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THE VISION
I had a vision, and in my vision I was standing in an open field, full of much green and natural beauty. At this place there flowed a winding river, and this river was called the "River of Life".... Crossing the river was a narrow bridge, and on the other side, at river’s edge, stood a huge tree, birch I think. From seemingly nowhere, I heard a voice say, "you will cross this river many times, and each time you cross represents Body, Mind, and Spirit growth and victory".... In the blink of an eye, I was transformed from the field into a darkly lite hogan. I heard a voice, but could see no one. Then, out of the darkness, appeared a man, short in stature. I asked where was I, and why was I here. He pointed to the east and told me to walk in that direction stating that there would be people there I would know. As I walked through the darkness it seemed as if there were no end. Then I was transformed into the center of a different hogan. All around me sat men, short in stature, each displaying long grey beards. I remarked that a man told me to come this way and I ended up here. That the man told me that I would meet people that I knew, but I know no one that I see.
Without reason, the men began to call me by name, saying, " remember me, don’t you remember me". I looked, and looked again, but recognized no one. I said that I was sorry, but I did not know or recognize anyone. Then one of the men called me by name and said, "remember me, I am your dream of past". We began talking to one another and as he spoke he placed me in remembrance of a wonderful dream, a goal, a hope of past. The more he spoke, the more vivid the dream became in mind’s eye. The more vivid the dream, the younger this once old man transformed right before my very eyes. When the dream became clear, I and the once old man became one. He became a child, and that childlike spirit was a reflection of me. We were full of life, innocent excitement, overwhelmed with zeal and enthusiasm . I was full with the dream because I was the dream....
After I became the dream, absent of doubt or obstacle, then, and only then, did all of the other old men approach me. They were lined up in single file, each man calling me by name, each man telling a story that related to dreams, hopes, and goals lost in my past. As our minds met, and our hearts intertwined, each story became clear, and with each clarity, a part of my intended destiny was recovered. As each man finished, he walked away young, refreshed, and anew.
Still, at such a time of great revelation, there was a haze over my direction, my purpose, and what must I do to continue on within this Divine light of personal clarity. I then asked the question, "what must I do to make my dreams realities"? Immediately I was transformed back into the open field. In front of me stood an enormous clay bowel full of the most grotesque and foul selling substances ever known or seen. I asked the question, "what is this for and why is it here"? Behind me I heard a voice say, "don’t you know"? I turned around to see a dirty old man holding a ring of bright shining gold keys. He claimed that he was the "keeper of the bowel".... I asked him what was my purpose in being here and he told me to remain silent, for my words and questions were unimportant. Then he went on to say that the true issue at had was that of addressing the question of how I can keep my dreams alive, and to make them unfold into living realities.... He said, "you see that bowel"? I replied , "yes". He then went on to say that at the bottom of the bowel was the answer to not only the question at hand, but to many more questions addressing life, living, inner freedom, the Earth, and Divine harmony with all creation. He then said that I must dive head first into the bowel, and keep peddling until I reached bottom, or until I reached a temporary place of rest, of which he said there will be many. The Key, he stressed, is to never give up no matter how difficult the challenge, surroundings, or circumstance might be. He said, "If you want the Prize, you must suffer and finish the race no matter how many obstacles that are placed on your Path.
Although his words were simple in nature, they were profound, surpassing my level of interpretation and understanding. No sooner than I turned to approach the bowel, I was instantly transformed into large room with dimensions never known or seen. It was immaculate in decor, far removed from any words or description rooting from the natural world. It was draped in a Divine fluffy white and a soft pastel blue. All of the fixtures were of Gold, Silver, precious metals and the most exquisite of Gems and Stones. And the floors were a mirror reflection, like the Sun brightly shining on a mountain lake at midday. There were no chairs but places to sit or lay. These places were layered with feathers. Not the feathers of Earthly creatures, but the feathers of what some call the Angels. I lay of shed feathers of Angels and my body experienced a peaceful rest beyond all words rooted from earth.
In distant sound, I heard what sounded like the beat of a drum, faint, but distinct. As the drum beat my heart bore witness. When the drum beat fast, my heart beat fast. When the drum beat slow, my heart beat slow. And when the drum stopped, it was if my heart stopped beating and all life began to slip away. I said, "beat the drum, don’t stop, beat the drum"....
Although I was not walking, I began moving toward the sound of the drum. I was carried through the air, laying on the shed feathers of Angels. As I was moved closer to the Drum Beat I could see a gathering of people standing in a circle. In the center of the Circle was a primitive looking drum, and at the head of the Drum stood "The Old Man", dressed in primitive clothing. All of the other "Spirit People" were dressed in clothing not of Earth, but of the Spirit. Everyone began to sing with the beat of the drum. Their song and jesters were joyful. As my spirit vision became more clear, I could see a 4-cornered stand draped in spirit cloth, and laying on this spiritually draped stand was a body, a human body. At that time I realized that the gathering was a funeral, a ritual recognizing crossing over to the 7th Level.
I felt an unnatural force drawing me toward the body laying on the stand. There was a chill that come over me, so cold that my body began to stiffen. The drum was beating loudly, the Spirit People were singing, and "The Old Man" reached out his hand and without words, motioned for me to come. I joined with "The Old Man" as we moved closer to the body. Closer than I felt comfortable to be, the figure laying on the stand looked familiar, then I realized, that figure being me. I bypassed fright, and immediately went to total overwhelmingness. And if I wasn’t dead, I was sure to die at that instance of sight. "AM I DEAD", I asked? Is this life after death, what does all of this mean, were my questions. Then, "The Old Man",we still hand in hand, spoke to me without words, spirit man to spirit man. "Your faith "under shadows" your Gift. You are dead but yet you live. The answers you seek are forever before you, yet you are blind to the very things you request sight". "Do you not know that you are on a Divine journey, chosen by destiny, tried by fire, secured in the Creator’s will over your life", "The Old Man" replied.... I had no words to answer, but a peace come over me. A peace that comes from Truth, a peace that comes when Light comes to eradicate the darkness. I was safe, secure, and I knew it.
What is the meaning of my death, and why are all of these people so joyful at my funeral, I asked. "The Old Man" still hand in hand, without verbal expression, replied, "through you life you will experience many deaths; And each death will represent the dying of the "old nature" and being "reborn" into a new life. The old nature MUST die before you can be filled with the new. There must be an end before there can be a beginning, and, there must be a beginning before there can be an end. Both equal and within them holds the KEYS and SECRETS which allow safe passage back and forth over the bridge that crosses the "River of Life".... You can not cross this river unless you have passed from "life to death", and from "death to life"...."
What about the singing and joyfulness of everyone, I asked. "The Old Man" replied, "the way of our people, the "Spirit Walkers", and "Seekers of Truth", are dying. There are but a hand full of those men and women who dare to believe in those things of the Spirit, and because of that, every time any one of you are set free from finite bondage and the illusion of the evils which plague the Earth, there is much joy and jubilation amongst the Spirit World. We live and stay alive through your victories, and our traditions have hope of being passed on to future generations. So you see, this joyous celebration represents the Power of Divine superiority and intervention, here and now. The staying power of the Creator from which fruits are Truth, Love, Harmony, Respect and Reverence for Earth Mother and all Relations. Natural truth is freedom, but Divine Truth takes authority over all Truths, unlocking unnatural doors within unnatural circumstance. A Truth that, once enlightened, one is set free from all natural laws governing the situation, therefore, instituting Superior and Divine laws that evil can not control or survive.
So today, this funeral we acknowledge is a time of celebration, not a time of fear or sorrow. Today we celebrate one of your many deaths, YET YOU LIVE".
By: H. Lee "Threehawks"
For Spiritual Counseling, Rites & Rituals (By Appointment Only)
Contact: nac@nativeacollege.com
Copyright 1988, 2005
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