“If serving is beneath you, leadership is beyond you.”
Last weekend I set out to serve the close-knit family of the Native Powwow circuit by way of Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. It was located about 25 minutes east of San Diego, CA. The news was warning us of a hurricane and the threat of inches of rain all weekend. Still, the clarity that all would work out just fine for the event to go on was dominant in my mind space.
We were invited by an elder bodyworker and healer, Miles of the Ho-Chunk Nation, who had been working these powwows for years before the 2020 pandemia. He, and the powwow organizer, informed me that we would be working for donations, and our accommodations would be covered by the powwow.
This was not new to me, I often volunteer services for native elders. To remember why we serve, to help others heal, is the consistent motivation for volunteering these services.
Every person who approached our booth had the same question. “How much for a massage?”
Our reply “by donation” was met with the same reaction every time. People’s eyes lit up, and their mouths pursed into an O shape. “Oooh wow, ok, thats great,” they would say. Most folks were surprised that they could receive whats otherwise is seen as a luxury, for not much at all.
But why?
Why is massage and energy healing considered a luxury service? It is one of the most necessary treatments for health and stress relief.
For those clients, finding out that they could pay what they wanted relieves a large amount of stress right before our eyes. With the response to the inquiry, people’s shoulders dropped, their smiles widened, and relief seemed attainable. This is seen as the Native Way, to give in an even energy exchange to promote harmony amongst the circle.
The first rain hit during grand entry. Right after the flag song was over, a light drizzle refreshed the skins and brightened our eyes. It felt like a blessing from the ancestors enjoying that first grand entry Friday night. We watched the majority of the cloud swell nestled behind the canyon mountains drift away, as if it were waving a greeting and choosing to leave us be that evening.
Saturday was a full 12 hours of work for a student I invited to work with me, Melissa and me. We worked non-stop in the humid moisture, and at some point, I remember lying down on the grass in the booth for a 10-minute power nap to recharge my energy.
Sunday was a shorter day, where almost all clients were dancers. By then, word had gotten out that the massage booth was where folks could go to reset. I had the chance to talk to the golden age dancers more and discovered our mutual friends in common.
The relief, gratitude, and joy our new clients showed through their faces, words, and hugs were so fulfilling. To watch the dancers and hear the singers in thier heartfelt traditional prayers was a gift. For Melissa and I, it felt so right to be there for them and help with their physical needs so that they could continue the blessings.
I am not sure how many Los Angeles based Healers would work for donations. Most likely the newly practicing therapists would feel obliged to. Yet to truly be of service, one must expect nothing in return. Still, to follow ones purpose, we must hold faith that all needs will be met. Once we step out and stay on that path of passion and purpose, then we can lead others to similar discoveries of fulfillment and inspiration to grow and live even more purposefully.