Catero del Corazon - A Postman of the Heart

Shortly after the tragedy of September 11th, one of our elder women in an art class said, "I know what is wrong with the world!" Of course we all wanted to know the answer. Laura said, "We are all everywhere just one family---but we have forgotten it!"

How could we share this sense of family with those far away?

So simple, so straight to the heart of the matter, the answer came. First, the group selected a village in Mexico by pulling a name out of a hat. Then we each made a butterfly or a heart to send our love across space and time to other unknown members of our family. I carried our art and met with the leaders of Benito Juarez in Oaxaca, Mexico. After endless questions, wondering what I was really up to--what was my secret agenda--Mario whispered, "For no reason, they sent their love, for no reason at all?" I leaned close and whispered back, "Exactly, Mario, for no reason other than love." And our tears flowed like a fresh waterfall.

Another group of elder women, hearing about the trip to Benito Juarez, decided to join in. They each made a yarn hand in bright colors and affixed in the center their smiling photograph. I took them to the Shuar people of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Again, the question, ''but what for." And the answer as always, "For Love alone." Of course the heart recognizes the heart and another connection was created.

The gift of the Huichol has been passed hand-to-hand to our elders and children, folks of Mexico, the Ulchi of Siberia, and the Shuar of Ecuador. One Family Worldwide.