Have a Hopi Holiday

Have A Hopi Holiday!
By Diane Tegarden

It is true, much time has passed,
a year has flown away.
The season changes colors,
with red, greens and gold,
the festival of lights hold sway.

Yuletide is upon us, time to think of friends,
to be thankful for all of
our lucky happenstance.
To remember good times
in grateful abundance.

I wish you all a Heartfelt Holiday,
no matter what you are calling it,
anyway!
Be it a Holy Hanukkah,
a Spiritual Soyal,
a Captivating Christmas,
a Kickin’ Kwanzaa, or
the most wondrous
Winter Solstice!

If you live in Australia,
it’s summer solstice,
the longest day of the year.
If you live in the northern climes
the night is longest here.

But no matter where you are,
whether
planetside
or
star……

All I could wish for you
is
peace
(internally),
and a larger worldwide view!

Author’s Notes on Holidays:

Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight successive days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar which corresponds approximately to December in the Gregorian calendar.  Also known as the “Festival of Lights”, the “Feast of Dedication” and the “Feast of the Maccabees”, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 B.C. (Source:http://www.history./minisites/Hanukkah).

Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the Hopitu Shinumu, which means The Peaceful Ones, also known as the Hopi Indians. Soyal is held on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. The main purpose of the ritual is to ceremonially welcome home the Kachinas, or spirit teachers for the first half of the Wheel of the Year, which begins on Dec 21- June 21st when the Kachinas will return to their ancestral home in the mountains. Pahos, or prayer sticks, are made prior to the Soyal ceremony, to bless all the community, including their homes, animals, and plants. Sacred underground ritual chambers, called kivas, are ritually opened to mark the beginning of the Kachina season. Night Dances for Kachinas are held, a great pageant of men and women in ceremonial dress representing the spirit teachers and guides. (Source: Bahti, Tom. “Southwestern Indian Ceremonials”. KC Publications.1970.p36-40.)

Kwanzaa, which begins on December 26th and goes to January 1st , is the African American tradition of family and principles, created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to “introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture” according to the official Kwanzaa website at: http://www.officialKwanzaawebsite.org.

Winter Solstice or Yule (Dec 21st -22nd) is celebrated in the northern hemisphere as the longest night of the year, the shortest day of the year, and is the turning point in winter, when the temperatures begin to break from freezing and the earth slowly begins to warm up.

Have a Hopi Holiday! My Holiday poem…for you!

Have A Hopi Holiday!
by Diane Tegarden

It is true, much time has passed,
a year has flown away.
The season changes colors,
with red, greens and gold,
the festival of lights hold sway.

Yuletide is upon us, time to think of friends,
to be thankful for all of
our lucky happenstance.
To remember good times
in grateful abundance.

I wish you all a Heartfelt Holiday,
no matter what you are calling it,
anyway!

Be it a Holy Hanukkah,
a Spiritual Soyal,
a Captivating Christmas,
a Kickin’ Kwanzaa, or
the most wondrous
Winter Solstice!

If you live in Australia,
it’s summer solstice,
the longest day of the year.
If you live in the northern climes
the night is longest here.

But no matter where you are,
whether
planetside
or
star……

All I could wish for you
is
peace
(internally),
and a larger worldwide view!

Author’s Notes on Holidays

Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight successive days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar which corresponds approximately to December in the Gregorian calendar. Also known as the “Festival of Lights”, the “Feast of Dedication” and the “Feast of the Maccabees”, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 B.C. (Source:http://www.history./minisites/Hanukkah).

Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the Hopitu Shinumu, which means The Peaceful Ones, also known as the Hopi Indians. Soyal is held on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. The main purpose of the ritual is to ceremonially welcome home the Kachinas, or spirit teachers for the first half of the Wheel of the Year, which begins on Dec 21- June 21st when the Kachinas will return to their ancestral home in the mountains. Pahos, or prayer sticks, are made prior to the Soyal ceremony, to bless all the community, including their homes, animals, and plants. Sacred underground ritual chambers, called kivas, are ritually opened to mark the beginning of the Kachina season. Night Dances for Kachinas are held, a great pageant of men and women in ceremonial dress representing the spirit teachers and guides. (Source: Bahti, Tom. “Southwestern Indian Ceremonials”. KC Publications.1970.p36-40.)

Kwanzaa, which begins on December 26th and goes to January 1st , is the African American tradition of family and principles, created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to “introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture” according to the official Kwanzaa website at: http://www.officialKwanzaawebsite.org.

Winter Solstice or Yule (Dec 21st -22nd) is celebrated in the northern hemisphere as the longest night of the year, the shortest day of the year, and is the turning point in winter, when the temperatures begin to break from freezing and the earth slowly begins to warm up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

However you celebrate this season, may it bring you bright blessings,

from my house to yours,
Diane T. and furfamily

Visit Diane Tegarden’s booth at The Monrovia Street Fair!!

Visit Diane Tegarden’s booth at The Monrovia Street Fair!!

612 S. Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia

On Friday May 21st from 5-9pm

I’ll be selling and signing my books: “Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time”

Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time

and

“Getting OUT of Limbo- A Self Help Divorce Book for Women”.

Getting OUT of Limbo- A Self Help Divorce Book for Women

I’ll also be presenting several Hopi Indian Dance Masks for sale; they represent the four directions, inner visualizations and other natural phenomenon. They are the results of the spiritual/mental trance work
that is known as “journeying”.

Have a Hopi Holiday…an all inclusive holiday poem!

Have A Hopi Holiday!
by Diane Tegarden

It is true, much time has passed,
a year has flown away.
The season changes colors,
with red, greens and gold,
the festival of lights hold sway.

Yuletide is upon us, time to think of friends,
to be thankful for all of
our lucky happenstance.
To remember good times
in grateful abundance.

I wish you all a Heartfelt Holiday,
no matter what you are calling it, anyway!

Be it a Holy Hanukkah,
a Spiritual Soyal,
a Captivating Christmas,
a Kickin’ Kwanzaa, or
the most wondrous
Winter Solstice!

If you live in Australia,
it’s summer solstice,
the longest day of the year.
If you live in the northern climes
the night is longest here.

But no matter where you are,
whether
planetside
or
star……

All I could wish for you
is
peace
(internally),
and a larger worldwide view!

Author’s Notes on Holidays

Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight successive days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar which corresponds approximately to December in the Gregorian calendar.  Also known as the “Festival of Lights”, the “Feast of Dedication” and the “Feast of the Maccabees”, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 B.C. (Source:http://www.history./minisites/Hanukkah).

Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the Hopitu Shinumu, which means The Peaceful Ones, also known as the Hopi Indians. Soyal is held on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. The main purpose of the ritual is to ceremonially welcome home the Kachinas, or spirit teachers for the first half of the Wheel of the Year, which begins on Dec 21- June 21st when the Kachinas will return to their ancestral home in the mountains. Pahos, or prayer sticks, are made prior to the Soyal ceremony, to bless all the community, including their homes, animals, and plants. Sacred underground ritual chambers, called kivas, are ritually opened to mark the beginning of the Kachina season. Night Dances for Kachinas are held, a great pageant of men and women in ceremonial dress representing the spirit teachers and guides. (Source: Bahti, Tom. “Southwestern Indian Ceremonials”. KC Publications.1970.p36-40.)

Kwanzaa, which begins on December 26th and goes to January 1st , is the African American tradition of family and principles, created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to “introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture” according to the official Kwanzaa website at: http://www.officialKwanzaawebsite.org.

Winter Solstice or Yule (Dec 21st -22nd) is celebrated in the northern hemisphere as the longest night of the year, the shortest day of the year, and is the turning point in winter, when the temperatures begin to break from freezing and the earth slowly begins to warm up.

Full Moon in August is called Pawepana by the Hopi

home grown peaches

This morning I was out at 5am, it’s cool and bright, the early birds were squawking, my pup Melanie was rooting around in the grass and my cats were pouncing on the insects buzzing about….beautiful big full moon above the pine and eucalyptus trees invites me to sing…I sing the circle setting song of the Hopitu Shinumu, feeling connected to the land and the life all around me….

August in the Hopitu Shinumu calendar:

the full moon of August is called Pawepana, meaning Lake Moon

Agricultural Significance-peaches are ripe and food is abundant, the corn is harvested for the second time

Personal Significance- have fun and enjoy the sweet things in life, accept change as natural, personal growth.

Celebrations- The Festival for the Peach Harvest comes at the end of the month, with plenty of sweet peach desserts, dancing in the light of the full moon and joyful celebration of friends and family.

Summer Solstice is called Niman by the Hopitu Shinumu

How do you celebrate Summer Solstice (June 21-22)? I remember being part of the Candelaria for Yemaya on a summer solstice ….. vibrant blue ocean… warm clean sand…flower petals as offerings…..quite lovely!

Astronomical Significance:

Niman is the time when we say goodbye to our Kachinas (or spirit helpers) who have stayed with us for the last 6 month cycle, from Winter Solstice on December 21st (Soyal) to Summer Solstice on June 21st (Niman). They have brought us lessons and knowledge, now it is the time for playing and relaxing in the sunshine.

Special Dances/Celebrations:

Traditionally, Niman, or the Home Dance, is a sixteen day ceremonial that begins shortly before the summer solstice and ends in mid-July. The dance marks the final performance of the Kachinas before they return to their homes on the San Francisco Peaks until next Soyal.

Agricultural Significance:

This is a time when our first corn harvest arrives from the March equinox planting season. This is the beginning of the slow summer’s gleanings of abundance.

*************

June Full Moon in the Hopitu Shinumu Tradition is called Kapnakoyapana, which means “Corn Tassel Coming Out Moon”. The moon’s energy reminds us to listen to the voices of balance, to try to gain the strength from both our male and female principles. The harvest will not grow if we have too much sun (male) or too little rain (female), we must both care tend our gardens as well as aggressively weed them for the plants to be healthy, and we must both consume the plants and save something back to encourage the growth cycle.

To The Dance of Life!

Diane Tegarden (aka) Esthana Thlehiya, white shell woman, abalone woman

Did you Know that each full moon has a different name in the Hopi culture?

Diane in Native "broom" skirt

Did you Know that each full moon has a different name in the Hopi culture?

In the Hopitu Shinumu Wheel of the Year, May Full Moon is called Iakapana, meaning corn planting moon. The agricultural calendar calls for the 3rd corn planting of the season, with the first and second plantings coming along well.

At this time there isn’t any particular astronomical significance, as the next marking of the Wheel of the Year will be in June for the Summer Solstice (June 21st), which is called Niman.

If you aren’t growing crops, and are an urban shaman, the personal medicine (lesson or knowledge) is that at this time of year it is prudent to work hard for what you want; your personal energy and the energy of the great Corn Mother is powerful now! At the same time, you must also have an acceptance of life’s realities, and be at peace with the good in your life.

Special Dances/Celebrations at this time include the second round of Night Kachina Dances, both for fun and to bring rain.

Blessed Beeeees on this full moon night,  Diane T. and furfamily

Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time to be published in July!!

I’m very proud to announce that I’m working with Cindy Clark on producing my sci-fi novel “Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time”! She’s editing and designing the book, then it’ll be in the hands of Kristine Sheehan, my book cover designer. They are both members of Women Business Owners (I’ve been in the organization since 2006 and know their excellent work and fair prices), so I have complete trust that my team will make this book my best ever.

It’s all so exciting, I want “Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time” to go to the top!! It should be out by July 1st and I can’t wait!!!

To The Dance of Life!

Energetically Yours, Diane Tegarden

The First Minority group remains the poorest…The First (Native) Americans.

The First Minority group remains the poorest…The First (Native) Americans.

We hear little about the poverty, squalor and helplessness of the First Americans…the Native Americans, who are a REAL minority, their numbers seriously dwindling (less than 1% of the US population is comprised of Native Americans).

The Southwest Indian Foundation is a group (of Native Americans) who make and sell beautiful clothes, jewelry, pottery, rugs, books, CDs and other cool gifts. The money you spend is tax deductible, and the profits from this non-profit organization go directly back into helping the Native American community.

One of the big projects they have going on is building houses for the residents of the reservation, who are among the poorest people in America. Native Americans suffer from high unemployment rates, low graduation rates for their high school children, and high levels of alcoholism due to the hard life they live.

Here is a letter from Deacon Dan Nez Martin, explaining the 2009 Housing Assistance Program at the Southwest Indian Foundation in his own words.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++

“Greetings from the super windy Southwest!

We have vicious winds here today, but we are insulated inside our warehouse where we are building new homes for the “poorest of the poor” in America. The advantages of having this facility is that we can build both outside and inside this manufacturing site, depending on the weather.

We are entering a busy building season where we are going to start 6 new homes. We have 58 families on a waiting list that desperately need a home. We are setting as our goal 30 homes for this coming year. We would do anything to build more homes. We just need the materials and the labor.

These are families that would have no way to have a home without assistance. Won’t you join us in this project? It really is a great thing. A hammer, a small bucket of nails, and a pile of 2 by 6′s go a very long way.

God Bless you a thousand times. Please consider helping us, we would be forever grateful. Have a great springtime.

God Bless You always,
Deacon Dan Nez Martin
www.southwestindian.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++

Buying from the SWIF either online or from their colorful catalog, you accomplish a triple win…..you are purchasing original, authentic gifts for yourself or a loved one, you are getting a tax deductible receipt for the goods you buy, AND you are helping to employ Native Americans who would otherwise be unemployed!!!

Meet Cami, from “Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time”

Hi All,
the reading this morning from “Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time” went off well, I think. The sound was good and I managed not to hiss too much on my “essses”….couldn’t figure out how to put the embed for the show on this page, but here’s the link to the page where the show is archived:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AuthorsRead/2009/02/09/Diane-Tegarden-Anti-vigilante-the-Rips-in-Time

Enjoy!!