Kevin's Watch

Furls Fire wrote:Shadow has been roaming around saying one word over and over again today... "unbelievable". I told him I was going to start calling him the "Unbeliever" if he didn't stop it..LOL

Furls Fire wrote:

duchess of malfi wrote:Give him a big hug for me, please!

(I'm happy he has people there to care about him, though. Sometimes that can make all of the difference in the world )

there is also love in the world

duchess wrote:"there is also love in the world"

LITTLE HOLLOW BONES

The great holy man, Black Elk, said, “I cured with the power that came through me. Of course it was not I who cured. It was the power from the outer world, and the visions and ceremonies had only made me like a hole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.”

As Fools Crow and I discussed the matter of how a person serves the Higher Powers, I asked, “Do you agree with Black Elk that the medicine person is a hole that Wakan-Tanka and the Helpers work through to help people?”

“We [Black Elk and he] talked about this several times. We agreed that the Higher Powers had taught us this same thing. We are just holes. But as I have used hollow bones for curing, I have decided that it is better to think of medicine people as little hollow bones.”

“All medicine persons are hollow bones that Wakan-Tanka, Tunkashila, and the Helpers work through?”

“In and through. The power comes to us first to make us what we should be, and then flows through us and out to others.”

I told him that Pueblo medicine men thought of themselves as tubes, and that I had been told by them how this worked out in their lives. I said it had captured my interest fully to hear him using this same terminology, and wondered whether, in his becoming a hollow bone, he went through the same four stages as they did – first calling in Wakan-Tanka to rid themselves of everything about them that will impede Him in any way – such as doubt, questions or reluctance; then recognizing themselves as a clean tube ready to be filled with hope and possibilities and anxious to be filled with power; then in the third stage experiencing the power as it comes surging into them; and finally giving the power away to others in the knowledge that, as they are emptied out, the Higher Powers will keep filling them with even greater power to be given away. Although I did not say so, I wondered as I told him this whether it was possible that here on the Great Plains I would find the same concept. If Fools Crow knew and practiced this, it would be another proof of both our convictions that, since we know and worship the same God, it is natural to assume that He teaches all those who love Him the same basic lessons.

[The next couple pages describe Fools Crow praying and purifying himself. Then:]

“First I thought about all of the stumbling blocks about me that can get in Wakan-Tanka’s and the Helper’s way when I want them to work in and through me. Then I asked them to remove these things so that I am a clean bone. They did this, and as I felt the obstacles coming out I grabbed them and threw them away. When all of this was done I felt fresh and clean. I saw myself as a hollow bone that is all shiny on the inside and empty. I looked around inside myself to see if any obstacles or junk were left, and there were none. I knew then that I was ready to serve Wakan-Tanka well, and I held up my hands to offer my thanksgiving and to tell Him how happy I was. Immediately, I could feel the power begin to come into me, and I reached up to help it. It was wonderful, and my energy grew until I was completely filled with power. Before long I though I would explode! Then I saw people of all races all around me, and I gave the power away to them. All of them were very grateful, and it made me feel good to share in this giving. As I emptied myself out, I could feel more power coming into me, and it was wonderful!” He watched me carefully to see what my response would be. “That is how I become a little hollow tube,” he said.

I, of course, was delighted, and sat back to draw a deep breath, for it seemed like I had forgotten to breathe during the entire rite. Finally, I asked, “And when you do this in preparation to cure or heal-?”

He did not allow me to finish the question. “Then,” he said, “instead of many people, I see just the one I am treating. But when I am alone here I do it to get ready to serve all people – red, black, white, brown and yellow.”

“Can anyone become a little hollow bone for Wakan-Tanka to work in and through?” I asked.

“Perhaps not a holy or medicine person, because we are called to that. But everyone can become a bone to serve others.”