Good Guardian

Good Guardian Guardianship is a great opportunity to serve and thereby help clean karma rather than create it, and to demonstrate both strength and humility. Other than the leader of the Work, the head guardian and the active guardian(s) on shift, it is best that no one else’s focus be on anything other than their own responsibilities, place or process. The guardian on shift deserves the honor of being given the leeway to make mistakes, as long as they are not too harshly impactful. By progressing on this Path and accepting the empowerment we are given, and allowing and fostering the empowerment of others, we will all learn to be true Daimista brothers or sisters and good guardians. A good guardian is attentive to the leader of the Work, and constantly aware of and in tune with all other guardian(s) on duty. He or she sees and handles (from his or her half) the entire salão, maintaining peace, balance and harmony, fostering good humor and joy, and the free and fully flowing flowering of the power of the Daime, Which of course is operating on the entire Current as well as on each and every individual in the Current. Certainly, a good guardian is also flexible, and knows there are special circumstances and exceptions to many things. A good guardian, when he or she makes mistakes (which we will), forgives themselves, asks for forgiveness, learns and applies what we’ve learned in the next Work. A good guardian handles all necessary stuff and details: drinking water, kleenexes, puking and puke buckets, smudge (only and always when necessary), candles, etc. A good guardian softly reminds especially new people not to cross arms or legs, to cover mouths when yawning, to interact minimally with others; assists people to bed (when appropriate); gets people up (when right). There comes a point in a Work, in a series of Works, when it best serves the person and the Current for that person to arise. New people can be given much more latitude in this regard than Fardados and Firmados. A good guardian keeps everyone, gently, gracefully, as close to the center (Holy Cruzeiro) as he or she can. Brand new people and others occasionally can go walk in the woods for 20 minutes as long as they are reminded on at least the subtle planes of the value of being close to the Current. A good guardian maintains straight and full front lines with synchronicity of movement, ever mindful that we sit and dance in a sacred geometric pattern with firm Fardados leading each of the three front lines on a side, tall to not as tall as much as possible. In a dancing Work, if a solid person appears that they will be missing for a hymn or two, their place can be left empty. If a not so solid person appears that they will be missing for an extended time, then their position can be filled. People can be moved exactly as little as possible and as much as necessary. On those occasions where there are only two in a line the two people should be in positions 1 and 2 and reminded to resist the inclination to spread out to cover the side.

Being in one’s place is a major virtue on this path. Everyone has to be somewhere and it may as well be in the place that is best for the whole, and therefore best for each person. We’re all here (eventually) to help row the boat rather than just come along for the ride. Ideally, everyone will strive always to be in their place and for sure be in their place for at the very least the last three hymns of an hinário and of a Work. A good guardian maintains calm, clarity of focus, confidence (trust) and a loving and protective attitude at all times. A good guardian anticipates necessary action and/or appropriate inaction while ever remaining in the present mindless moment, not doing too much nor too little, invisibly. Erring on the side of doing too little is usually better than erring on the side of doing too much, allowing our Holy Sacrament to cleanse, heal and empower unhindered. Of course a great guardian embodies, and is inspired by St. Anthony and guided by Juramidam & the Queen of the forest, has the courage of St. Michael and the compassion of Christ. This goes without saying, but it is worth saying anyway. - Sam B.

Guidelines for Guardians

St. Anthony holding the Christ child

Guardianship has many facets. It is foremost a position of service, under the patronage of St. Anthony. We are privileged to provide material and spiritual support to the current as a whole and to each participant. We are responsible for helping all beings, incarnate as well as disincarnate. Within this work of the Holy Daime, many beings are attracted to the intense, high vibration of light, to be taught, forgiven and directed on the path of their illumination. Those that are disruptive are handled with a loving strength and firmness. There are physical details to manage during a ritual and much care to be given. However, the most important part of guardianship is in the 'being' and not the 'doing'. It is the feeling behind the actions that helps to create the harmony, protection, and safety that are the spiritual responsibility of the guardians. As with everything within the Daime, the main teacher is the power itself. The ultimate source of guardianship is provided by the All that Is; all that is Nature, all that is Love, and all Divine Beings. The Daime will teach each guardian how to best fulfill their role, based on their relationship with the power and their own sensibilities. I. BEING A GUARDIAN As you enter the work, spend a few moments aligning yourself with the power. Let go of personal concerns, and allow yourself to become quiet. Surrender your aparelho to the Daime.

The Daime is the intelligence and the healer. Ideally the guardian is free of thoughts and fully open to the needs of the work; spiritual, emotional, and physical. -Keep your movements slow, calm, and grounded. Sit or stand still. All interactions should be gentle but firm. -Watch the salão at all times. Make frequent visual sweeps to see that everyone is doing well. If someone is not looking well, you may want to stand a little closer to them, in order to be more readily available if you are needed physically, or to provide energetic support and firmness. Be aware not to hover. Sometimes newer people have no sense of why you are there, and can easily become distracted by too close a proximity. -Stay connected with the other guardians, working together in union. -Don't use an hinário. If you sing, sing quietly, as you may have to stop in the middle of the hymn if you are needed. Guardians should play the maraca only if the room is TOTALLY clear energetically, and there is no chance that you will be needed. Usually this is the case only during the Cruzerinho, or other closing hymns. Occasionally, an experienced guardian will play at other times. -As much as possible, face the center and the cross. -If you find yourself going through a passage and need to rest- it's ok. Tell another guardian that you need a break, and stay until a replacement can be found. If you are going to sit, lie down, or throw up, do so in the back room and not in the salão. If there's no replacement available, keep praying, breathe, and do the best that you can. -When you are not on duty as a guardian, it is best to stay focused on your own work, and not interfere with the guardians who are on shift. The lead guardian is the exception to this rule. He/she is always holding an awareness of the work and the guardian body. II. CARING FOR THE PHYSICAL SPACE The direct translation of Fiscal is actually not guardian, but administrator or supervisor. The basic job of the guardians is keeping the room orderly, clean, and in line with the needs of the work. This includes: Before the work begins: -Have with you. Lighter or matches Tissues A pocket or bag to carry them in -Know where to find:

Candles-Altar and Votive Incense Smudging materials Flashlight Extra toilet paper Buckets and tissues- be sure that they are strategically placed around the room Bedding, extra blankets and pillows Your Seat/position-check to see that you can see as many people as possible from where you are sitting or standing. If people are lying down, they should be in sight of a guardian. If not everyone is in sight of a guardian, change your position often enough to be aware of how people are doing. When there is more than one guardian on each side (men and women), guardians should place themselves on opposite sides of the room so that all angles are protected. Forming the lines: One male and one female guardian should have determined the lines. The guidelines are: -Taller to smaller, with person in front the same size or smaller than the person behind. -Most firm people in the front line -Star people in front of others, and star people starting lines wherever possible. Generally though, a visitors lines not headed by a star person, but by the tallest visitor is appropriate. -Attention is given to maintaining harmony and making each person as comfortable as possible, without sacrificing the overall strength of the current. -Virgins/Children are in their own line when possible. If this is not possible, they are put in a place where they will be most protected. Just before the work begins: - Lead female guardian inspects the altar and makes any necessary adjustments, then lights candles on and under the altar. - During hinários, the lists of 'incarnate' and 'disincarnate' are folded and put next to the cross. Pens are removed. - Candles around the salão, in the bathrooms, and back room are lit. -Incense near the Daime, on the altar in the back room, and in the bathrooms are lit. -Outside altar candle is lit and front doors are closed. During the work: Keep candles and incense lit where appropriate. More divino can be added if a guardian feels that it would help clear the energy, or if someone requests it. Incense and smudge can be a

difficult issue, because some people want it for its cleansing properties, while others don't want it because the cleansing causes them to vomit, and still others become sick from the smell. As with all personal preferences within a Daime work, each person's needs should be respected, within what is best for the group as a whole. Water glasses on the altar should be kept full. Do so between hymns. It is helpful to take a breath and further align oneself before approaching the altar where the center of the power is most intense. All rooms should be kept clean and orderly, chairs around the edges free of extra clothes and hinários. Hinários are sacred teachings, and should be kept off of the floor whenever possible. Keep used tissues off of the floor, area around the statue of Mary straightened, water glasses placed so that they won't be knocked over, etc. When people leave a bed, straighten the blankets and fold the bed in half. Keep room temperature reasonable. As an overall guideline, cooler is better. Watch to see if a number of people are taking off or putting on sweaters. It should be cooler for dancing, and a little warmer for concentrations. Outside should be checked several times during the work, usually by a male guardian He should walk around the building, checking in the front to see that the candle is lit Carrying the energy of guardianship and the Daime within his aparelho secures the perimeter energetically. There should be a male and female guardian in the salão at all times. If you must leave, let another guardian know where you're going. Smudging: There are some specific times during a work when smudging is usually done, including: -At the beginning of the work -To start the Cruzerinho -After there has been a lot of cleansing, i.e. throwing up, laying down. -When the room gets 'heavy' This is a felt sense that the guardian develops -Try to smudge at a time when it will be the least disruptive. Particularly be aware of this during concentration. This can be when the Daime is being served, or there K some kind of transition. -Have an experienced guardian show you how the censer works, and how much smoke should be coming out. Some general guidelines are: Male guardians usually begin. They start at the altar (on the inside of the room), and work in a circle to the outside of the room, going in a clockwise direction, following the path of the sun. The exception to this is that the guardian may smudge by going back and forth between the lines, which means they will be going in a counter-clockwise direction for part of the time. Open some

windows and the back door to let the smoke out. One of the main reasons for keeping the doors closed during a work (a star house in particular) is to keep the salão 'closed' energetically. You can put a glass of salt water in front of the door to keep the passageway 'clean'. III. CARING FOR THE PEOPLE The main guidelines when caring for people are, to make your first priority your own alignment with God, to maintain harmony, and, to keep your interactions subtle and minimal, yet firm. The most important work going on is between each person and the Daime. Even kind actions can interfere with that process. Keep talking, touching, and eye contact to a minimum. If it is absolutely necessary to speak to someone, do so after a hymn is completed, and then say as little as possible. A hymn is not finished until the music is complete. If a person is throwing up, you can hold the bucket for them and keep their hair out of the way, if they need the help. They may be handling things very well on their own. Often the most helpful thing that you can do is remember that each person is Christ, and treat them with that level of respect, tenderness and love. Guardians are not 'healers' within the Daime ritual. In some churches there are designated, experienced healers trained within and sanctioned by the Daime and the church leadership. This is most often true in specific rituals: star houses, and St. Michael works. Guardians can help people to stay up and in their place if they are having difficulty by: -Breathing-check to see if your own breathing is deep and relaxed. Often that can have a good effect on someone. You can also suggest to them that they relax their chest and stomach and let their breath be deeper. -Silently sing the hymn to them. -If they have been throwing up and are bent over the bucket, gently help them to sit straight. -Take them outside for a breath of fresh air. They can shake their clothes and hair to detach heavy energies. -Sit with them in the back room for a few minutes. The energy is often less intense back there, and gives them a little space to recenter. -If they have turned away, help them to face the cross. - Have them run some cool water on their hands and face. These things can be done if they feel appropriate in the moment. They shouldn't be done out of a desire to 'help' or to bring attention to yourself, or because you feel that you 'should' do something. Sometimes the struggle someone is going through is necessary for their learning. Over time you will be able to discern more and more clearly when a person is going through a passage and needs to lay down. It is not necessarily best for someone to lie down because they are going through a passage. The more that a person learns to heal within the current, the better.

To quote affectionately a head guardian in Maua, "The cure is in the center." Sometimes when a person is scared or off-center, they only need a little help realigning. It is better to err on the side of caution, and not interfere unless you are very clear what the need is. Always allow harmony to prevail If someone doesn't want to do what you think is best, go along with their needs, unless someone will be harmed. Never argue with anyone. If you are uncertain about how to handle a situation, or if someone requests you do something that seems outside of the usual parameters, speak with the lead guardian who will either resolve the matter or consult with the leader of the work. Be aware of helping people to get back up after they have been lying down for a while. Once a person lies down, it can be difficult to get up again. A gentle reminder and a helping hand, sitting next to them for a few moments, singing a hymn to them silently or softly aloud can help them to make the transition back to vertical. Be aware of the exquisitely fine and sensitive space a person may be in when lying down. In fact, they may not even be in their body. Watch and feel that person before approaching them to see if it is appropriate for them to return to the work. If they have opened their eyes and it seems that the passage is complete, or the opposite is true and they seem to be resting rather than working, it may be time for them to get up. A few more guidelines: -When a person lies down, help them to remove their glasses, etc., and put them in a safe and obvious place. They should be lying on their backs in an open posture. If you see them curl up later, gently help them to open again, if possible. If they continue to keep curling up, let them be. -Know where all people are at all times. -If a person is behaving inappropriately and not listening to you-if they are not hurting anyone, let it go, and let the leader know after the work. If they are being disruptive, you can consult with the lead guardian, take them out of the line and seat them near the wall, or speak more firmly to them. Your main goal is not to be a police officer, but to maintain the harmony of the work and the safety of each individual. Watch for any hooks that you may have with this particular person or behavior, and see if there is a lesson in this for you. -Find a balance between 'the rules" and the needs of the moment. If it's time for everyone to stand, and someone is sitting very much in the power, with their eyes closed, don't disturb them. Any time you are asking a person to make some sort of shift, do so very gently. Even the most sensitive guardian doesn't fully know what a person is going through, and what effect their intervention might have. -Fainting: When someone faints within a work, the main job of the guardian is to be sure that, if possible, they are not injured. Help them to meet the ground gently, perhaps by putting a hand under their head. Don't intervene any more than you have to, but stay close by. Once they are on the ground, leave them alone, unless they are in a very twisted position, in which case you can gently straighten them out. Move the people around them so they can stay where they are as long as they need to. When you see that they are starting to come to, you can help them to sit up, and then stand, or move to a better place. The exception to this would be if the person faints in the

dancing line during an hinário. In that case, guide the other people to dance around them until the hymn is finished, then get the person out of the line. If they are still unconscious, you may need the help of another guardian to physically remove them. Remember that they are protected by the power. -Maintaining the lines: When someone leaves the line, they should be guided to do so without cutting through another line. Keep lines even by walking between them and motioning where people should be standing. Move people as little as possible. When a person leaves the line, the people next to them should NOT automatically move over. When a star person leaves the line, do not rearrange and fill their place until three hymns have passed, or, unless they let you know upon leaving that they will be gone for quite a while. After the work is going, you can see who is able to keep dancing and who is having more difficulty, and can switch lines accordingly, keeping heights in mind. The front lines and the first person in each consecutive line should be kept strong, and weaker people should not be left too long dancing alone, or dancing on an end without energetic support on each side. If someone is consistently off in their dancing or maraca playing, gently take them aside and help them to correct the problem. When trying to catch someone's attention, try to make brief eye contact, and then show them what you want. Don't tap or push someone from behind if it can be avoided. While Daime is being served: -Keep lines orderly. It may be best to have a few people come over at a time, and the rest stay at their chairs. Be clear with what you want people to do. -Keep the doorways clear. -Shift chairs if needed. -Watch for those who may need a bucket. Breaks and end: Before you stop being a guardian, be sure that everyone is cared for. Let the next shift of guardians know who may be needing particular attention. During the break, you can enlist the help of others so that you can have a rest.

 ABOVE ALL, TRUST IN GOD. The Daime Knows What The Daime Is Doing.