I have not posted much lately but am still working in the background for the foundation. Been sick with non-Grave’s related stuff and was healthy enough to start traveling again for business and pleasure. I have recently became a pipe carrier. In simple terms, I have a prayer/medicine pipe that has been blessed by our tribal medicine man. Being a pipe carrier brings responsibilities to myself, the pipe and my fellow man.
I had the opportunity two weeks ago to go to Utah and Idaho. I took
my medicine pipe and flute with me and walked up into the mountains
to smoke my pipe and pray to the Creator.
I thanked him for giving me the strength to climb the canyon and to
see his beauty all around me. If you are not familiar with a
medicine or prayer pipe ceremony it is awe inspiring when you think
on it.
We take a pinch of tobacco or ceremonial blend and touch it to our
hearts, then offer it to the heavens, then to each of the four
directions. We then touch it to the ground then put it into the bowl
of the pipe. We do six pinches of tobacco following the same process
each time.
What that does it puts the heaven, earth, and each of the four
directions into the bowl of the pipe. In essence we have put the
entire universe into the bowl of the pipe which symbolizes the womb
of woman.
My pipe is made from stone I carved myself and had blessed by our
medicine man. The pipe also symbolizes the world around us. The pipe
is made of stone, the stem of wood, the leather on it, animals, the
beadwork, material things. The bowl is woman, the stem man.
When the pipe is filled it symbolizes the universe, the world about
us and first man and first woman. When we smoke the pipe we take all
that is in the universe and hold it within our bodies and lungs.
When we breathe the smoke out, we release our prayers to the
universe to be one with all things.
Makes us realize we are but a speck in the universe, yet we can hold
the entire universe within ourselves too. We become one with the
beauty that is life. Makes me look at life different. I refuse to
see myself as a victim of disease but embrace it as part of my life.
In the grand scheme of the Creator, it is but a bump in the road.
We here on this site help others over that bump. One day you will look back and become one who will help others over the bump. You will get better. Just remember back when you needed help and we were here for you. Come back and help others.
I have Graves’ and Life is Good
Jake George
On-line Facilitator
Co-Author “Graves’ Disease In Our Own Words”
Author “The Red Man In Me”
Author “Grandfather’s Song”
Author “A New Dawn” due for release this month.
