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| Interesting day with Navaho Medicine Man | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 30 2009, 06:50 PM (1,974 Views) | |
| gary | Dec 30 2009, 06:50 PM Post #1 |
Over 1000 posts
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I seem to be blessed with opportunities to meet and spend private time with some very interesting genuine people. First a week with Swami and now lunch and a couple hours conversation with a Navaho medicine man. I found that after Swami there was a period of what I call "soak" time. For the experience to just soak in. This is where I am again now...in "soak" mode. We sat and shared stories about life and he expressed much of how his people view life. Before I found out I was going to have an audience with him I went and saw the movie Avatar. In the middle of the movie I got the text message that I was invited. Great movie by the way and so much similarities with meeting today. Have been invited back and with a possible photo session after he prays on it. Ok.....soaking  Why the post? Just that there are some great things out there in the world that we can partake in but we have to be free first from all the negativity......So lets stay busy at working on ourselves so we can enjoy and learn some cool stuff.  Edited by gary, Dec 30 2009, 06:51 PM.
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My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" My Web Site: Gary Walters Photography My Blog: http://gawalters.com/blog/ " I started out with nothing and have most of it left " | |
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| Grateful1 | Dec 31 2009, 09:38 AM Post #2 |
Over 100 posts
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Forgive the dated language Gary, but you're a pretty cool dude. Swamis, Navaho Medicine Men, and Gondolas! I think you need to write a book about your journey. I hope you have the opportunity to meet with him again soon. Happy New Year! 
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| gary | Dec 31 2009, 10:24 AM Post #3 |
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LOL....actually I have been: It's right on my signature line: My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" |
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My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" My Web Site: Gary Walters Photography My Blog: http://gawalters.com/blog/ " I started out with nothing and have most of it left " | |
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| Grateful1 | Dec 31 2009, 10:28 AM Post #4 |
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 Um HELLO Grateful 1... probably helps to slow down and read your signature line! I'll have to take a look  Happy New Year Gary! |
| Wherever you go, there you are. | |
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| 2bad | Dec 31 2009, 12:51 PM Post #5 |
Over 1000 posts
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I love hearing about all of your interesting experiences. I believe that if we are open to a variety of beliefs, we can only benefit from that. I identify as primarily Christian, but feel there is much to be gained from so many sources. And it seems to me that we are able to draw these to us when we are open to them and at peace. You are very fortunate.
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| gary | Dec 31 2009, 01:08 PM Post #6 |
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I am not well versed in any religion really but sit back and watch and listen to many. I have been fortunate to have been with indigenous peoples in my country USA , Peru, Australia, Haiti, Africa and peoples in many developing countries as well. From CEOs of fortune 500 companies to individuals who live in a boxes or carved out concrete holes in a wall to no hole at all and just the gutters of the streets. It seems that although the first chapter in many of their books and chapters in between may vary...the last chapters in most are not too far apart. Maybe the names of the characters are different but the main character many times is the same but called many names. I have also in my opinion been fortunate to be in the not so welcome company up close and personal (not by choice) with ones who practice the other side...the black side of all this that has had a profound effect on my life and views of it. So I don't have a name or a specific building I go to speak to who I believe in and I call who I believe in by different names at times. So I guess my "church" is where ever my feet happen to be at the moment I need it .......which is often. Edited by gary, Dec 31 2009, 01:14 PM.
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My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" My Web Site: Gary Walters Photography My Blog: http://gawalters.com/blog/ " I started out with nothing and have most of it left " | |
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| gary | Dec 31 2009, 01:46 PM Post #7 |
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I'm not a big person on cliches but many do have merit. "When the student is ready the teacher will appear". ....just took me a hell of a long time to get ready Edited by gary, Dec 31 2009, 01:46 PM.
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My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" My Web Site: Gary Walters Photography My Blog: http://gawalters.com/blog/ " I started out with nothing and have most of it left " | |
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| Wornout | Jan 2 2010, 07:26 AM Post #8 |
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I would really like to see the pics, if he agrees to it. ...And how in the heck does one run across a Navajo medicine man in your neck of the woods? |
| Go sell crazy somewhere else. We're all stocked up here. | |
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| eila | Jan 3 2010, 05:29 PM Post #9 |
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Very cool, gary. You're meeting so many interesting teachers. I hope you get to do the shoot. eila |
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| Frankie | Jan 3 2010, 07:07 PM Post #10 |
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Gary - I too study with Native peoples. I start my training in two days. I am so excited. The Anishnabe only teach when snow covers Mother Earth, because then she is sleeping. So enjoy the spiritual beliefs. I certainly do. I believe there are religious people and spiritual people. Religious people believe in hell after death, we spiritual ones have already been there. |
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| gary | Jan 3 2010, 09:02 PM Post #11 |
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Hi Frankie Enjoy your teachings. You have already seen where they all connect themselves and all things to the earth. I mean where else can all things come from that we use in our lives. If you haven't already go see the movie Avatar. |
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My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" My Web Site: Gary Walters Photography My Blog: http://gawalters.com/blog/ " I started out with nothing and have most of it left " | |
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| oneflewover | Jan 3 2010, 11:42 PM Post #12 |
Over 1000 posts
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Avatar was such a great movie and yes Gary, I loved seeing the message of how we are all linked and connected together with "all things to the earth." The Twelve Great Paths of the Moon A long time ago, when Father Sky took Mother Earth in his arms and mated with her, the Moon was born. As it grew bigger and bigger out there among the basket of stars, the Sun Dogs took turns biting it. Snap, snap, they went, until the moon was crescent shaped. The ragged little Moon continued to shine brightly in the sky. Spirit Walker, who guided all the Two-Legged and Four-Legged Creatures at this time, worried about the Moon. She told all the creatures to dance around the plaza, men with Deer, women with Corn, children with Turtles. On the Night When Red Leaves Fell, the creatures looked up. The Moon was growing bigger! It grew and grew until it had a full, happy face. But then the Sun Dogs chewed on it again and whittle it down until it was crescent shaped again. From then on, the Two-Legged Creatures and the Four-Legged Creatures got used to the growing and the dying of the Moon. They got used to the Sun Dogs chewing on it and Father Sun casting a black shadow on it's round face every once in a while. All the creatures got together and decided to give each of these moons a name, which are today, as they were then: -January, Man Moon: Soenpana -February, Wind Big Moon: Walapana -March, Ash Moon: Naxopana -April, Planting Moon: Kapana -May, Corn Plating Moon: Iakapana -June, Corn Tassel Coming Out Moon: Kapnakoyapana -July, Sun House Moon: Tultopana -August, Lake Moon: Paw'epana -September, Corn Ripe Moon: Iakowapana -October, Leaves Falling Moon: Olulpana -November, Corn Depositing Moon: Iatayaepana -December, Night Fire Moon: Nuupapana January Moon Meditation: January's great path of the moon is solitude. Each day is part of an infinite puzzle, interlocked with all the preceding days and the ones that follow. You will never solve the infinite puzzle until you learn to let go of fear. In letting go of fear, the puzzle fits together; a million separate pieces, yet finally only one--the journey of experience. Alone. Look for patterns. Why do you take the same road to work every day? Is there another way to get where you are going? Do you have to go at all? Is a day of rest more important than doing what's expected of you? Do you care what others think? When days are short, memory is long. Remember how rain on pavement smells? Fresh earth, turned over with a shovel? Have you forgotten the slick, peeled look of earthworms? The nakedness of baby birds? Think spring, and you will overcome the dark heart of winter. It's up to you. Take stock of your life now, while the earth around you sleeps. A new year means a new beginning; a new beginning is an opportunity to bury old mistakes. You can't change a thing through regret, you can only wear yourself out. Within you likes all the courage you need. Solitude opens all the closed doors, even those nailed shut. (Taken from "Dancing Moons" by Nancy Wood) |
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ~Alis volat propriis | |
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| gary | Jan 4 2010, 12:04 AM Post #13 |
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I like that very much...Thanks oneflewover. i may have already shared with you one of my favorite writings and one i try and strive to: The Invitation Oriah Mountain Dreamer Canadian Teacher and Author It doesn't interest me what you do for a living I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dreams for the adventure of being alive. It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon... I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain mine or your own without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy mine or your own if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful be realistic to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure yours and mine and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes." It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children. It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back. It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments. Edited by gary, Jan 4 2010, 12:08 AM.
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My Book: "That Soul Belongs To Me" My Web Site: Gary Walters Photography My Blog: http://gawalters.com/blog/ " I started out with nothing and have most of it left " | |
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| oneflewover | Jan 4 2010, 12:22 AM Post #14 |
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That is a staple in my collection of goodies Gary and thanks for re-sharing that cause I never tire of reading it! I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments. Is that not the ultimate question to pose to someone? Are you content with yourself in your quiet solitude? And to be able to answer yes, ahhhhh....is where our work on ourselves is revealed. I am almost there...."almost"......
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ~Alis volat propriis | |
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| misty4me | Jan 5 2010, 10:08 AM Post #15 |
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Well Gary -  I see your journey and adventure continues - what do you hear from Dharmakeerti? A Navaho Medicine Man? Wow. Once again I am reminded of what Dharmakeerti said about the area where you live - there being a river of deep spirituality that is there - and those who go seeking it with pure intentions will find it. So it seems you have done just that  - looking forward to reading more of your adventures - and again thanks for posting and sharing them with the forum. m4m |
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