The Making of a Gourd Rattle

I was asked my thoughts/experience on making your own gourd rattle.

The best practice is to grow your own gourd which is, by the way, one of the easiest of all plants to grow.  Absolutely nothing needs to be done with the vine in the ground after they are planted.  Just leave them alone and water if it gets to be too dry of a summer (down here in Florida I had to water mine frequently).  I actually grew them last year in a sunken hot tub shell to assist with the no weeding option.

If you are growing your own, leave the gourds on the vine until they dry themselves.  No need to interfere with what nature has been doing all by itself for centuries.  With the assumption that you are not growing your own, try to purchase your gourds from a local organic farmer.  You want a gourd that has a stem that is perhaps 3-4 inches long if possible.

The best results I have found is to wash the gourd in a solution of bleach water (1 part bleach to 5 parts water) which sterilizes the gourd and removes anything on the surface.  It seems to help with preventing rotting.  The next step is drying the gourds.  The best idea is to have a location outside with plenty of air flow.  The most vital aspect of drying is air flow.

The drying or curing process can create an offensive odor as times goes, so you really do want to keep them outside for this process.  Don't worry if the gourds develop a  mold on the outside.  This is not indicative of rot.  The mold actually can create some of the most artistic patterns on the gourd itself and can be easily wiped away once it is completely cured.

When you are using a natural process to dry you will invariably have some that will rot.  It just is part of nature.  Be sure that as you lay the gourds out that none of them touch one another as this will only encourage decay.  If you find some that have that soft indentation forming, throw them out.  They will not harden up.
Realize that most gourds are primarily water; thus patience is a must.  It can take up to six months to naturally dry themselves out.  When they are completely dry they will have lost up to 70% of their weight and will have the natural rattle from the seeds inside of them.

If you want to dry them naturally and are in a bit more of a rush, you can poke holes in the gourd (the large round side) and hang them upside down (holes facing down) to dry.  Remember that they are primarily water based.  It will make a mess as the initial water drips out.

Is there a faster way?  I have been asked this many times.  Yes but can not always guarantee results.  You can purchase a gourd at a farmers market or organic farm.  Cut off the small end of the gourd and scrape out the insides with a spoon, keeping the seeds to go inside the rattle.  This rapidly will speed up the drying process.  You still need to set the gourd out for drying but the time can be weeks rather than months (9-12 weeks).  If it is a small enough guard you can also dry the gourd in a convection oven on low.  The temperature has to remain constant.  another method is to bring water to a boil and simmer the gourd for about 30 minutes before carefully placing it in a well ventilated area that gets sun to dry.  This is the method I have used if making a bowl from the gourd especially.

I prefer the old fashioned method of letting them dry themselves.  If you used the natural method, simply decorate and shellac to preserve the finish.

If you cut the stem off, you will need to make a handle.  Find a piece of willow branch or cotton wood (dowel if neither is available) and glue it securely with either white glue or a hot glue gun.  Mix white glue and sawdust together into a paste and apply it to where the handle and gourd come together.  Allow this to dry completely and then you can sand the joint so that it is smooth to touch.

The interesting part of using this method is to experiment with different seeds, beans, or small pebbles for different sounds to the rattle.  Decorate and shellac to preserve.

Hope this gives you some ideas in making your own gourd rattles.  Happy shakin!

Preventing the Ripple

Working in a garden beneath the hot sun, all the young apprentice could focus upon was the heat radiating down, the dirt beneath the finger nails, and all the problems of life.   Seeing the troubled young apprentice, an elder near the edge of the garden called the young apprentice over.

The elder speaking softly, "it must be difficult on such a beautiful day to have such a troubled and serious approach to life."

The young apprentice confused by the words, "it is hot."

"It is beautiful," the elder replied.

The young apprentice scanned the landscape unable to see what the elder saw as trickles of perspiration made their way down the side of the cheek.

"Take a walk with me," the elder replied turning to walk towards the shade of the river without waiting for a a reply from the young apprentice.  The river framed by the old cypress trees that created a haven beneath the canopy.  The elder sat upon the edge silently waiting for the young apprentice to join.  Patting the rivers edge in a silent urging for the apprentice to sit.

"Now find a small stone and throw it in the river," the young apprentice use to the strange words of the elder listened.  Searching around for a small stone, the young apprentice threw it into the river.  "Now tell me what you see."

The young apprentice not wanting to miss a single detail, stared at the water,then the trees, before speaking, "ripples in the water."

"Where did the ripples come from?"

"From the stone you told me to throw in the river."

"Now stop the ripples," the elder replied.

Confused, the young apprentice looked to the elder only to see the simple nodding to go on and stop the ripples.  The young apprentice baffled at the lesson reached into the river to try and stop the ripples only causing further ripples to begin.  Completely baffled the young apprentice looked back to the elder.

"Well could you stop the ripples with your hands?"

"No of course not.  I only caused further ripples."

The elder grinning seeing the baffled look upon the young apprentice's face, "what if you had stopped the stone from entering the water to begin with?"

----

The next time you are unhappy with life, catch the stone before it hits the water.  Rather than spending time trying to undo what you have already done, change what you are doing before you do it.  Taking responsibility for your own life changes the ripples you create.

You may not know the answer to catching the stone before it is cast, but if you ask the right questions, you will discover the answers.  If you do not ask, you can not receive.  It is your responsibility to ask, no one else can ask for you.  The answer to life's problems may just be preventing the ripple.

Stones Thrown At The Mango Man Solves Helplessness

Sometimes the Simplest Answers Give the Wisdom....

A parable on leadership as shared by an elder teacher of mine.

Deep in the forest's of the South, there was a man who loved mangoes.  His every thought was on mangoes.  He became so obsessed with eating the mangoes that it filled his days always in search of the sweetest most perfect mango.  Everyone knows the sweetest mangoes are those that are exposed to the rays of the sun for the longest period.

One day the man spied a mango high in the tree top.  He never paused, as his only focus was on how sweet that single mango would be.  So he climbed.  And he climbed.  Up to the top branches where the sweetest red fruit was waiting.  He reached outward to grasp his prize, he held it tightly to him as if it were the most treasured of all gifts.  As he tried to edge backwards to climb down, the small thin branches of the tree top began to crack and break.  He slipped, tumbling towards the ground.

Does one drop the treasured gift to grasp a branch to save the body or continue to grasp the treasured mango?

Reaching out with one hand he caught a branch and hung on for dear life.  Yelling for help to the nearby villagers, he remained helplessly hanging onto the tree.  Clutching it as the villagers rushed to see.  Ladders and ropes, sticks and suggestions were all tried.  Yet, nothing could rescue the man obsessed with mangoes from his helpless state.

The villagers stood whispering among themselves ideas of rescue.  Without a word, an old sage who lived nearby appeared through some brush having heard the commotion.  The villagers hushed curious as to what the old sage would do, for many times the sage had solved the dilemma's of the village.

For a moment the old sage was silent looking up at the mango man hanging helplessly as though the tree was holding him out as an example.  The old sage bent down and picked up a small stone from the dirt and threw it at the mango man.  The villagers gasped in disbelief.  The mango man shrieked "what are you doing?  Are you crazy?"  The sage was silent as be bent down and picked up another stone.  Flinging hard at the mango crazed man.  The mango man was furious as he screamed "if I could just come down, I would show you how it feels....".

The villagers became tense to see what would happen next.  The whispers began as to who was the crazy one was now.  The old sage said nothing but picked up stone and threw it even more forcefully at the mango man.  The mango man was enraged, "you just wait old man".  The mango man developed a great determination to get down if only to take revenge upon the old sage for throwing the stones at him.  Why didn't he know he was helpless?

The mango man looked about frantically to find a way down before the old sage threw yet another stone.  Using the same skill to rise to the tree top and his new found strength in determination to seek revenge, he somehow reached the branches which were safe to descend upon losing all fear that had held him captive.  The villagers watched in amazement.  Reaching the ground in near record time, the crazed mango man growled, "Where is the sage?!".

The villagers quickly looked about for the old sage, when one quietly stated, "Oh he is a wise sage."  The rescued man "I will throw stones at him and see how he likes it when I find him."  The villagers laughed when they realized the old sage had disappeared when the man began to descend not waiting for the angry burst to find its target upon him.  The villagers reminded the crazy mango man "oh silly man, do you not see it was only the old sage that helped you down.  The old sage is the one who provoked you.  The old sage is the one who induced you to help yourself."

The obsessed mango man paused for a moment and thought realizing it was true.  Though the villagers had good intentions, many had compassion, and many attempts were made, it was only the old sage who induced him to give his best and save himself.

The Spider, The Little Bug, and The Harvest

A story from an elder

A great spider lived to spin his web.  He spun a great web that was a piece artwork across the corn stalks of a large field.  He spent his time feasting upon the all the little bugs that feel trap to the great web that crossed the stalks.  The great spider looked around and determined that he really loved his home.  It was then he determined he would live there for the rest of his days.

One day as the great spider was extending his web to overtake even more of the stalks, he caught a little bug in his web.  The great spider made his way across the fine threads of the web to the little bug and was just about to eat him, when the little bug explained, "If you let me go great spider I will tell you a secret.  A great secret that will save your life."

The great spider paused for a moment and listened as he was amused by the little bug.  Again the little bug "I am telling you great spider you better get out of this cornfield because the harvest is coming!  The harvest is coming!"

The great spider smirked and replied, "What is this harvest you are talking about?  I think it is just a story you are telling to save your own life."

The little bug exclaimed, "oh Great Spider it is not a story it is true.  The Owner and creator of this field is coming.  The harvest is going to happen.  It will happen soon.  All the stalks will be knocked down.  The corn will gathered up by the owner and creator.  Great Spider you will be killed by the giant Harvest machine if you stay!"

The spider replied, "I do not believe in any such Harvest nor machines nor owners.  I have lived all my life here in these stalks.  No one will destroy my home.  Can you prove this to me?"

The little bug went on "Just look beyond your web.  The corn it is planted in rows.  It proves this great field was created by an intelligent designer."

The great spider mocked, "this field has evolved into the great field of stalks that it is.  Corn just grows that way.  It has nothing to do with an intelligent designer."

The little bug pushed on trying to convince the great spider, "Oh no great spider, you have to believe me.  This corn was planted by design in the rows and the Harvest is coming!"

The great spider just grinned and decided it was time for his lunch.  Enough of this foolish talk.

A few days later as the great spider was relishing in the warm rays of sunshine, he began to laugh remembering the story the little bug told him.  "Ha! A Harvest!  Who would believe such a thing.  I have lived here all of my life, getting my full of little bugs, and never even disturbed by a slight breeze.  I have been here since these stalks were just inches from the ground.  I have watched them evolve.  I will be here for the rest of my life and nothing, especially no little bug, is ever going to change my mind.  The field will never change.  Life is good and I am the great spider of it all."

The next day was a beautiful sun filled day in the cornfield.  The blue skies did not even hold a single cloud.  There was no whispers in the winds.

That afternoon the great spider decided to take a lazy nap beneath the warm rays.  Just as he was about to settle down in his great web, he noticed some thick dusty clouds moving across the stalks.  As they edged closer to him, he could hear the roar of a great engine.  The great spider wondered to himself, "I wonder what that could be?"

The Forest of Trees Grows Straight and Tall

(Photographer Zenek Kowalczyk)

There was a young boy who traveled to the north to visit his grandfather.  His grandfather was one who went deep into the forest to cut tree's that made the beautiful lumber his father carved.  The young boy had never been to the forest and was excited by the prospect.

When he arrived,e the young boy was amazed by the large statuesque tree's that seemed to be everywhere he turned.  There was one particular tree that caught his eye.  It stood alone upon a small mound.  Full of awe as it stretched to the skies and seemingly touched the clouds.  The young boy yelled excitedly to his grandfather, "Grandfather, look at that tree!  It is amazing.  Look how tall it is!  It will make a lot of good lumber for father, wont' it?"

The grandfather slowly shook his head as he replied, "No, my grandson, that tree will not make a lot of good lumber."

The young boy looked up to grandfather confused.  The grandfather continued, "It might make a lot of lumber, but not a lot of good lumber.  See when a tree grows off by itself, too many branches grow on it.  Each of those branches produce knots when the tree is cut into lumber.  The best of all lumber comes when the tree's grow together in groves.  This is when the trees grow taller.  They grow straighter.  All because they grow together."

---
It is the same will each of us, when we grow isolated, we may grow tall and we may have many branches; yet, we will have many knots.  When we grow together, we grow strong and tall full of honor and integrity.  It takes more than a single tree, no matter how grand, to make a forest.

When a storm may strike, within a forest. trees stand together to share the winds, the rains, and the snow.  The forest protects and nurtures the trees in the middle of the grove and those just beginning to grow.  There may be beauty to behold in the single tree, but the knots weaken the fibers of the tree.  The knots weaken ourselves within, only further isolating us from the forest.

Stand tall and strong in a forest so that you may grow in honor and integrity.  You may be the one that needs the protection and nurturing of the forest one day.

Old parable taught from an elder.

The Basket Lesson

An elder woman crouched low near the open flames of the fire.  Her voice crackled as she murmered words each time she added the putrid herbs from an old, dirty basket she dragged around the pit with her.  The basket appeared to be as old as she was.  Dirt embedded between the fibers of the weave just as dirt was embedded beneath the old woman's nails.

The young apprentice sat and watched though, something mesmerizing with the flames.  At moments it was difficult to 'see' where the flames ended and where the elder woman began as they melded together as one.  Soon, when all the herbs had turned to ash from the basket, the elder woman motioned to the young apprentice to come closer.

The elder's voice a mere whisper, "Take my basket, it is now yours."

Looking at the dirty basket with all the years of being dragged around the fire pit revealed within each weave.

The young apprentice not wishing to offend the elder, smiled and simply replied "you honor me thank you grandmother".  The thoughts that raced were not so full of gratitude.

'Why would I want this old thing?  It is filthy and worn.'  Reaching out to take the handle of the basket, the elder women hearing the thoughts spoke again.  "But first you must complete a task."

'A task?  She wants me to earn the right to have this tattered, old, dirty basket?'  The young apprentice thoughts were of discontent, yet, still not wanting to disrespect the elder simply replied, "Yes grandmother I am listening."

The elder woman told the young apprentice to take the basket to the river's edge and fill it with water and bring it back to her where she sat at the fire's side.  Without understanding the why's and knowing better than to question a task, the young apprentice grabbed the handle of the basket and quickly moved to the river to fill the basket.

Arriving back to the fire side, the young apprentice looked int he basket and then at the grandmother, realizing that by the arrival back to the fire the basket was empty.  The elder woman spoke, "You must be faster if you wish the water to remain".

The apprentice ran to the river and once more filled the basket.  This time moving as swift as a mountain lion back to the fire's edge.  Arriving once more with an empty basket.  The apprentice replied, "It is impossible grandmother".

"Try harder," was the only response.

Again, though knowing it was impossible to fill the basket with water, the young apprentice moved  with feline grace to the river's edge.  Looking around for a moment before reaching down to the crystal clean water to fill the basket.  Suddenly, realizing that it was more of a test of spirit than a test of filling a basket.  Yet, what was the test.  No answers coming as the complicated mind began to scan the banks looking for an answer.

Returning the last time to the fire's edge, the young apprentice looked to the wise elder grandmother's eyes, "I do not know how to fill the basket with water  grandmother."

The wise elder smiled, "Not knowing is a good start.  Take the basket now it is yours."

The young apprentice looked down at the basket which now was magically transformed from the aged dirty basket to one that was clean inside and out revealing the intricate weaves and designs drawn upon the sides.  It was a piece of magnifient artwork.

"You may never understand or know all, but when you simply do, you will be changed both outside and within like the basket and the Great Spirit will reveal the magnifience of your artwork to you."