Born for this time

How is it to be here today? 

In 2018 I attended a workshop, led by a Penobscot teacher from Maine, who is also a lawyer, author, visionary and a dynamic speaker. She could so easily be a cult leader but I’m pretty sure she isn’t.

Her name is Sherri Mitchell Weh’na Ha’Mu Kwasset (She Who Brings the Light). To I think about that day now I realize that I was like a new born - freshly freed from the cultic grip. Back then, there was so little support for survivors and although I was 4 years out of the cult, I was largely on my own, figuring out what had happened to me. 

These days, I am too focused on my work, not interested, and too skeptical to follow any teachers closely. Since January however, I've found myself wanting to know what she was up to and curious how she was responding to the changing national leadership. I like a lot of what she says. 

I listened to a recent interview, on the “Matriarch Movement” podcast. I didn't know about this movement until I heard this one interview. It appears to be an indigenous-led shift to consciously bring matriarchal teachings to the forefront, as a response to the imbalanced patriarchy that currently exists. I think this is a very good idea. 

The interviewer asked Weh’na Ha’Mu Kwasset, "Do you think this movement should include women only?" Her response - stated strongly - is that she believes this important work belongs to all people. No exclusions. 

She recounted a conversation she had with Chief Arvol Looking Horse - an elder who was born on the Cheyenne River Reservation (what we call South Dakota) and is widely recognized as the spiritual leader of the three branches of the Sioux tribe. “Do you think we're here by accident?” He asked her. He went on, “We are not here by accident. We were born for this time. You are sitting in that seat right now because you were born for this moment.” 

Most mornings, I walk out past the blueberry bushes on a path that my feet and heart know well. After looping through the woods, around the pond I step into a small woodland area where I pause and do my thing that’s not quite prayer and not quite meditation. It’s my morning anchor where I express my gratitude for being alive at this time, in this place. and with these companions. 
Although I’ve been consistent with my morning anchoring for years now, I’ve recently had a few times where I experienced fatigue, fear, and a smidgeon of resistance stating my gratitude for being here at this time. Some mornings I have to linger for a while before my gratitude flows up from my feet. I always wait to feel it. And it always comes.💫

Towards the end of that workshop I shook like a leaf when I shared that I had left a cultic group and asked what her guidance was to avoid abuse of power. I just found my notes from that workshop and might write more another day about her response. A couple lines stand out:

Focus on the teachings, not the teacher. 

If we commodify the sacred, we commodify ourselves. 

We are born for the time we are living in. 

Focus on the magical chemistry of NOW, today.

We are learning how to be ourselves together. 

I purchased her book Sacred Instructions. After signing it for me, Sherri's long black hair swished like a river when she turned to look me in the eye. I met her gaze and hoped I would be able to trust her and that she would remain trustworthy. 

I think she and Chief Looking Horse have a valuable lesson and today, I recognize how it has been living in me in recent years. Where do I feel that I am “born for this time” the most? When I’m writing to you. 

And when I’m facilitating Writing to Reckon classes - where every week I am awed by the synergy that happens when survivors come together to write. I have not thought about it until this moment  - but I think it’s an opportunity to "learn how to be ourselves". Together. 

There are two spots for next week’s class. Friday at 10 am EST. 

Let me know how this piece lands for you.

Gerette

If this resonated with you, you might enjoy that interview. Rematriation with Sherri Mitchell and here is her website where you can get her book. 

Click here to learn more about Chief Arvol Looking Horse