Four suns before the dead moon and First sun of Raspberry Moon:

Aaniin family and friends:

I awoke before first light this morning (actually, I was awake many times in the night as the porcupine was chewing, chewing, chewing the log next to us again)  to walk the two mealtimes into the support center to send out this promised report:

The suns go flying by and we have now lived 1/4 of this amazing experience.  I call them Arriving Moon, Fiddlehead Moon, and Blueberry Moon.  (This sun is the first of Raspberry Moon and we are overwhelmed with them.)  Really, they could all be called Arriving Moon, as we are perpetually arriving at new awareness and our place in this unfolding.

The last two winters I have re-calibrated my mental state by living in the yurt without electricity – finding the natural rhythms of light, dark, weather, temperature, seasonal changes, and moon cycles.  The mental readjustment is now stepped up to a moment-by-moment experience.  It never stops, and is shared by all our clan.  It includes the previous changes (multiplied many fold) and adds more:  mindful relationship with all our circle – plant, animal, mineral, elemental, spiritual, time, space, each other all-one.  Never in this life have I experienced living so completely.  We are 23 adults fully committed to opening to Truth and diving deep; learning and embracing who we are, recognizing our place in circle consciousness, communicating truthfully/mindfully/effectively, learning the skills to interact in a clean, healthy, respectful way with our world,creating intentional culture and passing on the best of what we are gaining to our co-parented next generation.

This is, of course, not to say that there haven’t been stumbling blocks.  Rome wasn’t built in a sun and we surely won’t be able to tear it down in 3 moons.  Yet, it is the common willingness that so astounds me.  Letting go of the ego-based habit that we all come from is no small task.

So, my car sits empty except for a few probable mice chewing at the wires.  The life I have built in CA is left more or less on hold (though Pixy is frolicking along with the clan-building, goat walking, west coast version of this life).  I look forward to the Fall here with less mosquitos, humidity and mental/physical clamor.  I am told that the white season is “when the magic happens.”

Our daily life at Waabanong (Camp in the East) is full:  workshops (Truthspeaking – a combination of mindfulness, non- violent communication, deep listening, vipassana;  Empowered Child – how to apply truthspeaking to our parenting repertoire;  Fire skills;  Plant walks; Canoeing;  Hide Tanning;  Wilderness 1st aid/Safety;  Bow Drill Fire Making;  Lostproofing;  etc.), cooking (with an effort to reduce our dependence on pots and matches), exploring, foraging, woodworking (bowls, pack frames, tools, musical instruments), canoeing, fishing, frogging etc.  Really, we can pretty much follow our flow and do what we want with our time.  Few get a chance to experience this freedom in today’s world … such a sweet gift!

Our food here is exciting and delicious.  Certainly, my definition of exciting and delicious has been molded and altered by this experience.  Really, the food we eat from day to day doesn’t vary much unless we are delivered some exotic roadkill.  However, what it might lack in variety, it by far makes up in flavor, balance, nutrition, and wild exuberance. Someone fishing around in their soup bowl might find a hoof, an aorta, an anus.  I personally have added slugs, worms, toads, frogs, entire fish (heads, tails, bones, guts), all deer organ meats, brains, eyes, tongues, and even fetal beaver head to my culinary repertoire.  There are no processed/’treat’ foods.  Ever.

So far we are still living in our tents.  The three summer lodges (wigwams built by former seekers) stand empty awaiting our worthiness.  I think we will begin lodge building soon which will make us worthy.

The women’s circle here meets often and powerfully (the men also circle).  We have engaging exploration in and between these groups.  There is also a moon lodge (hut) where the women have the option to stay in their moon times.  The experience is affecting our moon times and I have only bled once since being here.  At that time I did a 4 sun food & water fast/vision quest that brought me much vision.  I am learning a lot about the power and opportunity of this bleeding time, that has been completely lost to most of our culture.

Eric is here now (going back and forth from work-exchange at the support center and visiting us at Waabanong) for a moon or so.  I am hoping to take the chance before he leaves for a seven sun walkabout by myself.  It has been wonderful to have Eric’s presence, and he is well liked by the clan.  As I had hoped, our relationship has been nurtured, guided and well supported within this process-fest.

I have thoughts of trying to write an article for National Geographic Magazine about this experience of creating culture.  If any of you have knowledge or suggestions about writing such a thing, I would be glad to hear.

Many thanks (Miigwech!) to all of you who are caring for our animals, and to all who have made efforts to communicate with us.  Thank you g’ma PatPat and g’pa Michael for your contribution toward our cold season gear and this experience as a whole.

We LOVE getting letters, and visitors.  If you are thinking of visiting, please schedule ahead of time with the school:  715-546-2944  or email the school.  If you want to write us the address is:  7124 Military Rd.  Three Lakes, WI  54562-9333.  Please don’t send packages (anything with more than paper in it).  The school won’t deliver them.

Here’s from the boys:

Zander:  I miss you all.  It’s a nice place here and I have a lot of fun.  It’s super nice picking berries and wild greens on the opposite side of the lake.  Love, Zander

Canto:  I’m having a good time with friends and making new friends.  We can go canoeing whenever we want and there are many porcupines.  I saw a beaver. I hope to see you some time after the year-long.  Love, Canto

Ishi (Izaiah):  I am learning lots of things here.  It is a fun place swimming on hot suns.  It is fun cooking here.  I miss my dog Kalik a whole lot.  In the beginning it’s hard here, and then it gets easier as I stay longer. I see lots of animals.

Teaching drum folks:  You have my infinite gratitude for all your wisdom and selfless service.

I love you all and appreciate your place in this life.

Niinzaagi’iwewen – we are in the state of being beloved (Ojibwa blessing)

Dakota