Native American Spirituality

[StrongButch]

Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors,the dreams of our elders,given to them in the solemm hours of the night by the Great Spirit and visions of our chiefs-and it is written in the hearts of our people.

[Rope]

http://mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/

Including you wannabees...

[~ocean]

hys true to hys culture ... I am honored to be by hys side. engulfed in hys power .,, hys like no other .. i'm proud to have been chosen by hym...

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Rope

http://mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/

Including you wannabees...

Not sure what is meant by "wannabees", but I found it curious and the link is broken, but below is what showed from Google.

" my culture is not a trend. by mycultureisnotatrend - Tumblr

mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/Hi, I'm a Native American, and I'm fed up with the appropriation of my culture by those desperate to be trendy, hip, ironic etc. Being a Native comes with a history . """

I enjoy this thread because of the positive nature and the history posted by those I know personally to be Native American, as is Spirit Dancer, and those who are not. I am not Native American, not a "wannabe" and I post and am just part of the Planet. I for one am Czech, and Scottish. Those who know me, and my child personally know I raised a Native American daughter. I come here not as a wannabe, but one who learned about my child's history and her relatives, and her culture. Not here to to be trendy, but to be a part of the humanity that we all now share.

[StrongButch]

Treat the earth and all that dwell upon it with respect. Remain close to Great Spirit. Show respect for your fellow beings. Work together for benefit of all. Give assistance and kindness whenever needed. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well being of mind and body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Be truthful and honest with yourself and others. Take full responsibilities for your actions.

[StrongButch]

Can we please not bring negative energy here. Lets create a safe place with messages from the heart. Share our knowledge because at the end of the day We are all One people.

[Spirit Dancer]

"Our religion seems foolish to you, but so does yours to me. The Baptists and Methodists and Presbyterians and the Catholics all have a different God. Why cannot we have one of our own?"





--Sitting Bull, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA

[Spirit Dancer]

True peace between nations will only happen when there is true peace within people’s souls.



No matter how hidden a force is, it will attract some kind of resistance.


Lakota Proverbs

[Spirit Dancer]

Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. - Hopi

Day and night cannot dwell together. - Duwamish

It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand. - Apache

[Spirit Dancer]

Peeling The Onion
Breaking Through Barriers
The human psyche is almost infinitely complex, made up of layers upon layers of thoughts, experiences, emotions, fears, loves, and goals. Those who seek to find the true essence of being or to move past a fear find that there are many intermediate steps along the way. When we first look inward, we look at ourselves as a whole, when in fact we are only seeing the surface. Like an onion, if we move past the surface, we will find another layer. Moving past that, we find yet another layer. These layers are barriers and everyone has them. You may work past one fear only to be confronted with a deeper, underlying fear. Or you may fully assimilate a revelation only to find other aspects of that revelation that you had not discovered. How many layers you will confront before finding a resolution is unknown. This is the journey, this is life.

But the journey to the center of the onion - what they called sunyata in Sanskrit or mu in Chinese - can be an enlightening experience in and of itself. As you break through each barrier, you gain a more profound understanding of your own mind and come to learn the unique facets that make up who you are. You will become intimately acquainted with your needs and wants, reactions, aversions, pleasures, and pains. You will discover qualities within yourself that have been buried by the years or by old hurts. This knowledge is cumulative. As you break through one barrier and confront the next, oftentimes more powerful, barrier, you will be equipped with the knowledge of self that you have gained during your searching.

During the "peeling of the onion," you may feel frustrated because it can seem like progress is slow or nonexistent. But don't let the multitude of layers bother you. Many of the qualities that make us who we are may be hidden at first. The process can continue indefinitely, for with self-discovery comes growth and thus further discovery. The more you learn, the more you will inevitably find, as you travel deeper and deeper within your soul.

[Spirit Dancer]

"It seems that if Elders can feel that you are open to learning, they are more than generous with their teaching."





--Chief Councilor, Lenard George

[Spirit Dancer]

I have been to the end of the earth, I have been to the end of the waters, I have been to the end of the sky, I have been to the end of the mountains, I have found none that are not my friends.



If you want to see what your body will look like tomorrow, look at your thoughts today.



Navajo Proverbs

[Spirit Dancer]

"One is not born a Tewa but rather one is made a Tewa... once made, one has to work hard continuously throughout one's life to remain a Tewa."





--Alfonso Ortiz, SAN JUAN PUEBLO



Being Indian is being spiritual. It is not the color of our skin. Being Indian is how we think. We need to learn our culture, our language, our dances, our traditions, and customs. It is one thing to know these things, but another to live them. We need to spend time with the Elders and get their guidance. We need to go to the mountains, woods, and desert to pray. Being spiritual is the way for us to think right. Walking the Red Road and thinking right is the greatest gift we can give to our children.


Grandfather, help me to Walk the Talk.

[Spirit Dancer]

Revenge
A Different Approach To Anger
There can be times when we get so angry with someone that we find ourselves imagining ways to seek revenge for the hurt they’ve caused us. Remember, however, that the thoughts you’ve just had are energetic creations. In order to keep yourself from having to take part in the rebalancing of energy, it is important to release the person and the thoughts into the care of the universe with forgiveness.

Before we allow ourselves to invest our energy into negative thought or action, we can remind ourselves that everything has a purpose. We can then consider that perhaps the actions of the other person or people may have had nothing to do with us. If we don’t take their actions personally, it may be easier to release them. Remembering that every interaction is an opportunity to make a better choice, we can take a deep breath before responding, allowing us just enough time to connect to center and make the choice to respond from our higher self. We can never know all the circumstances that may have led anyone to do anything. By not passing judgment on anyone, and instead sending hope for their healing, we may create something positive out of a difficult situation. We can then release it, since dwelling on it can cause an energetic drain in our system, causing us to really only hurt ourselves. When we can release our hold on negative events and interactions, we leave it in the hands of a wise universe to work out the best solution for all involved.

In every moment we have a chance to make a choice to bring light into the world. When we bless others with the gift of our positive energy, instead of letting circumstances affect us negatively, we bring a little peace to the world every day.

[Spirit Dancer]

"Times change but principles do not. Times change but lands do not. Times change but our culture and our language remain the same. And that's what you have to keep intact. It's not what you wear - it's what's in your heart."





--Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA

[Spirit Dancer]

Life Transitions
The Death And Rebirth Of Self
Sometimes a part of us must die before another part can come to life. Even though this is a natural and necessary part of our growth, it is often painful or, if we don’t realize what’s happening, confusing and disorienting. In fact, confusion and disorientation are often the messengers that tell us a shift is taking place within us. These shifts happen throughout the lives of all humans, as we move from infancy to childhood to adolescence and beyond. With each transition from one phase to another, we find ourselves saying good-bye to an old friend, the identity that we formed in order to move through that particular time.

Sometimes we form these identities in relationships or jobs, and when we shift those areas of our life become unsettled. Usually, if we take the time to look into the changing surface of things, we will find that a shift is taking place within us. For example, we may go through one whole chapter of our lives creating a protective shell around ourselves because we need it in order to heal from some early trauma. One day, though, we may find ourselves feeling confined and restless, wanting to move outside the shelter we needed for so long; the new part of ourselves cannot be born within the confines of the shell our old self needed to survive.

We may feel a strange mixture of exhilaration and sadness as we say good-bye to a part of ourselves that is dying and make way for a whole new identity to emerge in its place. We may find inspiration in working with the image of an animal who molts or sheds in order to make way for new skin, fur, or feathers to emerge. For example, keeping a duck feather, or some other symbol of transformation, can remind us that death and rebirth are simply nature’s way of evolving. We can surrender to this process, letting go of our past self with great love and gratitude, and welcoming the new with an open mind and heart, ready for our next phase of life.

[Spirit Dancer]

"Praying is what has brought us old people through life. We've all gone through hard times. We've all done our share of bad things. But through our prayers and faith in the Creator we get together again and we try hard to live right."





--Paula Weasel Head, BLOOD



As we go through life we find ourselves on track one day and off track the next day. We gain consistency through prayer. Prayer is our connection to the Great Spirit. Prayer is our channel for knowledge and wisdom. Prayer is how we keep our sanity. The Elders say we should walk in prayer.


Great Spirit, teach me to walk in prayer. Help keep my faith strong.

[Spirit Dancer]

Residing At The Helm
Being Your Own Village
Simple survival requires us to be in possession of many skills. The pursuit of dreams requires many more. Most individuals rely on the support of a village, whether peopled by relatives or community members, to effectively address the numerous ways we need assistance. This can mean anything from asking favors of acquaintances and leaning on loved ones for support to paying a skilled artisan to handle specialized tasks. However, each human being is born with the capacity to be their own village. We embody many roles throughout our lifetimes, all of which are representative of our capacity for self-sufficiency and self-determination. In different moments in our lives, we are our own counselor, janitor, caregiver, cook, healer, teacher, and student. Our willingness to joyfully take on these roles grants us the power to maintain control over the direction our life's journey takes.

In times past, human beings learned all of the skills needed for survival. Today, the majority of people specialize in a single discipline, which they hone throughout their lives. Thus, many of us feel uncomfortable standing at the helm of our own existence. We question our ability to make decisions concerning our own health, happiness, and welfare, and are left feeling dependent and powerless. But the authority to take ultimate responsibility for our lives is simply a matter of believing that we have the necessary faith and intelligence to cope with any circumstance the universe chooses to place in our path. Proving that we can each be our own villages through action enables us to accept that we are strong enough to exist autonomously. Cooking, cultivating a garden of fruits and vegetables, undertaking minor home repair, or adopting a healthier lifestyle can help you reassert your will.

Being your own village does not mean embracing isolation, for a balanced life is built upon the dual foundations of the inner and the outer villages. Rather, being your own village is a celebration of your wondrous inner strength and resourcefulness, as well as an acknowledgment of your innate ability to capably steer the course of your life.

[Spirit Dancer]

Sharing In Ceremony
Modern Uses for the Native American Talking Stick
We all want to be heard, to be able to speak freely without interruption and voice our opinions without fear of judgment. The talking stick has assured Native Americans a means of just and impartial hearings for centuries.

The ceremonial talking stick is used commonly in council circles to designate who has the right to speak. While some nations may use a feather, peace pipe, or some other sacred instrument, the object commands the respect of all. The holder of the talking stick may speak as long as they want while everyone else remains silent and listens respectfully. In honoring the power of words, the speaker, is expected to speak truthfully, from the heart. If the speaker feels they cannot honor the talking stick with words, they should refrain from speaking so as not to dishonor themself.

People of all cultures and ethnicities have embraced the simple power of the talking stick. Educators use the talking stick to assure every student free speech. It is a particularly useful tool in conflict management. When everyone has a chance to speak without interruption, it helps to defuse heated arguments, over-talking, and shouting.

Although talking sticks are traditionally made with feathers and cured leather, you can make your own by gathering an interesting looking stick from your yard and decorating it with good intentions. What it looks like is less important than the importance you give it while making it.

Around the campfire, the talking stick is often passed to share stories. One person starts the story and then passes the stick for the next person to continue, until the stick comes full circle. It's important however, particularly with children, that anyone who wishes to "pass the stick" and not talk, be given the same respect as the speakers.

The talking stick even has found a place in corporate circles, serving as an equalizer where executives and workers are given equal time and respect. Workers are able to learn new ways to communicate with each other, identify barriers that prevent them from being a high performing team and to create their vision for the future.

In the home, couples and families might keep the talking stick in a convenient place such as the family room or dinning room where it serves as a reminder to speak honestly and listen respectfully. In addition to helping resolve conflicts, the talking stick can be brought out to encourage the sharing of happy thoughts, memories, and to help with healing.

[Spirit Dancer]

"The honor of the people lies in the moccasin tracks of the woman. Walk the good road.... Be dutiful, respectful, gentle, and modest my daughter... Be strong with the warm, strong heart of the earth. No people goes down until their women are weak and dishonored, or dead upon the ground. Be strong and sing the strength of the Great Powers within you, all around you."





--Village Wise Man, SIOUX



The Elders say the Native American women will lead the healing among the tribes. We need to especially pray for our women, and ask the Creator to bless them and give them strength. Inside them are the powers of love and strength given by the Moon and the Earth. When everyone else gives up, it is the women who sings the songs of strength. She is the backbone of the people. So, to our women we say, sing your songs of strength; pray for your special powers; keep our people strong; be respectful, gentle, and modest.


Oh, Great One, bless our women. Make them strong today.