I went to the river today.....walked through the quiet of the deep woods. The scent of the pines, the oak, the poplar - the damp earthen floor, after a heavy evening rain. My stick in hand; I come here often and how well I know this land.

So, I walked along the path through the dampened forest grass and found my special place on the river that I love. There I pray - and gave my thanks and honored all our Ancestors pass - recent and the timeless ones who lived and breathed upon this earth - who smiled and cried, who loved and shared, who fought and died. Who gave birth. Who healed the people. Who sang the great songs of the soul and spirit - and those whose voices were only heard for a few short moons.

The river flowed gently - the reflection of the sky and clouds shining on the river's surface. The birds would call, but were quiet too and yet no need of sound for me to feel the spirit all around us, within us and in every living creation there.

To the Sacred blood of our Mother, the river, I shared a gift - the Sacred tobacco - for all the blessings for giving us life and in remembrance of those who have passed onto the Spirit World and I watched the red color of that which held the Sacred Tobacco as it flowed as one with the blood of our Mother - toward the south - toward the mighty sea.

Time to leave - no not this place, but to walk more upon it - to hear the roar of the falls and to smell the special smells that were everywhere this day.

Along the wooded path I returned and to the mighty river where its great thrush gathered the soft and white river sand and made a mound to walk upon - to walk in a circle around the river at this very special spot.

To the river's edge I go - to the left I see the mighty falls...and hear them although they are more quiet now than with their winter flow. All around me encircled by woods and rock and trees and sky and clouds and wind.

I lean against my stick and turn now and then in this Sacred Circle to look with love upon all the beauty we have been gifted. My eyes filled with this beauty and as always it touched my heart, my soul, my spirit and filled me up.

Then I heard. Off to the distance I could hear them - the men, singing. It was a good song, although I do not understand the words. Not in language of the tongue, but I do understand the song in my soul. It is the voices of the Ancestors - the Grandfathers - the Warriors - our brothers, our sons, our husbands - our fathers and our Grandfathers. And I am humbled by this special gift - their song to me to end this day.

The sky's light begins to lessen now - the day is drawing to an end. It is time to leave this special place - but I leave with happiness, I leave with gratitude and I leave, renewed, refreshed and very, very blessed.

©Svhyeyi Aga - November 21, 1999

Cherokee

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