THE KIVA TOTEM

Imagine yourself standing on the high desert surrounded by blood-red mesas and yellow-ocher castle like rock formations. Far off in the distance is a purple haze of the sunset, graced with bright pink clouds and the reflections of Grandfather Sun’s radiant sunset form. Before you is the entrance to the sacred Kiva. The opening is on the ground before you. The hole is Mother Earth supports a ladder that leads you blow to the inner-space of prayer, reflection, and ceremony. At the bottom is the earth floor with a small ceremonial fire burning just east of the Kiva’s center. The walls are laced with the fires reflections. The shadows appear like phantom form of the ancient Kachinas dancing around the circular wall of the Kiva. This is the place of inner reflection. This is the place where the Sacred Hoop of all nations is made whole. As you near the fire, you are shown the Medicine that allows you to know your place in the Sacred Hoop. How you relate to each set of Great Mystery’s creatures and life-forms is revealed in a set of visions brought before your eyes in gusts of smoke from the ceremonial fire. Imagine again, that you sprinkle bits of dried Cedar over the fire and the smoke from the Cedar brings each vision. The message you receive from these visions are a gift that each set of your relations is giving.