Circle of Ancestors

Presentation in Berkeley: Tlakaelel, Mexica-toltec wisdom keeper, Elder, sundance chief

2012 Myth and Reality 

 Saturday October 22, 2011

Tlakaelel has spent over 50 years teaching and researching the great ancestral cultures of the Americas. He is heir and guardian of the oral tradition, an author, and spiritual guide. Tlakaelel lives in Teotihuacan, México. Don’t miss this rare visit to California.

Ohlone Herbal Center,

1250 Addison St Ste 113 Berkeley CA 

6:00 PM

Suggested Donation $15 minimun

More information:  

510-703-6771or 510-409-5604

[Update: buy tickets here.]

 

TLAKAELEL, MEXICA-TOLTEC WISDOM KEEPER, October 23 in San Jose, CA

Sunday, October 23 · 4:30pm - 8:00pm

School of Arts & Culture @MHP 1700 Alum Rock Ave San Jose, CA

 

Author of the book: Nahui Mitl, Cuatro Flechas, Four Arrows... Will be doing a talk on his book and life on Mexica Spirituality...

$10 for advanced ticket... Limited 80 seats...
Contact Calpulli Tonalehqueh for tickets before they are all out...Calpulli.tonalehqueh@gmail.com

Keep in tune for more details... OMETEOTL...

Buy Tickets for Tlakaelel's Visit Now!

All proceeds go to Tlakaelel to continue his work in Mexico.

Event registration for 2012 Myth and Reality powered by Eventbrite

NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING- THIS EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER TO BRING TLAKAELEL TO CALIFORNIA

You are invited to a screening of 2 ongoing short documentary films entitled:

“DESCENDING EAGLE:THE STORY OF THE FIRT SUNDANCE IN CUAUTEMOC’S BIRTHPLACE” 

 

and  “THE ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS: MESSAGES FROM THE INDIGENOUS ELDERS” BY TONY ACOSTA

 

These films highlight the work that the indigenous council of elders has been doing for the past 20 years.  

ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS summary: As we have forgotten our original instructions, wisdom keepers from around the world remind us what is important during this pivotal time on this fast changing planet. The earth changes we are witnessing today have been prophesized by Indigenous Elders around the globe for centuries. Come sit with us and receive wisdom from these prophesy-keepers on what to do next in order to sustain our precious earth mother.

 

DESCENDING EAGLE summary:  This film shows the story of Grandpa Tlakaelel's first Sundance in Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc. In 1947, he took on the mission of exploring and corroborating the story of the Confederation of Anahuac, and the four arrows migration. Tlakaelel gathered indigenous groups to declare Ixcateopan as a sanctuary of Anahuac's ancestral wisdom.

 

Tlakaelel is a Toltec wisdom keeper. He has spent over 50 years studying the great ancestral cultures of the continent. Sharing his knowledge with indigenous and non-indigenous alike.

Events:

• Thursday September 29, 2011 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM at Maha Siddha Center 2328 Channing Way Berkeley 94704.

 

• Sunday October 2, 2011 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at 3798 Grand Ave. Oakland, CA

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, PLEASE DONATE AT WWW.CIRCLEOFANCESTORS.ORG.  EVERYTHING HELPS, AND THANK YOU.

 

In the circle of life

Knowing ourselves and remembering who we are continues for all our lives.  We transform ourselves but we don’t end.  What we start continues in the life of those who follow us, in our people.  As carriers of  the heritage of “Western white man,” it is our responsibility to restore balance with our indigenous brothers and sisters of the world, after so many years of colonization, death, and oppression.  The only way to heal ourselves is as equals in the circle of indigenous peoples of the world, recognizing our own roots and indigenous identity and facing the shadows of our own forebears.  When we can do this, we are opening the way for a new world and a new time.  May the readings of this work serve as an inspiration for the reader to ask, “Who am I? Who my people?  Who are my ancestors?”  … and as a motivation to remember the answers.

- Part of  the Introduction of the Thesis " In the circle of life"  by Marcela Sabin, Submitted in Partial Satisfaction of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Liberal Arts in Creation Spirituality Concentration in Indigenous Mind.  ©December 2005

 

 

How The Ancestors Led Me To My Medium

This week I'm attending a 5-day ceramics workshop at Sierra Nevada College and I was led here by my ancestors. What does what some might call an indulgent week in the pines making mugs and bowls have to do with the ancestors?

I have a BFA undergraduate degree. That stands for Bachelor of Fine Arts, which means I went to an Art School. Degree in hand some 24 years ago, I had no confidence in my abilities. My college was a Stick It Up On The Wall And Critique It type of school. I couldn't even call myself an artist.

I also had not experienced "It"--the one thing I could feel legitimately obsessed about, ignoring all other sensible choices my friends and family would have me make. 

Fast forward to 2009. I was shopping for some large pots for my bamboo plants (I just realized while writing this that that was another clue-bamboo is an ancestral plant for my Chinese ancestors.). As I walked through the yard I started to have a visceral reaction to the pots. 

I immediately wondered about any ancestral connections and realized, "Oh yeah, there's just a little connection between China and ceramics,isn't there?". I resolved to take a ceramics class right then. 

I knew as soon as I threw my first pot. This was something I could dedicate myself to wholeheartedly, without concern of practicalities.  I knew without a doubt that my ancestors would support me; in fact they had led me to my medium. Given my better-late-than-never start, I am taking as many classes from as many teachers as possible, thus my trip to Tahoe. Perhaps a trip to a Chinese ceramics school is in my future.  Thank you ancestors!

The Cherokee Syndrome

The Cherokee Syndrome is a lighthearted, personal look at the search for Native American ancestry.  I have been truly amazed at times by the numerous European Americans I know who have some Native ancestry.  It runs upwards of 90%.   

My friends and colleagues who've been through the Indigenous Mind program, however, are not desperate to over-emphasize this lineage, but are encouraged to embrace all their ancestors, remembering that we all had "a sense of place and connection" as Mary Annette Pember writes.

I don't want to encourage people to claim lineages that aren't theirs, but wouldn't it be different if all the people who do have some Native American heritage fully claimed it and took their caretaking of this land seriously?

Montreal Audio Is Up

Here is the audio from Teresa and my presentations at the Montreal Dream Conference.  

Heidi:

   

Just the audio (click in the gray area; right click to download, listen as podcast): 

Heidi's Montreal Presentation 

 This is my first widely public distribution of the White Tigress dream I had in 2000.  I'd kept it private for a long time, but I feel it's time to let her out!

Teresa:

   

Youtube Part Two

Just the audio:

Teresa's Montreal Presentation 

 Don't forget to donate to our film project if you feel moved to do so!  Thanks.

 

Welcome, Psiber Dreamers!

A big welcome to all of you readers coming from the Psiber Dreaming Conference.  I'll be putting up the promised audio of Teresa and my presentations from the Montreal IASD conference shortly, so stay tuned.  If you feel moved by our work, we would gladly welcome your donations--just click the donate button to the right.  Thanks so much!

Join Us at the Psiber Dreaming Conference!

Teresa MacColl and I will be presenting our work-in-progress film about indigenous dreaming practices at the PsiberDreaming Conference on Thursday, September 30th.  The conference itself, however goes on for a full 2 weeks!  Every day 2 new presentations will go live and it's only $30 for students with ID, $40 for IASD members and $45 for the General Public.  Come join us and all the other presenters!

Princess Taiping Video

I just cut together the footage of Princess Taiping leaving San Francisco, shot on a gorgeous day in November 2008.  This was a replica of a Ming dynasty Chinese Junk that sailed from China.  It was built very accurately, and with trust that the ancestors had reasons for doing things the way they did.