Rattling the Bones

Sacredness is often mistaken for politeness, kindness and goodness.    I find these days, every time the topic is brought up it’s as a mask used to express Christian and New Age dogma. People use the word “sacredness” to imply anything and everything that they judge as “proper behaviour, proper attitude, proper choice and proper exchange.” When you leave people to understand “words” through definitions, you’re often left with a medley of perspectives; which don’t have much substance.   I remember watching my grandparents do cross-word puzzles every Sunday morning as I was growing up.   It seemed to be a popular activity amongst the old folks in the 1970’s.   Every time I gave it a try I always gave up because it seemed I lacked the vocabulary.   Until one day, my grandfather assisted me with one of the puzzles and said:   “It’s not about vocabulary: It’s about experience.”   Like many of the First Nation elders who still speak thei...

Big move.  We've recently decided to move our Facebook site to idreamer.ning.com We'd love to see most of your there... Come and read our latest blog entry and discuss it along with us! Lisa F. Tardiff

Last week I had a dentist appointment.  During the examination, the dentist looked at my X-Rays and noticed a considerable jaw deviation that wasn’t there six months ago.  As we brainstormed reasons why this would suddenly occur, he rushed to his office to get a book of anatomy.  What was quite interesting was how this book spoke of “dentistry” through time.  It seems the humans of yesterday were anatomically different in comparison to the people of today.  Of course what is anatomically different often has an influence on what is socially, culturally and spiritually different.  Dr. D. couldn’t explain why I suddenly had a jaw deviation but as he gave me exercises to do for the next few months, he did say: “… we don’t ever think of showing our children how to chew properly; sleep or dream; but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a proper way of doing it.”   When I lecture on Indigenous Dreaming I always share pieces of my personal story.   I...

I spent the afternoon in Montreal.   G was looking for shoes and I was the reluctant tag-along.   Anyone who has been to Montreal knows how busy it can get especially during the week.   Traffic is a constant in the city and if you’re trying to find parking, you better be prepared for a few annoying spins around a maze of one ways.   Some of us who believe in Spirit usually do a few prayers before leaving home.   Quick parking is usually a confirmation that Spirit is on our side… J G and I usually park near the Cathedral Marie Reine du Monde when we want to go walking in centre town.   It’s a bit of a stroll to reach Ste-Catherine Street, the main shopping strip; but the “Sacred Site vibe” I’ve always gotten from the Cathedral and its surrounding areas is well worth it.   In Shamanism, a Sacred Site is often another word for a cemetery.   For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been able to pin point a burial ground just by the impre...