Category: inspiration

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How do things begin?

Interview with Charles Lawrence

After having an interview with Teemu Kassila about the early days of Four winds, some questions rose and Charles Lawrence is the one you can ask. As many of you know, Charles has been part of our community for decades and we appreciate him as our elder.

Charles came to Finland as a companion to Grandmother Carolyn on their way to Soviet Union as a part of Grandmothers for Peace tour in 1989. Bypass was in Helsinki and Charles started to get to know people active here at that time like Johannes Setälä, Teemu Kassila and others.

But what comes to Charles’ path in spirituality, that all started way back. Charles says that he was recognized by elders as chosen one at the time when he started to awaken from the cultural conditioning and everyday circles of business, working life etc.

Charles has very special bond to Hopi elder Grandmother Carolyn and he was guided by other elder by vision to get to meet her in Hotevilla, Arizona. Many of you, members to Four Winds, have heard Charles’ story about this. Roads in the desert of Arizona were at that time dirt roads and had no road signs. In those parts, during winter, you might get heavy snow fall and as Charles was driving he got into snowstorm. He drove without knowing the way and made turns intuitively. Finally he got somewhere and saw a person out there in the snow. He got out of his car and asked this person, described as “little bundle of blankets out by a woodpile” (who was chopping firewood) if she knew way to Grandmother Carolyn Tawangyama. Reply was short:“What do you want her for?” Charles replied “I was told to come to meet her.” Grandmother replied:“Well, you are looking at her!”and gave Charles the axe! This is how they met and Charles started to help her carrying the firewood and later on teachings. Charles was adopted by Grandmother Carolyn to her legal son. Part of Grandmother Carolyn’s path was to give Hopi prophecy forward to (House of Mica) U.N. Charles also had part in this process. These prophecies are described in the Prophecy rock, sacred to Hopi.

Hopi Elders, Thomas, Titus, Carolyn and others taught Charles the Hopi way. Teachings were sometimes very practical – about the planting of the seeds and making the harvest in the Autumn of corn, squash and beans. Also Charles attended rituals and prayers in Kiwa and took part in dances and catherings. “Hopi take it about 30 years to look at you, after 30 years I was “baptized” to Hopi”, Charles tells. Also part of Charles’training of becoming a teacher himself and an elder has included gatherings and working together with many elders like Wallace Black Elk from the Lakota tribe.

In the path of spirituality one might experience strong things and events impossible to explain. One of these experiences to Charles is the time when the Creator God of Hopi, Massau, appeared to him at Grandmother’s house. This sight lasted for many hours.

Later on in Finland Charles has got to know with Markku Lehmuskallio and Anastasia Lapsui, Tuomas Rounakari and many, many others on their own paths.

To Charles Four Winds is a family and for us he is our Grandpa. With long talk to Charles what is most interesting is the way spirits work with us. It is surprising how people get to know each other and how our destinies or futures are woven together in many ways. From native perspective it is Iktome, who weaves the web of life and the knots to make connections that we experience.

Written by Sisko Pajari

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Techqua Ikachi

Hopi: Techqua Ikachi - info
TECHQUA IKACHI
Land, My Life

Hopi elders in the village of Hotevilla (Arizona) relate the story of their people’s history. As witnesses themselves, they tell about their peaceful resistance against the American government’s ex¬propriating their land and depriving them of their rights. The film shows the beauty of their culture, putting its threatened existence into a global perspective. This unique document of both current and historical images is a plea for the dignity of all peoples and for ecological balance on this earth – a legacy of lasting political relevance.

Documentary, 89 min

by James Danaqyumptewa, Anka Schmid, Agnes Barmettler
Switzerland, 1989

Hopi: Techqua Ikachi Pt1 ENGLISH
PlayPlay
part 1
Hopi: Techqua Ikachi Pt2
PlayPlay
part 2
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Techqua Ikachi is the story of Land and Life told by Hopi Elders.
Grandmother Carolyn Tawangyama is also in the film, which was made in 1989.
The film is in two parts and has subtitles in English.
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Spring Equinox Vision

A Recent Vision commands attending to: A vision of what might happen IF great numbers of us, around the world were to sit at an appointed time and delicate 2-3 hours of simply beating a heart beat, while deliberately directing that resonance into Mother Earth.

For those unfamiliar with this one’s personal history: 43 years ago I was given a ‘vision’. (In NW Native Tradition that is called a ‘Glimmering’ when that happens, the one who received the ‘call’ is sent off on a quest to fulfill and discover what the vision meant.) At That time, I was studying with Joseph Campbell, the now famous Mythologist. The Vision came while attending a lecture by him, the topic of the lecture ‘the Lakota myth of the Broken Hoop’. Approaching Joe, after the lecture, he listened carefully as he usually did. Then pronounced that I needed to set out to discover what the vision had for this one.

The Vision: What would / might happen IF we simply began to gather once again as Ancestors did at the 4 turnings of the Year; to Celebrate our lives and remember ‘Sacred relationship’ with all things! We are at core level, agrarian beings, simply another species of Being here on the earth. As most of you know, Native elders, Hopi, Coast Salish, Lakota, Seneca with whom I had become familiar, were most eager to assist this one in realizing the Vision.
43 years later, that Vision has assisted this one and many many others to ‘return to’ Our Mother. In particular here in USA, the Vision eventually led to the re-birth of an Ancient Shoshone Ceremony, their version of the fabled ghost dance, naraya. 28 years have passed since the re-birth of naraya and close to 1,000 persons a year now celebrate that ceremony of spirit Renewal.

An aspect of that original Vision assisted in birthing 4 winds, Finland, where we have entered our 23rd year of existence. I am privileged, now, to visit with family on Iceland where I have joined in their Sacred Circles that feed the spirits of the people!

There was no way of predicting what might unfold as this one followed, step by step,, noting when and where the next step appeared. The quality of the vision speaks for itself! Literally Thousands of individuals have benefitted from participating with varying aspects of the Vision and becoming infected with the commanding Spirit to truly attend to personal re-newal..

The NEW Vision; What might happen.. IF… dedicated persons sit in Circle, Dedicate that time to be in harmony with one another and beat, in unison..the Sacred Heartbeat. The crucial timing seems to be Equinox, Spring 2019. I am intent on leaving the details of timing to those of you on the naming list, who feel ‘called’ to participate with the experiment.

There is a wide span of time zones to be considered. yet, I recall an event “Harmonic conversion’ when thousands around the world participated. In the gatherings in which I participated, the dynamic Spirited JOY that we all experienced enhanced our lives in countless ways.

Something IS calling! A ‘Cry’ from Her! Who will join this Vision?

Please consider what I have put forth here. Does the ‘Cry’ hold any appeal for you? If so, can you become full-heartedly active and contact all your friends, students, collaborators to co-Create an Equinox gathering, Equinox, the balance time..equal light and dark. I imagine that collectively there are more than 2,000 drums we are connected to.

My Spirited Imagination says that those 2.000& Drums will be delighted to be called into Presence to Honor our Mother! This will be a person to person mobilization.. Iktomi, the great Spider, Weaver of the Sacred Web that is Life is calling us together!

Eager to hear your thoughts!

Charles  Lawrence

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Peace Statement

The first peace
which is the most important,
is that which comes
within the souls of people
when they realize their relationship,
their oneness with the universe and all its powers,
and when they realize
that at the center of the universe
dwells the Great Spirit,
and that this center
is really everywhere.
it is within each of us.

(Black Elk)

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Call of the Winds

One is our Earth – Four Winds year 2019

The 23rd year of Four Winds has started with new ideas and a great power. This year’s theme is Earth, Emonen, Mother Earth, Our Blue Planet. We hope this will awaken in you the heartbeat that carries you and all your actions throughout this year.

  • The Annual Meeting is 15.2.2019 at 18 o’clock in Oulunkylä school, address: Teinintie 8 A, 00640 Helsinki. Welcome to join us!
  • Membership guidelines are at fourwinds.fi/en/join-the-association/
    Your membership will support the work of Four Winds. Members will also receive discounts from event fees! Our membership fee is 20 € / person/year. If you are unemployed, a student or a senior citizen, the fee is 10 €/year.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Four Winds really is? What is my relationship with Mother Earth?

The statement that started Four Winds 23 years ago makes me think about us and the reason why I do this work with great enthusiasm, open mind and heart. It was the message from Hopi grandmother Carolyn Tawangyama about an old prophecy that said: “A small group of people who overcome themselves will unite the profesies and bring back unity for all people.” Carolyn did her work for the people and for the creation, holding Sacred Circles and telling stories. It is a great prediction and a great thought.

We humans have an enormous intellectual capacity and great knowledge to do good with great love. Everything starts with us – from the inner desire to expand, evolve and heal ourselves and what is around us. It is a great gift to understand what unity means. With this year’s theme “One is Our Earth” we want to remember that we – 8 billion people, we all live on the same globe and we need to take care of it. 8,000,000,000 is a really wild number. And we all sit in the same boat (a Finnish saying) and we all travel on the same spacecraft called Tellus, sailing around the sun. We are part of a galaxy that is floating in the swirls of space inside a huge entirety. And we are all ONE, we are all equal and entitled to be here. When you think about this vastness and about the smallness of man it feels wild to think that we are just a small dot inside that vastness. The fact is, however, that man cannot live on the other planets of our solar system. We need all the elements that our planet provides: Air, Fire, Earth and Water. If any of these are missing, our life ends. This Unity embraces everything that this Earth carries, it embraces all other living beings and the breathing entity EARTH itself. How come this Earth produces everything that we need for living?

Unity starts with oneself and the acceptance of oneself as an entity that walks on this planet Tellus. So how are we using our time inside this spiral, this unique cycle of life? Are we demanding and criticising everything around us? Are we jealous, greedy and power-hungry? Do we think that our own thoughts and ideas are the very best ones? Is my God the best of them all? Are we downplaying ourselves and our skills, or could we show up and share our talents? Could we explore everything around us in order to learn from it and absorb those very things that support us and help us to deal with this unity? Could we be present in this moment, live in this great love, and take care of our own part in order for Mother Earth to be well.

The indigenous peoples have honoured these elements and themselves. They only took what they needed from the earth, respecting the Great Spirit that is present in everything. They understood that the earth does not need mankind, but the mankind needs the earth.

Do we have the will and the joint power to see beyond this destruction and abuse of natural resources? Can we see the Earth as a living, fertile, healthy and clean entity, without being attached with all the destruction and quarrelling? Can we work together, drum and breathe the healing power into ourselves and our environment? And above all, can we each contribute to our own wellbeing and that of Mother Earth by making our choices from the heart and by leaving the doubting mind behind?

This is Four Winds – an open and vibrant community helping everyone on their unique path. We bring together people from different cultures for dialogue and communal experience, to seek alternatives for self-development, to improve our relationship with nature, and finally to find ways to live in harmony with the universe.

“The wind doesn’t start anywhere, and is not ending anywhere. It is noted only by it´s touch.”

The Four Winds year “One Is Our Earth” brings along some great events.

WELCOME!

9-10.2 Minä Olen -fair at Finlandia Hall. You can meet us at the table nr. 149 that we are sharing with Arto Ukko Hämäläinen.

28.3 “One is Our Earth” -movie night at Malmitalo, Helsinki, with two screenings. “Hundred Drums” is filmed at our 20. Anniversary Celebration Camp. It is directed and filmed by Ville Tanttu, the assistant director is Hedda Halinen, and it is produced by Sophia Ehrnrooth and Playart Productions. The other movie is called “The Journey” by Markku Lehmuskallio and Anastasia Lapsui. It tells about the life cycle of the Nenets people in Siberia. After the screenings we have a moment for sharing. Anastasia Lapsui, Markku Lehmuskallio and Virko Kolulahti are present at the event as the initiators of the discussion.  Tickets 7 €, buy in advance here.

10.5 “One is Our Earth” -concert at Malmitalo, Helsinki. On stage we will see Tuomas Rounakari, Charles Lawrence, Duo Hurme, Klava and Munnaripartio. The performers bring their talents to respect Mother Earth and to bring joy to our shared moments. Tickets 28 €, buy in advance here.

25-28.7 “One is Our Earth” summer event in Lappeenranta, Marjola
Wizards from around the world will come and share their new insights about the universe. Rainbow Eagle and his wife Mary will share the teachings of “The Peace Shield” and showing the crafting of traditional American Indian pearl jewellery. Charles Lawrence and Tuomas Rounakari will guide us on our personal journeys. Swami Atmananda Puri and Swamini Anuradha Puri are coming from India. And much more interesting!
The summer event is now a “luxury camp” that has been much hoped for.  Accomodation is hotel-style with own toilets and showers. Now you can gather 2-4 friends to share a room! The venue is on a beautiful peninsula on the shore of Lake Saimaa. For children there is a playground and a sandy beach, and we will have a space for swimming.
It is easy to arrive by train and bus. We will eat vegetarian local food.
More information about the bookings will be soon available at our website.

During the year we will organize New Moon drumming circles, as well as celebrating the equinoxes. Our members call circles together spontaneously.

Our new home page is open at http://www.fourwinds.fi/

Have a look at the pages. I am grateful for all the feedback and whatever thoughts and hopes you have for the work of Four Winds.

Best regards,
Four Winds Tuki ry
Virko Kolulahti, pj.
virko@fourwinds.fi
+358452724003

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Tree of life

I am that force of life as ray of hope to mankind.
My root of depth unknown to man.
Fed was I by sacred waters
from rivers of Mother Earth.
My bark of strongest faith,
my branches in salutation
in search of all creation to reach
the highest form of my existence.
My energy of sparks of fire
from great Father Sun.
Possessor of all energies above and under.
I seek, I reach, I behold, I render.

My talk reaches the Sun,
my heart beats with Mother Earth.

My blood flows in harmony with rivers
that maintain the freshness of life.
My branches reach the skies
saluting day and night.
the Universe in constant balance
of being and truth.
My roots point to the center of the Earth and
is so feel the warmth of it’s inner core.
Reaching the warmth in every man’s heart.
Emulate my branches and roots.
Stretch your arms in unisons with mine and together
we pray the sacred prayer of the Tree of Life.

(Charles Lawrence)

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Inspired by Four Winds

We are inspired by: Nature, cultures, roots, folklore, ancient times, ancestors, ethno music, legends, indigenous people, spiritual movements, myths, world religions, animistic religions, alternative medicine, art education, world heritage, traditional chanting, traditional wailing, shamanism, dance, plays, poetry, ecologicity, vegetation, nature conservation, nutrition, craft, creation, and many other instructing!

You, too?

We are comforted by: Universal love, communality, individuality, interaction, tolerance, justice, collaboration, experience, emphasizing, expression, discovering, seeking, listening, telling, openness, courage, spirituality, dialogue, humanity, humaneness, eternal, soulfulness, consciousness of infinity, presence, past,  future, responsibility, respect, oneness, cordiality, empowering, emptying, fulfilling, healing, connection with nature, growing, renewing, slowing down, silence, introspection, dreams, symbolism, mandalas, myths, rituals, ceremonies, traditions, and many other exhilarating!

You, too?

We are walking with: The Great Spirit, love, light, energy, universe, Mother Earth, Mother Moon, Father Sun, Father Sky, spirits of nature, guides, companions, protectors, elements, cardinal directions, dimensions, lunar cycles, annual cycles, peace, and many other blessing!

You’re too? 

We belong with: Preservers of traditions, sages, prophets, healers, shamans, those who’re seeking, those who’ve found, curious, friends, loved ones, familiars and unfamiliars, old and young, and so many other great spirit!

You, too?

We’re organizing: Camps, nature excursions, retreats, advanced courses, lectures, concerts, social happenings, drumming sessions, sauna evenings, seminars, and so many other wonderful happenings. And in the future, we’ll walk  so many new and old paths together.

Join us! 

 

(text: Dia Hohdevirta, english translation: Tiina Pohjakallio)

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