Are the SF police targeting the use of the sacred sage smudge stick at Occupy SF

I believe that SAGE is supposed to block bad spirits and clean the area of anything but good. That is probably why the police do not want the SAGE. It would tend to inhibit them and the negative energy they bring. It is interesting that they would target it and i think it says a lot about the power of this herb. interesting!!!

I was at Wednesday's protest in front of Wells Fargo but had to leave when I started to have an asthma attack from heavy sage smoke. Lots of volatile oils. I know it's medicine and sacred, but some of us have sensitive lungs from growing up near freeways. I wish people would consider this when smudging, so all of us can participate.

Last night I was at the Occupy Oakland and then later the Occupy SF sites. I also joined the meditation circle briefly before protesters settled down to set up barricades to protect the camp from police brutality, as had occurred the night before at Occupy Oakland. Later in the evening after several elected officials spoke to Occupy SF, a young Pin@y brother, who goes by Pele, addressed the crowd about the land that was being occupied. I was thankful he reminded us that it was Ohlone land. I was grateful he reminded us of the sacred colors of red, black, yellow & white, along with brown peoples (those mixed like the Pin@ys and so many other peoples of the world), and how the Occupy Movement represented these peoples. He was eloquent in his words, more so than the elected officials, who supported the 99% in word. We will see if they support us in deed.

I forcefully addressed one of our candidates for Mayor while he was being interviewed by KQED and was told by a bystander to be respectful. How can one be respectful when elected officials, since the formation of our government and the first visit by Columbus to the Americas, have participated knowingly and sometimes unknowingly to the destruction of these beautiful lands that span from the tip of South America to our Northern most part of the Americas? Why should I be respectful to media, who because of their bright lights and "legitimacy" have not told the truth in the media for several decades? for centuries? The editors in the newsroom will show what they want, and usually based on their advertising and corporate sponsors. Regular citizens have no such sponsorship. This candidate told me that yes, he would stand with Occupy SF, and stop police violence in our city. I believe him and I will probably vote for him for Mayor.

In any case, we were reminded last night that many if not most of us were visitors to this land. We are settlers here. Not indigenous. Fire, as one of the sacred elements of life, a force, one of our elements that is essential for life on our planet, along with sage or other sacred medicinal plants, is part of indigenous people's ceremonial practice and daily rituals. The protection of the elder who was incarcerated is dishonorable. How dare the police target an elder, who we should all respect, and prohibit, in a violent manner, the elder from protecting himself from harm. I am appalled and awaiting news of the proper consequences for that officer and a ruling that allows for the religious freedom of all, including our Indigenous Peoples in this Occupied States of America.

The young Pin@y who spoke made me think of something. Has the Occupy SF group official asked any of the Ohlone elders for permission to enter the Herman Plaza Space for the occupation. Occupy Oakland has already pointed out to the world that Oakland is OCCUPIED. Since Columbus' time, the Americas have been occupied. Over 500 years of occupation has led to the destruction of habitat and species, the massacre of peoples and the eroding of the human spirit, mind and soul not only in the Americas, but throughout the world. Indigenous peoples worldwide are the environmental stewards of the land. Mother Earth speaks to us now through what we call "Natural Disasters." This is her response to the devastation caused by the human being in the Western world. Indigenous Peoples demonstrate for us how to "be one" with the world. Indigenous peoples STILL live in harmony, peace and balance in this world. They are guiding us to a new life and we must be guided by their wisdom. The Hopi peoples shared their prophecies, as did many other Indigenous elders worldwide. But even the United Nations has ignored the warnings issued by Thomas Banacyca. The time for healing is now. The time for respecting all forms of life, the life force, Creator, our elements, all living beings, the ancestors, ourselves, the universe, music, trees and the unseen is NOW.

I write all this so that Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Everywhere will remember who the environmental stewards of the land and seas are: Indigenous Peoples worldwide. We must ask for their permission to organize and protest on the lands that WE OCCUPY, as we are also OCCUPIERS. With their permission, with their blessings, with their sacred ceremonies and with their blessed teachings we will be able to move forward into a world that is peaceful, fair, balanced, beautiful, and yes, democratic. Remember that democracy was given to the Peacemaker to the Iroquois Nations to create a peace that would last 1,000 years. We should remember the true democracy that was adopted by the colonists was formed from that given from Creatorto the Iroquois. Towards a peaceful world I write this today, a teacher from the San Francisco Unified School District. May we respect all peoples, all religions, and may we ask our Indigenous Peoples forgiveness for wrong doings from our ancestors and move forward together as the sacred colors united on the Medicine Wheel. May we always respect our elders who teach us with love for all future generations. ONE LOVE.