10 Indian Commandments.

[Pharm Girl]

this to the 'Writers Joint'.

[Pharm Girl]

bump

[SweetSativa]

wa do!

[Pharm Girl]

Meegwetch!

[Pharm Girl]

A spider was quietly spinning his web in his own space. It was beside the sleeping space of Nokomis, the grandmother.

Each day, Nokomis watched the spider at work, quietly spinning away. One day as she was watching him, her grandson came in. "Nokomis-iya!" he shouted, glancing at the spider. He stomped over to the spider, picked up a shoe and went to hit it.

"No-keegwa," the old lady whispered, "don't hurt him."

"Nokomis, why do you protect the spider?" asked the little boy.

The old lady smiled, but did not answer. When the boy left, the spider went to the old woman and thanked her for saving his life.

He said to her, "For many days you have watched me spin and weave my web. You have admired my work. In return for saving my life, I will give you a gift." He smiled his special spider smile and moved away, spinning as he went. Soon the moon glistened on a magical silvery web moving gently in the window.

"See how I spin?" he said. "See and learn, for each web will snare bad dreams. Only good dreams will go through the small hole. This is my gift to you. Use it so that only good dreams will be remembered. The bad dreams will become hopelessly entangled in the web."

[Pharm Girl]

Rain-softened mud
showed clear deer tracks
where mother and her little one
had crossed my path.

One set smaller
wandering back and forth
along side the steadier, larger track.

I stopped, bent down and
spread my fingers
in one of the tracks
and felt the deer.

The next rain will flatten
all the mud again, and erase
those sharp prints.

I realized that my foot prints
will also disappear........

[stateofkane]

In the christian tradition humans are the earths stewards, and we are responsible for good stewardship.

Perhaps, but I've seen the Bible used to justify polluting more than I have to advocate environmentalism.

[Pharm Girl]

^ nice to hear from ya skate.....~

[stateofkane]

Thanks. It's nice to see you again too.

[Pharm Girl]

Prayer to the Seven Directions

Grandfathers and Grandmothers of the East, each day you bring us new light so that we may grow in wisdom. We have been waiting for the time when your light would shine in the hearts of all people. Then they would remember the Original Instructions that were written in our hearts since the beginning of all things. Now is the time.

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the South, your warm winds have sent us your love and the abundance from Mother Earth. We have always known that as we follow the Original Instructions we will walk in balance and harmony and all our needs will be met. The power and wisdom of this path is not easily understood when the mind is taught inside boundaries and the heart is closed to sissagwaad, the soft wind of spirit. Open the heart of those who follow the way of the mind.

Grandfathers and Grandmothers of the West, in the darkness of night you have sent us dreams to see deep inside our hearts, to learn how to walk the path of the spirit. We see the beauty that hides behind each moment and discover the Great Mystery that is in us and all things. Help the people of the mind see the power of their dreams. Help them learn from their dreams so that they can remember the Original Instructions.

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the North, you have brought the cold winds and snows each year to cleanse our Mother Earth. Now the cleansing of the mind has begun. The energies of the stars have shifted into a new focus to end domination and hierarchy. No longer is it possible to live by the mind unless it is guided by the heart. Blow the fresh, clean wind of spirit to sweep away the belief systems that limit our brothers and sisters who are trapped in the way of the mind.

Kee-shay Giidzhii Manidou, you have sent visions and dreams to help us remember Who we are. We have not forgotten the Original Instructions. The stories have now been rediscovered and returned to the people. You have shown that the path of reconciliation and peace is through the heart. Send the light of inspiration to the Ogichidaag‘ who will show others a new way of being.

Gee-mama-nama-kee, you are our Mother, our Source of Life. You have given us our food, our water, air, shelter, and so many beautiful beings who are our Brothers and Sisters. We know we are connected to you and to all other beings in the Web of Life. Many are those who do not know of their connection. They see only with their eyes and their mind. With a narrow focus they see parts of things instead of the energy of love and wholeness. They have forgotten the Original Instructions. As their Mother, you have been patient with them. Extend that patience a little longer so the Ogichidaag‘ can show them a new way.

Great Mystery, we feel your presence in us and in all things. You are the spiral energy of love that connects all, is all. You are the circle of life, the circle way, the Original Instructions. When we are living in our heart, we can soar with the White Eagle to see beyond horizons.

When the drum has been smudged you can beat on it and say this prayer, either in English or Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Anishinabeg:

Midewewewigun, nindo-wiyauh.
I seek the drum.

And then:

N’midewewewigun, manitouwiyauwiwih.
Upon my drum bestow the mystery.

And to Ishpiming, All That Is:

M’gwech, Giidji manidou
Thanks, Great Spirit

[Pharm Girl]

Ojibway Legend: Winabojo and the Birch Tree.

Once there was a spirit-boy named Winabojo who taught the Ojibway how to live in the natural world.


One day he asked his Grandmother what was the biggest fish in the lake. She replied that there was an enormous fish that lived by a rock ledge but it was very powerful and would harm Winabojo. No one could kill the fish because no one could get down there where it lived.


Winabojo thought about how to hunt this fish, so he got some wood to make a bow and arrows. Then he asked his Grandmother if there were any birds whose feathers could be put on the arrows to make them effective. She told Winabojo the only feathers strong enough come from a bird that lives in the sky, at the opening of the clouds. One would have to go there to get these feathers.


Winabojo climbed to the highest cliff and discovered a nest of the Thunderbirds and saw their babies. Winabojo turned into a rabbit so the Thunderbirds would bring him to their nest for their babies to play with. Winnabojo stayed in the nest for a long time; the babies were cruel to him and tossed him around. Eventually Thunderbirds went away to hunt for more food for their babies. Winabojo turned back to a boy; he clubbed the baby Thunderbirds and pulled out their feathers Before their parents could return, Winabojo jumped from the high nest with the bundle of feathers but he was knocked out, but he was not killed because he was a manido.


When they returned to their nest, the angered Thunderbirds flew after Winabojo!! Thunder rolled from their beaks and lightning flashed from their eyes. Winabojo ran for his life clutching his bundle of feathers, but soon grew so tired he began to fear he would be caught. As the Thunderbirds reached for him with their claws, Winabojo saw an old fallen birch that was hollow inside. Winabojo crept into the hollow in the nick of time. The Thunderbirds ended their attack because they knew they could not reach Winabojo through the birch bark. Winabojo was safe. After the Thunderbirds went away, Winabojo came out and proclaimed that the birch tree would forever protect and benefit the human race.


You can still see the short marks on the birch tree to made by Winabojo to commemorate the sharp claws of the Thunderbirds which almost killed him. The Thunderbird parents put "pictures" of their baby birds with out-stretched wings into the birch bark so the sacrifice of their children would always be remembered.


Winabojo fixed his arrows and went home. With these arrows he was able to kill the great fish that lived under the rock ledge.


Winabojo has blessed the birch tree for the good of the human race.

And this is why lightning never strikes the birch tree, and why anything wrapped in the bark will not decay.

Birchbark is useful for house coverings, canoes, containers, utensils, tinder and in many other ways. Native Americans traditionally honor the tree by offering a gift, such as tobacco, when they use this tree.

[BibleGuy]

Pharm Girl,

Thanks for the wonderful posts! My understanding is that one of the names for the Great Spirit is "Father Sky". Can you confirm this? I find it very interesting because in the Bible the Greek words that are translated "Heavenly Father" are ouranios pater.

• Ouranios is celestial, that is, belonging to or coming from the sky
• Pater is a “father” (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
  

Ouranos pater, then, is "Celestial Father" or "Sky Father".

...Father Sky.

Mitakuye oyas’in

[kitch]

reminds me of the principles of unitarian universalism;

* The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
* Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
* Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
* The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
* The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
* Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

[Pharm Girl]

The Owl in Aboriginal Culture.........

In early Indian folklore, Owls represents wisdom and helpfulness, and have powers of prophecy.
Among the different American Indian tribes, there are many diverse beliefs regarding the Owl. Presented here are some of those beliefs.
To an Apache Indian, dreaming of an Owl signified approaching death.
Cherokee shamans valued Eastern Screech-Owls as consultants as the owls could bring on sickness as punishment.

The Dakota Hidatsa Indians saw the Burrowing Owl as a protective spirit for brave warriors.
The Hopis Indians see the Burrowing Owl as their god of the dead, the guardian of fires and tender of all underground things, including seed germination. Their name for the Burrowing Owl is Ko'ko, which means "Watcher of the dark" They also believed that the Great Horned Owl helped their Peaches grow.

The Inuit believed that the Short-eared Owl was once a young girl who was magically transformed into an Owl with a long beak. But the Owl became frightened and flew into the side of a house, flattening its face and beak.


Native Northwest coast Kwagulth people believed that owls represented both a deceased person and their newly-released soul.
The Kwakiutl Indians were convinced that Owls were the souls of people and should therefore not be harmed, for when an Owl was killed the person to whom the soul belonged would also die.
The Lenape Indians believed that if they dreamt of an Owl it would become their guardian.

The Menominee people believed that day and night were created after a talking contest between a Saw-whet Owl (Totoba) and a rabbit (Wabus). The rabbit won and selected daylight, but allowed night time as a benefit to the vanquished Owl.
The Montagnais people of Quebec believed that the Saw-whet Owl was once the largest Owl in the world and was very proud of its voice. After the Owl attempted to imitate the roar of a waterfall, the Great Spirit humiliated the Saw-whet Owl by turning it into a tiny Owl with a song that sounds like slowly dripping water.
To the Mojave Indians of Arizona, one would become an Owl after death, this being and interim stage before becoming a water beetle, and ultimately pure air.

According to Navaho legend, the creator, Nayenezgani, told the Owl after creating it "...in days to come, men will llisten to your vioce to know what will be their future"
California Newuks believed that after death, the brave and virtuous became Great Horned Owls. The wicked, however, were doomed to become Barn Owls.
In the Sierras, native peoples believed the Great Horned Owl captured the souls of the dead and carried them to the underworld.

The Tlingit Indian warriors had great faith in the Owl; they would rush into battle hooting like Owls to give themselves confidence, and to strike fear into their enemies.

A Zuni legend tells of how the Burrowing Owl got its speckled plumage: the Owls spilled white foam on themselves during a ceremonial dance because they were laughing at a coyote that was trying to join the dance.

Zuni mothers place an Owl feather next to a baby to help it sleep.

[Pharm Girl]

Beaver Tail Legend.........~

Once very long ago when animals could talk together. Beaver and Otter lived very close to each other in a big river that flowed at the foot of a high rocky hill.
Otter built a mud slide, into the river, a short slide, not far up for him to climb on his stubby legs. What fun he had struggling up, beside it, and then slipping down into the clear water.

One day Beaver came paddling by, with a big stick in his mouth.

" Hello there, Beaver my brother " called Otter," Why do you work so hard?. Build yourself a slide like mine and have a little fun "

Beaver said nothing, as his mouth was carrying the stick but he thought about Otters suggestion.

The next mornig Beaver swam up the river, on his way to a big grove of Aspen where he did his logging.

Otter spotted Beavers brown head as he glided smoothly through the water.

" Hey there ", called Otter, " Still working?".

" I certainly am. You might do better if you do a little yourself " Then Beaver continued up the river. Later carrying a huge Aspen stick in his mouth, he swam downstream.

Otter watched as the industrious Beaver carried the stick to repair his dam.

Otter called out again," Hello Brother Beaver, why don't you build a slide and have fun like I do?"

Beaver ignored Otter.

Otter called out once more," Bet you can't build a good slide like mine "

Beaver dropped his stick. " Of course I can "he snapped, " but Beavers only build slides when they need them to pull logs into the water "

" Work, work nothing but work" sniffed Otter, " You never do anything for fun "

" Of course I do " said Beaver, " We Beavers have fun in the spring and early summer when we visit our relatives. But now its nearly winter, and we must repair our dams and build our houses so we can be snug and safe during the long cold time "

" You sound so serious ", teased Otter, " No time to play, no time at all "

Alright Brother Otter, I'll build a slide and show you what I can do. My slide will be longer and better than any other you have ever seen "

So Beaver climbed out of the water and went up the stoney mountain. He slid down once. " Ouch!, those rocks hurt," he said " I know what I'll do "

Up he climbed again, this time he sat on his big tail as he slid. That worked better, so he did it over and over again. Then he jumped back into the river.

" Hows that for a slide Brother Otter ", he called

" Perfect " replied Otter,, then he began to laugh.

" Whats the matter?, don't you like my slide "

" Yes, I said it was perfect, but look what you have done to your tale "

Then Beaver looked over his shoulder. Alas his beautiful tail had no hair left on it, besides that it was flat like a paddle from so much sitting and sliding on it.

To this very day, Beaver and all his children and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren have smooth flat tails.