Native American Spirituality

[Spirit Dancer]

"Sell a country? Why not sell the air, the great sea, as well as the Earth? Did not the Great Spirit make them all for the use of his children?"
--Tecumseh, SHAWNEE
The White Man's way is to possess, control, and divide. It has always been difficult for Indian people to understand this. There are certain things we cannot own that must be shared. The Land is one of these things. We need to re-look at what we are doing to the Earth. We are digging in her veins and foolishly diminishing the natural resources. We are not living in balance. We do not own the Earth; the Earth owns us. Today, let us ponder the true relationship between the Earth and ourselves.

Great Spirit, today, let me see the Earth as you would have me see Her.

[Spirit Dancer]

[waxnrope]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

I remember this commercial ... so long ago. It made me cry when I watched it. As I walk around my city, and see the litter, or watch what happens to the creatures whose lives are so impacted by our thoughtlessness, tears come again. We have not improved during the intervening years from that commercial to the present. It makes me feel so sad. Then, I think of wars, poverty, hunger, and racism and realize that not much has changed at all.

Great Spirit, Holy One, let us "see" how we treat your Gifts: of life, of beauty, of one another. Help us to correct our selfish disregard. Renew the good that rests within each of us. The good that You placed there for us - to find and to use for the benefit of all Creation. In your many names, we pray ...

[Glenn]

Love your life so that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and in service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day you go over the great divide.
Always give a sign of salute when passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks to the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food, and for the joy of living. If you see not reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools, and robs the Spirit of it's vision.
When your time comes to die, do not be like those whose hearts are filled with 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!- TECUMSEH

[Spirit Dancer]

"You have to have a lot of patience to hear those old people talk, because when they talk, they talk about motivation, the feeling, the unsound that is around the universe. They explain everything to one understanding. They bring it all together, and when they finish, just one word comes out. Just one word. They might talk all day, and just one word comes out."
--Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
We need to be careful about judging the old ones when we talk. At first they may not make sense to us. Maybe we'll say they're old fashioned and don't understand. But the old ones do understand! When they speak, listen very carefully. Often it will take weeks or maybe even years before we understand what they are really saying. This is the way of Wisdom. We need to listen, listen, listen.

Great Spirit, today, open my ears so I can hear the Elders.

[Passionaria]

[Spirit Dancer]

Great Spirit
Today you know my prayers, the answer
we seek seems at a distace. The meeting
of Eastern and Western medicine, can
that be the answer?
Why with your infinite wisdom can
Cancer not be irradicated, I've
prayed, used all the medicine I've been
taught to believe in, where is the healing?
Great Spirit to walk the path is how we were raised
to believe in you, we are weak, we are human
this day we need you more than ever.

[Spirit Dancer]

[Spirit Dancer]

[Passionaria]

[Passionaria]

[Passionaria]

Arvol Looking Horse is the Spiritual leader of the Lakota nation.

[Spirit Dancer]

"The Natural Law is the final and absolute authority governing E Te No Ha, the earth we call our Mother."
--Traditional Circle of Elders
There is no power greater than the Natural Laws. These powers were set up by the Great Spirit in such a way that the human being has no access to it, except by obeying. If we choose not to follow the Natural Laws, our live will be filled with confusion, tension, anxiety and stress. If we poison the Earth, we poison ourselves. If we poison the Water of the Earth, we poison ourselves. As we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves and our children, even the children unborn. May we think about this today and ask ourselves, "Are we holding and acting toward the Mother Earth in a good way?"

Great Spirit, teach me the Natural Laws that govern the Earth.

[Spirit Dancer]

[Spirit Dancer]

[Spirit Dancer]

Great Spirit
Today I come to you
with humbled heart from the blessings
you've sent to us in the form of friends.
It's been a lil over two years since my
faith was shaken, now I'm
more humbled since returning
to my path along the red road.
With you all things are possible
I know now you blessed me with
the people who needed me
and I them.
Others may not understand or
think it's impossible to have so many burdens
and illnesses, but cancer knows no limits
and is endless to most creating complications
not only in body, but in mind.
Great Spirit if not me, then who will shine love
and endless compassion
upon my small family who have many needs.
Great Spirit it is said
A reason, a season or a lifetime,
and in this life I am where I need to be.
Great Spirit today I thank you for
Blessings of life, love and friendship.

[waxnrope]

Sister Spirit Dancer,
We remain faithful, standing with you. If it is the crossing over time, our tears mingle with yours, conjoining, mingling, creating new things. Family, friends. We hold you with the magical hands of our love through the spaces of time and places under the Creator's sun, and place a kiss upon your forehead under the watchful eye of brother moon.
Know that yours is a respected place, a loved one, and a teacher to many. We hold you now and ease you through your journey.

[Spirit Dancer]

From the daily OM


June 1, 2010
As You Believe
Create Completeness

We can manifest what we want through affirmations as if we have already obtained what we want.


The creative power of the universe is infinite. A single molecule's destiny is as important as the consequences of the largest supernova. Human potential is subject to this power, but because we are sentient beings, each of us is permitted to choose whether we will struggle against it or work in tandem with it. When we give voice to our desires through focused meditation or solicit the help of spirit guides, we draw upon the universe's creative power to achieve certain ends. However, because our words are not all the universe hears, the response we receive may surprise us. The discourse we establish through our appeals is a blend of speech, thought, intention, and subconscious reflection. When we ask the universe for something, the unspoken message is that what we want does not exist, and the universe accepts this as truth. Conversely, we manifest completeness through affirmations in which we declare our desires as if we have already obtained them.

When we affirm that we are fulfilled instead of articulating deficiencies, we are asserting that contentment is a natural and necessary element of human existence. Our essence is an expression of fulfillment葉he universe wants to satisfy our needs and desires. When we describe our realities in positive terms, we are not denying the challenges inherent in existence. We choose not to focus on lack or dissatisfaction because we understand that the energy of our thoughts will determine the response we receive to our entreaties. Ask yourself how you would feel if your wishes were granted, and then allow yourself to internalize that emotional state. Try to create a picture of satisfaction so vivid that its reality is unquestionable and tell the universe that your vision is fact. At the close of your appeal, express your gratitude, as it is your acknowledgment of the truth of your fulfillment that will set the creative power of the universe into motion.

Working in perfect unison with the creative power of the universe will empower you to manifest spiritual realities in your material existence. As you affirm the beauty, peace, and goodness that already exist within in your life, your capacity to sense and understand their influence will become increasingly sophisticated. To meet your needs and achieve your desires, you need then only banish all thoughts of emptiness so that the energy of completeness can attract fullness into your being.

[Spirit Dancer]

"IN THE BEGINNING were the Instructions... The Instruction was to live in a good way and be respectful to everybody and everything."
--Vickie Downey, TEWA/Tesuque Pueblo
A long time ago, in the beginning, the Creator gave to all people and to all things the Wisdom and the knowledge of how to live in harmony. Some tribes call these teachings the original Instructions, the original teachings, or the Great Laws. All of Nature still lives and survives according to these teachings. In modern times, human beings are searching for the Instructions. Many churches claim they have these Instructions. Where are these teachings? The Instructions are written in our hearts.

Great Spirit, today, whisper to me the secrets of the original Instructions.

[Spirit Dancer]

Daily OM
Unveiling the Soul's Vision
Medicine Wheels

Medicine wheels illustrate the journey of all, encompassing cycles of life, death, and that which lies beyond.


Though stone structures have been a dominant element of human history, few have done as much to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual realms as the Native American medicine wheel. Wholly non-intrusive, these simple configurations of stone blend into their environments, becoming objects of ritual, meditative, and ceremonial importance to those who perceive their deeper meaning. An outer ring is linked to the center of the medicine wheel by spokes that echo the four sacred directions (north, south, east, and west) and their corresponding colors (white, red, yellow, and black).

Creating our own medicine wheel can be just as profound an experience as visiting the site of an ancient wheel, for the mere presence of it changes our relationship to the universe, opening us to new depths of insight. No matter what the configuration, the wheel represents the circular path of being. It illustrates the journey of all Mother Nature's children, encompassing cycles of life, death, and that which lies beyond. When we walk the outer edges of a medicine wheel, sleep in its spokes, or lay our hands upon the center cairn, our inner vision is enhanced. We recognize ourselves as a vital part of a larger whole—a product of the universe as well as a force acting upon it. Peering through the lens of the medicine wheel, the harmony that unites disparate elements of the universe reveals itself to us. Each living entity will visit every spoke of the wheel in its lifetime, honoring the sacred directions and colors. However different we may be, there is no reason we cannot fi! nd peaceful concordance in our similarities.

Whether your goal is to internalize the wisdom of the self, nature, society, or soul, the transformative energy of the medicine wheel will help you attune yourself to the interconnectivity of all reality. It can consequently serve as a powerful communication tool for groups in need of channels of understanding, for the universality of the wheel's significance facilitates bonding without asking disparate peoples to sacrifice their individuality. Your energy and that of those who accompany you will mingle with the universal flow at the focal point of the medicine wheel, reminding you that all beings are equal, and all are fated to travel round the great loop of existence until the end of time.