Hi everyone, here is what you need to bring for the workshop, if you have room you might want to bring a couple of pairs of slippers so you have them in more than one building.

For the New Year Workshop:
Bring a drum or rattle and your ceremonial outfit; be prepared for rain and cold weather. We have a no shoes policy in the buildings, please bring slippers, heavy socks,or slip on shoes that you will not be wearing outside to wear in the buildings. We have a place for your shoes inside the main house so that you can change more comfortably.


 Food for the workshop : We will have a signup sheet for you to choose the meals you will be making.

Thursday December 29th –Since people will be arriving on their own schedules you will be responsible for your meals this day.
Friday December 30th - We (Rutury, Anaya & Nahwi) will be responsible for taking care of the food.
Saturday December 31st – We need people to sign up to plan & make Breakfast, snacks during mid day and Dinner.
Sunday January 1st – We need people to sign up to plan & make Breakfast; the workshop will end at noon.
For those who are staying until Monday at noon you will be responsible for your meals after the Sunday Breakfast.

Can't wait to see and hug you all!

Pam Pa Dios
Nahwi

It is so exciting to be out at the Center right now!  The sounds of saws, hammers and muffled voices, the air is filled with the smell of fresh cut wood and paint. 

The floor is going down in the Main House, the cabinets are in and the stove was installed the other day.  The tiles for the bathrooms have been chosen and are about to be installed. 

Work is not just being done on the main house.  The Pima House is getting a new ceiling; there is now heating and air conditioning installed and , heart be still…..a double sink and new counter  has been installed!!!  We can stop getting water for coffee and cooking from the tiny bathroom!  And a new working sliding glass door so we can access the beautiful upgraded patio with more ease.

The Pueblo House is going through changes too.   The bunk beds are gone, new carpet is to be installed, the fire place has been removed so we have more room in the common area.  The ceiling has been fixed and a new coat of paint is also being done.  

I am dizzy with all that is going on.   What an incredible way to end this year.  

As we go forward into this next year the first Workshop in years will be at Wirikuta Spring.  It is needed and we are so happy that it is happening!

The work we are doing could not continue without you.  We are very grateful for your support and help.  Every single prayer and donation is appreciated more than you can know. Thank you so very much for your support.

Que Tuma Aku. Greetings dear friends!!

These are the words and message of an Elder woman I spoke to last week.

Many years ago, we were told to protect and treat our Mother Earth better and with great respect. She is alive but she cannot live forever without our cooperation, and so much damage has been done already. Now from all corners of the world changes have begun to become more noticeable, from east to west and north to south, all are feeling ripple effects. Everything living on our earth will experience a big impact. Our Mother Earth is weak and is in need of good cultivation from the human tribe. Our prayers and thoughts become the strength to keep our world together, and the human tribe must rise up over and over and not get caught in the mentality that this is my land and not yours. Nobody can truly own the land. We share the use of it. We need to learn that when we share it means we ask nothing in return but to help others in need. We must overcome every obstacle and pray together no matter our religion or our different beliefs. Our Earth does not belong to one person, our Earth belongs to the entire human tribe, and those that were here before us understood the system that every time you take something from the Earth you must give back something in return. 
 
 For the first time after many years we will have a New Years Ceremony at Wirikuta Springs. All participants will work on their candles, prayer flags and sticks, and will participate in a candle ceremony at the Spirit Tree and walk in a ceremonial spiral. 
In the Wixarika culture when an Elder shares a message or vision, the community comes together and each family promises to do something to help the community or environment. The Wixarika Elders have promised to be our guides at the New Year and all of us will be following a processional ceremony that has been prepared for us by them. For those of you who will be joining us here at Wirikuta Springs I am looking forward to being with you, and for those who will not be able to be with us, I send my greetings and prayers to you and wish you a beautiful new beginning in the coming year.
       
Looking forward to being with you,
Love and blessings,
Rutury  

I just wanted to thank all the participants who were in the first workshop that Rutury lead in Mexico a few weeks ago. It was such a special group and we had such a beautiful time together! I could not have wished for a more successful trip. Rutury recently spoke with someone from his tribe who passed on the message that the impressions they had of our group were enthusiastically positive. This was truly a beginning for the building of a bridge that is connecting his people and their ceremonies with us as a community and as individuals. I am grateful for your generosity and for your open hearts and adventurous spirits!

I look forward to being with you again,
Anaya

We are rushing around trying to get things ready for the New Years Workshop.  This is the first Workshop in many years at the Center and I can tell the land wants ceremony with people upon it. Any time I walk the land my heart gets softer and kinder, I feel the land there in a different way because of all the ceremonies I have participated in on the land.  And of course my own very personal ceremonies I have done in private.  It is these places where we can feel the sacred.  Like some people feel in churches where many ceremonies have taken place.

If you are open to Mother Earth and are listening to what she is trying to say to you, you can feel places that have been used for ceremony, just as you can feel places she has been desecrated by evil acts. Sometimes it is a scent in the air, the feel of the earth under your feet, or a tree who is whispering to you in the breeze.  Those are all communications, but so often we are somewhere in our head (or on our cell phones) and not allowing the communication to be received. 

For those who are coming to the New Years Workshop, please take time to be with the land, she needs your ceremonial energy just as you need hers.

For those who can’t make it to the New Years Workshop, there will be other ceremonies and workshops at the center so you will be able to connect to this amazing and sacred place.  But remember that all of Mother Earth is sacred and you can do your ceremonies and listen to her anywhere.

We are very excited to finally be able to open Wirikuta Springs to you very soon!

Pam Pa Dios
Nahwi

Rutury has decided to have the next New Year’s Ceremony at the Center! We are so happy to be able to host this wonderful ceremony and also celebrate the re-opening of Wirikuta Springs Retreat Center. It’s been a long time since we have been able to gather at the Center, and we are happy to be able to officially re-open the Center facilities at the New Year. Truly a time for new beginnings...

Participants are welcome to arrive any time after noon on Friday December 30th. 

There will be an opening celebration party on Friday December 30th from 3:00pm to 7:00pm and we will be providing food and refreshments. We will then gather the New Year’s participants at 7:30 and begin our ceremony which will end on Sunday January 1st. at noon. 

We hope you will consider joining us for this very special event! It has been many years since we were able to gather at the Center and the land misses your presence. This will be a joyous occasion and a wonderful way to greet the New Year. 

People are welcome to stay an additional night at the Center on Sunday for an additional $50 fee.
 
The Center will be closed on Monday at noon.
 
Please email Nahwi and let her know if you are planning on attending. Her email address is [email protected]  
 
Indios Huichol’s phone # is 928-300-5114 and Wirikuta Springs address is 2315 N Page Springs Rd. Cornville, AZ 86325.  You can see a map on our Website contact page: http://www.indioshuichol.org/contact.html
 
The fee for the New Year’s Ceremony weekend is $250. Fee is due no later than December 20th.
 
Please note all the rooms at the center have been filled.  There are accommodations available in the surrounding area of Sedona, Cottonwood and Camp Verde.  Camping spots are available at the center for those brave souls who know how to camp though cold nights.

Please be aware Indios Huichol Inc. considers your e-mail addresses to be private. Please be assured that we will not sell or share your information.  We also want you to understand that all personal emails to Rutury are forwarded to him.

Our Facebook page is up and running!  Please take a look and let us know if you have any suggestions.

Please check it out at:  http://www.indioshuichol.org/ 
The store is open for business as well. Please be aware items are shipped to one address and they are going USPS.  We’re not charging for shipping at this time. All profits go to support the Wixarika (Huichol) people.