Ascension Assistant
THE LONG DANCE
HOLDING THE INTENTION OF THE CIRCLE
by Linda White“You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round…
The sky is round, and I have heard that the Earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars.
The wind, in its greatest power, whirls.
Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours…
Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were.
The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood,
… and so it is in everything where power moves.” Black Elk, Oglala Sioux Holy Man
Great power will be moving in our Community Circle. We know what can happen when a group of well-intentioned, open-hearted people gather for Ceremony. We will be a diverse group from all the four corners, as it’s meant to be for this Long Dance. It will be all the more powerful with the personal stones that will surround us as we dance, sing, and pray. This vision of Oneness and healing will become stronger as we work together into the night under the loving guidance of Grandmother Moon and all the Star People.
During the day on Saturday, we will be setting out the stones and creating the Circle for our Dance, honoring the directions and setting up the entrance to the Circle in the East. We will all be smudged as we enter the Circle during the opening Ceremony to cleanse and purify us for our purpose and to open us up to a higher consciousness. The idea is to stay in the Dance as long as we can, hopefully throughout the entire night until sunup. You will be welcome to create a space for yourself just outside the Circle for extra clothing, extra drums, or a place to sit and rest or meditate for a while if you feel the need. We want to remind you that if you leave the Circle, to please make sure you leave through the East threshold and re-enter the same way to maintain the integrity of our Sacred Space. You will not be smudged each time you enter or leave after the initial Ceremony, but we will be covering the ground of the entrance with sage so the energy of purification is still held.
Most of you have already set your intentions for this beautiful Dance and have caressed your drums and rattles. We know you will approach this time with reverence, prayerfulness, and sanctity as you stay focused on your purpose and what you want to accomplish both personally and globally, as well as staying open to receive whatever messages may be meant for you on this special night. We also know this is a time for celebration!!! - of our Oneness, our beauty, and our commitment to making this world a more loving, peaceful, sustainable place today and for at least seven generations to come. It’s a time for joy and love of all of Life. We are so blessed! Thank you, Creator, for this opportunity!
For More Information on the Long Dance
