Emergence

In the beginning, tucked in the dark womb of our mother, the urge struck us that we might venture out. At this same moment, our Mother tilted her bowl of life and poured us forward into our lives.

The journey begins . . . 

Flowers on Tsikumu

Are calling us.

We step forward,

The birds' wings

Fan our faces.

We step forward,

Tracks in soft dirt

Of antelope, bear and lion

We step forward, 

Our breath joins all

That is.

We joyfully step forward.

Mother of all things, 

Bless our journey

As we step forward.

Roxanne Swentzell, Santa Clara Pueblo, 2005

Since uprooting from MuRefuge in rural, residential West Sonoma County and rerooting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I have been struck with the contrast between the native peoples and the transplants' religious beliefs and practices. 
"... all civilizations have their origin stories" says JA Jance. In Santa Fe the evidence of differing "origin stories" abound: Pueblo, Spanish and others from Mexico. The native Pueblo people's origin stories are of emergence from the Mother (Mother Earth); evolving from her center thus each sentient BEing possesses a part of the Earth Mother's evolutionary force. This sacred energy connects all that inhabit Mother Earth. Stark contrast is in the origin stories of those of European decent where the creation stories are centered around the Omnipotent, aka God, who is apart from humans with the ultimate power and influence; human BEings are subservient to this force outside of themselves.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi on the Santa Fe Downtown Plaza and the small, tiny in comparison, churches in the countryside clearly demonstrate, to me, the differences between patriarchy and connection to Mother Earth. The Pueblo peoples have Christmas celebrations with their native dancing which are stunning and moving to take in in person. The Christmas singing in the cathedral, for me, was overshadowed by the stain glass windows depicting the horrific killing of Jesus and his resurrection. Questions came into my consciousness: How can one worship holding such atrocities? How can one honor a God that flaunts human "deadly sins" so that He can forgive the human? What patriarchy created such a brutal story on which to base a religion?

For me herein lies the difference between a religious practice (the latter) and a spiritual one (the former); and male domination (the latter) and matriarchy (the former).

The creation stories of emerging from Mother Earth seem to me to follow the evolutionary theory in which humans began as a microbe. The patriarchal religions want their followers to adhere to the belief of creation by a God in the heaven. BEing a "body" based person, the former resonates with me while to me the latter seems way out even for the most detached "head" types.

Body and head (+ heart) 

are the three "centers"

in many esoteric spiritual practices.

Prehistoric Santa Clara Pueblo cliff dwelling of Puye

Earth mother, star mother,

You who are called by 

     a thousand names,

May all remember

     we are cells in your body

     and dance together.

You are the grain

     and the loaf

That sustains us each day,

And as you are patient

     with our struggles to learn

So shall we be patient

     with ourselves and each other.

We are radiant light 

     and sacred dark

     --- the balance ---

Your are the embrace that heartens

And the freedom beyond fear.

Within you we are born

     we grow, live, and die ---

You bring us around the circle 

     to rebirth,

A Roxanne Swentzell sculpture

Within us you dance

Forever.

           Starhawk

As Murphy Brown, resurrected from the 1970's, provides laughter for the crazy making chaoticness that abounds not only in this country but all over the globe, may we all continue to