This is a note of warning. This day's activities are a bit graphic. If you are the least bit squeamish about needles or the like, please skip this chapter and continue the journey with the next one.
Yukpa hashi
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Medicine Wheel Sun Dance
Friday, July 20th
Chapter 5

Today has been the day for piercing, the dragging of the skulls and flesh offerings.

The Piercing round.... A dancer can be 'called' to go an extra mile in their expression of suffering for the people. It consists of piercing the chest muscle on both sides of the upper chest with a sharpened eagle bone. Then the ropes that had been previously tied to the 'Tree' are attached to the bone needles. The dancer then backs up and leans against the ropes. This is done three times (up and back) and on the last time, the dancer jumps back and pulls the needles through the skin, breaking free (this is a symbol of gaining freedom). Ladd pierced again this year. We as his family got to stand behind him and catch him when he broke free.

Dragging the Skulls.... The skulls got dragged 3 times today. In this ceremony, the bone needles are placed through the muscle on both sides of the upper back. Buffalo skulls are tied together in a row and then connected by rope to the bone needles. The dancer, with the Cedar Runner ahead of him and with the Intercessor on one side of him, drags the skulls around the outer 'track' until the needles are pulled free. It is up to the supporters to whoop and holler and encourage the dancer on. This year, I had the opportunity to buy one of the buffalo skulls that would be used for this ceremony. I then prayed with the skull (It also went to Vision Quest with me.) until it was time to head to Utah. I knew which one was mine at the start but not now. Some of the skulls shattered from the ill use. I hope mine holds together.

The morning round saw Dennis Fourwinds pierce and John Sargent drag the skulls. Bob Center sang an honoring song. All was done for Grandpa David, who is 90 something, and is in the hospital with an aneurysm. He is Richard Sparroweagle's grandfather. He is the one who had passed down these ceremonial rituals to Richard.

While they were piercing and dragging the skulls, I had a very powerful vision. It really shook me up. Chief Big Eagle (The entity who first came to me in Sweat Lodge a few weeks before Vision Quest and who is represented in my pipe.) came forward as an eagle. I could feel my spinal column make an adjustment (my back curved out like a bird's) and my peripheral vision became acute.

And then I 'saw' Grandpa David. He was lying in a hospital bed surrounded by his family. They could feel the energy that we were sending to them. And then I saw Grandpa sit up and then get out of bed.... only it was his spirit that got up. He left his physical shell behind. I was shocked when I realized what was going on, when I realized that I was witnessing his death. But then I heard Grandpa say, No, no... this is as it should be. Things will be alright. The vision really shook me up.

I gave a flesh offering. Why would I do that? Not only do the dancers feel the call to 'pierce', the supporters can as well. Dennis (Fourwinds) places a sterile needle under a very small pinch of skin, and with a scalpel, cuts it off. To the 4 small round scars from last year, Dennis added 8 more to form a cross. Tomorrow I think I'll come back and have Dennis do 8 more and complete the medicine wheel. The 8 stood for the 7 dancers from our WillowNations family and the 8th was to honor Dennis.

The last thing that I did today was that I was one of four who passed out the sacred food to the dancers. Each night, the dancers receive a small bit of nourishment. It is said that those who lived long before us existed on these four foods. They got 4 sips of water first. Then into their cupped hands, they were given 4 teaspoons of cornmeal, 4 teaspoons of dried meat and then I placed 4 cherries and some juice on top of it. It was an honor to serve them. One isn't supposed to look at the dancers in the eye. It takes them out of their spirit place. It was very hard not to let Son Mark see in my eyes, my feeling of pride for him.... as well as give a hello to the others.... but I held true to the tradition and kept my eyes averted.

One other thing is that I'm also teaching small beadwork to the ladies in the Moon Lodge. More on that maybe tomorrow. Right now, I'm really bushed... and it's very late... Nite....

Delicious fish tacos tonight for dinner tonight. Yummmm...