Journey 33 - Brushes Aside

2/6/04: I finally decided to take a Journey to release the uneasy feeling that has been with me since my last one. My Prayer Smoke got interrupted today, and that had increased that feeling even more, although I knew all happens for the best reasons. I decided to self-Drum this Journey, so that I could control the length better. I smudged the room and lay down, with the Sacred Candle on. The following account is to the best of my recollection. The experience was so clear and wonderful that I can’t be sure I have all the elements in the exact order they occurred. In particular, the exact arrival of the Rainbow Feather is murky, but I have placed it where I rethink it was based on what I was doing at the time. As I drummed, I kept repeating my Prayer, “heal and cleanse me, heal and cleanse me..”. There was such a quick trip through the Tunnel it occurred without my knowing. I was suddenly with Owl, who was riding atop Mountain Lion’s head. The two were in my Visual Cortex Journey, and were now here to help me. We were together in an open Plain, and I was sent a short distance away and told to lie face down in the sandy ground. I did so, realizing this was the start of a Vision Quest. Sure enough, it soon became night, and I was still lying face down, along, with only Owl and Lion as company. I could see Owl’s eyes glowing a brilliant gold, and changing as Owl looked around. Suddenly, purple and blue streaks started coursing through the sky, getting closer and closer to the ground. The woman in a Grass Dress was now at each of the Four Directions points, facing me, also with glowing eyes. I suddenly realized I had become a woman myself, apparently so that my female energy was being greatly strengthened by the Woman in a Grass Dress presence. Then, a Warrior appeared off to my right. I asked his name and he said it was “Brushes Aside”, for he did this with both his long flowing hair and mine. He also said he had come to brush aside my un-cleanliness. I suddenly became a Sacred Pipe, lying in the sand. Brushes Aside picked me up and Smoked me. I felt the intense and lovely heat of the Pipe Bowl at my head, as well as the warm and sacred Smoke flowing through me. Brushes prayed for All our Relations, for strength and healing, and then prayed that I be cleansed . He called me his SISTER Four Hawks when he asked for cleansing for me. He then put me back down and I became a woman again. He told me to refrain from alcohol for four days. I then realized I had spread out to become a dome of thin white energy covering the circle enclosed by the woman in a Grass Dress beings at each corner. A Village appeared to my left, and as it was still night, the Tipis were glowing with Fires from within, and there was a large Fire around which the Villagers danced. Several Elders then came over to me and surrounded the Bubble I had become. I then began to rise into the air, looking down on the Village as it grew smaller. I was then in Space, with the purple Energy now below me. Eagle Claw came to be with me for a short while, but I don’t recall him saying much..just there as support. I then returned to being the white mist over the Quest site. The Elders touched the edges of my Energy one more time, and I could feel their hands on my Energy boundaries. I then became the woman again, kneeling in the dark with the Women around me. I then looked down at the ground as I knelt there and saw a Feather forming. It was glowing brilliantly with all the colors of the rainbow! I picked it up and recognized it as a permanent gift to me. It then became day, and the WIGD at each corner were gone. I was a man again, and as I stood up, I was naked with no more skin spots. I tied the Rainbow Feather to my hair so that it hung down the right rear side of my head. I saw a Lake to me left and walked to it. I immersed myself in it. The Spirit of the Water then came over and told me to hang onto the Rainbow Feather as a Sacred Tool. She told me I could implant its rainbow image and Energy into an Aura of anyone I chose to help them heal. This is a special new Shaman’s tool for me! What a great honor and gift! I thanked her and returned to my Circle. I thanked all the Helpers who had come to me to help. Owl then led me back through the Lower World Tunnel we had come down through and we came back into the yard and my room. I drummed myself to Ground and was back. I now have a very special Feather with me.