June 21st, 2009

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - June 20

» Posted in Meditations at 10:41 pm
“But in the Indian Spirit the land is still vested; it will be until other men are able to divine and meet its rhythm. Men must be born and reborn to belong. Their bodies must be formed of the dust of their forefathers’ bones.”
–Luther Standing Bear, OGLALA SIOUX
It is said when we walk on the Earth, we are walking on our ancestors and our unborn children. This is the relationship Native People have with the Earth. It is this relationship which gives insight into the Earth’s rhythm and heartbeat and creates the feeling of belonging. If you feel you belong to something, you’ll treat it with respect. If you feel you are above something, you’ll treat it with disrespect. Indian Spirituality is tied to the Earth. We belong to the Earth along with all other creatures on the Earth. We must align to this realization.
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August 20th, 2008

Daily Feast

» Posted in Meditations at 1:11 am

MAY

Ana-Sku’tee

Planting Month

We, the old settlers here in council with the late emigrants, they
are perfectly friendly toward us…..we have full confidence they will
receive you with all friendship.

SEQUOYAH

May 1 - Daily Feast

A country road in May hums with activity. Bees comb the clover
fields for nectar. Buttercups and dayflowers open to the sun and a
mockingbird sets out to mimic every sound it has ever heard - even the
baby chick. Wild onions and pink verbena share the space and the
buttery blooms of buffalo peas nod in spring breezes. Only now the air
has warmed to the sun and the plants and leaves of oaks grow so much
overnight that the sky closes in like a cocoon. Now is the time to slow
down and enjoy the minute changes as they come hourly, the scents, the
roadsides filled with new plants, and the green hills and valleys. They
come quickly, the di ga ne tli yv sdi, changes, that sometimes mature
before we see the difference. If we are not careful, our clouded
thought and vision shut it out until we have missed the best part.

~ This brings rest to me heart. I feel like a leaf after a storm, when the wind is still. ~

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August 20th, 2008

Elder Meditation

» Posted in Meditations at 1:09 am
Elder’s Meditation of the Day -
May 3
“But I have learned a lot from trees: sometimes about the
weather, sometimes about animals, sometimes about the Great Spirit.”
–Walking Buffalo, STONEY
Nature is the greatest teacher on the Earth. Nature produces many
different plants, animals, trees, rocks, birds, insects and weather patterns.
Nature designed all these various things to grow and multiply while at the same
time live in harmony with each other. We can learn a lot of we observe and study
Nature’s system of harmony and balance. Today, go sit on a rock and quietly
observe and ask to be shown the lessons.
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August 10th, 2008

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - August 10

» Posted in Meditations at 8:52 am
“Nature is the storehouse of potential life of future generations and is sacred.”
–Audrey Shenandoah, ONONDAGA
We need to honor and respect our Mother Earth. She is the source of all life. The sun shines life to the earth, then the earth produces life in all forms and in a balanced way. Everything is here to serve everything else. If we interrupt the flow in any way, we leave nothing for the future generations. Before every decision is made, we should ask, and answer, a final question, “If we do this, what will be the effects on the seventh generation? What will we cause our children to live with?” We need to have respect and love for all things and for all people. We need to do this for ourselves and for all the children still unborn.
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July 29th, 2008

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - July 29

» Posted in Meditations at 10:25 am
“When we want to talk to Him we burn tobacco and it takes our prayers all the way up to the Sky World.”
–Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA
Our herbs and our medicines are all here for the purpose of serving. Offering tobacco as a gift to the Creator is proper use of our medicine. In this way, we are able to communicate from the physical world to the spiritual world. Sometimes we have a hard time coming up with the right words when we pray especially if we are really mixed up. The tobacco and the sage will take the intent to the spirit world. The meaning behind the words are more important the the words. The Creator always knows our intent. The tobacco helps us get to the Sky World.
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July 11th, 2008

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - July 11

» Posted in Meditations at 8:34 am

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - July 11

“Do not grieve. Misfortunes will happen to the wisest and best of men. Death will come, always out of season. It is the command of the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must obey. What is past and what cannot be prevented should not be grieved for…”
–Big Elk, OMAHA Chief

Our earth continues to Grow by cycles and seasons: The cycles of growth - spring, summer, fall, winter. The cycles of the human being - baby, youth, adult, elder. It is through these cycles that we will experience the changes. I will not always necessarily agree with these changes but I need to trust the Grandfathers are in charge. Things will come and things will go. Really, I own nothing, the Creator owns all. Too often I label things as mine. I say this belongs to me, but it really belongs to the Creator. He gives me things to take care of. I need to do the best I can with what I have, with what I know at the time. And when the Creator changes things, I need to let go for His planning is the best

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June 29th, 2008

Elder Meditation

» Posted in Meditations at 10:01 pm

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - June 12

“The faces of our future generations are looking up to us from the earth and we step with great care not to disturb our grandchildren.”
–Traditional Circle of Elders

The leaves, when they are finished with their life on the trees, will return to the Earth. The leaves that return to the Earth are the future trees. So inside the Mother Earth are the future forests. The human, when finished with its life on the Earth, will return to the Earth. So in the Earth are our future grandchildren. Knowing this, we should be respectful of the place where our future generations live. Only take from the Earth what you need. Every time you pick a plant or Medicine, leave an offering and leave a prayer. Be respectful and walk in a sacred way.

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June 28th, 2008

Of the Earth and Sea

» Posted in Meditations at 12:55 am

From Earth - From Water
Our people grow to love each other
in this way

For in all of our languages
there is no he or she

We are the children of the earth
and of the sea

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June 12th, 2008

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - June 6

» Posted in Meditations at 3:20 pm

“We need to save those Elders who cannot speak for themselves — the trees.”

–Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

The trees are the Elders of the Earth. Go to the forest or to the
mountains and find a young tree. Then find and old tree. Spend time
with each. Sit by the young tree and listen to your thoughts. Then move
to an old tree and listen to your thoughts again. Just being in the
presence of an old tree, you will feel more calm. Your thoughts will
contain wisdom and your answers will be deeper. Why is this so? These
old trees know more, have heard more and are the Elders of the Earth.
We must ensure these trees live so we can learn from them.

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June 1st, 2008

Elder’s Meditation of the Day - June 1

» Posted in Meditations at 9:16 am

“You have to have a lot of patience to hear those old
people talk, because when they talk, they talk about motivation, the feeling,
the unsound that is around the universe. They explain everything to one
understanding. They bring it all together, and when they finish, just one word
comes out. Just one word. They might talk all day, and just one word comes out.”
–Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
We need to be careful about judging the old ones when we talk. At
first they may not make sense to us. Maybe we’ll say they’re old fashioned and
don’t understand. But the old ones do understand! When they speak, listen very
carefully. Often it will take weeks or maybe even years before we understand
what they are really saying. This is the way of Wisdom. We need to listen,
listen, listen.
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