Part of my recent Vision Quest Journey to Oklahoma also included attending the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) conference in Oklahoma City. I was still sleepy-eyed as I entered the great hall. I chose to push a chair against the back wall so I could stand on it to get a better view of the festivities. It worked out great for filming too. The drumming and dancing was very moving for me and I felt finally in community for one of the first times in my adult life. 🪶 ENJOY!
Tag: travel
Vision Quest Journey 3-30-26🎂
I had an unexpected and transformative experience on my birthday. The intention was to drive from Oklahoma City, OK to Broken Bow, OK to find the gravesites of my paternal great grandparents and to pay my respects and perform ceremony. What unfolded to and from this trip on my birthday was exceptional.
I witnessed 34 eagles over the freeway on my path to Broken Bow and another 43 on my return trip to Oklahoma City. 77 total, mostly golden eagles spied on my pilgrimage to my native roots. Why is this significant? It follows the honoring of 7 generations forward and 7 generations backward. My journey itself was to reconnect and align with my native roots and complete the circle I had been on 56 years ago. It was my own Vision Quest to find my cultural self. My maternal Auntie Sue was also going into a very serious surgery on my birthday and the good medicine (Eagle sightings) aided her in a successful outcome. She was healed and I was healed. I could not have asked for a better birthday experience. I am in the flow of the Universe and honoring this message. I kept track of the sightings by texting my husband each time I saw one or more eagles. It was such a huge lesson on being present and in the moment. I traveled to Broken Bow via I-40 East–>South OK-375 (Through Choctaw Territory)–>State Highway 3 East and back the same way.🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
- To Broken Bow, OK from Oklahoma City, OK
- I-40 East (5 🦅)
- Before Wewonka Exit 212 🦅
- Exit 272 🦅🦅
- Exit 237 🦅🦅
- South OK-375; Choctaw Territory–>State Highway 3 East (29 🦅)
- Exit 92 🦅
- Just beyond Exit 92 🦅
- Entering the Choctaw Territory boundary 🦅
- Mile Post 780 🦅🦅
- Mile Post 760 🦅
- Exit 700 🦅
- Mile Post 655 🦅🦅
- Mile Post 600 🦅🦅
- Mile Post 580 🦅🦅
- Mile Post 255 🦅
- 11:24 AM 🦅🦅🦅🦅
- Last 50-miles to Broken Bow 🦅🦅🦅
- Last 45-miles to Broken Bow 🦅
- Last 40-miles to Broken Bow 🦅
- Last 39-miles to Broken Bow 🦅🦅
- Last 32-miles to Broken Bow 🦅
- Last 30-miles to Broken Bow 🦅
- Last 29-miles to Broken Bow 🦅
- Last 14-miles to Broken Bow 🦅
- I-40 East (5 🦅)
- To Oklahoma City, OK from Broken Bow, OK
- State Highway 3 West–>North OK-375; Choctaw Territory (21 🦅)
- 44 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅🦅
- 39 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅
- 33 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅🦅
- 32 miles to North OK-375 🦅
- 26 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅
- 24 miles to North OK-375 🦅
- 21 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅 (One flew out of a tree beside the freeway right over my windshield)
- 20 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅
- 15 miles to North OK-375 🦅
- 7.8 miles to North OK-375 🦅🦅🦅
- 2 miles to North OK-375 🦅
- North OK-375; Choctaw Territory (22 🦅)
- 69 miles to I-40 West 🦅
- 60 miles to I-40 West 🦅
- 56 miles to I-40 West 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
- 53 miles to I-40 West 🦅🦅
- 51 miles to I-40 West 🦅
- 44 miles to I-40 West 🦅
- 40 miles to I-40 West 🦅🦅🦅🦅
- 39 miles to I-40 West 🦅
- 38 miles to I-40 West 🦅
- 29 miles to I-40 West 🦅🦅
- State Highway 3 West–>North OK-375; Choctaw Territory (21 🦅)
My intention on my birthday was to find my paternal great grandparents gravesites to pay respects, catch them up on their family and to preform ceremony to honor my elders. It was quite the trek!
On the drive from Oklahoma City to Broken Bow, I spied 34 eagles flying right over the freeway in Choctaw Territory. I even thought is was interesting that the bathrooms at a gas stop even had Choctaw written on the signage. I was deep in Indian Country.
When I got to Broken Bow, I wanted to find my Great Grandparents Hood. They were buried in the Broken Bow Cemetery. After walking the grounds for an hour and seeking help from a groundskeeper. As I spoke to him I noticed his voice sounded like my dad’s voice and accent. It seemed to bring forth a southern drawl I recognized. I sounded like my grandmother Vera. What is interesting, is that her voice was asking the landscaper for help to find her parents and my great grandparents. I was amazed at what my voice sounded like and how I was channeling her in the moment. After I shared the approximate years they were alive, he pointed to a section of the cemetery where I had started looking and said the 1880-early 1900s are over there. He also suggested that I see the city clerk who would be able to look up the section and row they might be buried in.
I quickly headed to the clerk’s office as the drive to Broken Bow took longer than expected and I was running out of daylight. I must have looked half crazed when I entered the clerk’s office with my native dress and medicine bag daggling around my neck. The woman patiently listened to my request and made an attempt to find my grandparents. She looked up and said, “I can’t find them.” Another worker watching my conversation immediately approached and offered the employee some assistance on how to dig deeper for older burials. Like magic they found them and gave me their location. They all smiled as they could see the relief on my face to have the precious information. I then asked about my other great grandparents Houston to see if they could give me their location at the Holly Creek Cemetery. Before I barely got the words out both women said, “Ohhh no, that is a rural cemetary…an Indian cemetery. You might be able to talk to the pastor at the church near the cemetery to see if they have a map.” I smiled and anxiously thanked them for their help and rushed back to the Broken Bow Cemetery to find my great grandparents Hood.
I returned to the cemetery and after another hour of walking the rows as I had not been able to find a section marker. I was beyond frustrated and tired as it was 85-degrees, I was likely dehydrated and I knew to complete my Vision Quest, I needed to find their gravesite. After tramping around a huge oak tree, I saw a strange mesh metal sign near a gravestone. It looked out of place so I examined it further. There was a big letter “A” on the front. BINGO! I immediately knew there must be what the section markers looked like. Now mind you, I was at the front of a large cemetery and just found section A and needed to find section G. I sighed deeply and scanned the cemetery to see if I could spy any more section markers. No luck. I had already methodically been walking the rows of section A, so I thought I would keep walking the rows in order until I got to section G. The light was turning to late afternoon and I was a bit panicked. I went to my care which was parked near the section I was assessing and lit my sage. I smudged myself and the ground I was about to search on. I called out loud to the gravesites ahead of me and asked those buried for my forgiveness in trapping across their sites. You see this graveyard was a complete mess and you couldn’t tell if you were walking across graves or not. I wanted all of the Universe’s positive energy to empower me to find the Hood gravesite and I thought why not speak to the generations before me and ask for help and permission to run through the graveyard. It was so surreal as I felt presence with me. I began jogging up and down the rows of the cemetery just looking for a marker at this point since I already knew I was not in section G. As I returned to my car for water, I sighed heavily and teared up thinking that what I was proposing to do would fail. I looked up into the boughs of this large Walnut tree and spoke out loud, “Please help me find them.” I turned to return my water to the car and saw it…the section G marker. I froze and visually counted 1-2-3-4. I took the gamble and walked into the 4th row. Within 5 gravesites I found them. I was sobbing and elated all at once. I felt a huge relief pass over me. I honored them with ceremony. The videos below make it hard to hear my words on purpose. I wanted and needed to say raw and private messages to my kin and I know what I said and that is the sacredness of this moment.
Paternal Great Grandmother Lottie Lee Hood (April 6th, 1903 to January 24th, 1980)
I stood between both their gravesite near their feet and looked toward them. I felt the warm breeze cool the sweat on my brow and felt a sense of profound calm. As I stood there it felt as if “others” were with me…surrounding me as I took in the magical moment. I thanked everyone buried for their help and said aloud, “I now must find my other great grandparents Houston.” As I drove out of the gate I felt like a circle on my journey was complete. Before leaving I took one last look to take it all in.
My heart was pounding in my throat as I realized this search and find of my great grandparents took 3 hours and it was already 4:00PM and the sun was on its way down in a couple hours. I recognized that I needed to get moving quickly. I set my phone GPS to find the Holly Creek Cemetery and sped down the back roads to find my Great Grandparents Houston.
The Houston’s were buried at a rural cemetery that the clerk did not have on file. GPS took me to the Holly Creek Church and I walked the entire grounds hunting for anything that remotely looked like a grave. No luck. I began wondering if I would even find the cemetery in the boonies. I attempted my GPS again and wouldn’t you know I had no service. I also was in such a rush to get to this location, I didn’t have a physical map. I started to panic a bit as I felt I was lost and deep in back the back country of Choctaw Territory. The one thing about losing GPS, is that a piece of the map is still shown. I enlarged the map to see what I was near and still felt lost. I retraced my route to a main road and made a guess as to which direction to go. As I drove down this road I passed a nursery in the middle of nowhere. I kept driving and as I watched the sun hanging low in the sky I peeled the car around quickly and changed directions. II knew I needed help. Again I called out to the Universe for help. I turned into the nursery and parked. I went into te office and it was empty. I could see a person way down one of the greenhouse rows. I ran to the person. As I got closer they seemed taken aback. I had not time to explain. I blurted out, “Do you know where the Holly Creek Cemetery is?” The woman stopped and considered for a moment. Yes, I believe i attended a funeral there a while back.” I asked, “How do I get there as I don’t have a map and my GPS is not working.” She said with a laugh, “Welcome to Choctaw Territory, GPS doesn’t work here.” “I explained why I was so desperate to find the cemetery and the woman kindly gave me directions. Now I know I was listening to her, but because of my sheer anxiety and fatigue, it seemed everything was in slow motion. In retrospect, I am sure I was have a bit of heat exhaustion. I thanked the woman and ran back to may car an d returned to the road in the same direction I had originally chosen. As I drove, I realized I still didn’t know where I was going. All I remember from her directions was something about going down the road and split happens and you want to take the right. After about 5 miles the road turned and a random dirt road went off to the right of the turn. Something in me stirred and I knew I must check out this road. As I turned up the road I spied a white church steeple and the cemetery was in view. I quickly parked near the drive in entrance to the cemetery.
This was a much smaller cemetery and seemed it had little no caretaking. This time I brought a bottle of water and before starting I smudged myself and the area I was about to embark and spoke aloud to the “residents” that I was here to find my great grandparents and that I pray their forgiveness for running through the cemetery to find them because of the dwindling light. Within minutes I was running down the rows. The only advantage I had was i knew what the gravestone looked like from an image on ancestry.com. Thus, I was able to pass any upright gravestones. I walked over half the cemetery looking desperately for their gravesite. I was despondent and called out to the Universe again to please help me find them before the sun set. I suddenly heard a bunch of oak seed pods falling behind me from a very large oak. Nothing exceptional. However, I turned to look. In front of me was a large upright gravestone all out of black marble with the name “Richter” in large block letters. It looked so out of place in this largely modest cemetery. I felt the cool breeze against my brow and I sighed. Again, I heard the plop-plop-plop sound of oak seed pods dropping to the ground. This time they seemed to drop just on the other side of the “Richter” Something deep inside me said, “Go look.” I walked past the large marble stone and stepped down into an area between 2 large oak trees. And right where the seed pods dropped was my Great grandparents Houston’s gravesite. I was elated and honored to be in the this sacred moment. I honored them and performed ceremony. The video below make it hard to hear my words on purpose. I wanted and needed to say raw and private messages to my kin and I know what I said and that is the sacredness of this moment.
On my drive back to OKC through Choctaw Territory I witnessed another 43 eagles. In total 77 eagles in one day…AMAZING. In native culture 7 is a significant number referring to honoring 7 generations before and 7 generations after. I felt everything was in place for an exceptional moment in my life and the most magical birthday ever!
I am so very thankful for this Vision Quest Journey that I set my intention to and was able to fulfill…56 years in the making. I feel whole, healed and complete!🪶
My Musical Life 3-23-26
March 23rd, 2026
#76 The Unicorn (The Irish Rovers) 👍🏼
A long time ago, when the earth was still green
And there were more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen
They’d run around free while the earth was being born
But the loveliest of all was the unicorn
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
Now god seen some sinnin’ and it gave him pain
And he says, “stand back, I’m going to make it rain”
He says, “hey, brother Noah, I’ll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo”
And take some of them green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born
Don’t you forget my unicorn”
Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started fallin’
He marched in the animals two by two
And he called out as they went through
“Hey, Lord”
I’ve got your green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I’m so forlorn
I just can’t see no unicorn”
Then Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns was hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring
Oh, them silly unicorns
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, “close the doors ’cause the rain is pourin’
And we just can’t wait for no unicorns”
The ark started movin’, it drifted with the tide
Them unicorns looked up from the rock and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
And that’s why you’ll never see a unicorn, to this very day
You’ll see green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born
You’re never gonna see no unicorn
My Abundant Life 2-18-26
February 18th, 2026
Safari Life
“The heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.”
William Sharp (known as: Fiona Macleod) (Scottish Writer, of Poetry and Literary Biography; September 12th, 1855 ~ December 12th, 1905)
“You could expect many things of God at night when the campfires burned before the tents….You were alone when you sat and talked with the others—and they were alone. …WHat you say has no ready ear but your own, and what you think is nothing except to yourself. The world is there and you are here—and these are the only poles, the only realities. You talk, but who listens? You listen, but who talks?”
Beryl Markham(English-Born Kenyan Aviator, Adventurer, Racehorse Trainer and Author; October 26th, 1902 ~ August 3rd, 1986)
“A safari of the self and Spirit is at times lonely. But we know we are never alone. It is a comfort to realize that this sense of isolation is necessary if we are to encounter Mystery, and mystery is very much a part of safari. Each day in the wilderness brings with it the struggle to survive and a heightened awareness of how wonderful it is just to see the sun set and rise again in the morning. Each day on safari is lived to the fullest because it is all that is guaranteed.”
“Today, expect many things as you sit around the campfire of your heart. Someone is listening. Someone is talking to you, encouraging you to take the next step as you embrace the Mystery of the wilderness within.”
“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wonderous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.”
My Bucket List
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 2-18-26)
“My life has really transformed the last three years. I am the happiest I have ever been, the most confident and living into my authentic self.” (Heather Houston 2-18-22)
“The Mystery of the wilderness within…such a deep concept. The safari dry season I have been navigating within has brough forth the rains again. My mother shared so authentically yesterday it brought tears to my eyes. She contributed profoundly to my life in her sharing. To learn the name of the town my great grandmother lived was a timely and heartfelt sharing. I plan to visit my ancestors homelands and reconnect to my cultural community. I dream of walk the ground of my ancestors and mingling with my people…5-weeks and counting.” (Heather Houston 2-18-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 51-52 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Abundant Life 2-7-26
February 7th, 2026
An Artist Is Someone Who Creates
“I have made my world and it is a much better world thLiving is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how…The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.”
Agnes DeMille (American Dancer and Choreographer; September 18th, 1905 ~ October 7th, 1993)
“Every day we’re given chances to embrace the new.”
“…take a risk a day—one small or bold stroke that makes you feel great once you have done it.”
Susan Jeffers (American Psychologist and Author of self-help literature; March 3rd, 1938 ~ October 27th, 2012)
“Today, take a real risk that can change your life: start thinking of yourself as an artist and your life as a work-in-progress. Works-in-progress are never perfect. But changes can be made to the rough draft during rewrites. Another color can be added to the canvas. The film can be tightened during editing. Art evolves. So does life. Art is never stagnant. Neither if life. The beautiful, authentic life you are creating for yourself and those you love is your art. It’s the highest art.”
“Since you are like no other being ever creted since the beginning of time, you are incomparable.”
Brenda Ueland (Journalist, Editor, Freelance Writer, and Teacher of writing; October 24th, 1891 ~ March 5th, 1985)
My Bucket List
“Mondays are always a busy day at work, but I felt proud that I accomplished all my duties. So poopy tired when I returned home today, my partner suggested I take a nap. Late afternoon naps are simply glorious!” (Heather Houston 2-7-22)
“I believe today’s meditation is speaking to the idea of leading a created life. Style is where I struggle with this. I only recently have been in a financial circumstance where I could begin to explore this. I believe exploring how I want to show up for me is most important. Sometimes I feel practical…sometimes I feel androgenous…sometimes I feel delicate…sometimes I feel sexy…sometimes I feel powerful… I wonder what that style looks like? This is the inquiry I am on. Wish me luck!”🍀(Heather Houston 2-7-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 41-42 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 