Relatives

Michael Stocker
[from newsletter 11]

Dear relatives:

As I write this, the prayers of sympathy and compassion are reaching out to all those closely involved in the tragic events of September 11. Prayers also to those whose decisions will impact our nation's policy, and our nation's conscience. Our lives must continue; I am grateful that we have the gift of ceremony to give us community strength and open our hearts to Creator's mysterious way.

Nature's only constant is change. People come into our lives, then pass on. We are left wiser, and perhaps better prepared to pass on ourselves. It is with this that I am sad to convey that Dr Sam Rose passed on to the spirit world this recent June. The father of David, husband of Lottie, and dreamer of health. We will miss him. Please remember his family in your prayers. Fred's son-in-law Russell Strong also passed on this spring. Thanks to the Wakan community and Seven Circles community for helping sponsor the return of his body to his Native home. Pam Stark's mother-in-law Margaret also passed on. Strength to Pam and Jerry in their grief.

Prayers of health and recovery for Lisa Wahpepah's mother, Nancy Littlefield. She is currently challenged with "disorganized cells." May her treatment yield the best results.

Some folks are moving to parts out yonder; Rob Rahner and Michelle Javier are moving up to Ashland, and Jennifer Walls is moving to Minnesota with her family. David Lindsay and Remy Kiehn have moved into their new home in Sebastopol, and Darren, Nancy and Quinn Dillon—hosts of our Livermore Lodge—have moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico. We moved the Livermore lodge down to the San Jose home of David Lemon and Mona Reed (thanks!)

One of our more successful programs this year is the "Sweats for Recovery" program, put together by Pam Stark and Brian Elder. Working in conjunction with Michael Spielman of "The Turning Point" and funded in part with a grant from the Angeles Arrien Foundation, this program is proving to be a real benchmark in the recovery process of many Turning Point clients. Thanks to everyone involved for your great work and deep prayers, and thanks to Jennifer Duane and Ron Spenhoven for hosting the sweats at Magic Ranch.

This spring Jay Sheering rolled in to the Satsong Ceremonial Grounds towing a brand new orange, 36-ton wood splitter. Even though it matched his truck, we managed to un-hook it and start splitting wood—in fond memory of Richard Lieberman. Thanks to everyone for your contributions toward this useful device, and thanks especially to David Karp for his extra generous contribution.

Our Spring Hambleche camp was just perfect. We arrived at Buck Rock Ranch at the peak of the wildflower season. The weather was magnificent, and the hospitality was really warm and open. Thanks to Kyra and Joel Auerbach and Judd for allowing us to pray on their homeland. As you read this, we will probably be just finishing up our Autumn Hambleche feast at Buck Rock —thanks again.

Thanks to Jim Fournier and the Solstice Grove house for hosting a Hambleche for some of our sundancers (as well hosting our scheduled sweats), and continued deep appreciation to Kristina Flanagan for opening the land at Satsong Ranch to so many folks and so many prayers.

Congratulations to Laura Wahpepah for graduating from a long stint at UCSF as a Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner, and for your new job at Kaiser, Hayward. They are the lucky ones. Deep appreciation goes out to Fred for supporting his wife and family through all of their schooling.

Thanks to all those who helped us with our recent raffle, and congratulations to the winners!

In closing, I would like to thank Seven Circles' new board members Mona Reed, David Lemon, Christine Federici, Judith Levin and Kristen Makita for putting their shoulder behind the wheel, and thank ongoing members Rusty Hendlin and Brian Elder for hanging in with us for another year. Millions of thanks to David Peattie, moving on from a year as secretary—a voice of considered reason, technical prowess and refined aesthetics.

A ho, Michael Stocker

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