Twin Spirit Tribe

THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM - DIRECTION

Direction - everyone needs it in their life and so often we look to others for help. Asking for assistance once in a while is fine but so many of us rely on others for our own direction that we neglect that compass within ourselves - our own inner wisdom. Our inner compass then becomes “rusty” from lack of use and may eventually lead us to depend upon others. Well, I have found a way to tap into my “inner compass” and still include those special people in my life when I am looking for direction.

The Twin Spirit Tribe offers a year long “Apprenticeship Program” which emphasizes direction both literally as well as symbolically. This year-long (4 weekend) program is dedicated to learning how indigenous cultures honor the aspects of the 4 directions: South, West, North, and East and how to apply them to our own lives.

During these weekends, we learn how to incorporate the art of ceremony into our lives. Ceremony is basically a practice that is done in reverence with the focus of an intention. This is so important because in our modern busy technological multi-tasking world we rarely place specific intentions into what we are doing. Instead we send text messages while we drive or, eat in front of our computers or even, talk on the phone while watching television. If any of what I described sounds familiar then you may also benefit from adding ceremony and direction into your life.

The first weekend, which was held in April, was dedicated to the South, which symbolizes “the self” among other things. This is an important start because a further knowledge of self really is the best directional tool. Ask yourself, how can you know how to care for yourself unless you know what needs attention? It makes sense and it seems so simple in concept that it is easy to overlook the wisdom of this simple statement. On this weekend we incorporated meditation, breathing techniques, body movement, and outdoor nature exercises. My fellow retreatants and I engaged in a level of intimacy that is not easily duplicated outside of the retreat setting.

My most memorable experience from this amazing weekend was when we divided the large group into small groups to do a breathing exercise. (I believe they called it fire breathing, and probably not because our breaths were stinky.) After receiving instruction as to what we would be doing I quickly realized that this exercise would be challenging both physically as well as emotionally. We were to lie on the ground with our head held gently in one of the small group member’s lap, while the other group members were on the other sides of the person lying down. The person lying down would begin taking two quick breaths in through their mouth and releasing one strong breath out through their mouth. This breathing technique lasted approximately 10-15 minutes per person. There is more to the exercise but I don’t want to give away all of the great details.

In my small group were two other participants and a member of the staff assisting the process. The first brave person to take on the breathing exercise in the group was a young, pretty, seemingly soft-spoken woman. My job was to sit at her feet ceremonially and do something that is called “holding space”. The Leader of the exercise gently instructed us to begin the exercise and so there I sat, watching her work through this very challenging type of breathing, which basically simulates hyperventilation. I was given the opportunity to witness how difficult the exercise was physically and kept thinking to myself “how is she still doing this?” As the exercise progressed her emotion began to surface and she adapted her breathing to compensate without stopping the process. What was probably only 10-15 minutes seemed like a life time and I was so impressed with this woman’s perseverance, determination, and strength both physically as well as emotionally. All I could think of while I was watching her was “She is a Warrior” and love was her sword. I know it seems dramatic but it truly was what I thought. She inspired me and reminded me what it truly means to be a warrior. Really the most important battles we fight are within ourselves and the only way to win that war within is to learn to love.

After observing her, I was humbled and yet renewed in my belief in my ability to face my fears. As I went through the exercise, I kept her simple lesson on my mind and allowed myself to also be a warrior and to use my most powerful tool, love. She was a great teacher without even realizing it and I was able to address a lesson I was not even aware needed to be addressed. So there it was, the direction I was seeking was within myself and, I was able to find it with the assistance of a supportive community.

Our next weekend together will honor the west, which can be symbolized by the sunset; acknowledging both the light and shadow within ourselves. I know this is going to be an intense experience, since self-discovery usually is. However, I am now armed with love from the first weekend and will go forward with the lesson of the warrior from my fellow apprentice. I cannot wait to see what is awaiting me in the West during our June Apprenticeship weekend.

- Tim C