360: Intimacy: November 22, 2008

Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 22
"It's the most precious thing...to know absolutely where you belong. There's a whole emotional wrapping-around-of-you here. You see the same rock, tree, road, clouds, sun -- you develop a nice kind of intimacy with the world around you. To be intimate is to grow, to learn...[it] is absolutely fulfilling. Intimacy, that's my magic word for why I live here."
--Tessie Maranjo, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO
Every human being, to be mentally healthy, must have the feeling of belonging. When we have a sense of belonging we can be intimate. We can feel. We can connect. If we cannot develop this feeling of belonging, then we will feel lost of disconnected. To be disconnected from life is like walking around during the day not knowing the Sun exists. To have the feelings of intimacy is warm, glowy, joyful, loving and connected. The feeling this Elder is talking about is available to everyone.

Great Spirit, let me be intimate.

Intimacy....was once: in the arms of the gourd man, in the Initi, in the eagle enclosure, upon the mountain sitting against the cedar tree, in the pumpkin patch, at 3919 W. 8th St., tending fire in that Sacred Fire Pit, sitting in the center of a circle of oak trees, in my Auntie's kitchen, the east side of el Piramide de Sol (Teotihuacan)....

Now, I am feeling the disconnectedness...who is there to share deeply with? Where do I belong? I am searching for a new home... I yearn for the hide-away of #213 and the center of the labyrinth... I yearn for the centeredness of the "Traditional" ceremonies... I yearn for the sharing of hearts between a man and myself...

Yah, Tunkashila, Pilamiya for allowing me to safely be intimate......safe and warm there
in the arms of love.