Grandmother Clara Shinobu Iura, Kirishima, Japan 2010

“Taking on another’s hurt and suffering, no matter what, builds compassion,” says Tibetan Grandmother, Tsering Dolma Gyaltong. ” Good things come from this attitude. You don’t need church if you have this mental attitude. The good in the world comes from humanity.”

The Grandmothers always remind us that through the loving intention of our thoughts we can all be powerful healers. We request to all who read this to take a minute to send a healing thought form to Japan and all who are suffering – particularly while seeing images and hearing about the devastation and its effects.

Lets join together and be active in our hearts and minds!

Our heartfelt compassion also extends to Grandmother Clara Shinobu Iura and her community in Japan. Clara recently hosted the 8th Gathering of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers in Kirishima, Japan, in which many prayers were made for her ancestors, the Japanese people and those who suffered at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In Prayer,

Marisol & Angelina
directors/co-founders
ma creative inc.

Bulletin from the cause: GRANDMOTHERS WISDOM: Reverence For All Creation
Go to Cause

Help Us Create a Fundraising Movement!!

“Life is very precious. Every blade of grass is our relative,” Grandmother Agnes reminds us. “Every one-legged – the tree people – needs our voice. The animal kingdom and the swimmers in the water need our voice. They are crying out for help.”

Dear “Grandmothers Wisdom” Cause Members,

We are excited that we already have 176 members supporting the Grandmothers cause. Thank you!

We now need your help to begin our fundraising movement through our cause page to help move this project along!!

Even a small donation would be very helpful at this time!

Also to let you know that once the project is complete, 100% of the profits of the Grandmothers Wisdom book will go directly to help each Grandmother and their communities.

Mitakuye Oyasin – All My Relations!!
Filed under: Uncategorized ]]> http://macreativeinc.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/help-us-create-a-fundraising-movement/feed/ 0 macreativeinc http://macreativeinc.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/please-visit-our-new-facebook-cause-page-grandmothers-wisdom-reverence-for-all-creation/ http://macreativeinc.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/please-visit-our-new-facebook-cause-page-grandmothers-wisdom-reverence-for-all-creation/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:41:43 +0000 macreativeinc http://macreativeinc.wordpress.com/?p=337 Continue reading →]]> As many of you know ma creative inc. has begun the documentation of the GRANDMOTHERS WISDOM: Reverence For All Creation project. We have completed documentation for four chapters – recently returning from the Brazilian Amazon – and at this moment are seeking support from you to assist us further.

We just opened a Facebook Cause page to spread more awareness and broaden our fundraising effort for the GRANDMOTHERS WISDOM project.  It will also give the opportunity to those who want contribute with smaller donations to help our mission too!

Please share our GRANDMOTHERS WISDOM: Reverence For All Creation cause page with your Facebook family, friends and colleagues. Your contribution will help us continue in our work to bring the Grandmothers message and teachings forward into the world.

If you do not have a Facebook account you can access our Cause page directly through the Causes website at www.causes.com.  Click on “causes” on the top menu and type GRANDMOTHERS WISDOM on the search box.

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact us at ma@macreativeinc.com

With blessings and gratitude,

Marisol & Angelina
directors/co-founders
ma creative inc.

Through our encounter with the magnificence of this forest, with Mother Nature in all her splendor, we begin to know ourselves and discover an opportunity to unveil an internal power that cannot compare with the seduction of the material world of illusion.

The pilgrimage into the rainforest and Céu do Mapiá, slowly strips away ones created identity and reveals a different kind of truth. It can leave one feeling very naked and vulnerable, however, when one surrenders, profound discoveries are made.

Padrinho Sebastião Mota de Melo was the founder of this community, known as Céu do Mapiá. It is here that two of the Grandmothers, Clara Shinobou Iura and Maria Alice Campos Freire live.

Padrinho Sebastião says, “We should live like the forest, where all the trees are the same from the smallest until the biggest. One tree falls as the other breaks but not one is complaining. They are all happy. All of this we need to learn to live within our community, following the peaceful teaching that Divine nature gives us. Observe how the world is made and how it can be improved. Be a good friend to your brother and sister, because without him or her it is more difficult. Nobody alone moved such a heavy thing as the world, but love, when it is proven in brotherhood and sisterhood, can be a lever that transforms the world.”

The Amazon rainforest teaches us to walk with a lot of respect. Through respecting all things we learn about equality, and equality keeps us humble and in harmony with all things.

It is the mission of this community of 800 people to strive to live in peace, harmony, truth, justice and love, with oneself, with one’s extended family of brothers and sisters, and with nature. A big undertaking! – one that Grandmother’s Clara and Maria Alice were drawn to when they first arrived in Mapiá over twenty years ago.

To be continued …

On the 1^st of October the Grandmothers began their tour with a visit to the Maharishi Vedic City in Fairfield, Iowa, hosted by The Global Mother Divine Organization for a conference titled Restoring Balance: The Indigenous Grandmothers’ Call To The Women Of The World. They shared the ceremonies, rituals and prophecies of their ancient traditions along with other indigenous grandmothers from different parts of the world.  While there, some of us, including some of the Grandmothers, took the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program, a meditation technique that you practice twice a day for twenty minutes. TM is a Vedic ancient meditation practice that comes from India and was brought to this part of the world by the Indian leader or “guru” of the TM Movement, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is amazing to see how the Grandmothers, who come from very traditional lines of prayer, are open to learning about other traditional practices – always with open hearts and minds!

Our next stop was Washington D.C. where we joined the Turtle Women Rising organization. They invited the Grandmothers to pray and drum with them in the Stand For Peace ceremony at the National Mall in honor of the U.S. Veterans.

Later on we went to the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, where the Grandmothers imparted their wisdom in a week long workshop. This special week was filled with traditional prayer, meditation, silence, ceremony and breakout sessions on topics such as prophecy, plant medicine and women’s issues. Throughout the week stay at Omega, each of the Grandmothers offered prayers, teachings and hands on healing from their own traditions.

Last but not least, on the 15^th of October we made our way to Japan, where Grandmother Clara Shinobu Iura was waiting to greet us as the hosting Grandmother for the 8^th official gathering of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers.

We spent the first few days in Nagoya, where the Grandmothers made a presentation at the United Nations COP10 conference that focused on Biological Diversity.

Grandmothers at COP10

Officials from all over the world gathered to set new targets for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for the next ten years. Important discussions took place and agreements were made about setting new targets to protect our natural resources, setting a protocol for fair access to the world’s genetic resources, the need to put an economic value on nature’s services that are currently use for free, and other biodiversity issues. Following the Grandmothers visit to COP10, delegates from more than 100 countries passed the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol sets terms on how countries will permit access to genetic resources, share the benefits arising from their use, and cooperate with one another in allegations of misuse. Emile Frison, Director General of Bioversity International stated that “The Protocol addresses issues that have pitted countries of the North and South against one other for decades. Its adoption should act as a balm on old wounds. It will help to create transparency and trust between countries, and trust is absolutely essential for countries to cooperate in using genetic resources in ways that promote food security and economic development.

After a few days in Nagoya we were ready to travel to the Amami Oshima Island for the Grandmothers gathering, but that night the largest rainfall in 125 years fell upon the island. This sadly caused much destruction and as a result the airport was closed and all flights were cancelled. In a matter of a single day, the gathering had to be moved and re-organized to receive over 200 participant guests in Kirishima, an active volcano range consisting of 23 volcanoes, located in the south of Japan. Kirishima is a place filled with scenic mountain beauty, highlands, crater lakes, natural hot springs and Shinto shrines. Kirishima plays an important role in the ancient mythology  of Japan. Mt. Takachiho is the place many Japanese go on pilgrimage. Legend says it is here that the god Ninigi-no-Mikoto descended to earth to found Japan. Before descending, he wanted to make sure that there was no more “mud of chaos” present on earth and so he threw his sword down to see if it would stick. Until today, this sword is still up there.

Not everyone made it to Kirishima as many local Amami people could not travel to the new location. The small pre -production team who had traveled to Amami ahead of time to prepare for the Grandmothers arrival were also stranded there.

Grandmother Clara at the opening fire ceremony

The Grandmothers decided that a fire would be lit  in Amami at the same time as the opening fire ceremony happened in Kirishima – to connect all those there with the main prayer that was put in motion for the Gathering.

After the public gathering, Grandmothers Clara, Maria Alice, Julieta, and Mona traveled to Nagasaki to lay down prayers at the hypocenter where the atomic bomb had descended. It was the day of the dead (El dia de los muertos), an important holiday in Mexico dedicated to prayer for those who have passed. Grandmother Julieta prayed the rosary, Clara and Maria Alice conducted their traditional Santo Daime mass for the souls and Mona had all participants circle up around the memorial in what she referred to as a “circle of life” prayer. It was quite a profound and important moment for the Grandmothers and for all of us present.

Along with all the manifestations of God through nature and its constant changes, a great wave of surrendering fell upon us allowing for a beautiful organic prayer to continue its natural way around the world.

We had the opportunity of joining Grandmother Mona at a healing retreat for women as part of a project she has been involved with for twenty-three years called The Turtle Island Project.

Women of all ages came together in a sacred circle to share who they are, where they come from, and to enter deep and vulnerable places inside themselves – for healing, nurturing community, connecting with nature, and to learn from Mona’s traditional ways of prayer.

It is rare to meet people who are immediately so welcoming. We were deeply moved by their open hearts, their life stories, and by the way they are creating relations that go beyond the blood ties that we have in our lives.

Part of the women’s healing journey was participating in a traditional sweat lodge. A few women were apprehensive about the idea of going into the lodge, but Grandmother Mona with her wisdom and caring ways instructed us all in the sacredness of this way of prayer and everyone felt safe and protected – like being in the womb of Mother Earth. Within the shell of the “turtle”, and the darkness of the space within it, we joined each other in purification, deep prayer, and song.

We have arrived home and don’t quite know how to sum up our journey in Arizona – a land and people of such beauty, power and humility. We give thanks for all we have experienced, and have received a deeper understanding of what it means to say All My Relations – Mitakuye Oyasin! – a simple prayer for Native Americans that honors the connection and sacredness of all life – to be related to all beings, to Mother Earth, all her inhabitants and beyond.

And so we entered – “life in a narrow place” – the town of Supai – located in the depths of Havasu Canyon. The Havasupai are the people of the blue green water. Every day Havasu Creek carries 38 million gallons of natural spring water into the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Along the way it sustains and nourishes the Supai village – its farms, livestock, and people.

Grandmother Mona’s mother was born and grew up in this unique and most remote village in North America. Supai is the heart of the Grand Canyon, surrounded by red canyon walls, deep green cottonwood trees, glistening streams and majestic waterfalls. In this isolated town mail is still delivered by a mule train to a population of approximately 650 people.

We saw that for Mona, returning to the home of her family, her ancestors, and to the embrace of the blue green water, was a balm for her spirit. We too felt like we were meeting a great mother in these crystal clear waters that washed over and renewed us. We have often been with the Grandmothers when they have been praying over the waters and for the waters, yet it was perhaps the first time that we truly encountered a real presence that came out of the waters to meet us. Grandmother Mona always says that when you approach water introduce yourself, ask permission to be there, ask the water to help bring clarity into your life and to clean you, even if the encounter is in the shower. Grandmother Mona explained that sometimes when tragic events happen around water it is often due to the ignorance that people have in not understanding and respecting the spirit of the water.

We were told that whatever you do in life you should do it with respect. Whether it is stepping into the water, greeting an elder, or shaking someone’s hand – to be present with all that we encounter, with respect and gratitude.

Life in this rare and remote place of breathtaking beauty has its advantages – where there is a feeling of family – everyone knows each other and people care and watch out for each other. It also has its challenges, particularly with the encroaching influences of the modern world, which has affected this community in many positive and negative ways.

We also visited Flagstaff where we had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Uqualla, a Havasupai brother of Mona’s, an extraordinary man with a true and rare gift for channeling spirit. He spoke of the importance of waking up to the fact that we are half spirit and half human. That now is the time to begin making changes because we cannot follow the old patterns anymore – that everything is now primed and ready for a new awakening – he said, let your movement in life speak of your truth. His words and songs were inspiring, insightful, and rang inside of us for days that followed.

Our days were incredibly rich and full. We are very grateful in our hearts to all the beautiful people we met and the openness they had toward us – sharing their traditions and themselves.

Today we travel to Tucson to participate in a women’s healing workshop that Mona has been conducting for over twenty years.

“Life in a narrow place” is the title of a book by Stephen Hirst – highly recommended reading!

This morning we met GMA Mona at the Hon-Dah Resort Casino where she was giving the keynote address at a conference called the MBrace Life Summit. The focus for this gathering was on the prevention and awareness of suicide in Native American communities.

Grandmother Mona is Hopi – Sun Clan, Tewa – Tobacco Clan, Havasupi – Water Clan. This is her family lineage and it is how many native people introduce themselves to each other – through their ancestry. In this way they always remain culturally and spiritually connected to their ancestors, and to each other, no matter where they are or what they do. We were sitting at a table with other native people and as they began to introduce themselves through their clans to Mona, it was discovered that they were related. Immediately it was a feeling of family around us.

Which brings us to one of the main themes of Mona’s address – connectedness – connectedness with the basic foundations of life – connectedness to our hearts, to family, to community and to traditions. Mona shared that it is through good relations that people feel a sense of belonging. She focused on the importance of strengthening the community through the awareness of cultural identity and helping others in need through reinforcing traditions in group experiences. A question she asked is “what traditions do we utilize to help our people?”.

The clarity and wisdom of her presentation was deeply moving and inspiring to all. We walked away with the understanding of the importance of good relations – with each other and all things – that at all times we must strive to be kind to each other, and to share and watch out for each other. We also received a deeper insight into the struggles of the Native American community, particularly with the younger generation, and the need to keep alive their cultural and spiritual traditions, which are the roots of who they are.

After the keynote was over questionnaires were given out for everyone to evaluate the presentation. When they were collected raffle tickets were given in gratitude for filling out the forms. Guess who won the raffle……..our Puerto Rican team member took home 3 baby squashes!!! See the photo below!

Such was our day. To be continued …