BLESSING WAY Chapter Four
"It's time."
Kid felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake. A bare chested Skunk was standing over him.
"It's almost time for the ceremony, it's dusk."
Kid stretched and sat up, rubbing a hand through his hair. He instinctively looked towards Heyes
Startled, he quickly stood up. Heyes was gone.
"Where.."
"He's okay. They already moved him to the wigwam"
Kid reached for a shirt before Skunk stopped him.
"You won't be needing that."
Kid gave Skunk a doubting look.
"Trust me. You keep it on and you'll pass out."
Kid hurried out of the tent, anxious to make sure Heyes was okay.
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Entering the dark wigwam, Kid was greeted by a brightly colored floor. There was a large circle colored in four colors of sand: yellow, red, black and white. Heyes lay in the center of the circle on top of fresh soft pine branches and needles. He was naked, a colorful cloth covering his lower body. His shoulder and half of his upper chest were bandaged with fresh bandages. He looked freshly washed.
Skunk's hand stopped him from entering the circle, "He's okay. He's fine"
"Why is he laying so quiet? You sure he is okay?" There was concern in Kid's voice as he strained to see Heyes' face.
"Thaddeus...He is okay." Skunk reassured Kid. Skunk led Kid to a spot and motioned for him to sit down. Kid took a seat sitting cross-legged on the dirt floor, but his attention was still focused on his partner
Skunk tried to draw Kid's attention away from his cousin. "The colors represent the four races. Four is an important number to the Lakotas. Four seasons….Four directions...Four human needs...spiritual, physical, emotional, mental. Four kingdoms...animals, mineral, plant, human...Four medicines...sweet grass, tobacco, cedar and sage."
"I get it...They like the number four." Kid said impatiently. "Why ain't he moving? Why ain't Joshua moving with all this ruckus going on?'
Skunk laid a kindly hand on Kid's arm, "You have to trust me...and them. He'll lie quiet through the ceremony."
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There were about at least a dozen men of various ages, all were painted in bright colors on their faces, arms and chest. Red Cloud stood in the center of the wigwam, white eagle feathers clutched in one hand.
"Red Cloud will start with prayers to the Great Spirit. Only through a balance with nature will your partner be able to heal."
"Great Spirit," Skunk began translating the prayer as he whispered in Kid's ear..
"... teach our brother, his mind, his intuit, his inner knowing,
the senses of his body, the Blessing of his spirit,
teach him to trust these things so he may enter the sacred space and love.
Let him walk beyond his fear and thus walk in balance with the passing of each glorious sun
May the sun. Bring you energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being
And may you walk through the world and know it's beauty
All the days of your life"
Skunk watched Kid's face transform as he listened to the words. Kid met Skunk's eyes.
"I know...savages," Skunk said sadly shaking his head.
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Kid looked around nervously as the wigwam became smokier and smokier. Various fresh herbs were thrown into the multiple smudge pots strategically placed around the circle. They emitted a fragrant smell of cedar and fresh herbs.
"Smoke is used to grab the negative spirits and draw them away." Skunk struggled to be heard over the rhythmic beating of the drums, rattles and chanting.
"We n' de ya ho, We n' de ya ho (I am of the Great Spirit)
Wani wachin yelo', Ate' o'maakiya yo (I want to live, Father I say this to you)
O he'ya na he' no (I am sending my plea)
Ate' nimici'n un wo (Father, to live on some more)
O he'ya na he' yo wa (I am sending my plea to you)
Onsiya chechiciye no' (I am in misery, I pray to you)
Wani wachin yelo', Ate' o'makiya yo (I want to live on, Father I say this to you)
O he'ya na he' no (I am sending my plea)
Wichoni, wichoni (A life to come, a life to be)
Wichoni chanku kin he' ogna' wawachi yelo' (A life to come, I wish to be on that road)
Red Cloud used the white eagle feathers to push the smoke around Heyes' head,
Shoulders and body. Kid watched it rise and escape out of the blackened opening at the top of the wigwam.
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"Whatever you do, don't close your eyes and you have to try it. You don't want to appear disrespectful."
"Try what?"
"Peyote"
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The effect was immediate and Kid didn't like it...not at all.
Kid could feel an instant increase in his body temperature, making it almost unbearable in the already smoky hot wigwam. He began to sweat profusely, as it dripped off his face and slid down his bare chest and back. He felt like he was suffocating. He tried to struggle to his feet, feeling like a foal trying to rise and take its first steps. A hand caught his arm pulling him back down.
Kid could hear a faraway voice tell him to, "Relax. Find your rhythm and just let go."
The words sounded so slow and distant, as if his hearing had slowed to a crawl but his body was racing. Panic was setting in. He felt the hand on his arm again, the voice telling him to relax…
"Relax"
"Relax"...in a slow calming mantra.
Kid struggled to control and slow his breathing until the anxiety finally subsided, replaced with the feeling of euphoria.
He had never felt this way.
A calmness overtook his body and cleared his mind. He felt the hand slip away, as if it had been a tether, once removed he was free to fly. Colors seemed to be much brighter. Balls of bright colors moved around the enclosure as he watched them in amazement and wonder. He reached out to touch one, his hand moving through the air in a slow motion dance. He became fascinated by his hand and fingers as he waved them slowly in front of his face. He became mesmerized by a bead of sweat that slowly crawled down his arm. He manipulated his arm, so the bead stopped, and then started down the front of his arm. He had never noticed that sweat could hold such vibrant colors.
When he lowered his hand, Kid felt the bowl pressed in it again.
This time, he drank from it without hesitation.
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