Goddess Speak Sanctuary of Solace Newsletter - November 2024

“October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces.” - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

November Dates of Interest:

• November is National Native American Heritage Month
• Nov. 1 - National Authors Day, World Vegan Day, Day of the Dead
• Nov. 1 @ 5:47 am - New Moon in Scorpio
• Nov. 3 - Interfaith Council Fall Forum at The Bahai Center
• Nov. 4 - National Chicken Lady Day
• Nov. 5 - U.S. General Election Day
• Nov. 9 - 3rd Annual Road trip to see 'The Journey' - Chloride, AZ
• Nov. 10 - World Immunization & Science Day
• Nov. 16 - Pagan Pride Day!
• Nov. 13 - Sadie Hawkins Day, World Kindness Day
• Nov. 15 @ 1:28 pm -Full Beaver Moon
• Nov. 17 - National Hiking Day
• Nov. 18 - International Occult Day
• Nov. 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Nov. 23 - National Espresso & Thankful For My Dog Day
• Nov. 24 - UU/CUUPs Friendsgiving Feast!
• Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving Day (US)
• Nov. 28 - National French Toast Day
• Nov. 29 - Native American Heritage Day
• Nov. 30 @ 10:21 pm - Black New Moon in Sagittarius

Hearty harvest time, Enjoy bounty while it lasts. Winter is coming. ~ Jezibell Anat

Tarot cards don't just tell the future,

Here's what they reveal about the past.

From its origins in gambling, to a canvas for artists and political expression, tarot went through one last transformation in the 18th century before its revival as a spiritual tool in the 1970s.

By Pedro Ortega - October 17, 2024 (as published by National Geographic)

Bearing mysterious images, such as the Hanged Man or the Hierophant, tarot cards have inspired fanciful tales about their origin. Associated today with fortune-telling, tarot is often assumed to have its roots in East Asia.

Researchers now believe the rules of tarot lie not in China or India but in Renaissance-era Italy. Beginning its life as a card game for the Italian elite, the tarot deck’s use to divine the future came much later.

In its long evolution, tarot has maintained a certain constant—its adaptability. As Helen Farley writes in A Cultural History of Tarot, “Tarot has evolved, and been accommodated, within the cultural currents of different times.” The early use of tarot reflected criticism toward the power of the the Catholic Church. Later, in the early 19th century, cards marked a turning away from rationalism to embrace mysticism. This role resonated during the upheaval of the Spanish flu pandemic (1918-1919) and two World Wars.

The triumph of cards:

Although tarot is a European invention, the card games from which it derived were devised in China, later spreading west to the Arab and Islamic world. Arriving in Italy in the 1300s, likely from Egypt, card games soon became popular among all social classes in Europe.

A surviving deck from Egypt, found at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, labels the court cards as kings but does not represent the human figure. Early European decks, by contrast, featured images of people: stock professions, such as fishmongers or clergymen, as well as the kings, queens, and knaves familiar from modern decks.

By the 1370s, soon after their appearance in Europe, card games started to draw the disapproval of the church. Seen as a frivolous activity associated with gamblers, attempts were made to ban them. City archives record attempts at prohibiting card games in Florence and Paris in the 1370s and in Barcelona and Valencia in the 1380s.

In practice, prohibiting cards was hard to enforce, and cardplaying thrived regardless. In private, such games were popular among the aristocracy, who had their decks intricately hand-painted and kept in beautifully decorated boxes. One game, played by all social classes, included certain cards with the power to outrank or triumph over others. The word “triumph” was later shortened in English to “trump.”

The first hint at the emergence of tarot appears in a letter written in 1449, from a Venetian military captain to the queen of Naples, Isabella of Anjou, offering her a special deck of cards.

The letter describes the game as “a new and exquisite sort of triumphs,” devised 30 years prior by a young prince of Milan, Duke Filippo Maria Visconti.

Visconti, the letter explains, commissioned an acclaimed painter, Michelino da Besozzo, to paint the cards “with the greatest artifice and ornament.” The deck did not survive the centuries, but it is believed to have included 16 classical deities, divided into four orders: Virtues, Riches, Virginities, and Pleasures. Venus, for example, was in the order of Pleasures, and Apollo in the Virtues.

Historians believe the letter’s description of the deck marks a transitional stage between the standard, Renaissance-era deck and the development of the tarot deck recognizable today. Other formative decks in the history of tarot include the Visconti-Sforza deck, commissioned by Visconti’s son-in-law, Francesco Sforza. In the 1440s, another deck emerged in the Italian city of Bologna, developed by the nobleman Francesco Fibbia. This 62-card deck was used to play what was becoming known as tarocchi, a game that, as it spread through Europe, became known, in French, as tarot.

On the cards:

Tarot’s popularity in the Renaissance era is probably not a coincidence. As author Farley notes, the Renaissance was characterized by “enjoyment of mundane pleasure and a rising sense of personal independence and expression.” Amid the glitter of its art, Renaissance Italy was also scourged by wars, while the church’s displays of pomp and wealth provoked disdain.

The designs of tarot cards emulate that turmoil. The Visconti-Sforza deck reflects the prevalence of corruption within the church and the proximity of violent and sudden death. One of the images in the pack is a skeleton holding a bow and arrow.

Despite the violence of such images, for 200 years tarot was, nevertheless, a game. Then, in late 18th-century France, it underwent a transformation. As a reaction to the rationalism enshrined in the Enlightenment, esotericism was becoming more popular. Following Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt in the late 1700s, this esotericism was stoked by fascination with all things Egyptian.

Spiritualizing tarot:

The popular assumption that tarot is an artifact of ancient wisdom is largely the work of 19th-century French writers, especially Antoine Court de Gébelin, who fell under the spell of Egyptomania. He theorized that tarot arose from an ancient Egyptian priesthood using the Book of Thoth, forced to hide their secrets in a game to ensure their survival.

Across the English Channel, members of the mystical order Golden Dawn redesigned the tarot pack. Occultist Arthur Edward Waite and illustrator Pamela Colman Smith created the Waite-Smith deck in the early 1900s, linking it to the grail mysteries, the medieval stories centering on the whereabouts of the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper.

In the years following the First World War, many Europeans and North Americans regained interest in spiritualism, to reconnect with loved ones lost in the war. As a tool of divination, tarot again became popular. The American poet T.S. Eliot drew on the cards in his 1922 poem, “The Waste Land,” a chronicle of the postwar spiritual blight. One of the poem’s characters, Madame Sosostris, is a fortune teller. Her name is similar to a 12th-dynasty pharaoh, reflecting the perception that tarot was Egyptian:

Here is the man with three staves, and here the Wheel, And here is the one-eyed merchant, and this card, Which is blank, is something he carries on his back, Which I am forbidden to see. I do not find The Hanged Man. ~Madame Sosostris

A modern revival:

In the 1970s the New Age movement stood as a force for peace in the turmoil and tension of the Cold War. Once again, tarot’s role changed to reflect the times. Its previous function as a basis for fortune-telling and spiritualism was repurposed for self-healing.

In recent years, tarot has come once more to the cultural forefront, pointing to a new need for spiritual wisdom. As the demand to find more holistic sources of support for mental health has increased, people are turning to the game.

The standard 78-card deck is regarded by its players to enhance awareness of people’s emotions, in a period of global anxiety. Tarot decks are available in a boundless variety of popular themes, reflecting an ageless desire for imagery that is both relatable and an escape from reality. During the turmoil and wars of the Renaissance, tarot’s earliest users found a similar solace.

This story appeared in the September/October 2024 issue of National Geographic History magazine.

Tread lightly upon the Earth. Share what you can. But most of all, remember. Paul Salopek - NatGeo

~ November's Lunar Spotlight ~

New Moon in Scorpio and Full Moon in Taurus, PLUS a 'Black' New Moon in Sagittarius!

Excerpts from The Dark Pixie Astrology

The Scorpio New Moon brings a lot of intensity and passion, the way of Scorpio, but focused on New Moon energy, so we're extra intense and passionate about new beginnings, new ventures, new projects, and new journeys in life. We see how this can benefit us, and we can be passionate about how we go about this and what it brings.

Scorpio is transformations, so we may embark on new transformations for the better. Some may embark on quick transformations and see results within a week or two; others may embark on long transformations, and these can continue for years to come. Wherever we fall, we can be passionate about this and see it through to the end.

Scorpio rules "other people's money", which is money that doesn't only impact or belong to us. Think: taxes, loans, debts, inheritances, joint finances, business finances, stocks, investments, etc. This New Moon can bring more focus to these areas, and we may embark on new mutually-beneficial ventures.

Scorpio is researching and investigative, so if we need to get to the heart of something, we can keep digging until we do. There is no mystery we can't solve, no problem we can't fix, no secret we can't uncover under Scorpio's impact. We can stay focused, and this helps us take control. This can be empowering, and we can be more comfortable with our personal power.

The natural ruler of Scorpio, Pluto, is anaretic for this New Moon. There are 30 degrees in every Zodiac sign, and 29 degrees is the last degree. It's called the anaretic degree, and it's supercharged energy, and incredibly strong with Pluto. Pluto is on its way out of Capricorn eighteen days after this New Moon, so we're wrapping things up with this transit.

This means the New Moon is likely triggering us to take action in a big way, fast, before Pluto moves on. We have one last push to take action, and this New Moon has opportunities for us to do that. We just have to take it.

Edgy Scorpio, Born in the season of death, Seizing, squeezing life....Jezibel Anat

The November Full Moon comes to us in Taurus, and Taurus is the slow, steady Zodiac sign. It wants to take it easy, take a break, chill out, and relax. Since Full Moons are emotional, we may want to get a break from that and just take it easy. Why bother with the serious stuff? It can get done another time. No need to get worked up, it'll all work out eventually.

Taurus can be stubborn because of this though, and it doesn't want to budge, so we may be slower than usual with the Taurus Full Moon. When we become emotionally invested in something, we don't want to budge from our position, even when we know we're wrong. It takes more effort to get moving, but once we do get moving, we can keep at it.

Taurus rules stability and security, so we can work on removing blocks to stability and security in our lives. This can also include our inner selves, our self-esteem and confidence, and we can work on trying to release some of what's been harming the way we feel about ourselves.

This Full Moon is conjunct, or aligned with, Uranus in Taurus, and this can bring some unexpected developments that we're a little too lazy and stubborn to do anything about. We have to make sure we find the motivation we need to get moving so we don't get knocked off track.

The conjunction to Uranus can also bring a major change, and that goes well with the fact that Pluto changes signs and moves to Aquarius just four days after this Full Moon. Things are changing in a big way with Pluto changing signs, leaving Capricorn and moving to Aquarius for twenty years. We may see the end of a change in our lives with this Full Moon, and we can be glad for the journey.

Mercury is also going to retrograde, or appear to move backward, starting ten days after this Full Moon, so it's the last lunation before Pluto officially changes signs AND Mercury retrograde begins. It's the last chance for big endings with Pluto, and the last chance to set ourselves up before the retrograde starts. Clear out with the Full Moon, improve stability and security, and get rest if you need it. Leave room in your plans so you don't get too thrown when the retrograde begins.

...surprise - there's a 'Black' New Moon in Sagittarius

(This is a monthly 'Black' New Moon and is subject to time zones. It occurs on Nov. 30th @ 10:21 pm PST. A black new moon is a second new moon in a month)

The New Moon in Sagittarius marks the beginning of a new cycle.

Representing new beginnings, the New Moon occurs with the Sun and Moon’s alignment in the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius. It’s a time when we can focus on some of the constructive traits of the sign of the Archer – optimistic, enthusiastic, adventurous, honest, outspoken, independent – and consider how to positively incorporate these qualities into our lives.

As we advance, we can focus on goals that will increase our understanding and awareness, give us the courage to expand our horizons, and gain confidence and optimism from a broader perspective. All too easily, we can get lost in the details of mundane existence. With this potent Sagittarius energy, however, we can find ways to transcend these details of day-to-day life and nurture our faith, hope, and vision.

Because Sagittarius thinks in big terms, we may have a tendency to overdo our expectations – something to watch for. We are setting the stage for reaping the rewards from our braveries, as little or big as they may be, in approximately two weeks’ time after the Full Moon occurs.

This New Moon forms a trine with Mars, supporting our energy and motivation levels, and a square with Saturn, suggesting blocks to our efforts to begin anew.

November Full 'Beaver' Moon

Adapted From The Farmer's Almanac

“As the chill air of late fog descends, animals begin to prepare their dens for the deep freeze of winter."

When to see the Full Moon in November 2024:

November’s full Beaver Supermoon reaches peak illumination on Friday, November 15, 2024. This is our fourth and final Supermoon of the year! Read on for more information, including Full Moon rise times, why we call it a “Beaver” Moon, and the best days by the Moon.

Why is it called the Beaver Moon?

Beavers can be seen along the banks of rivers and streams, collecting wood to shore up their lodges and dams before the ice sets in. This was also the time Native American tribes and later European settlers set beaver traps to ensure a supply of warm furs for winter. Thus November’s full Moon is most commonly known as the Beaver Moon, in honor of these industrious semi-aquatic rodents.

Because November also signals the time when bitter hard frosts become more frequent, this month’s Moon is also sometimes called the Frost Moon.

November’s Moon names highlight the actions of animals preparing for winter and the onset of the colder days ahead. Digging (or Scratching) Moon, a Tlingit name, evokes the image of animals foraging for fallen nuts and shoots of green foliage, and of bears digging their winter dens. The Dakota and Lakota term Deer Rutting Moon refers to the time when deer are seeking out mates and the Algonquin Whitefish Moon describes the spawning time for this fish.

ALTERNATIVE NOVEMBER MOON NAMES:

• Frost Moon
• Freezing Moon
• Deer Rutting Moon
• Digging/Scratching Moon
• Whitefish Moon
• Ivy Moon
• Snow Moon

BEST DAYS IN NOVEMBER 2024:

Below are the best days for certain activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in November.

• For Harvesting Aboveground crops: 5-7
• For Harvesting Belowground crops: 24 & 25
• For Setting Eggs: 16 & 17
• For Fishing: 1–15

MOON FACTS:

Did you know: The spin-time of the Moon on its own axis is identical to the time it takes the Moon to revolve around Earth, which is why the Moon always keeps almost exactly the same face toward us.

How much would you weigh on the Moon? Just multiply your weight (it doesn’t matter if it’s in pounds or kilograms) by 0.165. You’d weigh about 80 percent less!

November Full Moon Magic:

Wigington, Patti. "November Full Moon: Mourning Moon Magic." Learn Religions.com

In some of the early Celtic societies, November was considered the beginning of the new year, since it followed Samhain. Why not use this month to shed your bad habits and toxic relationships, and get a fresh start? Work on developing and strengthening your connection with the Divine as well.

Key Takeaways: November Full Moon

• This is a great month to set aside the baggage of your past, and do workings that focus on developing new skills and mindsets.
• Work with goddesses of mystery and magic during this moon phase.
• Also known as the Snow Moon or the Beaver Moon, this moon phase reminds us that the nights are growing colder and longer.

In November, the Mourning Moon is upon us. It's also known as the Fog Moon, Beaver Moon, or Snow Moon, depending on where you live. Some Native American tribes referred to it simply as The Moon When Deer Shed Antlers (although in most regions it's more accurate to say they're shedding their velvet—a buck doesn't usually lose antlers until later in the winter, unless you're very far north). If you see this month as the beginning of the new year, use the magic of this moon phase to celebrate new beginnings.

When November's full moon rolls around, the nights are getting longer and colder, and in some years, this may be the last full moon before the winter solstice. For early settlers in North America, this was the time of year when beaver pelts were harvested, in order to make warm clothing, hats, and blankets to help them survive the cold winter.

October ending, But months of darkness remain. Samhain season lasts… ~ Jezibell Anat

Correspondences:

• Colors: Use seasonally appropriate shades like gray, dark blues, and deep purples to reflect the colors of the season. Look to nature for inspiration, and draw color ideas from the darkening skies and the changing landscape around you.
• Gemstones: use lapis lazuli, turquoise, and topaz in magical workings for the Mourning Moon.
• Trees: cypress, alder, and hazel are associated with this time of year in many areas, so find a way to incorporate them into your workings as needed.
• Gods: Bastet, Isis, Kali, Hecate, and Astarte are all deities connected to the darker half of the year, and the realms beyond those of the living. Work with these goddesses of mystery and magic during November's full moon.
• Herbs: as the gardens wind down for the year, thistle, betony, verbena, and fennel can often be found during this season, depending on where you live.
• Element: Water is the element most closely associated with the Mourning Moon—in many places, November skies are dark, gloomy, and filled with thunderstorms.

Mourning Moon Magic:

This is a time of washing away the baggage of the past and shedding that which no longer serves us. Once you've done that, you'll be able to focus on the joys of the future. During the Mourning Moon phase, say goodbye to bad habits and toxic relationships, and get a fresh start for the new year. Work on developing and strengthening your connection with Deity. Coming on the heels of Samhain, use this month to embrace the darkness, and to mourn or grieve in your own fashion for things you have lost this year. Allow yourself to let go.

• Do a ritual working to help eliminate a bad habit or to end relationships that no longer make your heart sing and soar.
• Take advantage of this month's illuminating energy and ramp up your communication skills. Is there someone you really need to be honest and open with? Share how you feel, from the heart, with a loved one or friend. Don't overlook those who have already crossed over—write a letter to someone who's passed away. This can be particularly powerful if there was something left unsaid between you when they died.
• Perform a new beginnings ritual, and think about all of the possibilities that the future can bring.
• Think of this month's full moon as a spotlight pointing right at you. Use this month to focus on self-care and restore your emotions, clearing away all of the stress before the holidays arrive and the nights get long.
• Do a house cleansing ritual, sweeping unnecessary, unwanted, or toxic things and people out of your home and your life.
• Are you dealing with fears and worries? Are they holding you back and preventing you from reaching success and happiness? Get rid of them before they negatively impact your physical, mental, and emotional well being. Write them on a piece of paper, and then burn, bury, or banish them under the full moon to purge them from your life.

Some ancient cultures looked at a Full Moon as a resting time. She is not waxing and she is not waning. She just is. If need be, follow suit. It could be a relationship Moon, a party Moon, a uniting Moon. It could be a cold Moon, a questioning Moon, a shadow work Moon. Sometimes we do the work. Sometimes we just witness. ~ Monica Sjöö & Barbara Mor, The Great Cosmic Mother

~ Crafty Corner ~

Put a Rosemary Bundle in Every Room

As posted by Tess Whitehurst

Fresh rosemary is cleansing, energizing, stimulating, and clarifying to the mind. And it goes so well with the beginning of November! Gather some from a garden or grocery store, then bless it in bright sunlight while infusing it with the intention to bless your home with present moment mindfulness, serenity, and joy. With hemp twine, tie up a small bundle for each room, as well as the front door. Then hang them or place them strategically and imagine your entire home being filled with buzzing blessings, calm clarity, and piquant positivity. (On or above doors is a good idea to bless everyone as they pass through the threshold.)

You will need:

• scrap fabric (see selection ideas below)
• hemp twine
• Sprigs of Rosemary

Step 1: Decide on your intention.

Of course, the first step to any spell involves the basic presumption that you have something you want to accomplish.

Your intention informs the remaining steps, so have a clear goal in mind before you begin.

Step 2: Select a fabric.

Choose a natural fabric, like 100% cotton, hemp, burlap or linen.

Blessed Be!

The Kitchen Witch's Cauldron

~ Wild Rice Stuffed Pumpkin ~

The wise kitchen witch understands that her pantry holds all the magical ingredients she needs to craft a spell for any occasion. Magic resides in every bite, and to harness it, one must learn about each ingredient and prepare it with intention. Every food item, whether exotic or ordinary, possesses alchemical and magical properties. By understanding these properties, you can create meals that are perfectly balanced, bring harmony, or attract magical energies to help you achieve your goals.

This dish is not only stunning on the dinner table, but combines the following magical ingredients that will intertwine with your intent for an amazingly delicious and magick-filled dish!

• Rice - fertility, abundance, security, prosperity, wealth, treasure, protection
• Pomegranate - fertility, fecundity, luck, divination, rebirth, abundance, wealth, beauty, longevity, fidelity, divination
• Pumpkin - healing, money, prosperity, abundance, divination
• Cranberries - protection, banish negativity, purification

"The kitchen is a sacred place where secrets are kept, and magic happens." - Chef Edward Lee

Click on the button below for a list of the magical qualities or correspondences of everyday foods so that you, the kitchen witch, can create your own magical recipes or discover the magical qualities of recipes you already prepare on a regular basis. As found on The Sacred Hearth.

Savory harvest, Pumpkin spice and apple crisp, Sweet taste of autumn. ~Jezibell Anat

Darktime transitions, Fading green, shivery frost, Embrace the somber. ~Jezibell Anat

Echoes of the past - We are of ancient bloodlines. Origins run deep. ~ Jezibell Anat

Monthly Book Review

Giving Thanks:

A Native American Good Morning Message

By Chief Jake Swamp et al.

For as long as anyone can remember, Mohawk parents have taught their children to start each day by giving thanks to Mother Earth. Also known as the Thanksgiving Address, this good morning message is based on the belief that the natural world is a precious and rare gift. The whole universe - from the highest stars to the tiniest blade of grass - is addressed as one great family.

Now readers of all ages can share in this tribute to the environment, adapted especially for children by Chief Jake Swamp, whose efforts to share this vision of thanksgiving take him all over the world. Chief Swamp's inspirational message, along with Erwin Printup, Jr.'s unforgettable landscapes, make Giving Thanks a timeless celebration of the spirit of nature.

Editorial Reviews:

• From Publishers Weekly: The flat planes and saturated colors of Printup's highly stylized acrylic paintings form a handsome backdrop to this ancient Iroquois message of thanksgiving, adapted for children by a chief of the Mohawk nation. A salute to Mother Earth and all her beauty, the "good morning message" is traditionally delivered at the beginning of each day and at special ceremonies. Its simple, timeless language bears witness to the Native American reverence for the natural world and sense of unity with all living things ("We give thanks to green grasses that feel so good against our bare feet, for the cool beauty you bring to Mother Earth's floor"). The gifts of the earth ("good foods... our life sustainers"; "Grandfather Thunder Beings") are richly depicted in paintings of wildlife and bountiful harvests. Horizontal bands of color suggest receding landscapes, pristine skies and oceans. This eye-catching book, a debut for both author and artist, would pair well with Susan Jeffers's Brother Eagle, Sister Sky for a story-telling session. All ages. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
• From School Library Journal: Kindergarten-Grade 3?Drawing on Six Nation (Iroquois) ceremonial tradition, the text speaks concise thanks to Mother Earth, to water, grass fruits, animals, to the wind and rain, sun, moon and stars, to the Spirit Protectors of our past and present, "for showing us ways to live in peace and harmony," and to the Great Spirit, giver of all. The simplicity and familiarity of the message do not diminish the moving effect of the lengthening catalog of blessings. At first glance, the art, while colorful and very legible, seems overly conventional; closer inspection, however, reveals an interesting use of pattern in the faces of both humans and animals, variation between distant landscape and close-up still-life composition, and a satisfying buildup of momentum to the dramatic, fire-lit night scene of the final invocation to the spirits. The entire text is reproduced in Mohawk on the last page (without a pronunciation guide, alas). A brief prefatory note makes the very valuable suggestion that the giving of thanks should be a daily, rather than a rare, activity. This book is not just for the "Native American shelf": its contribution is more inspirational than ethnographic.?Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
• From Booklist: Ages 4^-6." To be a human being is an honor, and we offer thanksgiving for all the gifts of life." So begins this Mohawk message of gratitude for the natural world, broadening a more common practice of giving thanks for material possessions or personal well-being. Chief Swamp (Tekaronianeken) uses simple, direct words to offer thanks for Mother Earth, animals, plants, winds, and the moon and stars. Full-color paintings fill the double-page spreads with images that add strength and vitality to the brief text. A basic version of the text in the kaniakehala (Mohawk) language is appended. A solid multicultural addition for picture-book collections. Karen Hutt
• Review: Adapted for kids and their families from a traditional Iroquois ceremony the Thanksgiving Address, this teaches Cheif Swamp s vision and symbols of giving thanks to natural and spiritual elements in life, revealing Native beliefs in the process. A fine story which celebrates the Earth and Native traditions. --Midwest Book Review

About the author: Chief Jake Swamp (Tekaronianeken) was a founder of the Tree of Peace Society, an international organization promoting peace and conservation. Chief Swamp delivered the Thanksgiving Address throughout the world, as well as at the United Nations. He was born on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation in upstate New York, and lived in Hogansburg, NY where he worked as a cultural adviser for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne's Child and Family Services. Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message was his first picture book. He passed away in October 2010.

November Laughs:

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