On April 1, 1998 I was asked to organize an Inipi, a stone peoples lodge, also known as a sweat lodge ceremony for a small group of healers in St. Louis. I was led to meet with my brother, Arrow Hawk who graciously agreed to help build the lodge and to lead the ceremonies.  By April 6th word had spread rapidly and our humble ceremony, a simple sweat, a purification ceremony for a few local healers had quickly grown (in less than 1 week) into an international gathering of healers — all coming together for the purpose of healing. There were over 75 who attended that first gathering representing cultures from around the world...and countless others who were with us in spirit.

Tlakaelel, a Tolteca elder teacher, heir and guardian of the oral tradition, author and spiritual guide traveled to St. Louis to lead our first ceremony on the evening of April 30, 1998. Tlakaelel (79 at that time) is an Aztec Medicine Man, chosen by his people at the Council of Anwach to insure that the oral history of itsachilatlal - the world - would be passed on to future generations. Even beyond his own community tradition and culture, it is his wish and life mission to make this history - hundreds of thousands of years old - available to people of all races. In 1947 he re-established the Mother Kalpulli of Mexico for this purpose. The Kalpulli is an organization devoted to maintaining the communication and understanding between the "people of the four colors". It is believed that peace is the result of living in harmony and balance at all levels and with all creation. To that end, the Kalpulli invites people of all races, cultures and beliefs to come together to talk, to pray and to participate equally sharing all responsibilities.

To have Tlakaelel lead our ceremony was more than an honor for us, as he journeyed a great distance to lead us in Sacred Ceremony on the very day that his life partner of 50 years passed on to the "blue road." The true significance of this particular gathering with individuals, who chose to participate entirely on their own to act as emissaries for their race, culture and religious beliefs, at this site, on this day and led by this man is still unfolding but the ripples are very far reaching indeed.

Ceremony was held in Collinsville, Illinois on sacred ground that includes Mounds 1, 2 and 3 of the ancient Cahokia Mounds City. The stories passed down from the ancestors say that if all the sacred power points on Turtle Island [earth] are pinpointed on a map and connected they create the image of a dove in flight with Cahokia Mounds as the heart of the dove. One written account of this “legend” can be found in the metaphysical text, “The Keys of Enoch” as well.

As the details came together for the Inipi at “the Heart of the Dove”, not realizing this was also Tlakaelel's personal life mission, many of us began to entertain the thought that we should find a way to blend cultures and traditions in a harmonious and healing way. This resulted in the creation of 3 very special essential oil blends that were used in ceremony throughout the next 4 days. Secret Manifestations a blend that promoted energetic and harmonic balance for manifesting abundance in all areas of life, helping us to remember that we are co-creators connected with all of life.

Krishna created Journey to the Heart: In the Spirit of Crazy Horse which results in an intensification of the purification effects and does, indeed, take us on a journey into our hearts by clearing away the illusions and leaving us with total clarity of where we are in the journey of life...an effect that continued to deepen over weeks and for most of us led to a powerful inner journey that was by no means easy or painless...but was amazing to say the least.

Raed Rady created Neteru, a true essence of creation that awakens us to our connection with all that is, was, or ever will be!...creating a deep sense of brotherhood...and the brotherhood of Heart of the Dove continues as we come together again in 2010.

Some time after the ceremony, Tlakalel said that in his 79 years on this earth walk, he had never witnessed that many healers coming together in one place with no ego and no other thought than to offer love and healing to our Mother Earth and her children. We had representatives from nearly every culture around the world, all coming together physically or through intention to heal their lives and to heal the hurts of the world. Every single person who took part in ceremony left with a feeling of being a part of something so powerful and so sacred that there were no words to describe what had taken place.

Little did any of us know how quickly those ripples of love and healing would spread. As of today the circle is continuing to grow. We are indeed ONE and it is a wonder to behold! Join us at Heart of the Dove Medicine Lodge on Facebook.

Jackie

2011...and the journey continues...Nature's Island is now a Satellite Location for the Red Road to Wellness Center, a non-profit registered in Florida and Missouri.

Once again, We are happy to be working closely with our brothers and sisters of the Heart of the Dove Medicine Lodge. Our brother Arrow Hawk and sister Healing Dove have expanded their certification as a non-profit to Florida for their Red Road to Wellness Center and Nature's Island is deeply honored to become a satellite location for the Red Road to Wellness Center, along with our sister, Mary DeAmbrose who facilitates the satellite location in Tampa, and brother Dennis "Fire Eagle" Largent who facilitates the satellite location in St. Louis.  Arrow Hawk and Healing Dove are also working closely with Palm Partners Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in DelRay Beach, Florida where they incorporate the Sweat Lodge, Energy Healing and Right Relationship teachings into the recovery programs with great success.

Here at Nature's Island we are expanding as well, working closely with The Fire Tribe and Maria Nomikos through Hearts on Fire offering firewalk and sweat lodge ceremonies as well as offering a variety of workshops and classes taught by our local community, those offered by well-known leaders in their respective fields and by international members of the Heart of the Dove Medicine Lodge.

With great gratitude to all

Hand to Heart, Jackie