http://spiritandword.org/blog/category/native-american-spirituality/ Blog categories... http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-meaning-of-sacredness/ Understandings of the Teachings from My Mentors
~ Jerry Pope, from the October 2012 Issue of Whisper n Thunder

Over the pa...]]> Understandings of the Teachings from My Mentors
~ Jerry Pope, from the October 2012 Issue of Whisper n Thunder

Over the past few years, months & days I have had the privilege and honor of trying to understand & integrate teachings from three different influential people in my life, two of whom are Lakota teachers and an elder, all who do not wanttheir names mentioned, because of ongoing controversies on the reservation about teaching to outsiders. My teachings also come from a dear woman whom I consider a sister, friend & mentor, Anita Pathik Law. She is a woman of intense spirituality who has gone through an incredible transformation from a rare, debilitating illness which left her on her back for over 8 months. She is a Sundancer in the Lakota way, and has participated in the other ceremonies for a dozen or so years. She is also a spiritual teacher and frequent guest minister at Unity Churches. Ani, as her friends call her, is a master meditation leader, healer, life coach, and her heritage is of the people of India, her family healers in their own right.

The Language of Sacred & the Meaning of Sacred

The Lakota language by definition is a sacred language and it is a vowel based language, each vowel like an electrical connection to “All That Is,” which is the meaning of the word Wakan. The phrase Taku wa s’kan s’kan expresses this well, meaning “Something Sacred is in motion.” It is also a language based in the now - what is present and occurring right at the moment.

In order to get to the true meaning of sacredness, I must define exactly what is sacred. The answer is simple. Everything is sacred. Every mote of dust, every bit of the cosmos from galaxies, giant super stars to white dwarfs, to the darkest places where no light penetrates or light escapes, is sacred. Every creature that crawls, flies, swims, walks, on several pairs or four legs, every growing thing that has roots, every rock, canyon, all the water on Unc’i Ina Maka (Grandmother Earth), the very air we as humans breathe is sacred, each breath we take, every step we run, walk, slide, or if we fall flat on our face, all is sacred. Every Individual that lived, died, whether or not a despot, every politician, business person, criminal, murderer who was born and conceived in love, is/or will be in the future, or from the past, all are sacred at the moment of birth. It is of course the free will of the individual as they choose their life path, that determines whether or not they contribute to the greater good, but every sacred person has that chance and that choice.

Wikipedia defines sacred this way: “Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy (perceived by religious individuals as associated with the divine) or sacred (considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers in a given set of spiritual ideas). In other contexts, objects are often considered 'holy' or 'sacred' if used for spiritual purposes, such as the worship or service of gods. These terms can also be used in a non-spiritual or semi-spiritual context ("sacred truths" in a constitution). It is often ascribed to people ("a holy man" of religious occupation, "holy prophet" who is venerated by his followers), objects ("sacred artifact" that is venerated and blessed), times ("holy days" of spiritual introspection, such as during winter holidays), or places ("sacred ground", "holy place").

We as individual humans have the evolutionary genetic capability, capacity and innate drive to give and receive compassion, love, generosity, honesty, perseverance, and healing. This is within each and every one of us that was placed here. Our soul’s sacred center was infused by Creator as the Love shown from our ancestors and brought from the very spark of creation which is sacred. Creation is something that still goes on, here on earth, and throughout the cosmos at large. Each of these are gifts that we can use and foster for the greater good of all relations. However, we must be taught and practice all of these virtues in our daily lives. To further define sacredness: "it is divinity, the spirit, and the innate holiness of everything."

It is through the sacred ceremonies, rites, & rituals passed down from the ancestors, regardless of the spiritual tradition expressed by and chosen by the individual, that these aspects can be appreciated and lived out. Prayer and meditation, both sacred modalities, are just two ways of accomplishing the life is sacred attitude. Doing these and other practices helps keeps the darkness away or at bay, a darkness that lurks in our evolutionary core.

The Importance of Gratitude

If we are living a spiritual existence in a physical body, it is extremely important to be grateful and gratefully acknowledge the sacred beings that we are. Gratitude itself is a sacred act. Participating in sacred ceremonies, and basing our prayers around gratitude makes life much easier, and helps keep the darkness from coming in. It is important to be grateful for all challenges as well, including emotional pain, physical pain, the hard times, and the lack of abundance in any area of our lives. When we acknowledge this through gratitude and ceremony, and find purpose in the pain, it soothes the darkness, and serves the soul and community at large.

The Importance of Sacred Healing

If a person is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and / or from any aspect of their personal experience and life, it is important to do sacred healing ceremonies, rites, or rituals that release the soul of the traumatic experience. For Native People cooped up on the Reservations, where few amenities exist and the harshness of the area makes life very hard, PTSD is quite common. Elders suffer from this more than any other segment of the Native population as they experienced crushing poverty, racism, lingering effects of being taken from their families and placed in missionary boarding schools, the suffering of abuse, forced assimilation attempts and genocide. Additionally, Native people have served in the armed forces at a greater percentage than any other minority group. Native men & women that come home from war deployment with PTSD are especially challenged and suffer from suicide at higher rates than the national average as well. However, if the traditions and ceremonies are done in a good way, these men & women can be of greater service to both themselves and communities. There are of course many healing modalities, everything from Reiki, to traditional doctoring, each sacred in their own way. If one is to be a healer, they must not boast, and if necessary do pro bono healing on someone in desperate straights, recognizing that all healing really comes from a higher sacred source. He or she must remain humble.

My Personal Experience

In my personal experience along “The Good Red Road” which has helped keep me sober as well as served me in other ways, as I have experienced visions, and given back to my local ceremonial family. When I Azilya (“elevate and sanctify” by burning sage, sweetgrass, or cedar), as the smoke wafts over me I can feel Spirit move through me. When I Azilya another person, I am feeling in sacred service to that person and my total focus is on that one person alone. I remember the teachings of the elder I study under, that the term Azilya means, “To Make Sacred,” or “Take the Sacred In.” This is how I regard this simple but profound ceremony. Mato Wambli (Fools Crow) taught in doing this ceremony is to focus intently, and regard yourself as but a “hollow bone;” an antenna if you will, in direct connection to Spirit or Creator. The ceremony begins as I arrive at the property. I forget the outside world, leave the frustrations of the drive, and any other distractions; all are to be put aside. I know and I expect the ceremony will be done in a good way. I know I walk on Sacred Ground; that the Earth is my Mother. When I sing the Sacred Songs or Wakan Olowan, I remember the sacrifices of all those who brought these ways to pray into the so called modern era and I sing them the best I can. If I make a mistake there is a reason for that mistake and I must accept it and move on. For, the very space I stand or sit on is sacred, even the little crawling ones that pass my feet or fly around me. Everything sacred I do that day is for the community I serve, which serves me so well!

In closing, there is richness, a purpose and that I know I am fulfilling and at least one of the reasons I am here in this very special and sacred time. The perceptions of the outside world do not matter. I could care less what others outside the property are doing and think, and even let go of what they think of this path I am on. In my heart I know that all are mere humans, and all of the things they do come from their own pain and misunderstandings. These are not necessarily aimed at me. I know there is inherent sacredness in each and everyone. They must all walk their own Sacred Path as they see fit. I know I am no better or worse than any other individual group or person. There is a deeper vision a deeper divine purpose, even yet of how I live the remainder of my life and how I serve the community, country, and perhaps the world.

For this Sacred Life I pray I live in gratitude and service, to humans and most importantly to Creator.


Reprinted Courtesy Whisper n Thunder and with permission from the author: Jerry Pope]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-meaning-of-sacredness/ Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:06:34 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/Charlie_Van_Dyke/blog/american-indian-spirituality-drugs-and-alcohol/
DENVER — New research indicates that urban American Indian youth who follow American Indian traditional spiritual beliefs are less ...]]>
DENVER — New research indicates that urban American Indian youth who follow American Indian traditional spiritual beliefs are less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Arizona State University social scientists will present their findings at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.
The study, "Spirituality and Religion: Intertwined Protective Factors for Substance Use Among Urban American Indian Youth," was recently published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The authors are: Stephen Kulis, the study's principal investigator and ASU School of Social and Family Dynamics professor; David R. Hodge, ASU School of Social Work associate professor; Stephanie L. Ayers, ASU Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center associate director of research; Eddie F. Brown, ASU American Indian Studies professor and American Indian Policy Institute executive director; and Flavio F. Marsiglia, ASU School of Social Work professor.
"Most American Indians now live in cities rather than tribal communities. Our study is one of the few to address the role of spirituality and religion among urban Native youth, recognizing the unique histories of cultural integration that characterize today's urban American Indian communities and the complex belief systems and practices that sustain them in the urban landscape," Kulis said.
Among the general American Indian youth population, higher rates of substance (both drug and alcohol) abuse are reported than among their non-American Indian counterparts. They also are more likely to use heavier amounts, initiate substance use earlier, and have more severe consequences from substance use, according to past research.
American Indians typically do not separate spirituality from other areas of their lives, making it a complex, cultural and intertwined aspect of their daily existence.
Researchers found that adherence to American Indian beliefs was the strongest predictor of anti-drug attitudes, norms, and expectations. Concerning substance use, aspects of spirituality and religion associated with lower levels of use were affiliation with the Native American Church and following Christian beliefs.
Data for the study were collected from American Indian students enrolled in five urban middle schools within a large southwestern city in 2009. The average age of the 123 respondents was 12.6 years old.
Most of the study respondents expressed strong anti-drug and alcohol beliefs, with the majority stating that they "definitely would not" use alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana if given an opportunity (55 percent) and that it was "definitely not okay" for students their age to use those substances.
Respondents also felt that their parents (78 percent) and grandparents (69 percent) would be "very angry" if they used drugs or alcohol and 51 percent stated they were "very sure" that they would reject any substance offers.
Also notable was that about half (53 percent) had resisted offers of drugs in the past 30 days.
Spirituality was reflected as an important aspect in students' lives. More than 80 percent of respondents said that spirituality held some importance to them and was part of their lives. Seventy-nine percent of the students felt it was "somewhat" or "very important" to follow traditional American Indian beliefs and about half felt it was important to follow Christian beliefs.
However, a general sense of spirituality that did not refer specifically to American Indian traditions, beliefs, or culture was not found to be a deterrent against substance use.
"Rituals and ceremonies have helped American Indian communities adapt to change, integrate elements of different tribes, infuse aspects of Western organized religions, and make them their own," according to the paper.
In addition, the paper states that possessing a feeling of belonging to traditions from both American Indian and Christian cultures may foster integration of the two worlds in which urban American Indian youth live.
Source: American Sociological Association]]> http://spiritandword.org/Charlie_Van_Dyke/blog/american-indian-spirituality-drugs-and-alcohol/ Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:01:33 +0000 Charlie Van Dyke http://spiritandword.org/OutoftheMistyBlues/blog/birds-and-the-spirit-of-a-new-life/
She had Mom and her two sisters, and two grandchildren. Me, and my cousin. She was a spit fire, I remember her temper and also her ability to understand things that others couldn't - like how prejudices between races and sexes were wrong. She was ahead of her time to be sure.

When it came to her family background, she was tight lipped. It hurt for her to remember her childhood. She only said that the reason she ran away was because her white parents tried to keep her from speaking Creek, tried to force her into accepting Christ, and destroyed her relationship with her father and other relatives by moving her far away from the reservation. Her father searched for her all his life. She did say that she found him when she became an adult, and that he died not long after. All I know of him, is that for extra money, he would pose for photographs in his feathers and native attire. Grandma had one that she showed to me. He was a regal looking fellow. I remember when she was dying, after her stroke and before she stopped breathing, she rambled on for hours in a waking sleep, in her native language. No one had ever heard her speak it until then, except when she called us children things like "usdee". Whenever we heard "US-DEE!" we knew someone was about to get it because it usually meant either me or my cousin were busted doing something, lol.

She told me once when I was 10 ( a year before she passed) that I would have 4 children, and that the fourth would be Type 1 Diabetic. She was dead to rights. Yes, she knew genetics. But she was intuitive, too. She taught me how to interpret dreams, without thinking it was anything out of the ordinary. She made me think it was a necessary part of life...listening to the symbolic messages given in your dreams. It wasn't until I was older that I realized, white people - like my dads family for example - thought it was down right weird to do that. They also didn't see colors around people, animals, plants, or rocks. By the time I knew what an "aura" was, the ability was muted in me by people who told me it was not normal. But it did come in handy once when I was 11, I'll tell that story later.

This blog was supposed to be about birds Sorry, I was having fun getting lost in memories of grandma. Grandma told all of us that when a woman was pregnant, the babys soul would arrive on the wings of a bird. Like I said, she died when I was 11 years old. I never forgot what she said though.

With every one of my children, I had a visit from a bird. The first time it happened was when I was 5 months along with my oldest. I was cooking spaghetti in Moms kitchen, and we had the back door open since it was good weather. I remember this crazy red bird, just an average local Virginia "native" flying in, landing on Moms kitchen counter strangely close to me, checking me out for a brief few seconds, and then flying back out the door. My Mom and me both gasped, and we both thought the same thing at the same time. "Well, she always said a baby's soul would be brought to you, by a bird." It was freaky. I felt my daughter kick me for the first time about a day later. For the record, she never stopped kicking me after that.

With my second child, I was working deep inside a glass plant. I was at my station washing some glass when this, again, a local bird (this time from Alabama because I had moved there a couple years before becoming pregnant), flew into the plant and landed on my work station! This bird had to fly literally 400 feet or more inside the plant just to get to me! (This glass factory was an entire acre in size and I worked about 2/3 the way inside the door, do the math). By this time, I knew exactly what it meant and when it landed, I smiled at it calmly. I was 5 and a half months along.

With my third, I was in Texas. My (now exhusband) and I had just moved there for his tour of duty in the army. We were still unpacking, the house was pretty much bare. I was putting up dishes when I saw this bird flapping around the back double-glass door, it was trying desperately to get in. Then we heard this awful THUNK!!!I shrieked, and my husband came running. I was in tears, telling him, "The bird hit the window!! Oh my God what if it was THE bird??" (By this time my husband knew the story). He went outside and picked it up. Poor thing was out cold. It stirred though, shook its head as if it had been knocked silly, and then flew away. I was 5 months along. A month later we got word from ultrasound that there had been a twin who died in utero. My son was born unable to maintain his own blood sugar or his body temperature. He was very sensitive to light and sound, and needed extra care. Other than that, I delivered what was left of the twin 6 minutes after him.

With my fourth, it was kinda funny. I had no idea I was pregnant. Since I was still nursing my son, I hadn't missed a menstrual cycle (I didn't have one after his birth). I wasn't tired, moody, hungry, or craving anything, and I didn't have heart burn. In fact, I had never had more energy or felt stronger in my entire life. I was walking everywhere I needed to go and tilling the ground, planting grass seed, losing weight and feeling great. My children and I were walking in a grocery store down the cereal aisle, when a bird flew in the store and landed briefly on top of a box of Raisin Bran. I remember saying out loud to my children "Cool. Somebody must be pregnant." I found out a month later that that somebody was me - and I was already 24 weeks along!

With the first bird, I wondered if it was my grandma. I didn't wonder with the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th (once I knew the bird was mine lol). But I do wonder if the "bird" thing, is just a personal way of my children's souls being brought to me, or is this worldwide?

Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.]]> http://spiritandword.org/OutoftheMistyBlues/blog/birds-and-the-spirit-of-a-new-life/ Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:06:10 +0000 Carolyn Brown http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/thoughts-on-spirit-from-a-native-american/

Spirit, God, Creator, Wakan Tanka, Allah, Gitchi Manitou, Yahwey, Meyaheyuun Buddha, The Source,...]]>

Spirit, God, Creator, Wakan Tanka, Allah, Gitchi Manitou, Yahwey, Meyaheyuun Buddha, The Source, Jesus Christ, by whatever name you call this force thatexists is something that lives in the depths of our soul, our spirit heart, not outside of us in some ethereal home above in a fictional heaven. Our heaven is right here inside of us. We are responsible for making our own version of “heaven.” Spirit can also live in our brain, if we allow it. It is the creative force behind the very existence of the Cosmos. Love is this force infused into every molecule by Creator. Love & Spirit are the very essence of the glue that holds the universe in place. Spirit is also the force that holds the atoms and sub-atomic particles together even in the force we call gravity. It is up to us to not only show each other love, but live the love for the very forces that are part of our everyday lives. This includes love for Mother Earth that sustains us and is directly responsible for our very breath. Spirit is love, love is spirit and life; all are one in the same. Books though instructive on things of spirit cannot replace the experience of spirit coming into the personal heart.

Spirit can move inside of us & outside of us whether we believe in it or not. Spirit and love are also infused into the very blood of our veins, our physical being, should we follow the path Creator has shown us. No matter the perceived difference, “all blood runs red.”

The Lakota call this aspect Taku wa S’ka S’ka, or “Something mysterious moves.” Love can be interpreted as this force.

Eighteen years ago I considered myself an Agnostic. I learned I was sadly mistaken in a Sunrise C’anupa ceremony (Sacred Pipe) at an event I was “called to” on The Mall beneath the Washington Monument. I didn’t expect nor was I prepared for what happened during this ceremony and the rest of the day. This is where I learned the value of Azilya (Smudging). The resulting “vision” I had was so powerful, so beautiful, the full meaning didn’t infuse itself into me till some years later and it is still unfolding. Later I was told this was a typical Sundance vision; it wasn’t typical to me. Spirit indeed moves in ways we cannot foresee.

Spirit cannot live in a heart that wishes to divide humans into segments in any way, whether race, religious, political persuasion, or culture; indeed even the other sentient life on this planet, or others where it exists in the Cosmos. Even the Rocks, Trees, & Plant world have this spirit of love infused into them. If it didn’t have some spirit or purpose infused into it, it wouldn’t be here. We must also show a healthy respect for all these forces and all life whether it moves or not. If we are truly a spiritual person, we cannot put up fences, borderlines, or any other construct that humans can manufacture or think of that tends to separate. If we are truly spiritual journeyers then we also must show our love of all humans by forgiving them of their perceived errors of judgment. This also means that the laws that govern us must be obeyed as reasonable constrictions on the lawless and temptations that invade our brains. For we are not perfect beings; humans have a tendency to show the evolutionary backwardness we have come from. This doesn’t mean we forget the deed, for if they do harm to any of us or show disrespect towards the natural things of this world, then they must suffer consequences. Forgiveness is a natural act. It is not only our duty to do so, but the natural order of the Cosmos and Creator. If it weren’t none of us would be walking on the surface of Mother Earth.

When we look at the globe from the technological viewpoint of near Earth orbit, we see no borderlines, no religions, no races, not even humans. This is the way Creator views Earth. At night we may see evidence of the technological results of our existence by the night lights and that is all that reveals itself. From further out, say the orbit of Saturn, Earth viewed is little more than a very small glowing blue orb. Some Indigenous People believe that this technology is wrong, even misguided. Remember it is Spirit that gifted us this ability to think of ways of making our lives somewhat easier. It is in the way in which we use this ability and the inventions that makes the difference. Spirit also gifted us the notion of discovery. If we use this spirit ability for good intentions and for the good of all, and we use resources in a sustainable way, then Spirit will guide us so that all may benefit, not necessarily in the current monetary system, but in ways that are shared.

It is also important to not blame outside forces, such as local weather events, natural disasters on Spirit, or say it was “God’s Will.” No one has all the answers of spirit. For it is not his/her will to destroy our lives or those of others around us regardless of how we lead our lives. These are the results of natural processes outside of our control, to do so is just not reasonable to access blame. Spirit and us are part of this natural world, not separated from it. Spirit gives us the ability to see things and think of things in a reasonable spiritual and scientific view, and we should do so.

Spirit should be part of our everyday lives. When we greet, meet or interact with people regardless of how busy we are, we need to treat others as we would like to be treated. By doing this we “walk our talk.” We need and should show the natural infused spirit, love, respect towards all our relations and to return the love to Mother Earth, the Creator, and Cosmos as a whole. Let us all live the ways of spirit that moves us into the light & love of Creator’s eye.

From: www.whispernthunder.org]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/thoughts-on-spirit-from-a-native-american/ Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:24:25 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/what-is-sacred/ ~ Russ Letica
Madawaska Maliseet First Nations

Imagine a time when the hair of our mother would blow in the wind…how many different c...]]> ~ Russ Letica
Madawaska Maliseet First Nations

Imagine a time when the hair of our mother would blow in the wind…how many different colors it will grow over the seasons. A time when there was no shortage of food and it was free, because you prayed and gave thanks to the blessings you received. You prayed for the life your relative gave up for your survival. You showed respect for your customs, traditions, knowledge & wisdom, and for the structure of your village as a whole. You honored your Creator for giving you these things and the blessing bestowed upon our Mother for us to flourish as Indigenous People, free and living within our territories.

Can you ever imagine of just living off the land as it was, flourishing with food, medicines, shelter? A true undisturbed connection to your spirituality and in direct contact with your Creator? Maybe you day dreamed of a simpler time. Some of us thought ‘I'd love to be rich so I can afford the luxuries,’ while others think of a simpler time prior to colonization where money had no meaning in our lives.

All Nations concerns were their children, and their future. Why? Because these things are Sacred. They are given to us by the Creator. It is the essence of a blessing when we honor those things that are Sacred. It is what is provided to us freely, naturally, that is the blessing we walk past everyday. That we don't fight for in a majority such as water, clean air, environmental damages to earth, the home, to all life. We have sat back and allowed a world to destroy our rainforest and the Indigenous People who have lived there for centuries. Wiping out all that medicine. Medicine that is free from the Creator for all of us, yet stolen for the profit of a few in a world controlled by those monies and luxuries. A blind faith being led on the easy path, the path most traveled.


What is Sacred?

Our ancestors’ graves? Graves that continue to be violated and robbed. Another human being walking away with your Grandfather's head or my Grandmother’s hand. For what? Who does that? Who builds hydro-dams next to our resting places, or opens sewage treatment plants, nuclear power plants, electricity plants, or better yet builds a WalMart Super Store over them. These things are sacred to all faiths and beliefs around the world, except one. Native Spirituality has been demonized by all religions. It is the purest and truest connection to the one Creator of all religion's gods and the kingdoms they reign over. Yet it is disgraced and discouraged, even in some of our own communities. What is real is to be allowed to follow your heart and not a man-made dominant interpretation from men who walk in a different direction. Freedom is Sacred, but know what you need to be free from.

Imagine a time when humanity and life was precious. A time when we traveled with the herds. We planted, foraged, hunted and fed. We were free children of the land. Remember when we prayed to the sky and we thanked the Great Spirit for his blessing, a simple blessing such as waking up and being part of a working unit that produced good healthy community skills. Or maybe a time when there was a need, then everyone came to fill it. Perhaps once a year when the people would come together as a Nation. This was the time when women governed and men led. Remember our Clans’ Mothers?

So I ask one last time, What is Sacred? Stop and think, then produce those actions to instill that understanding. If you could imagine such things as I described, I urge you to stay on the Red Road and connected to your distinctive spirituality. It’s the one thing that could never be stolen from us; do not give it away freely. It is your lifeline connection to your ancestry. Produce good actions in this world your soul is living in, for one day your soul will shed the body that houses it and you will walk proudly with your people again in the next one, until it is your turn to walk our Mother once again.

Sacred is what is provided and the teachings handed down from ancient times among the Nations. Protect them and educate our future descendants in truth and respect for all life we share the web with.

Wakawse menakaci toqci kilum Ewikuwossit, nekom Scitposu
(Walk Gently on our Mother, She's Sacred)

Woliwon


Source: Whisper n Thunder Online Magazine www.whispernthunder.org]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/what-is-sacred/ Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:12:10 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/a-spiritual-journey/ ~ Lance Sands, Muskogee Nation

Spirituality is the balance to egocentricity for me; it supposes nothing about the perception of...]]> ~ Lance Sands, Muskogee Nation

Spirituality is the balance to egocentricity for me; it supposes nothing about the perception of others. It considers all information before a determination about an idea. Spirituality allows for the following: that any particular determination might be incorrect and proceeds with a willingness to accept correction later. “Questions" I feel are the clearest forming of spirituality. Because even if you know the answer, a question presupposes clarification is necessary. Any information without validation or that is considered unquestioned I believe to be self-fulfilling. And it is the irritation built up when a fact is questioned that determines how deep a person identifies with their own self-fulfillment.

When I can separate myself from my unquestioned facts I find myself the most spiritual. I feel connected to the great mystery and need not know but accept my present place in the world. Spirituality does not disallow change, it accepts each moment as a moment of renewal, construction, destruction, resurrection, and reincarnation. I am free of all that I have failed at and am a new creation able to try again without the burden of failure. I continue my pursuit of happiness. I am neither confined by my ideas nor need to confine anyone else to theirs. Since I can value my own frailties I can value other ideas and not preoccupy myself with inevitable mistakes, but expend my energy on examining the possibilities. I don’t have to agree with others' ideas but I can respect them and gain respect for my own ideas.

My definition of spirituality did not come in an epiphany. I stumbled across it through an accumulation of experiences. I would walk in the hot sun. The heat would burn my scalp, my skin felt cooked. The sweat would soak my shirts. My eyes would squint and one eye might actually close against the brightness of the day’s sunlight. I felt tired in my bones and my feet ached. Then, from nowhere, a breeze would brush against my skin. My closed lids would open to trees waving and birds would chirp. A smile came across my face and introduced me to idea that things change and most important...

That in a moment things can be okay.

I found out my best friend had committed suicide and my Uncle comforted me. He allowed me to cry as hard as I could on his shoulder without a word. I went to the funeral to face his mother who cried when I walked in the door at the funeral home. She cried because he and I were friends and hardly went anywhere without one another. Me alone told her my friend was no longer on this plane of existence. Later in the week, I felt that I too should fulfill my obligation as his best friend and end my own life I had a dream where my friend met me at restaurant. He walked in wearing a hat he was known to wear and his usual t-shirt and jeans with engineer boots. He lopped his boots right on the table and with a grin on his face he said, ”Don’t worry I can wait to see you.” I awoke crying in relief.

Then, the day I was at my job riding in a truck. We delivered supplies to all the local Carl’s Jr. The driver and I were on our way back from Tucson when I saw a cloud in the form of a baby’s face. I felt something bad had happened. My girlfriend was pregnant at the time. I remember my mother telling me she had seen her brother’s face in the clouds when he passed away. I went home expecting bad news and received it. Our baby had been miscarried. I would not have been able to console her and ask her if she was alright had I not been given the premonition.

These are a few examples of the ways I were introduced to the idea there is something more to life than what I see. What I feel is as important and more so how I interpret how I feel, what I see, and what I hear. I would like to continue to speak on this in two more articles that deal with how my perception molded my spiritual awareness and examine my spiritual journey from which I expect never really ends.

From the latest issue of Whisper n Thunder at www.whispernthunder.org]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/a-spiritual-journey/ Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:33:38 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-1244/blog/my-little-drumming-class/
The class had 4 people. Me and the 3 ladies I was told I was going to meet. There was a variety of drums and percussion instruments to use. So I picked a cute little drum. Being the only black person in America with absolutely no rhythm, I began to quietly. After awhile, I got into it and thought, "Man, these Native Americans had something here". The drumming put me in a very relaxed almost trance like state.

Here is the part where Uriel comes in. There is a section of the class where people stand in the middle and the remaining drummers, walk around them and drum. Because one of the ladies, wanted to lay down, the leader changed her technique and we laid on mats one at a time, while the remaining 3 walked around us and drummed or used whatever instrument they were guided to. When it was my time, the leader anointed me with a lotion she makes infused with Reiki and put the first Reiki symbol on my forehead. Within seconds of the drumming, I could feel the energy flow into me and out to the other ladies. Within about a minute, here comes Uriel asking me if I see why I was supposed to be there.

The lesson he wanted me to remember is there is no "right" way to share your spirit or your energy. You don't need to see the angels to know they are there and share their message. You don't need to reach a certain level of Reiki before you can start sharing. (The leader was a Reiki II) And you certainly don't need rhythm.

The ladies recommended so other classes I could take at this center to "continue on my spiritual path" which I will eventually. For now, I honor and thank them and thank Arch Angel Uriel for continuing to show me the way.

Namaste

by Rachel Lee]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-1244/blog/my-little-drumming-class/ Sun, 03 Jun 2012 23:06:29 +0000 Rachel Lee http://spiritandword.org/Charlie_Van_Dyke/blog/lakota-wisdom/ From Huffington Post


The word wisdom is used frequently every day, whether it is spoken and heard or written and read. Yet...]]> From Huffington Post


The word wisdom is used frequently every day, whether it is spoken and heard or written and read. Yet it is debatable, in my opinion, if most of us know what it is. In most dictionaries it is defined as "the quality or state of being wise, sagacious, discerning and insightful."



There are wise people in the world from all walks of life, from many nations and cultures. But there is one unalterable reality: No one who is truly wise is young. By the same token there are many old cultures on this planet of ours. Therefore, if we universally regard elders as repositories of wisdom, than those old cultures would have much to offer.



Many indigenous cultures were already populating every nook and cranny of what came to be called North America when the migration of Europeans began, roughly 500 years ago. Those peoples that greeted the newcomers with varied degrees of curiosity and apprehension had, by then, lived on and with this land for thousands upon thousands of years. Consequently they had evolved societal values and ways that enabled them to not merely survive, but thrive for all those millennia. Without going into the sad and difficult details and consequences of the interaction between Europeans and indigenous North Americans, it is important to note that the indigenous people were deeply and traumatically impacted; to the point where our cultures were diminished and, in some cases, entirely lost. The good news is that some of us have survived: just over 480 ethnically identifiable native tribes or nations in the United States.



A popular axiom says that "whatever does not kill you will make you stronger." If that is true, native societies have endured much to survive to the present day, so we should be among the strongest people in the world. That strength is not physical, however, and certainly has nothing to do with military might. That kind of strength has to do with the experiences we had and the insights we gained from it.



Furthermore, all of us, as indigenous cultures and nations, are older than any of the modern nations of North and Central America. As societies, therefore, as with individuals, we have acquired wisdom. It would be accurate to say that we are among the elders in the global village.



When I was a teenager, my paternal grandfather made an interesting observation. He said that native peoples of this country (meaning the United States) needed to hang on to their ways and their values, but not only for themselves. He said that we might have to save this country from itself with our ways and our wisdom as native peoples. Unfortunately, he did not elaborate beyond that. It would have been extremely helpful for him to have laid out a blueprint as how we should that. But as I get older the more I see the truth in his observation.



I know little of the specific traditions, customs, languages and values of other native tribes and nations. But I do know something of the Lakota third of our nation that also includes the Dakota and Nakota. What I have learned is that the foundation of our wisdom is all the realities of the physical world. Some are obvious: the sun comes up in the east and goes down in the west; there are four seasons in the yearly cycle -- winter, spring, summer and autumn -- and each has its own whims and characteristics. Others are a bit more subtle, but no less unrelenting, such as the knowledge that it is impossible to survive without knowing those realities, and living within them. That is why we did not place our villages on a known flood plain, therefore precluding having to blame the river when it flooded. Furthermore, because all our values, traditions and customs are based on reality, the wisdom derived from practicing them is real, and not based on myth and legend.



Therefore, what is wisdom? There are many answers. Here are a few:



Wisdom always takes the path of reason.


A wise person never speaks before immersing himself or herself in a long and thoughtful moment.


Wisdom is the most effective antidote to fear and the absence of reason.


The wisest man or woman is also the most humble.

Perhaps my grandfather was, and is, right. However, I do know that we Lakota (as well as other indigenous peoples) have much to offer to the world at large. Among our ancestors there were some values that were held very high, among them humility, compassion, courage and generosity. But all values lead to the one we consider the greatest: wisdom. And it is our hope that one day wisdom -- rather than might, arrogance and bluster -- will rule the world.]]> http://spiritandword.org/Charlie_Van_Dyke/blog/lakota-wisdom/ Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:53:49 +0000 Charlie Van Dyke http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-enigma-of-the-code-talkers/
http://whispernthunder.org/Enigma_of_Code_Talkers.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-enigma-of-the-code-talkers/ Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:01:26 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-real-crazy-horse/
http://whispernthunder.org/The_Real_Crazy_Horse.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-real-crazy-horse/ Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:58:04 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/sacred-lakota-values/ Check out our Young Adult link for the article The Sacred Lakota Values. This article actually appears in the Feature Articles as well - but felt the ...
http://whispernthunder.org/Young_Adults.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/sacred-lakota-values/ Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:06:14 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/whisper-n-thunder-the-war-on-women/
http://whispernthunder.org/The_War_on_Women.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/whisper-n-thunder-the-war-on-women/ Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:41:55 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/it-s-time-to-heal/
http://whispernthunder.org/It_s_Time_to_Heal.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/it-s-time-to-heal/ Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:02:42 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-path-to-truth-reconciliation/
http://whispernthunder.org/Truth___Reconciliation.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-path-to-truth-reconciliation/ Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:36:20 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-greatest-battle-is-the-fight-within/
http://whispernthunder.org/The_Greatest_Battle.html]]> http://spiritandword.org/profile-183/blog/the-greatest-battle-is-the-fight-within/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:55:24 +0000 Billie K. Fidlin