Start of the New 500 Year Calendar

Once again hello! We hope you are enjoying the lovely fall weather! One of the friends of the Holy Hill Center sent along this message, and we felt we should share it with all of you! Hopefully you too can participate by making a fire on October 1st!

"THE NEW 500 YEAR CALENDAR

Sunrise October 1, 2008

On July 28, 2008, two members of the Peace Connection Committee, from Northeastern Illinois University, left Chicago to drive 900 miles to Manwiaki, Ontario, Canada to visit with Grandfather William Commanda and invite him to take part in our 09-09-09 World Peace Gathering. Grandfather Commanda is the keeper of the 700 year old Seven Fires Prophecy Belt. His life and work is dedicated to Peace. His annual Circle of All Nations Gatherings at his home, in late July, have attracted peace keepers from all over the world. You can read more of Grandfather William Commanda’s work at http://www.circleofallnations.com/.

On July 29, 2008, at 12:45 p.m., we arrived for our meeting and stepped into Grandfather Commanda’s home. Helpers were busily preparing for the arrival of over 1000 visitors for his annual gathering. Sitting on the couch to the left of the door was Leon Secatero, elder of the Canoncito Band of Navajo, To’Hajiilee, located west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Years ago Leon founded the Spiritual Elders of Mother Earth, a group in consonance with the ancient teaching of the Americas concerning the eagle and the condor. For several years, Grandfather Leon has been developing a book he has entitled The Sacred Path for the Next 500 Years.

In early February, 2007, Grandfather Secatero suffered a stroke while speaking at a conference in Canada. When Leon experienced his stroke and journeyed to the other side, he found himself among an assembly of Wind Walkers – the spirits of the many elders and medicine people he had known over the decades of his life. The Wind Walkers had knowings they wanted to share. Their communications helped illuminate Leon’s understandings about the sacred path leading into the next 500 years.

You can read the entire article, “Journey Among the Wind Walkers: Grandfather Secatero Recovers from Stroke” by Steve McFadden, April, 2007, Chiron Communications, Santa Fe, New Mexico.



Sunrise, October 1, 2008

Leon stayed for our three hour meeting with Grandfather Commanda and shared, “The new 500 year calendar will begin at sunrise on October 1, 2008. The “Winds of Change” will begin on that day. We asked if it would be a good idea for people to light a sacred fire where ever they live, at sunrise, to begin this new 500 year calendar? Leon nodded his head in approval.

Where ever you are, where ever you live, do what ever feels right for you to connect to the beginning of this new 500 year calendar. We will be lighting our sacred Peace Fire at sunrise (5:48 a.m.) on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at Northeastern Illinois University, in Chicago. You are welcome to join us. The Fire will be attended and burn all day. You can come and sit for a few minutes or a few hours. We plan to have a gathering and talking circle beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the evening. Bring your own lawn chair, and make sure you get a parking permit if you plan to park on campus.

*excerpts from this message were taken from the “Journey Among the Wind Walkers,” by Steven McFadden.

2ND ANNUAL PEACE CONFERENCE
October 6 & 7, 2008
The Peace Connection Committee along with Academic Development is hosting our 2nd Annual Peace Conference. The conference is free and open to the public. The theme this year is Fire & Water. A Peace Fire and talking circle will open the conference at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 6, and the Peace Fire will be used to close the conference on Tuesday, October 7, at 8:00 p.m.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

If you have any questions contact Dan Creely Jr. at d-creely@neiu.edu "
COMING SOON: List of upcoming events!