By: Olivia Cheever, Sunray Meditation Society Council Member
July 24, 2019
The excitement is building for this year’s 35th consecutive Native American Elders’ Gathering at the Sunray Peace Village!
A couple of days ago early in the morning, I was in the sacred Arbor lending support–– watching and enjoying the beauty of the dancers and singers practicing for this Saturday evening’s Healing Celebration!
I was remembering how this ceremony is very old— passed down by her Cherokee (Tsalagi) ancestors to Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, 27th Lineage carrier and Founder and Spiritual Director of the Sunray.
As I drank in the sounds and graceful movements and felt the pulse of the Earth through my feet, I wrote in my morning pages….
“How deeply grateful I am to be in this human body here at this time at the Peace Village!
To my parents for giving me birth and instilling in me values of peacemaking to continue to build on here with like-minded people from all over the world…
To have met Venerable Dhyani back in the ’70’s …
To have stayed in contact these many years and through her continued to learn and meet with so many wonderful people…
To all the Elders who have come and shared at our Peace Village over the years…
To all the Star Children who share with us what they have learned from the Elders…
To be able to witness how Venerable Dhyani’s ancestors’ vision of this Peace Village has come to fruition— thanks to the contribution of so many over the years where we have held Elders Gatherings here at Odali Utugi— Hope Mountain!
To pray, learn, celebrate(!), dance, sing, rattle, and drum––sharing delicious local food together––hearing the birds–– seeing how nature responds!(!) in conversation with Native Wisdom Keepers, scientists, Tibetan Buddhist lamas and each other–– enfolded by such beauty––
To learn how best to live and caretake each other for the benefit of our beloved Mother Earth in these times of transition..
I am amazed already at the beauty of the Arbor even before we bring the evergreens to cover the wooden frames and tie the tobacco ties and complete the many preparations to welcome everyone…
—the vibrant colors and smells of the flowers, the sound and feel of the wind in the trees, the caress of the sun on my cheek, the dragonflies already buzzing around….
The beauty of the Moon Arbor where the watchful Grandmothers will keep vigil over their sacred fire…
The power already emanating from the main Fire from the many prayers shared over the years with offerings of corn meal… even before it is lit by the Fire Keepers at dawn on Friday…
I can’t wait to see what this year’s Elders brings!
May it benefit all beings in all times and places for many years to come!”
We are grateful!”