Grandfather
and Young Owl stood overlooking the canyon, their arms resting on the
wooden railing.
"You know", Grandfather said, "that in Chumash legend, each of the four
seasons has a unique set of associations." He described the four
quadrants, sketching with his hand in the air as he did:
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North
Winter / Night
White
Eagle: Strength and Pride
Bear: Earth Unity, Humility
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|
West
Fall / Evening
Red
Dolphin: Connection, Friendship
Raven: The Messenger
|
|
East
Spring / Morning
Yellow
Hawk: Recovery, Courage
Deer: Life's Abundance
|
|
South
Summer / Afternoon
Blue
Owl: Wisdom, Intelligence
Snake: Sensitivity to Earth
|
|
"The Chumash always believed that Nature is sacred and understood
evolution long before Darwin explained it to the White Man, who is
still reluctant to understand his place. They would be wise to
understand the three principles by which we have lived in harmony with
all life on Earth since we first emerged from the Sky and the Earth and
the Water:
- The Principle of Limitation: The understanding that we are
all limited, all capable in different ways, and all equal, and that we
depend on and are responsible for each other, that without Community we are nothing.
- The Principle of Moderation: The understanding that we must
take only what we need from the land and the ocean, and give back as
much as we take, and waste nothing, and live according to Nature's time.
- The Principle of Compensation: The understanding that we
must give without expecting in return, and be kind, and recognize that
compensation comes in many forms."
"These are simple lessons. The Winter is our time of renewal. It is a time of contemplation,
rest, and gathering strength for the ordeals that still lie ahead of
us. The White Man's culture of occupation and scarcity is relentless
and threatens everything. Even those that understand this cannot
understand why we don't join them in their fight to defeat this
culture. But no one can save them from themselves, Young Owl. Our task
is to hold up a mirror to them, and let them see the madness in their
own lives. Our task is to show them, just in case they want to learn, a
better way to live. These Newcomers will defeat themselves, and then, just as
after the great flood before our time, those who remain will learn
again, freed from occupation and scarcity, to live in Nature's time.
For us, there is only the waiting."
Dear friends, may this season be a time of renewal and contemplation
and peace for you, a time of sharing, and a time of gathering strength
for the struggles ahead.
I'll be back on Boxing Day.
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MADE IN CANADA
trust your
instincts 
