Ceremony connects us to the rhythms of the world and the power of the seasons. This sacred rite helps restore balance with the great forces of weather in the Stone Mountain region. It was given so that we may express respect, gratitude, and humility in the way our ancestors did—so that we may make a difference for the animals, the plants, and our human brothers and sisters in these precarious times.
The Weather Ceremony is both beautiful and profound. Serving on the support team for this ceremony is a deeply moving experience—one of giving and receiving, purposeful in a way that transcends the self.
In times of great challenge, the elders emphasize the vital importance of continuing these ceremonies for the well-being of our planet and our people. This work requires courage and sacrifice. This is one of those times.
Long ago, when drought gripped the land and the rivers ran dry, a prophecy stirred to life. The spirits of the weather had turned away, reflecting the growing imbalance between humans and the earth. Seeking guidance, Sherry Boatright (Don David Wiley’s wife) journeyed to the Nahua highlands of Mexico, where Don Lucio, an elder weather worker, saw beyond time and space. His vision led her to a sacred mountain—one that could speak to the weather spirits and restore the relationship between land and sky.
Unable to leave his homeland, Don Lucio entrusted this mission to Don David Wiley, a conduit of Fire, a weather worker, a keeper of ancestral wisdom. Guided by the old ways, he and Sherry ascended Stone Mountain, carrying sacred copal to offer their prayers. As the fragrant smoke curled into the sky, the heavens responded. Rain fell.
Thus, a forgotten dialogue was rekindled. A bridge between worlds was restored.
Through Don David’s service to Grandfather Fire, the echoes of ancient ceremonies resound once more, calling us to remember, to listen, and to heal our severed connection with the elemental forces that sustain all life. Those who step onto this path do not merely witness history; they become part of it.
As Caporal Mayor of the Nahua Weather Workers, Don David supports these biannual rituals to reconnect with this sacred site and mend the severed relationship with the water beings, the ancestors, and the sacredness of the land.
As part of his service to Divine, Don David has helped reignite sacred sites.
For centuries, Indigenous peoples around the world lived in deep relationship with everything around them—honoring their ancestors, life itself, and the divine forces that sustain us. They celebrated the sacred places that allowed them to communicate with these forces, ensuring an ongoing relationship through ceremony. Seasonal ceremonies were offered each year to cultivate and nurture this reciprocal relationship of gratitude.
But these traditions have been dismissed. Elders are neglected. Our sacred relationship with Mother Earth and all living beings has been distorted. We have forgotten how to listen with our hearts. We seem to have lost our way.
At some point in time, there was a rupture—one that severed our traditions and cast our ancestral wisdom into oblivion.
Now, many fail to see that what we have today exists because of the sacrifices and devotion of those who came before—those who listened to nature, honored their traditions, and held ceremonies.
We must reconnect with these monumental beings—not only to express our appreciation but to actively engage with them once more. Only through this restored relationship can we begin to heal the balance of our world.
