October 2008 - Featured Articles

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My Walk in Beauty Upon The Good Red Road
By Carolyn Hines (Whiteshawl)

I can recall clearly the summer solstice events 6 years ago, which lead me upon my spiritual path. It was June 21, 2002, and I was enjoying the drumming and festivities at Riverside Park, celebrating National Aboriginal Day. I remember staying until the sun sank far below the hills.

I found the call of those same drums reached me again when I later returned to a drum circle that evening, staying until 4 a.m. During that time, I danced under a full moon holding "River of Love", a Brazilian moon quartz crystal skull, of which I became caretaker. I walked out to the end of the pier and looked up to the night sky, asking the Heavens, "Please bring me a teacher". I felt at a crossroads in my life and wanted to heal old wounds, find my true gifts, and be able to eventually help others on their healing journey.

Time went by and, two months later, I was introduced to a Navajo elder and his clan brother, from Arizona. At that meeting, my two friends and I were invited to our first sweat lodge ceremony. "What an honor," I thought.

The next day, we arrived to learn how a traditional fire was built, how the lava rocks were carried inside to the lodge's pit, how to use plant medicines to help in our healing and how to come together as family to pray. These would become the foundations of my new journey upon The Good Red Road.

As I never knew either set of my birth grandparents, my Navajo elder took me as a granddaughter and, later, my friends, whom we were coming to for a sweat lodge ceremony, became my spiritual family; their mother taking me in as a granddaughter as well. From this moment, we would begin attending other sacred ceremonies, some running all night and into the morning, allowing us to become fully immersed in this sacred way of living.

Through these experiences, I would be able to use new tools and gifts to assist in my own family relationships, which have continued to flourish to this day. I believe these past years have truly been an answer to prayer. I have been very fortunate and have been allowed to help care-take this sacred lodge and home and, in doing so, have assisted in keeping the old ways alive for future generations. Many of these teachings I take into everyday life and they have molded who I am today.

As my grandfather says, "Here in the dark of the lodge we are all equal. No one is greater than the next. We are all one."

Spirituality is not a course you take if you have enough money. It is a way of life. Some people are born into it. Others find their way upon a path at different moments of their lives. I am grateful and willing to share these ways with an open, loving heart in order to show respect for these teachings and help keep them alive. During this time, I have hosted my own radio program at our local university and it has grown into one that showcases native spirituality & storytelling, as we each have a story to share.

With heart felt love & respect,
Carolyn Hines (Whiteshawl)

Carolyn hosts a weekly radio show www.thex.ca, 92.5 F.M., Cable 106.1 at TRU, Thursday at noon, called "The Goddess & Nellie", to do with Native Spirituality & Storytelling. You can connect with Carolyn at the following websites: http://www.myspace.com/goddess1966 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=655202208