MORNING SON

I stand in the
center of the Earth
In a sacred manner
I see the tribe
gathered around me
Behold me
I Am
–Sioux Prayer

When Black Elk was only nine years old, he had a spirit dream that showed him the sacred hoop of the world, where all living things dwell together, each hoop joined within one circle. He had a vision of the Six Grandfathers, the Powers of the World, who gave him special gifts of healing, seeing, and teaching. An Oglala Lakota Sioux, Black Elk grew up in Wyoming in the late 1800s, a time when the Amerian Indian way of life was in great danger of disappearing.

Now we experience souls in our midst who are bringing to earth a new way of life. They are healers who love unconditionally. They are visionaries who live between the worlds. They are teachers who speak the Truth. They are Mahatmas, great souls, and they are one or ten or one hundred.

Morning Son, Daughter Moon is designed to give your eight to fourteen year old sacred grounding. Every culture honors the coming of age, the period of time when a youngster makes the journey from child to adult. More than ever today, with our mixed cultures and religions, we need to provide our youth with spiritual pinnings. The changes occurring in your daughter or son during these prepubescent years set into motion beliefs that will shape his or her life. How they are regarded and acknowledged, explored and implemented sets a life pattern for the child. Guiding our children – and ourselves – through this period of maturing encourages his/her destiny to surface and equips her/him with the tools she will need to fulfill it.

Morning Son, Daughter Moon celebrates this journey with your child. When your child stands in the upper chamber of the Peace Dome to declare “I Am”, the quality and meaning of your lives will be transformed. This extended weekend in nature will give your family the spiritual focus you have been seeking.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey begins Thursday evening as we make the walk to the river. Surrounded by the sounds of nature, families unite their efforts to create the medicine basket that will hold the treasures from the experiences of the days to come. Fire time becomes reflection time as we come together at the close of each evening. Whether singing, talking, or just listening to the crackle of flames kissing the wood, this magical time under a thousand stars bonds us in ways that endure.

Friday is devoted to Mother Nature, the Earth and all her treasures. An entire day in nature frees the mind from its preoccupation with technology, cleansing the spirit. The tastes, sounds, and sights of nature will ground you in ways that help you make peace with yourself – and with others. Exploring the natural and wild cave surpasses any amusement park ride for excitement and thrills. The day culminates with an old fashioned hayride to a special place on the College of Metaphysics campus. It is known as the Healing Pond because the properties of the silt have a medicinal quality. Here you will experience the Seven Powers of Chiron aligning the energies in mind and body.

Saturday is water day! From swimming to tubing to canoeing, the Niangua River offers cooling ease in the summer sun. Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese scientist researching the concept of micro cluster water in the US and Magnetic Resonance Analysis technology, says, "since water is the mirror reflecting our level of consciousness, a large percentage of the people on the planet, at least 10 percent of the people, need to have the love and the kan-sha awareness." What you learn this day will catapult you into that 10%.

Sunday morning is devoted to creating the labyrinth that each of you walk during the closing ceremonies of MORNING SON, DAUGHTER MOON. From silence to joyous sounds, your time in the Peace Dome will help seal the changes you have made individually and as a family. When you place a tile in the Peace Dome Mandala you will know what it means to "generate and nurture peace within the home."