Hymn of Praise

Gifted May 17, 2005
Twisted Sisters pattern by Ami Simms



Complex and enigmatic, intense and unexpected, filled with seemingly random combinations ! yet grounde din rich, earty tones and bound together with the colors of sun and sky.


For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.


A very long time ago, the men of the village went on a hunt. It was the dead of winter and there was very little food in the village. The women and children were left behind due to the heavy snowfall. The men were only supposed to be away for three sunsets but due to the heavy snow they became lost. Today we call it a "white-out." They were gone for over 20 sunsets and when they came back to the village, all the children ran out to greet them.

The men were happy to see the children but were perplexed as there were no women to greet them. As they entered the village, they found all of the women dead. The women had sacrified themselves so that the children could live. They gave the children all of the food.

The village Shaman told the men "We must dance the Dance of Thanksgiving, for the bounty we have returned with." The men cried out, "How can we have a Thanksgiving Dance with all of our women gone?" The Shaman simply said, "Trust in the Creator."

The men made plans to have a Thanksgiving Dance and that night the Creator came to the Shaman. She told him to do something unthinkable. She told him to bury all of the women together, in a single shallow grave.

The next morning all of the women were buried together. That night, the men and the children danced the Thanksgiving Dance with heavy hearts. The Creator caused a great sleep to come over the village and sent a wonderful spirit to the village. The spirit was tall and stately and played a flute. He went to the grave and started to play his flute. He bent over the grave and as he played, tears fell from his eyes. These tears became seeds of corn and he played and played and cried and cried.

At the end of 20 sunsets our Creator said to him, "Kokopelli, you shall forever remain hunched over as a tribute to the maidens who will forever be known as the Corn Maidens. Your tears which came from your heart have become seeds of life, corn. Our people shall never go hungry again for you have given them life."



"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."
Rachel Carson

"May the moon bring you new strength by day
and the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your fears
and the breeze invigorate your being
May you all the days of your life
walk gently through the world and know its love"
Native American blessing

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
Kahlil Gibran