Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Iroquois Creed

The Iroquois Creed
He believed in the all powerful Great Spirit, in the immortality of the soul, in a life everlasting, and in the fraternity of all life.

With an Iroquois a thankful heart was prayer. He did not seek to instruct the great creator what to do on earth or in the celestial world, for he had faith that in his wisdom God knew what was right and best.

He believed that it was natural to be honorable and truthful, and cowardly to lie. His promise was absolutely binding. He hated and despised a liar and held all falsehood to be a weakness.

He believed in reverence for his parents, and in old age supported them, even as he expected his children to support him.

He honored his father and mother and their fathers before them.

He believed in peace. The sentiment of universal brotherhood was always his policy.

He believed in a forgiving spirit, preferring atonement to revenge--- in converting enemies to friends.

Hospitality was a prime virtue among the Iroquois. No people were more generous.

He did not believe in tyranny and treated his wards with justice, tolerance and restraint.

He had no caste system, believing in democracy, equality and brotherhood.

He coveted no titles but believed that all men were equal.

He believed in the sacredness of property, theft among early Indians was unknown

He believed in cleanliness of body' and in purity of morals. Chastity was an established principle with him.

He believed that a truly great man was one who had done something for his people, not one who had accumulated much wealth.

He believed that the earth was the mother of all things and therefore, that no one owned the soil and no one had more title than an other. His whole civil policy was averse of the concentration of power in the hands of any individual, but inclined to the opposite principle of division among number of equal.

He believed in the equality of women, giving them far more rights than did European peoples
 — with Viktoria Hawk.

No Fear


No Fear-Native American Spirituality and Thoughts-A Tribute

Chief Luther Standing Bear, of the Oglala band of Sioux:
We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth, as "wild." Only to the white man was nature a "wilderness" and only to him was the land "infested" with "wild" animals and "savage" people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery. Not until the hairy man from the east came and with brutal frenzy heaped injustices upon us and the families we loved was it "wild". When the very animals of the forest began fleeing from his approach, then it was that for us the "Wild West" began.
 — with Lisa BurkhartNancy Armstrong and TyGar Berndt.




Elder's Meditation of the Day January 2



Elder's Meditation of the Day January 2
"People have to be responsible for their thoughts, so they have to learn to control them. It may not be easy, but it can be done."
--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
We control our thoughts by controlling our self talk. At any moment we choose we can talk to ourselves differently. The fight comes with the emotions that are attached to our thoughts. If our emotion is high and seems to be out of control, we can say to ourselves STOP IT!, take a few deep breaths, then ask the Creator for the right thought or the right decision or the right action. If we practice this for a while, our thought life will be different. It helps if in the morning we ask God to direct our thinking. God loves to help us.
Great Spirit, today, direct my thinking so my choices are chosen by You.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Elder's Meditation of the Day January 1



Elder's Meditation of the Day January 1
".because if you believe in something, and believe in it long enough, it will come into being."
--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
We are created by the Great One to accomplish His will through our mental pictures or visions. Our thoughts are three dimensional: words, pictures and feelings. We create the vision by thinking the words and we create feeling for the vision by feeling enthusiasm, desire, commitment and other strong beliefs. Once we create the vision, we move toward and become like that which we think about. All visions are tested by our self talk; for example, "This isn't going to happen, where is the money coming from anyway?" When this happens, we need to let go of the test and focus on belief in the vision. Why? Because God said if we believe it long enough, He will guarantee it!!!
Great One, let my beliefs be strong today. Help me to have faith in my visions.

January 1


January 1
[Happy New Year and sorry friends wasnt well so couldnt post for many days -Halona Akichita Yazzie]

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the
breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which
runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset

-- CROWFOOT,
Blackfoot Warrior and Orator
1826-1890

On This Date in Native American History

January 1, 1802: Peter Jones, Mississauga (Ojibway), was born. He later became a Mississauga chief and Methodist missionary, traveling throughout Canada and the United States preaching the gospel and addressing Native issues.
 — with Marilyn LindquistLeah Jiroutekand Joyce Griffin.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Elder's Meditation of the Day December 31



Elder's Meditation of the Day December 31
"They must give themselves to Wakan' Tanka and live a spiritual life. They will have the peace that frees them from fear."
--Frank Fools Crow, LAKOTA
There are two wills available for us: self will and God's will. Our choice is: figure it out ourselves, or have the Creator involved in our lives. If we are honest with ourselves and look at past experiences, what are our lives like when we try to figure it out ourselves? Is there fear, confusion, frustration, anger, attacking others, conflict, fault finding, manipulation, teasing others, belittling others or devaluation? If these things are present, they indicate that we are choosing self will. What is it like if we turn our will over to the Creator? What are the results if we ask the Great Spirit to guide our life? Examples are: freedom, choices, consequences, love, forgiveness, helping others, happiness, joy, solutions, and peace. Which will I choose today, self will or God's will?
Creator, I know what my choice is. I want You to direct my life. I want You to direct my thinking. You are the Grandfather. You know what I need even before I do. Today I ask You to tell me what I can do for You today. Tell me in a way I can understand and I will be happy to do it.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Elder's Meditation of the Day December 30



Elder's Meditation of the Day December 30
"Always remember that the Great Mystery is good; evil can come only from ourselves!"
--Grandmother of Charles Eastman. SANTEE SIOUX
The Great Mystery is love, good, and principle. He is a guiding Father. He doesn't play games. He knows only how to love. Sometimes, when things go wrong, we blame Him or others. Usually, if we are honest, we can see how decisions or things done in the past put us in a position to be hurt. It comes back to us. When this happens, it is not something the Creator caused, but something we, ourselves caused. Most of our problems are of our own making. When this happens, we should correct what we've done, ask the Great Spirit for forgiveness, and pray for guidance in the future.
My Creator, bless me with Your good.