Vocalization

Remember, we are all star beings. We are the creator of dreams.

Kci woliwon

I am the voice that soothes you

I am the song of the bird

I am the silence of the night

Kci woliwon

Thank you for this gift

A tongue dying slowly

A language barely alive

Unknown words

Part my lips

A fish swimming in the sea

Leaves dancing in the wind

Children shift uncomfortably

Siblings look with admiration

Confusion

Eyes of cousins scouting

As Creator looks upon the Earth

Kci woliwon

Thank you

For the voice I have become

The words that will soon be lost

As the sun at night

No hope for light

Kci woliwon

Thank you for this chance

A chance to restore

A dog teaching a cat his ways

-by Cassandra Dana {from Dawnland Voices edited by Siobhan Senier}

I have realized in the last few months that using my voice has consequences. There is a balance that sometimes I struggle to find between advocating and just tooting my own horn. I ruined relationships and had to mend some of them. I had to let some of them go. Throughout this experience, there was deep pain, sorrow, anguish, and a whole lot of tears.

I have come to appreciate sharing energy with individuals who reciprocate that back. I have found ways to start holding boundaries so that I know when to lend a hand and when to wish someone well. I don’t always get it right, and I think that’s just part of being in the human experience. We don’t always get it right. We don’t always use our voice to bring light into the world. Our spirit guides and ancestors will be quick to remind us though when we don’t.

In all of this, there is a sense of gratitude that infiltrates even in those moments of worry or panic. We set our intentions on practicing gratitude. It is practice because we can tend to forget. So kchi wliwni (Abenaki vs Penobscot translation here). Thank you ancestors and Creator for constantly reminding us to not only use our voice, but knowing where those boundaries sometimes stand.