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Canossian: TeaM Retreat (New Mexico)

===Topic: ''The Prayer Circle''===

 

Onamonalonton: The Prayer Circle

 

===TR: [[Gerdean]]===

 

[Note: The Sisters of Charity granted us permission to use the smudge stick (in the breezeway) for our purification ceremony, preparatory to entering the Chapel to engage in our Native American Prayer Circle, with Onamonalonton* presiding. In this ceremony, one by one we washed ourselves in the smoke of the sage, turning in the four directions, releasing our bad thoughts and negative feelings, as they went up in smoke, leaving us purified.]

===Note===

The Sisters of Charity granted us permission to use the smudge stick (in the breezeway) for our purification ceremony, preparatory to entering the Chapel to engage in our Native American Prayer Circle, with Onamonalonton* presiding. In this ceremony, one by one we washed ourselves in the smoke of the sage, turning in the four directions, releasing our bad thoughts and negative feelings, as they went up in smoke, leaving us purified.]

Onamonalonton: Greetings. I am known as Onamonalonton, an ancestor from this planet of the red race. I am not as old as some of you like to think. Onagar, for instance, is many thousands of years older than I am. Age is a relative thing, important to the creatures of time and space, but the older you get, the less it matters -- except for the perspective it provides.

Onamonalonton: Greetings. I am known as Onamonalonton, an ancestor from this planet of the red race. I am not as old as some of you like to think. Onagar, for instance, is many thousands of years older than I am. Age is a relative thing, important to the creatures of time and space, but the older you get, the less it matters -- except for the perspective it provides.

 

I welcome you here. I greet you here wholeheartedly and am so pleased to be given an opportunity to introduce you to some of the joys of the spirituality that are experienced by the red men. While your wading in these waters are experimental, there are those who live this way as a way of life, where these matters are indeed sacred, part of the religious life of the red man, the red race, and infiltrating the lives of others -- as all value will do, given enough time. And so, welcome to that which we can offer you that will enhance your appreciation of the Great Spirit.

I welcome you here. I greet you here wholeheartedly and am so pleased to be given an opportunity to introduce you to some of the joys of the spirituality that are experienced by the red men. While your wading in these waters are experimental, there are those who live this way as a way of life, where these matters are indeed sacred, part of the religious life of the red man, the red race, and infiltrating the lives of others -- as all value will do, given enough time. And so, welcome to that which we can offer you that will enhance your appreciation of the Great Spirit.

What a wonderful present it is, that we come here consciously, knowing that we are going to be with fellow believers, other faith children, other agondonters, who believe in you. Even though we can't see you with our physical eyes, we can see you with our spiritual eyes, in each other. Help us to strengthen that resolve and that reality, Father, and make us greater than ourselves, for your glory and our eternal happiness. I praise you, I adore you, I worship you. Amen

What a wonderful present it is, that we come here consciously, knowing that we are going to be with fellow believers, other faith children, other agondonters, who believe in you. Even though we can't see you with our physical eyes, we can see you with our spiritual eyes, in each other. Help us to strengthen that resolve and that reality, Father, and make us greater than ourselves, for your glory and our eternal happiness. I praise you, I adore you, I worship you. Amen

Onamonalonton: This is Onamonalonton. Having tasted the water of life through the tears of your sincere prayers, the cleansing power of water, as it is with the air, I will talk a bit about the four directions**, because these are ways that you can simplify your spiritual life and reflect on the reality of God and his creation and the sacredness of life -- even as you go about your business in the world.

Onamonalonton: This is Onamonalonton. Having tasted the water of life through the tears of your sincere prayers, the cleansing power of water, as it is with the air, I will talk a bit about the four directions¹, because these are ways that you can simplify your spiritual life and reflect on the reality of God and his creation and the sacredness of life -- even as you go about your business in the world.

The sun rises in the east and so we begin our reflections and meditations in the east, which is the beginning of a new day. So as you recognize east, think in terms of new dawn, new beginnings.

The sun rises in the east and so we begin our reflections and meditations in the east, which is the beginning of a new day. So as you recognize east, think in terms of new dawn, new beginnings.

Onamonalonton: Onamonalonton here, one more time. We are being effective. Effective prayer is the key -- to know what it is you long for and to verbalize it, to put it into a pattern of consciousness -- for then you can accept what it is and deal with it and become more effective in the solution of those concerns about which you pray.

Onamonalonton: Onamonalonton here, one more time. We are being effective. Effective prayer is the key -- to know what it is you long for and to verbalize it, to put it into a pattern of consciousness -- for then you can accept what it is and deal with it and become more effective in the solution of those concerns about which you pray.

 

I suggest we take a break. Stretch. Embrace. Look around, and remember that we have all weekend, and we have the rest of eternity.

I suggest we take a break. Stretch. Embrace. Look around, and remember that we have all weekend, and we have the rest of eternity.

Again, I thank you for inviting me to participate with you in this prayer circle. So be it.

Again, I thank you for inviting me to participate with you in this prayer circle. So be it.

Footnote 1: Onamonalonton lived to be ninety-six years of age and maintained his headquarters among the great redwood trees of California. Many of his later descendants have come down to modern times among the Blackfoot Indians.

 

*1.  Onamonalonton lived to be ninety-six years of age and maintained his headquarters among the great redwood trees of California. Many of his later descendants have come down to modern times among the Blackfoot Indians.

Footnote 2: While all Native American tribes recognize "the Four Directions," the interpretation of them is unique to each tribe. It is assumed these interpretations most closely resemble those of the Blackfoot Indians.

Footnote 2: While all Native American tribes recognize "the Four Directions," the interpretation of them is unique to each tribe. It is assumed these interpretations most closely resemble those of the Blackfoot Indians.