First thing this morning – sitting in a circle of lawn chairs with cool wind blowing lightly across the grass field and nipping on my ears.  I listen to Mari and Pauline tell stories of Blackfeet traditions and legends.

The sun is starting to warm my back and thaw the grass.  Audra, Melissa, Deb and C are also in this circle.

This whole experience is surreal to me.  It’s magical and very spiritual.  And yet, it is “normal” every day life for us here.  There are too many small wondrous moments to capture in one brief blog, but my overall experience is so full of happy thoughts, warm feelings and absolute awe of the natural beauty and delightfully friendly native American women who have filled our bellies with delicious food, our minds with colourful stories and mountains of knowledge, and most of all, our hearts with love, hope and friendship.

Brandi

This retreat portion of the trip has been incredible.  Despite the bees and freezing sleepless first night, it has been well worth it.  Running Eagle Falls, Two Medicine Lake, a smudging ceremony, the beauty, the love.  It has all been overwhelming.  It has also been incredible to be around such strong, wise, spiritual, giving and educated Blackfeet women and such a privilege.  I am so appreciative of this experience.

Moon Over Running Water (Audra)

Yesterday was by far one of the most spiritual days I’ve experienced.  Being at Running Eagle Falls with our Blackfeet guides and our group of powerful women made me feel incredibly connected to the Earth and the heavens.

We’ve all been cutting and sanding wood together – so while we are sharing the stories that have made us who we are, we are bringing new shapes and colours out of sticks.

We began to give each member a tribal name last night.  It was Deb’s wonderful suggestion.  What an affirming process for each of us!  I was thrilled to receive my name: Horse of the Rising Sun.

Melissa

This retreat part of the journey has been such an emotional, spiritual and incredible experience for me that I don’t think I can possibly find the words to describe it.

We all started carving a piece of wood and some of us, including me have decided to make a walking stick as well.  Mine is very special to me because I chose it and sawed it off myself and every spare moment I have spent sanding it and admiring it.

We also made a parfleche bag and collected a red healing rock to put in it from Running Eagle Falls.  The water there is said to be healing so we all made sure to put some on us even though it was icy cold.  I felt quite emotional being there and then we had an extremely powerful smudging ceremony with our Blackfeet women friends.

It feels so comfortable just sitting here sanding my stick and listening to the stories that these Blackfeet women tell us.  I will never forget this amazing journey!

Cheryl – “Wise Laughing Beaver”

Well we’ve just left the Healing Retreat after two wonderful days, and I left my spirit there as it felt right that a little part of me stays in Montana.  I feel a lot more in touch with the Blackfeet way of life now, and it’s a very spiritual one.

Whittling my diamond willow gave me lots of time to think about my life and connect to all the girls.  It also gave me large blisters on both my thumbs.

It was an awesome experience swimming in the waterfall of Running Eagle Falls, although it was so freezing it took my breath away.  Much to say the entire journey this week has taken my breath away. 

Living in this wilderness under the stars with wild animal has once again been life changing for me.  Now I can’t wait to see my family to share the experience with.  Goodbye Blackfeet.

Donna, Sydney, Australia.

We are back now from our healing retreat with the Blackfeet women.  I feel so lucky that I actually have taken part in such a fabulous experience.  My Indian name was given to me last night – “Dragonfly Over Mountain Waters”.  I love it!!

We’ve been outdoors the past couple of days sleeping in our tipis.  We went to Running Eagle Falls (Healing Waters).  It was such a beautiful place and experience.  It reminds me of a song that I’ve known all my life but I never really paid attention to, by John Denver.  It’s a song called “Rocky Mountain High”.  A line form that song kept running through my head – “Talk to God and listen to his casual reply.”  I get it now.

PS – Megan rocks at finding bathrooms and talking people into giving out freebies!  Just ask her!

Jeanie