part 1: Orania to Ventnor Botanic gardens
The Wihtwara Rainbow Chronicles part I
Tunkashila, Wakan Tanka, Great Spirit are all names given to ‘The Spirit That Moves Through All Things’. To me, that meaning is a given. We are co-creators. The Spirit is within and without. Wōdan, the Æll Fæder holds that same energy within and without.
The melding of our two ancient spiritualties seems so natural now it has happened. Because they were always here on the island. They never left. The Wihtwara ancestors travel along their ancient pathways, and the Native American ancestor spirits have joined them in present time because the prophecy of the Rainbow tribe will become manifest and grow.
Many years ago, now, and only just after the vision was given to me at the Longstone, (the massacre of my people was too horrific to carry, I let it go), a great energy came to meet me, overwhelm me with an intensity that blinkered me from much else. Native American spirituality hurtled across our tiny island and took many with it. I learnt in fast-track time.
I was blessed and gifted with travel to Native America, learnt first hand from the elders and teachers of the Sisseton Dakota Sioux. Chuck Derby Running Elk, keeper of the sacred pipestone Quarries became my teacher, Gloria Hazell Derby, my dear friend. I returned to the island and taught Native wisdom to pupils at my school, where I was the resident Art teacher for over a decade. Little Turtle Island grew and became part of the curriculum teachings. Chuck and Gloria came over to support and work and, to offer their wisdom to the islanders as a whole. They were married at the Longstone in a combined ceremony with the sacred Pipe and Wihtwara wisdom. The circles of people stretched twice around the Longstone.
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I performed my very first role as ceremonial leader that day. It was in 1998. Since then, I have travelled the world as a ceremonial leader in many countries, inaugurating stone circles and bringing divided peoples together in Peace and prayer. It was a huge sacrifice leaving my family, ending my career. I jumped off the cliff and prayed that I would fly!! There were bumps to be sure. But I would not have traded a single moment.
ORANIA
The Teaching and Healing weekend at Landguard Manor happened in 2006. And now, at this time of writing, a sudden realisation has swept over me. Chuck and Gloria came over from America to offer native teachings along with our island ancestral wisdoms. My tree essences had accumulated, and I was able offer insights I now know come from Wihtflæd. So, now in this present time, we are squaring the circle again!!
Orania was privately organised, no buffer of sponsorship or deals with ferries (seriously!!!), networking began in early spring for an early Autumnal meeting. Enough time? That is the conundrum of the island. So much else is going on, during any given weekend, Orania flopped. There were no visitors, just a few islanders, and we supported ourselves by going to each other’s workshops.
Yet a miracle was created out of that void, and stays with me to this day. We sat around a table talking, when the subject of Ventnor Botanic gardens came up. We all shared the ‘ghost stories’. Yet it became a focus for Chuck, who had been given a truth in sweat lodge back home in Pipestone, that the island was sacred with powerful energies. But a dark energy was prevalent.
Before Ventnor Botanic gardens was created, the whole site was a T.B. hospital from Victorian times. Many deaths occurred. My own father, who contracted T.B. spent time there after the war. Before then there were stories of smugglers and slave ships!
A plan became concrete. We would gather as a group. I contacted Simon Goodenough, the curator and we were allowed into the gardens for an early morning for ceremony. To be in the gardens at dawn is magical. To have Chuck Derby and Gloria both offering the Chanupa to Spirit guiding us all in offering release for trapped and ancient spirits, who would want to move on. From the ceremony, we each moved on to work in a meditation circle, drum and chant, each holding a light for spirits to move up, to reach peace. I was shown horrific images that centred on the tunnel. This area was so thick and heavy, it had not been tended to for a very long time. I stayed until we grouped to end the session. Thanking spirit. It felt a tremendous surge of release.
A week after this, that tunnel was completely cleared of undergrowth for the first time in years. The flow of energy was so palpable, and you could even see through to the sea for the first time.
The power of prayer is manifest! |
The focus of Wihtwarians today is the same: If we can release those spirits trapped from the massacre (time has no relevance here!) Those who remain choose to walk with us, and what a joy that is!
Bletsunga Beorhte
Jan& Mitch xx
