As 2005 drew to a close, Sheree and I were not members of LOPING WOLF, the Lake of the Pines Wood Flute ‘n’ Drum Circle. We did not have our Web page www.lopingwolf.com. We had rich, full lives, with good family ties; neighbors who didn’t mind our dogs, and jobs that were satisfactory and afforded us our rich, full lives.
Then we heard Mary’s “Cold Wind” and our road took a major turn. It was the same road, but it took a major turn - a very wonderful and magical, major turn.
As we enter our fourth year of our Flute Journey that seemed to help direct the rest of our lives, we remember what Mary sings, “...the Journey has many roads....” Our “Journey” appears to have so many roads, that they are more like a parking lot - a large area suitable for traveling in any direction, in any time, in any form - a “road” without sides or boundaries. However, we are moving so fast that our “parking lot” is not used for parking - it’s used more for taking off and sometimes landing....
But back in December 2006, I had a need to get together to thank our many friends for joining us on our Journey of Many Roads, and to reflect on our many flute circle experiences. We called our get together LOPING WOLF’s “2006 Winter Gathering”. We put it together under the umbrella of The Northern California Flute Circle, and we were able to explain it in a single word - US.
That first “2006 Winter Gathering” was about US. It was not us and them; it was US. It was not Red, or Black, or Yellow, or White; it was US. It was not male or female; Republican or Democrat; Straight or Gay, Young or Old, nor a gathering of groups or an exclusion of other groups. It was a gathering of US.
Even though it was really raining that day, still almost 50 of “US” crammed into a little room at Lake of the Pines and launched what has become a phenomenon in my mind - a series of gathering of US that took off like nothing I ever imagined.
And it continues to do so. As we look forward to 2009, we have played with Mary Youngblood in concert; we have hosted musical workshops with Mary, portions of which are now on YouTube, produced by Busbydog. We have been interviewed by local radio stations; we have played for church services, fund raisers, a chili cook off, pow-wows, and The Longest Walk 2.
The Longest Walk 2 gave me cause to reflect on “US” from an added dimension - a five-month journey from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the historic Longest Walk of 1978 that resulted in historic changes for Native America. The Longest Walk 2 of 2008 raised awareness about issues impacting our world environment, to protect Sacred Sites and to clean up Mother Earth - the ultimate inclusion of “US”. And as I watched the Walkers file past while we played, I saw their symbol, the black, red, yellow and white circle encompassing us all, and knew, as Earthlings, we are all “US”.
Our flutes helped me understand that, as have Mary Youngblood, the Spirit of the Flute and all who have joined “US”.
We cordially invite you to join LOPING WOLF, because, as “they” say, without you, there can be no US.
Blessings, Peace 'n' Harmony Galore,
-Dan
November 30 2008
Mary Youngblood
2007 Grammy Award Winner!
for 2006 "Best Native American Music Album"
"Dance With The Wind"
Silver Wave Records - "Sometimes the wind whispers and sometimes the wind howls". When GRAMMY Winner Mary Youngblood lets the wind flow through her Native American flutes the result is always one of beauty and joy. Inspired by the wisdom of nature, Mary writes: "The trees have given a voice to me, the voice that sings to you now." Her eclectic musical style evokes feelings of freedom, and gratitude for the blessings of life, our Dance with the Wind. Temp pdf
Silver Wave Records... "Mary Youngblood just keeps getting better and her second Grammy winning record is certainly a joy to behold. Stellar flute playing, signature song writing, creative arrangements, and unique instrumentation all combine to make this a superb recording. Mary Youngblood has always had the talent to stand out above the crowd, and with this honor she stakes her claim as the number one star of Native American music."
Mary Youngblood is the premiere female Native American flute player in the country. Winner of numerous awards, she garnered the 2003 GRAMMY for Beneath the Raven Moon. She twice received Flutist of the Year along with Best Female Artist from the Native American Music Awards for her other releases. You can also hear Youngblood on The Offering, Heart of the World and Feed the Fire. To purchase go to www.Amazon.com or http://www.silverwave.com/youngblood.shtml
It is with great pride that LOPING WOLFcongratulates Mary Youngblood on winning her second Grammy for her fifth and latest album “Dance with the Wind”. Mary won the 2006 Grammy “Best Native American Music Album” on February 11, 2007.
LOPING WOLF would not be here if it were not for Mary Youngblood and we all are beaming with pride, admiration and agreement at Mary’s recognition of her outstanding music.
Congratulations, Mary Youngblood. We love you.
