Everything on our Earth is alive

"In the Indian way, we are connected to that flower if we understand its spirit, the essence of its life." --Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA

Everything on our Earth is alive.
Every rock, every plant, every animal, every tree, every bird,every thought is alive. This is true because everything is made by the Great Spirit and the Great Spirit is alive. We need to slow our lives down each day and realize, consciously, that this is true. First we need to realize it, second, we need to acknowledge it, third, we need to appreciate it and, finally, we need to go on.
Great Spirit, let me see life through Your eyes.
Today let me be alive.

The Spirit Wind

Every breath we take brings God within us.
God is ever present within our being.
We don't have to look for God outside, God is within us.
Kauila Clark, Hawaiian Healer (below right)



Gen 2:7 And Jehovah God formed the man out of dust from the ground,
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul. (LITV)

Speak the Truth

"It does not require

many words

to speak the truth."

Chief Joseph

Sacred Creation

All of this Creation is Sacred
And so do not forget
Every dawn as it comes is a holy event
And everyday is holy,
For the light comes from "WAKAN-TANKA"
And also you must remember
That the two-leggeds
And all other peoples
Who stand upon this Earth
Are Sacred and should be treated as Such

"White Buffalo Woman" Sioux Sacred Woman, quoted by Black Elk , (Oglala Sioux)1947.

The Serpent and the Eagle

A little girl asked her grandmother why life is sometimes so painful.
Her grandmother looked at her, considering a moment before speaking.

“We all have an eagle and a serpent inside of us. The serpent brings thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, and the idea that it is other people that cause us to feel that way.”

She paused, and then continued.

“The eagle flies high, sees far,
and hopes to learn from the Great Spirit and to follow the Spirit’s way.”
“My granddaughter, life gets difficult during those times when the eagle and the serpent are locked in a necessary and mortal fight to the finish.”

The granddaughter pondered for a while what her grandmother had just told her. Then she asked,

“Which one wins?”

Grandmother answered,

“The one you feed wins.”

Adapted from a First Nations story about two wolves fighting within us.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond Measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you. We were born
to make manifest that Glory of God
that is within us.

A portion of the Inaugural Speech of Nelson Mandela (1994)

We Need to Love

"My friends, how desperately do we need to be loved and to love.
When Christ said that man does not live by bread alone, he spoke of a hunger.
This hunger was not the hunger of the body.
It was not the hunger for bread.
He spoke of a hunger that begins deep down in the very depths of our being.
He spoke of a need as vital as breath.
He spoke of our hunger for love."

Chief Dan George

Show Respect and Give Thanks

Show respect to all people and bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, The fault lies only in yourself.

Tecumseh - Shawnee-(1768-1813)

All things tell of Tirawa

In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals, for Tirawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell men that He showed Himself through the beast, and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and moon, should man learn.. all things tell of Tirawa.

- Eagle Chief (Letakots-Lesa) Pawnee

Endless Patience

With endless patience you shall carry out your duty, and your firmness shall be tempered with tenderness for your people. Neither anger or fury shall lodge in your mind, and your words and actions shall be marked with calm deliberation.

from the Constitution of the Five Nations.