Many times we begin with the idea of a trip, of places to go, of things to accomplish, only to find out we are in the hands and care of something greater than ourselves, and we have begun a magical, mystical journey.

We stand in awe of the beauty and synchronicity that far surpasses what we would have "planned." The summer of 1996 will always be a milestone for twenty of us here at Snow Hill Farm. Grandmother sent word that she was going on one of her Medicine Walkabouts, at the beginning of June, and that anyone interested could accompany her on this journey. She said only those willing to go out and help wherever needed, and who were willing to give up the need to control the day, would be welcome.

She told us that Spirit would lead us each day to wherever we needed to be, and at what time we need to arrive, and we would simply offer each day to be where we could best serve and be of assistance to all our relations. We were to live daily as a free person, free of limits set-up by our own lack of knowing.

She said we would be living outdoors and in nature. We would be open to discover parts of the Nation we had never seen. We would spend time every ten miles to make an offering of cornmeal to the earth and offer prayers to all our relations.

She said we would need to provide means to cover about ten to fifteen thousand miles of travel expenses for ourselves. She asked that we car pool to share the costs of daily meals and gas. We immediately began to plan who was going, what cars we would take and all the obvious things that we needed to control.

We began to pack our bags and decide all the stuff we would need. We began to wonder how long would we be out on the road. When in June would we be going? When would we be coming back? What routes would we be taking? Where would we be going first? We sent her all our questions.

She responded. This is not an intensive training, nor would anyone want to go if we were entertaining this as a vacation. She said it would be work, long days, many miles and much time. She said she planned to leave whenever she could and hoped that was the first week of June. Also that she thought we might be back in about three weeks to three months. That we could plan to be home for sure by Great Pine! But we could come back whenever we needed to, she would keep going until her journey was complete. She told us to just pack enough for one week and said to bring certain apparel to protect our legs in climbing and desert living! She wanted us to fit all our "stuff" into one small bag!

We pressed further and asked for certain dates we would be leaving and coming back. No precise answers ever came. She said we must be ready to go at a moment’s notice and that she would not wait for anyone! As we waited and waited for the right moment, Grandmother simply mentioned that she was making ceremony and altars.

Little did we know she was working up a hurricane that followed us everywhere we went!! When would we leave? Was Grandmother playing Coyote with us? Maybe she does not want us to go? She would just say "no", if that was the case. Then the call came in! Grandma said "We have the Winds, time to go, let’s get on the road!

On June 12, 1996, the day finally came to leave and we were ready and eager. Eager for what? We didn’t even know what road we would take! We didn’t know if we were going to go North, South, East or West. We didn’t care, we were excited and willing to live the adventure!

We still didn’t know what direction we would be going, but we were just happy to be moving! So we left Ohio in a caravan of three vehicles and an RV. We covered eight hours and four hundred miles some days and fifteen minutes and a quarter mile on other days. We wanted to attend two important events out West, while passing through the various States, where, with Grandmother we did some Earth Medicine, calling the rain everywhere we went, healing the land and all its inhabitants. We chanted, danced and prayed for all our relations.

At the first event, in Malibu, we were to attend Spirits’ Echo Gathering, honoring Arvol Looking Horse’s powerful vision of global healing. Arvol Looking Horse is the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf of the Lakota Nation. He had declared June 21, 1996, as World Peace and Prayer Day, focusing on global healing. There were speakers and healers from all over the world. Grandmother was asked to attend. Kenny Loggins and many other performers entertained at this event which we enjoyed very much. Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha concluded the conference speaking about peace.

We reached the Colorado Rockies in all their grandeur and magnificence. We felt we were in God’s church, here in these high places of prayer and overwhelming beauty where winds bring kisses from the ancients in the stones and pines. Here, Grandmother shared that Standing Elk had sent out a message that every hundred miles there is a sacred site all across the United Sates.

She gave us a Cherokee prayer and we began making cornmeal offerings every ten miles to acknowledge the Sacred Earth. Every morning we broke camp and washed our cars with the same care as in the old days when people used to brush their horses. Crow would always signal to us when it was time to leave or if we should stay! At times if we ignored her, her cry would become insistant, until we paid attention.

As the days went by, we continued knitting the Nation back together with prayers, offerings, songs, chanting and speaking to those we met, sharing love and joy. Everyday we had magical and powerful encounters.

One day, one of our group met a lovely lady at a rest site. As they started talking to each other, both discovered that they were going through some similar emotions. Taking the time to connect brought healing to both of them. This went on in many ways, because there was always a lot of connecting and sharing with all our relations.

Most people across the land and in many places around the world desire to assist, in knowing and understanding themselves better. This desire transcends cultures, religions and locations. When we arrived in Malibu for our special gathering, we brought with us the hope and desires of all we had met adding a strength to the prayers and activities in the sacred mountains where we gathered.

Chants and songs echoed off the canyon walls, restoring a sense of caring from many places and peoples. It was very refreshing to camp by the very soothing and hypnotic energy of the Pacific ocean. We became very good at setting up tents at night in the darkness!

We also learned to be very quiet at doing it! Our neighbors would awake, startled to see our "miniature village" in the morning, and amazed at how quietly we had put it together. Poles, banners, tents, and a fully equipped kitchen were all in place in about 45 minutes!! What an accomplishment for city people!! We also learned where to get the fastest and least expensive food (most of our road stops were pretty brief!). We could tell you all about the best campgrounds.

For us the best ones had grass to camp on and some trees for shade!!!. In the desert area you do not get that luxury!! We always felt much gratitude for these wonderful trees.

One morning we awoke at beautiful Lake Powell in Utah. We arrived late that night and very quickly found ourselves nestled and ready for sleep. In the morning, after a swim in clear waters, we got ready to leave. When we were packed and ready to go we moved in "grand procession" to the registration office to make a few calls about the ferry schedule for crossing the lake.

As time passed, again we waited for the crows to signal us when to move or when we should leave! We became restless!! Out came the typewriters, out came the printers and here we found ourselves typing frantically in a mad effort to get all of our handouts replenished. Before long we realized it was getting too late and decided to stay the night. This day we managed to travel only one hundred yards!

Every day of our journey brought us more beauty, more adventures and more to appreciate. Everywhere we went, we sang, laughed and shared. The Rains would come and bless the lands, quenching months or sometimes years of thirst. There were many rainbows, which Grandmother taught us, are doorways to the other dimensions through which the Ancients come to us to assist us in all things.

At Four Corners, the second event we attended, the gathering, was focused on dissolving boundaries between nations, states, countries, cultures, peoples, all things. All types of people appeared for the Sunrise Ceremony; their enthusiasm and dancing made for a bright and cheerful celebration. We unfurled our peace flag, which was a huge tie-dyed sheet representing a very colorful peace symbol. Two of us climbed atop the roof of the vending building to cheers of unity. The wind was blowing so hard, that we felt our friends would take flight at any moment!! About three hundred people were all looking at the peace banner, all facing a gloriously rising sun in the East. It was breath taking!

As we circled Four Corners, never quite knowing why, but following Great Spirit, we drove through each state again and again, hundreds of miles until we headed north to Utah, Idaho, Montana, and back to the Pacific coast, to Oregon and California again. We drove through mountains, golden wheat fields, lapis blue skies, rich rocky canyons, osprey flights, hawk cries, raven’s guidance, smiles, trials, tears and teachings. We visited Colorado, adding prayer sticks to mountain lands dedicated to safety during the Earth Changes, Mesa Verde, Utah National Arches, Lake Powell, and magnificent, expansive desert mile upon desert mile. Everywhere we drove, we found beauty.

In Mesa Verde, the ancient ruins of the Anasazi; we made very special friends. A beautiful doe came to us in our campsites and ate from our hands. She loved our food, stayed and lingered nearby. The next day she even decided to invite her mate and other friends to come and visit us!! Later on when she was alone, she came to Grandmother and laid at her feet, who said this was a sign and acknowledgment that this beautiful doe saw us as one of her people.

We walked the ruins and saw how the people in their great devotion lived peacefully and in harmony with all things. We walked through the old corridors, gazed in the kivas, felt the hot sun warm the stones, smelled the crooked cedar trees and were taken back to something greater than ourselves. Something which far surpassed what we saw. As we walked through these ancient patterns of peaceful living left by these courageous and gentle people, we found ourselves cooperating more with one another. When we left the Coyote Kiva site, driving past on our way back to camp, Coyote himself came out of the woods to acknowledge us. We accepted and were grateful. The Trickster honored us and we honored the Trickster. Going from site to site, we witnessed the harmony of a life well-lived. It restored our hope that when we live in right relationship, when we know and understand the wisdom from our Elders, we can live in peace for hundreds of years again.

When we drove to the Mesa tops, we were greeted with not one or two, but a tunnel of rainbows. We gazed in awe and demonstrated our gratitude openly, in prayer, with cornmeal offerings to the Creator, the Giver who Gives All Things. As we entered Los Angeles to meet contacts, we were overwhelmed by the pollution. Grandmother shared that over the thirty years she had been visiting the area, the smog and pollution had crept further and further out to the desert.

When we left, we had to drive two hours to Palm Springs before we could see any distance. What this reflects to us now about ourselves is sometimes too overwhelming. We are all in this together. The point of responsibility within each and everyone of us is to be conscious of our thoughts. Negative thoughts can destroy our atmosphere. The Sun is always with us and the Earth responds with love under each step, each mile. We encourage you to respond, and invite you to e-mail us with things you are doing, finding and discovering as you walk-about our precious Mother.

We are leaving soon on another journey to the homelands of North Carolina for two weeks. We will soon tell you of additional treasures we discovered. This is a beautiful world and we are family!