Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has granted a special use permit for the center point of the May 8, 2004 Medicine Wheel Ceremony, an unprecedented gathering which will span the American West and involve thousands of people of all races and spiritual traditions.

Meanwhile, in the south of the Wheel the traditional Navajo keepers of Turquoise Mountain (Mount Taylor near Grants, NM), met with officials of the U.S. Forest Service this week, and also received a green light to go ahead with their part of the ceremony on May 8.

According to Bennie LeBeau of Wyoming, the person who had the original vision of the massive Medicine Wheel, most of the 20 specific sites around the wheel have been set. People have come forward to serve as contacts for the ceremonies which will be held simultaneously around the Wheel on May 8, as well as for the many support ceremonies at other places in North America and around the globe. From the road in the North where he is traveling now, Bennie reports that there will soon be further details.

Over the last month, the Medicine Wheel ceremony planned for May 8 has taken on definite shape and momentum. The North American points on the Medicine Wheel that have already committed are Lake Mead, Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta, Mount Whitney, Mount Baldy, Cimarron River, Arkansas River, James River, Platte River, Mount Taylor (Turquoise Mountain), and the center of the wheel, The Grand Tetons (Four Grandmothers Standing Tall).

You will find a link to the list of contacts at the bottom of this page. I will update the list as more information becomes available.

When I contacted Bennie this week, he said, "Things are moving fast. This ceremony is going to happen in a good way, and a big way. Many, many people are cooperating to make this happen."

On Tuesday, April 13 Terry Roper, the Special Use Coordinator of the Grand Teton National Park, sent the following e-mail message:

"To all who have emailed the park superintendent for Grand Teton National Park: We have received your message regarding the Medicine Wheel Ceremony. The park has granted a special use permit to allow the Medicine Wheel Ceremony to take place on May 8, 2004 in Grand Teton National Park. We are finalizing the permit with Mr. LeBeau at this time. Thank you to all for your input and your support of the ceremony and Mr. LeBeau." - Terry Roper

Ms. Roper confirmed by telephone that the Park had granted a special use permit to Bennie for the purpose of the Medicine Wheel. Specifically, the permit is for Schwabacher Landing, which is near the Teton Point Overlook and Glacier Point.

"Schwabacher Landing is a beautiful site for the gathering," she said. "There is access to the Snake River, and a spectacular upshot view of the Teton Range."

Ms. Roper said people who were interested in camping at Grand Teton National Park for the Medicine Wheel should see the Park’s website for information.

Bennie said he will post updates about the May 8 Medicine Wheel to his Teton Rainbow web site, and also post specific contact information for the 20 gatherings that constitute the perimeter and center of the May 8 Medicine Wheel, as well as for many of the other gatherings happening around the world at that time.

In the West Direction: Mount Shasta, California

As for general questions about participating, Bennie said people would be wise to follow their own common sense and intuition. Where will you go? What will you need? What do you wish to share?

Bennie said, "Spiritual messengers of many Indigenous Nations with many other cultures will participate in prayers and ceremony on May 8. Everyone must be in the best of behaviors with integrity of pure prayers of the mind, heart, and spirit with sacred actions for harmony and balance.

"This is very important, for the holy ones will be watching all of us at this time. We will elevate the vibration to balance the earthquakes and volcanic activity within the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, as well with other areas in the huge Medicine Wheel that we will be activating. The holy ones have instructed us to be in clear minds, hearts and spirit, being one in harmony with sacred prayer for Mother Earth and all the creations that are all related."

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Medicine Wheel Sites and Contacts

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RESOURCES

Original Medicine Wheel story with maps and photos
http://www.chiron-communications.com/communique%209-2.html

Protocol for the Turquoise Mountain Ceremony

Medicine Wheel Teachings - Two Articles

May 9, 2004 Medicine Wheel Update

May 16, 2004 Medicine Wheel Update

Ceremony Locations and Contacts

Bennie LeBeau's Home Page
http://www.shrinesandsacredsites.com

Spiritual Elders of Mother Earth
http://www.spiritualelders.org


Grand Teton National Park
http://www.nps.gov/grte/

Direct link to the Chiron Communiqué newsletter archive.
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In times to come, more to come...

* The Chiron Communique is now published as a blog on the Chiron Communications home page.

© — copyright April 2004 by Steven McFadden