The morning after the drum circle I went for a run along Madeline island’s southern coastline. At one point I stopped and sensed I should walk down the driveway of one of the homes that seemed unoccupied, built on a cliff with an eastward view across Lake Superior.
As I reached the house I realized it was boarded up. Around the windows were scorch marks. There had obviously been a house fire that now rendered it uninhabitable. As I stood at the cliff edge I spotted an idlylic little beach below. “I would love to reach that place” I thought. “but the descent is too steep.”
Then I noticed a few feet away that a rope had been tied to an old tree stump and was running down the slope.
“Thank you Father” I said and began to to abseil down to the peaceful cove.
“We wake at daybreak, put on our moccasins and step down to the waters edge. Here we throw handfuls of clear cold water into our face or plunge in bodily. After the bath we stand erect before the advancing dawn, facing the sun as it dances upon the horizon and offer our unspoken prayer. Our mate may proceed or follow us in our devotions, but never accompanies us. Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new sweet earth, and the Great Silence alone.”
These words of Ohiyesa the Dakota leader in Soul of an Indian….perfectly described my experience……as they say, I was “on Cloud 9” ……but with no moccasins : – )
As I stood there in the silence, another poem rose up – a favorite of my Dad’s. I remember our family holiday where we drove to the end of the County Sligo country road, and sat and gazed longingly at another peaceful island – the inspiration for Yeats lines:
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping
slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket
sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
Again Father’s whisper came. “You have found ‘heaven’ here with me, the heaven that all men long for and are destined to find….. after they ‘burn out’ and ‘come to the end of their rope!'” I’d heard another old Indian put it well. “The religious life is for those who fear hell. The life of heaven is the life in the Spirit for those who have been to hell and back!”
I clambered back up the slope and reaching the road smiled realizing the house number was 939. Full of 3s a perfect number beloved by the Celtic saints, and the “9 bean rows”
A few days later the story came full circle when talking with our Dakota spiritual daughter Raine Cloud who lives with us. She said she had just decided what to name her Etsy store:
“Rainecloud9”
Then she presented us with a little bag – the gift for Kim and Ben’s baby, our latest grandson, soon to be born:
“When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain(e) cloud in spring.” (Proverbs.16:15)
P.S. Do visit Raine’s site by going to:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/rainecloud9?ref=ss_profile
Not only will you be able to find beautifully authentic Dakota beadwork but by purchasing it you will also be able to practically support her special calling from God.