BEAUTIFUL PAINTED ARROW INTERNATIONAL PEACE CHAMBER GATHERING 2017 Seeds of Peace Newsletter the Council of elders (COE) - promoting the work of Beautiful Painted Arrow A VERY REWARDING, HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS. MAY 2018 BE A YEAR OF RENEWAL AND COOPERATION WHILE SPREADING THE VISION OF PEACE THAT JOSEPH, BEAUTIFUL PAINTED ARROW HAS BROUGHT US IN HIS TEACHINGS. ISSUE No. 8, JANUARY 2018 ca CONTENT Peace Chamber House of Clay 2-3 Fire Ceremony 4-5 Sharing - 2017 Gathering 5-9 Peace Chamber SW Michigan 10 We humans have fooled around long enough, and God is going to take over. From now on, we are going to get plenty of everything we focus on and act on. If we focus on conflict, we will get more conflict. However, if we focus on peace we will get plenty of peace. As soon as we focus on a goal, the universe will take us in that direction. That is why I have sent out the link to a Song of Peace and asked that you join in focusing on peace. I want to thank you for becoming part of this Peace Group. We are changing humanity on the planet as we participate in the community of peace." Horn of Plenty by Joseph Rael Blessings for all life Joseph Beautiful Painted Arrow 1
Story of the Peace Chamber Cave of Clay in Scotland by Stella Longland caretaker of the Cave of Clay In the Cave of Clay Sound Peace Chamber there are 3 circles on the horizontal plain. These circles of Light intersect one another and the center points of the two outer circles are on the circumference of each other. Instead, the lines of sight of the North and East windows meet at the center of the circle which forms that end of the chamber, and the South and West lines meet at the center of the circle at the opposite end. On the vertical plain there is a rectangular opening at each of the cardinal points. The wall of the chamber is about half a meter thick, that is 20 inches, and this is the practical reason for the way that the window frames are set in the wall. The thickness of the wall means that the lines of sight through the windows do not point to t h e middle of the chamber, which is the center point of the central circle, and do not continue on from there to line up with the opening opposite. 2
The centres of the 3 circles are Breath, Matter and Movement: Wah Mah Chii. Breath is at the centre of the circle containing North and East. Matter is the centre of the centre circle. Movement is at the centre of the circle containing South and West. ah and oh meet and create the energy of Wah: the chamber is breathing and creating teachings. eh and ii meet and create energy of Chii: the chamber is providing the place and form for awareness to be alive and to become inspired. If a chanter stands and chants exactly on the Wah or the Chii point they will have an interesting sound experience as the resonances that this chamber shape creates are greatly amplified at these two points. Meanwhile at the centre of the chamber is Mah. Here the sound of uu draws from the greatest form of Carrying, Matter, connecting the Above and the Below and holding the vertical and the horizontal plains together. The energy flow of ah oh, the Wah point, is in and out. The energy flow of eh ii, the Chii point, is from and to. In the sound of Carrying, uu, energy is still; it is a still point and a sphere which encompasses everything: up, down and all around. 3
A FIRE CEREMONY WHICH ANYONE CAN DO ANYWHERE ON EVERY 7 TH OF THE MONTH By Lucas Budimir 4
Continued Sharing From at the 2017 International Peace Chamber Gathering: Round Table Discussions. During the Gathering the participants were divided into groups sitting with about 8-10 people at each table together with a facilitator. After introducing each other at the table the facilitator explained the topic to be discussed. Each group met for 30 minutes after which they move to another table to discuss another topic. 5
SILENCE was one topic with Lukas Budimir as the facilitator and this is his report of the discussions. We say everything started with sound in the beginning was the word, but actually there was silence before that. So everything starts with silence and silence is listening: personal and global. We have to (learn to) sit down and become silent, let go of everything that is in the way, in order to give space for inspiration to come in. We do that in many different ways, out of different traditions. In 2006 Joseph saw the horn of plenty being poured out. That means we will have a lot of what we focus on. Joseph gave us many examples of practical ways to find our way back into silence, especially to quiet the mind through ceremony. We were taught to do ceremony in a certain rhythm throughout the year, with the goal to do all life in ceremony, which is intentional work, so we connect again to the beginning / the source. On the other side there has never been silence since the beginning, because everything is vibrating, alive and everything is singing all the time so listen. Question from Lukas: why do we have 2 ears and 1 mouth? THE GLOBAL NETWORK OF CHAMBERS was another topic with Ruth Eichler as the facilitator and this is the report of the discussions. *We part of a global, transformational medicine wheel. *Each chamber is a point of light in a powerful grid. *When we chant in the chambers, we can see a light that connects us to other chambers. *Each chamber, its owners and participants have a unique vibration that creates its own intimacy, and all are in the web of light. *The web of life is like Grandmother Spider and is a tapestry of song. The songs interweave, the chambers activate the tapestry to heighten awareness and connectivity. *And, Joseph lets us go our own ways. *Joseph brought the vision, but we bring the flame forward. *Global consciousness resonates from the unique lights of each chamber. *The stars are watching. *Are the peace chambers a constellation of stars or the planet? *Realizing the fire ceremony is all over the world is like seeing the stars in the sky. *The stars in the sky are symbols of vastness, and we are tiny specks. *The stars on the map inspire one to visit more chambers, because we are a global family. *The stars feed the chambers. *I see light points and geometry off the planet grid that bring unification into the hearts of all participants. *The points of light need to be on a website on a map. It could even be a spinning, three-dimensional globe with points of light. *Several participants said they speak at fire ceremonies in their home chambers that people around the world are participating in this same ceremony at 7 pm local time on the 7th of the month. This knowledge brings a 6
greater sense of connectedness. One person suggested that all dancers could also be encouraged to do the fire ceremony. The video on the House of Mica website about the purification of the waters via the fire ceremony is beneficial, and someone else mentioned that *a set of Joseph s recordings of songs on CDs is also available at www.houseofmica.org. *We feel a part of the global community when we chant around the clock with other chambers around the world at the winter solstice. *There is so much fear in the world that shuts people down, so accepting each other s differences in the chambers helps. *We are family, sangha, and community. *Finding like-minded people has allowed one person to reconnect with human beings and not just animals. *If someone is ill and can t do the work, they are carried with the sound of uu. *Global consciousness resonates from the unique lights of each chamber. * The shrines that extend the energies out 200 miles help strengthen the awareness of how our chambers radiate out energy. One person suggested getting a shrine into Mexico, extending the energy from the Tucson chamber. * These international gatherings help consolidate energy and awareness of the global network. *Someone said the drum mystery school helps. Joseph s art extend vibrations. * The COE newsletter and the monthly Joseph notes are useful in spreading the word/vibration. * Paulette s foundation is working on a website to consolidate Joseph s work, and Stella has a website with most of the world s peace chambers on it. *These teachings need to go into elementary schools. *The Dance Away program in which chambers help sponsor someone who has contributed a lot in the home chamber to dance at another site needs to be expanded. *We must be practical and set our global intentions into physicality by actually doing. We are open to others and accepting that others may do things differently. We don t want to get stuck in fundamentalism. * We need a strong foundation in order to expand out. *When we chant Pah Nu that sound goes through the entire grid as a new vibration. *We strengthen peace by being peace, as we are each a peace chamber. *We are strengthened energetically through our connection through the ley lines. *The dancers and others who travel to other places bring such an awareness of the global vision. *Visiting other chambers gives one a sense of placement. *The various caretakers of the chambers share their uniqueness and sameness. *The dances connect the centers, each an expression of the land and people. CEREMONY: how do we approach it, keep it alive, and respect the tradition from Joseph Rael that we have been gifted? was another topic with Tom Bissenger as the facilitator and this is the report of the discussions 7
Every occasion is an opportunity for Ceremony if we are focused on our intentions and holding to the power of love. It can become any action you take from first breath in the morning to a night time blessing/prayer. Among the attributes or qualities to carry are Gratitude, no Judging, sitting in silence, follow Guidance. Regarding the form of the ceremony, especially ones Joseph has given us, suggestions included: Mixing traditions doesn t work; know the different forms of ceremony, because knowing the form protects us; know the story (context) of the ceremony, so that you know the connection and can honor and respect the lineage. How deal with form and formlessness: Look for guidance. See what happens. If break form and people don t get it, go back to original form that Joseph gave us. Creator speaks to each of us differently. You need to make a special effort to communicate with spirit. When ego is there, I am out of ceremony. Look at your attachments. Pay attention to right relatedness. Be mindful and aware in the moment. The Sacred Clowns at Picuris Pueblo shatter the ceremony in order to recreate it. Actions one can take to facilitate ceremony: Give shape to the Spirit by building altars, making offerings; Chanting; continue to Dance. Sitting in silence connects us to the Fire Ceremony. Hold on to thoughts before acting on them. Ceremonies bring communities into interaction with each other. Three aspects of Ceremony: Commitment-Cooperation-Contribution. EXPANSION: What can you share about how to grow a community? How do you invite new people into a community? was another topic with Felicity Macdonald as the facilitator and this is the report of the discussions The group discussions centered as the focal point, the Dances as the most efficient way of expanding the work and drawing people to participate as a Dancer, or crew and then become part of the Chamber Community. The group recognized that clearly the Chamber location played an important part in regular meetings, if access or distances were complicated, the Dances offered more attendance as being, so to speak, once off, and for the longer time frame of the event, justifying the traveling difficulties. It was emphasized once again the importance that the Dance Away program can anchor people to the group by leaning that the Dance and Sound Chambers are not isolated to within their community, but is spread though out the world. Those who had benefited with the Dance Away program gained experiences that will remain with them forever, and which can be shared in the Chambers. 8
PEACE CHAMBERS;- Ceremony and the energy of the land was another topic with Kristen Bissenger as the facilitator and this is the report of the discussions The ceremonies shared by the various chambers were varied. All held the Fire Ceremony and chanting. Some in addition host activities for veterans, for children, vision quests, ceremonies and workshops on appropriate topics of interest in the community, drumming circles, coming of age ceremonies, solstice and equinox ceremonies, healing circles, storytelling, musical concerts, BPA and other individually inspired dances. The discussion and sharing was centered on how we felt that the work in the chambers affected us energetically as personal sound chambers (since not all of us are chamber keepers) and energetically effected the Sound Chambers and land. One comment was that ceremony raised awareness to greater spiritual consciousness and understanding. The Sound Chamber work was found to be personally grounding and uplifting. Coming early to ceremony to mediate, paint, chant, drum or sit was found useful in clearing personal energy. Asking what the chamber wants and listening to the chamber received the response to feed the chamber inside and out with corn meal. Sitting and listening, drumming and listening, chanting and listening, asking and listening received powerful response; a sensation of love, peace, healing within and without. Being a chamber caretaker can inspire one to self check and self clear continually, positively effecting personal energy. The chamber work has affected life focus, community connections, spiritual dedication, diet, body and mind healing, resulting in more peace and joy, more connectedness to Spirit and to the land. The chambers are protected energetically by periodic cleaning and by limiting the activities to peace enhancing activities. Appropriate dress, such as removing shoes, wrapping in a blanket or wearing a skirt, as well as keeping food out, helps hold the energy of the sound chamber in some locations. Honoring and smudging the space along with focus on positive thoughts, words and actions contributes to the energetic well-being of the space and the participants. 9
NOTICE: PEACE/SOUND CHAMBER IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN. THE OWNERS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL NATURE SANCTUARY OFFERING FOR SALE THEIR PROPERTY WHERE THE CHAMBER IS LOCATED. Located in the rolling hills of St. Joseph County, near several retreat centers west of Three Rivers, Michigan, 37 acres with 3,100 sq. ft. home with geothermal heating, walk-out lower floor with wood burner and gas fireplace, new steel roof, pole barn, a cabin in the woods, plus ponds, meadows and abundant wildlife, and the EarthSong Peace Chamber which has been in existence since 2000. The owners would love to have new stewards to love and to be loved, to serve and to be served in this idyllic setting. www.earthsongpeace.com CONTACT: Ruth or Vic Eichler 12songs@12-songs.com or vic.eichler33@gmail.com for further information. Front of Home Back of Home Pole Barn Retreat Cabin 10
Council of Elders The Council of Elders came into being at the last International Chamber Gathering in 2014 to further Joseph Beautiful Painted Arrow s work and teachings. We are represented by four continents: the Americas, Europe, Australia and Africa, and we meet every month by Skype conference call to discuss developments and further actions on how we, as individuals, can spread the message of peace and love as personified by Joseph in all his teachings and personal dedication over many years to this goal. Tom & Kristen Bissinger Birdsong Peace Chamber PA, USA tomasbiss@gmail.com & krisbiss601@gmail.com Felicity & Andrew Macdonald Oca De Paz Brazil felicitymac72@gmail.com & macdonald@amcon.com.br Vic & Ruth Eichler- Earthsong - MI, USA 12songs@12-songs.com Stella Longland Cave of Clay Scotland stella@peacechamber.co.uk Lukas & Marina Budimir Taa Laa Peace Chamber Europe SoundchamberEurope@gmail.com Jennie and Michael Coles Red Eagle Peace Chamber Vic, Australia sevencirclesoz@gmail.com Elisa and Rick Cotroneo House of Mica Peace Chamber NY, USA homica@nycap.rr.com & elisacotroneo108@gmail.com Jane Innmon Sweet Beautiful Waters Peace Chamber AZ USA peoplegardener@gmail.com Nan and Steve Citty Center for Peace TN, USA steve.citty@gmail.com & nan.citty@gmail.com Sammye Jo Harvey Dance Leader TN, USA sammyejoharvey@yahoo.com Newsletter Contributions and suggestions WELCOME Compiled and Edited by Andrew Macdonald E-mail: macdonald@amcon.com.br 11