THE SUNDANCE BEAR BOX LbNA #43588
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 22, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Mancos |
| County: | Montezuma |
| State: | Colorado |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Aspen  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | SeeJoy |
| Last found: | Oct 30, 2018 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Sep 22, 2008 |
THE SUNDANCE BEAR BOX
The sun dance is the native religious ceremony that celebrates renewal - the spiritual rebirth as well as the regeneration of the living Earth. The most renowned priest was also the best Lodge maker, runs the entire ceremony and in the past would instruct the participants in building a preparatory tepee. A tree with a fork in the top was chosen for the first and center pole of the lodge. The eldest woman of the camp leads a group of maidens to the tree to strip off its branches. The next morning, right as the sun is seen over the eastern horizon, armed warriors charge the sun-pole. They attack the tree in effort to symbolically kill it. Once it is dead the tree is cut down and taken to where the Sun Dance Lodge will be erected. Then the pole is raised, with a sacrificed buffalo head atop it, facing toward the setting-sun." The tree represents the center of the world, connecting the heavens to the earth. The fork of the lodge represents the eagle's nest. The eagle plays a large part in the Sun Dance, it flies high, being the closest creature to the Sun. Therefore it is the link between man and spirit, being the messenger that delivers prayers to the Wakan-Tanka (god). During the Sun Dance, the Crow may be accompanied by a dancing eagle in the priest’s visions, the eagle instructing him about the medicine acquired through the vision. It is the buffalo, however, that makes up the main theme of the Sun Dance. It was the buffalo that began the ritual and taught someone the proper way to carry out the Buffalo songs, dances, and feast accompany the Sun Dance.
When the camp is ready to leave all sacred items are left in a pile by the sun-pole for they are too sacred to keep for personal use. The Sun Dance Lodge is then left standing for nature to do with it as it wills.
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DIRECTIONS TO THE BOX: If you've come from Durango on US 160 west or Cortez on US 160 east, turn north on State Hwy 184 at the only light in Mancos. If coming from Dolores, take State Hwy 184 east (left turn at top of hill south of Dolores). Once on 184, it is between County Roads 39.2 and 38.5 on Hwy 184. -- about 4 miles from the Mancos traffic light or 15 miles from the Dolores turn. If you see a large, ancient, Chinese, black & white symbol for balance, depending on which way you are going, you have either passed the box, or are getting ready to pass it. Look for the yellow bear on the gate on the south side of the road and a street number 39578. The box is hidden under rocks behind a frontier transportation contraption on the east side of the Bear sign. The lodge is on private property so DO NOT go through the gates or block the drive, be very careful where you park, you’ll be right on the shoulder of the road. This is my first attempt to carve a stamp, while staying at this wonderfully relaxing lodge. Please use caution, I don’t want the owners upset about me hiding a box right outside their gate.
The sun dance is the native religious ceremony that celebrates renewal - the spiritual rebirth as well as the regeneration of the living Earth. The most renowned priest was also the best Lodge maker, runs the entire ceremony and in the past would instruct the participants in building a preparatory tepee. A tree with a fork in the top was chosen for the first and center pole of the lodge. The eldest woman of the camp leads a group of maidens to the tree to strip off its branches. The next morning, right as the sun is seen over the eastern horizon, armed warriors charge the sun-pole. They attack the tree in effort to symbolically kill it. Once it is dead the tree is cut down and taken to where the Sun Dance Lodge will be erected. Then the pole is raised, with a sacrificed buffalo head atop it, facing toward the setting-sun." The tree represents the center of the world, connecting the heavens to the earth. The fork of the lodge represents the eagle's nest. The eagle plays a large part in the Sun Dance, it flies high, being the closest creature to the Sun. Therefore it is the link between man and spirit, being the messenger that delivers prayers to the Wakan-Tanka (god). During the Sun Dance, the Crow may be accompanied by a dancing eagle in the priest’s visions, the eagle instructing him about the medicine acquired through the vision. It is the buffalo, however, that makes up the main theme of the Sun Dance. It was the buffalo that began the ritual and taught someone the proper way to carry out the Buffalo songs, dances, and feast accompany the Sun Dance.
When the camp is ready to leave all sacred items are left in a pile by the sun-pole for they are too sacred to keep for personal use. The Sun Dance Lodge is then left standing for nature to do with it as it wills.
____________________________________________________________
DIRECTIONS TO THE BOX: If you've come from Durango on US 160 west or Cortez on US 160 east, turn north on State Hwy 184 at the only light in Mancos. If coming from Dolores, take State Hwy 184 east (left turn at top of hill south of Dolores). Once on 184, it is between County Roads 39.2 and 38.5 on Hwy 184. -- about 4 miles from the Mancos traffic light or 15 miles from the Dolores turn. If you see a large, ancient, Chinese, black & white symbol for balance, depending on which way you are going, you have either passed the box, or are getting ready to pass it. Look for the yellow bear on the gate on the south side of the road and a street number 39578. The box is hidden under rocks behind a frontier transportation contraption on the east side of the Bear sign. The lodge is on private property so DO NOT go through the gates or block the drive, be very careful where you park, you’ll be right on the shoulder of the road. This is my first attempt to carve a stamp, while staying at this wonderfully relaxing lodge. Please use caution, I don’t want the owners upset about me hiding a box right outside their gate.