Marshall's Totem "Gift Giver"
While living in Canada, I was drawn to Highway 17 along the north shore of Lake Superior. On one trip I accidentally 'on purpose' turned into Agawa Bay and found a spiritual connection there will always affirm my walkabout on the Red Road. Unaware that it was home to some 700-year old petroglyphs, walking in on the 'road less traveled', I walked over a place that literally grabbed me by the balls. At first, I didn't associate the ground with the tugging in my scrotum until I moved away and the tugging stopped. Backing up, the feeling returned; so I centered over where it was strongest and began digging with a knife from my backpack. Not 8 inches down came across a square piece of stone the length of my palm with one extremely sharp flint-like edge on it. An archaeologist later confirmed it was a skinning tool for that era.
While living in Canada, I was drawn to Highway 17 along the north shore of Lake Superior. On one trip I accidentally 'on purpose' turned into Agawa Bay and found a spiritual connection there will always affirm my walkabout on the Red Road. Unaware that it was home to some 700-year old petroglyphs, walking in on the 'road less traveled', I walked over a place that literally grabbed me by the balls. At first, I didn't associate the ground with the tugging in my scrotum until I moved away and the tugging stopped. Backing up, the feeling returned; so I centered over where it was strongest and began digging with a knife from my backpack. Not 8 inches down came across a square piece of stone the length of my palm with one extremely sharp flint-like edge on it. An archaeologist later confirmed it was a skinning tool for that era.
At the end of the road less traveled, I was greeted by a sheer 300-foot high wall of fractured granite going down right into the lake. That day as the flow would have it, with low tide and calm seas, there was exposed a 3-foot wide shelf running across the base of the wall. Scampering across the ledge with the lake at my feet, I ran onto some petroglyphs that I had no knowledge of. Amazed at my good fortune, I come across a gylph that I recognize as my totem to this day and know it as 'gift-giver'.
At the end of the road less traveled, I was greeted by a sheer 300-foot high wall of fractured granite going down right into the lake. That day as the flow would have it, with low tide and calm seas, there was exposed a 3-foot wide shelf running across the base of the wall. Scampering across the ledge with the lake at my feet, I ran onto some petroglyphs that I had no knowledge of. Amazed at my good fortune, I come across a gylph that I recognize as my totem to this day and know it as 'gift-giver'.
Twenty yards further there was a 3-foot wide cleavage in the rock that runs all the way to the top. At the bottom of the cleavage there is a small rectangular cave just big enough for a person sit in and have very truncated view of the lake. I crawl in, sit for awhile, only to realize this is the place for my vision quest.
Twenty yards further there was a 3-foot wide cleavage in the rock that runs all the way to the top. At the bottom of the cleavage there is a small rectangular cave just big enough for a person sit in and have very truncated view of the lake. I crawl in, sit for awhile, only to realize this is the place for my vision quest.
As Agawa Bay is part of Lake Superior Provincial Park, I signed up for a campsite, pitched my tent, fasted for a day-n-half and headed back to the rock cliff with gear a zero dark thirty to do an all-nighter vision quest that could possibly extend into the next day.
As Agawa Bay is part of Lake Superior Provincial Park, I signed up for a campsite, pitched my tent, fasted for a day-n-half and headed back to the rock cliff with gear a zero dark thirty to do an all-nighter vision quest that could possibly extend into the next day.
Head down to the lake at sundown to get comfortable in my quest cave only to greeted with a higher tide and waves that made suicidal to even try to reach the cave. Also dawned on me that going and coming not only would have to happen at low tide, but that if a storm came up during my quest, I could be smashed by the waves and drowned. Somehow this awareness made it all the better to do my vision quest in.
Head down to the lake at sundown to get comfortable in my quest cave only to greeted with a higher tide and waves that made suicidal to even try to reach the cave. Also dawned on me that going and coming not only would have to happen at low tide, but that if a storm came up during my quest, I could be smashed by the waves and drowned. Somehow this awareness made it all the better to do my vision quest in.
Eventually succeeded in doing three quests in the cave over 2 months having been observant of the weather forecasts. Those three quests were magical in affirming my need to come 'out of closest' as a shaman to family and friends. On my last quest was gifted the beginning of what is now the screenplay Drum Nation. The RCMP and park officials finally caught up to my unauthorized nightly activities and, by agreement, I have not been back.
Eventually succeeded in doing three quests in the cave over 2 months having been observant of the weather forecasts. Those three quests were magical in affirming my need to come 'out of closest' as a shaman to family and friends. On my last quest was gifted the beginning of what is now the screenplay Drum Nation. The RCMP and park officials finally caught up to my unauthorized nightly activities and, by agreement, I have not been back.