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May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life. Apache blessing |
I am not Native American but have found that the solace, peace, and inner balance that many native spiritual practices bring me changed my life for the better. I claim no expertise in any of these practices. I'm simply grateful I opened myself up to differing ways of experiencing spirit in my life.
I have had a pretty rough year and a half on several fronts and could not have landed on my feet without what I have been able to integrate in my life through native American spiritual teachings. I'm going on a personal pilgrimage of calm next week to some geographic areas that are sacred to CA Native people that have opened up to me a place to reflect and chant, to commune. Places to honor the Native stewards that keep them sacred so that someone like me can be humbled by the very different holiness that surrounded my childhood. |
"Every thing or living being that exists in this world, be it trees, flowers, birds, grasses, rocks, soil of the earth, or human beings, has its unique manner of existence - its essence, its spirit that makes it what it is. That is what is meant by connectedness."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA Scientists are finally realizing what the Elders have taught for thousands of years - everything is connected. Because everything is interconnected, whatever you do to any one thing, you do to everything. If you poison any part of the earth, the poison eventually affects everything else. If you poison the plants, the birds will eat the plants, which poisons the birds. The birds are eaten by humans which poisons the humans. The humans will have babies who could be deformed because the plants were poisoned. We must learn to live in harmony with the earth. We must learn to think good things. Every good thought is felt by everything, which causes everything to be happy. Creator, let my thoughts only be good thoughts. |
Unfortunately, all is not beauty and peace. I don't believe I've ever met a person
who hasn't been challenged or wounded by something. Difficulties present choices: we can either waste away from our wounds or use them to grow our souls. My husband, for example, is a survivor of the Second World War. As a child, he suffered through six years of bombings, near-escapes, and concentration camps. Part of his soul work has been the gradual transformation of this deep well of grief and pain. As he heals himself, he also participates in healing that terrible idea of war in others. I have always said that no one heals alone--we heal through and for one another. Joan Borysenko |
Atlast:)
Welcome, i'm happy that you find comfort and sloace in Native ways. One doesn't have to be Native to feel drawn and derive a healing and comfort from their practices. I hope the remainder of your year is better and your commune brings the peace you desire.(f) Quote:
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AtlastHome and Spirit Dancer,
I agree with you. Native American Spirituality does bring comfort to me as well. It reminds me of my Buddist ways. It makes me so very happy. Andrew |
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The Ex is Shoshone and well, she just loved getting away from the house,,:cheesy: . Thanks for this thread. |
"In the Indian way, we are connected to that flower if we understand its spirit, the essence of its life."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA Everything on our Earth is alive. Every rock, every plant, every animal, every tree, every bird, every thought is alive. This is true because everything is made by the Great Spirit and the Great Spirit is alive. We need to slow our lives down each day and realize, consciously, that this is true. First we need to realize it, second, we need to acknowledge it, third, we need to appreciate it and, finally, we need to go on. Great Spirit, let me see life through Your eyes. Today let me be alive |
for my friend
There is in this world no such force as the force
of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained. W.E.B. Du Bois |
do-hi, sv-hi-ye-yi, a-da-do-li-gi, tsv-gi-ne-li
Peaceful evening blessings my friends |
Sitting Bull Hunkpapa Sioux
"I am a red man. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for Eagles to be Crows. We are poor..but we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die...we die defending our rights." |
"We've got to learn what's going on today in the world, and we've got to get an education so we can survive."
--Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWA Indian people have the ability to adapt. In these modern times, we Native people must walk two roads. We must get educated so our people don't lose. We need lawyers, doctors, nurses, foresters, scientists, educators, carpenters, welders. These skills are needed to help the people. While we are learning we need to remember to keep our culture, learn our dances, sing our songs, learn to speak our own language and maintain our culture for future generations. Great Spirit, let my education never lack the meaning and value of Indian spirituality. |
"But each of us must find out for himself or herself what their gift is, so that they can use it in their life."
--Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWAY The old people say, everyone has a song to sing. This song is the reason we are on this earth. When we are doing what we came on this earth to do, we know true happiness. How will we know our song? Pray. Ask the Great Mystery, "What is it you want me to do during my stay on earth?" Ask. He will tell you. He will even help you develop yourself to accomplish His mission. Great Spirit, help me find my song and let me sing it. |
Not Native but well versed affirmation
I release others from all blame
that I assign them. They only play roles in my life that help me become more awake and aware of who I really am. |
Totem Poles
This morning on The Today Show, there was a segment on totem poles. It was amazing how you read them from the bottom to the sky. And each one tells a story. It is passed down from generation to generation. This is a lifelong skill that is such a gift of love. I was really amazed at the connection of the artist to the wood/tree - love and dedication.
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So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home. Chief Tecumseh (Crouching Tiger) Shawnee Nation 1768-1813 |
"The Creator was responsible for the existence of everything, a part of the Creator's spirit exists in everything and thus all things are connected."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA The Creator designed nature, people, and all things as an interconnected system. Everything is connected to each other. This connection exists in the Unseen World. The same way our body parts are all port of the body - the parts are separate but also connected. If a part of our body is in pain, the rest of the body recognizes this pain as its own. In other words, the pain of one is the pain of all. This is also true of every interconnected system. Because we are connected, we should respect and take care of our Earth and each other. Great Spirit, let me treat everyone, today, as if they were You |
The unrest you are experiencing is not individual psychological difficulty,
but rather part of a widespread spiritual awakening. Carol Osborn |
For just a moment..watch and go there
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYs5zyM9zk8&feature=related"]YouTube- Havasupai Indian Waterfall Relaxation Video[/ame]
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Today I was watching a Native American show on TV. I don't understand why the Indians would fight amongst themselves. That truely baffles me. And then they would take in "white men" as their own.
Can someone explain this to me? Was this true to life or just Hollywood? |
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I am not Native American, but I can say this.. Humans do that, we all fight amongst our own. Hell Andrew look around this site or any other site.. So I say human nature yes? :ohm: |
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Snowy and Liam, You both are right. I never thought of it that way before. But yes. |
hoorah for human nature! Cos even when everyone else is against us and we should be banding together we will find a way to divide ourselves and eliminate the weakest
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to my sister......Spirit Dancer
http://www.butchfemmedance.com/forum...ies/flower.gifWild and Freehttp://www.butchfemmedance.com/forum...ies/flower.gif In my heart I am Indian,Wild and Free But in this world,it was not meant to be. Sun father,Moon Woman,Earth Mother, Guiding me through my day But somehow,In this world I loss my way Great Spirit, far and wide, Please come to me and be my guide, take me as your daughter and you'll be proud of me And then I shall become an Indian on the wind that's Wild and Free Where for me happiness shall always be.http://www.butchfemmedance.com/forum...ies/flower.gif Author Unknown |
Do not grieve. Misfortunes will happen to the wisest and best of men. Death will come, always out of season. It is the command of the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must obey. What is past and what cannot be prevented should not be grieved for ... Misfortunes do not flourish particularly in our lives - they grow everywhere.
Big Elk - Omaha Chief |
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"The Great Spirit is the one that's looking after us."
--Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWAY The only place our minds can find peace is when our focus is on the Creator. Daily we need to ask the Creator to direct our thinking. When we look at our brothers and sisters, we need to see the Creator in them. When we look at the trees, plants and the animals, we need to realize the Creator is within us. Our attention needs to be on the Creator. When we work, we do it for the Creator. When we are troubled, we need to pray to the Creator. When we are happy and joyful, we need to realize we are feeling the presence of the Creator. Thinking God thoughts will produce peace. Oh Great Mystery, let me focus on You today. |
late my friend, but the thought is there
My face is a mask I order to say nothing
About the fragile feelings hiding in my soul. -Glenn Lazore (Mohawk) |
meditative-
if you do not understand your friend under all conditions you will never understand him-
how narrow is the vision that exhalts the busyness of the ant above the singing of the grasshopper sand and foam kahlil gibran |
Wakan Tanka, Great Mystery, teach me how to trust my heart, my mind, my intuition, my inner knowing, the senses of my body, the blessings of my spirit. Teach me to trust these things so that I may enter my Sacred Space and love beyond my fear, and thus Walk in Balance with the passing of each glorious Sun. ~ Lakota Prayer ~ |
Peace and happiness are available in every moment Peace in every step We shall walk hand in hand There are no political solutions to spiritual problems If the Creator put it there, it is in the right place. ~~The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears ~~ |
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Tell me and I'll forget Show me, and I may not remember Involve me, and I'll understand ~~Tribe Unknown~~ |
"The Old Ones have always said that no matter who despises or ignores you, no matter who keeps you from entering their circles, it is right to pray for them because the are like us, too."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA You don't know how an apple tastes until you taste it. You don't know what a fish tastes like until you eat it. You don't know how it is to be a woman unless you are one. You don't know what it means to have a baby until you have one. So it is with the natural laws. An example: the natural law of forgiveness says, if you hate someone, pray for the person to be blessed with happiness, joy and all the blessings of the Great Spirit. You will not know about this law unless you do it. The natural law says love others as you love yourself. If you hate yourself or feel guilt in some area of yourself, you will tend to judge and condemn your neighbor. You cannot give away what you don't have. You teach your children by your example, not by your words. The natural laws are written in our hearts. Great Spirit, teach me how to look into my heart |
"Ultimately, nature will do the teaching."
--Tom Porter, MOHAWK There are things man has control over, and there are things man does not have control over. No matter how smart we get, whether it be in technology or science, there are things we will never control. The Great Spirit carefully protected and hid the control over certain things in the Unseen World. There are forces in the Unseen World that make sure humans don't mess things up. The bottom line is, no matter what we do, nature will have the last say. Nature is the teacher, we are the students. May we honor and respect our teacher. Great Spirit, today, help me to live in harmony with people, principles, and life. |
"The beginning is purification, that's the first step. And purification means purification of body and mind. You don't purify the body without cleansing the mind; that's the way it works."
--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE If we have bad thoughts or poison in our minds, they will eventually show up in our bodies in the form of headaches, pains, and stomach problems. It works this way because we are interconnected. Our minds and our bodies are one system. So when we start to grow, or commit to the Red Road, we need to start cleaning up our thoughts and start showing respect for our bodies. We start purifying our minds by prayer and meditation, and we start cleansing our bodies by getting the right amount of sleep and developing good eating habits. Today, I'm going to observe my thoughts. Will my thoughts be clean today? Great Spirit, let me focus on Your love today so my mind will be pure. |
Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts.
Native American Proverb |
Friendship between two persons depends upon the patience of one.
Native American Proverb |
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I just want to tell all of you that I really enjoy this thread! There is a lot of wisdom in these words.
Some years ago(10+) I started to read about Native American Spirituality and went to see a shaman. It changed the way I saw the world, into a more positive/understanding light. Thank you all for reminding me of the power of this knowledge! |
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