Native American Spirituality

Spirit Dancer · 02-19-2010, 06:17 PM

The Old Man said,`you are both ugly and handsome and you must accept your ugliness as well as your handsomeness in order to really accept yourself."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
My Grandfather told me one time that any person who is judgmental to another is also judgmental to themselves. If we want to be free of being judgmental, we need to first work on how judgmental we are to ourselves. If we quit judging ourselves and start accepting ourselves as we are, we will start accepting others as they are. Then we will experience a level of new freedom.

Great Spirit, let me accept myself as I am - honoring both my strengths and my weaknesses.

friskyfemme · 02-19-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

The Old Man said,`you are both ugly and handsome and you must accept your ugliness as well as your handsomeness in order to really accept yourself."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
My Grandfather told me one time that any person who is judgmental to another is also judgmental to themselves. If we want to be free of being judgmental, we need to first work on how judgmental we are to ourselves. If we quit judging ourselves and start accepting ourselves as we are, we will start accepting others as they are. Then we will experience a level of new freedom.

Great Spirit, let me accept myself as I am - honoring both my strengths and my weaknesses.

Very profound thinking. Thank you for sharing this. I need to take advice to heart.

Spirit Dancer · 02-20-2010, 08:07 PM

"When a community does something together, that community is very happy, jovial, connected, and unified."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
The Indian People have always been able to adapt. If the hunting changed, we found new hunting grounds. If the earth changed, we moved to a better place. If the river changed course, we followed the river. But with every change, we kept our Indianness and spirituality. Our culture and spirituality have always been our strength. Our culture and spirituality taught us to live in harmony. We must change with the times, but we must maintain our culture and spirituality, always living in harmony.

Great Spirit, You have taught us to survive. Let me always maintain my Indianness

Spirit Dancer · 02-20-2010, 08:10 PM

It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. Its
appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one's
spiritual balance. Therefore, children must early learn the beauty of generosity.
They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving.

Ohiyesa

Spirit Dancer · 02-20-2010, 08:10 PM

May the sun
bring you new energy by day.
May the moon
softly restore you by night.
May the rain
wash away your worries.
May the breeze
blow new strength into your being.
May you walk gently through the world
and know its beauty all the days of your life.

Apache blessing

AtLast · 02-20-2010, 08:32 PM

I am not Native American but have found that the solace, peace, and inner balance that many native spiritual practices bring me changed my life for the better. I claim no expertise in any of these practices. I'm simply grateful I opened myself up to differing ways of experiencing spirit in my life.

I have had a pretty rough year and a half on several fronts and could not have landed on my feet without what I have been able to integrate in my life through native American spiritual teachings.

I'm going on a personal pilgrimage of calm next week to some geographic areas that are sacred to CA Native people that have opened up to me a place to reflect and chant, to commune. Places to honor the Native stewards that keep them sacred so that someone like me can be humbled by the very different holiness that surrounded my childhood.

Spirit Dancer · 02-21-2010, 10:09 AM

Unfortunately, all is not beauty and peace. I don't believe I've ever met a person
who hasn't been challenged or wounded by something. Difficulties present choices:
we can either waste away from our wounds or use them to grow our souls.
My husband, for example, is a survivor of the Second World War. As a child,
he suffered through six years of bombings, near-escapes, and concentration camps.
Part of his soul work has been the gradual transformation of this deep well
of grief and pain. As he heals himself, he also participates in healing that terrible idea
of war in others. I have always said that no one heals alone--we heal through and for one another.

Joan Borysenko

Spirit Dancer · 02-21-2010, 10:13 AM

Atlast

Welcome, i'm happy that you find comfort and sloace in Native ways.
One doesn't have to be Native to feel drawn and derive a healing and comfort from their practices. I hope the remainder of your year is better and your commune brings the peace you desire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

I am not Native American but have found that the solace, peace, and inner balance that many native spiritual practices bring me changed my life for the better. I claim no expertise in any of these practices. I'm simply grateful I opened myself up to differing ways of experiencing spirit in my life.

I have had a pretty rough year and a half on several fronts and could not have landed on my feet without what I have been able to integrate in my life through native American spiritual teachings.

I'm going on a personal pilgrimage of calm next week to some geographic areas that are sacred to CA Native people that have opened up to me a place to reflect and chant, to commune. Places to honor the Native stewards that keep them sacred so that someone like me can be humbled by the very different holiness that surrounded my childhood.

Andrew, Jr. · 02-21-2010, 04:46 PM

AtlastHome and Spirit Dancer,

I agree with you. Native American Spirituality does bring comfort to me as well. It reminds me of my Buddist ways. It makes me so very happy.

Andrew

Spirit Dancer · 02-21-2010, 10:07 AM

"Every thing or living being that exists in this world, be it trees, flowers, birds, grasses, rocks, soil of the earth, or human beings, has its unique manner of existence - its essence, its spirit that makes it what it is. That is what is meant by connectedness."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
Scientists are finally realizing what the Elders have taught for thousands of years - everything is connected. Because everything is interconnected, whatever you do to any one thing, you do to everything. If you poison any part of the earth, the poison eventually affects everything else. If you poison the plants, the birds will eat the plants, which poisons the birds. The birds are eaten by humans which poisons the humans. The humans will have babies who could be deformed because the plants were poisoned. We must learn to live in harmony with the earth. We must learn to think good things. Every good thought is felt by everything, which causes everything to be happy.

Creator, let my thoughts only be good thoughts.

Spirit Dancer · 02-22-2010, 08:11 PM

There is in this world no such force as the force
of a person determined to rise.
The human soul cannot be permanently chained.
W.E.B. Du Bois

Spirit Dancer · 02-22-2010, 08:24 PM

do-hi, sv-hi-ye-yi, a-da-do-li-gi, tsv-gi-ne-li

Peaceful evening blessings my friends

TIMBERWOLF · 02-22-2010, 09:25 PM

Sitting Bull Hunkpapa Sioux

"I am a red man. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for Eagles to be Crows. We are poor..but we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die...we die defending our rights."

Spirit Dancer · 02-23-2010, 03:18 PM

"We've got to learn what's going on today in the world, and we've got to get an education so we can survive."
--Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWA
Indian people have the ability to adapt. In these modern times, we Native people must walk two roads. We must get educated so our people don't lose. We need lawyers, doctors, nurses, foresters, scientists, educators, carpenters, welders. These skills are needed to help the people. While we are learning we need to remember to keep our culture, learn our dances, sing our songs, learn to speak our own language and maintain our culture for future generations.

Great Spirit, let my education never lack the meaning and value of Indian spirituality.

Spirit Dancer · 02-24-2010, 08:00 PM

"But each of us must find out for himself or herself what their gift is, so that they can use it in their life."
--Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWAY
The old people say, everyone has a song to sing. This song is the reason we are on this earth. When we are doing what we came on this earth to do, we know true happiness. How will we know our song? Pray. Ask the Great Mystery, "What is it you want me to do during my stay on earth?" Ask. He will tell you. He will even help you develop yourself to accomplish His mission.

Great Spirit, help me find my song and let me sing it.

Spirit Dancer · 02-24-2010, 08:01 PM

I release others from all blame
that I assign them.

They only play roles in my life that help me
become more awake and
aware of who I really am.

Andrew, Jr. · 02-25-2010, 10:22 AM

This morning on The Today Show, there was a segment on totem poles. It was amazing how you read them from the bottom to the sky. And each one tells a story. It is passed down from generation to generation. This is a lifelong skill that is such a gift of love. I was really amazed at the connection of the artist to the wood/tree - love and dedication.

02-19-2010, 06:17 PM	#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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	The Old Man said,`you are both ugly and handsome and you must accept your ugliness as well as your handsomeness in order to really accept yourself." --Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA My Grandfather told me one time that any person who is judgmental to another is also judgmental to themselves. If we want to be free of being judgmental, we need to first work on how judgmental we are to ourselves. If we quit judging ourselves and start accepting ourselves as we are, we will start accepting others as they are. Then we will experience a level of new freedom. Great Spirit, let me accept myself as I am - honoring both my strengths and my weaknesses. __________________ “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

02-20-2010, 08:07 PM	#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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"When a community does something together, that community is very happy, jovial, connected, and unified." --Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA The Indian People have always been able to adapt. If the hunting changed, we found new hunting grounds. If the earth changed, we moved to a better place. If the river changed course, we followed the river. But with every change, we kept our Indianness and spirituality. Our culture and spirituality have always been our strength. Our culture and spirituality taught us to live in harmony. We must change with the times, but we must maintain our culture and spirituality, always living in harmony. Great Spirit, You have taught us to survive. Let me always maintain my Indianness __________________ “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

02-20-2010, 08:10 PM	#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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. Its appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one's spiritual balance. Therefore, children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving. Ohiyesa __________________ “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

02-20-2010, 08:10 PM	#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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life. Apache blessing __________________ “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

02-21-2010, 10:09 AM	#7
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Unfortunately, all is not beauty and peace. I don't believe I've ever met a person who hasn't been challenged or wounded by something. Difficulties present choices: we can either waste away from our wounds or use them to grow our souls. My husband, for example, is a survivor of the Second World War. As a child, he suffered through six years of bombings, near-escapes, and concentration camps. Part of his soul work has been the gradual transformation of this deep well of grief and pain. As he heals himself, he also participates in healing that terrible idea of war in others. I have always said that no one heals alone--we heal through and for one another. Joan Borysenko __________________ “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

02-20-2010, 08:32 PM	#6
AtLast Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Woman Preferred Pronoun?: HER - SHE Relationship Status: Relating Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CA & AZ I'm a Snowbird Posts: 5,408 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,826 Thanked 10,827 Times in 3,199 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	I am not Native American but have found that the solace, peace, and inner balance that many native spiritual practices bring me changed my life for the better. I claim no expertise in any of these practices. I'm simply grateful I opened myself up to differing ways of experiencing spirit in my life. I have had a pretty rough year and a half on several fronts and could not have landed on my feet without what I have been able to integrate in my life through native American spiritual teachings. I'm going on a personal pilgrimage of calm next week to some geographic areas that are sacred to CA Native people that have opened up to me a place to reflect and chant, to commune. Places to honor the Native stewards that keep them sacred so that someone like me can be humbled by the very different holiness that surrounded my childhood.

02-21-2010, 04:46 PM	#9
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	AtlastHome and Spirit Dancer, I agree with you. Native American Spirituality does bring comfort to me as well. It reminds me of my Buddist ways. It makes me so very happy. Andrew

02-21-2010, 10:07 AM	#10
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"Every thing or living being that exists in this world, be it trees, flowers, birds, grasses, rocks, soil of the earth, or human beings, has its unique manner of existence - its essence, its spirit that makes it what it is. That is what is meant by connectedness." --Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA Scientists are finally realizing what the Elders have taught for thousands of years - everything is connected. Because everything is interconnected, whatever you do to any one thing, you do to everything. If you poison any part of the earth, the poison eventually affects everything else. If you poison the plants, the birds will eat the plants, which poisons the birds. The birds are eaten by humans which poisons the humans. The humans will have babies who could be deformed because the plants were poisoned. We must learn to live in harmony with the earth. We must learn to think good things. Every good thought is felt by everything, which causes everything to be happy. Creator, let my thoughts only be good thoughts. __________________ “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

02-22-2010, 08:11 PM	#11
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	for my friend There is in this world no such force as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained. W.E.B. Du Bois __________________ “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

02-22-2010, 08:24 PM	#12
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	do-hi, sv-hi-ye-yi, a-da-do-li-gi, tsv-gi-ne-li Peaceful evening blessings my friends __________________ “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

02-22-2010, 09:25 PM	#13
TIMBERWOLF Member How Do You Identify?: Old Butch Preferred Pronoun?: Lesbian Butch so that would be she, but I come to just about anything S Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: FL Posts: 384 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 218 Thanked 591 Times in 212 Posts Rep Power: 4807545	Sitting Bull Hunkpapa Sioux "I am a red man. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for Eagles to be Crows. We are poor..but we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die...we die defending our rights."

02-23-2010, 03:18 PM	#14
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"We've got to learn what's going on today in the world, and we've got to get an education so we can survive." --Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWA Indian people have the ability to adapt. In these modern times, we Native people must walk two roads. We must get educated so our people don't lose. We need lawyers, doctors, nurses, foresters, scientists, educators, carpenters, welders. These skills are needed to help the people. While we are learning we need to remember to keep our culture, learn our dances, sing our songs, learn to speak our own language and maintain our culture for future generations. Great Spirit, let my education never lack the meaning and value of Indian spirituality. __________________ “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

02-24-2010, 08:00 PM	#15
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	"But each of us must find out for himself or herself what their gift is, so that they can use it in their life." --Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWAY The old people say, everyone has a song to sing. This song is the reason we are on this earth. When we are doing what we came on this earth to do, we know true happiness. How will we know our song? Pray. Ask the Great Mystery, "What is it you want me to do during my stay on earth?" Ask. He will tell you. He will even help you develop yourself to accomplish His mission. Great Spirit, help me find my song and let me sing it. __________________ “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

02-24-2010, 08:01 PM	#16
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 12,904 Times in 3,466 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Not Native but well versed affirmation I release others from all blame that I assign them. They only play roles in my life that help me become more awake and aware of who I really am. __________________ “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

02-25-2010, 10:22 AM	#17
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	Totem Poles This morning on The Today Show, there was a segment on totem poles. It was amazing how you read them from the bottom to the sky. And each one tells a story. It is passed down from generation to generation. This is a lifelong skill that is such a gift of love. I was really amazed at the connection of the artist to the wood/tree - love and dedication.