Native American Spirituality

[Andrew, Jr.]

Something I have learned and relearned, and have to remind myself of...I cannot beat out Mother Nature or the Universe. It has nothing to do with nuturing. This is our basic focus of life and living. For example, I found a dragon fly with a broken wing on my deck yesterday. I spent hours trying to figure out how to repair the wing so the dragon fly could survive. In the background the TV is on all about the animals being frozen in the oil spil in the Gulf. So, my neighbor comes home and we are chatting. I told him what I was doing. He asked me why I thought I could win and salvage the insect? I looked at him puzzled. I really had no idea of where he was going with this. He told me it is the circle of life. He told me to let the insect go, to toss it over into the grass. A garden snake or another insect will eat the dragon fly. It is a matter of survival for animals. I cannot stop living or life and how nature is. I can just screw it up - just like what is going on in the Gulf.

Andrew

[2myladyblue]

I found this in a book by Alice Walker:

While we trudge onward, trying to remember what Black Elk observed: that all living beings are essentialy alike, I recommend the wearing of two threads of different colors, one of them, representing the feminine, red. The red thread should be worn on th eleft wrist, closest to the heart, and the brown or white or black thread, representing whatever endangers the feminine, the Grandmother, Earth, on the right. These wil remind us to stay awake.

~Blue

[2myladyblue]

For many years now, I've been blessed to be included in an aboriginal women's spiritual gathering. A local elder invited women to her land for one weekend a year to take part in singing, drumming, circles and ceremonies. Other elders were often included to share their teachings as well.

That first year, I was so moved by the experience of my first sweat, everything I had heard and learned and all the new friends I had made, that I went up to this amazing woman to thank her. I remember telling her that she had changed my life and I will never forget how she corrected me..."you are changing your life", (These words turned out to be far more prophetic than I realized at the time). I continued to attend these gatherings over the years as often as I could and met many amazing women and learned so much.

One year in particular, I remember being especially concerned by the very likely perception that I was (mis)appropriating aboriginal culture. I felt as though I was an intruder...a white woman, taking the place of a native woman who should be there to experience and reclaim her culture.

I shared these thoughts with another woman I had gotten to know...and she shared her perspective with me. She pointed out that there wasn't that much difference in our skin colours (I think she may have even referred to herself as "a white indian") and she told me that it didn't matter if I wasn't aboriginal, because its what's on the inside that counts, and if that's the way we looked at it, she thought I was more "native" than a lot of native people.

I finally felt more than welcome...I felt at home (maybe even in my own skin, for the first time) and I went back the next year and asked my elder to give me my spirit name. I have continued to go back and take part and share and learn and grow with the other women who attend. In more recent years, the circle has grown to include transwomen. And every day, I remember what I started learning that first weekend that I found myself surounded by some of the most amazing and beautiful women I've ever met...We are all teachers and healers.

(Meegwetch ni kookum)

~LadyBlue

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by 2myladyblue

For many years now, I've been blessed to be included in an aboriginal women's spiritual gathering. A local elder invited women to her land for one weekend a year to take part in singing, drumming, circles and ceremonies. Other elders were often included to share their teachings as well.

That first year, I was so moved by the experience of my first sweat, everything I had heard and learned and all the new friends I had made, that I went up to this amazing woman to thank her. I remember telling her that she had changed my life and I will never forget how she corrected me..."you are changing your life", (These words turned out to be far more prophetic than I realized at the time). I continued to attend these gatherings over the years as often as I could and met many amazing women and learned so much.

One year in particular, I remember being especially concerned by the very likely perception that I was (mis)appropriating aboriginal culture. I felt as though I was an intruder...a white woman, taking the place of a native woman who should be there to experience and reclaim her culture.

I shared these thoughts with another woman I had gotten to know...and she shared her perspective with me. She pointed out that there wasn't that much difference in our skin colours (I think she may have even referred to herself as "a white indian") and she told me that it didn't matter if I wasn't aboriginal, because its what's on the inside that counts, and if that's the way we looked at it, she thought I was more "native" than a lot of native people.

I finally felt more than welcome...I felt at home (maybe even in my own skin, for the first time) and I went back the next year and asked my elder to give me my spirit name. I have continued to go back and take part and share and learn and grow with the other women who attend. In more recent years, the circle has grown to include transwomen. And every day, I remember what I started learning that first weekend that I found myself surounded by some of the most amazing and beautiful women I've ever met...We are all teachers and healers.

(Meegwetch ni kookum)

~LadyBlue

LadyBlue
Thank you so much for sharing this powerful life experience, I pleased to hear how welcoming you felt,
and that you have continued to return. How wonderful that transwomen are also included.
Welcome to the thread and again thank you.
Spirit Dancer

[Spirit Dancer]

"Today, what is important for us is to realize that the old sacred ways are correct, and that if we do not follow them we will be lost and without a guide."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW
A long time ago the Creator gave to the people all the knowledge on how we should live and conduct ourselves. The Native people have been influenced by outside "tribes" who don't know about the Sacred Way. Our Elders still know about the old sacred ways. We need to consult and talk to them before it's too late. Every family needs to seriously evaluate whether they are living according to the old knowledge. If we are fault finding, putting one another down, being selfish, being violent to our spouses or children, if we are cheating and being dishonest, then we are not living the old Sacred Way. The old way is about respect, love, forgiveness and sharing.

Great Spirt, today, teach me the old Sacred Way you taught my ancestors

[Spirit Dancer]

[Passionaria]

** giggling we're on video mode

[Spirit Dancer]

"For me, the essence of a medicine man's life is to be humble, to have great patience, to be close to the Earth, to live as simply as possible, and to never stop learning."
--Archie Fir Lame Deer, LAKOTA
The Medicine people focus on their Being, not their doing. After all, we are human beings not human doings. The Medicine people are very patient and consciously trying to live a life of humility. Medicine people are servant leaders. Their main purpose is to serve the needs of others. By this service attitude, they become the leaders people listen to and the leaders the people want to follow. The Medicine people say everyone is their teacher. Maybe we should try to live this way ourselves; humble, patient, honoring the Earth and listening to our teachers.

Grandfather, today, let me know all people are my teachers and I am the student.

[Spirit Dancer]

be humble and you will remain entire.
the sages do not display themselves, therefore they shine.
they do not approve themselves, therefore they are noted.
they do not praise themselves, therefore they have merit.
they do not glory in themselves, therefore they excel.

lao-tzu

[Passionaria]

This is a piece of my very soul.....

Sometimes the most beautiful things are said with no words at all.....