photo: Link, Spring Equinox, March 21, 2008

We come together as modern humans in celebration of ourselves as Earth and Universe. We are looking to a future where our species transcends the outdated philosophies of separation and superiority, and re-discovers and implements a realignment with the synergy of Nature that is a unified entity in continual evolution. As did the ancients, we reclaim the Seasonal Shifts of the Solstices and Equinoxes and their Seasonal Peaks as the Holy Days of alignment; a communion with the planet that gave rise to our physical manifestation. We celebrate community with the healing DRUM whose synergy enters hearts and minds before fire and movement and breath. This is the Tequesta Drum Circle, a South Florida tradition of Earth-centered celebration through Drum, Chant, Fire and positive Intention.

2011

   

The next Tequesta Drum Circle

will be held on

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

at the Winter Solstice

6pm - Midnight

Ceremonies conducted by:

Father Joe

from the Parish of Sts. Francis and Clare

*Due to noise ordinance laws stop drumming commences at 11pm.*

Park Gates close at 10pm, so come before!

A warm Thank You to JazzPizazz and Glynna Deaner for hosting Poi during the past events.

Your presence has been wonderful!

The FL Park Service will not allow fire-Poi at this time.

  L.E.D. Poi please come!

 

Consecutive Seasonal Shifts:

2011
Autumn Equinox: Friday - September 23, 2011 - 05:04  [Last Quarter September 20]
Winter Solstice: Wednesday - December 21, 2011 - 00:30 (Dec.22)  [Last Quarter December 18]

2012

Spring Equinox: Tuesday - March 20, 2012 - 01:14  [New Moon March 22]
Summer Solstice: Wednesday - June 20, 2012 - 19:09  [New Moon June 19]
Autumn Equinox: Saturday - September 22, 2012 - 10:49  [First Quarter September 22]
Winter Solstice: Friday - December 21, 2012 - 06:12  [First Quarter December 20]

Named in honor of those who came before.

May our shared Circle honor the Tequesta Tribe,

expanding our connection to these sacred lands of Florida.

The Tequesta Indians

In honor of the enduring Spirits of the Tequesta Tribe (Tu-Kes-Tah) who are integrated amongst the many creatures and forces, each comprising this sacred expression of the southeast Florida peninsula. This Drum Circle is a modern expression attended by many variations of the modern human tribe. It however gives honor to the Tequesta, the first known occupants of this particular land, in summoning their name to be present within the positive energy that we raise.

It is estimated that the Tequesta Indians, as the other first tribes such as the Calusa and Jaega, occupied the lands of Florida for centuries. Their ancestors arrived to a very different Florida literally thousands of years before contact with the first Europeans. The Great-Great Grandmothers of those ancient, Florida tribes that first met the Europans had once lived alongside Mastodon, Sabre Tooth Lions (Smilodon), Giant Terror Birds and prehistoric-Giant Alligators. In Broward county numerous archeological sites of the Tequesta Indians have been discovered or noted, including at the Bonnet House and suggested at Birch State Park. The Tequesta are indeed present in space-time-spirit. They are part of our legacy. It is honorable to remember them as they have been so easily forgotten and taken advantage of by the first European "conquistador" and slave-trading settlers.

It is clear that the Tequesta celebrated seasonal shifts with drum and fire, as most indigenous cultures worldwide have throughout all of the ages. Some of the most alluring keys to their enigmatic past have been found at the Miami Circle, which is now known to have been a sacred center to the Tequesta. Overall, little is known of the Tequesta people. They appear to have been a humble tribe which thrived off of the rich sea, forest and swamp life of the southeastern peninsula. They obtained their name from a village, Tequesta, which lay on a river coming from "Lake Mayaimi" (Fontanedo in Ternaux-C., XX, p. 14). The Tequesta occupied the coastal lands from the Keys to the territory of  the Aïs  tribes around the Indian River and Vero Beach.

please see also:   Florida Tribes