Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge
Who are we?
Outside my window, in this glorious moment of now, in the land of our ancestors, "The Fire Keepers of the League", my eyes are mesmerized and my heart is full. There before me standing in glorious golden splendor is a Hard Maple Tree. Every remaining leaf, on this crisp Fall morning is radiating light and love from the inside out and the outside in. Soon, it will be time to rest and recuperate.
But in this moment with the backdrop of blue-blue sky, soft wispy-white clouds, bright warm sun and the crispness in the air, there is rejoicing and basking in resplendence.
It is within this in moment of beauty and reflection that I too reflect on the past 26 years of our time together.
For Bob and I, it is difficult to speak, put down into words, or even attempt a description of who we are and what we have accomplished through our Life Teachings.
In the Seneca tradition a person earns the respect of the people by their deeds; their way of being in the world. Their contribution to community; to the health and well-being of others. Every thought, word, action and feeling demonstrated in every moment, is dedicated for the good of all and to support all life. Not only in the now but for the next seven generations into the future; for those yet unborn.
So, to describe who and what we are for self-aggrandizement would be considered arrogant and self-serving.
It is not important to us to blow our own horns. Our satisfaction comes when we have followed through on our instructions, to the letter, for the Creator of All and Everything. A Leap of Faith is required in order to put these instructions into play. For guidance from Creator is seen from Creator"s perspective and not our own. We must proceed from the heart, in faith, not knowing at the time if they will be well received.
These are Heart Teachings; shared from our hearts to yours. The recognition we see in your eyes and the opening of your hearts, bears witness, that we have successfully delivered the message Creator intended you to have.
When we would return home after 6-9 weeks on the road teaching, Bob"s mother, Twylah, would sit us down and ask us just two questions.
- Did you kick-but? (Wake them up; get them moving)
- Did you fry Brains? (Stretch their consciousness; catalyze soul growth)
Our reward would be revealed with a squeal of Joy, clapping of hands, a thrust of fists in the air and Twylah would exclaim, "Oh Goodie, Goodie!"
Over the years we have been challenged many, many times. But always within that challenge was a remarkable answer, growth, resolution and support.
Each challenge, as difficult as they seemed at the time, turned out to be a blessing of Grace from the Creator, preparing us for an even more challenging lesson just around the corner. So, an "Attitude of Gratitude" was easily achieved by living within the Grace of the Creator.
Both Bob and I are persons of many talents and abilities. Some similar and some are different. They complement each other. Our combined talents amount to more than either one of us could achieve in one life. And as we have witnessed many times over the years, all those talents and abilities were necessary for the success of our combined Mission in Life.
For us these teachings are Sacred.
Do not look to us for patterns in our Teachings. You will not find us there. We come in answer to the prayers of the people. This does not come from arrogance but rather in keeping with our Soul Commitment; our Reason for Being. When we are true to our Mission in Life, we abide in the Grace of our Creator. The teachings, although true to our traditional ways, come as living witness to support the soul growth of others. In lifting up others in our community we lift us all.
In this Moment, Lee Nitsch
I did it! I did it as Lee said and poured my heart out to Creator. WOW! I Felt heard, understood, and loved.... I also cried for a while. When I had told everything about what was bothering me…I felt a strange feeling in my body… At first it hurt a little…but soon it disappeared. And then a completely different feeling came through my body…It felt like a warm shower, but of love and security. And a new feeling of freedom...!!
I think I should thank you for creating something so real and warm and powerful. I enjoyed it from the first beat of the drum to the last hug. Words cannot express my deepest feelings!!...It's warm to meet your family and to be part of it for a while. Even when I got up this morning after a deep night's sleep, everything seemed to greet me cheerfully and I started humming softly, the crow song, my day, almost still in a veil of the weekend…it was as if the colors really had their color, the smells their scent and I am in the middle of it with all those lovely people and relatives around me and can enjoy it!
Dear Grandfather and Grandmother, Bob and Lee, I am so grateful I met you...And so sad that we didn't say goodbye...The day before you left you shared your teaching, we sat together with a group on the straw bales, and Lee told us the story of the hippopotamus; the ways of Great Spirit can always be trusted although you don't even understand it yourself yet....You taught us the way to sit at the fire with Great Spirit and offer your doubt, negative thought...You are so special…I can't tell what it is, but I feel very connected to you, a kind of familiar bond, Yes, my 3 year old son said you look like his grandfather (my father)…then I saw the picture of Grandmother Twylah on the web, I was looking at it for more than half an hour. What a woman, what a love she carries.... I feel big love for her…It is this universal love, I think, this big Grandfather/mother feeling you spread around, that makes me feel so connected, with a great respect to you.
I never felt so much love, understanding and humble energy in one evening. There was wisdom in all your stories, in all your songs. There was wisdom in you being there. Thank you…Something has been touched inside of me. It felt like coming home. This evening was all that matters. We are here on earth to bring joy, laughter, love and honour to Father Heaven, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun and to all those who live. We are responsible for each other, for all life forms. What I learned from you that life is not complicated at all. In fact, life is so simple, straightforward, easy. In us drumming, singing and laughing together, it all found its way to my heart…Bob and Lee, I want to say thank you for your beautiful smiles, for the tender and laughing love I saw in your eyes that shine - in special little seconds - for Grandmother Twylah. But also, they shined towards all of us. I thank you for the work you do for the Seneca heritage. And something inside of me wants to learn the Seneca-way.
Let the Magic Begin...