Dw i’n ymgrymu i… (I bow to…)

…Ynys Y Crwban a Thrugolion a Gwarchedwaid Cyfiawn y Wlad Hon (Turtle Island and the Rightful Inhabitants & Guardians of this Land)

As a person with white skin and European ancestors who were part of the colonization of the native peoples and land where I currently live and work as a visitor on Turtle Island (in an area currently called Central Texas) it is important that I first acknowledge the Tonkawa, Comanche, Lipan Apache, Jumano and Coahuiltecan Peoples as the true and rightful guardians of this land and the ecosystem of bison, deer, wolves and other animals and plants that once lived here in a state of interdependent harmony.  Thousands of indigenous people lost their lives at the hands of European colonists, whether through violence, disease, the destruction of their primary food source or invasion by other tribes forced south and west in response to the “white flood” moving across the country. Those who survived lost a way of life that was sacred to them and suffered the psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual trauma of having their land taken from them through trickery and betrayed agreements while often being forcibly relocated to land in Oklahoma and New Mexico which were also often never part of their homelands to begin with.

The Tonkawa, Comanche, Lipan Apache & Coahuiltecan peoples continue to be strong and vital self-sovereign nations now located in northern Oklahoma, southwestern Oklahoma, and Texas, respectively.  I encourage you to read more about them and their history on the tribes’ official websites:

Tonkawa Tribe: https://tonkawatribe.com/

Comanche Nation: https://comanchenation.com

Lipan Apache Tribe: https://lipanapache.org/

Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation: https://tappilam.org/

The ancestors of these skilled hunters, warriors, weavers and healers continue to teach me much as I bear witness to their stories at each land balancing/alignment I am privileged to facilitate.

…Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig

The dragon is a core fixture and energy at the heart of Welsh identity and history. As such, Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig or Dragon’s Heart Hospital was the largest temporary field hospital in Wales and the 2nd largest in the UK erected in Principality Stadium (usually filled with rugby teams and fans) in the Welsh capital of Caerdydd (Cardiff) in response to the public health crisis caused by COVID-19. It “embodied the heart and soul” of Wales and was a massive undertaking in both breadth and speed to meet the rising surge of infections projected in 2020. True to the hospital’s name, the Welsh medical workers who were employed and volunteered there to meet the crisis poured their own hearts and souls into the care of their fellow citizenry for several months until the need ebbed and was able to be again met by local hospitals. It is with deep gratitude and respect that my Practice shares a name with this heroic effort.

…Fy Athrowan a Mentoriaid (My Teachers & Mentors)

I also want to acknowledge the teachers and mentors in this physical plane with whom I have been privileged to work.  These beautiful, wise and generous souls have greatly enriched my journey and while not all of them may self-identify as someone who follows a shamanic path, they have all contributed to the soul learning that is ever-evolving within me in ways that I will never truly have the words to articulate. They include Karen Hutchins, Liz Quigg, Ruslyn Smith, Kalila Homann, Amber Gray, Nanine Ewing, Rebecca Amis Lawson, Edwin Tamayo, Suzanne Hastie, Lucy Griffith and Christine Stevens.