During my years in Alaska it was White Buffalo Calf Woman who most surefootedly guided my journey. I was blessed during those years, through the Unity of Tribes gatherings, to share in ceremony with many Native American people of many tribes. Her presence was always strong and constant among us. My years in Colorado continued in this holy and dependable relationship in the usual way. I learned always to defer to Her in matters of the sacred pipe and the holiness of tobacco. At the turning point of my 52nd Year, when so much was offered up to the sacred fire; given back into the Earth; let go into the river to flow into the sea and gifted away…my little clay pipe was offered back to Mother Earth.
These last 3 years have included an empty place in my heart where that pipe and I and White Buffalo Calf Woman were joined. So many changes have occurred and now I find myself living in the center of Tucson, in the center of the world. This last summer, during trying times; I called out to Her once more on the matter of a pipe; seeking again her divine guidance . After 3 years of patience, this week I was gifted with a pipe. It is a small, simple, humble…Javalin! She reveals herself to me here in the desert in the form of Javalin!
And then today I read, “The ancient Maya know a goddess by the name The Great White Peccary and Her king Precious Peccary.”
My Precious Peccary sits drying among the masks and rattles…awaiting the next pit firing.
White Buffalo Calf Woman and The Great White Peccary; Her two small clay pipes show striking similarities! There is the physical strength of both Buffalo and Javalin and then there is their closeness to the Earth. The silhouette of the 2nd pipe, so similar to the first? Who are these two divine wo-manifestations? Or are they actually one? Am I being handed off from one divine cloven hoof to the next or are these holy hoof prints one and the same? “Her horns are the setting crescent moon… and her tusks cause thunder and lightning!”
Here in southern Arizona, I dwell so close to the gateway to Mexico and the lands beyond. ..the lands of the Azteca, Mayan and so many other Native American tribes… Gods without borders, these are the Gods I know and love. These are the ones who inspire my journey.
13 thank yous White Buffalo Calf Woman.
13 thank yous Great White Peccary.
13 thank yous My Precious Peccary!
My love for you knows no bounds. Truly yours, Shar Shk Buk

Her Tusks Cause the Thunder

Her tusks cause the thunder
as they slice through the fabric of time.
Her tusks cause the lightning
as they shatter the darkness,
bringing the dawn.
Her tusks cause the cleansing rains to fall
drowning our sorrows
in Her love.

Her tusks cause the dread and fear
in our hearts, to rise up
choking us, by our throats;
smothering our very life’s breath.
That we might spring up
And salvage our own lives!

Cathie Jo aka Shar Shk Buk
Feb.24th 2012

HER HORNS

Her horns
Are the setting
Crescent moon

Her body
The great white
North wind

Her womb
The Earth
From which we are born

And Her voice
Thunder
And lightening

Cathie Jo aka Shar Shk Buk
February, 17/18 1994

It is always a very auspicious and holy moment when an animal spirit steps into one’s ceremonial space, in the flesh. Seventeen years ago Javelin blessed me and my ceremony by standing with me in honor of the shearing off of my beloved braids; braids woven of a life time of deception and dysfunction. He stood behind me as I wailed and wept and hacked at my braids with a dull knife. He “ boar witness” to my willingness to confront my own weakness and folly.
Transforming weakness into strength is His special area of expertise: Javelin, who stands with us when we are ready to stand and confront ourselves. He spoke to me that day; the day I sat in the desert, eyeball to eyeball with the great power of Javelin. A day that has changed me forever.
Just last week, on Valentine’s Day, the spirit of Javelin returned. As sweet a valentine as I shall ever know. I felt the gentle tapping of his delicate hoof upon my heart. There he holds a special place and there He stood bearing gifts. He brings sweet inspiration and I am in love all over again as I create these new medicine potteries in His honor. As Masks and rattles; our newly conceived love children are born into this world. His power and my devotion soon to be offered into the sacred fire, in His beloved desert. Gently I will lay the sticks upon the fire in gratitude. Thirteen thank yous Javelin!
P.S. There were bees in the garden at 9:30 this morning.
Shalom Cathie Jo

Javalin rattle and mask

I find myself sitting here in the middle of Tucson, at a computer no less, required to merge into the traffic of modern life with a MILLION other living, breathing, struggling bodies. PRIORITIZE! Make enough money to pay the rent. Create enough beauty to stay sane. Don’t waste too much time longing for the wilderness life style where I first remembered how to make pots and dance with the gods. This is “The Wilderness of Humanity “. The wilderness of the human psyche sprawled out in all its glory and fantastic diversity for me to ramble around in and find my way. This is EXACTLY what I had been avoiding for the last 30 years!

Funny thing is THEIR here! In my hour of need Bear spirit ambles on in, cuts me some slack, and gives me the same old hope and inspiration. And right on his tail along comes Badger and then at long last Dog, whose form I had been wondering about for years. Perhaps this is the sweetest lesson for me here in the city: you can take the woman out of the wilderness but never the wilderness out of the woman.

In the center of the center of Tucson is the umbilicus of Mother Earth. I know because it’s where I go to grow my food. Growing food in Southern Arizona is no picnic. I persevere. I eat from my little organic garden every day. I wear a stunning ceremonial corn necklace that I grew there last summer. It is my constant reminder of the beauty that comes from braving the elements morning and night to keep the sacred corn alive.

Knowing all the while, that it is the sacred corn that is actually keeping me alive …

Again At Long Last

In your divine presence,
again, at long last
everything becomes more Bearable.
A life; too busy
too fast, too full of chaos: “modern life”.
Too busy, too fast
too disconnected from your power
your beauty.

In your divine presence
Everything
becomes more Bearable.
I feel the power in your paws, heavy
playing Mother Earth like a drum.
And everything becomes more Bearable.

Cathie Jo, August 12, 2002
Good Food Farm, Allison Co.

Song to the Bear and Back Again

You are my cousin and I take from you.
You are my cousin and I give to you.
I take your life, I give my thanks.
I take your life, I give my thanks.

I am your cousin I gave to you.
I am your cousin I give to you.
I gave my life, I give you Life.
I gave my life, I give you life.

You are my cousin, You gave to me.
You are my cousin, You give to me.
You gave your life, you give me life
You gave your life, you give me life.

I am your cousin, I give to you.
I am your cousin, I accept from you.
I give you life, I accept your thanks.
I give you life, I accept your thanks.

Cathie Jo aka Shar Shk Buk
June,24th. 1991, Bear Creek, AK.