I stand with my bare feet on the earth, my soles caressed by the sand. I sense the vibrancy of the night, tuning into the depth of life all around me. I begin to walk silently seeing the glow of moonlight touching on the edges of the plants. I am guided by the feeling of space. Where the air moves freely and where there is stillness in the breeze. This is the night I will meet with the sacred cactus in the silence of the night. My father taught me this. I am in reverence to their holy presence. I feel the power resonating underfoot as they come to life for one night under the protection of darkness. Only known to a few, they bloom sweetly opening under the moon. The spirits of the plant meeting with their caretakers. 

The love in my heart grows as if my own heart is blooming in sync with the sacred plants. I feel honored to meet with them tonight. I make my presence known with a gentle song that speaks of where I have come from. My name Kyomo means where two rivers meet. My home in the valley and my father Wolfsbane who I will bring the flowers home to. He will create a visionary serum from the flowers. Then we will bridge the divide between the heavens and the earth so our people can communicate with their ancestors. 

I come into the warm glow of the blooming flowers as the sacred cactus opens to the spirit world. I see the spirits of the plant emerging from the blooms like golden pollen. They flow easily through the night and call their caretakers. I am named among those who are welcomed here tonight. I kneel quietly as the ceremony begins. All of my senses are sharpened. I can taste the air as a fragrant and sweet elixir that awakens memories in me. I see all of the ancestors who have been welcomed to this meeting before me. I feel my father’s presence and his father before him. It is rare for me to be chosen as a caretaker for these medicines. Being a woman I would have otherwise been chosen to raise children for our people. But my calling to work with the plants was strong and my father dreamt it would be so. Our elders gave me permission to train as a medicine woman. To lead our people in their communications with the spirit world. It has been a challenging and sometimes lonely path. It was written in the stars and I am blessed with this gift and must not waste it.

The spirits of the sacred cactus move among the caretakers who have arrived in the night. We do not speak with each other and will travel back to our lands on the completion of the ceremony. Dispersing the flowers in all directions. We are touched by the spirits and given the delicate blooms to hold in our hands. I look down into the glowing flower and I am instantly immersed in the vision. And the teaching that is given to my people for this season. The plant teaches gentleness with the land, care of the water cycles and connection with all beings. We are infused with this knowledge every time the cactus blooms. We keep our tether to all life intact. We do not become too mortal and lose the value of life itself. It is a precious and temporary gift to treasure and care for. Too many people in the world have been cut from the earth. They live in isolation from their fellow man and the creatures of this beautiful world. The plants are a bridge back to the oneness of life. The spark of creation moves through all living beings and connects us all as one.

I become aware of my physical form again, kneeling in the sand. The others have begun their journey home. The glow of the sacred blooms lighting a path in all directions like a star being born. I pull myself from the dream and rise to my feet. I place the delicate blooms in layers of fine fabric inside a woven basket so they are protected. I must move quickly now the journey home is far. I call the strength of all of my ancestors to me. As I go into trance and keep a running pace up for hours into the night before dawn returns. I arrive home as the first rays of light are melting into the valley. I meet my father at the edge of our land and pass the basket to him. This brings him so much joy. I have had a successful journey. Our people will share in the vision of oneness and connection with all life for another year.