TheBanyanTree: Saying sorry

[NancyIee at aol.com]

I hope you keep posting.  I so enjoyed your comments and  stories.
 
I have, for a long time, been interested in "healing".  Having been  raised 
in a white city with doctors and clinics all around, I knew little  until I 
moved out into the rural parts of the country.  The swamp peoples  (I believe 
they are descended from runaway slaves of long ago, and a mix of  white and 
Native peoples) know all about the surrounding plants and their  properties.  Just 
as the Native American in the northern states, the  pains and woods states, 
are skilled in being able to use their lore in  healing.
 
I currently live in a rural area of the south, in which a great number of  
circus folk settled long ago, to train to practice their skills, to live when  
they were not on the road. Nearby, there is a family with elephants and  
camels, horses used in the circus acts and parades, and their houses full of  
monkeys and tiny dogs.  Since they originally come from all over the  world, their 
ethnic backgrounds are fascinating.  They formed tight a  closed communities, 
little people and fat ladies, and roustabouts, and trapeze  artists, and animal 
trainers, all within a few miles.
 
Their religions encloses customs from a dozen  denominations and  sects. 
Their healing arts cover the world, from Gypsies, to Arabs, to Asian,  to northern 
Europeans, and others.  I raise miniature horses, and one  family always 
comes to look over my new foals, to see if there is something of  the right color 
and size to fit into their act.  The man and his son with  elephants, welcomes 
me to bring any bread or vegetable leftovers form my  garden for his charges, 
and he helps me when I need a fence repaired. There is  a famous high-wire 
family living with earshot of me, and I can hear them up in  their high wires 
stretched across their yard, teaching little children to  balance.  Six 
generations under a few roofs. One old grandmother from  their clan cuts my hair, 
since she does all their hair when they are on the  road. I love to hear all her 
stories. She used to be in the act, but is no  longer agile enough.
 
  I feel as though I am living somewhere in the middle of the United  
Nations.  As it should be. Total co-mingled and cooperative.  The  circus folk and 
the local farmers have found a harmony and appreciation out  here. There are 
also the newbies (whites who think having a few acres out from  the grime and 
crime of the city is the perfect  place to raise their  children.)  It would be 
if they stopped complaining about the trumpeting  of the elephants, or the 
possible danger in caged tigers near their new  mansions and swimming pools.  Or 
of sending their own children to private  schools, because . .well, because.
 
Anyway, the circus people also brought their combined healing  knowledge to 
the community. They have salves and potions for everything.   I use some of 
that knowledge in the care of my little horses and other  critters.  I am also 
learning , or trying to, the magical or  spiritual side of healing. I have seen 
it used and effective too many  times to discount it. It is a fascinating 
study. I am starting to have some  small success. I am able to bring some of my 
knowledge to other venues, such  as in the little church I attend, where healing 
and prayer are used  frequently.  I am somewhat a skeptic, but have no doubt 
about the art of  healing. There are times when it becomes very scary. I do 
not understand it, I  only know it works.  I will continue to study and learn, 
from any source,  whether the circus folk, the Natives, the old timers, anyone. 
 
NancyLee










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