Tributary Blessings

Lake Superior Circle of Radiance
Tributary Blessings

In preparation for the 2016 Grandmothers Gathering for Gitchigaaming, the planning circle of women jointly did a meditation journey to ask what the Lake desires. One of the grandmothers saw people going to the mouth of every tributary of Lake Superior and placing a crystal with an intention that: All waters flowing into Lake Superior are clean and nourishing for the health of the Lake and all beings. This action created a Lake Superior Circle of Radiance. When each crystal is placed at the mouth of the tributary, the above intention would be spoken, the Nibi Wabo Water Song or another song honoring the water would be shared, and a gift of a pinch of tobacco offered into the earth with heartfelt love and appreciation. It was shown that by doing this the waters entering the Lake would be cleansed and beneficial to the health of the Lake. The crystals used are clear quartz and amplify the intention. The vision seen in the meditation journey was that the crystals lit up every tributary encircling Lake Superior in radiant light.

There were fourteen women who received a crystal and committed to place them at Lake Superior tributaries by August 2017. We invite anyone to participate in this effort with heartfelt appreciation. We will continue beyond August 2017 with the goal of reaching all major and minor tributaries on the American and Canadian sides of Lake Superior.

You are invited to place crystals at different tributaries repeating with love, appreciation, and tobacco the intention: All waters flowing into Lake Superior are clean and nourishing for the health of the Lake and all beings.

Once you have placed your crystal and intent, please email us with the name, date and location of the tributary so we can add it to its region on the website. You may also share your experience and a photo if you like.

Won’t you help us to complete this circle of radiance around Lake Superior? Thank you!

Instructions for placing your crystal and intent at the mouth of the tributaries

Choose a crystal that you resonate with and ask if she would be willing to be in service holding and radiating the intention: All waters flowing into Lake Superior are clean and nourishing for the health of the Lake and all beings. Ask the crystal if she is willing to be placed in the Earth to do this work. Give thanks to the crystal, holding her in your hand as you shower her with appreciation before you begin.

Go to the mouth of a tributary as close to Lake Superior as is reasonably possible (creek, river, etc.). Put a little gift of tobacco, corn meal, wild rice or something meaningful on the earth there, and ask the earth permission to insert a crystal into her. (State why you are doing this) Thank the Earth for receiving this gift for this purpose.

Then make a hole with a stick deep enough to cover the crystal and put tobacco in the hole asking the crystal to help keep the waters from this tributary clean, healthy, and vibrant for Lake Superior.

Cover the crystal with earth. Smile and feel the beautiful blessing of love in your heart for the tributary and the lake, knowing that the intention is in motion, and then take your leave.

Please email us the date, the name of the tributary and where it is. Please also share your experience and a photo if you would like: info@grandmothersgathering.org. We will list your tributary in connection with the Lake below.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Region A

Cascade River, Cascade River State Park, MN
Fall River, near Grand Marais, MN
Bruhl River (also called Arrowhead River), near Grand Marais, MN

Region C

Poplar River, South of Lutsen, MN
Cut Face Creek, Schroeder, MN
Caribou River, near Taconite Harbor, MN
Split Rock River, Split Rock Lighthouse, MN
Beaver River, Beaver Bay, MN
Chester Creek, Duluth, MN

Siskiwit River, near Cornucopia, WI
Sioux River, near Friendly Valley Beach, Washburn, WI
Houghton Falls, Washburn, WI

Region B

Tributaries from Region B

Region D

Tributaries from Region D

Stories from the Tributaries

August 2016
From Anne Peek
This past week I placed one of my crystals near the place where the Siskiwit River flows into Lake Superior at Cornucopia (after playing in, and singing to, the river and Siskiwit Falls). Felt wonderful to do this!

I will be going to the north shore later in September and may place more then. I also plan to find some appropriate crystals and, as I am called, place them near tributaries into the Mississippi, Minnesota or other rivers.

September 2016
From Diane Tessari
I have already placed crystals at the confluences of the following streams with Lake Superior: Two small, unnamed creeks that arise in the area of Superior National Golf Course and run into Lake Superior on or near the property of a co-op my partner Duncan and I are a part of on the North Shore at Lutsen; the Poplar River; Cascade River, Cutface Creek, Fall River, Caribou River, Beaver River, and Split Rock River. How lovely it was to visit all those places with positive intention, gratitude, sage, tobacco, quartz crystals, songs, my copper cup, and the time to appreciate the beauty of each place. I hope to visit more locations in the next week or so.

A few highlights: At the little creek that runs into a cove on our property, as I turned back to gaze at the lake after placing the crystal, a single, cool droplet from a breaking wave landed right in the center of my forehead. At the Poplar River, just after I buried a crystal at the base of an old tree, a breaking wave made its way up through the rocks to wet my toes - and, as I stood on the bridge across the mouth, gazing upstream, the wind - which had been blowing strongly onto shore from the lake all day - reversed itself and blew strongly downstream and across my face, before returning to its onshore direction. At Cutface Creek, the waters near the mouth were still, and I sat watching tiny minnows swim about, and marveled at the shadows cast onto the pool bottom by floating shreds of tobacco I had offered to the water - rounded, dark shadows - single and clustered, each with a tiny aura of bright light. At the Fall River, where I had never stopped before, I followed a trail from the highway shoulder to the mouth, and discovered a beautiful waterfall singing as rivulets descended its face into the plunge pool at its feet - in a beautiful mini-gorge - all in the short space between the highway and the lake!

From Carol Kondrath
Aloha, On September 11th 2016, myself and my dear friend Leta Waterfall placed the crystal in the pebbles that are washed by the waters flowing into the lake. It was a beautiful opportunity. I had taken the crystal to church (Lake Superior Interfaith) and placed it in the sun light pouring through a window before going to the lake. Our church borders Chester Creek. I mentioned the ritual to the congregation and one of our members asked me to place some rose quartz and tobacco that he wanted to be added. Leta, lives next to the creek and has a deep love for the area and its sacredness. We processed and went to the lake. I have never been to the entry and was gifted with many new insights along the way. Once we climbed down and got our feet and hearts into the water, we dug a good deep hole. The beautiful pebbles were so eager to hold the crystal and ritual prayers and gifts for healing the creek flows.

We were sheltered by two large willow trees overhead. We blessed each other with a branch as we prayed with the waters. The sun was shining and the lake was singing clear and loud. I am so grateful for having these teachings. These are needed so much as an opportunity to do what I can to assist in caring for our waters.

Tributary Imagery

Chester Creek Merging with Lake Superior, MN

Gooseberry Falls, MN

Big Bay Lagoon, Madeline Island