A gift to remember: discover your personal gifts with ritual leader Kedar Brown.

I have a story to tell you. Before I tell this story, it's important to know that the point of any good story is not that it be understood; for if a story is understood, some believe that the story is considered "dead." Stories are living and breathing entities. The point of any good story is to notice where you enter the story, or where you leave the story, or where you stay fixed in the story. It is in these threshold moments that you will find a healing salve that will awaken the memories of gifts you hold within. It is only you that possess these particular gifts and if you do not create a way to give these gifts to the greater village, your life will be one that is not entirely your own.

So ... as they say, "once upon a time" or "once below a time;" or "once standing next to what you think is time".... there was a village. This village existed a long, long time ago, in a place older then the pine needles on the trees, a place far, far away, further East then the Sun and further West then the Moon. In that time and in that place there was a village and in that village there was a circle of Warriors standing watch, facing outwards around the lodge. Within that lodge there was a circle of Grandmothers and within that circle of Grandmothers there was a woman bringing new life into her village.

As this new little one made its passage into the village, sounds of chanting, singing, breathing, screaming, drumming, rattling and prayers of gratitude were heard pouring forth from the lodge in the way in which chanting, singing, breathing, screaming, drumming, rattling and prayers of gratitude are often heard when a women is bringing new life into her village. As a flash of lightning touched the Earth, the cries of this new one joined the voices of the village.

This boy/girl child grew up in the village sitting around council fires, listening to the stories of the elders. She/ He heard many stories of a time in the village when there was much laughter, ceremony & ritual, singing, feasting, dancing, deep connection to the Ancestors, and gratitude among the people. The old ones spoke of this time as that of the "Singing Stone."

As one moon crossed over into the next, a dark cloud descended upon the village. People began to forget who they were, where they had come from, and why they were here. Most of them could no longer hear the voices of their Ancestors echoing deep within their bones.

This young man decided that if he could find this singing stone and return it to his village, the sun would again shine and the sounds of laughter, singing, dancing, ceremony and ritual, gratitude and connection to the Ancestors would once again be present within the village.

She went to her Grandmother and Grandfather and said: "Grandmother Grandfather, I will go in search of this singing stone and return it to our people. They will once again remember that which is most precious." To which they replied, "Yes granddaughter, it is time for you to go. You must first go to your Father and ask for his blessing and then go to your Mother and ask for her blessing. After you have done this, return here to this fire."

He went to his Father and received his Father's blessing. As he walked away his Father wept for he knew he would never ever see his son again.

She then went to her Mother and received her Mother's blessing. As she walked away her Mother wept for she, too, knew she would never ever see her daughter again.

He returned to his Grandmother and Grandfather and they said, "Before the sun rises and anyone awakens you will leave this village and go into the East. Do not look back. There will be no fanfare for your departure. Remember to listen to the voices of your Ancestors and pay close attention to everything. You will find your way."

Before first light, she walked out of the village the way you walk out of a village when you are going on a journey to remember something long forgotten. She walked into the East; into the morning sunlight, into the wet dew on the ground, into the clear, cool air of spring. Walking some distance, she came upon Eagle sitting in an old Oak. "Can you tell me where I can find this singing stone?" she asked. Eagle replied, "I have heard of this one you search for; however, I cannot tell you where to find it. I suggest you travel south and see what is there for you." Thanking Eagle for her words, he turned south.

Far into the South he walked; into the Fire of midday sun, into warm southern winds, into dark green vegetation of summer. There, he came upon Snake sunning on a large stone. "Can you tell me where I can find this singing stone?" he asked. Snake replied, "I have heard of this one that you look for. However, it is not here and I cannot tell you were to find it. I suggest you go west and see what is there for you. Thanking Snake for his words, she turned west.

Into the West she walked; into the setting sun, into autumn leaves with bright colors on the ground. There in the west, by the waters of an ancient well, she found Bear. "Can you tell me where to find this singing stone?" she asked. Bear replied, "I have heard that such a thing does exist. However, I cannot tell you where to find it. I suggest you go into the north and see what is there for you." Bear replied. Thanking Bear for her words, he turned north.

Into the North he traveled; into the deep snows of winter, into the cold, clear night, he walked upon the earth. There, on a snow-covered meadow he met Buffalo. "Buffalo, I have searched the four directions of our land. I have grown weary from my travels. Can you tell me where I can find this singing stone?" he asked. "This singing stone you search for; yes, I have heard of it." answered Buffalo. "I cannot tell you where to find this stone of legends. I suggest you go to your village and see what is there for you." He thanked Buffalo for his guidance. Turning toward the center of the wheel, she began her way home.

She walked toward her village, the way you walk back into a village when you have been on a great journey, looking to find something long forgotten. As he neared the village, he heard voices moving down the path. Coming closer, she now recognized these voices to be singing. Rounding the bend, he saw his family, friends, the children and village elders standing on both sides of the path. Seeing their smiling faces, he could hear their words clearly now! All together singing!

"Welcome home Singing Stone. Welcome home Singing Stone."

That night, Singing Stone dreamed she was sitting in circle with Eagle, Snake, Bear and Buffalo. Singing Stone expressed much gratitude for their lives and the guidance they had offered her. Buffalo replied, "Do not thank us with your words, grandson. Let your gratitude speak to us through the way in which you live your life. This we will see, and it will be thanks enough. Go Well!"

The bare, unembellished bones of this story were gifted to me by Steven Foster & Meredith Little of Big Pine, CA. I give it to you to live with as you choose.

We are about to enter the "season of gift giving and gratitude." However, the presents we seek to give to those we love are often not the "presence" they most need to receive from us.

We are each born with a gift that only we, individually, carry. It is transmitted to us from the world of the Ancestors. If we listen closely, as this ancient bone memory awakens from within, we will find clear understanding of direction and purpose. We are also given the proportionate amount of personal power necessary to deliver this gift to our tribe. Often, the majority of this personal power is used up in the pursuit of external substitutes and the avoidance of the inner journey necessary to remember who we are and the gifts we carry. The disharmony and dis-ease that is often witnessed in this culture is that of the "Gift" itself, not finding a way to be acknowledged and delivered.

This holiday season, let us take time to know ourselves and share our "Gift" with those we love, our communities and the planet. Let's give the gift we are here to give.

Practical Steps for Remembering and Living Your Gift

Beliefs: Your beliefs inform your reality. Examine any limiting beliefs you have about yourself as a valuable and necessary part of your community.

Focus: Write down these limiting beliefs. Then, rewrite a belief that is more affirmative. Remember, your brain will not process negatives. If you only focus on what you don't want, you will get more of what you don't want. Focus on what you want.

Impeccability: Take complete responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, words and actions.

Pay Attention: Notice the point where your passion for living meets a particular need of your community.

Action: The difference between those who simply know what there gifts are and those whose life is an expression of those gifts is consistent ACTION! Take some action each day toward living that passion and giving your gift.

The Inward Journey: Undertake the inward journey in some form. One way of doing this is a Vision Quest Ceremony. A period of fasting, solitude, and exposure in the wilderness with prayer will absolutely assist you in remembering who you are and what gifts you carry.

Kedar Brown, M.Ed., LPC is a psychotherapist, ceremonialist, and ritual guide of the Rites of Passage Council, a nonprofit organization offering indigenous based healing programs in the US and Ireland. Kedar has a private practice in Asheville, NC. He can be reached at www.RitesofPassageCouncil.com or by calling 828-231-4290.