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I spent over 20 years away from any native community, I was stuck in a horrible cycle of survival, I felt lost and alone. When I began reconnecting I met a person who said “I am training to be a healer.” I made light conversation and thought this person had good intentions. So, when I was approached by them I would offer assistance where I could and tried to be a good relative to them. I knew them to be very eager to make a name for themselves like many of the younger people I shared spaces with at the time, I figured it was the ambition of youth perhaps. We happened to share ceremony together and I went about my busy schedule afterwards. Two months later I found out, this person had twisted my prayers into something ugly and used it to spread horrible rumors. I have heard reconnecting relatives share similar stories. Those who are reconnecting make easy vulnerable targets to others with bad medicine. I was shocked, hurt, and confused, it caused a lot of pain and suffering in my life for a long while. Not just from the actions of this one person, but it encouraged many others to join in the hurtful rhetoric with enthusiasm. I made an honest effort to ignore it and attend a ceremony despite what rumors were going around, but it was not the same and I have not gone back since. Not just to this one place, but to any. After praying and meditating on it for a while I decided to try to paint what I felt. So you will see the trickster, Coyote, in front of a full moon encircled with iron, lifting the mask of what they want to look like to others, but underneath is something different, something that can cause great harm with their carelessness. See, Coyote is often given the name of a trickster, or an “evil entity”. I have also heard that Coyote brings people together in a common cause, or can turn people violently against each other. It is all depending on the context. Coyote for me in this instance, was a very valuable lesson: Even in our sacred spaces that are meant to stay safe to be who we are, be careful how much you say, for Coyote might be looking to make trouble for you no matter how nice and sweet the words and demeanor. Acrylic on canvas with wood backing frame. 20” x 16” x 0.75” or 50cm x 41 cm x 2 cm
I spent over 20 years away from any native community, I was stuck in a horrible cycle of survival, I felt lost and alone. When I began reconnecting I met a person who said “I am training to be a healer.” I made light conversation and thought this person had good intentions. So, when I was approached by them I would offer assistance where I could and tried to be a good relative to them. I knew them to be very eager to make a name for themselves like many of the younger people I shared spaces with at the time, I figured it was the ambition of youth perhaps. We happened to share ceremony together and I went about my busy schedule afterwards. Two months later I found out, this person had twisted my prayers into something ugly and used it to spread horrible rumors. I have heard reconnecting relatives share similar stories. Those who are reconnecting make easy vulnerable targets to others with bad medicine. I was shocked, hurt, and confused, it caused a lot of pain and suffering in my life for a long while. Not just from the actions of this one person, but it encouraged many others to join in the hurtful rhetoric with enthusiasm. I made an honest effort to ignore it and attend a ceremony despite what rumors were going around, but it was not the same and I have not gone back since. Not just to this one place, but to any. After praying and meditating on it for a while I decided to try to paint what I felt. So you will see the trickster, Coyote, in front of a full moon encircled with iron, lifting the mask of what they want to look like to others, but underneath is something different, something that can cause great harm with their carelessness. See, Coyote is often given the name of a trickster, or an “evil entity”. I have also heard that Coyote brings people together in a common cause, or can turn people violently against each other. It is all depending on the context. Coyote for me in this instance, was a very valuable lesson: Even in our sacred spaces that are meant to stay safe to be who we are, be careful how much you say, for Coyote might be looking to make trouble for you no matter how nice and sweet the words and demeanor. Acrylic on canvas with wood backing frame. 20” x 16” x 0.75” or 50cm x 41 cm x 2 cm