The Four Pillars of Shamanism with Theodore Tsaousidis

  
Snow Lion Lecture Series 2011
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

"The Four Pillars of Shamanism:"
The Great Mystery of Earth Mother Medicine
with: Theodore Tsaousidis


At the Snow Lion 708A Pape Ave.

Time: 7:30PM to 9:00PM*
Cost: Dana / donation (according to your means)

The Earth Mother is the source of all Medicine. A Shaman lives within the great mystery of the Mother — embodying her ancient healing and wisdom. In this way, a Shaman is an expression of the great mystery. She is born into this healing work from the depth of her being. Every action and activity of the shaman is an act of remembering, an act of honouring where the shaman is from and who she truly is. The four pillars of shamanism: purification, mindfulness, empowerment, and devotion/service are the Shaman’s source of knowledge, strength and protection.


The Shaman lives and works in ordinary and non-ordinary reality. She uses and depends on each of these pillars to keep her feet firmly in both realities simultaneously. The Earth Mother and all creation are both ordinary and non-ordinary reality. In other words, both form and formless. Both are real and must be experienced for true wisdom/compassion to deepen. To enter into this understanding is where true healing begins. Theodore will explore and share these four pillars as a foundation of dynamic presence in the world.


For those who are interested, more detailed information will be presented about the upcoming October 1-2 Healing Plants Retreat that will take place in the Grey Bruce area.


Theodore Tsaousidis has been conscious of his spiritual journey from an early age. Born in a rural community in Greece surrounded by mountains and valleys, he was profoundly shaped by nature and the ancient tradition of village elders and healers. His connection to nature and the spirit world is an integral part of who he is – as is his dedication to the Zen training he has followed for 30 years. He is also blessed by the guidance of the Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche. His healing and shamanic sharing stem from, his cultural roots, personal experience. and Tibetan and Buddhist traditions. Theodore sees shamanism and meditation as a great alchemy for the healing of self and others. He lives and works in the Owen Sound and Toronto areas. He offers teachings and meditation practices for healing, yoga, and multifaith centres in Canada.


*Please arrive early as the doors will be closing at 7:30pm (no admittance after doors close)


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updates: evening honouring Raymond Souster & potential League of CanPo award in his name

Hi Allan,
Chase and I returned just over an hour ago from a weeklong visit to TO. I've copied you (and others on our cc list) on my reply to TO Star columnist Joe Fiorito, who has kindly offered his services in support of such an event honouring Ray Souster. And I'm sure Toronto Public Library (TPL) will do its best to support & publicize such an event as well as the League of CanPo. Congrats to you and David Day for putting forward the award in Ray's name (p.s. I need David's email address, as I lost many of my addresses when my PC finally gave up the ghost & I switched to a Mac mini).

The League of CanPo's award in Ray's name is an inspired idea, and it's exciting to think that this very rare evening honouring Ray Souster (at age 91!) will actually happen at his local branch of TPL!  Credit is due all around, to you and Terry Barker, James Deahl, Kent Bowman and Mick Burrs, and David Day and the League of CanPo, etc.  : )

the beer and the drive back from TO are catching up with me, hope this makes sense ...  : )

peace & poetry power!
Chris and Chase ... wroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooof!

p.s. I'll post this on my blog, can't see any harm in this, and maybe some helpful publicity ...




On 2011-08-27, at 11:41 AM, Allan Briesmaster wrote:

Dear Chris,

I am only replying to the people on your Cc list who are in Toronto, plus
Jeff, plus Hugh. Through an almost impossibly busy month, I've been meaning
to congratulate you, Anna, Terry, and others who made PurdyFest so
successful this year -- and now I want to share a related development you
may already have heard about, but which I would ask everyone to be cautious
in publicizing because it will not be "official" for some time yet.

Ray Souster has agreed to have a new award, which is being created by the
League of Canadian Poets, named after him. Because he was one of the
founders of the League, it is highly appropriate that the award be in his
name. The Raymond Souster Award will be given to the League member with the
best book of poetry (as chosen by a three-member jury) published in the
previous year. It will be presented at the League's Annual General Meeting,
together with the two existing awards (the Gerald Lampert Award, for the
best first book of poetry, and the Pat Lowther Award, for the best book of
poetry by a woman). The new award will fill an obvious, long-standing gap.

[Footnote: David Day is the person who put forward the award concept at the
last AGM; and afterward it was my idea that it should be named after Ray.]

The first jury will not be chosen until the June, 2012 AGM, and all of the
exact details must still be ratified, so this should not be treated as a
fait accompli. However, there has been unanimous support, so I am confident
it's really just a matter of time.

I've spoken on the phone with Terry, and exchanged emails with Anna, about
having an event at the Runnymede Library honouring Ray -- and Terry has told
me that Ray is willing and able to be present. (An extremely rare public
appearance!) Terry and I plan on visiting Ray next week to discuss this
further, and after that, if we can confirm the Library's availability, I
will be happy to team up with any of you who wish to be involved in planning
the event there, and will spread the word when we have a date for it. I will
certainly inform my fellow League members via email and the Newsletter.

My first thought about the Library event is that, along with presentations
from Hugh and Terry, a few people with a particular literary and personal
connection to Ray could each read a poem of his -- but I'd like to discuss
this and all related matters with you and others first. (I do not see this
becoming a "League" event in any restrictive way, but will expect interested
League members to attend and, in some cases, participate.)

I welcome everyone's thoughts, but must sound a note of caution, in that I
have a huge amount of other project work on my plate right now. Thus it will
be impossible for me to plunge into extended email discussions. Perhaps the
best way to proceed would be to see if some of us can meet in Toronto
sometime next month to plan the event at Runnymede (ideally, at the Library
itself), while still inviting input from those who won't be able to come
then. 

Best regards to everyone,
Allan


-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Faiers [mailto:zenriver@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 9:58 PM
To: Hugh and Judy Cook
Cc: anna yin; Terry Barker; Allan Briesmaster; Karl Jirgens; Kent Bowman;
Greg Gatenby; Richard M. Grove / Tai; Joe Fiorito (Star) Fiorito; Jeff
Seffinga Seffinga
Subject: Re: Souster thesis (Hugh Cook)/ PurdyFest #5 (SousterFest)
report/evening event celebrating Ray in TO?

Hi Hugh,
It was another mellow and successful PurdyFest. Terry Barker and Anna Yin
gave great presentations on Ray at the Marmora Library building. I've
suggested to Terry that PurdyFest could serve as a warm-up for a personal
evening in TO with Ray present. I believe Terry is now working towards
organizing this at the same branch of Toronto Public Library he shares with
Ray.

In late June Terry, Allan and Holly Briesmaster and I took TO Star columnist
Joe Fiorito to visit the Necropolis Cemetery. Afterwards we went to a sleazy
bar on Parliament Street and Joe told us about meeting a very supportive Ray
when he first moved to TO from Thunder Bay.

Ray played a seminal role in so many other poets and writers lives as well -
there's a whole host of TO poets who would likely be interested in attending
an evening honouring Ray on his 'home turf' - Greg Gatenby, Karl Jirgens,
Allan and Holly, Kent Bowman, Mick Burrs - prob. dozens of other literati.

We should try and honour our literary mentors while they are still among us,
rather than waiting until they are a full fathom under.

I'm copying this to Terry and Anna and some of the other writers who have
expressed an interest in honouring Ray. With some minimal organization from
Terry, and perhaps by Allan, Mick and Kent with the League of Canadian
poets, hopefully this event will happen while Ray is still alive. I believe
this is when Terry will do the presentation of your thesis - I'm not clear
on this aspect.

For further reports and pics on PurdyFest #5 (SousterFest) please visit my
blog, or just Google and surf away. There's lots out there.

http://riffsandrippplesfromzenrivergardens.blogspot.com/

peace and poetry power!
Chris (Faiers)

crazy shaman wading at Callahan's Rapids Conservation Area after PurdyFest #5

 Simon, Chris and Chase wading at Callahan's Rapids Conservation Area
Monday, Aug. 1, 2011 - after PurdyFest #5

 Chris watching Chase wade ashore after Chase got caught in the current of the Moira River and had to swim for his life. Chase had just learned to swim the week before at approx. age 12 or 13!

Melanie laughing at Chase, Chris and Jim Larwill hovering on the lip of Callahan's Rapids. Jeez, I'm embarrassed at those man boobs  : )  Guess Simon must have clicked the pick ...

House of Mainly Zen/Simon's post-PurdyFest #5 poem

HMZ: House of Mainly Zen

i just got back from . . .
the TV
i came home from work
4 hours ago. . .
i left my client
86 year old friend
sleeping off his dinner
. . . while i type this,
i hear
crickets play
the quite sounds
of the neighbour
talking kindly
to her dog :)
. . . it is relatively quiet
here
in Dundas . . .
it is the closet thing
to living
in the back woods . . .
. . . while living
on the cusp
of the 9th
largest city
in Canada :)
. . . only us poets/artists
and puppeteers here
at this House of mainly Zen
Gone are the howling coyotes,
leaping frogs
ancient turtles
i do not even hear
any peckers
tap-tap a tapping.
I look to the day
when we will
see
each other
in the fall
peace & love & poetry power!
simon ... wrfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!
Simon

From: Chris Faiers <zenriver@sympatico.ca>
To: simon solomon
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 6:53:03 PM
Subject: Re: maybe we can visit in TO during your year at OISE .../ felt fall tonite walking Chase

Hi Simon,
just back from Zenriver ... Chase is finishing his dinner, while I'm digesting mine  : )  so quiet there with all the poets and campers
gone - just the young woodpeckers tap-tapping now for company.

Chase & I'll prob see you sometime this fall,
peace & love & poetry power!
Chris & Chase ... wrfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!

Co-interviews: Janice Chrysler (Mindful Journey):: Chris Faiers (ZenRiver Gardens)

Janice Chrysler will bring her meditation and prayer circle to ZenRiver Gardens on Tuesday, Aug. 30, for a 7 pm meditation. Visitors will meet by the picnic tables on the 'shaman shack' west lawn. Participants will join in group meditation, and people are also encouraged to practice individual moving meditation on the sumac trails.  Everyone most welcome. 




CO-INTERVIEWS WITH JANICE CHRYSLER OF MINDFUL JOURNEY and CHRIS FAIERS OF ZENRIVER GARDENS




1.) I understand we both came to our early spiritual awareness through involvement with the Anglican Church. Would you mind expanding on these experiences?

Janice: I actually started in the United Church, had a Free Methodist grandmother, Fundamental Christian grandparents as well and apparently a few missionaries and a minister in the lot to boot.  About twenty years ago I went to the Anglican church as I was going through a time I didn't feel I was getting all the answers or fulfillment I wanted. Seeing how I so enjoy  meditation now, I can look back and understand that the Anglican church's rituals and prayers met that desire at that moment in my life.  I was fortunate to meet some beautiful and loving people in all my church families but also learned about the politics of such organizations through working on boards etc. I still never felt I was allowed to move ahead spiritually. Then one day all the prayers that had once meant so much to me seemed to be more like negative walls surrounding me and keeping me in place like a jail.  One Sunday I just knew it would be my last.  I had vowed to the Universe I was ready to follow my dharma whatever it might be and I knew leaving the church was my first step...it wasn't easy and it took me awhile. I knew if I was to lead and help others on their path, I had to be free of any connection to organized religions...in that way I could freely welcome all beliefs into my services. No client is expected to "fit" into a certain set of rules.

1) Chris, do you feel you still hold onto some of the Anglican traditions or rituals in your spiritual practices today or find you are combining various rituals?

I was an altar boy from age 11 to 15, actively participating in all the rituals, including the communion service. Then I started feeling alienated from the Church, especially as most parishioners didn't appear to hold sincere beliefs. I felt more spiritual presence walking in the woods around a small lake while the rest of my family attended church on Sundays. The motivation for me to find some sort of spiritual support came a few years later, in my late teens, with the threat of being drafted for the Vietnam War. I bought a paperback on yoga and meditation, and began practicing both. Around age 15 I had also read T. Lobsang Rampa's fictional account of life in a Buddhist Monastery, "The Third Eye", and this undoubtly influenced me as well. And yes, I find some parallels between the traditional Episcopal/Anglican upbringing and the personal spiritual rituals I've practiced for about a decade. In particular the singing bowl I ring to begin my daily prayers reminds me of the sanctus bell in the Anglican service. And of course prayer, incense, perhaps the small statue of Buddha on my home altar rather than a cross. And like yourself, I've also incorporated aspects of First Nations spirituality, such as smudging. At my Zenriver Gardens retreat I like to playfully paint "crazy wisdom" designs on my shaman shack, on a rock cleft, and even on trees.      




2.) I also know you are a master in Reiki and a certified hypnotherapist. What drew you to these practices?

Janice: It may sound out there but I really did have a feeling deep within all my life that I would be drawn to do something spiritual.  For many years I assumed it would be in a traditional and simple  form of service, you know, working in the church or volunteering but as time went on I felt I was missing something. Then over a few years I found I was having physical ailments that could not be helped medically so I turned my sights on alternative forms of healing and meditation. It was through these personal life changes that I met my dear friend Lynda who was a Reiki Master. She encouraged me to learn Reiki, I did and that led me to more study of mind, body and spirit connections. It was a natural step for me to then learn hypnosis as a way to take clients on a spiritual journey through their own subconscious mind or back to past lives. I still chuckle to myself when I look back on my own journey as it is not at all where I thought I would go! But boy what a trip it has been so far!





3.) When and why did you start your spiritual circle (meditation) in Marmora? Did you start the circle before or after you opened your business Mindful Journey?

Janice: Teaching is something I always have enjoyed and realize now it wasn't in the schools I was meant to be but in my own living room, library or Zen Gardens helping others discover their own spiritual awareness.  It has been through my own lessons learned that I find the inspiration and desire to show others.  I began the classes right after I completed my hypnosis course and officially took on the name Mindful Journey. I was teaching Reiki for about a year prior to that and always included meditation in those workshops as well.

3) Chris, what inspired you to create Zen River Gardens? What plans to you have for its future if any?

 Chris: Initially I bought it as a private retreat, a place to relax in a natural environment and to get some exercise grooming the property. Not long after I purchased ZRG I visited a local Vietnamese Buddhist monastery, the Zen Forest. The wisdom of the head monk, Thay, and the calm of the Zen Forest inspired me to name my new property ZenRiver. With some poet friends, we've been holding annual Purdy Country Literary Festivals there - this summer we held "PurdyFest #5"! Meeting you (Janice) has been something I've hoped would develop - holding organized meditation sessions rather than depending on individuals to meditate and reflect by themselves, wandering the trails and sitting by the river. ZRG is also an artists retreat, a place where people can visit to feel close to nature and be inspired to create.    


            


4. Please describe your weekly circle, how often and where you meet, contact information, and an overview of 'typical members' (if such a thing is possible).

Janice: We meet every Tuesday at 52 Victoria Ave, Marmora at 7pm.  I always have some herbal teas ready for everyone to enjoy as we gather in our circle.  Each evening we have a topic we discuss and this can be on everything from increasing your psychic abilities, creating sacred spaces, increasing your awareness, chanting, drumming you name it and we will talk about it! If I had to say what a typical member was and I would have to say any man or woman who is sincere in getting to know their own mental, physical and spiritual body better.  The only thing that is asked is that we all respect each others beliefs, come together without judgment, open our hearts to receive and give love and compassion.
Any one wanting more information is more than welcome to either visit my website at www.mindfuljourney.ca or call me directly at 613-472-0341. If I don't answer the phone, please leave a message and I will return your call.


4)You mentioned you have a variety of people come to your place in the woods.  What is their reaction once they have been on the grounds for awhile?

Chris: Everyone who visits ZenRiver Gardens expresses a sense of peacefulness. Ottawa poet Jim Larwill serves as our unofficial camp counselor during PurdyFests, and when he returned home recently from PurdyFest #5 he sent me an email saying how grounded he felt at ZRG.

5. On our tour of ZenRiver Gardens yesterday, you described some of your circle's deeply shared spiritual occurrences and successes. Would you mind re-telling some of these profound experiences?

Janice: The saying goes in our circle, "you can tell its been a good night when somebody cries." Now, that may not seem like a place you would want to go to but believe me we have all let go of some burdens, forgiven others and ourselves, felt the love of angels, loved ones and of everyone in the room....a feeling that goes deeper than words. We have sent healing energy to others and they have reported back to us that they felt it and always knew when we were sending Reiki and love to them.
So many personal moments have been shared and friendships formed because we all know this is a place of learning, growing and finding our own truth.  It is not uncommon to physically feel the temperature rise as we meditate, actually feel the energy being moved around our circle and experience the presence of enormous energy filling our space.
I think the most important thing we have all learned is to accept that each one of us is doing the best he or she can at this particular moment in time.  What we feel today may be totally different tomorrow. Heck, things change from the moment someone comes in the door to the time they leave!  All is good here, positive energy only!

5) Can you retell some interesting happenings to you while meditating at Zen River Gardens? Elsewhere?
Chris: Of course there is always the deep feeling of peacefulness after a session of meditation. Several times when coming out of particularly deep sessions, I've felt a sense of timelessness, with the sensation that the ground and the banks of the river were rising and falling with the ages. Just sitting still in zazen has let the birds and animals display their playfulness and routines: huge snapping turtles mating by the bridge, two blue herons flying close to the shack, then doing a loop-the-loop over the river while Dr. John and I stared at each other in disbelief. A muskrat splashing and swimming on his back, unaware a human was monitoring his silliness. I have also experienced incredible encounters with two spirit guides during moving meditation on the Trans Canada Trail. I believe they reside in Brahma. Also several times I've encountered a very ancient and 'scary' First Nations shaman who lives in the body of a great horned owl - this has dissuaded me from further practices of "mindcasting" into larger wild animals!  

6. What are your group's plans for future development?

Janice: Funny you should ask that  - that is going to be the discussion at tonight's class (Aug 16). This particular group has a core of about six that have been meeting every Tuesday for the past three to four years, have taken various workshops and levels of Reiki so we are all ready to take it up a notch. That is why this past year I have focused more on healing sessions and more spiritual awareness work. For example, we are finishing up on discussing our shadow side and how to work through all that fun stuff.
I have been asking other speakers to come in and talk or guide our meditation class so we have a chance to experience other views and ideas.  Road trips or on the planning board - thus Zen River Gardens.






7. I know we share a similar spiritual world view, and that we know this is a crucial time in the evolution of human consciousness. Do you mind explaining further?  

Janice: There is no denying it any longer that humankind is at a very critical time in our history.  I feel we are in the era of consciousness and we will either ignore this and create our own destruction as we cannot continue on the road we have made for ourselves or we can choose the road of light, love and healing through the power of our minds and spirit.  We have tried leaving spiritual matters behind but now we are in a place where we are naturally looking for that connection to Spirit again - it is a time we develop new forms of making this connection and I feel much of that will come from setting aside dogma and focusing on positive energy flow. Once that starts, so many areas of our life open up to new possibilities, creative thinking and actions to protect ourselves and this planet. There is so much we can learn from each other and various cultures and the joining of these makes for a very interesting and satisfying dish!


7) Chris, do you feel an sense of urgency to get out there and "do" something to help raise this consciousness? I know I do.
Even the majority of scientists now acknowledge that human activities are endangering the planet and Gaia. The irony is that we have to personally turn inward to counter this effect by raising our personal consciousnesses, rather than going outward and panicking and adding to the general alarmism and confusion. As much as we can, we want to help as many others as possible attain their highest levels of awareness. This is the main reason for ZRG, the creation of a natural calming center for individual and group reflection. A further irony is that the more desperate the planetary crisis becomes, the calmer we all must become. The hyper rationalism, science and materialism of the West are now meeting the internal wisdom of the East, and this is our role to facilitate the merging of these two very different traditions and ways of living. One path leads to imminent planetary destruction, the other to harmony and the evolution of humans.


Thank you, Janice,  for sharing your knowledge and leadership.
Namaste,

(Chris Faiers, Marmora, Ontario, Aug. 15, 2011)



  

Archdeacon William McMurray, ancestor/"A Fair Country" - John Ralston Saul

1891-1900 (Volume XII)

McMURRAY, WILLIAM, Church of England clergyman and office holder; b. 19 Sept. 1810 in Portadown (Northern Ireland), son of Bradshaw McMurray and Mary —; m. first 26 Sept. 1833 Charlotte Johnston (Oge-Buno-Quay) in Sault Ste Marie, Upper Canada, and they had three sons and a daughter; m. secondly 4 Nov. 1879 Amelia Baxter; d. 19 May 1894 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

    
  William McMurray was brought by his parents in 1811 to York (Toronto), where at the age of eight he became a pupil in John Strachan*’s school. On finishing his studies he took private pupils, including George William Allan, son of William Allan*, and members of the Jarvis family. In 1830 he began theological training under Strachan, and he served as a catechist in Mimico, Weston, Thornhill, and York Mills.

        During the early 1830s there was much interest in inducing the Indian population of Upper Canada to settle in permanent villages and receive religious instruction, and as part of this effort the Society for Converting and Civilizing the Indians and Propagating the Gospel among the Destitute Settlers in Upper Canada was formed in York in 1830. Late in 1832 McMurray, not yet of canonical age for ordination, was sent by the society to act as catechist and lay reader at Sault Ste Marie, which Governor George Simpson* of the Hudson’s Bay Company had pointed out as the only appropriate field for missionary labours since the fur trade there had declined and the Indians could be persuaded to follow a more settled way of life. He was also appointed Indian agent by Lieutenant Governor Sir John Colborne*, but he received payment for his services only in 1838.

        In August 1833 McMurray was ordained deacon by Bishop Charles James Stewart* of Quebec at Frelighsburg, Lower Canada. On his return to the Sault, he married Charlotte Johnston, daughter of trader John Johnston* and granddaughter of an Ojibwa chief. Charlotte interpreted for her husband and taught the Indian women the sacred singing which so impressed visitors to the Sault such as Anna Brownell Jameson [Murphy*]. McMurray was able to translate the catechism into Ojibwa – his rendition was printed in 1834 by Robert Stanton* – but he continued to rely on an interpreter when preaching.

        McMurray’s prayers for the ailing son of the Ojibwa chief Shingwauk helped to win the latter over to the new faith, and the son became one of the converts who would spread the Gospel at Michipicoten (Michipicoten River). Another Indian who was drawn to this religion compared his experience to leaving a thick forest for an opening where the sky was visible. The new Christians were less attracted to the traders’ rum than before, though McMurray’s English publicist thought he went too far in forming a temperance society.

        In 1834 a rift with the HBC factor at Michipicoten, Angus Bethune*, threatened when McMurray advised the Indians not to man the company’s boats. Such work, he argued, would interrupt their instruction, prevent them from preparing their land for crops, require them to work on Sundays, and pay less than they could earn by fishing. While Simpson did not accept McMurray’s position, he sought to smooth relations between missionary and factor.

        In 1837 Colborne’s successor, Sir Francis Bond Head*, who believed that the Indians should be left to themselves, stopped the building of a village at the Sault and cancelled the supplies normally provided by the Indian Department. Compromised by this change of policy and conscious of the ill health of his family, McMurray resigned the next year and became curate to the ailing John Miller at Ancaster and Dundas. He continued until 1855 to submit schemes for settling the Indians. His influence had sunk deep roots at the Sault, and when no missionary was present Shingwauk regularly assembled his people for lessons and hymns.

        Though McMurray quickly endeared himself to his new parishioners, he was not intended to succeed Miller, perhaps because he was only a deacon. The congregation petitioned Lieutenant Governor Sir George Arthur* on his behalf, while his churchwardens and the clergyman in Hamilton, John Gamble Geddes, echoed his plea to Bishop George Jehoshaphat Mountain* of Quebec that he be allowed to stay. At this juncture Strachan became bishop of the new diocese of Toronto, and he ordained McMurray priest on 12 April 1840. The following month Arthur expressed his readiness to recommend McMurray, who was finally inducted as rector in May 1841. Dundas was chosen by Strachan as McMurray’s place of residence, and the bishop encouraged him to build a church. The money for the erection of St James Church in 1843 was raised “mostly from a few individuals, because of the indigence of the majority,” and from English church societies.

        In 1852 Trinity College opened in Toronto, and McMurray was deputed to tour the United States and solicit funds for the new Anglican institution. Strachan advised him to “interest Ladies in our cause, they are in general more zealous, and ardent in promoting a good work.” His efforts were appreciated, not only by the college but also by donors; Columbia College in New York City awarded him an honorary dd, and several prominent American churchmen donated a commemorative window to his church. McMurray’s success in obtaining almost $2,000 led to other trips, and he raised a total of $10,000 for Trinity.

        The threat of secularization of the clergy reserves led to another commission from the bishop. In 1854 McMurray was sent to watch the proceedings of parliament at Quebec and defend the church’s interests. Although the reserves were secularized, the establishment of a trust fund to provide income for clergy was attributed to his efforts, and Sir Allan Napier MacNab* considered that his services to the government had materially aided the final settlement. Trinity bestowed an honorary lld on him in 1857.

        Because of his success on behalf of the church and its university, McMurray was delegated by Trinity’s council in 1864 to tour England and appeal for funds to finish the college buildings. He preached with eloquence to a crowd of seven thousand in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on the necessity of early religious education. Though he was reluctant to play down the objections of the bishop of Huron, Benjamin Cronyn*, to the high church teachings of Provost George Whitaker* of Trinity, McMurray did visit such leaders of the English high church movement as John Keble and Edward Bouverie Pusey. His trip netted nearly £4,000 in donations.

        In 1857 McMurray had unwillingly become rector at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Five years later, just when he had built an impressive rectory in the Tuscan villa style, the county seat was moved to St Catharines and his congregation dropped from 264 to 120 families. The givings of the congregation declined, and in 1867 the parish was forced to issue 15 debentures to cover the rectory debt. McMurray took 12 himself, and in this personal financial crisis he sought the assistance of friends he had made in England.

        McMurray’s entry into the internal politics of the church was less successful than his activities in raising funds. In 1853 he had written to 40 clergy soliciting their votes and influence in favour of Alexander Neil Bethune* for the bishopric proposed at Kingston, but the division of the diocese did not take place. Long a friend of Thomas Brock Fuller*, McMurray supported him in the 1866 election of a coadjutor bishop of Toronto, and he sought the nomination of lay delegates likely to second his choice. When Bethune was chosen, Fuller replaced him as archdeacon of Niagara and McMurray replaced Fuller as rural dean of Lincoln and Welland. Fuller was elected to the new see of Niagara in 1875, and he collated McMurray as archdeacon, consigning the financial affairs of the diocese to his care. Situated in “a newer country,” the Niagara diocese had a larger proportion of missionaries than Toronto, and the archdeacon sought the aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to maintain the work.

        In the sermon he preached at Fuller’s consecration, McMurray urged that party spirit be avoided and warned against “unauthorized and dangerous novelties, such as have of late years so disturbed our peace.” For him, the Church of England was more than a via media between “the superstitious and corrupt practices of the Church of Rome” and the “presumptuous experiments” of dissenters, since “Christ established a Church, not Churches.” In the service of that church and its institutions he won the universal affection of those he worked for so diligently. At the time of his death he was the oldest Anglican clergyman in Canada.

Richard E. Ruggle

[William McMurray is the author of An appeal to the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, in behalf of Trinity College, Toronto, Canada West (New York, 1852) and Journal of a mission to England, in the year 1864, on behalf of the University of Trinity College, Toronto (Toronto, 1869); his recollections of his experiences were published in the Canadian Church Magazine and Mission News (Hamilton, Ont.), July and August 1888, and January 1890. Accounts of McMurray’s mission at the Sault appear in Soc. for Converting and Civilizing the Indians and Propagating the Gospel among the Destitute Settlers in Upper Canada, Annual report (Toronto), 1832–38.

        McMurray is also the author of Ojibway muzzeniegun; the catechism of the Church of England; written in the Ojibwa (or Chippewa) language (Toronto, 1834). The only source for this title is J. C. Pilling, Bibliography of the Algonquian languages (Washington, 1891); repr. as his Bibliographies of the languages of the North American Indians (9 parts in 3 vols., New York, 1973), 2: 379, which lists it anonymously. The book must, however, be the volume McMurray refers to in The Stewart missions; a series of letters and journals, calculated to exhibit to British Christians, the spiritual destitution of the emigrants settled in remote parts of Upper Canada . . . , ed. W. J. D. Waddilove (London, 1838), 98, and in his correspondence in the summer of 1834 with George Simpson, to whom he sent a copy [see PAM below].  r.e.r.]

        AO, MS 35. McMaster Univ., Division of Arch. and Research Coll. (Hamilton), ACC, Diocese of Niagara Arch., P. L. Spencer, “History of the Diocese of Niagara” (1925), sermon by William McMurray at the consecration of Bishop Fuller. MTRL, Henry Scadding coll., Lord Bury to McMurray, 19 May 1855. NA, MG 17, B1, C/Tor., box V/45, folder 534 (mfm.); D.14/Tor.: 89–91, 388–91; D/Tor., 1860–67 (transcripts); D.40/Tor. & Alg. (mfm.); D.44/Tor. & Nia.: 71–74; D.46/Nia.: 119–22 (transcripts); MG 19, F6, 1: 174–78; MG 24, A40, 9: 2300–2 (mfm.); RG 1, E3, 54: 42–48. PAM, HBCA, D.4/21: f.27; D.4/127: ff. 19d–21d, 24–24d. Trinity College Arch. (Toronto), 986-0019/ 002–3; MS 194; A. H. Young, “William McMurray at Sault Ste. Marie, 1832–1838” (typescript). James Beaven, Recreations of a long vacation; or a visit to Indian missions in Upper Canada (London and Toronto, 1846), 123–31. [Alexander] Dixon, Useful lives . . . a sermon . . . preached in Christ Church Cathedral, Hamilton, September 7th, 1883 . . . (Toronto, 1884). [A. B. Murphy] Jameson, Winter studies and summer rambles in Canada (3v., London, 1838; repr. Toronto, 1972). Canadian Churchman, 31 May 1894. Church (Cobourg, [Ont.]; Toronto), 30 March, 19 Oct. 1839; 25 April, September, 2 Oct. 1840; 12 Jan. 1844; 19 Jan. 1854. Express (Buffalo, N.Y.), May 1894. Montreal Gazette, 27 Aug. 1833. Times (London), 25 April 1864. Chadwick, Ontarian families. [F. W. Colloton and C. W. Balfour], A historical record of the planting of the church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (diocese of Algoma) and the history of the mother-parish of St. Luke’s (n.p., [1932?]). T. D. J. Farmer, A history of the parish of St. John’s Church, Ancaster . . . (Guelph, Ont., 1924), 64–70. T. R. Millman, The life of the Right Reverend, the Honourable Charles James Stewart, D.D., Oxon., second Anglican bishop of Quebec (London, Ont., 1953). H. D. Maclean, “An Irish apostle and archdeacon in Canada,” Canadian Church Hist. Soc., Journal (Toronto), 15 (1973): 50–67.

© 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval

Show general bibliography

note: My mother, Marianne, has mentioned our Ancaster, Ontario ancestor, Archdeacon McMurray, over the years. Marianne's mother was born Naomi McMurray. To me Archdeacon McMurray always existed in the realm of fable - an Anglican minister who married a First Nations princess. I was always told they had no children, but the above biography disproves this. I have Googled him before, with limited success, but tonight I found this fascinating  biography of a long ago ancestor.   

I have sometimes felt a vague debt to the First Nations people of Canada that an ancestor of mine was so influential in spreading Christianity among them.

In my poetry, political activism, and with the establishment of my retreat, ZenRiver Gardens, I hope to work towards some slight amends for the cultural and spiritual displacement which the spread of Christianity inflicted upon First Nations people.

I strongly recommend people carefully read A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada by John Ralston Saul, Viking Canada, 2008. 

To quote from the flyleaf:

In this startlingly original vision of Canada, renowned thinker John Ralston Saul argues passionately that Canada is a Metis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by Aboriginal ideas. First, he says, we are far more Aboriginal than European. That we strangely fail to recognize this holds our country back. Our taste for negotiation over violence, our comfort with a constant tension between individuals and groups, our gut belief in egalitarianism - all of these come from our Aboriginal roots.


                                   
                                Found a distant cousin - also a haijin

(emails with David McMurray in Japan, May 2017)


Hi Again David,
Yep, we're celebrating your dad's birthday (and good Queen Vicky's) here in the motherland tomorrow. Now the big day is more popularly known as the "Two-four long weekend", but then we can take that as a tribute to our Irish heritage  ;  )-

It's an interesting coincidence that two of William's descendants became haijin - this is the 50th anniversary of my first published haiku (1967 in Eric Amann's influential "Haiku" magazine, another Canuck haijin). I can lay some claim to being among the first Canucks to publish a haiku collection, at least in the non 5-7-5 form. In 1969 I self-published two chapbooks when I first arrived in the UK after avoiding the draft for the Vietnam War. BTW, I was born in Canada on Hamilton Mountan in 1948, but my parents unwisely moved to the new seat of empire when I was seven. Thus my lifelong history of politikal activism . . .

Here's a link to one of those chapbooks, "Cricket Formations". Cricket is my haijin name, and it was my nickname as a kid.

http://www.eelpie.org/cricket/cricket.htm

Congrats on receiving the Blyth Award - an incredible honour! My long distance friend Angelee Deodhar was your runner-up that year.

peace & poetry power!
Chris/cricket


On 2017-05-18, at 9:27 PM, マクマレイ デビッド wrote:

Good morning Chris,

My dad's birthday is today May 19, he'd have been 111. I have many good memories of thousands of people coming to celebrate his birthday on long weekends in Toronto -- along with Queen Victoria's of course;-).

Born 1906, his father was James A. McMurray, he's buried in West end of Toronto. His grandfather was indeed, William A. McMurray. Anglican church members, all. Born in Ireland.

Chris, it was quite interesting to read your  blog. I grew up having lots of real American draft dodgers living in our Toronto home basement. Police shooed them away quite often, but my brother in Ohio and California kept sending them up to mom and dads. Nice to think that many of them became Canadian citizens after that.

All the best to you Chris, kind regards,

David

♭*♪--*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*--♪*♭
   David McMurray
   Professor
   International University of Kagoshima Graduate School
   Winner of the R.H.Blyth book award
https://sites.google.com/site/worldhaikureview2/jan-2014-issue/blyth-award

♪｡♭----*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---♭*♪

ZenRiver Gardens pics: Sacred Rock Face Buddha/shaman shack/double rainbow

i'v

Worm Picking: poem by Chris Faiers

Worm Picking


The sky is magic tonight
the worms come out to celebrate
when the stars are bright
Bright and clear as if perched
in the skies above Greece

Many languages mix in the clear
air of this golf course
between our quick fingers the worms dance

The native born Canadians do not know
the nearness of the stars tonight
as they sit in the muted glow of their TVs

Long after this special night
they will sit on a cloudy evening by their cottages
and drown the worms




note: This is the poem Hans Jongman requested in his previous posting about PurdyFest #5.
thanks for asking, Hans!

The poem originally appeared in Foot Through the Ceiliing: poems and haiku
1986, Aya Press (now Mercury Press), Toronto
ISBN 0-920544-45-2

I received the inaugural Milton Acorn People's Poetry Award (now the Acorn/Plantos Award) for this collection in 1987 at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto, where Milton Acorn received the original People's Poet Award from his fellow poets in the early 1970s.
 

Hans' haibun memories of PurdyFest #5

On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 4:12 PM, FARIDA JONGMAN  wrote:
Hi Chris etal...First of all, here's my dedication poem to Cricket:
-----
old salt . . .
pet iguana on his shoulder
flicks a Cricket lighter
-----
I really enjoyed the total experience of the 5th Purdy Fest. Only a few weeks prior to this liberating camping experience, I wrote:
----
subway platform
"have you also lost your way,
     little pigeon?"
-----
The poem (although in the style of the great Haiku Master Kobayashi ISSA (1763-1827) shows that the camping trip was a much needed rest after the hectic life in the Big Smoke.(Toronto) Ok, just one short aside: Issa (a nickname meaning "cup of tea") wrote hundreds of poems about the smallest creatures, insects especially, but it is that spirit I tried to capture. Here's my favourite of Issa:
-----
Even with insects
some can sing
some can't.

Issa
-----
Your hospitality Chris, has no bounds. To invite campers on word of mouth only, is an act of trust that exemplifies your Zen like spirit. Without guarantee that campers will abide by even the most basic rules, that is indeed unheard of in this now, dare I say it< in this post 911 world of diminishing personal freedom.
-----
ZenRiver Gardens....
crickets
turn it up a notch
-----
Your directions...that's one for the books! It makes me smile even now, a week later. When I emailed: "How do I get to your place?" I meant ZRG, but (logically) you replied that Main Street isn't the "main street" in Marmora, and suggested to jus go directly to ZRG and set up camp. But how to get to ZRG? I figured, I'll drive up to Malone and will look for signs! While driving up Delora Rd, a car sneaked up on my bumper at a good clip. I motioned the driver to pass me, instead the motorist drove up parallel to me and motioned, just like in the movies, to pull over. Unbeknownst to both, it was right at the entrance to Quarry Rd and to ZRG! I walked over to the driver's site and the lady rolled down the window. Now the rolls were turned and I now I felt like "Smokey the Bear" (ooops,that shows my age!) She asked me: "Are you looking for ZenRiverGardens?" She said her name was Anna Plesums. I recognized the name from Haiku Canada Membership lists since I had been its secretary for a dozen years until last year, but we had never met in person. Anna suggested that I follow her because she has a map and has been to PurdyFest before. And on a good clip (Good gracious, slow down Dale Earheart) I followed her right by Quarry Road. Down the road we did a U-turn and eventually we arrived.
----
roused
by a gentle tap
from the weeping willow
----
For Jim Larwill, who totally transfixed me with his Friday evening's performance of "Birdman/Stoneman" I wrote:
----
out of the roots
of a toppled aspen
a crow flies up
-----
And for Anna Yin I wrote:
----
on a boulder
fleetingly the shadow
of a butterfly
-----
Chris, about the "Reading in the Park"...I have always enjoyed poetry in an outdoor setting. Poetry is made to be read outdoors instead of sterile library rooms. Bravo for organizing this important segment of PurdyFest. Just a thought: why didn't anyone,including myself, not ask you Chris to read? Would have loved it, but it proves one thing, you are fair and square the archetype of humbleness and I salute you for it. (But would have loved hearing your "Worm picking" poem as it echoes in my own "wormpicker's flashlight" which I read around the campfire.
----
setting it free
the ladybug reveals
its true wings
----
It was a pleasure launching my haiku chapbook "The Melancholy Accordionist" (King's Road Press,Hexagram Series,Marco Fraticelli Publisher) at the campfire.
----
mosquitoes....
stepping into the smoke
of the campfire
----
The book officially was launched during the May 2011 Haiku Canada Conference in St.John's,NFLD,this 2nd launch was truly inspiring, and I thank you for giving me that opportunity. The setting could not have been more beautiful. A night of no moon, even the Milky Way was clearly visible. The last time I had seen such a magnificent sky was during my sailing days out on the ocean...
----
once more
the old cherry tree
sheds its age
----
I tried to read the text and kept creeping closer to the campfire. Jim's "miners' cap" saved the day as I now was able to do justice to the printed word. At that point almost seared my eayebrows right of my face!In the middle of my reading, Simon uttered an unforgettable phrase:
STAR BREAK!
That in itself is Haiku. In just two words, Simon managed to put everything in perspective.
----
stargazing
somewhere someone
whistles Dixie
---
Poetry Power!!!Hans

Marmora article on Another Dam Poetry Reading

Poetry at the dam and beyond

Posted Aug 4, 2011 By Judy Backus

---

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Judy Backus, Stirling EMC

While fellow poets gathered in the shade beside the dam, John Hamley presented a selection of his haiku, including one that appropriately read, in view of the location, "Last year's cattails - spirits of the marsh revealed."

EMC Lifestyles - Marmora For the past five years, the Civic Holiday Weekend has seen a number of area poets congregate in Marmora for the annual Purdy Country Litfest. This year's poetry symposium, held at the William Shannon Room on July 30, with presentations by Anna Yin and Terry Barker, focussed on the Life and Work of Seminal Canadian Modernist Poet, Raymond Souster, whose idea it was to form the League of Canadian Poets.

Following that, the group headed outdoors, then north to the dam where they assembled in the shade beside the placid waters of the Crowe for a musical interlude presented by Morley Ellis, followed by readings of original works by the gathered poets.

In welcoming all, host Chris Faires commented that the event was held to honour the people's poets such as Al Purdy, Milton Acorn, Dorothy Livesay and Ted Plantos.

During the time spent at the dam, Jim Larwell launched his CD, Birdman Stoneman, performing an a capella selection of pieces from it, including Moonlight Dancing. Poets took turns reading or reciting their works.

One young poetry enthusiast, three-year-old Kai Wakely, treated the appreciative group to a lively recitation, not of his own work, but that of the perennial favourite of kids, Alligator Pie, by Dennis Lee.

The following day, the session continued at Zen River Gardens in Malone, a property owned by Faires, where Tai Grove, President of the Canada Cuba Literary Alliance, hosted a reading by members of the CCL

Raven King's (and my) thoughts and thank yous for PurdyFest past ... and future fests!

Hey Cricket…


“Mellow is good!” was my slogan for this year, and….

Mellow was very good!!!!!!

Well I do seem to be able to pick the vibe for each year and call it.

Thank you so much for all that you do.  From caulking the Shaman shack
to mowing campsites others enjoy so much.  Thank you for all of your
vision and hard work.  New trees planted and growing, the roots creep
deeper, each cycle a little closer to transcendent clouds.

This was a year of renewal and rebirth.  Next year is a new Purdyfest.
Maybe it is just my old Shamanistic Stalinism but in organizations I see
things in five-year stages and cycles.  In some ways the Purdyfest we
knew is dead.  Long live the new Purdyfest!  The cycle started 5 years
ago is completed and its success has fed its bounty and bore its fruit.
Its flesh was full and ripe in year four.  Year five a solid core
arrived and a seed to be planted anew revealed itself.

Children appearing this year were a good sign.

I can’t help feel the people who showed up this year are a fresh solid
core to build anew upon and consolidation of that potential is
paramount.  Our role becomes to facilitate them in organizing their
Purdyfest.  In five years you should be retired from your role of
organizer.  Six years from now your only responsibility should be to
show up and from time to time break out into uncontrollable laughter.

Well I am back at the Raven’s Nest playing with utopian visions of the
future after overwhelming rivers of nostalgia washed over my shoulders
for the five days I camped, enjoyed poetry, papers, presentations,
music, evening fires, flicking rituals, starry nights, shared meals and
endless laughter and camaraderie.  It is as simple as this.  All those
who showed up this year and participated, come again next year and do
more. 

When you, I, and Simon stopped in the Crow River to meditate Simon’s
off-cuff remark was he wanted to capture feminine energy.  (No comment.)
Instead as we meditated birds and butterflies circled around him.  And
then that mysterious golden fish came and nibbled with a poke the top of
my foot.  As someone who has spent far too much of his life trying to
capture feminine energy all I can say to Simon is good luck with that
one.  But; my gut feel this year is Purdyfest needs to shift towards
being more centered by female energy.

Maybe I will leave it at that for now.

Wolf-fest here at the Raven’s Nest is coming up the Labour Day long
weekend so I guess I need to get the camping spots, stone barbeque,
garlic pork roasts, beer, and Frisbee golf course in order.  (And who
knows maybe we will even finally get around to doing some poetry this
year.)  So any Purdyfesters who are interested can contact me at
wolf@ncf.ca. 

Well my twin brother Shaman and old comrade…  Well done!!  As always
this was another Purdy fest success this year due to your hard work and
organization skills. 

Feel free to post this on your blog as an initial hint to others to come
and make Purdy fest part of their annual mid-summer ritual, relaxation,
and responsibility.

A few reflections from shadows on water…

The Raven King….aka  Jim Larwill


.....................................................................................................................

Hi Jim,
Thanks for being such an ongoing and dependable anchor for PurdyFests! I was lying in bed this morning, mentally composing my 'thank you' to you and all the festers. and in your kind message you've already said much of what I was thinking.

But as we're word(y) people, I'll say some of it again anyway ...

Yes, PurdyFests have evolved to the point where they are requiring less of my time and energy preparing them. I especially think of four people as the anchors who facilitate this: you as my twin shaman, who helps with envisioning the magick - together we are the dual chambers of the heart. And it's so key that you also serve as the ZenRiver 'kamp kommandant', keeping the place clean and tidy, helping new campers learn to live in concert with the many beings already resident there.

Then there's Terry Barker, perhaps the "head" of PurdyFest, the philosopher/historian/academic who keeps the rest of us from spinning off the planet into interstellar craziness  : ) Terry's incredible knowledge of the history of Canadian People's Poetry is crucial. His oral presentation this year on Raymond Souster is a shining example. Souster, the shy banker, who incidentally founded the League of Canadian poets - and who prepared the soil for generations of Canadian poets like our mentors, Purdy and Acorn. Without knowledge of our past, we might just be sun-crazed idiots, drinking beer on the shaman shack deck and howling to the winds.

Morley Ellis is the singing voice who anchors the Dam Poetry Readings. His quiet manner and confident playing attract the audience year after year to our island in the Crowe. And Morley encourages me in the other 51 weeks of the year with his building projects at ZenRiver Gardens and his faithful friendship in this sometimes very unfriendly hillbilly countryside.

Tai Grove, publisher extraordinaire of Hidden Brook Press, and President of the Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance, is anchor four, along with his wife, Kim.  Tai hosts the CCLA readings which supply the progressive political underpinning which is key to Canadian People's Poetry - the Uncles Milt and Al are proud of his gentle leadership.

Of course there are so many others to thank for making PurdyFests so much poetic fun: Stella and Graham Ducker, executive members of the CCLA. Anna Yin and her son Jason and their amusing powerpoint presentation on Souster, musician Sue Hutton and her family - as you say, it was a treat having several young families with toddlers in attendance this year.

  All the poets, some of whose names are slipping already - Ian Hanna from his personal Zen retreat north of Havelock, Nancy from Hertle Street, our own resident haijin John Hamley ('snowflea'), neighbours Dan the fireman, Warren and Bev. Longtime Haiku Canada membership secretary and haijin Hans Jongman. And the ever-present, effervescent Anna Plesums. Oh, and TG Simon and Melanie managed to show up late Saturday and extend the PurdyFest experience for another couple of days. You and I would never have made it to Callahan's Rapids Conservation Area without their  youthful insistence. Dr. John, Jim Christy, the young author of "The Last of the Stoics" and his wife - names are definitely slipsliding already, while the beautiful memories of 'SousterFest' are brightening, focusing and sharpening.

Yes, some of us are becoming the 'old hands' of PurdyFest, or as you quipped after I said this, "the old hams!" ... and I hope your prediction is true - that in five years we'll be able to just show up, sip our beer, and enjoy the festivities while the next generation does the organizing. We 'old hams' are entering our dreaming time, and our dreams are being shared by several new generations of People's Poets.

Thank you as well to our elders of the tribe of Canadian People's Poetry: Ray Souster, Dorothy Livesay, Milton Acorn, Gwendolyn MacEwen, Ted Plantos, Al Purdy, Peter Flosznik ...

peace and poetry power!
Chris/cricket ... and Chase ... wrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooof!

PurdyFest #5: Anna Yin's haiku and pics

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Visiting ZenRiver Gardens

Posted on August 1, 2011 by admin

I am glad to do a poetry presentation at the PurdyFest event and camped at ZenRiver Gardens. My family enjoyed the visiting and had a good time. I wrote this poem as a tribute to the Host Chris Fairers and other poets…
I also chose some nice photos for ZenRiver Gardens to match the poem in Haiku Seqence.
Visiting ZenRiver Gardens

upon a bridge prayer flags sway Chris’ smiling waves pulling over my car John’s welcome repels mosquito’s bite

among fresh trails Chase tours us through a flowery bank

on the new-mown field sparse tents overlook starry nights

river ripples Jim’s chants flicker an oil lamp

a firecracker bursts into the sky good night settles away from cities silence fills in… Jason’s soft snoring dewdrops heavier roll to my side — my son, soundly

still in a dream the Zen River Garden in twilight woodpeckers call break the morning mist a bridge to the fore

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