photos from Nathan Huerkamp, Peggy DeSanto
2016 Gathering
photos from Nancy Craver
We met in 2016 for four intensive days. We immersed in circle, individual time, diverse ceremonies, laughter, deep reflection, partnership with the water, drumming, healthy local food, blessing and being blessed by beautiful Gitchigaaming. We deepened awareness of the ways spirit moves through each of us, this Gathering and continues to inform our relationship with water and one another. The theme this year was: “Reciprocal Radiance”….we explored what it means to be light, radiate light and receive love and light from the Lake. It was beautiful, profound, expressive and well- radiant.
2014 Gathering (shared by Margarita Acosta in Grandmothers Circle of News, Vol 20, #3)
In late August on Madeline (Flicker) Island in majestic Lake Superior, we experienced the tremendous power of Ceremony as we joined in Peer Spirit Circle as a group of 35 Grandmothers for 4 days to express love and appreciation for Lake Superior and all Waters. The Grandmothers Gathering cradled us; and even before we arrived, we felt welcomed into the circle of women who were standing tall with love, to honor and appreciate the Lake and all Waters.
We had all been asked to bring a tiny bottle of water from a source we loved and we joined all of our waters together and each shared with the group our relationship with this water. Our stories, love, tears and laughter deeply connected our hearts.
From the very first moment, we all realized we were in Sacred Ceremony; and new that all of our thoughts, words actions, songs and prayers would have a profound effect on the whole world.
As we let go of our ego selves, we became deeply aware of our interconnectedness. We could feel and see the power of our intention renewing the sacred pulse of love. As we felt oneness with each other and the water, we put forth the clear intention of "amplifying and holding the vision of Lake Superior and all Water as vitally healthy into the next seven generations and beyond". That vision carried us for four days..in constant presence, totally willing to be focused in service to the creation of this new hologram. We not only held this vision, but we worked in many ways to enhanced, amplify, and vibrate our intention.. by listening to the messages from water and sharing them within our small circles..and then by creating group expressions of our thoughts and feelings using art, dance, song, poetry and sacred geometry.
The Heart Coherence meditation was a wonderful tool that we practiced every time we got together in our small and large circles. It was phenomenal! It only took a couple minutes, bu the results were tangible. We want to send thanksgiving to Sue Lemieux, from the Bad River Ojibwe Band, for guiding all of us and several Grandmothers from the Island, in a ceremony honoring Water in the Ojibwe/Anishinaabe tradition.
We also thank Judith Moore for sharing a Pipe Ceremony with us with the intention of amplifying our prayers for the Lake and all Waters, acknowledging the Pipe as the Fire Element. Thanks to her as well for sharing the message of the Peace Bundle that she carries all over the world.. and for her words of wisdom and prophecy.
Oh yes! So many beautiful things happened: We honored our bodies by practicing Tai Chi together in the courtyard at dawn; we shared delicious meals together, healthy, local and abundant; we saw the language of poetry being renewed as the Grandmothers playfully created "beauty raids"; and then one night, we had just finished the Dusk Ceremony, it was so magical, I went to bed early while a group of Grandmothers stayed and toned inside the center of the Sacred Mandala we had embodied earlier. Their voices raised into the sky, creating a dome of golden light. Later that night we heard the raindrop people and the thunder beings come to dance and clap!; We physically carried our prayers close to our hearts in a tobacco tie that we each wore for the four days. On the fourth day we gathered on the shore of the Lake for the Dawn ceremony.. it was so precious.. we started in the dark, yet we managed to take everything we needed to the beach and there we prepared the Bundle with our prayers and our intention. Each one of us danced, sang and loved that bundle as if it were a new-born baby. Then Francie walked it out into the Lake and swam with it into the depths of the crystal waters. As the sun was rising, an eagle appeared and a family of little ducks swam right in front of us... it was amazing!
We had all been asked to bring a tiny bottle of water from a source we loved and we joined all of our waters together and each shared with the group our relationship with this water. Our stories, love, tears and laughter deeply connected our hearts.
From the very first moment, we all realized we were in Sacred Ceremony; and new that all of our thoughts, words actions, songs and prayers would have a profound effect on the whole world.
As we let go of our ego selves, we became deeply aware of our interconnectedness. We could feel and see the power of our intention renewing the sacred pulse of love. As we felt oneness with each other and the water, we put forth the clear intention of "amplifying and holding the vision of Lake Superior and all Water as vitally healthy into the next seven generations and beyond". That vision carried us for four days..in constant presence, totally willing to be focused in service to the creation of this new hologram. We not only held this vision, but we worked in many ways to enhanced, amplify, and vibrate our intention.. by listening to the messages from water and sharing them within our small circles..and then by creating group expressions of our thoughts and feelings using art, dance, song, poetry and sacred geometry.
The Heart Coherence meditation was a wonderful tool that we practiced every time we got together in our small and large circles. It was phenomenal! It only took a couple minutes, bu the results were tangible. We want to send thanksgiving to Sue Lemieux, from the Bad River Ojibwe Band, for guiding all of us and several Grandmothers from the Island, in a ceremony honoring Water in the Ojibwe/Anishinaabe tradition.
We also thank Judith Moore for sharing a Pipe Ceremony with us with the intention of amplifying our prayers for the Lake and all Waters, acknowledging the Pipe as the Fire Element. Thanks to her as well for sharing the message of the Peace Bundle that she carries all over the world.. and for her words of wisdom and prophecy.
Oh yes! So many beautiful things happened: We honored our bodies by practicing Tai Chi together in the courtyard at dawn; we shared delicious meals together, healthy, local and abundant; we saw the language of poetry being renewed as the Grandmothers playfully created "beauty raids"; and then one night, we had just finished the Dusk Ceremony, it was so magical, I went to bed early while a group of Grandmothers stayed and toned inside the center of the Sacred Mandala we had embodied earlier. Their voices raised into the sky, creating a dome of golden light. Later that night we heard the raindrop people and the thunder beings come to dance and clap!; We physically carried our prayers close to our hearts in a tobacco tie that we each wore for the four days. On the fourth day we gathered on the shore of the Lake for the Dawn ceremony.. it was so precious.. we started in the dark, yet we managed to take everything we needed to the beach and there we prepared the Bundle with our prayers and our intention. Each one of us danced, sang and loved that bundle as if it were a new-born baby. Then Francie walked it out into the Lake and swam with it into the depths of the crystal waters. As the sun was rising, an eagle appeared and a family of little ducks swam right in front of us... it was amazing!
2013 Gathering (all 2013 photos are by Jill Thrasher)
Twenty-eight women gathered on Madeline Island August 15th-18th, 2013. The theme was: Visioning from the heart with Lake Superior and all water now and for the next seven generations. The Gathering was profoundly beautiful. The women shared in talking circles, created ceremony, spoke their intentions for Lake Superior and all water, spent quiet time in the forest, and experienced the love and gratitude for the water, the ancestors and one another. They laughed, danced, and drummed with and in Lake Superior. What a deep and amazing four days we shared on Madeline Island.
The Gathering was created by the threads that were woven by the planning circle's retreat time for meditation and a shamanic journey together. We asked , "What wants to emerge at the 2013 Gathering in support of Lake Superior and all water?". We listened, recorded and noted the threads each planning circle member received. Then we asked Spirit to please show us how to bring form to the threads at the Gathering as activities, ceremonies, small circle discussions, and sequential flow. And flow it did. We are grateful to Spirit for guiding all aspects of this Gathering and we as planners, are grateful to be of service in bringing this Gathering forward. The planning circle volunteers their time as a Gift to the water and are the leaders of the Gathering activities. We work for a year to birth the next Gathering. We learn and grow each time in this process.
The Gathering started on Thursday when we met in small groups to greet each other, learn about the Peer Spirit Circle Process we would be using throughout the Gathering, and to go over Heart Coherence practice. We also discussed the statement of Intention for each part of the day, the role of the facilitator, guardian, and timekeeper throughout the Gathering. This beginning helped everyone become oriented to the flow of the next four precious days.
The Gathering was created by the threads that were woven by the planning circle's retreat time for meditation and a shamanic journey together. We asked , "What wants to emerge at the 2013 Gathering in support of Lake Superior and all water?". We listened, recorded and noted the threads each planning circle member received. Then we asked Spirit to please show us how to bring form to the threads at the Gathering as activities, ceremonies, small circle discussions, and sequential flow. And flow it did. We are grateful to Spirit for guiding all aspects of this Gathering and we as planners, are grateful to be of service in bringing this Gathering forward. The planning circle volunteers their time as a Gift to the water and are the leaders of the Gathering activities. We work for a year to birth the next Gathering. We learn and grow each time in this process.
The Gathering started on Thursday when we met in small groups to greet each other, learn about the Peer Spirit Circle Process we would be using throughout the Gathering, and to go over Heart Coherence practice. We also discussed the statement of Intention for each part of the day, the role of the facilitator, guardian, and timekeeper throughout the Gathering. This beginning helped everyone become oriented to the flow of the next four precious days.
The Gathering then began with a large Opening Circle including all participants. We welcomed everyone, and greeted Lake Superior water that was lifted and carried to the center piece where it would stay until the end of the Gathering, absorbing our love and appreciation. Each woman brought some drops of water from a place important to her and placed it with the Lake Superior water and indicated her agreement to participate fully in the Gathering. This combined water remained in the center and carried our intentions for four days. We created the true launch of the Gathering and this sacred time together, through joining waters, gifting, song, and heartfelt hugs.
In the evening on this first day, we were honored down at the Lake, on the North side of the Island, to receive Ojibwe cultural insights about the importance of water, Lake Superior, and Madeline Island from Sue Lemieux, of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and member of the Three Fires Midewiwin. We were joined by the women who live on the Island, and together we shared in a beautiful water ceremony led by Sue. We came together as one, remembering that it is important for all people to appreciate water. This was a beautiful and powerful completion of the first day of the Gathering.
Day two started with small circle discussions about visioning and creating intentions for water. Then we played with Lake Superior in the afternoon expressing love, joy, and appreciation for her. Four of the planning circle members created beautiful Gourd water drums for each woman, and we sat in the Lake playing them, and enjoyed the diverse resonance 28 gourd drums offered. We sang with the gourd drums and listened to them from underwater. The rhythms of the gourd drums created vibrational circles that visually went out far and wide. We swam with the water and some danced and everyone enjoyed this time with Lake Superior. We could feel the joy of the Lake in response. We could hear her laughing in the waves and saw her dance in the sunlight.
Day two started with small circle discussions about visioning and creating intentions for water. Then we played with Lake Superior in the afternoon expressing love, joy, and appreciation for her. Four of the planning circle members created beautiful Gourd water drums for each woman, and we sat in the Lake playing them, and enjoyed the diverse resonance 28 gourd drums offered. We sang with the gourd drums and listened to them from underwater. The rhythms of the gourd drums created vibrational circles that visually went out far and wide. We swam with the water and some danced and everyone enjoyed this time with Lake Superior. We could feel the joy of the Lake in response. We could hear her laughing in the waves and saw her dance in the sunlight.
In the evening of day two, was the Dusk Ceremony. The image on the left is from the Dusk Ceremony when it was completed with flowers ready for the women to walk. This year we were blessed to have three young women attend the gathering. In preparation for the Dusk Ceremony, as we sang, they anointed all of the women with water.... a sweetness so pure that it prepared us to receive, listen and share our love with all of creation. We approached the fire with love in our hearts, offered our gifts and our intent. Then we walked, with deep appreciation, attention and joy, the Seed of Life pattern, rotating it until it became the Fruit of Life while listening and receiving. We toned in the six petals until it felt complete. One can still hear the harmonics now and it feels so alive. Something very profound happened there, beyond conscious awareness. Several grandmothers have returned to the field and say they can still feel the profound peace and love there.
The third day we walked along Big Bay Point and connected with the trees, the rocks, and all that is. We prepared our intentions for the Lake and all water. The sounds of the waves on the rocks, the birds, the wind; the sight of the huge towering hemlocks, birch, maples, and cedars and the delicate plants below; the feeling of connection with all life and our oneness was powerfully experienced by all.
In the evening of the third day we came together for the Grandmothers Speak event based on the saying, "When the Grandmothers Speak, the Earth Will Heal". We each created a little offering bundle that contained the breath of our individual intentions and tobacco. Each participant spoke her intention for the Lake and all water into the center. These were recorded and will be shared with you soon. So deep and powerful - the incredible visions these women created! So it is and so it will be.
On Sunday, we awoke before dawn to go to the Lake for the Dawn Ceremony. We waited for the sun to rise as we sang our individual songs of love and appreciation. Just as the sun rose, two cranes flew right over us calling and we heard the Flicker. Each woman placed her tobacco tie and her intention into one bundle that was tied beautifully together. As we sang, we danced our bundle going to each person to love before it went out. Then, our Gathering center piece waters were poured into Lake Superior lovingly by two grandmothers followed by one woman walking the bundle of our intentions out into the Lake, carrying our love, appreciation with her and a loon joined us and called. We closed with a feast and gifting feeling complete, whole, loving, and blessed. The ripples continue to go out. We are grateful!
We encourage you to look at the links and resources on this website that have taught us so much and bring great meaning to this work. Enjoy the slide show below.
In the evening of the third day we came together for the Grandmothers Speak event based on the saying, "When the Grandmothers Speak, the Earth Will Heal". We each created a little offering bundle that contained the breath of our individual intentions and tobacco. Each participant spoke her intention for the Lake and all water into the center. These were recorded and will be shared with you soon. So deep and powerful - the incredible visions these women created! So it is and so it will be.
On Sunday, we awoke before dawn to go to the Lake for the Dawn Ceremony. We waited for the sun to rise as we sang our individual songs of love and appreciation. Just as the sun rose, two cranes flew right over us calling and we heard the Flicker. Each woman placed her tobacco tie and her intention into one bundle that was tied beautifully together. As we sang, we danced our bundle going to each person to love before it went out. Then, our Gathering center piece waters were poured into Lake Superior lovingly by two grandmothers followed by one woman walking the bundle of our intentions out into the Lake, carrying our love, appreciation with her and a loon joined us and called. We closed with a feast and gifting feeling complete, whole, loving, and blessed. The ripples continue to go out. We are grateful!
We encourage you to look at the links and resources on this website that have taught us so much and bring great meaning to this work. Enjoy the slide show below.
2012 Gathering
Thirty four women gathered in appreciation of the water on Madeline Island August 16th-19th, 2012. We gathered in intimate small circles every day and deepened our understanding of oneness through sharing, and reflection on our individual paths. On the first day we went to greet the Lake and honored the water in the Anishinaabe tradition with Sue Nichols of Three Fires Midewiwin water ceremony. We blessed one another and two beautiful young women from the Island who showed up to invite us to their event on the Island (the All Nations Rainbow Water Dance), thus demonstrating our commitment to support the young ones as they move forward with courage and love in service to the water.
The next day, we expressed appreciation and joy to the water while singing, dancing and swimming with her at the public beach. There was much laughter and lightness. We threw a wet ball of yarn between us demonstrating our interconnectedness and laughing at the water spray. Gitchigaaming enjoyed playing with us.
On our second night, we connected with the sacred geometry of the Vesica Piscis and the powerful essence of potential and beginnings with the New Moon. We walked this sacred symbol, chanting, holding our intention of appreciation for water and oneness. We offered our individual prayers to the water with our breath. We sang/toned continuously with the earth and the stars. We felt a profound sense of interconnectedness with all that is.
On our third day we visited the state park and came into relationship with the rocks, trees, plants and water. This was a peaceful quiet time for reflection and contemplation of our oneness. That afternoon, many of the grandmothers joined the All Nations Rainbow Water Dance organized by a local young woman named Rhiannon Tourdot. We danced and sang, it rained, and a rainbow blessed us and the island. It was incredible! Other grandmothers participated in a flower essence workshop with Camilla Blossom, practiced Yoga Nidra, shared in ceremony or simply rested. In the evening we listened to 13 Grandmothers share their experiences with the water, small circle and ceremony. It was an intimate, playful, and profound gathering. So beautiful to bear witness as our youngest grandmother, Julie, gifted and honored the 13 and they in turn loved her. We sang to the grandmothers, to the water and to one another. It was so gentle and joyful.
On the last day we gathered at Grant's Point to offer a group gift to Lake Superior and all water. The ceremony created so much peace and reverence. Each woman really centered in their love, appreciation, and respect for the water and the process of being in ceremony. We tenderly held our bundled gift, breathing our intentions into this bundle and together we released our gift into the water. Our prayers birthed into the water and rippled across the world to all of creation.
During our closing lunch a young mother arrived to ask for our blessing on the Flotilla canoe journey from the Iron Range down to St. Paul to bring attention to the importance of protecting water quality in light of recent mining negotiations. Grandmothers sang and gifted Ellie King on her way, and many participated in the month long canoe Flotilla in Minnesota. Young women are seeking the encouragement of elder women as they move forward to appreciate water.
After the gathering, women brought forward poems, creative sparks and insights from the gathering. Many participated with Camilla Blossom in the creation of a Water Wheel in Duluth, MN on Park Point. We also created a solstice toning ceremony in Duluth. Be sure to get onto our mailing lists so we can keep you updated.
The next day, we expressed appreciation and joy to the water while singing, dancing and swimming with her at the public beach. There was much laughter and lightness. We threw a wet ball of yarn between us demonstrating our interconnectedness and laughing at the water spray. Gitchigaaming enjoyed playing with us.
On our second night, we connected with the sacred geometry of the Vesica Piscis and the powerful essence of potential and beginnings with the New Moon. We walked this sacred symbol, chanting, holding our intention of appreciation for water and oneness. We offered our individual prayers to the water with our breath. We sang/toned continuously with the earth and the stars. We felt a profound sense of interconnectedness with all that is.
On our third day we visited the state park and came into relationship with the rocks, trees, plants and water. This was a peaceful quiet time for reflection and contemplation of our oneness. That afternoon, many of the grandmothers joined the All Nations Rainbow Water Dance organized by a local young woman named Rhiannon Tourdot. We danced and sang, it rained, and a rainbow blessed us and the island. It was incredible! Other grandmothers participated in a flower essence workshop with Camilla Blossom, practiced Yoga Nidra, shared in ceremony or simply rested. In the evening we listened to 13 Grandmothers share their experiences with the water, small circle and ceremony. It was an intimate, playful, and profound gathering. So beautiful to bear witness as our youngest grandmother, Julie, gifted and honored the 13 and they in turn loved her. We sang to the grandmothers, to the water and to one another. It was so gentle and joyful.
On the last day we gathered at Grant's Point to offer a group gift to Lake Superior and all water. The ceremony created so much peace and reverence. Each woman really centered in their love, appreciation, and respect for the water and the process of being in ceremony. We tenderly held our bundled gift, breathing our intentions into this bundle and together we released our gift into the water. Our prayers birthed into the water and rippled across the world to all of creation.
During our closing lunch a young mother arrived to ask for our blessing on the Flotilla canoe journey from the Iron Range down to St. Paul to bring attention to the importance of protecting water quality in light of recent mining negotiations. Grandmothers sang and gifted Ellie King on her way, and many participated in the month long canoe Flotilla in Minnesota. Young women are seeking the encouragement of elder women as they move forward to appreciate water.
After the gathering, women brought forward poems, creative sparks and insights from the gathering. Many participated with Camilla Blossom in the creation of a Water Wheel in Duluth, MN on Park Point. We also created a solstice toning ceremony in Duluth. Be sure to get onto our mailing lists so we can keep you updated.
Beach/Swim Photos by Kathy Bennett
Grandmothers Speak & group photos Nathan Huerkamp
2011 Film
In 2011 we deepened our appreciation of water by exploring the water within. Each participant received Dr. Emoto's book, Love Thyself. In his book, Dr. Emoto shares a simple yet powerful invocation: Water, I love you; Water, I thank you; Water, I honor you. We brought this invocation forward in all of our small circle experiences and ceremonies. Forty-eight women attended from around the country, representing 11 states and 6 Indigenous nations. We came together to express appreciation to Lake Superior and all water; to create and communicate a vision of Lake Superior and all waters as healthy, vital and balanced now and for future generations; and to gift and celebrate Lake Superior and all water as one, with each other and the community. We met on sacred Madeline Island from August 11th-August 14th, 2011. Each day we visited the Lake. We greeted her as a friend, we gifted her, we spoke with her and we listened. Each day in small circles, we gifted and greeted the water within, we spoke kindness to our water and we listened. On our 2nd day, we visited the Lake and asked her what she would like us to know. Thirteen of the 48 women were chosen by their small circles to bring forth the messages they received from the Lake during our free community event held on the 3rd day. This 55 minute film features the messages that were shared by these 13 grandmothers and some interviews with other participants.
All proceeds go to the facilitation of next year's Grandmothers Gathering. DVD's are $15 plus shipping. Please see the order form attached below.
Please send form and payment to:
Grandmothers Gathering ℅ Erin DeWitt
1009 East 9th St., Duluth, MN 55812
Please allow 2 weeks for processing, thank you.
All proceeds go to the facilitation of next year's Grandmothers Gathering. DVD's are $15 plus shipping. Please see the order form attached below.
Please send form and payment to:
Grandmothers Gathering ℅ Erin DeWitt
1009 East 9th St., Duluth, MN 55812
Please allow 2 weeks for processing, thank you.
| ggg_film_order__________________________date.pdf |
2010 Film
This film captures the wisdom shared by diverse elder women at the Intergenerational Event during the 2010 Grandmothers Gathering for Gitchigaaming. They speak of what Lake Superior said to them; they speak in appreciation of Gitchigaaming, of the water within and throughout the planet. Their wisdom creates ripples of change within our hearts and lives. The film is 27 minutes to include interviews with Margaret Behan, Cheyenne/Arapahoe from Lame Deer Montana~ a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmother's and Josephine Mandamin from Thunder Bay, Canada. Josephine talks about her journey walking around all the Great Lakes to raise awareness about the importance of water.
All proceeds go to the facilitation of next year's Grandmothers Gathering. DVD's are $15 plus shipping. Please see the order form attached below.
Please send form and payment to:
Grandmothers Gathering ℅ Erin DeWitt
1009 East 9th St., Duluth, MN 55805
Please allow 2 weeks for processing, thank you.
All proceeds go to the facilitation of next year's Grandmothers Gathering. DVD's are $15 plus shipping. Please see the order form attached below.
Please send form and payment to:
Grandmothers Gathering ℅ Erin DeWitt
1009 East 9th St., Duluth, MN 55805
Please allow 2 weeks for processing, thank you.
| ggg_film_order__________________________date.pdf |
Check out the 2010 Film on Youtube!
Film Screening in celebration of Lake Superior Day and the Water Works Exhibit at the Duluth Art Institute, July 14th, 2013!
Join us in Duluth on Sunday, July 14th from 3-6 pm at the Duluth Art Institute for a Film Screening of the 2011 Grandmothers Gathering Film and tour of the Water Works exhibit!
The film runs for 55 minutes. There will be time for questions and reflection at the end of the film.
The film runs for 55 minutes. There will be time for questions and reflection at the end of the film.
