Cana and I had helped Seveya prepare for she had become like a daughter to us, it was with pride and joy that we had placed the feather and shell into her hair, for each meant something, the herlift feather was for strength and guidance, and the shell was a symbol of a changing woman. The skirt she wore held all the hard work of her own hands and also the thoughts of each woman of the tribe,for each one had placed a part of them selves in it, each design was of the woman herself.
For the last four days an area by the stream has been prepared, colorful furs lay on the ground to form a large circle where every one will be sitting after the ring is placed. Within the stream itself ,the fire mirrored on its clear surface, offering its grace and blessing upon those gathered. When Seveya walked from her wagon she would move thru the two lines of women that had formed, each woman was dressed in their best clothing, this forms a trail in which she walked, as she passes she would have seen that each one is holding a colorful bowl to represent all the colors of the plains, within these bowls burns herbs that are not strong and not overpowering, just enough to provide the perfect ambience of mystery and wonderment as the light fragrant smoke drifts along the pathway to create a haze that obscured and yet hinted at what lay ahead of her, each woman will lightly brush her with a single feather, the closer she draws to the stream in an area that she has never explored she will find a pathway formed with a few torches inserted into the ground, only enough to cast a dim light, The air would carry a beautiful, almost haunting melody as all the women harmonized to bring forth a song that would bring a sense of comfort and warmth to surround her as if she were entombed within the womb, safe, warm and secure, with each step taken the more narrow the path would become as if guiding her thru a birth canal, the songs spoke of love, peace, prosperity and fertility.
Seveya would come to a stop when she nears a large hide that is being held by two women, one was very old,yet her eyes still shimmered with wisdom and a love of life the other was young and unringed, her eyes held the innocence and the hope of what awaits her in life, for a moment the culmination of these three women would represent the three stages of womanhood and life that all women pass thru. The hide was deep black on one side and deep red on the other, in the middle was a slit down the middle. One of the women would motion for her to stop.
Asria would then speak the following words. " Within this sacred place we present you as a woman to the skies. We ask for blessings upon this ceremony, celebrating your transition from childhood to young adulthood." She would then stand beside her and place one hand under her elbow and guide her towards Yamka.
Yamka would then guide Seveya to the hide and gently push her thru, representing the labor of rebirth, this allows Seveya to emerge on the other side as if she had been gliding thru the birth canal as a child and thru labor and love was born as a young woman. On the other side everyone would be waiting. Asria and Yamka after assisting Seveya will walk to the other side of the hide and stand with all the women gathered. It would be here that Dash approaches Seveya and speaks to her, "Are you ready to dedicate yourself to the world of a woman. To step into the embrace of sisterhood and commit to the bonds the make you a part of each and everyone of us, will you give of yourself as others give to you. Are you willing to treat every man as your brother, and every woman as your sister for they are by the hand of the sky."
Seveya answered that she was ready. And that she was willing, after she answered Dash would then turn and light one of the candles on the altar.
It was then that Mezoo stepped forth and lifted the bowl that contained the oil, and mixed with it was some water and flower petals, she would lightly anoint Seveya, and then she would offer the following words to her, "Thru this ceremony you have proclaimed that you are ready to be a young adult woman. Welcome our sister to the journey of life, of knowledge and of love. Henceforth, you will be seen as a beautiful, young adult woman of the tribe. Slowly Mezoo would turn and light the second of three candles.
Cana then will come forth, and I moved beside her to hold tray that had been specially prepared , upon it lay a mosaic cloth of color, which rested the ring that was given to her to wear when she was pierced, next to it lies the needle, antiseptic and salve. Cana picked up the needle and the air was held with good natured teasing. Cana was skilled at piercing's and she quickly pushed it thru, it was funny to hear Dash say it was crooked, from which a new onset of comments had been made, I found it funny and it did lighten up the tension that Seveya was feeling, I think she found it was not as bad as she thought it would be.
I then drew the women around Seveya in a circle, and then I would speak to her, " As you step onto this new path of life, know that you are a wonderful, powerful force, beautiful in every aspect. For you are now a part of a deep sacred bond of sisterhood, each of us is here for the other no matter what, each of us will lend a hand to lift you up when you fall, to support you when you feel the need for our strength, to make you laugh when you want to cry and to dry your tears when the need to cry has been a healing cathartic, we are all here for the other no matter what. This is a bond that no one and nothing can break or touch but yourself."
I would then turn and lift from the alter an arrow that has been painted white, tied to one end near the feather is a leather tie holding the colors of the sky,the grass,the bosk,the blood, the dirt and the water. Wrapped around the other end near the arrowhead is a piece of bosk hair, this was handed to Seveya. "See this arrow with the hair of a bosk I found, thru this arrow the bosk is joining our ceremony and is offering its hair to this young woman. No matter what comes in life, may nothing stand over this woman that is not sacred because she reaches from the plains to the sky and touches all that is. " When I was finished I hugged her gently and spoke softly to her, then released her so that Can could come along side her and together we presented her to the others, "May all welcome and embrace our newest sister."
Afterwards we went to the main fires to celebrate, I did make a stop at my wagon to change into my usual attire of leathers and a vest. Then I made my way and sat for a while listening to the others celebrate, and give gifts to everyone, I had my own to give for various reasons, a thank you for specific reasons, Seveya passed out the stones to everyone, I keep mine in my personal wagon next to other sentimental things I have placed in various places. Who would believe I am actually a sappy, sentimental fool.
The night for her was beautiful and she glowed, I am so glad that all went well, I was a bit worried, but everyone put aside anything they felt and made it special for her, almost everyone, I am disappointed in one, but it is my thought everyone makes a choice. And nothing could have made me spoil this night for a young woman, it is only once she walks thru this milestone of life.
For the last four days an area by the stream has been prepared, colorful furs lay on the ground to form a large circle where every one will be sitting after the ring is placed. Within the stream itself ,the fire mirrored on its clear surface, offering its grace and blessing upon those gathered. When Seveya walked from her wagon she would move thru the two lines of women that had formed, each woman was dressed in their best clothing, this forms a trail in which she walked, as she passes she would have seen that each one is holding a colorful bowl to represent all the colors of the plains, within these bowls burns herbs that are not strong and not overpowering, just enough to provide the perfect ambience of mystery and wonderment as the light fragrant smoke drifts along the pathway to create a haze that obscured and yet hinted at what lay ahead of her, each woman will lightly brush her with a single feather, the closer she draws to the stream in an area that she has never explored she will find a pathway formed with a few torches inserted into the ground, only enough to cast a dim light, The air would carry a beautiful, almost haunting melody as all the women harmonized to bring forth a song that would bring a sense of comfort and warmth to surround her as if she were entombed within the womb, safe, warm and secure, with each step taken the more narrow the path would become as if guiding her thru a birth canal, the songs spoke of love, peace, prosperity and fertility.
Seveya would come to a stop when she nears a large hide that is being held by two women, one was very old,yet her eyes still shimmered with wisdom and a love of life the other was young and unringed, her eyes held the innocence and the hope of what awaits her in life, for a moment the culmination of these three women would represent the three stages of womanhood and life that all women pass thru. The hide was deep black on one side and deep red on the other, in the middle was a slit down the middle. One of the women would motion for her to stop.
Asria would then speak the following words. " Within this sacred place we present you as a woman to the skies. We ask for blessings upon this ceremony, celebrating your transition from childhood to young adulthood." She would then stand beside her and place one hand under her elbow and guide her towards Yamka.
Yamka would then guide Seveya to the hide and gently push her thru, representing the labor of rebirth, this allows Seveya to emerge on the other side as if she had been gliding thru the birth canal as a child and thru labor and love was born as a young woman. On the other side everyone would be waiting. Asria and Yamka after assisting Seveya will walk to the other side of the hide and stand with all the women gathered. It would be here that Dash approaches Seveya and speaks to her, "Are you ready to dedicate yourself to the world of a woman. To step into the embrace of sisterhood and commit to the bonds the make you a part of each and everyone of us, will you give of yourself as others give to you. Are you willing to treat every man as your brother, and every woman as your sister for they are by the hand of the sky."
Seveya answered that she was ready. And that she was willing, after she answered Dash would then turn and light one of the candles on the altar.
It was then that Mezoo stepped forth and lifted the bowl that contained the oil, and mixed with it was some water and flower petals, she would lightly anoint Seveya, and then she would offer the following words to her, "Thru this ceremony you have proclaimed that you are ready to be a young adult woman. Welcome our sister to the journey of life, of knowledge and of love. Henceforth, you will be seen as a beautiful, young adult woman of the tribe. Slowly Mezoo would turn and light the second of three candles.
Cana then will come forth, and I moved beside her to hold tray that had been specially prepared , upon it lay a mosaic cloth of color, which rested the ring that was given to her to wear when she was pierced, next to it lies the needle, antiseptic and salve. Cana picked up the needle and the air was held with good natured teasing. Cana was skilled at piercing's and she quickly pushed it thru, it was funny to hear Dash say it was crooked, from which a new onset of comments had been made, I found it funny and it did lighten up the tension that Seveya was feeling, I think she found it was not as bad as she thought it would be.
I then drew the women around Seveya in a circle, and then I would speak to her, " As you step onto this new path of life, know that you are a wonderful, powerful force, beautiful in every aspect. For you are now a part of a deep sacred bond of sisterhood, each of us is here for the other no matter what, each of us will lend a hand to lift you up when you fall, to support you when you feel the need for our strength, to make you laugh when you want to cry and to dry your tears when the need to cry has been a healing cathartic, we are all here for the other no matter what. This is a bond that no one and nothing can break or touch but yourself."
I would then turn and lift from the alter an arrow that has been painted white, tied to one end near the feather is a leather tie holding the colors of the sky,the grass,the bosk,the blood, the dirt and the water. Wrapped around the other end near the arrowhead is a piece of bosk hair, this was handed to Seveya. "See this arrow with the hair of a bosk I found, thru this arrow the bosk is joining our ceremony and is offering its hair to this young woman. No matter what comes in life, may nothing stand over this woman that is not sacred because she reaches from the plains to the sky and touches all that is. " When I was finished I hugged her gently and spoke softly to her, then released her so that Can could come along side her and together we presented her to the others, "May all welcome and embrace our newest sister."
Afterwards we went to the main fires to celebrate, I did make a stop at my wagon to change into my usual attire of leathers and a vest. Then I made my way and sat for a while listening to the others celebrate, and give gifts to everyone, I had my own to give for various reasons, a thank you for specific reasons, Seveya passed out the stones to everyone, I keep mine in my personal wagon next to other sentimental things I have placed in various places. Who would believe I am actually a sappy, sentimental fool.
The night for her was beautiful and she glowed, I am so glad that all went well, I was a bit worried, but everyone put aside anything they felt and made it special for her, almost everyone, I am disappointed in one, but it is my thought everyone makes a choice. And nothing could have made me spoil this night for a young woman, it is only once she walks thru this milestone of life.
