Sacred Light

          It was light long before the sun finally came out from behind the mountain, but still cold. I stayed nestled in my sleeping bag for a while longer. I knew our supporters would soon be checking in on me. It was dawn, and I wanted mni wakhan like the inspiring woman had promised me. Also, I wanted to leave with them immediately! I thought my vision quest was absolutely over, finished, and complete. I was still so desperate for water!! It was not food I desired, only Life saving water! When they arrived to check on me, I was given pejuta wakhan, sacred medicine, blessed water, about two cups worth. They encouraged me to stay a little longer and to continue to spend the day in prayer. They said they would check on me again to see how I felt in the evening. Reluctantly, I agreed to stay knowing thirst would be my biggest challenge.          The fly’s and the bee’s plagued me yet again, ...

My sacred pipe was all ready to go, my 405 prayer ties were made, and I felt as prepared mentally and physically as I could be. I had stopped eating solid food two days before we left in order to shrink my stomach and empty my bowels. I was only drinking homemade lemonade and water to keep my body hydrated. There were five women and one man going on hanbleceya. We had supporters helping us through this experience. You can’t do this sacred traditional Lakota rite alone. It takes a team to make it possible. We left for Kamas, UT on the morning of Sept 10 th , 2015. We made our four prayer flags at our supporter’s home while the sacred fire was heating up the rocks for our inipi, which starts our vision quest. A sacred fire would burn for us the whole time we were out on the mountain praying. Someone would always be attending that fire, day and night, throughout our four days of prayer. When the ‘grandfathers’ were ready, we started the inipi. In this sweat lodge, ...