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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Cajoling City Hall ... Jeffrey Gillespie: The demise of Cecil the lion ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, Aug. 7 ... Our View: Cajoling City Hall ... Jeffrey Gillespie: The demise of Cecil the lion ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, Aug. 7 ... INNER PEACE Inner Peace: Liberating my stone people at the river Comment By Jessica Bryan DailyTidings.com By Jessica Bryan Posted Jun. 12, 2015 at 4:48 PM By Jessica Bryan Posted Jun. 12, 2015 at 4:48 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News Part 2 of 2: In Part 1, Jessica Bryan wrote about awakened awareness of the sentient nature of stones. You can find Part 1 on www.dailytidings.com (search for Jessica Bryan). I headed for the Rogue River at Gold Hill in Southern Oregon. When I exited the freeway, I turned onto Upper River Road. I had never been on this road before, but I was looking for the right place to offer my treasures to the river. After about a quarter of a mile, I passed a bright yellow geodesic dome that stood out against the green of the forest and the other houses. But I kept driving, because how could I go up to some hippie's house and say: “Would you mind if I liberated my deceased ancestors and rock collection on your property?” I drove about another quarter of a mile and saw that it was all private property with no public access to the river, so I turned around and went back to the dome and parked the car on the road. Almost immediately, a golden Labrador retriever and a man with two brown braids came up to greet me. As I began to tell him (cautiously) about why I wanted to access the river via his property, he said: “Oh, I understand. You want to liberate your stone people. But this isn't the best place to do it. Let me show you. Just walk with me.” He led me up the road with the dog (who stopped briefly to roll around in a dead otter). As we walked, the man told me he was Scotch-Irish and Cherokee Indian, and that he had lived most of his life with the native peoples in Oklahoma, but now he was living in Southern Oregon. “This part of the river is where the native peoples came for centuries every spring to lay down their troubles and their differences. Together, as one people, they threw their burdens into the river and they blessed the salmon. They didn't take even one fish at that time, but let the fish continue swimming upstream to lay eggs, ensuring another season of fish for the people. Just two weeks ago, we held this same ceremony here on the river.” He stopped at a wide spot in the road and led me to the edge of the riverbank. At this place, two parts of the river that had been separated by a small island came back together, causing fairly wild, white water rapids. “This is where you should liberate your stone people, because from here the water will carry them down the river to freedom.” We walked back to the dome in silence. Then, as we were about to part, he said with a somewhat serious and respectful tone in his voice, “Would you mind if I gave you a hug?” “The Cherokees in Oklahoma don't hug each other, especially the men,” he added. “So now I'm trying to learn how to hug people. Hold out your hand and I'll show you how they greet each other.” With this, he gave me a stiff handshake, and then we put our arms around each other and hugged. As I turned to go, the dog asked me to throw a stick for him to chase. Then I got in the car and drove back to the place where I intended to perform my ceremony. I felt incredibly blessed to have been brought by divine direction to meet this incredible man. Back at the river, I began throwing the rocks into the river, saying things like “Go in peace.” They were no longer mine, nor had they ever been. Strangely, I felt no particular emotion, no sadness. It was as though I had already let go of them a very long time ago and this was just the final act of release. The house seems more peaceful, now that these old attachments are gone. It's a time of clearing out what no longer serves me so I can focus more clearly on the love and service I have yet to give others.  Jessica Bryan is an author, book editor, and spiritual medium. She does clairvoyant readings and energy healing. Jessica lives in Ashland and can be reached by email at [email protected]. Read her blogs at www.psychicsurgery.wordpress.com and www.oregoneditor.wordpress.com.   By Jessica Bryan DailyTidings.com By Jessica Bryan Posted Jun. 12, 2015 at 4:48 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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