ELDER'S MEDITATION

[laurie6781]

For what ever the reason, I feel the need to start posting the Elder's Meditation again, so.................................here's 4-30-08


Elder's Meditation of the Day - April 30

"Modern civilization has no understanding
of sacred matters. Everything is backwards."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

Modern civilization says, don't pray in school; don't pray at work;
only go to church on Sunday. If you don't believe what I believe,
you'll go to hell. Deviancy is normal. Our role models cheat, drink
and run around; these are the people in the news.

The news sells bad news; no one wants to hear good news. Kids
are killing kids. Victims have little protection. Violence is normal.
Leaders cheat and lie. Everything is backwards.

We need to pray for spiritual intervention. We need to have guid-
ance from the Creator to help us rebuild our families, our commun-
ities and ourselves. Today, I will pray for spiritual intervention
from the Great Spirit.

Grandfather, we pray for your help in a pitiful way.

[c'est la vie]

I can see the reason you felt compelled just by reading your first post. It's an excellent reminder that we need guidance because if we rely strictly on our own devices we make a mess of things.

[Janeeyre]

Thanks for that post, Laurie! I've been feeling terribly jaded and cynical about "the state of humanity" lately, and this is a good reminder.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day May 1

"All living creatures and all plants derive
their life from the sun. If it were not for
the sun, there would be darkness and
nothing could grow—the earth would be
without life."
--Okute, TETON SIOUX

This is why we call the sun, Father Sun. Father Sun shines life
on Mother Earth and from this Father and Mother all life forms
exist and continue to reproduce.

The Sun shines on all; it is not selective. We should not allow
anything to block the Sun from shining on the Earth. We must
not pollute the air because the pollutants block the light of life
to the Earth.

If the Earth cannot receive this light, then life will start to be
affected. We must live in harmony with the Sun and Earth.
Otherwise, we are harming ourselves.

My Creator, give me the wisdom to live in harmony with all things.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 2

"Think only about what is holy. Empty your
mind."
--Archie Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA

If we let our minds wander, we will come up with a lot of junk:
maybe bad thoughts about a brother or sister, maybe angry
thoughts, maybe self-pity thoughts.

Our minds are not the boss. We can instruct our mind to think
about whatever we want to think about. We cannot stop think-
ing, be we can choose what to think about.

The Elders say we move towards what we think about. That's
why they say, "Think about what is holy, think about the Grand-
fathers, think about culture, think about values, think about
ceremonies, and think about good."

Great Spirit, today, empty my mind and let me experience what
it would be like to think about what is holy.

[laurie6781]

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.

Great Spirit, Nature is my teacher. Today, let me be the student.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 4

The whole religion is like a preparation.
It's a preparation for going to the Good
Land or to the place of your ancestors.
We all have to go through it. We all
know this.
---- Horace Axtell, NEZ PERCE

There are two Worlds that exist. The Seen World and the Unseen
World. Sometimes these worlds are called the Physical World and
the Spiritual World.

The Elders say, when it is time to go to the other side, our rela-
tives will appear a few days before to help us enter the Spirit
World. This is a happy place; the hunting is good; the place of
the Grandfathers, the Creator, the Great Spirit, God, is a joyful place.

Grandfathers, today, let me look forward to the Wpirit World. Bless
all my Relations.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 5

"There are many things to be shared
with the four colors of man in our com-
mon destiny as one family upon our
Mother the Earth."
---- Traditional Circle of Elders, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

The Elders tell us the time will come when the four colors of Man
will unite into one family. According to prophecies, we were told
this would happen when the Sun was blocked in the Seventh Moon.

There was an eclipse of the Sun in July, 1991. We are now in a
new Springtime called the Coming Together Time. Each of the four
colors of man has knowledge that the other colors need to heal
their families. Let us all be willing to sit in a circle and respect our
differences.

Creator, let me be willing to have an open mind.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 6

"We must remember that the heart of
our religion is alive and that each person
has the ability within to awaken and walk
in a sacred manner."
---- Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

The Native Spirituality is full of life. When we seek it we become
alive. Even if we have gone astray and have conducted ourselves
in a bad way, we can look within and have a new awakening to life.

Maybe we have drunk too much alcohol; maybe we have cheated
on our spouse; maybe we have done things that make us feel guilty
and ashamed.

If we look outside ourselves, we will not find life; if we look inside,
we will find life. Anytime we choose to change our lives, we only
need to look inside. How do we do this?

Take some sage and light it, close your eyes and say to the Great
Spirit, I'm tired, I need your help. Please help me change.

Great Spirit, I know you exist inside of myself. Let me awaken to
your teachings.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day May 7

"We must all become caretakers of the Earth."
---- Haida Gwaii Traditional Circle of Elders

Mother Earth is the source of all life. We should not only be con-
cerned about the part of the Earth we live on, but we should be
concerned about the parts of the Earth that other people live on.

The Earth is one great whole. The trees in Brazil generate the air
in the Untied States. If the trees are cut in Brazil, it affects the air
that all people breathe.

Every person needs to conscientiously think about how they respect
the Earth. Do we dump our garbage out of the car? Do we poison
the water? Do we poison the air? Am I taking on the responsibility of
being a caretaker of the Earth?

Great Spirit, today, I will be aware of the Earth. I will be responsible.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 8

"Anyways, with medicine there's a time
and a place for everything. It only comes
around once. You have to get it at the
right time."
---- Cecilia Mitchell, MOHAWK

The old ones say two things must be present for a miracle to take
place. One, the right time. Two, the right place. This is why we
need to honor our ceremonies.

Ceremonies are done in an order. This order is applied to open a
"door" to the right time and place of the medicine. This door opens
to the Spiritual World.

The Spiritual World is available to us at the right time and the right
place.

My Creator, let me be patient today so the timing is right.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 9

"Without a sacred center, no one knows
right from wrong."
---- Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

In the center of the circle is where the powers reside. These
powers are called love, principle, justice, spirtual knowledge,
life, forgiveness and truth.

All these powers reside in the very center of the human being.
We access these powers by being still, quieting the mind. If we
get confused, emotionally upset, feel resentment, anger, or fear,
the best thing we can do is pray to the Great Spirit and ask Him
to remove the anger and resentment.

By asking Him to remove these obstacles, we are automatically
positioned in the sacred center. Only in this way do we know right
from wrong.

Great Spirit, allow me this day to live in the sacred center.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 10

"When you go inside that power, there's
no fear. It's so beautiful!! There's no fear
there. There's no pain."
---- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA

Imagine you are standing on the edge of a stage. In the center
of the stage is a spotlight shining from above. If you stand any-
place outside the spotlight, in the darkness, you will experience
fear.

But as soon as you step into the light in the center of the stage,
all fear and pain go away. When we stand in the power, fear can-
not exist.

How do we find this place of power? We pray our way into it. We
ask the Creator to take our hand and help us. When we get to
that place, we will feel the fear go away.

Great Spirit, hold my hand and guide me today.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 11

"[The Old People] would gather words as
they walked a sacred path across the Earth,
leaving nothinig behind but prayers and offerings."
---- Cleone Thunder, NORTHERN ARAPAHOE

Whenever we walk on the Earth, we should pay attention to what
is going on. Too often our minds are somewhere else, thinking about
the past or thinking about the future.

When we do this, we are missing important lessons. The Earth is a
constant flow of lessons and learnings which also include a constant
flow of positive feelings.

If we are aware as we walk, we will gather words for our lives, the
lessons to help our children; we will gather feelings of interconnect-
edness and calmness. When we experience this, we should say or
think thoughts of gratitude. When we do this, the next person to
walk on the sacred path will benefit even more.

My Creator, today, let me be aware of the sacred path.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 12

"All the stones that are around here,
each one has a language of its own.
Even the earth has a song."
---- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA

To believe that every tree, plant and insect can talk takes an
open mind. Go by yourself into nature and sit quietly. Then pick
up a rock and listen to your thoughts.

After a while, put that rock down and pick up another rock. Your
thoughts will change. These are the voices and wisdom of the
Stone People. Each one has different wisdom and they are willing
to share their wisdom with you. Many of the Stone People are very
old and very wise.

Great Spirit, let every rock and leaf be my teacher.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day May 13

"But the great spirit has provided you
and me with an opportunity for study
in nature's university, the forests, the
rivers, the mountains, and the animals
which include us."
---- Walking Buffalo, STONEY

What we really need to learn is how to live life. Nature is the
greatest university when we want to learn about balance, ha-
rmony, the Natural Laws and how to live life.

But we will never learn unless we spend time in the "living uni-
versity." Nature is full of examples, lessons, and exercises about
life.

Nature will help humans learn. Nature will help humans heal. Nature
will help with Medicine, knowledge and healing. The reason our
Elders are so wise is because they have attended the right
educational system - nature's university.

Great Spirit, help me to become wise.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day May 14

"Prayer is the best answer to all of the
trials that face us, because without
prayer, even if we succeed in accomp-
lishing some great goal in the eyes of men,
we have failed in our sacred responsibilities,
and thus we have failed in what is truly
important."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

What are our sacred responsibilities? One is to be of maximum service
to the Creator, and two is to serve the people. In a way, it's like the
Great Spirit is the employer and we are the employees.

We live each day, do what we do, accomplish our goals, face our diffi-
culties, overcome them all to the Glory of the Creator. We do these
things to make Him proud! Even if we work for a company, agency or
tribe, they are nor really our employer; the Creator is our employer.

Working for the Creator is better than working for a human being, be-
cause each night we can talk to the Creator and ask Him, "Well, how
did I do today?" He answers back each night, "I'm proud of you, my
child; sleep well, and in the morning I'll give you a new set of grow-
ing experiences."

Great Spirit, today, let me work for you. You will be my new boss.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 15

"We must have respect and understanding
for women and all female life on this Earth
which bears the sacred gift of life."
--Traditional Circle of Elders. ONONDAGA

At a gathering of Native Elders we were told that many men of today
had lost their ability to look at the Woman in a sacred way. They
said we were only looking at Her in a physical sense and had lost the
ability to look at Her sacredness.

They said the Woman has a powerful position in the Unseen World. She
has the special ability to bring forth life. They told us to start showing
Her respect and to look upon her in a sacred manner. We must start
this today.

Grandfather, show me how to see in a sacred way.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 16

"It's time. If you are to walk the path
of heart, then it is time..."
--Nippawanock, ARAPAHOE

If not now, when? If not me, who? To walk the path of the heart
is a great honor. Every human has the choice to walk this path,
but very few will decide to make it. Why?

Well, because you can't act and behave like everyone else behaves.
You must be the person who will learn to look within. You must be
the person who will be fully accountable for yourself. You must be
the person who prays and meditates. You must be the person who
will sacrifice. You must decide to be a Peaceful Warrior. What will
you decide today?

Oh, Great Mystery, lead me on the path of the heart.

[laurie6781]

Elder's Meditation of the Day - May 17

"If the Great Spirit wanted men to stay
in one place He would make the world
stand still; but He made it to always
change..."
--Chief Flying Hawk, OGLALA SIOUX

The Elders tell us change occurs in two directions. They say, "That
which is built is constantly being destroyed; that which is loose is
being used to build the New."

In other words, change is constantly going on. Many times we hear
people say, "I hate change." Does it make sense that the Great
Spirit would design people to hate it?

The Great Spirit designed people with change abilities such as vision-
ing, imagery and imagination. Maybe we need to learn to use these
tools and then we'll look forward to change.

Great Spirit, today, let me see the harmony of Yours, truly changing
world.