It was an unforgettable pipe ceremony in a medicine wheel.

I went on a retreat to Crestone Co. in June of this year and there were many amazing experiences on that trip but the one that stands out to me, not only on the trip but, in all the ceremonies I have attended was when we went to a very old and crumbling medicine wheel.  We had a pipe carrier in our group and she was amazing.  I had such respect for the ritual we were about to perform because she did.  We drew totem cards and went in after being blessed with the burning sage and also after we turned a full circle to one direction while chanting something beautiful.  The ceremony itself is a lot to explain but it was  so amazing and we were all a part of the circle.  We were one with our surroundings.  The birds stopped chirping and the breeze barely whispered as we began and they were quiet throughout.  We channeled and chanted and we danced to the drums of our hearts.  The sense of unity I felt with our great mother and father and the creatures and the others was absolutely astounding and incredibly humbling.  When we were all out of the circle and completed the exiting chant and turns, the birds sang again and the breeze blew strong.