Dance, Drumming, Song, Ceremony and Celebration are a part of all ancient cultures.
They are the way indigenous peoples around the earth have attuned to the rhythms and cycles of life.
Thirty years ago, a Medicine Man told me the first Dances belonged to the women, and were done in celebration of life.
On March 22, 2014, my community and I lost houses through the Oso, Washington mudslide, a quarter mile at 190mph, under mud and water. An entire mountain, 7 billion cubic feet of mud, broke away and slid across the Oso valley, leveling homes, killing 43 people, and depositing up to 60’ of mud. The slide lasted 3 minutes, and destroyed an area a mile long and a mile wide. Read More
I survived, but during the slide, I was told to be a voice for Mother Earth, to call for right action, to restore the Earth and balance among All Our Relations. I have been sharing this with others by facilitating Earth Constellations wherever people are ready to take up the call to action.
A short while after the devastating mudslide I read something a Cherokee Elder, Dee Smith, had written:
“Whenever you dance, wherever you dance, dance to heal the earth! Dancing is power. Dancing is prayer. Some say that all is dance. Maybe. Now there’s a big dance coming, a dance to heal the earth. If you’re reading this, you’re probably part of it. You take part whenever you do whatever you do to help heal the earth. When you recycle. When you choose to show love, to fight for justice, to bring healing, to bring out what is good in others. When you avoid cruelty and dishonesty and waste. When you are outraged. When you speak out. When you give. When you consider the generations to come. When you protest to the oppressors and encourage those who feel the cutting edge of injustice. And, of course, when you dance. There is a tree that all the prophets see, and whenever you let your love show, you make the flowers grow. Soon this dance will be done in a big way, in the old way, on sacred ground.”
Spirit has given me a new mission . . . And so we will dance.
We’ve already danced in S Africa, and in America. We will dance in Europe.
This Dance is Sacred. It is profound Ceremony. It is a gift of our bodies, in fasting and in prayer, to Mother Earth.
It is a quest, to understand our personal gifts, contributions and service to Mother Earth and All Our Relatives.
Robin Tekwelus Youngblood
THE DANCE INTENTION
The only thing we truly “own” and that we can give in return for the Abundance that Mother Earth gives to us, is our bodies. For that reason, we fast, dance, sing, drum and pray, giving ourselves fully to Spirit and the Tree of Life, in complete focus and devotion.
This Dance is about Restoring the Balance of Life – the Sacred Feminine and Masculine, in Respect, Honor and Healing for Mother Earth and All Our Relations.
It’s important to come with an attitude of humility, and a sincere desire to give of ourselves in sacrifice for all the ways that humans have desecrated the Earth.
We seek forgiveness for our human family; awareness of and connection with All Our Relations, in order to understand how we may better serve them.
The dance is a celebration of Life by honouring the Tree of Life.
In our desire to be supported, we learn that we must give ourselves away.
The Law of the Universe says that “What goes out comes around.”
Therefore, we can only receive as much as we’re willing to give.
As an example, if we want to have a wonderful mate, we must become the partner we want to attract. If we want a strong community, we must be a strong community member. It takes the whole village to create, initiate and implement a strong ceremony that has lasting effects.
Support comes in many forms ~ preparing the land, creating healthy meals, holding space, sharing wisdom, and yes, financial support.
Your financial support is deeply appreciated.
Even if you cannot physically attend a Dance, we welcome your financial support and your prayers.
Thank you for supporting Dance to Heal the Earth for the Good of All to Support All Life!
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Robin Youngblood is Executive Director and a minister of Church of the Earth and everything she offers is in alignment with Church of the Earth’s mission to steward the Earth and care for All Beings.
www.churchoftheearth.org