I Am the Weather.

Making Friends with Weather. How does one do that? Does ancient knowledge hold answers that go to the root of what is being called the “climate crisis”? Is there more to this world that what we know in our modern understandings? What do unbroken, living spiritual traditions have to offer people today?

Together, twenty of us explored these questions and more on February 6 in our event Making Friends with Weather.

As leaders of these events, we are always amazed by the wisdom and deep emotion that arise from within people as we open up about our experiences with weather, explore traditional perspectives, and share the stories of our hearts together. As one shining example, the Waters spoke to participant Jeannie Mckenzie and inspired her to write the following poem:

I Am The Weather

by Jeannie Mckenzie

Tiny creek voices

tumble

Down paths of

rock

dirt

sticks

community of droplets

come together

burbling song

They gather moisture

linger in icy colonies

crunch along

the long way down

Stop to dance with the plants

The new ones just emerging green shoots

They follow the pull of gravity

Ever tumbling

into bigger flows

Melodies weaving

stream song

into river sonatas

Into the symphony of ocean

River of my blood

pours through the gravitational pull

of my beating heart

Sharing songs through my cells

Then evaporate

Into new life forms

Wispy clouds

draw together

into bigger communities

That grow so vast and heavy

They jostle and rumble

tumble and thunder

Back to

individuated

droplets

mist

snowflakes

ice

Soak and seep and dance

Into earth’s depths

and spring forth again

I drink deeply

Blue Planet Magic

swirls again through my cells

releases back to earth

to gravity

singing its way

out of me

its new song

older than time…

Read more of Jeannie’s poems at www.jeanniemckenzie.com

Learn about our events.

COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS:

“It was a very grounding ceremony. I enjoyed it a lot.”

—Ramon Contreras, Candler, NC about the Traditional Summer Solstice Ceremony

“The magic of a shared container is such a gift. I feel lighter, clearer, more gentle with myself [after the ceremony]. I feel more available to share vulnerably my story, my voice, my heart.

“The reflections others offered throughtheir prayers resonated with my own storylines and were deeply healing to receive. I love the collaborative process, the storytelling, the bringing in the elements.

“This ceremony specifically tapped into a creative, imaginative part of me that needs to be listened to more and feels full of possibilities.

“Such a gift to share this beautiful tradition!”

—Kyle Steele, Barnardsville, NC about the Traditional Summer Solstice Ceremony

“I felt many awesome feelings and sensations. Some of those I recall now were expansiveness, dissolution, connection to mystery to fire to nature to cycles to the best parts of humans. I felt the Summer Solstice was recognized in my bones and blood and spirit, while my mind was captivated by the wind of the ages.”

—Elizabeth Kelly, Asheville NC about the Traditional Summer Solstice Ceremony

I felt both energized and calmed by the ceremony. I felt inspired by the fire, the sincerity of the sharing, and the opportunity to give voice to my own inner reflections.

—Sharon Bigger, Asheville, NC about the Traditional Summer Solstice Ceremony

“The space and diversity of people, all ages, was beautiful. Easily and quickly becoming comfortable with each other. Awareness of the cycles and calling upon wisdom of nature for help and guidance. I appreciated the joy and kindness from everyone.”

—About the Traditional Summer Solstice Ceremony in Asheville, NC

“I loved the whole ceremony. Such a different take on the way I knew about the directions. Everybody’s insights were helpful and relevant.”

—Eileen Gertz, Asheville NC about the Traditional Summer Solstice Ceremony

“The location was wonderful. The fire was warming and resourceful. The pace was calming. The sharing about the roots of the weather [tradition] was enlightening. The connection to the food growers made it simple to grasp and easy to feel. Allowing everyone to speak about why they came allowed communion and diversity to enter the space.”

"[I loved the] sharing from each of you about backgrounds and experiences, hearing from participants. I especially enjoyed the silent descent and time by the river."

"The whole afternoon was a beautiful sharing from you both, with everyone in the group and with Nature. I think each aspect of that was totally essential. For me I feel like it created an awareness of how utterly natural and essential engaging in that relationship with Weather is."

"[This event brought me] a closer connection to everything."

"I loved the discussion and the history behind what you do."

"The whole program was right. A good flow of lecture and connection, physical movement. The river walk was beautiful."

"Created a loving, warm and relaxing environment. The pace was good. Walking to the River was lovely!"

"So many things were right about this event! It felt good to come into the space with a warm fire and a place prepared. The historical context was also helpful... For me to be able to honor the ...weather was a welcome shift . The info I received ahead of time to know what to bring and how to dress also helpful!! The size of the group was also good."

"The...context was helpful.... Both of you embodied the essence of this work, i.e. gratitude and awe and appreciation of weather and nature, which I find more important than an explanation. Allowing time for questions and sharing from the group was helpful and inspiring."

"Everything was amazing! Please do more. I would love to invite some friends."

seeds of tradition weather adam erin traditional healer healing

Initiated as tradition-holders in the Nahua/Mexican weather worker lineage in May 2003 by don Lucio Campos de Elizalde of Nepopualco, Morelos, Mexico, Adam Laufer and Erin Everett are weather workers, life counselors, ceremonial leaders, and tepahtiani traditional healers. Adam is known in Nahuatl as a quiapaquiz (male weather worker), and Erin is known as a quiatlzques (female weather worker). In Spanish, they are known as tiemperos or graniceros. Residing in western North Carolina, they and their colleagues work with weather in the Asheville, NC geographical region. More information about their work, tradition, and elders can be found at throughout this website, especially on the Our Story page.

Learn more and book appointment.

Donate to support Adam and Erin in their work!

Erin EverettFebruary 21, 2022Comment

Cultivating everlasting human ways

I Am the Weather.

I Am The Weather

by Jeannie Mckenzie