you are desperately needed - a message from the grandmothers

8/9/2019 You Are Desperately Needed - A Message From the Grandmothers

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"You Are Desperately Needed:" A Message from theGrandmothers.

From Growing Into the Mystery Paul Hampton Crockett

Alaska.

It is my privilege today to introduce you to thirteen extraordinary women. Thirteengrandmothers, to be more specific, from different parts of the world and each groundedin the unique heritage, traditions, and ancient culture of a distinct indigenous people.They have joined together to form theInternational Council of Thirteen IndigenousGrandmotherswith a singular intention of utmost power: to offer themselves upindividually and together, in a spirit of service and healing, to a hurting world.

They pool their talents, teach and lean upon one another, go wherever the Spirit leadsthem, or remain wherever they may be, and pray, or teach, or learn, or love, or askimportant questions, or shake up the status quo as needed here or there, in ways thatmay be safe only for grandmothers. In short, they do the work that needs to be done. Asmuch as they can take on.

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The Grandmothers, group shot. For more information, please visit http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com/

Theyare drawn to contribute all over the world, led by urgency and circumstance toareas of the most pressing and critical need. At the moment, the focus of their prayer,and subject of their considerable combined intention, is very close to home. They areengaged in active prayer for the healing of the Gulf of Mexico. And they say our help isneeded, desperately.As many of us as might be willing or able.

"Aggie" with the Dalai Lama

Beforemoving on to their prayer, I wanted to briefly introduce them. (That is so, Isuppose, because it is mysense of these women, their knowledge, power, and rare purityof purpose that transforms the idea of the prayer from a well-intentioned "New Age"Hallmark Greeting Card to a shot at true miracle. (It may be that an important part ofthe power and promise of the prayer involves its working vision of ourselves as parts ofa Greater Whole, devoted to a common positive purpose, but I am ready to express mylove for the Earth and the bounty she has so long and freely provided us, however I can.If she is suffering, I care. And so do you, if you stop to think about it.

Bottom line: if there are any ways we can possibly help the Earth, our only home, wemust.)

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Guatemala

Mexico

Their stories each partake of heroic journey. From different parts of the world,and carrying perspectives that are truly unique, they have faced up to tremendouschallenges, inevitably been stung, slammed, or sidelined with walls of resistance,and yet still found the courage and strength to persevere. Since most or all ofthese women emerge in their wholeness from tribal groups that have been eithercasually or with direct intention targeted for genocide, their commitment to self-respect, and tending to the ancient traditions once found so very fearsome, singof Human victory. Against all odds.And now, still here, they focus their wealthof experience and most sacred intention upon the well being of the youngergenerations, and those still to follow. Individually and collectively, they seek totend to the well being of Mother Earth, herself.

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Cheyenne Girl, 1815

Alaska

The joy with which they undertake the dead-serious task of global healing, theirapparent affection for one another in undertaking the work, the abiding love for

Humanity burning steady and constant within their breasts that is its ownmiracle, a Love that apparentlycannot dieall shine as a bright light offeringpromise of hope to a world quickly fallen into the outer edges of a very long andvery deep shadow.

Click on the image below, and you will be find a gallery of "portraits" of thewomen, just so you can see their faces, and a brief biographical sketch on each:

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Today they engage together in active prayer for the Great Gulf-- even as its so recently

blue and green waters blacken with flowing rivers of oil, or devolve into a lurid rainbowsheen that is really no color at all. They pray for the Earth as beach shorelines that have

been forever pure white, or shades of delicate pink, are "going under the oil" for the first

time, and forever. Even as you read these words, a clean Florida beach is being silentlyclaimed by the dark filth.

The truth is nearly too much to bear. Life sometimes just sometimes lacks any cluewhatsoever of when to pull its punches, even a little.

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How sweet it was. Photo by Tony Ludovico. Tony achieves magical effects with his camera, andpart of the reason is that he generally works without scuba gear. This shot is composed of aconstant sequence of images captured in one dive, and ascent. More of his work can be seen athttp://tonyludovico.com/

Thewomen meanwhile pray for the innocent animals poisoned outright, or

orphaned and left to burn alive on the edge of a ruined sea, fixed firmly in placeby black goo under a blazing sun . With their parents killed off, who then willhear their tiny cries and come for them?

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7/16

WPA, "New Deal" art at my alma mater, Coral Way Elementary. I have always felt lucky to havebeen born and lived in Miami. Only recently have I realized that this playful art "I always knew,"

together with the cold clean water enjoyed from this very fountain, played a definite role inhelping create that feel of "magic."

There is quite literally an entire world of suffering being played out in the vastunderwater realm-- always closer to home than we imagine--and its environs.For some reason, and feel free to believe what you will, I can feel it. Mostunfortunately, I am not speaking poetically. It is indeed a terrible thing toexperience even on the sidelines, but I cannot doubt that it is for a reason. It isall far beyond my ability to describe, and in any event you wouldn't want to hearit.

These innocents are taking a punishment we would not inflict upon even themost murderous of villains, and the Goddamned shame is ours.

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And so the women pray for relief from suffering on behalf of the fine livingcreatures, tragically forced to rely upon us and our wisdom to safeguard theirvery atmosphere. Their innocent faith has been badly broken, as has ours, yetthey now swim within, breathe of, and finally die from exposure to theconsequences. The difference is, they were never able to understand or given avoice with regard to the affairs of Man. We were. Even if hypothetically we couldcommunicate, how far would we get in trying to explain, when they know not ofthe word "greed?" We stretch and strain to reach understanding ourselves, forall that we know.

They pray for the recovery of the plant life, submarine and near by the shore, allessential to the health of the planet in ways we cannot fully understand.

WPA Art, Coral Way Elementary School, above and below

And, they pray fervently for the People affected by the dark, swelling shadowalways in motion upon the sea and under its surfacesadly, a number growingdaily, and exponentially, with neither end nor even any limits anywhere yet insight. They pray for you, and for me.

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They have asked for our help: yours and mine. They say, they cannot do itwithout us.

Hopi

After some thought, I decided night before last that (for all the stacks ofcorrespondence littering my desk) I had nothing more important to do than topass along their request. And here it is, finally. At this point, we cannot afford tobe without a prayer. I fear that the extent of our naked desperation will becomeever clearer, more quickly than we realize. Part of our challenge is that we lack

even a basic vocabulary for disasters on this scale.

Especially when things get uncomfortable, we tend to stick with what we know.Completely understandable, but not at all helpful in dealing. For example: thosehere in South Florida (or, more horrifyingly,New York City) mustn't let ourselvesimagine that, because we are not Louisiana, we are off the hook. It only worksthat way with hurricanes. An event of this magnitude is as patient and deliberateas it is utterly grim.

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10/16

All you need to do is smell itcoming, people say, and it's... just awful. Theres nowords for it, one friend told me. Enough to literally sicken. Enough to kill hope.And it's not even yet in sight.

The oil coming is like a hurricane approaching, in that something ominous is

taking shape out there, and heading our way. We know that if a hurricane comes(especially one big one like Andrew, or two in succession, like Katrina andWilma), everything can be changed forever, in a moment. Yet for all of itsdrama, the destructive force of a hurricane is relatively simple andstraightforward. It announces itself in noise and fury, wreaks what havoc it can,and finally resolves into cloud.

In contrast, the growing sea of toxic black oil knows no season, it comes inabsolute silence, and it never leaves.

What has prepared us to even conceptualize this experience?

Mexico

There seems no better time than this moment to begin taking up arms againstdespair. Perhaps you can tell: I am more than a little upset. And I have beencalled Chicken Little or a Cassandra in a light spirit by my friends, and thatcomforts them. But I know what I know, and will not hide what I feel to be thetruth: that all of life on Earth as we know itwill shortly be hanging in thebalance. What brand of foolishness is it, to believe that thoroughly poisoned seaswill allow life on Earth to proceed, as usual?

I ask not because I am of a fatalistic spirit, but because if I am to ransom Hope it

will not be based upon some pretty lie, or convenient oversight. Please, may wepray?

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11/16

Tibet

Here is the prayer of the Grandmothers. Its manner of expression is a bitdifferent from the way I generally pray, but then again I have never neededprayer as I do now. I will defer to their profound understanding of the Earth and

its needs, and our place within it all. They know much that our scientists havelong forgotten, or never considered.

It is possible that we can make a difference, and we can afford no lostopportunity. I am throwing my all into this practice, and invite you to do thesame. However you might feel it, though, is exactly how you should play it. Thisprayer is by no means exclusive; consider adding it to those you might know andfind comfortable.

If you feel lost, beyond hope or ability to pray, consider asking that the prayerpray itself through you. Ask for help. Ask for Hope. For your own benefit, and for

those looking up to you to keep themselves from falling apart. And for thegenerations to come.

Please send whatever light you can. Come what may, if we are in this together, wewill at least be assured that we are none of us facing this nightmare alone. Whenthe stakes are high and prospects fearful, that simple assurance can make it allmuch easier.

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Now, from the Grandmothers:

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Amen.

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you are desperately needed - a message from the grandmothers

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