old tradition of
gathering when the Bunya nut are falling. Many overseas visitors
from other indigenous nations attended including Jim Medicine
Tree, who bought with him the Black Thunder Pipe he carries. This
pipe was demonstrated as a successful and powerful tool to ask
Spirit to bring rain; every time he took it from his bundle it
rained, and as I travelled back to Victoria it rained heavily the
whole way until I reached the Murray River area; the water here
is much abused and taken for granted so I believe there were more
lessons and hardships for the people of this area.
Yorta
Yorta Gatherings
In
March 2008 Auntie Rochelle Patten called for an SUT gathering at
the Yorta Yorta Nation's property Yielima, however SUT pulled out
their support and many gathering regulars and SUT members rallied
to help Auntie make her first gathering happen and so the Yorta
Yorta Gatherings were born. Auntie Rochelle has had two
gatherings since in March 2009 and March 2010, however Auntie has
indicated that it is unlikely that she will run another gathering
at Yielima as she is gearing up for the next stage of her journey
of life; travelling and spreading her wisdom and knowledge
further a field.
Regular
and powerful supporters from the USA
Some
of the regulars who have been closely watching all of these
gatherings and who deserve a special mention are: Maynard and
Jacky Eakan from Alaska and Grandfather Ernest Mirabal from New
Mexico. My love and gratitude to you is immeasurable.
Yours
in Spirit
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Things you need
to know
for attending Gatherings
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There are no spectators at a gathering; we are all participants sharing who we are and what we can offer, so join in. Be present in the moment; the past is dust and
the future is being written with our awareness of everything and our actions in the now.
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There will be one communal meal each day, either lunch or an evening meal. You need to bring all your own food for other meals and snacks.
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Bring all of your own drinking and cooking water.
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Bring food to donate to the kitchen for the communal meals, and some extra sundries (such as bread, milk coffee, tea, sugar and water) if you would like to donate to the Elders kitchen.
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Bring all your own crockery and cutlery, camping and sleeping gear, toilet paper is always handy too.
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There will hopefully be a compost bin for food scraps only.
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All rubbish that you bring with you we ask that you take back with you. The land is sacred land and we don’t want to see any rubbish or cigarette butts around; if you see any pick it up and dispose of it properly.
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There will be a roster for firekeeper to attend the Sacred Fire; don’t forget to put your name down and make sure you honour your commitment.
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There will be a roster for helping in the kitchen and cleaning up. This is just as much a sacred job as any, so please put your name down and honour the commitment. Sharing everything - jobs (Hunting and gathering), stories (Ceremony), and joy (Song and Dance) - is what community is all about.
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We ask that you keep noise to minimum to respect Elders, children and whatever is going on in a sacred manner.
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All Ceremonial areas and the kitchens are smoke free zones. Please take all your butts home (birds use butts to line their nests, and the nicotine kills their babies).
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In addition to the auction there will be a raffle with some pretty awesome prizes. Don’t forget to bring that something special for the auction.
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Cameras and other recording devices are not to be used at the Sacred Fire or Inipi except after the fire has been extinguished. In respect people should be asked if it is OK to take their picture.
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Nudity is inappropriate at gatherings. Talk to Sitting Owl if you want to know why.
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Please, no pets at the
gathering, however if this is a problem talk to Sitting Owl.
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Gatherings around a sacred fire are drug and alcohol free events.
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It would much appreciated if possible for people to bring any extra
food, blankets eating utensils, or what ever for Elders and communal
meals. Also any shade cloth hessian or any shade material for the
arbour.
I look forward to seeing you all at the next gathering and sharing some sacred time together. If you have any questions; about the
gatherings; what spiritual gatherings are about; or any other concerns feel free to
ask.
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