Just recently, I have felt the presence of a chief by the name of Chief Big Eagle. He is a magnificent warrior. He is one of the original Sioux when it was still one nation. It was after his lifetime when the Sioux nation split into 7 factions. (Tu Bears seems to place this lifetime then at 1500 A.D. or so.) He was married to two women and had 4 children, 2 of which were males. His eldest son was elected chief after his death. He left a legacy of wisdom and leadership which he will be passing down to me or so I understand. I am to share that with others here on this earth plane. He has been with me in past lives but not in this one. He has been waiting for me.

I had not had the chance to speak with Tu Bears about Chief Big Eagle for one reason or another until Vision Quest. But before I had the chance to talk with her, we had a Pipe Ceremony.

Tu Bears has talked to me for several years about my owning a pipe. With owning a pipe comes a huge responsibility to own its 'medicine'. I didn't feel it was ever time for me to become a Pipe Carrier, so I always put the conversation aside. I just thought in time it would come to me or I would know when to go looking to buy one. In this ceremony, she gifted her 6 Vision Quest students with a pipe. (This is the first time she has done this. She was soooo excited about being able to gift others with a pipe.) Each of the students was ending a year long study with her and this was part of the payoff. Then she starts talking about someone who has been with her a long time, on and on..... and then she says, Yukpa hashi, would you come forward?

Now.... by this time, I already knew who she was speaking about. So under my breath, but just loud enough so that she could hear me, I said, What did you do?!!! She then took me through the ceremony of accepting a pipe.

When I finally was allowed to open the wrap on my pipe, I took out the stone and what I saw, rooted me to the ground 'cause I was stunned. The stone is carved into a very simple shape of an eagle's head.... with the eagle having turquoise eyes. I mean, here was Chief Big Eagle staring at me!!! I knew that was the name of my pipe instantly.

I filled the bowl with tobacco, which was part of the ceremony. And then, when the time was right, I was able to share the pipe with my friends in base camp as we smoked it for the very first time. It smokes good. Smile. I also think it's a VERY handsome pipe. Bigger Smile.

More to come....