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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:34:13 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 16 "We do not want riches, but we want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches, we want peace and love." --Red Cloud, OGLALA LAKOTA The Elders say that what is important is peace and love. To have material things is okay, but if not, that's okay too. To have peace and love is more important than anything material. Our children will see the value of peace and love only if adults show they are a priority. Too often we think we can offer material things and they will replace the time spent with our children. But the most important way to give our children peace and love is to spend time with them.
My Creator, give me Your peace and love today.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:35:13 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 17 "Humbleness means peace, honesty -- all mean Hopi. True, honest, perfect words -- that's what we call Hopi words. In all languages, not just in Hopi. We strive to be Hopi. We call ourselves Hopi because maybe one or two of us will become Hopi. Each person must look into their heart and make changes so that you may become Hopi when you reach your destination." --Percy Lomaquahu, HOPI The Creator has made available to us all the laws, principles and values which we need to know to live in harmony. The Creator also designed each human being to learn and grow by trail and error. We have tools to help us live the right way. We have prayers, visions, nature, teachers, Elders, and we have the Great Spirit to talk to and ask for help when we have problems. We also have choice. To walk the Red Road takes courage and a lot of prayer.
Creator, give me courage to walk the Red Road.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:36:04 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 18 "Power is not manifested in the human being. True power is in the Creator." --Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA The Old Ones say the only true power is spiritual power. Sometimes our egos tell us we have power but really we don't. Great Spirit power is called by other names such as love, forgiveness, intelligence, life, principles and laws. When the Creator uses this power to make the human being powerful, we must stay humble. We should constantly acknowledge that we are who we are. We do what we do because of the power of the Great One.
Great One, guide me to use Your power well. I will use it only to serve the people.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:37:20 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 19 "Indians chase the vision, white men chase the dollar." --John (Fire) Lame Deer, ROSEBUD LAKOTA Since the beginning of time, Indian people have been blessed with the ability and knowledge of the vision. The vision determines our future. The concept is, we move toward and become that which we think about. We have known that all visions are about the Great Spirit. They should include God's will in every area of our lives. We should have visions about our people, about healthy relationships, about helping others, about being happy, about being educated. Each day we should renew our vision. We should ask the Creator to give us a vision of what He wants us to be and where He wants us to go in our lives. We should be the seekers of vision.
Great Spirit, give me a vision to follow today. Let me do Your will.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:38:39 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 20 "Money cannot buy affection." --Mangas Coloradas, APACHE In these modern times we put too much emphasis on material things and on money. We believe that money is power. If we have money, people will respect us. If we have money, people will admire us. If we have money, we can have anything we want. Maybe we can purchase anything in the material world, but we cannot purchase anything in the Unseen World. The Unseen World is not for sale. It can only be given away. Love, affection, admiration, trust, respect, commitment -- these must be earned or given away. If we use these things from the Unseen World, we are using real power.
My Creator, let me demonstrate Your power today. Let me be loving to all I meet.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:40:01 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 21 "In the absence of the sacred, nothing is sacred -- everything is for sale." --Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA The Elders often say that when something is sacred it has spiritual value. You'll hear, on the Earth there are sacred spots. You'll hear, our ceremonies are sacred, our children are sacred, marriage is sacred. When something is sacred it means it's so holy you can't attach a value to it. Therefore, it's not for sale. It's an insult to suggest buying something sacred. On the other hand, if we look at it differently, as there is no sacred land, ceremonies are not sacred, our children are not sacred, etc., then everything is for sale. Sacredness creates spiritual space. Sacredness makes things holy. Sacredness shows respect for God.
Great Spirit, let me honor things that are sacred.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:41:09 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 22 "It's the most precious thing...to know absolutely where you belong. There's a whole emotional wrapping-around-of-you here. You see the same rock, tree, road, clouds, sun -- you develop a nice kind of intimacy with the world around you. To be intimate is to grow, to learn...[it] is absolutely fulfilling. Intimacy, that's my magic word for why I live here." --Tessie Maranjo, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO Every human being, to be mentally healthy, must have the feeling of belonging. When we have a sense of belonging we can be intimate. We can feel. We can connect. If we cannot develop this feeling of belonging, then we will feel lost of disconnected. To be disconnected from life is like walking around during the day not knowing the Sun exists. To have the feelings of intimacy is warm, glowy, joyful, loving and connected. The feeling this Elder is talking about is available to everyone.
Great Spirit, let me be intimate.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:42:39 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 23 "We're sitting on our blessed Mother Earth from which we get our strength and determination, love and humility-all the beautiful attributes that we've been given. so turn to one another; love one another; respect one another; respect Mother Earth; respect the waters-because that's life itself!" --Phil Lane, Sr. YANKTON SIOUX Our entire point of view can be altered by making one change to align with the principles of the Great Spirit. Let's say we decide to become respectful. As we become respectful, our attitude will change. We will automatically draw into our lives knowledge about the other principles of the Great Spirit such as love, appreciation, trust, beauty, peace of mind. By focusing on these principles, we will let go of selfishness, self centeredness, self pity, dishonesty and fear. You focus on respect, you get respect; you focus on love, you get love; you focus on the Red Road, you get peace of mind.
Great Spirit, let me learn the lessons of respect.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:43:48 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 24 "Things would go well for us if we would think positively about everything." --Mary Hayes, CLAOQUOT Each of our thoughts are like individual seeds. These thoughts will plant our life garden. Whatever our thoughts, they grow in our gardens. Each day we will process about 50,000 thoughts or thought seeds. Positive thoughts will produce positive results. Have you ever been aware of what you are thinking about during the day? Of the possible 50,000 thoughts in one day-if the positive thoughts were flowers and the negative thoughts were weeds-how would your garden look at the end of the day?
Great Spirit, let me plant positive seeds.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:45:00 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 25 "People and nations who understand the Natural Law are self-governing, following the principles of love and respect that insure freedom and peace." --Traditional Circle of Elders, NAVAJO-HOPI Joint Use Area The Natural Laws work hand-in-hand with the circle. Each part of a circle will look to the center and will see something different. For example, if you put an irregular shaped object in the center of a circle and you have people standing in a circle around the object, each one will describe it differently. Everyone in the circle will be right. Only by honoring and respecting everyone's input, can the truth about the object be revealed. We need to learn to honor differences.
My Creator, let me honor all differences.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:45:57 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 26 "In our traditional ways, the woman is the foundation of the family." --Haida Gwaii Traditional Circle of Elders We must pay attention to the role of the woman in the family. She is the heartbeat of the family. She should be respected and treated in a sacred manner. We should listen to her guidance. We should help make her role easier by helping with chores or just telling her how much we appreciate her.
Great Spirit, I ask you to bless all the moms.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:47:04 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 27 "The Natural Law is a spiritual law. Its powers are both light and dark." --Oren R. Lyons, Spokesman Traditional Circle of Elders There are some characteristics that are evident in the system which the Creator made. He made balance, harmony and polarity. In other words, every (+) plus has a (-) minus. Every positive has a negative; every up has a down; every problem has a solution. The Spiritual Law is the same-it has light and dark. Both are good, so both need to be honored. Lessons can be learned on both sides.
Great Spirit, teach me the powers of the Natural Laws.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:48:13 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 28 "People say that crisis changes people and turns ordinary people into wiser or more responsible ones." --Wilma Mankiller, CHEROKEE There is a saying, conflict precedes clarity. The Medicine Wheel teachings say, in order for something to change it must first go through a struggle. When a crisis enters our lives, other powers are there to help us. We will learn some lessons. Will I honor and respect the next crisis?
Great Spirit, if a crisis occurs today, let me learn the lessons of wisdom.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:49:01 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 29 "Life, the circle, a measurement with no beginning and no end." --Phillip Deere, MUSKOGEE-CREEK The circle teaches us how the Creator made things and how to live. It teaches us how we should look at creation. Life travels in a circle. In the East is the baby, to the South is the youth, in the West is the adult and in the North is the Elder. Then we return to the Earth Mother to start the cycle again. We observe what is `around us' from the center of the circle. This develops our point of view. We must be careful not to become self-centered.
Great Spirit, let me observe life from the circle's point of view.
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Post by Shaman on Dec 29, 2007 16:50:00 GMT -5
Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 30 "Someone must speak for them. I do not see a delegation for the four footed. I see no seat for eagles. We forget and we consider ourselves superior, but we are after all a mere part of the Creation." --Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA Whenever we make decisions, we need to look around and see who would be affected by them. If we change the course of a river , who, what will be affected? If we put poison on the gardens, who, what will be affected? If wee cut the trees and too many are cut, who, what will be affected? We need to become aware of the consequences of our actions. We need to pay attention to our thoughts. We are accountable to our children to leave the Earth in good shape.
My Creator, help me make right decisions
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