Native American Spirituality

[Spirit Dancer]

"You could study the ancestors, but without a deep feeling of communication with them it would be surface learning and surface talking. Once you have gone into yourself and have learned very deeply, appreciate it, and relate to it very well, everything will come very easily."

-- Ellen White, NANAIMO

Inside of every human being are our ancestors, and these ancestors still live. Today, the white man calls this DNA, but there is more than DNA. We have the ability to go inside of ourselves and learn from the ancestors. The ancestor teachings reside in the place of the center. The ancestors are waiting for us to come there so they can share the ancient teachings. It is said, "Be still and know".


Great Spirit, let me walk in the stillness.

[Spirit Dancer]

"Abuse and repression have no place in a traditional family."

-- Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

Traditional families guided by their culture were taught how to live. The were taught about relationships, respect, and spirituality. Only since alcohol was introduced to Indians have we seen physical abuse, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. These behaviors have no room in traditional families. The cycle of abuse must be broken during this generation. We do this by asking for help to quit drinking and abusing and return to our traditional culture and spirituality.


Creator, plant inside of me the knowledge of the traditional family.

[Tommi]

[Tommi]

http://www.youtube.com/user/pushthel.../0/Ze0dpXuvxFg

To Spirit Dancer

Don't know how to enter the You Tube pn this one.

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by Tommi

http://www.youtube.com/user/pushthel.../0/Ze0dpXuvxFg

To Spirit Dancer

Don't know how to enter the You Tube pn this one.

Here You are Syr, and thank You for sharing.

[Spirit Dancer]

"See how the boy is with his sister and the other ones of his home lodge and you can know how the man will be with your daughter."
--LAKOTA Proverb
Very early in our lives we form beliefs, attitudes, expectations, and habits. We will live by these habits when we are older. The Elders say to watch the boy with his sister. If he is respectful and treats her good, then odds are that's the way he will treat all women when he is older. Also, watch the young girl and how she treats her brother, for that will indicate what kind of woman she will be to her man. We need to teach our children to respect one another while they are young. The best way to teach them is to show respect ourselves.

Great Spirit, let me ba a role model for the children.

[Spirit Dancer]

Outside the Comfort Zone
Things We Don’t Want to Do

Putting off doing what scares us and brings up fear only creates more obstacles in our lives.


Most of us have had the experience of tackling some dreaded task only to come out the other side feeling invigorated, filled with a new sense of confidence and strength. The funny thing is, most of the time when we do them, we come out on the other side changed and often wondering what we were so worried about or why it took us so long. We may even begin to look for other tasks we’ve been avoiding so that we can feel that same heady mix of excitement and completion.

Whether we avoid something because it scares us or bores us, or because we think it will force a change we’re not ready for, putting it off only creates obstacles for us. On the other hand, facing the task at hand, no matter how onerous, creates flow in our lives and allows us to grow. The relief is palpable when we stand on the other side knowing that we did something even though it was hard or we didn't want to do it. On the other hand, when we cling to our comfort zone, never addressing the things we don't want to face, we cut ourselves off from flow and growth.

We all have at least one thing in our life that never seems to get done. Bringing that task to the top of the list and promising ourselves that we will do it as soon as possible is an act that could liberate a tremendous amount of energy in our lives. Whatever it is, we can allow ourselves to be fueled by the promise of the feelings of exhilaration and confidence that will be the natural result of doing it.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

Outside the Comfort Zone
Things We Don’t Want to Do

Putting off doing what scares us and brings up fear only creates more obstacles in our lives.


Most of us have had the experience of tackling some dreaded task only to come out the other side feeling invigorated, filled with a new sense of confidence and strength. The funny thing is, most of the time when we do them, we come out on the other side changed and often wondering what we were so worried about or why it took us so long. We may even begin to look for other tasks we’ve been avoiding so that we can feel that same heady mix of excitement and completion.

Whether we avoid something because it scares us or bores us, or because we think it will force a change we’re not ready for, putting it off only creates obstacles for us. On the other hand, facing the task at hand, no matter how onerous, creates flow in our lives and allows us to grow. The relief is palpable when we stand on the other side knowing that we did something even though it was hard or we didn't want to do it. On the other hand, when we cling to our comfort zone, never addressing the things we don't want to face, we cut ourselves off from flow and growth.

We all have at least one thing in our life that never seems to get done. Bringing that task to the top of the list and promising ourselves that we will do it as soon as possible is an act that could liberate a tremendous amount of energy in our lives. Whatever it is, we can allow ourselves to be fueled by the promise of the feelings of exhilaration and confidence that will be the natural result of doing it.

Great one! Thank you Ma'am!

[Spirit Dancer]

"Language is a vehicle for carrying spirit, life, and family. Language, religion, and land base are three things that characterize culture."
--Edmund Ladd, ZUNI PUEBLO
The Elders say we need to know the answers to three questions in order for us to be connected; the Earth, the Sky, the East, the West, the South, and the North. The three questions are: 1. Why are we? 2. Who are we? 3. Where are we going? If we know the language, if we have our spirituality, and if we can pray on sacred spots, then we are able to seek the answer to the questions. We must protect the language, religion, and land so our future generations can stay connected.

Great Spirit, help us maintain our language, spirit, family, religion and our Mother Earth.

[Spirit Dancer]

Staying Open and Fluid
Judgment Versus Opinion

It is important to distinguish between opinion and judgment. Opinions open us up, judgments close us down.


Most of us understand that when we judge someone, or someone judges us, it is a negative emotional experience. As a result, we naturally want to avoid being judgmental, but this gets confusing when we feel we have to suppress thoughts that could actually be offering us guidance. For example, we may meet someone new and suppress a negative feeling about them, thinking that we don't want to fall into the trap of being judgmental. Later, though, it may turn out that paying attention to that thought could have helped us take care of ourselves or someone else.

It is important to learn to distinguish inner guidance, and having an opinion, from judgment, otherwise we run the risk of not listening to our intuition and not allowing ourselves to form opinions. Inner guidance and opinions both help us to interact more intelligently in the world, so we don't want to throw them out in an effort to avoid being judgmental. Our intuition usually makes itself known to us in a flash, and often has a physical component—a flutter in our stomachs, sweaty palms, or a chill. When we use this information to help us navigate a situation, we always benefit. Similarly, having an opinion about a person or an idea allows us to converse about it in a focused way with intention. Listening to our intuition and forming opinions are both positive outcomes of our ability to interpret the information that comes our way.

When we make a judgment, on the other hand, we attempt to have a final say on whether someone or something is inherently good or bad. Judgments close us down instead of opening us up; opinions have a lighter quality and are amenable to change. Once a judgment has been made, there is no more conversation or consideration, whereas opinions invite further debate. Intuition guides us from moment to moment, but, unlike judgment, never makes a final decree. In other words, it is only healthy to be open to the information we receive and to allow ourselves to process that information. As long as we stay open and fluid, we can trust that we have not fallen prey to the trap of judgment.

[Spirit Dancer]

"The battle for Indian children will be won in the classroom, not on the streets or on horses. The students of today are our warriors of tomorrow."
--Wilma P. Mankiller, CHEROKEE
The world is constantly changing. One of the strengths of Indian people has been our adaptability. In today's world, education is what we need to survive. We need doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists. We can become these things and still live in a cultural way. We need to live in two worlds; the educated world and the Indian cultural world. Education will help protect our land, our people's health, and provide knowledge for our people. We must teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Also, we must teach the language, the culture, the ceremony, and the tradition of our people.

Creator, let me remember You are my teacher.

[Spirit Dancer]

Undistracted Energy
Pure Thoughts

Pure thought is focused attention which creates power and energy because there is no distraction.


If we make no effort at all, our thoughts usually scatter in a vast array of directions. They start and stop and move in surprising ways from one second to the next. If we try to follow our thoughts without controlling them, we will be amazed at how truly inconsistent they are. Yet, if we apply our minds to a specific task, especially one that interests us, they gather together and allow us to focus our attention, creating great power and energy. This is what is known as pure thought, because it is undistracted.

The law of attraction—like attracts like—influences all energy, including our thoughts, and this is what makes pure thought so potent. Our undistracted thoughts create a powerful magnet that draws similar energy into our vibrational field. As a result, the longer we are able to hold positive thoughts in our minds, the more powerful the positive energy around us becomes. We don’t need to focus on action and controlling so much when we are surrounded by energy that draws what we want toward us. We can simply respond to the opportunities that naturally come our way. When this is the essence of our experience, we can go with the flow, knowing that we will be okay.

If pure thought is a body, it is our emotions that supply the heart that can really bring it to life. Our thoughts and feelings exist in relation to one another, and they form a feedback loop through which they communicate and empower each other. When we hold a thought in our mind without being distracted, we have achieved pure thought. When we have a positive emotional response to that thought, we enable it to dance and move and breathe itself into existence.

[Spirit Dancer]

"If you don't know the language, you'll only see the surface of the culture...the language is the heart of the culture and you cannot separate it."
--Elaine Ramos, TLINGIT
The Creator gave to every person their own special way to communicate and understand. Indians understand connectedness, balance, harmony, spirituality, and the relationship to Mother Earth. The understanding of these things is expressed in the language. The true understanding of culture is expressed in the language. The language is the heart of the people. If we have not learned the language, we need to find a teacher.

Great Spirit, help me to learn the culture. Let me pray and sing to You in my language.

[Spirit Dancer]

Intuitive Guidance from Within
Using Yourself as a Pendulum

You can use your body as a pendulum by allowing a tilting forward or back in answer to yes or no questions.


Learning to trust our intuition is something that can connect us with our higher selves. Sometimes it might not seem easy to do this. Our thoughts and minds often get in the way. But by accessing our innermost self, we will find that the information we receive is usually what we truly need at that moment. One of the techniques that allows us to really get in touch with our deepest font of wisdom is using our body as a pendulum. The simple act of letting our physical being lead us in a certain direction can offer us extremely deep insights and help us find the answers we seek.

Many of us may have tried using a pendulum or crystal on a chain as a dousing tool to acquire the information we need to make decisions or even find lost objects. Using our bodies puts us much more closely in tune with our being. The process of using your body as a pendulum is to ask your higher self a question and wait for your body to respond in either a forward-tilting or backward-tilting motion. The first step is to really understand how our higher self communicates with us by centering our bodies, asking ourselves the directions for “yes” and “no,” and noting which way our body moves. For a lot of people a forward motion is “yes,” and your body tilting backward is a “no” answer. It is easier to start with simple questions at first to understand how our higher self communicates with us. As we become more used to the messages we receive and how we process them, we can start asking for more specific things such as what dosage of herbs to take or which foods would best nourish our bodies. Using this technique in the grocery store or when shopping for vitamins and remedies can be extremely helpful.

Since we are always present in our bodies, understanding how we can use our bodies as pendulums is a tool we can use at any given moment in our lives. Letting our bodies tell us what is happening inside of us will in turn help to guide us through not just daily but also major life decisions. The more we allow our bodies to open up and share with us the connection it has with our deeper self, the better able we will be to truly access the knowledge we hold so deeply within.

[Apocalipstic]

I love this thread!

I was wondering what you think about this.

As you know, I was adopted from Oklahoma City as a baby, my adoptive parents did not know of my Cherokee ancestry and I did not until I met my birth parents many years later. Do you think the Ancestors still know me, or does the adoption and removal from the area cut that tie?

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

I love this thread!

I was wondering what you think about this.

As you know, I was adopted from Oklahoma City as a baby, my adoptive parents did not know of my Cherokee ancestry and I did not until I met my birth parents many years later. Do you think the Ancestors still know me, or does the adoption and removal from the area cut that tie?

Actually your ties are never severed, the Cherokee would rather keep
their children within the tribe.
However if it is impossible to do so, they will welcome them back into the fold so to speak when the child
discovers their Native heritage. All nations believe the same, regarding
adoption. Recently I read where a Sioux tribe was fighting to gain custody
of a young child so the child could remain within their tribe.
If you want to reconnect there are options you can start here if you like.
http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/na...can-child.html

http://adopting.adoption.com/child/a...can-child.html


http://www.cwla.org/articles/cv0203indianadopt.htm

If you need any help let me know, be glad to assist you.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

Actually your ties are never severed, the Cherokee would rather keep
their children within the tribe.
However if it is impossible to do so, they will welcome them back into the fold so to speak when the child
discovers their Native heritage. All nations believe the same, regarding
adoption. Recently I read where a Sioux tribe was fighting to gain custody
of a young child so the child could remain within their tribe.
If you want to reconnect there are options you can start here if you like.
http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/na...can-child.html

http://adopting.adoption.com/child/a...can-child.html


http://www.cwla.org/articles/cv0203indianadopt.htm

If you need any help let me know, be glad to assist you.

Thank you!

None of the links for an adopted Native American Child work. The ones to adopt do and the ones which explain the Act in 1978 which stopped this practice.

I have no idea that 1/4 of Native American Children were adopted out forcibly in the 50's and 60's. I knew some, but that is a huge amount.

I have been hoping that the Ancestors in the Spirit World know where we all are.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Thank you!

None of the links for an adopted Native American Child work. The ones to adopt do and the ones which explain the Act in 1978 which stopped this practice.

I have no idea that 1/4 of Native American Children were adopted out forcibly in the 50's and 60's. I knew some, but that is a huge amount.

I have been hoping that the Ancestors in the Spirit World know where we all are.

I don't know my birth Grandmother's maiden name, am more interested in my Spirit Ancestors, than anything.

Thank you for all you help!

xoxoxoxo

[Spirit Dancer]

"I don't think that anybody anywhere can talk about the future of their people or of an organization without talking about education. Whoever controls the education of our children controls our future, the future of the Cherokee people, and of the Cherokee Nation."

-- Wilma P. Mankiller, CHEROKEE

The world has changed in the last 50 years. It will change even more in the next 50 years, and it will change even faster. We must educate ourselves to ensure our future generations will maintain the language and the culture of our people. We need to be concerned about our land because when our land goes away, so will our people. We need to be concerned about leadership, our families, and about alcoholism. We need to be concerned about what's going on around the world. We can only do this by being educated. Then we can control our future.


Great Spirit, please guide our children; let me know how I can help.

[Spirit Dancer]

"My Grandfather survived on this earth without using anything that did not go back into the earth. The whole world could learn from that."

-- Floyd Westerman, SIOUX

Our grandfathers knew how to live in harmony. They did not create poisons or technologies that destroyed things. They did not make their decisions based on greed or for selfish reasons. They did not take more then they used. Their thoughts and actions were about respect. The Elders conducted themselves in a respectful way. We need to consider our actions around respect for Mother Earth.


My Creator, have the grandfathers teach us today about the old ways.