August 9-14, 2010   RED LODGE, MONTANA

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Please note: Our approach is organic and fluid, events will change with the energy of the participants and the wishes of the group! The following is a possible schedule of events.  The week will be a mixture of personal inner exploration within the context of Native ritual and ceremony, illuminated by  the majesty of the Rocky Mountain wilderness. Options will be available to participants to insure that every level of physical ability is comfortable. Expand your horizons and give yourself the gift of a great and insightful adventure!

Monday Aug. 9: Fly into Billings, Montana, arriving at Billings Logan International Airport. We will provide two shuttles for arriving flights, pick you up & shuttle you to the Medicine Flower Lodge north of Red Lodge, Montana. (Let us know if you self-drive directly to Montana and we’ll send you a map.)

Find your room, & explore the land.
Dinner in the tipi and Orientation.
Slide show & talk: “Taku Wakan: The Sacred Nature of Plains Indian Art”

Tuesday, Aug. 10: Placing the Tipi within the universal cosmology of the Medicine Wheel:

• Tipi etiquette and invocation of the fire spirit.
• The Medicine Wheel represents our relationship with nature and is found in many cultures worldwide; we will explore the spirit of the directions and open ourselves to their teachings.
• Campfire dinner in the tipi.
• Storytelling:  Iktomi & Native Legends of Creation.

Wednesday, Aug. 11: Excursion to the Buffalo Bill Historic Center & Plains Indian Museum in
Cody, Wyoming. Your hosts will walk you through best of the best of Plains Indian art & artifacts, giving you a guided course in material culture. Check out the museum’s website.

Returning from the Museum we’ll have a picnic lunch and dip at a mountain waterfall.  Dinner in the tipi. Open Discussion, Q & A about sights of the day or take private time.

Thursday, Aug.12: AM: Excursion to the Beartooth/Absaroka Wilderness and Yellowstone Park, with a moderate hike. This is a conscious journey, being fully present in the Now and finding a place that speaks to you.      You’ll have individual meditation time alone in nature.

See more photos of Beartooth Pass under the Friends column.

Friday, Aug. 13:  Bringing the Spiritual into the Physical: Creating your personal Medicine Bag while listening to traditional tales and instructions that prepare you to participate in ceremony. Using the circle to communicate with one another in traditional ways.

Saturday Aug. 14: Integrating our experience: Along the banks of Rock Creek we will experience the energy of the roaring river and how it mirrors the flow of life, discuss our week’s experience, and share.
Blessing your Medicine Bag and Closing Wopila Ceremony.
Ceremonial Dinner in the Tipi: Feeding the Spirits and Giving Thanks.

Sunday Aug.15: Depart to Billings Airport via shuttles.

Schedule subject to change.