Sharing Secrets

Because most Native American tribes and cultures had an oral rather than a written spiritual tradition,

a great deal of their wisdom has been lost, and most of what has been kept is in bits and pieces, and has not been widely known. It has only fairly recently,( in the last century or so, and especially the past few decades,) been captured in writing and made available to the general public in this way.

To me, one of the great tragedies of American history (and world history, for that matter) is the lost opportunity the white race (Europeans) had when they discovered this continent to live here in harmony with the many Native American peoples already here. Instead of engaging in relationships of mutual respect and learning, the great majority of settlers were guilty of discounting, disinheriting, displacing, and destroying much of the culture and wisdom of the many tribes who lived here. Many of their children were taken away and forced into "Christian" boarding schools where they were forbidden to use their native tongue or practice their own spirituality.

It was not until the 1970's that Native Americans were given the full right to practice their religion===in this country where freedom of religion was meant to be a basic right for all who lived here.

Fortunately, fragments of Native American spiritual wisdom have somehow survived, and can now be shared with the world. Today's readings are examples of the special wisdom available to any of us who are open to it.

A long time ago the Creator came to Turtle Island and said to the Red People, "You will be the keepers of Mother Earth. Among you I will give the wisdom about Nature, about the interconnectedness of all things, about balance and about living in harmony.

You Red People will see the secrets of Nature. You will live in hardship and the blessing of this is you will stay close to the Creator. The day will come when you will need to share the secrets with other people of the earth, because they will stray from their spiritual ways.

The time to start sharing is today.

(Don Coyhis, Mohican)

Note: Turtle Island is the name many tribes gave to North America.

We were religious people from our mother's womb.

From the moment she recognized the fact of conception to the end of the second year of life,

which was the ordinary duration of lactation, the mother's spiritual influence counted for most.

Her attitude and secret meditations were such as to instill into the receptive soul of the unborn child

the love of the "Great Mystery" and a sense of kinship with all of creation.

(Ohiyesa, Santee Sioux)

We loved to worship.

From birth to death we revered our surroundings.

We considered ourselves born in the luxurious lap of Mother Earth,

and no place to us was unworthy.

(Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux)

Can things go well in a land where freedom of worship is a lie, a hollow boast?

To each nation is given the light by which it knows God,

and each finds its own way to express the longing to know and serve God.

If a nation does not do what is right according to its own understanding,

its power is worthless.

(Thunderchild, Plains Cree)

Treat the earth well.

It was not given to you by your parents,

it was loaned to you by your children.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,

we borrow it from our children.

(anonymous ancient proverb)

We also have a religion which was given to our ancestors,

and has been handed down to us, their children.

It teaches us to be thankful,

to be united,

and to love one another.

We never quarrel about religion.

(Red Jacket, Seneca)

First, you are to think always of God, of Wakan Tanka.

Second, you are to use all your powers to care for your people

and especially for the poor.

(Black Moon, Hunkpapa Sioux)

Strength is not the only thing we must have in the world,

and in a person or nation, it is of little use without wisdom.

(Chacopee, Yankton Sioux)

And to close this blog---a Cherokee blessing for us all:

May the warm winds of heaven blow softly upon your house.

May the Great Spirit bless all who enter there.

May your moccasins make happy tracks in many snows.

And may the rainbow always touch your shoulder.