Long ago an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the searcher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language. As he spoke, Iktomi the spider picked up the elder's willow hoop which had feathers, horsehair, beads and offerings on it, and began to spin a web. He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life, how we begin our lives as infants, move on through childhood and into adulthood. Finally we go to old age where we complete the cycle.
But, Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, in each time of life there are many forces, some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in the right direction. But, if you listen to the bad forces, they'll steer you in the wrong direction and may hurt you. So these forces can help, or can interfere with the harmony of Nature. While the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web.
When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the elder the web and said, this web is a perfect circle with a hole in the center. Use the web to help your people reach their goals, making good use of their ideas, dreams and visions. The web will filter your good ideas and the bad ones will be trapped and will not pass through.
The elder passed on his vision to his people and now many people have dream catchers above their beds or hanging in their windows to sift their dreams and visions, allowing the good to pass through and capturing the bad in the web, where they perish in the light of the sun.
The first symbol of the School from which you graduate today, was the dream catcher. At one time or another, for each of you, the dream catcher allowed the massage therapy dream to sift through …knowing that it was a good dream for you. Today, that dream is realized as you celebrate the completion of 1000 hours of hard work and dedication to your dream.
There are many things that we can represent with the number 1000. We know that 1000 hours is equal to 41.67 days. We know that 1000 heartbeats carry us through almost 15 minutes of life. 1000 steps average just under a half mile. 1000 massage strokes will carry you through a massage or two. 1000 smiles will light the world.
You came to school 1000 hours of education ago. You stepped foot in the classroom eyeing each other, wondering how you’d remember everyone’s name. I told you that day to look to your left and right. I asked you to look across the circle and take in all the faces. I promised you that these people that now sit next to you ready to graduate would become your friends, indeed, your extended family. You may not have believed me then, but now you realize the truth in those words.
We recognize the sacrifice that you make when you undertake 1000 hours of education and training. We also recognize the sacrifice made by your loved ones. We know that this program has not only given you knowledge and skills, but also a new way of looking at things. One cannot help but grow and change along the path to this ceremony today.
And yet…as commencement speakers have said millions of times over…today is just the beginning. The beginning of new adventures, new hopes, new dreams, and new careers. It has been said that the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. As you set foot from this venue tonight, be reminded that it is the first step toward your new career.
You may also be familiar with the concept that we do not live and die alone…but with the help, companionship, and connection with one another. The new logo of our school is a modified yin yang – one with hands representing your profession. The concept of yin yang is that we complement each other – filling in each other’s weaknesses, supporting one another, helping one another, with a little bit of one another carried within ourselves. I bet that sounds familiar to you. You came to this school not knowing those who sat there with you – you leave as colleagues and friends, ready to take on the world one trigger point at a time.
There is a Japanese saying that one who has 1000 paper cranes will be granted a wish. With your diploma today you will receive one paper crane. One step toward your next dream. May you continue to collect cranes, and find your wishes and dreams fulfilled.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
June 2011 Graduation Speech: On Mandalas
Indulge me for a few moments, while I introduce you to something that today’s graduates learned about in Energy class with Paula Schank: the mandala.
There are many types of mandalas – presented in many ways – stained glass windows like the famed Notre Dame Rose Window, tattoos, coloring pages, and even a child’s kaleidoscope.
Mandalas occur in nature – snowflakes, whirlpools, hurricanes, and even a snail’s shell.
Mandalas are used for and representative of so many things.
Most mandalas are contained within a circle. A circle can symbolize many things. Circles have no beginnings and no ends. They are continual…cyclic. In this they represent life, nature, the earth, and more. So many things we use or see daily are circles…coins, the sun, the moon, wedding bands and other rings, even manhole covers. Circles are smooth. They can be carried in the palm of your hand or be as big as the sun itself.
Mandalas are colorful. The colors are used according to the meditational choice of its creator and may be selected based on what the artist wishes to convey – inner feelings, hopes, dreams, or based on the symbolisms, icons and graphics contained within.
Mandalas can be abstract…or can include any number of pictures, motifs or icons. Some mandalas contain Asian influences – dragons, lotus blossoms, and the yin and yang. Some include sacred symbols representing gods and ancestors. Some include symbols from nature – flowers, animals, butterflies, or the tree of life. A more recent direction that mandalas have traveled is to include Celtic symbolisms in the form of Celtic knots and crosses.
Tibetan monks create sand mandalas over days. Painstakingly using tubes, funnels and scrapers, holding their breath when close to the design, the monks build the layers of sand, creating beautiful and intricate designs. Silently working in a cordoned-off area, under the observation of passersby. People travel miles to see the creation of the masterpiece, in awe of the work being done.
Once complete – the mandala is on display for those who want to see it – as a source of inspiration, meditation, awe and wonder.
When a specified period of time has passed, the monks, in full regalia, begin the destruction ceremony. Using scrapers, paper and their hands, they ritualistically begin to move the sand from the outside of the circle inward. Once the sand has been pulled to the center of the table, it is removed by hand and placed into a jar. It is transported to the nearest moving water – a stream or river – where it is poured into the water – never to be used in the same creation.
The creation and destruction of a sand mandala is truly representational of life – it has a beginning, a birth. It has an end, a death. It reminds us that to everything there is a beginning and end…and that the time in between has the potential to be beautiful.
The students we celebrate this evening are like that mandala. From different backgrounds, geographic locations, ages, genders, and beliefs, they were drawn together into a journey – the journey of becoming massage therapists.
At orientation the beginning was scary. Looking around the circle, they wondered who they might connect with – how they might touch one another’s lives both literally and figuratively. The first layer of sand had been laid.
As the months went by other colors were introduced…deeper parts of themselves – their passions, strengths, weaknesses. Tragedies pulled them together in support – exciting happenings drew them together in celebration. Designs and patterns were introduced…routines were represented – clinic, studying, even 5-toed shoes!
But like the sand mandala – our student mandala, too, has an end. Also like the sand mandala, we have drawn them to the center – the culmination – graduation. After this evening, they will spread out into the stream, scattered in their own directions, beginning a new journey – having always been part of this something beautiful.
There are many types of mandalas – presented in many ways – stained glass windows like the famed Notre Dame Rose Window, tattoos, coloring pages, and even a child’s kaleidoscope.
Mandalas occur in nature – snowflakes, whirlpools, hurricanes, and even a snail’s shell.
Mandalas are used for and representative of so many things.
Most mandalas are contained within a circle. A circle can symbolize many things. Circles have no beginnings and no ends. They are continual…cyclic. In this they represent life, nature, the earth, and more. So many things we use or see daily are circles…coins, the sun, the moon, wedding bands and other rings, even manhole covers. Circles are smooth. They can be carried in the palm of your hand or be as big as the sun itself.
Mandalas are colorful. The colors are used according to the meditational choice of its creator and may be selected based on what the artist wishes to convey – inner feelings, hopes, dreams, or based on the symbolisms, icons and graphics contained within.
Mandalas can be abstract…or can include any number of pictures, motifs or icons. Some mandalas contain Asian influences – dragons, lotus blossoms, and the yin and yang. Some include sacred symbols representing gods and ancestors. Some include symbols from nature – flowers, animals, butterflies, or the tree of life. A more recent direction that mandalas have traveled is to include Celtic symbolisms in the form of Celtic knots and crosses.
Tibetan monks create sand mandalas over days. Painstakingly using tubes, funnels and scrapers, holding their breath when close to the design, the monks build the layers of sand, creating beautiful and intricate designs. Silently working in a cordoned-off area, under the observation of passersby. People travel miles to see the creation of the masterpiece, in awe of the work being done.
Once complete – the mandala is on display for those who want to see it – as a source of inspiration, meditation, awe and wonder.
When a specified period of time has passed, the monks, in full regalia, begin the destruction ceremony. Using scrapers, paper and their hands, they ritualistically begin to move the sand from the outside of the circle inward. Once the sand has been pulled to the center of the table, it is removed by hand and placed into a jar. It is transported to the nearest moving water – a stream or river – where it is poured into the water – never to be used in the same creation.
The creation and destruction of a sand mandala is truly representational of life – it has a beginning, a birth. It has an end, a death. It reminds us that to everything there is a beginning and end…and that the time in between has the potential to be beautiful.
The students we celebrate this evening are like that mandala. From different backgrounds, geographic locations, ages, genders, and beliefs, they were drawn together into a journey – the journey of becoming massage therapists.
At orientation the beginning was scary. Looking around the circle, they wondered who they might connect with – how they might touch one another’s lives both literally and figuratively. The first layer of sand had been laid.
As the months went by other colors were introduced…deeper parts of themselves – their passions, strengths, weaknesses. Tragedies pulled them together in support – exciting happenings drew them together in celebration. Designs and patterns were introduced…routines were represented – clinic, studying, even 5-toed shoes!
But like the sand mandala – our student mandala, too, has an end. Also like the sand mandala, we have drawn them to the center – the culmination – graduation. After this evening, they will spread out into the stream, scattered in their own directions, beginning a new journey – having always been part of this something beautiful.
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