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Greetings in the Name of the Ancestors,
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: July 25, 2009
Homecoming - celebration of the
newly initiated
elders.
 June
2006 marked the first initiation of
elders in the Dagara Tradition outside
of Burkina Faso. This unprecedented
process was overseen by the ancestors,
elders in Burkina Faso, and facilitated
by Malidoma with many supporters and
volunteers.
The
formal initiation of a second group of
elders under the guidance of Malidoma
and the Elders of the East Coast Village
in Cherry Plain, NY, will span from July
10th to July 25th, 2009. During that
time, initiates will experience
numerous spiritual, physical and
emotional trials, as well as daily
rituals for which they will need your
moral, material and physical support.
There will be opportunities every day
for you to come to East Coast Village
for short visitations, which are
outlined further in this bulletin.
There are also unlimited possibilities
to send good thoughts, energy, and
prayers to the initiates. They will
need your attention and intention, as
initiation is serious business.
From this day forward please ask the
Ancestors to keep Malidoma, the elders
in Africa, the Elders of the East Coast
Village, the initiates, and supporters,
safe and free from any harm.
Blessings,
Bernadette
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VISITING During Initiation -
please take note.
Visiting during Initiation is
limited. The "social times" for
visiting with the initiates is
around 4 - 5:30 in the early
evening. Anyone can and is
encouraged come to visit at that
time.
They
must bring money (coin or paper) in
order to talk with an initiate; the
offering must be given to the Elder
supporter before the visitor and
initiate can speak to each other.
The initiate cannot touch anyone or
be touched, however. The
initiates will spend the rest of
their time each day with the Elders.
The visiting commences on the first
Sunday, 7/12, and ends on the last
Friday, 7/24.
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SHAMING RITUAL
Another "social" opportunity is the
Shaming Ritual. This will likely
happen on the middle weekend,
Saturday, July 18, or Sunday, July
19. Folks will have an opportunity
to express criticisms, pent up
feelings, etc. to the initiates.
Initiates cannot respond, only
listen.
This
signifies the last time that people
can criticize the initiates,
so
it is important that people who know
an initiate well are present.
Once initiates are Elders, they
cannot be shamed or criticized.
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HOMECOMING - JULY 25, 2009 -
10:00 a.m. to eveningNewly initiated elders can be
identified by the traditional
elder dress (boubou) and head
covering.
Homecoming is an exciting
celebration, a welcoming home of
the elder initiates, back into
the community.
EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO
ATTEND! The day is marked with the initiates
running into the arms of the
Ancestors as we cheer them on.
Remember, they will have been
through 2 weeks of grueling tests,
physically and emotionally. They
will need all of our support. We
will dance with them, sing, drum,
feast ( Please
bring potluck side dishes and
desserts/snacks/beverages).
OF
NOTE: Initiates cannot
touch anyone or be touched until
after the Homecoming Celebration,
not until after it rains, they stand
in the rain, and the rain covers
their bodies. This signifies that
their first 'embrace' in their new
lives as Elders is with the element
of water.
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Elder Initiation Homecoming
July 25, 2009
 You
may choose to support us with your presence. The second
to last day of the initiation is HOMECOMING. We ask as
many of you who can conceivably make it to the East
Coast Village land in Cherry Plain, NY to attend. This
is a HUGE moment in which we as initiates leap into the
arms of the ancestors and are recognized as being born
anew into our new lives as elders. Afterwards, we will
sing, dance, and feast. It is extremely important that
many loved ones and community members support us in
attending this day of Celebration!
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Where & When
250 Bly Hollow Road
Cherry Plain NY
July 25, 2009
Contact: Robert Walker 518-312-0473
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Community Time
July 11 - 24
You may choose to support us with your presence.
Each day of the initiation, starting on July 11, and
going through July 24, there will be an afternoon
"community time" where we as initiates can speak
with community members who have come to visit us.
As the initiation process is grueling and
challenging, this will be a welcome respite for us
each day, to be greeted, loved, supported, and
honored by our friends, family, and community. We
invite you to come support us in person at the East
Coast Village land any day of the initiation.
If you want to come for community time and
experience the EN+R+GY of this process with Ann
Sousa as her support, family and friend Please call
Ann to set up the day and date. After the
intitiation begins you can call Ann's supporting
Intitiated Elder Peggy @ 518.733.5134. Peggy has
been assigned to Ann for the entire intitation
process assisting Malidoma and the intitiates.
Peggy was intitiated by Malidoma in 2006.
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Where & When
250 Bly Hollow Road
Cherry Plain, NY
July 11 - 24
afternoon
To attend, please contact
Robert Walker
518-312-0473
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Barka - Thank You
In Africa, Aviela means "all is good and
well-intentioned." Even a donation of $1.00 is good,
and the intention of such support goes a long way.
We ask that you consider donating to our cause, even
if you "give small" as they say in Africa, your
support is greatly appreciated.
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