On Modern Tribalism: A Tale of Hawk Medicine

This past weekend, I offered a workshop, here at the Hive, that I called "Modern Tribalism."  In exploration of such a notion, we strolled up a Golden Hill and into a park of the same name.  There, we breathed in the damp air, thick with the moisture of a mid-winter's shower.  Along the way, shin-high grass soaked the thin cotton of my tennis shoes as we alternately conversed about experiences that had come before even as we noticed these moments, now.  Our collective BodyMind led us under a grove of towering Pines, where we observed eye-like shapes in the brown bark as well as the uninviting spines of hanging branches and leaves.  In circular intention, we offered our gratitude for this now - for the oxygen that we breathe as well as for the ancestry that supports our growth.  Then, we continued along our winding path. 

Slowly, we arrived at a still-point, standing above the native coastal desert shrubbery that delineates Florida Canyon.  We breathed in, sensing the molecules as they accumulate and pass in through our nasal passages, down the backs of our throats, filling our lungs, expanding our ribcage and, if we breathe deeply enough, tickling our diaphragms.  Together, we experienced LOVE as it tingled in our chests. Just then, soaring up above our Earth-bound bodies, a Red Tail Hawk beat its wings as it flew in large, oblong circles.  "Cawk, cawk, cawk," it screeched as we stood, still, tall and proud, receiving all that this holy messenger had to offer us - a dose of Earth Medicine for our continued great adventure of this be-ing human.

How we each choose to integrate this medicine into our day-to-day lives is, as always, personal and up for interpretation.  Here are a few websites that I like to refer to for my initial Earth Medicine readings: www.morningstar.netfirms.com/ and www.newagemystic.com/default.aspx.  However, as we made our way back down the grassy knoll, our specific Hawk messenger followed us.  Up, over head, it passionately expressed that it needed us to notice it.  "CAWK CAWK CAWK CAWK CAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWK," it screeched as its wings flapped violently.  We had no recourse but to stop and notice.
"NOW IS THE TIME.  NOW IS THE TIME.  NOW!!!!!!!!!" I imagine it was saying.

Ominous clouds rolled over head, as we found ourselves caught in a Saturday afternoon shower.  We took refuge underneath a small tree near that brooding, blue and black building, also known as the downtown Police Headquarters.  Like anything unpleasant, the deluge soon passed and we continued our way, back towards the inviting glow of the Prosperity Hive.  Warm and relieved of our wet clothing, we continued our investigation into Modern Tribalism with mask painting indoors. 

Throughout time, Hawks have represented Visionaries and Messengers.  Hawk medicine unites Heaven and Earth and is thought to encourage us to EMPOWER AND FULFILL OUR VISIONS.   In Kundalini Science, the color RED represents the Root Chakra for Primal Sexuality.  This first Chakra is located in the region around one's tailbone, pelvis and sex organs. 
Hawks mate for Life.
The ability to soar high above in order to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture is one aspect of Hawk Medicine that makes it so valuable.  Hawks can also remind us to take the "higher road" - to fly above those who we perceive are trying to oppose us.  

In my Hawk medicine reading, I also chose to receive - loud and clear - the message that I need to shut the #$%^ up and take time to "soar above" before speaking.  Ta'rot has been telling me this lately as well, as I have pulled the "Silence" card on a number of occasions now.
"Silencio, Cara!  Silencio."  Please, feel free to tell me this whenever my brain and mouth are on hyper-drive.
Really.
Honestly.
Anytime.
"Be quiet" is all you have to say.
And, I will listen.
Promise.