Return of the Ancestors-Sunrise Ceremony at the Grand Canyon, the Heart of the Earth

Grand Canyon Speaks
The Natives consider the Grand Canyon the heart of the Earth and, as such, her energy is deep, vast and magnetizing when you sit on the rim to meditate with her. She draws you in to her core and stays with you for days, forever.

She is also recognized as the place of the Hopi emergence from the underworld at the beginning of the fourth (current) world age. The way the light plays on the stratified rock, which delves deeper into the Earth than any other place in the world, makes the experience of sunset and sunrise a must for one’s “life list.” Many of the peaks, points and canyons are appropriately named after the world's spiritual traditions: there's the Hindu and Ottoman ampitheaters, Zorastian canyon, temples of Ram, Shiva, Brahma, Isis, Orisis, Thor, Confucius, Buddha, Sheba, Solomon, Apollo, and the Krishna shrine.

Sunrise Ceremony
We arrived about 5 AM, but the Elder’s had been there for hours preparing for the revelry that would ramp up for a 5:47 AM debut of Father Sun. Don Alejandro led the preparation prayers for the energy of 6/Night (Akblal). Below are some videos of various ways the indigenous celebrated the coming of that day. Many tribes represented and yes, the Tibetan llamas were there too.

Let the Dawn Come


Navajo Elders

Roseanne, Hopi

Yavapi Mother and Son, in morning ritual, sprinkling corn meal four directionally, praying for all of her relations, face painting her boy

After the sunrise ceremony, adopted Hopi Roy Littlesun suggested to some that we go to a peaceful spot for pipe ceremony. He lit the pipe, ground and then sprinkeled white corn into the deep canyon while the Spanish contingent (19 Agentianians, 60 Spaniards, and who knows how many others) sang many songs, acapella with soft percussion, while the sun rose higher in the sky.

Roy Littlesun

I had been noticing the strength of the voice of the gentleman sitting in front of me. After several group songs, he could no longer contain himself. He burst into solo and inspired us at even deeper levels. Tears flowed, hearts opened with the help of song and the heart of the Earth.

Remembering Our Ancestors

One of the wonderful people I met is Esmeralda, an absolute darling photographer from San Francisco, who donned a blonde wig and tourquoise blue skirt. S/he was one of many who fasted the entire 10 days. We were able to meditate together on the rim later in the morning. S/he explained to me that s/he meditates daily with her ancestors. S/he told me that all you have to do is bring either your mother or father into consciousness and ask who else is with them. The whole lineage may show up, showering you with love and affection, as you are their only expression on the Earth plane. For those of us who never never experienced this type of unconditional love, the experience is a great healing and reminder of the importance of connection with all of our relations.

Caravan to Tuba City

Though the announcement went out to hundreds of people, there were two cars ready to leave the designated spot at the designated time, so I followed two men from Amsterdam, a Brit and a Bosnian. We stopped at Desert View and shared the Grand Canyon watchtower which, even though commissioned by Fred Harvey, was a beautiful rendition of high Hopi art.

Drunvalo waves hello!