Charles Lawrence & Kulkijat performing Return to the Earth. More videos to be released!
Documentation from Four Winds concert in Sammatti, Finland, in August 2023. Photographs by Mia Johnsson.
Four Winds Concert 2023
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
Greetings from Charles Lawrence
Grandpa Charles interview (part 1)
An interview with Charles Lawrence who talks about some turning points of his life. Length 40 minutes.
Made by Kalle Kuisma in May 2019.
Music recorded at Four Winds Summer Camp 2019 evening jam session, with Tuomas Rounakari, Henri Tuomi, Meri Hietala and Kalle Kuisma.
Podcast EXTRA
Charles Lawrence talking with Kalle Kuisma after the Four Winds Concert in May 2019. This podcast extra features live music by Charles Lawrence, Tuomas Rounakari, Duo Hurme, Klava and Munnaripartio.
Concert Memories
One is Our Earth – Four Winds Concert in Malmisali, Helsinki on 10th May 2019 was one of the kind, and surely left its mark to everyone participating.
The production crew likes to thank all the wonderful Artists, the audience, technical staff at Malmitalo – Sauli Närhi, lights and Antti Vanhanen, sound – and all who assisted and supported in making the concert happen!
Thanks also to Lea Kömi for these great photos and Pekka Varis and Teemu Ajatus for video documenting.
Sacred Pipe Ceremony
Sunday 19th May at 10 am – 4 pm.
Charles Lawrence’s Sacred Pipe Ceremony and Full Moon Drum Circle,
Oulunkylä Old Wooden School, Teinintie 8.
45 € Four Winds members or 50 € otherwise. Send mail to tell that you will be there: info(at)fourwinds.fi / Paymenents: vweb shop or with cash on the door.
There’s a break so bring a lunch if you like. Tea and snacks available.
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