PRAYER CIRCLE
PLATTE RIVER COLORADO
The area by the Platte River near Sedalia,
Colorado is a beautiful site. Benny LeBeau came to the site
on April 9, 2004 to bury the sacred crystal and magnetic
stone and consecrate the site for the May 8, 2004 prayer
circle. Elder LeBeau used drumming and singing to attach
this section of the Platte River to the pie of the Medicine
Wheel that lies between the Arkansas and the Platte Rivers.
Although the site is inside the Medicine Wheel, it represented
the part of the pie of the circle that is on the Medicine
Wheel circle.
The site is a natural circle on a raised
area. It is graced with many rocks and several large pine
trees. There is much quartz in the rocks. The river runs
on the west side of the site. White Eagle and helpers put
up stakes representing the four directions around the site
and made the east door entrance transparent to all who came
to the Prayer Circle on May 8th.
The day began cold at 5:30 a.m. in the mountains
in Colorado. Participants were smudged as they came through
the east door. The Four Directions were called in. Then
using Elder LeBeau’s words, White Eagle announced
the intention for the day and we began drumming. . After
an hour of drumming, White Eagle said prayers for Mother
Earth and the animals and asked for prayers from the participants.
Then we began to drum again.
Participants stopped to eat breakfast at
8:30 and after breakfast White Eagle asked for Prayer Sticks,
colors, designs, etc. from participants to honor the ancient
ones starting in the South. Participants placed these to
the center west of the central fire. Participants sang during
this ceremony. Then we drummed for an hour.
At 11:30 White Eagle asked participants to
bring their crystals and other sacred objects to the center
of the Prayer circle and place them under the Buffalo Mother
Drum. Participants sang songs and danced. White Eagle began
rattling to open the vibration and then asked participants
to join in drumming while singing a connecting song. The
day had warmed to become very comfortable. There was sun
and clouds. The ravens and eagles were flying above us.
Many saw eagles as they came to the ceremony, flying down
the Platte river and circling above. At this time, 70+ participants
had arrived.
At 12:00 p.m., the apex, a Lakota woman held
the Chanunpa pipe ceremony. Many were moved to tears at
this time and many felt the vibrational energy rise at Yellowstone
Park from very low to very high. The energy from Mother
Earth was connected to the participants and from the participants
to Mother Earth to renew our sacred relationship with her.
Singing started in the south and ended with the drumming
group in the north. Dancing and drumming with all the participants
began and continued until the lunch break at 1:30.
At 2:00, White Eagle began the acknowledgment
of the sacred water. All participants threw seeds and herbs
into the Platte River so the offerings would be carried
as a sacred message to the universe when the plants arrive.
All sprinkled the sacred water from the Platte River at
their drumming sites and onto the sacred fire along with
the herbs and seeds. Many songs were sung at this time.
We drummed until 3:30.
After the break, White Eagle announced the
ceremony to honor the sacred path for ourselves with the
Mountain song. He asked for guidance and wisdom of the mountain
and the waterway gods as our journey begins here. White
Eagle told us that all who came to this site on this day
would not be the same. We would leave with a higher spiritual
feeling inside because of our intentions and participation
at this ceremony. Many could feel their own vibrational
energy become higher. White Eagle offered a prayer for guidance
and wisdom and we drummed until 4:30 p.m.
At 4:30, White Eagle closed the ceremony by
thanking and releasing the Four Directions.
In conclusion, we were many different races,
beliefs, and ages and all were connected in a peaceful,
loving way. Elder LeBeau told us to cooperate and communicate
and that did occur at this site. There was communication
during the day which brought about compromise between the
diverse belief systems of the participants. We have received
many e-mails from the participants telling us that they
felt the ceremony was a highlight of their lives and they
were so glad they attended. We are now waiting for word
from Benny LeBeau to see what his feelings were about the
day and what occurred at his site at the Grand Tetons.
Platte River Medicine
Wheel Ceremony at Sedalia, Colorado:
PLATTE RIVER PROTOCOL: THE
REUNION OF THE UNIVERSE And MOTHER EARTH'S CHILDREN THE
MAGNIFICENT 19 + 1 = 20
MOUNTAINS & WATERWAYS MEDICINE WHEEL CEREMONY
Many traditional and non-traditional planning
meetings have taken place. However, there was a question
in regard to the participation of many nations and how they
are to connect on 20 Sacred Sites. This connection came
together when an Eastern Shoshone Spiritual leader, Bennie
Le Beau from the Easter Shoshone Nation in Wyoming came
with a message: Mother Earth is calling for all cultures
to come together in Sacred Ceremonies now to restore balance
and harmony. To help alleviate worldwide concerns about
past, present and future earthquakes and volcanic activities
within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and other
areas of the medicine wheel ceremony. Many elders of the
World have envisioned a unified ceremony to include the
western territory of North America.
6:00-6:30 AM MORNING SONGS to welcome the
sun as it appears upon the horizon.
8:30AM BREAKFAST (all meals will be on your own).
10:00AM MIDMORNING-presentation of prayer sticks, colors,
etc. to the central "fire". Drumming and singing
to the vibration song lines of the four directions, south
to north and east to west.
11:30AM PLACING OF CRYSTALS & OTHER SACRED OBJECTS.
Everyone is invited to bring and place sacred objects. Connecting
songs will start very softly and increase as more songs
are sung.
12:00PM THE SKY PATH OF THE HOLY ONES is connected when
the energy is most powerful and direct. This is for Mother
Earth to acknowledge you and you to acknowledge Mother Earth
in renewing your sacred relationship with her. This is the
apex of the drumming.
1:30PM LUNCH/BREAK
2:00PM HONORING MOTHER EARTH preparing our offerings to
carry the sacred message to the universe.
3:45PM BREAK
4:00PM HONORING THE SACRED PATH FOR THE FIVE FINGERED ONES.
Blessings will be taken to the mountain or waterway Gods
for their guidance and wisdom as our journey begins.
5:45PM CLOSING CEREMONY AND FAREWELLS: OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY
IS TO CLEAN UP THE AREA BEFORE LEAVING FOR HOME AND TO SHARE
OUR EXPERIENCES WITH OUR LOVED ONES.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need to bring the following
items: food, water, seating, trash bags, sunscreen, weather
appropriate clothing, small first aid kit and bug repellent,
(offerings such as herbs, cornmeal, tobacco). Restroom facilities
are available.
Directions:
Go south on I-25, take Highway 85 exit just before Castle
Rock go west on Highwy 85 to Sedalia. From Sedalia go south
on Highway 67 until you reach Sprucewood (fork in the Road).Take
the right fork down to Platte River Road, Turn left and
go about .8 miles to the Willow Bend Picnic Area
Alternate Route: Directions for people coming
from the west. Go I-70 west to the C-470 exit and stay on
C-470 to the Santa Fe exit (Highway 85). Turn right or south
on Santa Fe toward Castlerock. Turn right on Highway 67
(Manhart Street) towards Sedalia and stay on Highway 67
towards Deckers to Sprucewood. In Sprucewood there is a
fork in the road; take the right fork that leads down to
the river. At Platte River Drive turn left for about .8
miles and on the right is the Willow Bend picnic area.
There is limited parking so carpool if possible.
