October 12, 2026
A Special Message for
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY
Hello,
For this U.S. Indigenous Peoples' Day, we would like to add a new layer of understanding to the calm, centering perspective Machaelle shared with all of us at this time just a year ago.
First, we'll refresh your memory — or if you're new to Perelandra, give you the context.
My maternal grandmother was full Hopi. Although she died twenty-five years before I was born, and I never had a chance to meet her, I have felt a strong personal connection with her. As I’ve learned more about the Hopi people and its history, I have been surprised and even amazed at how much Perelandra, its research and its products embody Hopi understanding and thought that go back thousands of years. I didn’t consciously try to hook Perelandra or myself with the Hopi history because I knew very little about it until fairly recently. My grandmother has just been an interesting part of my personal genealogy. Consequently, Perelandra’s Hopi reflection has been a natural and organic growth. I simply worked with nature and that work automatically contained within it thousands of years of Hopi truth.
On this Indigenous Peoples Day, I invite you to spend a half-hour with Thomas Banyacya, Jr., a Hopi elder, sharing the Hopi perspective and his deep observation of humanity. I think you will feel glad to have spent that time with him. I feel that his calm will flow over you and provide you with much needed relief as you turn to face today’s world. In fact, I think you’ll want to spend time with him more than once.
Hopi, with Thomas Banyacya, Jr. [YouTube]
By the way, the special artwork we shared today (10/25, limited permission) is the Hopi symbol for sun, Dawa, by Dalton B. James, a Hopi artist.
With best wishes,
Machaelle
We recently came across a PBS NOVA documentary episode that we found reassuring, surprising, comforting and exciting. It shows a long indigenous history of working with nature and applying science, hand-in-hand. This episode is available for free, no subscription needed.
"For millennia, Indigenous communities in North America have practiced a unique form of science. From navigating the featureless Arctic to building energy-efficient homes in the desert, see how cultural traditions have led to remarkable innovations."
Watch Knowledge Keepers [PBS NOVA]
Our continued best wishes,
All of us at Perelandra
