The sun shone high in the sky on this spring afternoon as a warm breeze blew across the field.

"Okay guys, group is going to be a little bit different today," Peter called out as he approached the Cliffhangers sitting at the picnic tables by the dorms. "Today's topic is healing, and I thought it would be nice to have a guest speaker." The Cliffhangers all recognized Aaron Reifel, the aboriginal man who had given the ceremony returning the girl's bones to the Creator after Juliette found them in the cave.

"Good Afternoon," Aaron called out to the group. Juliette, always being polite, and pleased to see Aaron again, replied, "Good Afternoon." The others then echoed the greeting. "I'd like to start with a prayer to the Creator or God or Allah or whatever higher power for the beautiful day.. So everyone stand up and join hands in a circle, left palms up, and right palms down in the other person's hand. We join hands like this to share the feelings with each other. Also, if you hold on to the circle you won't fall." Aaron then began praying in his language. Most of the group had their heads bowed in respect, David, however, was fidgeting, struggling to pay attention.

After the prayer, everyone sat on the ground, still in the circle, and Aaron addressed them again. "There are four types of healing: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. They are all important; we all have gifts each day we can use to heal. They are the mind, body and spirit; to see clearly, to listen with respect, and to smell good aromas. The mouth has dual functions: to intake food and water we need for energy and to speak and use our voice. That's why I like to start each circle with a greeting to get you to use your voice, your gifts. Finally, there's your heart, your feelings. "Only you can decide if I, or someone else, have offended you. If I have then I should come to you and ask you to forgive me, but we don't do that, we leave it all on the other person. that's dumping, and it's very hurtful. "The elders say you need to look inside yourself to what you grew up with because it stays with you. anytime you were called a name or abused that stays with you.

The group was paying rapt attention to Aaron, and their attention was broken for a moment when he seemed to switch topics, "In my closet I've got a lot of shoes, running shoes, dress shoes, boots, in labelled shoe boxes.

"The labels are all the abuses of the past. We've each got to open the door and turn on the light to see what is with each of us.. Most of us never do this, however. We just leave all the confusion and frustration up front where anything can tick us off at any moment. "You need to learn from the past to live today for tomorrow."

The group thanked him for speaking and Peter shook Aaron's hand also thanking him for speaking. Peter then said to the group, "Okay that's it for group today guys, just try to think about what you heard today." As the group was in various stages of leaving the field, Peter called out, "Remember, we head out on quest tomorrow at first light." Everyone groaned and dispersed.