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 Mountain Views NewsSaturday, August 10, 2024


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” and 
“How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every weekend. 
He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 
90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Darling Girl!

"GILLIAN"

Shorthair Tuxedo

Born 4/11/21 

Meet Gillian, aka "Little G," 
a sweet and petite tuxedo 
girl looking for her forever 
home. Gillian may be a little shy at first, but with some 
time, toys, and treats, she’ll warm up to you in no time. 
Watch her roll over for tummy rubs and listen for her 
sweetest meows, especially when she’s asking for attention 
or eagerly awaiting breakfast.

Gillian loves to explore and enjoys high places like a cat 
tree. She’s a quiet little adventurer who gets along well 
with other cats. Although she has a twin sister, Gemma, 
they are not bonded and can be adopted separately.

This darling girl with a white blaze on her forehead has been with us since she was a baby and has 
never had a real home. She doesn’t ask for much, just a patient and loving companion who will take 
joy in seeing her thrive and zoom around with unbridled joy. If you’re looking for a cat who isn’t 
too clingy but will shower you with love and sweet moments, Gillian is the perfect match for you. 
Give this little sweetheart the home she deserves!

Gillian is healthy, spayed, current on vaccines, and more!


RAINDANCES:

ARE THEY REAL?

 [The following is an excerpt 
from Christopher Nyerges’ 
book, “Squatting in Los 
Angeles: Life on the Edge,” 
which is available on Kindle or from the store at 
www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.]

 

 

The event I’m about to describe happened just 
about 40 years ago this week! It seems like a 
lifetime ago!

It was Tuesday, August the 14th, 1984, the 
second to last day of a two week period that I’d 
be working with some of the children at the day 
camp sponsored by the City of Pasadena. After 
their lunch, I began by showing my group of 
children some wild edible plants that I brought 
to the camp. 

 

Next we practiced some Indian sign language of 
the Plains, something I did every day.

 

Then I demonstrated how to make soap by 
wetting a few of bufallo gourd leaves and then 
vigorously rubbing them between my hands. 
Each child then made soap from this plant and 
in their very excited way they cleansed their 
hands, splashing and yelling as they did so.

 

The day before, I’d hinted that we might do 
a rain-dance, and now, as the children were 
returning to their circle, a few were now asking 
with their eager voice, “Are we going to do the 
rain-dance now?” I explained that a rain dance 
is actually not just one thing, and that it could 
take many forms and is usually a part of a larger 
ceremony. 

 

I didn’t have a specific “formula” or procedure, 
but rather I was attempting to share several 
key elements with the children, elements that I 
learned from native elders.

 

I removed my hand-made clay pipe from its 
container and filled it with tobacco. I carefully 
lit it and puffed on it. Once the pipe was smoking 
well, I stood in the center and blew smoke to the 
four directions and to the sky and to the earth. I 
explained to the children that I was offering my 
smoke as a way of giving respect and thanks, in 
an attitude of humility. The children watched in 
awe with wide eyes.

 

Then I passed the pipe around the circle for each 
child to take a little puff. Each child nervously 
smoked the pipe as it went around, and I told 
them not to inhale. I explained as we did this 
that the smoking of the pipe was a traditional 
sign of our friendship and unity.

Then, put the pipe away, and we all danced in 
a circle, clapping, and chanting a simple rain 
chant that I led. Then everyone let up a cheer for 
rain. It was all very simple, basic, and organic.

 

My time with the children was over and they all 
departed for their next session. 

 

“Is it really going to rain?” a few children 
curiously asked me as they departed. 

 

“Of course,” I replied with assurance. “It will 
rain by Saturday.” I really had no idea whether 
or not this would be “effective,” and I’d not 
checked any weather patterns. For that matter, 
I’d not even planned to do the rain dance until 
that morning.

 

A heavy rain fell early the following morning.

 

By the time I arrived at the day camp on noon 
Wednesday, our last day, only a drizzle continued 
to fall, and most of the day camp activities had 
been moved indoors.

 

Some of the children yelled out to me: “We made 
rain! We made rain!” I quickly pointed out that 
we didn’t make anything. Rather, I told them, 
our request was answered.

 

A few children asked with open eyes, “It rained 
from our rain dance, didn’t it?” I answered what 
I believed to be true. “Yes,” I told them, while 
I could see the other counselors smiling and 
rolling their eyes.

 

Pursuing the premise that there was a 
relationship between the dance and the rain, I 
attempted to delineate my learning:

 

1)We washed ourselves before our little ceremony.

2) We requested rain in an attitude of humility.

3) We shared the pipe in a posture of unity and 
friendship.

4) We sang, chanted, and danced our ceremony 
not “by the book” but with feeling.

5) And perhaps most important, the ceremony 
was conducted by children. These children were 
young enough to still be uncorrupted by the 
limitations of adult minds. They had never been 
told that they couldn’t invoke rain. So I believe 
that the innocence and lack of prejudice on the 
children’s part was a key factor in the apparent 
“success” of our rain dance.

 

I found that this episode forced me to look at 
myself and the world very differently. What had 
happened here? It was the middle of August 
when there is usually no precipitation, and rain 
came within 15 or so hours of doing a rain dance.

 

This led me to research the many recorded 
episodes of rain-making and rain ceremonies 
among Native American traditions, and try 
to find some common elements. Eventually, I 
compiled a file full of newspaper accounts and 
interviews and book excerpts all about rain 
ceremonies, and later presented that in a lecture. 

The more I looked into it, and inquired, the key 
idea to keep in mind was that personal attitude 
was the essential ingredient, and that “asking 
for” or “praying for” rain was an inaccuracy. 
It also became clear to me that it is actually a 
blessing that most people are unaware that they 
have such a power over the elementals of nature. 
You could say that our ignorance protects us 
from the irresistible urge to abuse such ability.

 

I spoke to Dr. George Fishbeck, L.A. area 
weatherman and meteorologist, and he told 
me that he noted a storm off California’s coast 
at 7 p.m. Tuesday. That evening by 11 p.m., 
Dr. Fishbeck said that he knew rain would 
fall, but not where. He was calling it a freak 
storm. Someone had called Dr. Fishbeck and 
told him about the rain dance, so he already 
knew about it. He believed that there was no 
connection between the rain dance and the rain, 
discounting the ability of what he called “prayer” 
to affect the weather. Still, Fishbeck told me that 
he recognized and respected the sacred nature 
of the Southwestern Indians’ rain dances and 
ceremonies.

 

In the Los Angeles Times of August 16, 1984 on 
the front page, it read “First Rain of Season Snarls 
Traffic, Causes Blackout.” The report read, “The 
first rainstorm of the season struck the Los 
Angeles area with surprisingly heavy showers 
Wednesday morning, spawning a rash of minor 
accidents on slick freeways and power failures 
affecting thousands of customers. Rainfall at 
the Los Angeles Civic Center measured .40 of an 
inch, nearly double the .21 of an inch recorded 
by this date last season, before tapering off in 
mid-morning.”

Pet of the Week

 
Rocky is a perfect addition to any home that is 
seeking a chill companion with lots of love! He’s 
an eight-year-old German Shepherd with an easy 
going, laid-back vibe. He’s stunningly handsome 
and smart as well!

Rocky has been spending time with one of the 
Pasadena Humane foster families, and they have 
wonderful things to report. They say he is very low 
maintenance and prefers to sleep throughout the 
day. He loves car rides, loves to stick his head out 
the window, and is very well-behaved in public. 
He can be taken anywhere, and he’s received 
countless compliments from strangers. 

 Rocky is house-trained and knows basic cues. He sits well and has learned to lie down on 
command. He even walks right by your 

 If you’re looking for a lower-energy buddy to relax in the shade with, come meet Rocky 
today!

Rocky and all other dogs, cats and critters can be adopted at no charge during Pasadena 
Humane’s Clear the Shelters adoption event, happening Saturday, August 17th from 10:00 
AM to 2:00 PM. 

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and 
age-appropriate vaccines. 

 Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption 
appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. View 
photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
calls or email.


HOT TEMPERATURES CAN MAKE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT 
TOO HOT FOR YOUR DOG’S PAWS. 

Asphalt and concrete temperatures can usually be 20-40 degrees hotter 
than the ambient temperature. If the back of your hand can’t stand the 
heat on the concrete or asphalt for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for a walk.

When it's above 90 degrees outside, bring dogs and cats indoors.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com