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A Practical Guide To Ceremonies And Traditions
Bear & Company Inner Traditions Publishing 2002 ISBN #187918195-9 I became interested in J. T. Garrett's work through reading The Cherokee Herbal. He is a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation in North Caroline, and is an educator and healer. His son, Michael Tlanusta Garrett, is author of Walking On The Wind, and co-author, with his father, of Medicine Of The Cherokee.Together, they convene a Full Circle gathering each fall, where they teach ceremonies for right relationship. Perhaps teach is too strong a word. Perhaps facilitate is a better word. Between their education as members of their tribe, and their education in their given occupations (all of which I personally consider "formal" education), these gentlemen have gifted the world with a wonderful tool of empowerment. A small tool in size - 191 pages, 5 1/2"Footnotes by 8 1/4" - an enormous tool in scope, filled with profound words of wisdom waiting to be put to use. In the introduction, the Garretts discuss American Indian traditions, and the inter-relationship between each person and every other living thing. In the introduction is also where a very interesting device came into play - the device of words of consequence appearing in bold lettering in the middle of a paragraph. Not since Dennis Rodman's autobiography (and did that ever push the envelope style wise, as well as content wise!) have I seen a small change make such a large difference. The words do not shout at you, as say capitalization does on the Internet ... they ask your eyes to return and review what you have just read. The background of the Full Circle is discussed, as well as the ramifications of a group setting. The premise of a Full Circle is universal in scope, applying to Native Americans and non-Native Americans. People are more alike than different in human spirit. 1 This says it all! The Full Circle describes the cycle of knowing, being and doing that allow us to maintain balance and harmony in our lives. In Part One: Traditional Ways, the Garretts discuss the concept of family, and how it differs for Native Americans and non-Native Americans. They discuss the Universal Circle, the Four Directions and how we move around the circle of life, from infant, to adolescent, to adult, to Elder. A "biggee" for me in this chapter was the concept of "non-interference". How it is best to walk away, to allow other people to learn their lessons, and to not take the energy of their lesson away with you. It is a respectful, gentle concept - one that everyone needs to learn at some point in their life.The traditions of naming, of the use of masks and of the give-away are also dealt with. In my studies I have often found it strange that we find these concepts in other cultures, by almost never, to my knowledge, in the western culture. In Part Two: Wellness And The Healing Way, the Garretts discuss the distinction between being and doing, and how the act of being serves us much better than being overly concerned with the act of doing. As in other sections of this book, Native American philosophy is brought into play, sometime identifying the source as "a Native American elder", or a "Medicine Man", or sometimes by name. Respect for the source, the material and the reader are of paramount importance. There is a wonderful graphic in this section of the Sacred Tree Of Life, with the Universal Circle superimposed over it. What a wonderful way to see the interconnectedness of all things in life! This leads directly to a discussion of the Four Directions, which are related in the following manner: East is the Path Of The Sun, and Spirituality; South is the Path Of Peace, and the natural way of doing things; West is the Path Of Introspection, and the physical environment; North is the Path Of Quiet, and the mental self. An "inner circle" is added, which consists of the following, which are attributed to the four dimensions: belonging (East), mastery (South), independence (West) and generosity (North). Balance, or a state of imbalance, exists in our lives when one or more of these qualities is missing or not aligned correctly. Importance is placed in this section on finding the source of a person's problem, rather than treating the symptoms. (This readily brought to mind a type A employer of mine from the past: every time a problem arose, he wanted to know "Who" and not "Why". Placing blame on the "Who" never resolved anything. Working with the "Why" brought about resolution. In this case - the "Why" pretty much lead directly back to the employer himself!) In Part Three: The Healing Way In Full Circle, the Garretts look at how personal rebalancing is brought about within a Full Circle ceremony. The four phases of the ceremony (entrance, threshold, purification and emergence) are discussed, along with specific exercises meant to facilitate the process. I found the book to be of value in sharing Native American ways,but I also found it to be of value to me both as an individual (in my own spiritual work) and in my professional life (as a Tarot counselor). This book is a tremendous resource for anyone wanting to do work with groups of people, say in a women's circle or in any group that was composed of individuals that had like concerns or goals. The template from this book could conceivably also be used in business or career settings. I highly recommend it to everyone wanting to add a tool of personal empowerment into their lives. Thank you for visiting my Personal Empowerment page. May your day be Blessed. Mitakuye Oyasin - For All Of Our Relations.
Bonnie Cehovet Footnotes: 1. ibid. page 14.
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