by Shanan King

Created on: January 23, 2012

You cannot see them from here. You can only hear and feel them from here. Here is where we are going to stay, because, we do not want them to see or feel us. Here, behind that strange creature, the one right there, the one intended to keep us at bay. As long as we do not look upon its gruesome face, we are safe from its protective charm. We are not here today to be a nuisance. We are here to appreciate the positive energy, to feel human again. We must stay hidden behind the stick man and we must not give forth any unwanted energy.

I hear the drums now! To the left of that teepee I see the circle where the drummers sit! They begin softly, sounding like a slow, beating heart. However, as the drumming intensifies, it will consume us and in the process tame any remaining thoughts of ill will we may still be harboring.

The dancers are emerging from the teepee that is farthest away from us. They are dressed in their handmade costumes, donning feathers and beads, leather and fur. The colors and designs are awe-inspiring and the dancers’ long, shiny, raven colored hair is a stunning contrast to this vibrant display of the colors of the rainbow.

Look at the little ones, proudly displaying their newly made tunics and moccasins with jumps and twirls! It is all coming together now! The singers have joined the drummers! Their voices, so powerful and so full of meaning, seem to reach out and touch the very souls of all who listen.

I wish you could be as enlightened as we are right now. We are spirits that they banished from this place, negative energy. Come, join us in the garden and set your soul free, as free as the intense emotions flying all around us. We are aware that we are a strange breed of evil, negative energy. We look forward every year to witnessing true, uncensored feeling. We only get glimpses through the spaces between the teepees but we see peace, harmony, and positive energy embracing each other in a melee of mind captivating rhythm, voice, and movement.    

The beating drums are calling to us!

Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is another day. Today, we want to be the beautiful people who live just beyond this lush green garden.

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