SMUDGING

NATIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD USED INCENSE AS A WAY TO RELEASE THE NEGATIVITY OF A HOUSE OR A CHURCH OR ANY OTHER BUILDING. IT IS COMMONLY USED BY CATHOLICS, EPISCOPALEANS, AND GREEKS AS WELL AS NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCHES.

THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS USED SMUDGING BEFORE ALL OF THEIR RITUALS TO SUMMON THE SPIRITS. THERE RITUALS INCLUDE SMUDGING IN CIRCLES:

THE SOUTH REPRESENTS COYOTE - A TRICKSTER AND CREATOR
THE WEST REPRESENTS THE BEAR - A DREAMER AND EMITS STRENGTH
THE NORTH REPRESENTS THE BUFFALO - THIS GROUNDS AND PROTECTS KNOWLEGE
THE EAST REPRESENTS THE EAGLE - IT INSPIRES AND CLARIFIES YOU

THE POMO NATIVES USED DRIED BAY LEAVES AS WELL AS SAGE AND INCENSE CEDAR TO SMUDGE THEIR MEMBERS DURING CEREMONIES.

BATTLE OF THE WOLVES

ONE EVENING AN OLD CHEROKEE NATIVE AMERICAN WAS TEACHING HIS GRANDSON ABOUT LIFE. HE SAID 'MY SON A BATTLE IS GOING ON INSIDE ME. IT IS A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND IT IS BETWEEN TWO WOLVES. ONE WOLF REPRESENTS FEAR, ANGER, ENVY, SORROW, REGRET, AND GREED, ARROGANCE, SELF PITY, GUILT, RESENTMENT, INFERIORITY, LIES, FALSE PRIDE, AND SUPERIORITY. THE OTHER WOLF STANDS FOR JOY, PEACE, LOVE, HUMILTY, KINDNESS, BENEVOLENCE, FRIENDSHIP, EMPATHY, GENEROSITY, TRUTH, COMPASSION AND FAITH. THE SAME FIGHT IS GOING ON INSIDE OF YOU AND EVERY OTHER PERSON TOO.

THE GRANDSON THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN ASKED HIS GRANDFATHER: "WHICH WOLF WINS?" THE OLD CHEROKEE SIMPLY REPLIED, "THE ONE I FEED".

AN OLD CHEROKEE LEGEND





'mY

USE OF THE LOMATIUM ROOT

A NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA INDIGENOUS TRIBES USED THE LOMATIUM ROOT AS A MEDICINE (LOMATIUM CALIFORNICUM). THE ROOT WAS DUG UP WITH A DIGGING STICK AND TRADED AMONG TRIBES. IT HAS AN ABILITY TO MULTIPLY BY LEAVING SOME OF THE RHIZOMES IN THE SOIL. THEY BOILED THE ROOT TO MAKE A BITTER TEA THAT HAD A GREAT QUANTITY OF VITAMIN C. IT WAS ALSO KNOWN FOE CURING HEADACHES BY INHALATION.

IN ARIZONA IT WAS USED IN THE 1940'S FOR CURING THE EPEDEMIC OF THE FLU. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS ROOT WHEN I WAS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST THERE BUT IT PROBABLY GREW WITHIN SHADED DRAINAGES.

IT SMELLS LIKE A BITTER TURNUP AND IS EASILY RECOGNIZED BY ITS 6 - 8 UMBLES OF FLOWER HEADS WHICH CONTAIN SEEDS. APPARENTLY IT IS USED AS AN ANTIBIOTIC AND THE ROOT CAN BE DRIED AND GROUND FOR STORING FOR FUTURE USE. THERE WERE OVER 30 SPECIES OF LOMATIUM IN THE NORTH COAST RANGES.

ANTIQUITY

IN BEATY I WALK
BEAUTY BEFORE ME, I WALK
BEAUTY ABOVE ME, I WALK
BEAUTY BELOW ME, I WALK
IN BEAUTY I WALK
TO THE DIRECTION OF THE RISING SON
IN BEAUTY I WALK
TO THE DIRECTION TRAVELING WITH THE SETTING SUN
IN BEAUTY I WALK
TO THE DIRECTION OF THE DIPPERS
IN BEAUTY I WALK
ALL AROUND ME MY LAND IS BEAUTY
IN BEAUTY I WALK


NAVAJO YEBECHEI CHANT

TODAY AT CHURCH

TODAY I WENT TO AN ENTIRELY NEW CHURCH IN HEALDSBURG. THERE WERE MOSTLY PEOPLE OVER 50 YEARS OLD. THEN AFTER THE ONE LADY SPOKE ABOUT BEING KIND TO EACH OTHER THERE WAS A TRIO WHO SANG TO COUNTRY WESTERN BIBLICAL SONGS. THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD AND MANY CHILDREN ATTENDED THIS PART OF THE SERVICE. THEY HAD THEIR FAMILIES IN ATTENDANCE AND EVEN THEIR GRAND CHILDREN. IT WAS A FULL HOUSE. I WALKED THERE AND BACK FROM THE HOUSE I'M RENTING - ABOUT 4 MILES.

SHILOH PARK HIKE TODAY

TODAY I HIKED A DIFFERENT TRAIL AT SHILOH - IT WAS THE RIDGE TRAIL WHICH HAD SEVERAL NICE BENCHES AND IT WAS VERY STEEP UP AND DOWN. I SAW SEVERAL DEER AND I NOTED SEVERAL RUNNERS, AND I SAW AND HEAR A GREY EGRET AND AN OWL. I ALSO SAW GEESE AND I MET A GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO WERE FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THE ENERGY OF THE PARK WAS GOOD - IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD TO BE OUT UNDER THE TREES. IT WAS VERY HOT AND I WORE SOME BIG BOOTS SINCE IT HAD RAINED SEVERAL DAYS AGO AND CARRIED A BIG BACKPACK WHICH BURDENED MY BACK.

THE PARK HAD DECIDED TO SPRAY THE POISON OAK WHICH I THINK IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. THEY HAD POSTED THAT THEY HAD SPRAYED PESTICIDE ON THE VEGETATION- MAKING IT UNFIT TO PICK OR EAT ANY OF THE MINERS LETTUCE OR BLUE DICKS OR HARVEST LILIES.

OH WELL I HOPE THE PARKS DON'T CONINUE TO DO THIS!

NATIVE AMERICAN QUOTE

"IN THE EARLY DAYS WE WERE CLOSE TO NATURE. WE JUDGED TIME, WEATHER CONDITIONS AND MANY THINGS BY THE ELEMENTS-THE GOOD EARTH, THE BLUE SKY, THE FLYING OF GEESE, AND THE CHANGING WINDS. WE LOOKED TO THESE FOR GUIDANCE AND THANKSGIVING WERE SAID TO THE FOUR WINDS - TO THE EAST, FROM WHENCE THE NEW DAY WAS BORN; TO THE SOUTH, WHICH SENT THE WARM BREEZE WHICH GAVE A FEELING OF COMFORT; TO THE WEST, WHICH ENDED THE DAY AND BROUGHT REST; AND TO THE NORTH, THE MOTHER OF THE WINTER WHOSE SHARP AIR AWAKENED A TIME OF PREPARATION FOR THE LONG DAYS AHEAD. WE LIVED BY GOD'S HAND THROUGH NATURE AND EVALUATED THE CHANGING WINDS TO TELL US OR WARN US OF WHAT WAS AHEAD.

TODAY WE ARE AGAIN EVALUATINGTHE CHANGING WINDS. MAY WE BE STRONG IN SPIRIT AND EQUAL TO OUR FATHERS OF ANOTHER DAY IN READING THE SIGNS ACCURATELY AND INTERPRETING THEM WISELY. MAY WAH-KON-TAH, THE GREAT SPIRIT, LOOK DOWN UPON US AND GUIDE US, AND GIVE US COURAGE AND WISDOM. ABOVE ALL ELSE MAY HE LOOK DOWN UPON US AND BE PLEASED.

LAKOTA PRAYER

WAKAN TANKA, GREAT MYSTERY
TEACH ME HOW TO TRUST
MY HEART
MY MIND
MY INTUITION
MY INNER KNOWING
THE SENSES OF MY BODY
THE BLESSINGS OF MY SPIRIT
TEACH ME TO TRUST THESE THINGS
SO THAT I MAY ENTER MY SACRED SPACE
AND LOVE BEYOND MY FEAR
AND THUS WALK IN BALANCE
WITH THE PASSING OF EACH GLORIOUS SUN

AN UTE PRAYER

EARTH TEACH ME

EARTH TEACH ME QUIET "AS THE GRASSES ARE STILL WITH NEW LIGHT.
EARTH TEACH ME SUFFERING "AS OLD STONES SUFFER.
EARTH TEACH ME HUMILITY "AS BLOSSOMS ARE HUMBLE WITH BEGINNING.
EARTH TEACH ME CARING "AS MOTHERS NURTURE THEIR YOUNG.
EARTH TEACH ME COURAGE "AS THE TREE THAT STANDS ALONE.
EARTH TEACH ME LIMITATION "AS THE ANT THAT CRAWLS ON THE GROUND. EARTH TEACH ME FREEDOM "AS THE EAGLE THAT SOARS IN THE SKY. EARTH TEACH ME ACCEPTANCE" AS THE LEAVES THAT DIE EACH FALL. EARTH TEACH ME RENEWAL "AS THE SEED THAT RISES IN THE SPRING.
EARTH TEACH ME TO FORGET MYSELF "AS MELTED SNOW FORGETS ITS LIFE. EARTH TEACH ME TO REMEMBER KINDNESS "AS DRY FIELDS WEEP WITH RAIN.

CALIFORNIA INDIAN BASKETRY

THE NATIVES OF CALIFORNIA WERE FAMOUS WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR INTRICATELY WOVEN BASKETS. AS I DISCUSSED EARLIER EACH BASKET MAKER HAD A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THEY USED OVER 80 DIFFERENT PLANT SPECIES, AND IN SONOMA COUNTY THE MOST POPULAR PLANTS USED WERE SEDGEROOTS, REDBUD ROOTS, AND WILLOWS. MANY OF THESE PLANTS WERE TRADED BETWEEN DIFFERENT TRIBES JUST AS FOOD WAS TRADED. BASKETS WERE MADE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS - FOR HEALING SICKNESS BY MEDICINE LADIES, FOR CARRYING FISH AND GAME, FOR GIFTS WHEN THERE WAS A BIRTH, MARRIAGE, OR A DEATH. THEY ALSO USED BASKETS FOR WINNOWING SEEDS AND FOR BOILING ACORN MUSH, SERVING FOODS, AND FOR EATING AND DRINKING. BASKETRY IS A GREAT ART FORM AND IT IS A PERSONAL SELF EXPRESSION OF ONE'S ABIILITY TO USE NATURE AS A MEANS TO REPLICATE PATTERNS OF SPIRITS - ANIMALS, MOUNTAINS, WATER, OR PEOPLE.

BASKETRY HERE WAS PART OF EVERYDAY LIVING AND ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE STUDIED THE FACT THAT NATIVES BURNED SPECIFIC AREAS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE RUSHES AND REEDS SO AS TO GATHER STRAIGHT REEDS VERSUS CROOKED ONES. THEY HAVE STUDIED HISTORIC BASKETS THAT WERE MADE FROM UNUSUALLY STRAIGHT REEDS.

THE POMO USED BOTH TWINING AND COILING TECHNIQUES FOR THEIR BASKETS. THE TWINED BASKETS FOR CARRYING THEIR BABIES WERE USUALLY MADE BY MEN. WOMEN MADE MOST OF THE COILED BASKETS AND ALSO INTERWOVE THEM WITH BEAUTIFUL BIRD FEATHERS. THERE WERE BASKETS AS SMALL AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER TO THOSE MADE FOR STORING ACORNS WHICH WERE AS LARGE AS 4-5 FEET IN DIAMETER. EARLY ETHNOGRAPHERS COLLECTED SOME OF THESE AND THEY ARE IN THE SMITHSONIAN AS WELL AS IN OTHER MUSEUMS. SHRUBS WERE CONSTANTLY PRUNED IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE NEW SPROUTS OF STRAIGHT SHAFTS. THEY ALSO USED A HEMP MATERIAL FOR WEAVING ROPES IN ORDER TO CATCH DEER THAT WERE ABOUT A MILE LONG. IT IS A VERY INTERESTING SUBJECT THAT MANY ANTHROPOLOGISTS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT AS BASKETS DO REPRESENT THEIR INTEREST IN A CIRCULAR CALENDAR AND PATTERN OF LIFE THAT WAS CLOSELY LINKED TO NATURE.

SHILOH REGIONAL PARK

TODAY I HIKED TO SHILOH PARK NAMED AFTER A BATTLE FOUGHT IN THE SOUTHERN STATES DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND WAS A BIBLICAL NAME. THE PARK IS 860 ACRES OF MIXED OAKS AND GRASSLANDS WITH A VARIETY OF CREEKS, PONDS, AND SHADY AREAS. TODAY IT WAS SLIGHTLY COOL WITH A BREEZE AND I MET AN OLD FRIEND FROM PRESCHOOL. SHE AND HER BOY FRIEND SHOWED ME THE BEST TRAILS TO TAKE. SHE SAID THEY HIKE THERE EVERYDAY! I HIKED ABOUT 6 MILES AND IT WASN'T THAT STRENUOUS AS I TOOK MY TIME STOPPING FOR BREATHS AND LOOKING OVER THE LANDSCAPE OF WINDSOR. IT TRUELY IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK.

THERE WERE A GROUP OF BOY SCOUTS HIKING AS WELL AS SOME GIRLS ON HORSES. I GUESS MANY HORSE RIDERS USE THIS PARK. I SAW MANY LIZARDS AND GEESE IN THE POND. THE TRAILS WERE QUITE MUDDY AND I SPOTTED SOME CHERTS AND SOME FLAKES OF OBSIDIAN. THERE WERE VERY FEW OTHER HIKERS FOR SOME REASON - IT WAS VERY COOL WEATHER.

BISHOPS RANCH HIKE

TODAY I HIKED 6 MILES AT BISHOP'S RANCH AND SAW SOME BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SPRING. I SWEATED A LOT AS IT WAS IN THE 70'S AND I HIKED FAIRLY FAST. I MET AN OLDER MAN WHO DID NOT HAVE TO USE A HIKING STICK.

I DUG UP THE ROOT OF THE CURLY DOCK PLANT THAT SMELLS LIKE A MEDICINAL BUT IT HAS A CARROT LIKE TASTE AND THE WILD BOAR DIG THEM UP. I WORE MY WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS AND LUCKILY THEREY WEAR GOOD SINCE THERE WAS SOME VARY MUDDY AREAS IN THE TRAIL LOOP.

THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL AT THE WORLD PEACE SHRINE ON THE TOP OF THE RIDGE. THE VIEW THERE IS MAGNIFICENT AND ONE CAN SEE THE RUSSIAN RIVER AND THE MAYACAMAS MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS MT SAINT HELENA.

I SAW A LARGE WILD TURKEY THAT SURPRISED ME AND THE EVIDENCE OF WILD BOAR WHICH RUT AND WALLOW IN THE MUD, I ALSO SAW COYOTE DROPPINGS AND OR MUSKRAT DROPPINGS. I TASTED MINERS LETTUCE WHICH IS A GOOD SOURCE OF VITAMIN C AND IS BEST DURING EARLY SPRING, AS IS CLOVER. THE POMO HAD CEREMONIES FOR CLOVER PICKING - THE FIRST CROP THEY COLLECTED IN THE SPRING.

I NOTICED THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD GONE SWIMMING IN LOWER LAKE. THE PLANTS I SAW WERE BUTTERCUP, SNOW CUPS, POISON IVY, MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY, TULE, BUCK BRUSH, POISON OAK, MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY, WILD IRIS, LOMATIUM, WHITE AND BLACK WILLOWS, MANY TYPES OF OAKS, MANZANIA, BUCKYE, SOAPROOT, SAGES, BLACKBERRIES, DOUGLAS FIR, BAY LAUREL, AND CLOVER. THE POMO HAVE A CEREMONY FOR PICKING THE CLOVER -THEIR FIRST CROP OF THE YEAR.

IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR HIKING IN THE SPRING AND I HAD A GREAT TIME!

DO YOU NEED A RETREAT WITH ANCIENT WISDOM

DO YOU NEED AN ANTIDOTE TO FAST FOOD, FAST LANES, AND STRESSED LIFE? EXPERIENCE AN ECO-ADVENTURE WITH A NATIVE AMERICAN SHAMAN. LEARN TO SLOW DOWN AND RENEW. FIND INSPIRATION FROM NATURE AND CULTURES THAT HAVE THRIVED FOR MILLENIA. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A GUIDE WHO HAS THE TOOLS FOR UNEARTHING PERSONAL STRENGTHS, YOU WILL DECIDE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I BELIEVE WE ALL NEED TO STEP OUT OF OUR BUSY LIVES AND BECOME CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO US WHICH CONNECTS US TO OUR VALUES. THAT AUTHENTICITY DEFINES AND GUIDES US IN MAKING CHOICES EVERY DAY.

MY GROUPS STEP BACK TO A TIME WHEN THE PREHISTORIC CULTURES PRACTICED SUBSISTANCE SURVIVAL STRATEGIES.. LEARN HOW THEIR WISE CHOICES AND PATTERNS OF CEREMONY, COMMUNITY, AND MYTH OFFER INSIGHT TO MODERN LIFE. NATIVES HAD CLOSE COMMUNITIES TO ENLIST DURING TIMES OF CHANGE. I BELEIVE THAT TODAY'S SOCIETY HAS A LOT TO GAIN FROM NATIVE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY.

MODERN SOCIETY VS. PREHISTORIC LIFE

TODAY OUR SOCIETIES BASE THEIR IDENTITIES AND VALUES ON WHAT THEY DO VS. WHO THEY ARE AND THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH LIFE BALANCE. THEY BECOME DRIVEN TO WORK AS IS TYPICAL IN AMERICA. DURING PREHISTORIC TIMES CULTURES WERE MUCH MORE BALANCED BECAUSETHEY
-RELIED ON NATUREAS THEIR TEACHER
-LESS TECHNOLOGICAL/MORE SELF RELIANT
-VALUED COMMUNITY MORE
-WORK WAS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE

THE NATIVE AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA WERE BALANCED FOR OVER 10,000 YEARS;
-WEAVING A BASKET (BOTH MEN AND WOMEN) PROVIDED BALANCE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE. THE BASKETS WERE PASSED ALONG AS GIFTS AND AS MONEY AND WERE USED FOR CURING THE SICK.
- WORKING A BASKET WAS THEIR WORK AS WELL AS AN ARTISTIC TALENT THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY LEARNT AS TODDLERS
- THE FITNESS PICTURE WAS IN PROCURING THE REEDS/MATERIALS
- SPIRITUAL PLEASURE IN SHARING TRADITIONS AND MYTHS SURROUNDING CULTURE
- DREAMS OF FUTURE VISIONS WERE WOVEN WITHIN THE BASKET - WOMEN WERE LEADERS
- THIS WAS ONE EXAMPLE OF FAMILY/COMMUNITY SHARING A TASK WELL DONE

MANY PEOPLE TODAY SPEND 90% OF THEIR TIME AT THEIR CAREERS-IT REPRESENTS 12% OF YOUR LIFE.

ARE YOU LIVING ACCORDING TO SOCIETY'S NORM OR HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE?

KEEPING YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE

WHEN CONSIDERING WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE YOU NEED TO DWECIDE UPON WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED --SORT OF LIKE CLEANING OUT YOUR GARAGE! IT FEELS GOOD TO GET RID OF ALL THE EXTRA STUFF THAT YOU DO NOT NEED. IN OTHER WORDS MAKE A CLEAN SWEEP THIS SPRING OF WHAT YOU DO NO0T NEED AND GIVE SOME OF THOSE ITEMS TO THE GOODWILL. IT WILL FEEL SO GOOD TO BE RID OF YOUR DEBRIS THAT DOES NOT FIT OR WORK FOR YOU. I'VE SEEN IT WORK WONDERS AS A LIFE COACH.

I KEEP MY HOUSE ENVIRONMENT CLEAN SO AS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH MY PERSONAL SURROUNDINGS. AND IF YOU WISH TO HAVE SOMEONE OVER THEN IT IS SO EASY TO INVITE THEM INTO A PLEASING ATMOSPHERE. WHEN CONSIDERING YOUR BALANCE IN LIFE THERE ARE 8 AREAS TO CONSIDER - HEALTH, HOUSE ENVIRONMENT, RELATIONS WITH FRIENDS, WORK OR SPECIAL STUDIES, SPIRITUALITY, WEALTH, AND FAMILY (OR CREATED CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS).

IT FEELS GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF THESE IN PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN REBOUND WHEN A SMALL CRISIS ARISES. IN THIS MANNER YOU WILL FEEL ABLE TO KEEP YOU SANITY EVEN WHEN THE WORLD AROUND YOU FEELS IN DISORDER. ALSO REFER TO THE "WAYNE COOK" POSTURE TO STAY IN BALANCE,

USE OF ACORNS

The California Indians had over 25 species of oak. They used the acorns for a delicious mush soup, they used the bark and wood as well. Acorns were a staple to most California Indian tribes. By letting the acorn mush sit out for a day or so there is a mold that grows on the top of the soup that is an antibiotic that is used similar to our penicillin. The tannin in the acorn as well as oak bark was used to treat bladder infections and dizziness.

The men were in charge of beating the acorns down from the trees. Some were stored in tightly woven baskets for the next year - as unshelled. Before using any acorns they had to be dried for several days. Their shells were craked by pounding them with a handstone on a grinding stone. Then the nut was ground by a pestle and mortar and it became a flour. the flour had to be leached of tannic acid in order to be edible. the meal was placed into a meter long small basin of sand by a river or creek. Water was poured over the meal so as to leach out the tannic acid. The flour was placed into a tightly woven basket that was heated by hot stones from a fire. this resulted in acorn soup. The meal could also be made into a bread and cooked in an underground oven.

Native Americans believed that oak trees had a spirit and celebrated Big Times around the end of fall by inviting neighboring tribes into their villages and having a large gathering for food sharing, dancing, and celebrating the fertility of the land.

Oaks represent fertility, strength, and success. Obviously these trees attract many artistic people to our California landscape.

MY NIGHTLY WALKS

TONIGHT, ST. PATRICKS DAY, I WALKED DOWNTOWN AND AROUND THE TOWN. I SAW A YOUNG MAN WITH SOME CHILD - LIKE GREEN RABBIT EARS ON HIS HEADBAND. AS I WALKED DOWN ONE STREET I WAS SCARED BY A SPEEDY BICYCLE RIDER WHO SPEEDED DOWN THE STREET AND YELPED AT ME! IT WAS A VERY WARM WALK AND I MOVED QUITE FAST FOR 8 MILES.

TOWARDS MY WAY HOME I NOTED A SCREECH OWK IN A TREE AND A SMALL FOX CROSSING A ROAD OUT IN THE COUNTRY BY THE RUSSIAN RIVER.

THE SKY WAS FULL OF STARS AND QUITE CLEAR. OUR WEATHER DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE SPRING.

THE USE AND TENDING OF SOAPROOT

CALIFORNIA NATIVES COLLECTED AND PROCESSED SOAPROOT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. ONE WAS FOR USE AS A GLUE FOR ATTACHING FEATHERS. ANOTHER USE WAS TO CATCH FISH. THE WOMEN SMASHED ABOUT 50 BULBS AND USED WILLOW BRANCHES IN CREEKS TO CONTAIN THE FISH. THEY HAD A CEREMONY BEFORE COLLECTING SALMON AND TROUTTHIS WAY (BOTH DURING THE EARLY SPRING AND IN THE FALL). A SAPOTOXIN WAS RELEASED FROM THE BULB WHEN THEY SMASHED THE BULB. THEY THREW THESE SOAPROOT BULBS INTO THE CREEKS, AND THIS STUNNED THE FISH SO THAT THEY COULD CATCH THE FISH WITH BASKETS. BY THESE MEANS THEY DID NOT HAVE TO USE A FISHING POLE. THIS PRACTICE WAS DONE BY THE ENTIRE VILLAGE AND THEY SHARED THE CATCH, SIMILAR TO THE POTLATCH IN ALASKA. THE SALMON AND TROUT WERE SMOKED OVER OR BESIDE AN OPEN FIRE.

ANOTHER USE OF THE SOAPROOT WAS FOR CURING POISON OAK. AS I MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS BLOG I FELL INTO SOME POISON OAK AND DUG UP SOME SOAPROOT AND FOUND IT TO BE A MAGICAL WAY TO HEAL MY ITCHING HANDS.

THE LEAVES OF THE SOAPROOT CAN BE USED TO WRAP UP ACORN BREAD OR OTHER TUBERS THEY BAKED IN UNDERGROUND OVENS. THE OVENS WERE MADE FROM HEATING HOT ROCKS AND PLACED IN A HOLE ABOUT 1 FOOT DEEP.

THE NATIVES DUG P SOME OF THE BULBLETS WHICH WERE ATTACHED TO THE PARENT. THE DIGGING STICKS THEY USED BROKE UP THE SOIL AND DISPERSED THE BULBLETS. THIS ENSURED REPRODUCTION OF THE PLANTS IN FOLLOWING YEARS.

SOME ANTHROPOLOGISTS HAVE NOTED THAT VARIOUS TRIBES BOILED THE CORMS IN MAY AND WERE EATEN LIKE A POTATOE. HOWEVER I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS..

THE COARSE HAIR AROUND THE BULD WAS USED TO CLEAN THEIR BASKETS, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE USES OF THIS PLANT.

NATIVE AMERICAN LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

ACCORDING TO KAT ANDERSON THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA HAVE PRACTICED TRADITIONAL LAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR OVER 12,000 YEARS. MANY TRIBES PRACTICED UNDERSTORY BURNING WHICH AFFECTED THE EVOLUTIONARY COURSE OF HOW PLANT COMMUNITIES WERE MAINTAINED. MANY TRIBES TRADED WITH EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANTS AND MEDICINALS.

THEIR VILLAGE SITES WERE BASICALLY TENDED AND PRUNED VS. WHAT MOST FOLKS THINK. THEY PRACTICED A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANTING, TRANSPLANTING, THINNING, PRUNING, DIGGING, HARVESTING AND SEEDING OF NATIVE PLANTS.

THESE ACTIVITIES INCREASED AN AREA'S PRODUCTIVITY FOR THE NEAR BY AREA. THEIR PRACTICES ASSISTED IN REPRODUCTION AND INCREASED EDIBLE PLANT SPECIES RATHER THAN DESTROYED THEM. IN ADDITION THEY ALSO SPREAD SEEDS AROUND AN AREA WHERE THEY GATHERED PLANTS FOR CONTINUAL REPRODUCTION.

HOW I BECAME A LECTURER

I HAD TO OVERCOME MY FEAR OF LECTURING TO THE PUBLIC BY TAKING CLASSES AT THE srjc IN SPEECH AS WELL AS SPEAKING TO SMALL GROUPS OUTDOORS ON MY HIKES. I REMEMBER USING TREES AS A MARKER TO BALANCE ME DURING MY SPEECHES AT LIBRARIES. I DECIDED TO GIVE LUNCHTIME PRESENTATIONS AT THE BLM TO OUR SMALL STAFF AND THAT HELPED ME OVERCOME MY ANXIETY OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

ONCE I WAS A SUPERVISOR OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS I STILL FELT INSECURE ABOUT SPEAKING TO LARGE GROUPS BUT I DECIDED TO PRESENT SLIDE LECTURES TO OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMMUNITY. GRADUALLY I BECAME ABLE TO SPEAK TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE OUTDOORS AND I FELT MOST COMFORTABLE DOING THAT. SO NOW I AM AN INTERPRETOR OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND OF OUR PREHISTORY AND CULTURAL RELATIONS.

Healdsburg Ridge Preserve

Today I have walked about 6-8 miles. I walked to the 400 acre preserveopen space preserve in Healdsburg. The soil was quite muddy and I scrambled up the ridges- I should have worn my thick waterproof boots. But I managed to jump past the muddy areas. When you pass through poison oak you need to wash your clothing and take a shower in order to avoid ticks and getting posion ivy.

It was a very hot day and I sweated alot. The preserve has a great view (360 degrees)of the Russian River and has many ponds. Many of the trails are dirt deer trails. I only saw and heard woodpeckers and a group of black birds and other jays.

The trails only cover about 4 miles total and they are moderately steep. I met about 6 people on the trails today. Many were wearing rain boots.

I picked a medicinal herb which was in abundance there. There are many old oak trees with woodpecker holes - a beautiful piece of country and silent from the noise of traffic.

CREATE A SACRED SPACE

IT IS VERY BENIFICIAL TO CREATE A SACRED SPACE IN YOUR HOUSE OR IN YOUR BEDROOM. FIRST SELECT A TABLE OR PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PLACE SOME FLOWERS, SOME CRYSTALS AND POSSIBLY A FOUNTAIN. THIS BECOMES A THERAPEUTIC PLACE FOR YOU TO PRAY AND IT LETS YOU FEEL MORE AT PIECE IN YOUR HOME. IT IS GOOD TO FIND A SUITABLE PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL PEACEFUL. YOU MAY WANT TO ADD SOME PICTURES OF YOUR FAMILY THERE AS WELL.

THIS HELPS MAKE FOR CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY. i HAVE MADE FOUNTAINS WITH SOME POND PLANTS AS ONE OF MY BUSINESSES AND THEY WERE WELL RECEIVED. SOME PEOPLE USED THEM IN THEIR HOUSES AND OFFICES FOR RELAXING.

YOU MAY WANT TO MAKE A SACRED SPACE IN YOUR YARD AS WELL WHERE YOU FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE.

Time for Meditation

Last night I went to a Buddist Kadampa Center in Healdsburg. It was very warm and it was unusually warm. There were many flowers, candles, srystals and paintings from India. The lady in charge spoke about meditating with golden light entering every cell of your body, as we closed our eyes.

The Buddists believe that we reincarnate into different beings - humans, birds, animals, or insects as well.

They have a supreme person who has written many prayers for their books. His picture is in this class room. They focus on ten commandments similar to the Bible. The leader read to us many passages of knowledge from the prayer books.

There were about 6 people their and they all seemed to be followers every week. They believe in only thinking of positive sayings - so that negativity does not enter your brain. So they practice meditation on one idea for five minutes which helps you become more clear headed.

CALISTOGA HOT SPRINGS

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE WAPPO HOT SPRINGS AND I BATHED IN THREE POOLS THAT WERE 80 DEGREES TO OVER 100 DEGREES. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY. PEOPLE WERE PARTYING THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH ALL KINDS OF MUSICIANS. IN THE POOLS THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE PARTING AND LAUGHING. MANY WERE FROM EUROPE AND 2 COUPLES WERE FROM RUSSIA.

THE VIEW WAS GRAND OF THE PALLISADES OF TUFF MOUNTAINS. I STAYED NEARLY ALL DAY AND FUN.

HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR, BEING UNFOCUSED, OR STRESS

As Donna Eden discusses in her book if you are unfocused and need to deal with the fear of failure these techniques will help:

1. put on some music that you can sway to and move your hips in a figure 8 pattern.

2. on a black board draw sideways figure 8's, the larger the drawings the better you will focus.

3.hold the Wayne Cook posture as described before.

4.tap or rub the K-27 points. The k - 27 points are the 2 indents below the clavicles, and in the center of your breastbone, as well as below your breasts. It optimizes the brain to take in new information.

HOW TO OVERCOME OVERWHELM

AS A LIFE COACH I HAVE LEARNED TO USE DIFFERENT PRACTICES TO INCREASE MY ENERGY AND OVEWRCOME NEGATIVE VIBRATIONS. ONE TECHNIQUE IS THE WAYNE COOK POSTURE WHICH TAKES ABOUT 2 MINUTES. IT IS FOUND IN ABOOK CALLED ENERGY MEDICINE BY DONNA EDEN.

IT HELPS YOU GET A BETTER FOCUS ON LIFE.

1. SIT IN A CHAIR WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT OVER YOUR LEFT KNEE.

2. BREATHE IN SLOWLY WITH YOUR NOSE AND LET THE BREATH LIFT YOUR BODY AS YOU BREATHE. NOW PULL YOUR LEG TOWARD YOU TO STRETCH IT. BREATHE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH SLOWLY. REPEAT THE BREATHING AND STRETCHING FOUR TIMES.

3. SWITCH TO THE OTHER FOOT. PLACE YOUR LEFT FOOT OVER YOUR RIGHT KNEE AND WRAP YOUR RIGHT HAND AROUND YOUR LEFT ANKLE AND YOUR LEFT HAND AROUND THE BALL OF YOUR LEFT FOOT USING THE SAME BREATHING.

4. UNCROSS YOUR LEGS AND PLACE YOUR FINGERTIPS TOGETHER FORMING A PYRAMID. BRING YOUR THUMBS ON YOUR THIRD EYE ABOVE YOUR NOSE. SLOWLY BREATHE IN AND OUT AMD BRING YOUR HANDS INTO A PRAYER POSITION AND DEEPLY BREATHE IN.

LET ME KNOW HOW THIS WORKS FOR YOU!

LEARNING INTELLIGENCE

LINGUISTIC LEARNERS LIKE TO WRITE, READ, AND LISTEN WELL. THEY ARE VERY ORDERLY AND THEY ENJOY TELLING JOKES AND HAVING FUN WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THEY LOVE WRITING STORIES AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS, DEBATES, AND THEY LIKE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF OTHERS. THEY CONSTANTLY QUESTION PEOPLE AND ENJOY DRAMA AS I DO.

THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN READING AND IN LIFE. THEY HAVE VERY GOOD MEMORIES AND ENJOY BEING INVOLVED WITH OTHERS. THEY BECOME SUCCESSFUL BY USING THEIR EXCELLENT VOICES AND CONVERSATIONS.

LEARNING BY SELF SMART OR INTRAPERSONAL.

THIS KIND OF PERSON HAS A DEEP AWARENESS OF INNER FEELINGS, THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. THEY ARE USUALLY INDEPENDENT AND THEY KNOW WHAT INTERESTS THEM AS WELL. DESIRES SOLITUDE MOST OF THE TIME. THEY HAVE MANY HOBBIES AND THEY MARCH TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER. THEIR ATTITUDE MAY BE DIFFERENT THEY HAVE A DEEP SENSE OF SELF CONFIDENCE. THEY VALUE THEIR TIME ALONE AND HAVE STRONG OPINIONS.

THEY ENJOY INDEPENDENT GAMES AND REFLECTIVE THINKING AS WELL AS READING. THEY ALSO MAY DRESS DIFFERENTLY, ENJOYS DIARIES, JOURNALS, SILENT READING, AND CHOICE TIME.
THEY ALSO LIKE TO FOCUS ON ONE THINGAT ATIME AND LIKE CONCENTRATION EXERCISES.

LEARNING FROM SONG SMART

THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY HIGHLY MUSICAL AND THEY ARE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BRAIN THINKERS. THEY MOVE TO MUSIC AND ENJOY RHYMES, HUMMING, SONGS AND MAY SENSE A TONE IN PEOPLE'S VOICES.

THEY ARE SENSITIVE TO THE TONES IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND IN PEOPLE'S VOICES. THEY LIKE TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. THEY ARE ABLE TO TELL WHEN MUSIC IS OFF KEY AND THEY PREFER TO HAVE MUSIC ON WHEN THEY ARE STUDYING OR WORKING. THEY ENJOY POETRY AND ENJOY MUSICALS AND SKITS AS WELL AS CHORAL READINGS. THEY HUM TO IMPROVE THEIR MEMORY. THIS INTELLIGENCE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT AS BEING AN EXTRACURICULAR ACTIVITY.

ART SMART INTELLIGENCE

THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE NEED PICTURES TO LEARN AND ORGANIZE THEIR THOUGHTS. THEY ARE DAYDREAMERS AND THEY HAVE VIVID IMAGINATIONS. THEY LOVE THE ARTS AND CRAFTS AND THEY THINK WITH THEIR RIGHT BRAINS. THEY ORGANIZE SPACE WITH GRAPHS, MAPS, AND CHARTS.

AS A COACH I LEARNED THAT THESE PEOPLE LIKE TO MIND MAP AND CREATE THEIR STORY BOARDS. THEY ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHY, SLIDES, AND CRAFTS OF ANY KIND.

AND THEY ARE IMAGINATIVE STORYTELLERS.