Taino Summer Solstice in Western Pennsylvania June 23 2012

[Miguel Sague Jr]

 Takaji My Relatives

We enjoyed gorgeous summer weather this past Saturday as we celebrated the 2012 Summer Solstice on the grounds of the CANEY INDIGENOUS SPIRITUAL CIRCLE's Verona, Pennsylvania Teaching Lodge.

We were blessed by the presence of the Ohio representative of United Confederation of Taino People, our dear Taino sister, Rose Anao Quinones from Youngstown. Ohio, who came accompanied by several members of her family including her brother David and his three beautiful daughters.

We were also joined by a number of local Peaceburghers who have made our Caney Circle ceremonies here in the Pittsburg area a bit of a habit including our brother Sol Shanti who arrived with his son Isaiah and generously provided us with all the wood for the guanara (sweatlodge) fire.

Sol and Harold "Dog" RomanNose singlehandedly split wood and manned the sweatlodge fire throughout the ceremony.

Sol's son Isaiah was helpful with, and other participants watched on as I prepared the leaf and twig effigy of the shark for the Shark Dance.

We were honored by the participation of the David Jorge family friend, Sam Dolak who played the role of Yoka Hu during the Radiant Sun Ceremony and the  subsequent Shark Dance.

 

As a result of the fire-keeping efforts of Sol and Dog the inside of our guanara hut got good and hot during the kansi (sweatlodge) ceremony after the Shark Dance and those who chose to sweat with us had a powerful experience.

Bo Matun and Jajom (Thanks) to all of those beautiful souls who shared this wonderful ceremony with us this past weekend.

Taino Ti

Miguel

[Miguel Sague Jr]

I keep praying :-) Frank, I keep praying!

 

In any case I look forward to seeing both of you soon

[AkuTurey]

Dear Behique,

yes,I expect to see you.not only you visiting,but with Christina(Evelyn)my girlfriend,she intends to visit you down there as well....but she has been so busy finding a new place and moving that she hasn't been able to communicate with you,but she will,as she is very interested. I wish you had the funds to fix your little structure-for your own benefit;perhaps you'll be blessed,especially now with all the new exposure you recently got!-congratulations.

[Miguel Sague Jr]

I am so sorry Frank that things could not work out the way you and I wanted them to. Even now the little structure next to the main house is still very damaged by ground water. It is going to take a lot to fix it and make it totally habitable. I still have the hope to be able to visit you from time to time where you are.

[AkuTurey]

Wow-It just was not "in the cards" for me to be living there-what a shame,although I know Yaya has a reason!-look at all I miss out on!-I'll never forget what happened at the last moment,when I was about to move out there,when a bad storm you guys had,damage the rental space,rendering it uninhabitable! I still work with the Cemis and the Mayan Spirits closely,and my connection is very strong nevertheless!