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[Allison]

Grandmother Agnes Baker-Pilgrim (Takelma) invites you to the second annual ceremony, Blessing Mount Ashland, on April 16th, Wednesday, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, at the ski area (after it has closed for the season).

Come and experience the Blessing from the mountain as a diverse religious and cultural group representing spiritual traditions from around the world come together for common prayer, song and music on sacred common ground. Honoring our ancestors, the land and each other.

Marie Hunter-Ripper (Cherokee, Chactaw) is the facilitator and will be introducing the participants. Robert Brothers, Ph.D., "Bobcat," visioned the first annual Blessing and is helping Marie with implementation this year.

Note: Unlike other events, there will be no speeches, no requests of the public. The event is being organized by individuals who believe that appreciation of common ground is especially important in these times of controversy.

In a special musical appearance, Gentle Thunder (Cree), a Grammy-nominated artist, will offer her mesmerizing and powerful Native American flutes. See her website at www.1gentlethunder.com Other musicians include singer songwriters Talia Rose (vocals, harp, guitar) and Windsong Dianne Martin (vocals, guitar, dulcimer) www.windsongmekani.com

Invitations are currently going out to other musicians and spiritual leaders. Updates will be posted at www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org

In an inspiring combination of mind and heart, spoken prayers and musical prayers will alternate at intervals, drawing us together in thanks for all that we are given.

Below are some more words giving a sense of what this ceremony will be like. Also included are some logistical details and basic agreements of respect that are needed for attending a spiritual gathering on the Mountain in the snow. Plus a song.

Grandmother Agnes Baker-Pilgrim and I, along with Gentle Thunder, Talia Rose, Windsong, Bobcat and many more all look forward to seeing you on the Mountain. : )

To hi do (Peace, Cherokee). Ka no gia (Enjoy and sing about life, Cherokee).

Marie

541-778-1612, marie@nv-wo-ticompass.com, www.nv-wo-ticompass.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At closing, beautiful music will provide a peaceful transition from spoken words to a silent contemplation of the Mountain and its gifts to us.

Feel thanks, touch the snow, spread the blessings.

While we are standing together in ceremony, the receptive crystals of water in the snow will feel the gratitude that we have for the Mountain. As the music ends, we can all reach out together to touch the snow and ask it silently to carry our feelings of appreciation down the rolling slopes and under the trees all around the mountain. With snowmelt, the snow crystals will become water flowing downhill, carrying our blessings to all beings. Afterwards, people are invited to write blessings in the snow, "I love you Mountain." "I love you Earth."


The Earth is our Grandmother and Mother All beings by nature are Buddha

She is sacred. as snow by nature is water.

Every step that is taken upon Her Apart from water there is no snow,

should be as a prayer. apart from beings no Buddha

-- White Buffalo Calf Woman, Lakota (Sioux), Nirvana is right here before our eyes.

in Black Elk, "The Sacred Pipe" -- Hakuin Zenji, "Song of Zazen"



For more information about why we are doing this, go to www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org, "Blessing Mount Ashland,Wednesday April 16, 1:00 pm" and if you hold the cursor on that box, you will see the following come up as choices: "All Cultures Honor Earth," "Dalai Lama,Condor Feather," and "Prayers not Politics."

Agreements

The Blessing is a ceremony, not a performance or a concert, and so of course we need to ask the folks who come to behave accordingly, in the most respectful fashion, considerate of others and the Earth. Here are some basic agreements we all share.

The ceremony is open to all, free of charge. Following Indian ways, a blanket will be laid out where offerings of money may be placed to cover travelling expenses and other costs. (The ceremony has no paid staff.) And of course, tobacco and other gifts from the heart may be offered directly to the drummers, elders, and others.

Prayers with words or music are best honored by silent receptivity, not by responding with words, or by drumming or singing along.

Whatever might disrupt the focus of prayer should be kept away from the ceremony, including dogs, cigarette smoke, and the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Please leave nothing that you came with except your gifts, your love and your gratitude.

Planning

Car-pooling is a recommended. In addition to the ceremony time of 1 ½ hours, you may want to set aside about two-three hours for traveling up and down the mountain and spending some time before or after.

The ceremony will take place on the open slope directly in front of the ski area's parking lot.

You may wish to bring something to sit on, a chair or a blanket, as well as warm clothing and a hot water bottle. Be prepared for weather changes. The ceremony will take place in whatever conditions the Mountain provides.

Thanks to the Mount Ashland Association for cooperating with the Blessing in many ways, such as keeping their restrooms open on this day, after the close of the regular season. No other services or food will be available.

If you wish, please rsvp to info@agnesbakerpilgrim.org, so we will have an idea of how many folks to plan for. Also let us know if you wish to volunteer. If we find someone to coordinate carpooling, that information will be posted at www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org, Blessing Mount Ashland.



A Song

We're gonna bless Mount Ashland, we're gonna show her that we care,

we're gonna touch the snow, spread our blessings everywhere.

When we let our love flow, wherever it may go, high or low, don't say no,

we're gonna reap just what we sow,

when we let our love flow,

through the snow.

Note:

Masaru Emoto's book, The Hidden Messages in Water, is the source of the idea that blessings may be spread by touching the snow/water, just as water was shown by his photographs to be transformed by the prayers that were said with it. As Grandmother Agnes Baker-Pilgrim says, 'Water listens,"

See www.masaru-emoto.net/english/entop.html


Robert Brothers, Ph.D.
volunteer editor, www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org
helper, Sacred Salmon Ceremony, Blessing Mount Ashland, First Nations' Day 2006
co-founder, Agnes Baker Pilgrim Fund
board member, Lomakatsi Restoration Project, www.lomakatsi.org
707-601-0818 (message only when I am home in the mountains)

[Allison]

Dear Friends,



A wonderfully diverse group of people will be offering prayers, spoken and musical at this interfaith ceremony:



Taowhywee, Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim (Takelma)



Gentle Thunder (Cree), Native American flute



Alice DiMicele, vocals, guitar Talia Rose, vocals, Celtic Harp



Father Sean Weeks, Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Ashland



Coyote Marie Hunter-Ripper (Cherokee, Chactaw)



Windsong, vocals, guitar Dave Marston, Rogue Valley Peace Choir



Nancy Bloom, vocals, hand drum



Reverend Kurt Katzmar, Medford Congregational United Church of Christ



Ed Little Crow (Dakota)



Drum Group with Rupert (Maha), Gary (Blackfeet), and more



Bobcat Robert Brothers, Lomakatsi Restoration Project

~



While we are standing together in ceremony, the receptive crystals of water in the snow will feel the gratitude that we have for the Mountain. These feelings will spread from the snow beneath our feet and in our hands, down the rolling slopes and under the trees all around the mountain. With snowmelt, the snow crystals will become water flowing downhill, carrying our blessings to all beings.



More information is included below, and at www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org



I look forward to seeing you there, or giving thanks for the Mountain from wherever you are. : )



Love,



Bobcat



Robert Brothers, Ph.D.

helper, www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org , Blessing Mount Ashland,

Salmon Ceremony, First Nations' Day 2006
board member, Lomakatsi Restoration Project, www.lomakatsi.org
707-601-0818