Welcome to the Storytelling Meditation,
The Sacred Water's Echoes of Myth and Renewal.
I invite you to settle into a comfortable position,
Close your eyes,
And take a deep breath.
As you exhale,
Let go of any tension and allow yourself to be fully present in this moment.
Imagine yourself standing on the shores of a serene lake,
The water is calm,
Mirroring the sky above.
This lake,
A lake you know well,
Maybe a lake that you were born close to or that holds significant memory,
Is a place of profound stillness and deep wisdom.
As you stand here,
You may feel a sense of connection to the earth and all of its stories,
Myths,
Songs,
And legends,
In every granite of sand between your toes.
Today we journey to two sacred lakes,
Each holding tales of cultural reverence and ecological stewardship.
We begin with Lake Atilan in Guatemala.
Lake Atilan,
Nestled in the highlands,
Is seen by the Tutsi Hilamaya people as a living entity.
It is the navel of the world,
A sacred center from which all life emanates.
Imagine the clear,
Blue,
Turquoise waters of this lake,
Surrounded by majestic volcanoes and lush vegetation.
As you visualize this scene,
Feel the lake's mystical energy.
One of the most potent stories from this region involves the god Maximum,
A protector and trickster deity.
Maximum embodies both the lake's beauty and its dangerous depths.
Picture him,
A figure of both light and shadow,
Guiding the local healers as they perform rituals and ceremonies to maintain balance and harmony between the people and the land.
Despite its cultural richness,
Lake Atilan faces significant ecological threats.
Pollution from the agricultural runoff,
Untreated sewage,
And invasive species have endangered this sacred body of water.
It's okay to allow our hearts to feel this grief.
In many practices of the East,
It opens our heart to the grief that is necessary for the renewal and renaissance in our own cultures and our land.
Yet,
The wisdom of the indigenous people around the lake offer invaluable lessons in ecological stewardship.
Their resilience and deep spiritual connection to the lake underscore the necessity of preserving these sacred waters for future generations.
Now in our story,
Let's travel north to Ongodonga Lake in New York.
For the Haudenosaunee people,
The people who built the Longhouse,
This lake is more than water.
It is a living testament to their cultural and spiritual heritage.
Imagine standing on the shores of Ongodonga Lake,
Where the industrial past and the sacred present coexist.
The Haudenosaunee,
The Iroquois Confederacy tribes,
Have always revered this lake.
Their story of the Peacemaker is one of profound transformation.
Picture the Peacemaker,
Born into a humble farmer family,
Known for his calm wisdom and profound vision.
He walked a long and wandering road,
Mediating conflicts between the warring Iroquois tribes.
Visualize him combing the snakes from the sorcerer Tatatawa and the feared Onukashifu,
And bringing peace and unity to the tribes under the white pine tree.
The great law of peace was established here,
Its roots representing the enduring strength of unity and community.
Ongodonga Lake itself mirrors this story of transformation.
Once pristine,
It suffered severe pollution at the hands of industrial giants like Allied Health and Honeywell.
Yet the Haudenosaunee people never lost their reverence for the lake.
Their efforts,
Combined with environmental activism,
With song and myth and legend,
Began the slow process of healing.
Just as the Peacemaker brought harmony to the tribes,
The restoration of Ongodonga Lake symbolizes a return to ecological balance and respect for the land.
Their resilience of the Haudenosaunee and the sacred waters remind us that cultural wisdom and environmental stewardship are deeply entwined.
As we end our journey,
Bring your attention back to the lake where you grew up around,
Where you first put your foot in and felt its cooling waters.
Feel the connection between these stories and your own life.
The sacred waters of Lake Atilan and Ongodonga Lake remind us of the importance of honoring our natural world and the wisdom of those who have come before us.
Take a moment to reflect on the lakes and bodies of water around you,
What myths and songs are wanting to be surfaced from their depths.
When we're ready,
Gently bring your awareness back to the room.
Wiggle your fingers and your toes and open your eyes.
Breathe the wisdom of these sacred waters with you as you move throughout your day.
Thank you for joining me in this storytelling meditation.
May the echoes of myth and renewal guide you towards a deeper connection with the earth and its sacred waters.
