The trip to Georgia

Our family, being part Irish and part Cherokee Indian, has been very fotunate to be invited to be a part of a pretty big event coming up in the world and as a result of it was invited to a land blessing ceremony this weekend in Dalton, Georgia. My Mom, two of my aunts and I drove down early Friday morning for the event not really sure exactly what was going to take place. We arrived Friday afternoon and checked out the town and the historic downtown. Met up with other family members who were also there for the event and then settled in for the night as we knew the next day would be a long one. The area was beautiful! Mountains everywhere reflecting off of lakes and ponds. The trees were just starting to change colors and they were experiencing their first cold spell so it was a perfect fall day. We drove up to the area around 9:30 that morning after a brief meeting at our hotel with Daphne (our hostess with the mostest LOL). We got on to the property just before 10:00 and they immediately started setting everything up so we just stood there in wonder. First the elder drew out a circle on the ground in tobacco which we were not to cross over. He left an opening on the east and that was the only way anyone was to enter or leave. A large group of buzzards had gathered overhead. Something the Indians see as evil. One of them laughed and said but not for long. They pulled out schofars these were horns of various sizes made from animal horns and shells. Starting in the east we turned as they blew the horn in each direction and then let out a warcry. This was to frighten away all evil. They said that it confuses evil into believing that it is the final trumpet of the end times and they become scared and leave. Sure enough...the buzzards were gone. After this was done and everything was properly set out the "smudging" began. This is something I have seen done in a lot of religions. They take a bundle of sage and light it, then blow it out leaving it smoldering and smoking they place it in a bowl. Then they come to each person and fan the smoke on you with a feather as they pray. This is a cleansing ritual to purify before you step into the circle. Once we had been properly smudged we entered. One of the Indian men there had brought a dog and I had noticed the dog looking up and that they were looking at something. Later I found out that they are considered the "watchers" and that there were two eagles flyng over head which is considered a very good sign. Sounds were sang in the Cherokee dialect with animal skin drums and flutes it was really beautiful and amazing to watch. Looking around the group there were all sorts of people from all different backgrounds. Jewish, Indian, Catholic, Protestant and many more. There were 32 of us there in total. And throughout the ceremony I kept noticing things pulled from different religions. We took communion as in most churchs but buried the leftover sacraments to return them to the ground. Did more ceremonial songs and in the end passed a ceremonial peace pipe. It was a beautiful pipe with a rock turtle on the bottom just large enough to cover my hand with a long stem coming upward. It was never to be without someones left hand holding the base. You passed it from your left hand to the next persons then spun the stem from them to you. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures during certain parts of the ceremony and this was one of those parts. (Despite popular belief it was only tobacco. LOL) And was a very important part of their ceremony and beliefs as smoking with someone sealed the deal. There was even a "witness stone" there. This was a rock, covered with nicks and scratches, from each of the times it had been used to witness a contract being made this way. It is said that if you were to break your contract the rocks would cry out to testify against you. After a final closing prayer we all left to have a late lunch together. It was so interesting to sit and speak with them. They had so many great stories to tell and once again reinforced my belief that all religions are connected and their "Schula" (evening star) is our "God". He told the story about how they were once only one tribe until they tried to build a ladder to the Creator and he got angry and knocked it down scattering them everywhere and giving them different languages. Sound familiar? Kind of like the Tower of Babel story from Christianity? See what I mean? Religion has always interested me. But also irritated me that people are so closed minded to believe that they are the only ones who are right. If only they would watch, listen and experience something else they would discover we are all talking about the same thing. It was such a great weekend and I really felt honored to have been able to be a part of something like this. There are a few pics up in my albums for you to check out. I am very anxious to see what leads from this....Stay tuned...