|
Wild Moons See more pictures of our camp!
Rewilding Immersions in a living primitive camp
For the first time: a Children's Moon!
The experience ----- what to expect in the wild moons of Mashkodens.
 Immersed
in the Northwoods, we find ourselves surrounded by a vast wilderness
full of an exceptional diversity. One forest type subtly flows into the
next, mimicking the ease of one season to the next and how our daily life changes with this flow.
Bogs become lakes and streams as ridges meander here and there with the
effects of glaciation. Nestled among this lies Mashkodens, the little
prairie. Being in this environment where everything is new, the
familiar comforts, stresses and concepts fade to memory. From moon to
moon this already functioning camp will be moving in various ways,
giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself and become a part of the
lifeway. Spending more time in this lifeway we begin to realize that
everything in this place is all about relationship
- relationship within, relationship with community, with food and
water, the weather, hygiene, all the natural circles that share this
patch of the mother, and endless other examples.
 This experience is not of workshops or part-time involvement, it is immersing oneself to learn through example and directly benefit from the clan knowledge of
the people who live here throughout the seasons. As social creatures,
clan knowledge and the community that comes with this wisdom, makes living in the wilderness realistic and rewarding for indefinite periods of time. As a community we will feel our energy flow  together as we share a lodge
for sleeping, our meals, our nights dreams, our days summary, and a
common water hole to mention a few. The quote "we are only as strong as
the weakest link" is a signature of the importance of learning the skills of self so that we can serve our community which will in turn serve ourself and so on. Giving is Receiving!
As a member of the circle at Mashkodens, the examples and encouragement to adopt various awareness and attunement exercises
into your daily life will help to teach your body and mind new aspects
of the world we strive to be more present in. The combination of being open and being as a question will allow us to find our rootedness in the passion
of ourselves and this lifeway experience. With each new step and
awareness you will witness first hand the strength of intimacy as our
group of individuals moves to a functioning circle. The potential of
our aspirations of empowerment and balance doesn't just come from
living as a tightly woven wilderness community and practicing simple
exercises. The mastery of self, which is the path we begin walking
together, comes from the underlining tools and awarenesses that all of
our wild relations practice in each moment -- the ability to be a Truthspeaker!!
What is a Truthspeaker? This is someone who is able to take
responsibility for their deepest feelings and share them - without
worry of judgment or criticism, only acceptance - in the moment. Learning how to listen and feel someone else's truth, and not just hear their words. One may find herself experiencing mental walls
as we begin transitioning ourselves to these new environmental
elements, routines, and patterns. Truthspeaking is how we help
ourselves and one another confidently flow to a place of new beginnings.
As the growing awarenesses and skills of self begin to sink in, you may
discover that all those other physical skills naturally unfold. The
wealth of clan knowledge feeds and is fed by your passion as you seek
all the questions within questions and embrace the limits of your
imagination. Depending on what moon you join the circle will determine
how the mother provides in her diversity and abundance (such as craft
materials, winter pelts, cordage material, all types of wild foods, and
the list goes on). This will allow for you to explore you individual
interests in the realm of physical skills if you so choose. Baseline
skills are a necessity of camp members, as very little from the modern
world remains in Mashkodens. So expect to have the options of
developing relationships with fire making, lostproofing, hide tanning,
lodge construction, basketry, cordage, trapping/snaring, and primitive cooking to name several.
Speaking of primitive cooking, one must not forget to share in the
story of food! Our daily meals at Mashkodens are based off the diet of our ancestors.
This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat, eggs and fats. On
occasion certain grains will be included such as wild rice, but as a
general rule the diet does not include dairy, sugar, and grains. Again,
your experience will vary depending on when you join us (green season
vs. white season), will depend largely on the amount of food and the
types of food. The green season may offer a wealth of leafy wild greens
with berries thriving everywhere (even growing off the lodge). The
white season gifts us with loads of bear and deer fat. Both seasons
offer opportunities for trapping and snaring. As we move away from the
detachment of the grocery stores and
develop our connection to the bounty of the mother we again are
realizing how this experience takes the concept of relationship to a
new level. And then we take yet another step towards empowerment and
relationship as we let go of the pots and frying pans. To some this can
be tough, but once embraced plan on being pleasantly surprised at what
the combination of our imaginations, food and fire can come up with.
Nothing quite like the taste of some fire-roasted veggies smothered in
bear fat!!! We look forward to sitting around the hearth with you and
sharing in all that may come. Could you pass the bear fat please!
Our last moon: Heartberry Moon
 |
Upcoming 2008 Wild Moon Sessions
One Moon Sessions
Rather than use the agricultural calendar we aspire to recognize the waxing and waning flow of the moon, and the moods of the Mother during each moon. The winds of the season are forever bringing change with one moon bringing us Maple syrup while another may bring us Snowshoe Hare, Gooseberry or Suckerfish. The spirit of the Wild Moon is to listen to the voice of the Mother and attune the circle to her gifts, learning in relationship so that we can make the most of them. This could mean sharing in the wisdom of children, dreams, truthspeaking, skills and perhaps even traveling by foot or canoe.
Ricing Moon
August 30 to September 28
The sacred grain of the northwoods - Wild Rice - readies herself to go to seed and the clan responds by scouting, harvesting and processing at Rice Camp.
Falling-Leaves Moon
September 29 to October 27
The drifting, twirling, multicolored messages from the Tree Clan signals the shorter days and longer nights of the White Season. The clan relocates to its Winter Camp, sheltered from the biting north wind. Clanspeople slow down, both metabolically and spiritually, becoming more focused and attuned (in this time of quieting down) to dreams, each other and the guidance offered by all the relations.
| |
