It Is to Laugh
1 hour ago
Monday, May 29, 2017
Building the Tribe
There are some personal parts of my life that rarely if ever make it into this blog. If I'd wanted everyone to know everything about my life I'd be on Facebook. However, I feel it's important to share a few lesser known details.
Over the holiday weekend we had a house warming party for one of our friends. She bought a place not that far from my lovely wife and I. It's nice to have another friend so close. Actually, we've been building more than a circle of friends and family. In these troubled times, we've been building our tribe.
A more traditional tribe is basically an expanded family group. Our tribe is more like a modern blended family. We aren't necessarily born into this tribe, we join it. It's good to have people to depend on. We support each other.
Survival is much easier if you are part of tribe rather than a lone wolf. If you want to live more than a subsistence existence, you need other people. Even if you have a vast array of skills and encyclopedic knowledge, there are only so many hours in the day.
To help bind our created tribe together, I did something I rarely do. I preformed a sacred pipe ceremony. The pipe ceremony is perhaps the most important ceremony in Native American culture. Ceremonies vary, and mine was somewhat tailored to our group. My pipe came down to me from my teachers. I have such respect for them that I was hesitant to step up and do a ceremony. Then it occurred to me that the pipe was given to me so that I'd use it. Having it sit on a shelf somewhere does not honor it.
My tribe was respectful and understood the importance of what we were doing. I believe we are all tied together just a bit closer.
-Sixbears
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Interesting, and a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gorges!
DeleteTribes are important. Although it is not formalized I have one and so does my daughter. We know that there are those we can depend on and who can depend on us should the poo-poo hit the oscillator.
ReplyDeleteOne of the keys to keeping a tribe together is to do things together during normal times. Get used to relying on each other in day to day life. Work together and play together.
DeleteGood on you, Sixbears. We, too, have a tribe, even though it's never been formalized in such a way, we know each of us is there for the others, and all have a common bug-out location. You've given me an idea to stew upon ...
ReplyDeleteThank you! If I'm able to give people a few ideas, I feel it's worth doing the blog.
DeleteI think what you are doing is a good thing. I may be a hermit, but I have no objections to joining a tribe, providing the goals are pretty close to the same!
ReplyDeleteIt is like herding cats sometimes.
Deletesmoke what in the pipe?
ReplyDeleteWildflower
Not what you are thinking. :)
DeleteOrganic tobacco and some locally grown sage. Other herbs sometimes, but no whacky tabaccy.
Though , from the attitudes I've experienced from many preppers. They might benefit from imbibing a touch of medicinal marijuana lol.
DeleteI've nothing against it, but it has no place in a sacred pipe. There's a time and a place for everything.
DeleteWell said. We need each other especially in these times. Wow, I wish I could have seen the pipe ceremony. Sounds deeply moving.
ReplyDeleteIt was moving. Perfect star filled night around the campfire.
DeleteI'm not a very social animal, but I see the strength in groups with the same values and goals.
ReplyDeleteThe key is that you have to get used to working together in normal times. Cuts down on surprises when things get rough.
DeleteI was wondering if you used some sage. We occasionally burn white ceremonial sage for cleansing the rooms of mold and other things.
ReplyDeleteIndeed I do. My lovely wife grows it.
DeleteWe have never found anyone in our area even remotely aware of prepping, and the only neighbor with guns is one who likes to brag about his guns. Not smart.
ReplyDeleteNope not smart at all.
Delete