Native American Spirituality

[Spirit Dancer]

[Spirit Dancer]

BLACK -
RED - Red is the color of life's blood that fuels the heart, mind, and soul of all of the creatures/ animals of earth. Without the nutrients and oxygen blood supplies to the vital organs of breathing animals life would cease to exist. Red is the color of passion that beats at the heart of nature, propagating life's existence.

Black is the color of the fossil fuels from the earth: coal, carbon, oil; and the ores of minerals and metals such as diamond and iron. Black is the color of the sky in the absence of the sun, and the dark void of space. In nature, black symbolizes the power and depth and complexities of life.

YELLOW - Yellow is the color of the sun as seen from Earth. On a clear day, the sun's bright yellow rays light up the skies as it ushers in the morning, signaling the start of a new day and with it the hope of new things to come. Yellow also symbolizes in nature the start of spring as yellow dandelions first upon the scene brighten the land with the bright twinkling of sunshine.

WHITE - White is easily recognized as the color of purity as in "pure as the driven snow", as seen in nature. Thus white is symbolic of cleanliness, chastity, innocence, and peace; and the most often used symbol of peace is the white dove. In nature, white clouds symbolize both opacity and calm.

[girl_dee]

How beautiful!!!!

[StrongButch]

Lakota Prayer-Russell Means (you tube acess199) You are gone my friend but not forgotten.

[Spirit Dancer]

"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...The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing..."
--Luther Standing Bear, OGLALA SIOUX
Have you ever noticed the relationship between children and the soil? Watch how happily they are touching the dirt. The children play in it and eat it. If you are stressed, go to a spot on the Earth, sit down, put your fingers in the dirt, dig in it. Wash your hands in the soil. When you touch it, notice what it does to your hands. Our bodies love to touch the Earth. Sometimes we get too busy and forget these simple things. Maybe you'll even want to plant a garden or flowers. These things are mentally healthy.

Great Spirit, today, let me touch the Earth so the Earth can touch me.

[Spirit Dancer]

Entering Awareness
Finding Our Own Paths




There is no one right path to awareness and each of us has our own path that is perfect for us.


Entering into our own spirituality is a private journey. Each of us will be drawn to a different gateway to begin on our personal path to awakening to a greater experience of ourselves. Even though we may be taught certain philosophies or beliefs as children, we still need to find our own way of understanding and applying them in our lives. For those who are raised without a spiritual framework, they may not even know their process as a form of spirituality. But at some stage in their lives, whether in youth or adulthood, they are likely to recognize the resonance of their beliefs, the ring of truth in their philosophy, and their dedication to their chosen purpose.

Our inner guidance will lead us, so that we will be drawn to the right doorway for us--a doorway that only we can recognize by the way it makes us feel inside. It could be a picture of an angel or the gift of a crystal. We may meet someone special who shares their experiences with us in a way that we find intriguing. While visiting the home of an admired friend, we may notice a book or statue of a diety, and ask why they chose those tools. Or a word or phrase may catch our attention in a song, or a lecture. For some they may find their way by walking through the experience of illness before they begin the search for what will help them to truly heal, while others may seek physical improvement and stumble across yoga or meditation--only to find that it leads them to an unexpected place beyond the body.

As we awaken to ourselves and to life, we will become more attuned to what is right for us. The universe speaks to all of us through infinite channels, but we each have our own frequency. Others may share what worked for them, but only we can decide what truly makes us feel inspired, awakened, connected, fully conscious, aware and alive. Whatever our path, it is perfect and is meant especially for us.

[StrongButch]

Wakan Wochekiye-A Sacred Prayer (you tube)

[StrongButch]

Protect Pe'Sla Lakota Sioux Sacred Site (you tube iloveancestry)

[Spirit Dancer]

"Humility is probably the most difficult virtue to realize."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW
Two definitions of humility are; one, being aware of one's own defects of character, and two, giving credit where credit is due. This means if you do something and are successful because God gave you certain talents, give credit to God when someone tells you how well you did; this is being humble. If you are successful at something, but had help from friends, spouse, neighbors, give credit to those who helped you; this is being humble. If you have done a task and you alone accomplished it, give credit to yourself; this is being humble. Say the truth and give credit where credit is due.

Grandfather, let me walk a truthful road today.

[femm_cb]

I love all of these Native American blessings/words expressed here. Thank you for sharing them.

My (step) father is full blooded Native American from Oklahoma so as a child, I had the opportunity to experience the culture and taste the food prepared. It was so good.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

Entering Awareness
Finding Our Own Paths




There is no one right path to awareness and each of us has our own path that is perfect for us.


Entering into our own spirituality is a private journey. Each of us will be drawn to a different gateway to begin on our personal path to awakening to a greater experience of ourselves. Even though we may be taught certain philosophies or beliefs as children, we still need to find our own way of understanding and applying them in our lives. For those who are raised without a spiritual framework, they may not even know their process as a form of spirituality. But at some stage in their lives, whether in youth or adulthood, they are likely to recognize the resonance of their beliefs, the ring of truth in their philosophy, and their dedication to their chosen purpose.

Our inner guidance will lead us, so that we will be drawn to the right doorway for us--a doorway that only we can recognize by the way it makes us feel inside. It could be a picture of an angel or the gift of a crystal. We may meet someone special who shares their experiences with us in a way that we find intriguing. While visiting the home of an admired friend, we may notice a book or statue of a diety, and ask why they chose those tools. Or a word or phrase may catch our attention in a song, or a lecture. For some they may find their way by walking through the experience of illness before they begin the search for what will help them to truly heal, while others may seek physical improvement and stumble across yoga or meditation--only to find that it leads them to an unexpected place beyond the body.

As we awaken to ourselves and to life, we will become more attuned to what is right for us. The universe speaks to all of us through infinite channels, but we each have our own frequency. Others may share what worked for them, but only we can decide what truly makes us feel inspired, awakened, connected, fully conscious, aware and alive. Whatever our path, it is perfect and is meant especially for us.

Others may share what worked for them, but only we can decide what truly makes us feel inspired, awakened, connected, fully conscious, aware and alive. Whatever our path, it is perfect and is meant especially for us.



Yes. ...........

[Lady Pamela]

[Lady Pamela]

.

[Lady Pamela]

Great Spirit, God, Creator of All


Great Spirit, God, Creator of All

I welcome You into my heart, mind, body and soul

There is always room for You here.

Grant me the wisdom to heed my inner voice

And the strength to stay grounded while I sing my sacred song.

Guide me down my chosen path and give me the courage to pursue

what is available to me.

I am thankful for the lessons and grateful for my struggles;

I have not forgotten what has brought me to where I am today.

Open my heart to the healing wholeness of nature;

We are all related, and through this I will find serenity.

Great Spirit, God, Creator of All

Cleanse my spirit and wash my soul.

There is always room for You here.

-Laurel Singing Water Cat

[Lady Pamela]

An Indian Prayer


by H. Kent Craig



My grandfather is the fire

My grandmother is the wind

The Earth is my mother

The Great Spirit is my father



The World stopped at my birth

and laid itself at my feet



And I shall swallow the Earth whole when I die

and the Earth and I will be one



Hail The Great Spirit, my father

without him no one could exist

because there would be no will to live



Hail The Earth, my mother

without which no food could be grown

and so cause the will to live to starve



Hail the wind, my grandmother

for she brings loving, lifegiving rain

nourishing us as she nourishes our crops



Hail the fire, my grandfather

for the light, the warmth, the comfort he brings

without which we be animals, not men



Hail my parent and grandparents

without which

not I

nor you

nor anyone else

could have existed



Life gives life

which gives unto itself

a promise of new life



Hail the Great Spirit, The Earth, the wind, the fire

praise my parents loudly

for they are your parents, too



Oh, Great Spirit, giver of my life

please accept this humble offering of prayer

this offering of praise

this honest reverence of my love for you.



Oh Great Spirit,

Whose voice I hear in the wind,

Whose breath gives life to the world,

Hear me!

I come to you as one of your many children.

I am small and weak.

I need your strength and wisdom.

May I walk in beauty.

Make my eyes behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things that you have made,

And my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may know the things

That you have taught your children--

The lessons that you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers, but to be

able to fight my greatest enemy: myself.

Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes, so that

When life fades as the faded sunset

My spirit will come to you without shame.





.

[Lady Pamela]

Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding


by Larry Kibby



Great Spirit Grandfather,

I send these words to you,

Hear my prayer.

For these are my words,

To Father Sun,

To Grandmother Moon,

To Mother Earth

To all my relations,

That have been Created as I.

To the Four Winds,

That bring us the

Seasons of Life.



To the East

Where Father Sun rises

Bringing to us a new day

A new meaning of life,

A light in which to see

The path before us.



To the South

Where the warm air comes to us

Bringing heat and warmth,

The seasons of spring

And summer.

To the West

Where Father Sun goes

To bring to us darkness,

So as we may see the universe

And search for the questions

Of our life.



To the North

Where the cold winds come from

Bringing to us the seasons

Of fall and winter.



Oh Great Spirit

Hear my words

For to you I offer

My heart and soul

You made me

What I am

And I am Indian

America's Prisoners of War

I pray for my people of the past

Whose blood covers this our Mother Earth

I pray now as an Indian

Blood of my Ancestors.





Great Spirit Grandfather,

Look down upon

Your people,

For we are humble

Before you.

We seek your guidance,

So that we your people

May walk forever

In a proud manner

Before you.



Great Spirit Grandfather,

You gave your people

The breath of life,

So that we may live

With dignity and pride,

To always know

And understand

That life was meant for us

Your most humble

Traditional people,

And all that

Was Created

And given

The breath of life.



Great Spirit Grandfather,

Let my heart

Soul and mind

Be always strong with

Wisdom, knowledge

And Understanding.



Great Spirit Grandfather

Hear my words

For wisdom

So that I may open

My eyes and

See all that

Is good around me.



Great Spirit Grandfather

Hear my words

For wisdom

So that I may open my ears

And hear all that is good

Around me.

For I am humble

Before you.

I seek the strength

To continue on this path

That I travel on before you

In a most Sacred manner.



Great Spirit Grandfather

Hear my words

For they are words

That come from the

Heart, soul and mind,

And are filled with

Wisdom, knowledge and

Understanding.



Great Spirit Grandfather

My words are for you

To know and understand

That in a most Sacred manner

I honor and respect

The life you have put before me,

I seek the strength

To forever continue

Upon this Sacred path.



Great Spirit Grandfather

Upon the four winds

Are my words for strength

For they come from the

Heart, soul and mind

Words I send to you

In a Sacred manner.



Great Spirit Grandfather

Let all

The wisdom, knowledge and understanding

Be my strength

To continue on this path

That I travel on before you

As a Traditional Native American Indian,

Now and forever.


.

[Lady Pamela]

[StrongButch]

1)May your life be like a wildflower growing freely in the beauty and joy of everyday.2) The drums will always beat loudly in my heart even through the noise of the world, and every time my feet touch Mother Earth my soul will feel the pull of those who walked before me.

[StrongButch]

This is a very beautiful video : Native American Wisdom by freeyourmind4ever on you tube

[StrongButch]

Judge not by the eye but by the heart.