Cycle Pray Sing

There is a sacred place I visit. It’s close to my home and calls me to come visit the Ancestors and the guardians of the land of the Principal People, the Anigiduwagi or People from Kituwah. When I visit, I walk or cycle and greet the Ancestors as I begin. Then I listen. Or pray. Or sing.

Because it’s so close, I can visit before my work day begins and did so earlier this week. I was thinking about my brother and his struggle to recover from a viral infection after having open heart surgery. So after making the connection with the Ancient Ones, I started pedaling and praying and asked for a sign for him. Then I started singing.

I had gone a little over a mile when I came around a corner and saw a massive bull elk standing in the gravel road. He heard my song and turned to look at me. I stopped my bike and thanked him for his strength and beauty, took a few photos and turned around to leave him to his morning.

As I completed the 10 miles of cycling, I thought of my brother, sang for him and prayed for him and thought of the elk that appeared and then, later in the ride, had disappeared as I returned to that section of the road. In Native American cultures, the elk often symbolizes strength, power, and endurance. In many cultures it is seen as a symbol of protection. These are all qualities that my brother needs as he recovers his health.

Every time I visit this sacred place, there is a blessing given as I approach with gratitude, respect, and gentleness. As we walk through life, if we offer the qualities to all places, animals, and people, I imagine the world will show us many blessings and we will be lifted to a new place of living. On that particular day, I thanked the elk for reminding me of the qualities my brother has and has around him as he works to recover his own strength and endurance.