3 - Beaver Moon -- Getting Homely

Susanna Suchak (November 2005)

I speak to you from the place called Kanata. I speak the wisdom of a people called the Haudenasaunee. An observant people, who have carried down through generations, the acute wisdom of ordinary, everyday magic. They listen closely to the Spirit World. They see all creation as their kin.

They measure time and events as we are told wise men did in the "Holy Land" (although all land is holy) two thousand years ago, by the sky's messengers. The sun, the stars, but especially the moon. The full moon in November is known to the Haudenosaunee people, as the time of the Beaver Moon.

November -- is the time of Beaver Moon. So what can beaver tell us about how to live?

Beavers are known for being hard workers ? not for their looks. To us, and probably to each other, beavers are pretty homely. The meaning of that word has a pejorative connotation -- such as "Goodness, you're homely, dear!" Meaning "Heavens, you're butt ugly!" But that isn't really what homely means.

In our family there was always a saying, "Make yourself homely!" accompanied by much joviality, nudges and winks. I thought my elders quite rude telling visitors and guests they were ugly, but I also saw the hugs, and gentle care given to those same folks. As a little girl, I was quite puzzled. Until I got out my dictionary and realized that they were making a "play on words" ? a very punny family you might say.

Homely is what all of us need to be now. Seeking comfort in being simple. Being simply comfortable. Friendly to the touch; unaffectedly natural. Now with that in mind, I won't mind in the least if someone calls me homely. Even if they mean plain in appearance, that's okay with me too. Homely means home-made bread and freshly prepared "organic vegetable" soup on the "groaning board" after service; a plate of fresh vegetables from the garden instead of "crudities", or p?t? de foie gras and caviar (two things I never developed a taste for, not having much exposure to either). But I'd rather a pot of soup simmering on the stove, bread warm from the oven, a good book, a cuppa or maybe a glass of wine in the company of good, kind, simple folks. Wouldn't you?

Gunilla Norris has books of prayers / poems that salute the simple, but necessary tasks that go into making and maintaining a home. In "Being Home", dusting is elevated by an ode describing it as a gentle caressing of well-worn furniture, watching the patina glow as the dust of the day's traffic is cleared away. The metaphor is not lost on me. Those little jobs that most of us spend griping about instead of relishing. Washing dishes, that most Zen of tasks, can be a chance to soak your hands in warm soapy water while sharing a few minutes with a child, a spouse or even the quiet solitude of your own kitchen on a dark evening watching winter creep up on us. And if we perform those menial chores with love and attention they will be elevated into something much more than dusting and dishes.

As people, we need more time to take care of one another. We need time spent preparing food, sharing a plate and then cleaning up and washing dishes together. It's not those grand occasions that we remember so well as the ritualistic traditions that are so mundane as to almost go unnoticed by the newspapers, the newsletters, ezines and other media. Unless you are doing dishes at the Mission, you won't likely make it into the papers with your hands up to the elbows in soapy water! But, as Mother Theresa said, "We don't do great things, we do small things with great love." And look what she accomplished!

Beavers work in teams to fell and strip a tree. Taking turns at taking the watch, then using their own special gifts and tools -- those large forever growing, orange teeth to steadily chip away at the task at hand. Then stick by stick, they build their elaborate homes. Pat by pat -- daubing them until they become cozy nests of comfort and care.

Our homes wouldn't be very "homey" if we neglected the dusting and the dishes, those daily duties that bring no glory or notice -- that is unless they are left undone. Those of us who are charged with these jobs will nod in agreement or shake our heads in despair that the only time we get comments on those jobs are when someone notices that they have gone undone for a few days in a row.

Wouldn't we all be surprised if we went into the kitchen after meeting and were handed a glass of water and a dry soda biscuit? But that lovely spread does not appear out of the blue. Although it is magic of a sort, those behind-the-scenes miracles of daily life are the ordinary, everyday magic of Beaver. Little, by little we gnaw down the tree, little, by little we build a big dam to house our family. Day by day, we care for and maintain the infrastructure of family and home. It's not abracadabra! it's on and on and on and on. It's attention paid, and weary work done by unsung heroes and magicians -- the miracle makers who know and practice Beaver Medicine.

The beavers among us have kept us going. They don't want applause, although it might be nice to say thanks -- it would show you noticed. What they want is help. Each of us is needed to bring about those big dreams. Each of us needs to use our special gifts and talents. Beavers' teeth never stop growing. Without their daily labour they would eventually become unable to eat or close their mouths -- and they would die! Maybe if we neglect our gifts and talents we won't perish, BUT and this little word has a huge meaning, but slowly, slowly the essence of us will perish. Our spirit will falter. Our soul will shrink. A job neglected soon becomes too daunting to face. And we will suffocate in the dust of the world's daily traffic.

In the time of Beaver Moon, we are to ask ourselves dreamtime questions such as, Am I neglecting my most basic dreams? Am I forever dreaming and not acting? Is my home in need of repair or structural change? and lastly, What needs rebuilding in my life?

Beavers are the "doers" of the animal community. They build and maintain elaborate homes. These homes having served beaver's purpose, and having built up silt, create flat pockets of rich soil for humans to use for growing food. These dams are equipped with several entrances and exits; limitation cancels productivity (Sams & Carson). They mate for life and live in close-knit families. They are engineers and loggers who work in cohesive and cooperative teams. Theirs is a community of consensus, fairness and productivity. Consensus is part of the Great Law of the Haudenosaunee. It differs from democracy in that no one has a vote, but whatever action is done is fair and equitable to all -- it brings communities together rather than divide by splitting into voting sectors who after the campaigning is done, spend much time in blaming, name calling, and other divisive tactics.

"Group mind", another term for consensus in Haudenosaunee terms, constitutes true harmony within community. It requires each person to subdue his or her attention-seeking childish ego. This is not to say that individuality and creativity is not needed or valued, but the greater good of the community needs to be utmost within the decision-making tasks at hand. While it is true that "group mind" can be psycho-socially dangerous and has lead to some horrific consequences; there is a time and a purpose when it is helpful rather than harmful.

In this time of Beaver Moon, let us look to our brother and sister, Beaver and the medicine they hold for us. Listen closely, there may be a message in here for you. It may be time to put your ideas into action and join together to complete some neglected project. Perhaps there is need in your life or mine to search our minds and hearts and settle differences with fellow workers or friends even family members. Perhaps it is a time for us to look for alternative solutions to life's challenges. Most of all it is a time to reflect on the right way to build up, restore, and maintain homes and families. It is the duty of each of us to see that within our community everyone belongs, everyone is cared for, everyone has a home, everyone lives in a close-knit family, everyone feels included in a great circle of love. Don't wait until tomorrow to do that one thing that will make this a reality. Do it now.

Now is the only "time" there is. Now is all we have. Like Beaver let us use "now" to build and belong. A friend named Joy wrote this and I'd like to share it with you today because it exemplifies Beaver Medicine.

Closing:

Beaver . . .

Teach me to build my dreams,

Including others too.

One mind

One thought,

Hearts as one,

Lessons learned from you.

(Sams, Jamie & Carson, David, Medicine Cards, 1988)

As above, so below. Aho! Sego.