I'm participating in a year-long workshop on Shamanism and we got this handout in our first class. It is a statement from the Elders of the Hopi Nation in Arizona, I don't have a date for it. I liked what it said and thought I would share. *********************************

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour. Now you must tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living? What are you doing? What are your relationships? Are you in right relation?

Do the children want what they see in you? Where is your water? Know your garden.

Does your life grow corn?

It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open and our heads above the water. See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over! Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we've been waiting for.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2002

Answers

I like what they said too but I'm hung-up on the last line. I wonder what they mean by that? (We are the ones we've been waiting for)...Kirk

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2002

My take on the last line is that rather than waiting for a leader to appear we need to be our own leaders. Rather than putting responsibility for whatever (spiritual growth, stopping the war, saving the environment, etc.) we each need to be responsible for ourselves.

In Wiccan liturgy there is a piece called "The Charge of the Goddess". There is a section which says (roughly paraphrased) If you can't find what you're looking for inside you, you'll never find it out in the world.

That's my 2 cents...

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2002

In many religious traditions there are messianic phophecies and myths. I think thats also true for at least some of the native american traditions too.

Rather than waiting for the messiah to come and "save us" we should be actively engaged in this world, here/now working to divinize it thru our own actions and love, thus finding the messiah within and expressing it without. Thats my take on it.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2002