The Bears are Coming
The night finally surrendered into darkness. The big flood lights of the powwow were turned off. People gathered quietly, finding a place to sit on the hay bales that circled the dance arena. The dark sky was dotted with tiny stars. And the only other light was the powerful bonfire in the center of the arena. The golden flames were mesmerizing, crackling and singing their fire song. There was no other sound. My cousin, Victoria, whispered to me, “The Bears are coming! They’re good medicine!” So we waited patiently.
Daytime At The Powwow
Earlier in the day, the powwow had been bustling with guests eating Navajo tacos on hand-made fry bread, and vendors selling their beautiful wares. The drummers sang their prayers and kept the heartbeat of the drums, and all the Intertribal dancers, dressed in their colorful regalia, danced and danced and danced. The tiny tots danced, too, until they fell asleep, laying in the shade of the big Oaks.
All the while, the Bear dancers were in the Sweat Lodge, praying and calling in the Bear spirit. They were there all day, taking only short breaks to nourish themselves.
What Bear Medicine Means
Bear medicine is the power of introspection. Bear goes to its cave when the winter comes. It has been tasked with answering all the questions of the animals, to come up with solutions for the year’s problems, to go into the Dream Lodge and rest in the quiet, relying on the power of introspection. It is there, in the Dreamtime, in the silence, that Bear finds its answers to give to the animal tribe. When humans choose to learn from Bear, we are allowing silence to calm our minds so that we can come up with answers that could not be heard over the din of daily noise.
The Bears Arrive
In the Sweat Lodge, the Bear dancers become Bear. They have asked for Bear spirit and Bear spirit comes.
So, in the darkness of night, by the light of the powerful arena bonfire, we wait for the Bears to come.
You can hear them before you see them. Deep ggaaarrrumps, Bears breathing and grunting powerful grunts, big Bear feet stomping up the path from the Sweat Lodge. Their presence in the darkness is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The ground rumbles with their footsteps. You do not look at them as they pass by you. Just knowing they are there, hearing their breathing, is enough.
One lone drummer brings down a heavy drumming stick onto a piece of wood that covers a deep hole in the ground. It takes his whole body to make the beat and he beats this natural ground drum in perfect rhythm of the heartbeat.
The Bears enter the arena and begin to dance around the bonfire. They are wearing the bear skins over their whole bodies, big bear head sharing the beat of the lone drummer.
Dancing With The Bears
Soon, the guests are invited into the arena. We danced behind the Bears, following their dance around the fire. The air is thick with energy, an undeniable feeling of being in the moment. The world outside the arena slipped away. All that is important is this dance, the Bears, the good medicine filling every being with every beat of the ground drum, with every dancer’s step, with every beat of the heart.
Laying My Hands On A Bear Dancer
Suddenly, a woman dancer came up beside me. While we danced forward, she grabbed my arm, pulling it toward the back of the Bear in front of us, until my outstretched hands were laid firmly on the Bear’s back. I could feel his heavy breathing, the soft but stiff Bear skin fur, his strong ribs. For a few moments, I was one with the Bear, with the Bear spirit.
What Good Medicine Means to Me
I still cannot fully understand or describe what that moment was like. All I know is that I was completely in the moment. And have spent the years since knowing I was changed that night.
I have taken the quiet more seriously. I listen more intently to my intuition. I carry the knowledge that I have all the answers and solutions I need to any situation that happens. I carry this knowledge, now, in my hands, the hands that touched the Bear spirit, the hands that make jewelry for you to enjoy.
What is good medicine?
Anything that is healing, that creates “positive energy, well-being, and balance in life.” (Anishinaabe world view) It is the acknowledgment of all nature as teacher, and the power of family and community as nurturer. If it feeds and nourishes you, body and spirit…it is good medicine!