Native American Spirituality

Spirit Dancer · 02-28-2010, 02:49 AM

"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

Spirit Dancer · 02-28-2010, 04:07 PM

"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.

Spirit Dancer · 03-01-2010, 08:14 AM

"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.

Spirit Dancer · 03-01-2010, 08:17 AM

Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts.
Native American Proverb

Spirit Dancer · 03-01-2010, 08:18 AM

Friendship between two persons depends upon the patience of one.
Native American Proverb

Liquefaction · 03-01-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TROOPER

Tell me and I'll forget
Show me, and I may not remember
Involve me, and I'll understand

~~Tribe Unknown~~

This is so true for me!!! Thank you!

Liquefaction · 03-01-2010, 09:17 AM

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!

02-28-2010, 02:49 AM	#1
Spirit Dancer Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Complex but Tender Preferred Pronoun?: ~Ma`am~ Relationship Status: Shotgun Rider Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Following the red road Posts: 4,519 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,304 Thanked 12,910 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"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 __________________ “For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” Judy Garland

02-28-2010, 04:07 PM	#2
Spirit Dancer Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Complex but Tender Preferred Pronoun?: ~Ma`am~ Relationship Status: Shotgun Rider Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Following the red road Posts: 4,519 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,304 Thanked 12,910 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"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. __________________ “For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” Judy Garland

03-01-2010, 08:14 AM	#3
Spirit Dancer Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Complex but Tender Preferred Pronoun?: ~Ma`am~ Relationship Status: Shotgun Rider Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Following the red road Posts: 4,519 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,304 Thanked 12,910 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"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. __________________ “For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” Judy Garland

03-01-2010, 08:17 AM	#4
Spirit Dancer Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Complex but Tender Preferred Pronoun?: ~Ma`am~ Relationship Status: Shotgun Rider Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Following the red road Posts: 4,519 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,304 Thanked 12,910 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. Native American Proverb __________________ “For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” Judy Garland

03-01-2010, 08:18 AM	#5
Spirit Dancer Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Complex but Tender Preferred Pronoun?: ~Ma`am~ Relationship Status: Shotgun Rider Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Following the red road Posts: 4,519 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,304 Thanked 12,910 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Friendship between two persons depends upon the patience of one. Native American Proverb __________________ “For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” Judy Garland

03-01-2010, 09:17 AM	#7
Liquefaction Member How Do You Identify?: Femme with a dash of tomboy. Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 101 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 126 Thanked 81 Times in 28 Posts Rep Power: 3593	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!