Returning to Eyam

As I sit once again in my little home in the village of Eyam, I find myself reflecting on the events of the past month. I’ve recently returned from Oregon, where I visited both my family and my spiritual family. For 19 years now, I have travelled to Oregon to participate in the Lakota Sundance ceremony—a practice that has become a cornerstone of my spiritual journey.

A Hidden Spiritual Practice

For many years, I kept this part of my spiritual practice quite hidden. This was largely due to the historical and ongoing struggles of indigenous people, as well as the complexities surrounding the appropriation of cultural practices that originate in different traditions. I’ve come to understand that this appropriation often stems from a deep longing—a desire to reconnect with the ancient wisdom that is accessible in this earthly realm. Whether that wisdom lies in the traditions of our ancestors or in the insights we gather throughout our lifetimes, this search for meaning is a universal human experience.

The Sundance Ceremony

While participating in the Sundance, I realised just how difficult it is to convey the essence of this practice to anyone who hasn’t witnessed such ceremonies. To the modern mind, the ceremony can be quite confronting. It revolves around the concept that as human beings, all the material possessions we accumulate mean nothing to the Creator. When we pray for the health and well-being of our families, our community, and our planet—including humanity and all the other beings on our planet—we have nothing to offer in exchange except our own comfort. This understanding leads us to pray in a particular way.

In this state of prayer, surrounded by continuous drumming and ancient songs we reach back thousands of years.  This shift in consciousness affords us the opportunity to touch hidden realities that precede our current human existence. In these sacred spaces our prayers can be heard above the noisy chatter of the modern mind.

This ceremony has been practised ever since the Lakota holy woman and guide -the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman- gave it to the people. It is one of seven ceremonies she bestowed upon them, along with seven sacred virtues she taught them to live by. If you’re interested, there’s another blog where I share a little about these seven sacred virtues.

In these challenging times, it seems more important than ever to enter into these sacred spaces where our intentions can bring healing to our families, our communities, and our planet.

The Significance of Seven

This year, the number seven played a significant role in my experience. Although I’ve been going to this place for 19 years, it was the seventh year that I prayed as a servant of the people. This year felt especially potent for me. Last year, members of my community travelled from the UK to join me, and my family was there as well. This year, however, I went alone for the first time—without even my son by my side. Due to unexpected circumstances within my family, only my father was able to attend. This solitude presented me with a unique challenge: to find the courage and determination to complete this prayer with minimal external support, relying instead on inner strength to endure the often-difficult conditions of the ceremony.

Building New Connections

What I discovered was something beautiful. This year, I forged connections within the community that I had never made before. I’ve watched many of these people grow and evolve over the years, but this time I had the chance to truly interact with them. One of the most significant connections I made was with a woman I danced with last year—she has become a lifelong sister friend. There was an incredible sense of feminine energy and connection between the women at the dance this year, which felt deeply needed in these times.

The Mexica People and Their Journey

Another miraculous aspect of this year’s ceremony was the bond I formed with a group of people from Mexico, known as the Mexica. They told me that their ancestors originated in the lands of Utah many thousands of years ago before migrating to Mexico. Guided by visions, they travelled from place to place, following the guidance of a dreamer within their tribe. When they finally settled, their practices evolved, incorporating elements they encountered on their journey. As they travelled, they were known as the Aztecs, but the Mexica explained that this name referred to them during their migratory period, not as a static group.

The traditions of the Mexica people, as I understand them, are a blend of prayer techniques and practices that connect to the earth and creation—expressed in a vibrant, energetic, and life-affirming way.

Sharing the Experience

I am incredibly grateful to have been part of this experience, to have learned so much, and to bring these insights back to share with my community. Every time I embark on one of these deep and sacred journeys, I return with something new to offer. I arrived home and with 48- hours I held a sound bath in my space in Eyam. The session evolved into a sound healing journey for the entire group, something new—almost like a hybrid between an individual sound healing session and a collective journey. Afterwards, participants told me they felt as though something was being transmitted to them, and that’s exactly what was happening.

As I shared the practice, I anchored in to the deep reverence, love, and connection that have been integral to my journey. I connected to the Tree of Life that is at centre of the Sundance tradition, to the prayers that had been hanging on the tree during the four days of the ceremony and the four days of rest afterwards. I connected to the energies of the ancestors, the Ascended Ones, and creation itself. I shared this consciously, without any agenda—simply with the intention of passing on the consciousness I had recently touched.

A Life of Service and Gratitude

It is part of the service offered to my community: to go out into the world, to pray, to connect with the deeper aspects of life, and to bring that back to share with the people here. I am deeply grateful to be fortunate enough to live this blessed life.

It has been a life full of challenges, but as I stand here today, I wouldn’t change a thing. I understand now that without the challenges, the pain, and the struggles—without the opportunity’s life has given me to find courage and determination—I would not be in this place where I can hold the essence of love and share it with those around me, without needing recognition or anything in return. This is simply a service to the One.

In the language of the Lakota, we say Ahau Mitakuye Oyasin—Thank you. We are all related.

Find out more about retreats I offer to sacred places at The Yogologist. 

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