Native Prophesies unfold at the Midwest Shamanic Gathering

AS WE all filed out of the tipi to feel the cool morning air on our faces, I knew we were witness to an historic event taking place. We had all just participated in an all night ceremony, the second of four that will take place over a year. This will culminate in the passing of a chief's bundle to a Peruvian priest named Don Valerio Cohaila (Freddy) by Leonard Crowdog, spiritual leader and Chief of the Lakota Nation. For the first time in history, a South American will carry the bundle and title of Chief in the North American tradition. It is no mistake that it is happening to Don Valerio Cohaila. He has spent most of his life sharing the South American tradition with the tradition of the North. He is a powerful living example of the prophecy of the Hopi tradition coming to life in our time. According to that prophecy, there will come “ …a time when the Condor and Eagle fly together, then it will be a sign that the children of Mother Earth are re-awakening”. As Don Valerio Cohaila shares his wisdom and ceremonies with larger and larger communities around the country, he brings the prophecy closer to fruition with every step. It is this vision of fulfilling the prophecies that he brings to the Midwest Shamanic Gathering this year as he has done for the past three years.

Helping Don Valerio Cohaila to bring the energy of the Condor to the Gathering this year is another incredible Peruvian healer named Juan Gabriel Apaza. Thirty-year apprentice to the great Altomesayoq Don Manuel Q'espe, Don Juan brings a depth of knowledge and experience that is profound. In fact even as I write this article, I am still basking in the glow of that profound wisdom having spent the day in sacred ceremony with Don Juan on a mountain between the Sacred Valley and the Cusco Valley in Peru. Don Juan Apaza´s power to call on the spirits of the mountains, animals, and all of nature to connect them with those of the North brings a tangible sense of energetic connection with all that is. The opportunity to bring this power and energy in physical form to the United States at the Midwest Shamanic Gathering is very exciting indeed.

To balance this enormous energy from the South is a tall order, but we are blessed to welcome four accomplished healers and ceremonialists from the North American tradition this year as well. Dennis King, a healer from the Oneida nation brings a powerful lineage and many years of healing experience to his first year at the Gathering. As does Sylvia Sharma, a healer and Ceremonialist who organizes and leads Moondance ceremonies across the United States.

Jackie Red Woman, an Ottowa Storyteller, is no stranger to the prophesies as evidenced by her presentation at last year´s Gathering. Her stories, told with wit and humor, embody an understanding of the energy that is needed to bring all peoples together.

For those who have gotten a chance to come to know Dan Hull since the last Gathering, it has become clear that he too embodies the spirit of the prophesies and works hard to find common ground between people. This was abundantly clear at a recent Hoop Ceremony put together by Dan and Lee Hilfiker (co-organizer of the Midwest Shamanic Gathering). As I looked around the sacred arbor at the Hoop Ceremony to see all the colors of man dancing to the beat of the drum and sacred song, it became clear that something amazing is happening through the work of these elders.

North and South American traditions aren´t the only ones being represented at the Gathering this year. We are blessed to be joined again by Chaizong Lor—a contemporary Hmong shaman, Kari Tauring—a Norse staff carrier, Timothy Cope—the Midwest representative for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Mike Bourgneit—contemporary teacher of active dreaming, Anna Laabs— Massage Therapy/Reiki/Herbalism and Mesa Carrier; Keya Hutchins—Midwest Shamanic Gathering co-organizer and teacher-carrier of sacred song, Shamanic teacher—Misha Dancing Waters, Mary Rutherford—teacher of the Andean tradition and expert in facilitating soul-retrieval, and of course, as mentioned before, Lee Hilfiker, Saami Elder and teacher of many diverse traditions.

We are also blessed to welcome two other new contemporary teachers, Mary Stoffel—author and teacher of shamanic journeying, and Lena Swanson—shamanic healer and animal communicator.

With each year, the lineup of traditions being represented gets bigger and the connections between wisdom traditions grows stronger at the Gathering. Right here in the Midwest, the Eagle does fly with the Condor and many of the wisdom traditions from around the world come together to share in the experience of deep connection with each other. To join us at Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek WI, go to www.MidwestShamanicGathering.com and click on Registration Info.

As well as being co-founder of the Midwest Shamanic Gathering, Allen Brown leads trips to Peru to study with the Q´ero people in the Andes and medicine people in the Amazon. He also teaches and sponsors many events in the Midwest. To contact him visit www.DeepCurrents.com.