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Native American Spirituality
A place to post thoughts and share Native ways. Words of an anonymous Native American woman "If you take the christian bible and put it in the wind and rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible is the wind and the rain." |
Words of Black Elk, Lakota Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux "Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. The Sky is round, and I have heard that the Earth is round like a ball and so are the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back where they were. The life of a human being is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves." |
Once you have heard the meadowlark and caught the scent of fresh-plowed earth, peace cannot escape you. Sequichie |
Earth teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with light. Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth teach me caring as the mother who secures her young. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom as the eagle which soars in the sky. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep with rain. Ute prayer |
When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the earch, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man. Chased By Bears Santee Lakota |
amazing..thank you for enlightening us with these writings
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Thank you for starting this thread. I am not Native American, but I have the most respect for those who are. I will be following here for inspiration.
Namaste, Andrew |
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I'm glad you both enjoy the elders sayings, feel free to share:) |
May the stars carry your sadness away, May the flowers fill your heart with beauty, May hope forever wipe away your tears, And, above all, may silence make you strong. Chief Dan George |
Hold On
Hold on to what is good, Even if it's a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, Even if it's a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, Even if it's a long way from here. Hold on to your life, Even if it's easier to let go. Hold on to my hand, Even if someday I'll be gone away from you. A Pueblo Indian Prayer |
"We who are clay blended by the Master Potter, come from the kiln of Creation in many hues. How can people say one skin is colored, when each has its own coloration? What should it matter that one bowl is dark and the other pale, if each is of good design and serves its purpose well."
~Polingaysi Qoyawayma, Hopi ~ |
sister owl-
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.
There is no death. Only a change of worlds. When the Earth is sick, the animals will begin to disappear, when that happens, The Warriors of the Rainbow will come to save them. - - Chief Seattle Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator: "What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." |
Certain things catch your eye, But pursue only those that capture your heart.
~ An old indian saying Red Cloud (Makhipiya-luta) Sioux Chief: I am poor and naked but I am the chief of a nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love. Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation: We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees. Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief : Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that "thought comes before speech. There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unkown, secret place. The old people came literally to love the soil, and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power. Their teepees were built upon the earth and their altars were made of earth. The soul was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing. That is why the old Indian still sits upon the earth instead of propping himself up and away from its life giving forces. For him, to sit or lie upon the ground is to be able to think more deeply and to feel more keenly. He can see more clearly into the mysteries of life and come closer in kinship to other lives about him. |
Just out of curiosity, is this thread going to be more than people simply posting quotes from our First Nations brothers and sisters (and Ancestors)? It appears that way. Frankly, I am glad to read them, but came in this thread sincerely hoping for some good conversation beyond quotations.
:stillheart: cara |
:flyingpig::rubberducky::penguin:
cara, hi :) i find this thread lovely for placing daily meditations- all across the board. it's fairly new, so the potential is there i think, for much to unfold. i do actually have experiences/resources to contribute with regard to grandparents [cherokee and shawnee]- though when i will post them, i cannot really be sure! some understandings are deeply personal such as how we may be taught about guides and visions. |
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First welcome to the thread, yes I too was hoping for conversation but without knowing how the thread would go or not go, I started with quotes as not to be conversing with myself. So come share your insights and beliefs all are welcome and i look forward to it.:rrose: |
Upon reading this quote and thinking on the words I wonder how many of you feel the same as Jim Pell?
In our household you lived and breathed your heritage, and ours was a blended house divided we were taught the heritage of our ancestors from both sides. Discrimination based on blood quantum wasn't allowed my family wouldn't permit it, their pride in heritage and beliefs ran strong. "There is no such thing as 'part-Cherokee.' Either you're Cherokee or you're not. It isn't the quantity of Cherokee blood in your veins that is important, but the quality of it . . . your pride in it. I have seen full-bloods who have virtually no idea of the great legacy entrusted to their care. Yet, I have seen people with as little as 1/500th blood quantum who inspire the spirits of their ancestors because they make being Cherokee a proud part of a their everyday life." ~Jim Pell: Principal Chief of the North Alabama Cherokee Tribe ~ |
“Walk tall as the trees; live strong as the mountains; be gentle as the spring winds; keep the warmth of summer in your heart, and the Great Spirit will always be with you.”
Anonymous Native American |
Walela ~ Wash Your Spirit Clean
A little late night gift for you......... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRFuc9bVO4M"]YouTube- Wash Your Spirit Clean (Song in Cherokee and English by Walela)[/ame] Walela one of my favorites, Pasionaria :rose: |
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O'siyo Welcome to the thread and thank you I adore Walela, hoping your late nite is plesant.:moonstars: |
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