The Shield of Duality. Our Death and Birth. Like the Eagle, we discover how we can widen our wings and vision to enhance new growth. We will contemplate ways to embrace the wisdom oft he elder and how elders can help repair the fragmented connections between generations through renewing their vitality, creativity, and vision.

Coyotes are medicine for our times. In this teaching, we turn to “play” in order to find our “funny” in the mundane. As children, we were curious and held a sense of wonder. We experimented with our senses to learn about our world. How can we renew the sense of joy and play as adults? Where do we need to soften? How is laughing and smiling a radical act?

The West Shield reflects the “Dark Night of the Soul.” It asks, how do we make meaning from obstacles? In this session, we will follow the Grizzly Bear inward and take a deep dive into the ocean and waters of our vulnerabilities and challenges. We will examine either accepting the status quo or searching the interior for our authentic self. As we weigh our choices, we determine what we need to shed and let go of in order to encourage genuine sustainability for ourselves, our communities, and our planet.

White Buffalo teaches us how to stand up for our communities through true service. This shield is where we firmly stand in the place of authentic adulting. We will explore what our gifts are and how we share our gifts with our communities. We will find that when we honor our mission and purpose, we ignite truthful and inspiring service work, birthed from the voice of our soul.