on august 12 2009
HOPE community garden
rocked us and cradled us
as we let the stories fly
the drums beat
the paint brushes blend
and the hearts meet
at four o'clock the circle began to form
the drums were the first to arrive
the alter in the center
by the fire was second
the food was third
the technical staff were fourth
the dogs and children were fifth
home sweet home
people in parks
this is were we do business
community building
learning teaching eating meeting weaving threading listening caring sharing hearing playing swinging gardening and being heard
gentle and sweet
roaring and celebrating what is
precious in this world
supported by the plant beings
called together by the ancestors
we were 50 people strong
at least and growing
people joining us
the movement of a park
the safety of a circle
the call of the drum
downtown torontothe rainbow of faces
the union of ages
the four colours represented
shades and tones in every colour
the four directions represented
how many languages
the universal languages of art and music
the universal language of the circle and stone
woven together by stories
supported in the web of spider
the medicine of a park
has the power to heal a city
trees plants people animals united in green and free to sit on a bench and dream
blue sky over head and clouds telling about the things they have seen
This was the first time I felt the confidence to smudge!
Can you believe it?
The circle was so large and here I was smudging the entire bunch!
Never before had I smudged at a circle.In this I was supported by ancestors and spirits.
They suggested I do it.
and I did it.
and it was good.
what a wonderful idea.
I was safe and it made us safe.
bound us together and cleared the space for magic.
Everyone had the floor.All voices were heard.
I was impressed.
We went around the entire circle
and we were all present.
we listened to each other.
we played together.
we told each other our secrets.
this took a year.
We have been weaving a web
and building a community and making a safe space for stories to blossom.
and a place for people to meet.
The question we ask is,
"What is your connection land?"
This circle in the park answers this question in a bold and clear way.
this is our home.
We are a intricate part in all ecosystems. This is our sacred family.
We are trees. We are plants.
We are soil. We are bugs.
We are land.
We are reflected in all.
Our bones are the land.
our water is pulled on by the moon. our breath sounds like the crashing waves and whispering wind in leaves.
that's why we like to sit in parks
and garden together.
that's why we long for the great outdoors.
That's why we want to share stories about the lands we come from.
we are the land
we are the stars
this makes us cosmic beings.
this makes us nature.
this means we are NOT money making wage slaves tax paying
planet stomping suit wearing zombies
we are life
we are 14 billion years of evolution
we are the awakened universe
we are self reflective consciousness
web at dawn
came upon a web that was made during the drumming and the painting
signs of spider are alive everywhere
she calls to me
loud are clear
building her web on my bike
sliding down the wall behind me
making her webs in the corners I sweep. I leave her home and feel safe.
thank you hope garden
thank you friends
the feeling in the morning was one of new clear energy
love warmth creativity
the best the two legged beings have to offer
go to the parks
bring a drum
bring a blanket
make the parks safe for creation and fun
this is our home
this is our place of business
hold a circle
pass a stone
and have some fun
thank you for tolerating my erratic period and punctuation!
