Eagle Notes Volume 10

THANK YOU

To each of you who gave so willingly and abundantly this past year… of your time, of your money, of your energy, there are no words or songs that can adequately communicate the depth of gratitude we feel toward you. You have made miracles beyond our understanding possible for peoples all across our beloved planet. Our prayer for you is that those who gave so generously, whatever your gift, be blessed in unlimited gifts of love, great joy and flowing abundance. Thank you!

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A Perspective on 2009

2009 is an “11” year. This “11” energy can feel like being plugged into an electrical socket. It brings the potential of visionary experiences and deep insights. But it also brings unexpected, unforeseen events. The “11” energy this year is akin to being collectively dragged over a cliff, kicking and screaming. To say it another way, unexpected events this year are likely to pull us forward into our destiny despite all of our individual and/or collective resistance.

2009 is a year when it will be important for each of us to stay centered. Others around us may need our wisdom and our help. How we treat each other will be especially important, remembering that love is more powerful than bullets and bullying. To quote Martin Luther King, Jr., “...love is the most durable power in the world. It is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical realism. Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization.”

The Ancestors: Following the “For the One” Dance in Norway this past September; Paul and Jan Benham gifted us with a beautiful book entitled, Song of the Old Tides by Barry Brailsford. It is about the original people from New Zealand who preceded the Maori. Jeanne opened the book to a passage that said, “We are the ancestors.” It is a message that we’ve also gotten clearly ourselves in recent years. Some of you have heard it too. We believe that many of us in this extended “dance family” have been together before. Now, we are finding each other again to offer our wisdom to the world at this critical time of awakening.

Of course, the other perspective is that a few hundred years from now, we will be the ancestors. What we do now may be an important guide for future generations.

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The Global Financial Situation – Hope Disguised As Crisis

Never before in the recent history of the world has there been a time like this when the world is so interconnected by communication technologies, interrelated currencies, and in its financial well-being. It is a message of Oneness that most do not see but it is present for those who are awake enough. What happens in the United States affects the world and vice versa. It is time that people take note of this fact. Countries have come together to plan coordinated actions to stave off the financial panic that threatens to bring down the economic structures worldwide, not just in the USA.

It is but one step away from realizing that if you hurt your brother, you hurt yourself. If you act in the best interests of your brother, you also bring benefit to yourself. And so it is a great teaching moment in history. There is no separation between “you” and “me,” between “us” and “them.” To the extent that government leaders and people around the planet get this message, then many future difficulties will fall away. To the extent that they do not, then the famous quote from the cartoon strip, Pogo, applies: “We have met the enemy … and they are us.”

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FTOD Norway – Autumnal Equinox, Sept. 19-21

The “For the One” Dance in Norway took place over the Equinox. It was one of those special times when you sense an extraordinary energy build-up prior to the dance. There is a point during the equinox when the cosmic tumblers click into place and everything comes into balance. It is during this time that the energy on the planet is pregnant with possibilities. Seeding the peaceful energy and healing intentions created in the FTOD into the womb of potential possibility at this moment magnified the impact of the dance in Norway. The feeling was that something important was activated.

All the dancers had a powerful experience. Each of them got something important. Jeanne danced, and had an important new vision. Another dancer found her heart, her courage, and a new family. One of the men had a heart-awakening, and danced the energy of love, strength and compassion. Another dancer was healed in the releasing of an old, dark energy. Several others cleared away fears, and stepped more fully into their power. It was a great dance.

The crew had an unusually powerful experience, as well. After the FTOD was over, those that remained on-site got together in the evening and drummed for several hours. During the process, two of the crew “hit the pole” (or the pole hit them), surrendered to the energy, and had transformational healing experiences. There was no rest for the Moon Mothers and Sun Father!

One week after the dance ended, Jeanne got the insight in meditation that we are at the threshold of a new evolutionary step in which the head and heart will not be separate entities. The marriage of the water-fire in the FTODs is teaching something important about this. It represents the sacred marriage of the feminine and masculine elements, liquid light and firelight, the heart and head merging as one. The water-fire team in Norway would agree. … Still, to those comfortable with a male-dominated world, this might be frightening!

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Concerts & Workshops in Israel, October 2008

The Power of Sound: Chapter One of Song of the Old Tides opens with a picture of the universe and these words:

In the Beginning …
was the Nothingness
and into the Nothingness
came the Great Sound
and out of the Great Sound
came Life
and all that is.

These are words that could have been written by either of us (Jeanne or John). It is what we also teach. The quote shows an ancient understanding of the power of sound. When we sing, it opens the cerebrospinal centers (chakras). Our mental, emotional and physical bodies can heal from past traumas, and the soul can soar beyond the body to receive vision and guidance. From this state of consciousness, we realize our connection with each other, and with all things.

And so, with this understanding and Jeanne’s urge to sing in the way of concerts again, and John with a borrowed B-note didgeridoo made of agave cactus, the couple did seven concerts in Israel during the month of October. Flying on the wings of angels, each one was a shamanic ceremony disguised as entertainment. Most were done in intimate surroundings and were received with enthusiasm, partly because Jews and Arabs love to sing! But, people often commented on how the sound helped them, energized them, or “cleaned their aura,” or helped them to become more open and attuned to their own wisdom.

One of the concerts was at Moshav Nahalal, one of the oldest and most famous of the moshavs in Israel. Moshe Dayan and Ariel Sharon both lived here. Yo’av, the owner, said that when he was a child it was very muddy in the winter. The land there used to be a marsh. The Israeli settlers planted hundreds of eucalyptus trees to soak up the water. The trees are still there. The water is not.

The space where Jeanne and John did the concert used to be a stable. Einstein once visited, commenting that he’d never been to a place in the world where the people lived in tents and the animals had a roof over their heads. This stable has now been renovated and transformed into a place for workshops with a good feel to it, and nice acoustics.

Another concert took place in Tsfat, home of Jewish Mysticism and the Kabbalah. The concert was small but amazing. And it produced a memorable discussion about Israel. Sari Shoval’s partner, Adi, a slender man with salt & pepper hair who has an effervescent, uplifting energy, said to John, “Israel is a crucible of opposites, and this is why the energy is so difficult to handle. Israel is the meeting place between Europe, Asia and Africa. It is the place where Judaism, Christianity and Islam meet and are ground together in the cosmic mortar and pestle. It is a melting pot for cultures from around the world. From Jerusalem, it is an hour’s drive to snow-capped mountains, an hour to the lowest place on earth, and an hour to the Mediterranean Sea.” He added, “Either the energy here crushes you, or you learn to rise above it and become an observer of the drama.”

Other concerts took place at the homes of new and old friends, such as Brigitte Kashtan in Haifa, Zipporah near Kiryat Tivon, and Talila in En Ya’aqov. We also did a concert at the Tanka Center in Kibbutz Magan Michael where a picture of Bear Heart graces the wall. Joseph Rael, Beautiful Painted Arrow, always called Bear Heart his uncle, and we felt an immediate connection with the place.

At all the concerts, friends, Israeli and Palestinian, came and drummed and played their flutes and drums with John and Jeanne – Haghit, Moshe, and Rhonda, in particular. It was part of what made each concert so special and entertaining. And from these experiences came the invitation and seeds for concerts in a number of new locations, including several Palestinian communities. 2009 is already becoming a year of promise and hope.

Note: Most of the money donated from the concerts and workshops went to help support the FTO World Youth Dance that took place in South Africa. This was an exciting and tangible way that the people could support, in a global way, work of the dances worldwide. We hope to see more of the same created this year in 2009.

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Feedback on Obama

On the morning after the election, John and Jeanne were driving from Rosh Pina to Kiryat Tivon. They stopped to gas up the car and buy two cappuccinos. There were two older Israeli career military officers waiting in line behind Jeanne. They got into conversation:

Jeanne said, “We are celebrating because Obama has won the Presidential election. It’s a good day for America!”

The senior officer, an Israeli, responded, “It’s a good day for the world!” The man behind the counter was Arab, who agreed, with enthusiasm, with the soldier. As a celebratory gift, the Israeli paid for the cappuccinos that the Arab made and served with a warm smile!

Another man said to Jeanne, “Now there will be no more black and white. America will be able to build bridges with the world.”

It was amazing! We wish everyone could have heard the enthusiasm and hope here in Israel.

Addis Ababa, 11/16: Jeanne and John flew from Tel Aviv to Johannesburg, South Africa with a stop-over in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On the way to the gate, they passed a store that sold beautiful long, colorful scarves woven of combinations of silver, gold, maroon, blues and greens. In the store, John noted that Obama’s two books, Dreams of my Father, and The Audacity of Hope, were on prominent display. So, when Jeanne paid for the scarves John said to the handsome Ethiopian man, “We are really happy about Obama being elected President. We’re still celebrating.” He responded enthusiastically with a wide grin, “America has been the leader of the world. But, now America is doubly blessed because for the first time white people have voted a black man into the office of President. It is amazing!” At that moment, they understood for the first time how important Obama’s election is for Africa.

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FTODs in South Africa

FTOD at Zuvuya

Zuvuya is in KwaZulu Natal, Zulu land. It is green and mountainous, being just south of the Drakensberg Mountain range. One bald-top mountain in the distance, called Maiden’s Breast Mountain, looks more like a lion sitting on its haunches with head held erect. Another mountain, called Mpendle, is said to be very sacred – inhabited by an ancient spirit perceived to be an old man. Sangomas make pilgrimages to this mountain to do ceremony and say prayers. But, none live there. Perhaps it is considered by the indigenous peoples to be too sacred and powerful to live on.

The Zuvuya community is roughly 25-km from Howick, with almost 20-km of the distance down dirt tracks. In the days before our arrival, it poured down rain. The roads turned to a reddish chocolate mousse. But the weather cleared. After no rain and some much-needed sun, the roads dried significantly allowing dancers and crew to drive in and out without problems.

A couple of days before the dance, an eland came down from the mountain and was seen walking the land not far from the dance ground. The eland represents the spirit of the Bushmen, the original people in South Africa. Elands don’t live near Zuvuya. They live further north in the Drakensberg Mountains. But, knowing that it was in Howick that the British set up headquarters and ran campaigns in the 1800s to hunt down and kill the Bushmen, the appearance of an eland at Zuvuya right before the FTOD was a major sign and a big blessing.

This was the first of these dances on Zulu land. Gogo Umzinyathi, our beloved head sangoma, was the assistant chief. For the sangomas, this dance was an important step – for them, and the credibility of the FTOD among the Zulu people.

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Adult FTOD – Simunye Ngothando, Midrand

This dance was led by Brett Almond from England, and Rhonda Factor from Israel. They made an amazing pair of Chiefs.

Dancers, from South Africa and other countries, included John Pehrson, Gogo Umzinyati and Gogo Nomzimani, highly revered and beloved of the Sangomas. It was the “ant dance.” Ants represent the ancestors, and they were everywhere!

At the sharing circle after the dance, there were many touching expressions of feeling about the depth, power and love created by the dance. Dom DeBruin said that of all the dances he’s been a part of, this one was (for him) the most powerful. He felt like the dancers had moved through an incredible amount of muck and mire to clear the heavy energy in the land.

There seemed to be an awareness that we are not far from creating the time when mass consciousness totally shifts and the people are all of a sudden completely “awake.

One dancer from a community just south of Jo’burg, said that he felt that there was a positive shift inside of him, and that he was going to now be able to get a job and support his wife and children.

Before, during and after the dance, Fritz and Elba Duminy and a crew of builders from Malawi performed miracles on the land, putting roofs on structures, installing flush toilets for the dance arbor, putting finishing touches on our kitchen, and so on. It was amazing to watch the transformation take place before our eyes. Everything was being prepared not only for the Adult FTOD but also for the FTO World Youth Dance.

John’s dance experience: “I still felt very weak after the dance, even after the feast. But, I spent time talking with people who’d stayed. One dancer said he had come alive. The dance put him back in touch with his own roots. He realized that his own people had done sweat huts and dances, and used mpepho to smudge. And he had fun connecting with a dancer from Germany, saying that he would go back to his family and tell them some of the things he’d learned about other cultures. … This kind of intercultural sharing is another important aspect of the FTOD.”

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"For the One World Youth Dance" South Africa

The Youth Dance was made possible by lots of hard work on the part of Sue Spies and Cajun, Fritz and Elba Duminy, and because of donations received from several angels, both in South Africa and abroad. The angels know who they are. May Spirit return your generosity a thousand-fold.

There were 50 Zulu young people ages 13-23 who wanted to dance this dance. That, in itself was amazing! But, we had neither the infrastructure nor funding for that number of young people to dance. We finally brought in half that number. 23 black teens and young adults (mostly Zulu but also Xhosa and Lesotho) danced along with three young, white adults from South Africa, Germany and Norway.

Prior to the actual dance, Jeanne shared how she received the vision of the FTOD, and what the dance was about. John taught them about the arbor and the sweat lodge. Then the group of young people broke into groups.

• One group worked with the Sangoma Gogos to learn how to bless water and prepare the arbor with prayers of gratitude while asking permission to bring this sacred dance to the land in a way that the ant people and all spirits of the land know that we are coming in a good way.
• One group, who prepared and erected tarp covers over the arbor that give shelter to dancers, learned about the importance of the effort of work by those called Dog Soldiers who support the dance through various tasks throughout the dance.
• One group learned about the sacredness of fire and in doing so prepared the wood and sites for the dance.
• The last group learned about the sacredness of the kitchen, that it is the “heart” of the dance. They prepared a scrumptious meal for us all.

The night before the dance, gathered around a fire, each group shared what they learned with the others.

The dance itself was amazing, in the courage and perseverance shown by the young people, and by their willingness to confront their own shadow sides and let go of old baggage. It was clear that they really “got” the dance. Many seeds were planted in the hearts of these young adults that will blossom in South Africa in future years.

At the sharing ceremony after the dance, Gogo Nomzimani said she has been praying for 35 years for the coming together of the black and white people like they are in the FTOD. And now it is happening! As a result, she gave Jeanne and John new African names. Gogo Nomzimani gave Jeanne the name, Mama Nothando. It means “Mother of Love.” She gave John the name Baba Inkhanyezi. It means “Father Star.”

The day after the dance, three of our dancers went into the Soweto Township and cut a rap song – now on YouTube as “World Youth Rap.” It’s amazing!

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Christmas in Croatia, Winter in Bosnia

After South Africa, Jeanne and John went on to Croatia to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays on the Isle of Krk, in the village of Malinska. There, with the family of Sanja Grubišić and Vanja Kodnik traditions of both of our countries were shared, along with those of Denmark through Andreas Claussen, fiancée of Sanja. It was a time full of laughter, new tastes, memorable stories and new memories.

From Croatia, Jeanne and John traveled to Bosnia with Vanja Kodnik and Edita Valentic, through what was a magnificent winter wonderland ... mountains and countryside covered in graceful mantles of snow. They met with the group who will organize and host the dance near Kiseljak this coming July (24-26) – Dragan, Hiko and Slavko (a Serb, a Muslim, and a Croat!). A new site was chosen for the dance arbor and kitchen, one that is close to the place we danced last year but more accessible by vehicle or on foot. The dance last June was filled with love and miracles, still being reflected upon through emails and letters received from those who attended. If, in reading this, you are moved to be a part of the experience this year in July, we welcome you. And two weeks following, on August 7-9, the FTOD in Croatia will take place.

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2009 Schedule (as we know it so far)

February 14 GERMANY, Flensburg / Concert
Contact: Hans Basselli (Lorenzo.Basselli@gmx.net )
February 15 GERMANY, Flensburg / “Power of Sound” Workshop
Contact: Hans Basselli (see above)
February 20-22 UK, WALES, Brecon, Primrose Farm / “Community Building Workshop”
Contact: Paul and Jan Benham (jan.benham@ukonline.co.uk )
March 6-9 NORWAY, Skien / Private Sessions
Contact: Wenche Isrus (weisn@online.no )
March 13 NORWAY, Oslo / Concert
Contact: Anne Klanderud (a-kland@online.no )
March 14-15 NORWAY, Oslo / “Living in the Moment” Workshop
Contact: Anne Klanderud (see above )
March 20-22: USA, Seymour, Tennessee at the Center for Peace/ “For the One” Dance
(FTOD) Contact: Margarita DiVita (ancientjaguar@charter.net )
March 22 NORWAY, Oslo / “Power of Sound” Workshop
Contact: Anne Klanderud (see above)
March 27-29 NORWAY, Bodø/ Concert and Workshop(TBA)
Contact: Hlin Hansen ( hlinmail@yahoo.no )
June 5-7: GERMANY, Wasserkoog, at Neue Schule / “For the One” Dance
(FTOD) Contact: Sophia Peters ( wasserkoog@freenet.de )
July 10-12: USA, Seymour, Tennessee, Center for Peace /
(FTOWYD) “For the One” World Youth Dance
Contact: Margarita DiVita (ancientjaguar@charter.net)
July 24-26: BOSNIA, near Kiseljak / “For the One” Dance
(FTOD) Contact: To be announced (For now, you may contact Margarita DiVita, International Coordinator, see above for address)
August 7-9: CROATIA, near Rijeka / “For the One” Dance
(FTOD) Contact: Vanja Kodnik (vanja.kodnik@pu.t-com.hr)
September 18-20: NORWAY, Birgitatun, near Tverdestrand / “For the One” Dance
(FTOD) Contact: Solveig Smith (solsmith@start.no )
Dates to be announced:
(FTOD) IRELAND
Contact: to be announced (For now, you may contact Margarita DiVita,
International Coordinator; see above address)
(FTOD) ISRAEL:
Contact: Haghit Rosenberg ( hagros@014.net.il )
(November/December):
(FTODs) SOUTH AFRICA:
- Two dances, one in Midrand near Johannesburg
- South African Youth Dance, location to be announced
Contact: Sue Spies and Cajun ( spies.susie@gmail.com )

"Journey for the One" – Biography of
Jeanne White Eagle and John Pehrson

Monty Joynes’ has written a masterful biography of Jeanne & John entitled, "Journey for the One." It is out and ready. It is an amazingly beautiful book – both cover art and written word – that describes our journey through 2007. Monty interviewed over 100 people for the book, and many of your stories are also in the book. Monty, along with his partner and wife, Pat, gave three years of their lives to create this book. It has been a chore shipping books to International Underwriters, but the process is just about complete. God Bless Margarita DiVita (ancientjaguar@charter.net ) who has been the angel making this happen.

You can also find the book through Amazon.com, who is set up to ship it worldwide. If you've read the book and received inspiration from it, we encourage you to post your comments on the Amazon.com website. It will help to circulate the book.

Of course, you may also write:
One Journey Publications
P.O.Box 5738
Asheville, NC 28813
USA

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LOVE DONATIONS

Donations to help sustain and continue this sacred work can be sent to:
Patricia Coleman
International Director of Fundraising
“For the One”
4 Veranda Trail
Asheville, NC 28803
USA

Or you may go to our website (www.Jeannewhiteeagle.com ) and make your donation through PayPal.

However and whatever you choose to give, may your gift reap for you unlimited blessed abundance!

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Closing Comments

Find opportunities to be kind, and to laugh to the point of tears. These are foods that nourish the soul…

This comes with much love,
Jeanne & John

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EAGLE NOTES

Volume 12