Gloucestershire United Kingdom: George Vigileos
“The spiritual foundation of the Indigenous world-view is based in the ancient understanding of the fundamental oneness and unity of all life. Therefore, all members of the Human Family are all part of the Sacred Circle of Life. Since all members of the Human Family are all part of the Sacred Circle of Life, we are all Indigenous Peoples of our Mother Earth. This makes every Human Being responsible for the well-being of one another and for all living things upon our Mother Earth…… The primary challenge that stands before us as Indigenous Peoples and we as a Human Family, in rebuilding the Earth, is disunity. This disunity has been directly caused by genocide and colonialism. This genocide and colonization has resulted in unresolved inter-generational trauma and internalized oppression that is the process of being fully recognized and addressed.As we move courageously and wisely forward, in greater and greater love, compassion, justice and unity, we are reconnecting to our enduring and unbreakable spiritual and cultural foundation for healing, reconciliation and collective action for “Protecting and Restoring the Sacred” everywhere on Mother Earth. With the realization of this spiritual and cultural foundation for prayerful, wise and unified action, all that is needed for our ultimate victory will gracefully and assuredly unfold at the right times and places, as foretold by our Ancient Ones.” (From Declaration of Indigenous Summit of the Americas, April 10, 2015, Panama City, Panama -Call to Action)
*************************************************************************
Istanbul Turkey: Gökhan strong Wings
May all beings be free from suffering
********************************************************************
Putney VT USA: Sadelle Wiltshire
Hand in hand, heart to heart, let us step forward together into this new millennium to engender Peace! We envision a world in vibrant health, joyous abundance in balance with our earth with governance arising from wisdom, truth and justice, love and peace.
************************************************************************
Prayer of Repentance, Jill English
Prayer of Repentance dictated on an alphabet board by the silent East Indian Spiritual Master, Meher Baba.We repent, O God most merciful, for all our sins; for every thought that was false or unjust or unclean; for every word spoken that ought not to have been spoken; for every deed done that ought not to have been done.We repent for every deed and word and thought inspired by selfishness, and for every deed and word and thought inspired by hatred.We repent most specially for every lustful thought and every lustful action; for every lie; for all hypocrisy; for every promise given but not fulfilled; and for all slander and backbiting.Most specially also we repent for every action that has brought ruin to others; for every work and deed that has given others pain; and for every wish that pain should befall others.In Your Unbounded Mercy, we ask You to forgive us, O God, for all these sins committed by us, and to forgive us for our constant failures to think and speak and act according to Your Will.
************************************************************************
CasaMasSana, Casares, Malaga, Spain
Peace begins when we turn away from what they do and turn towards who they are. Together let us Stand with Life and our Ancestors on the Sacred Path and invite the Wisdom of Ages to bathe our wounds and the Spirit of Eternity to heal our sadness. Let Gratitude replace Grief and let each hour be held in ceremony for the Beauty of Creation. For all our Relatives. A’ho.
************************************************************************
Waking Up by Linda Van Bibber
How many lives Does it take For our eyes To awake?
How many lovers, Sisters, brothers encouraging us To see?
How many stumblings In darkened caves, The light always just Out of reach?
How many voices That tempt and teach Along a winding way?
How much sun and how much rain?
How much pleasure and how much pain?
How much joy?
How much relief To finally reach the light Rejoicing now in innocence Children of Earth-Our Birthright!
************************************************************************
This isn’t really mine to share but it has not author that I know of. It comes from the Vikings heritage…
My name is not my own, It is borrowed from my ancestors, I must return it unstained. My honor is not my own, It is on loan from my descendants, I must give it to them unbroken. Our blood is not our own, It is a gift to generations yet unborn, We must carry it with responsibility.
************************************************************************
The only immigrant the white man does not recognise is himself.
From Turtle Lodge: The Great Binding Law (Statement of Manitoba Elders)
Manitoba Elders, Turtle Lodge
12/25/15
Ogichi Tibakonigaywin, Kihche’othasowewin, Tako Wakan:
The Great Binding Law
Written at Turtle Lodge
By Oshoshko Bineshiikwe – Blue Thunderbird Woman, Osawa Aki Ikwe (Florence Paynter); Zoongi Gabowi Ozawa Kinew Ikwe – Strong Standing Golden Eagle Woman (Mary Maytwayashing); Nii Gaani Aki Inini – Leading Earth Man (Dave Courchene); Giizih-Inini – (Dr. Harry Bone); Zhonga-giizhing – Strong Day (Wally Swain); Naawakomigowiinin (Dennis White Bird); Kamintowe Pemohtet – Spirit Walker (D’Arcy Linklater); Mah Pe Ya Mini (Henry Skywater)
Nitam – Michemach Oche – Ahana…
In the beginning, when time started, a long, long time ago, Kizhay Manitou, the Great Spirit, gave us one universal Law – Ogichi Tibakonigaywin – a Law that connects us all. Through this Law we were all given our unique languages, songs, ceremonies, ways of life, teachings and stories. We were all given our ways of loving and taking care of Mother Earth.
Kizhay Manitou put spirit in Mother Earth and all of life. We come from the spirit world and flow through the Earth. We will all return to the spirit world and to the Earth when our journey on Earth has been completed.
Through Mother Earth, Kizhay Manitou planted the seeds of life, with Original Instructions on how to be and how to sustain our relationship with Mother Earth. Mother Earth gave birth to the plants, the animals, the birds and finally to the human being. Kizhay Manitou gave us medicines for everything that can affect us.
Mother Earth is alive and she is the Original Mother of life. She has a living spirit and she is sacred. Mother Earth is so beautiful – she is the most beautiful creation – the most beautiful woman of all.
As the Mother of life, Mother Earth gives birth, and gives us everything we need to live – the food, the water, the medicines, the clothing, the shelter, and most of all, the love, kindness and teachings that a mother gives to her child.
Her teachings are reflected in Natural Laws – the balance of nature in the rising and setting of the sun, the patterns of the weather through the winds, the rains, and the elements of life, the natural flow of the blood of the Earth through the rivers and the oil beneath her, the cycles of the moon and the breaking of the waters when a child comes, as woman gives life in the most natural of ways. As long as we are breathing this beautiful air, whether we realize it or not, there is an invisible umbilical cord that always connects us to our Original Mother – our life source, Mother Earth.
In Nehetho, the word Waskaawe siweno (WAS-KAAH-WAY-SEE-WIN) means “Everything around you” and describes how we are all connected.
In Dakota, Mitakuye Owasana means “All my relations – we are related.” We are related to the stars in the sky, the birds, the fish, the animals and the plant life.
In Anishinaabe, Nikanisitook acknowledges “All my relatives in life.”
With the exception of the human being, all of the other living beings of creation have continued to follow their Original Instructions and live in balance and harmony with Natural Laws. It is only the human being that has severed its natural connection to Mother Earth and lost its connection to her Natural Laws.
We cannot continue to disrupt the Natural Laws of life. If even one of us disrespects that Great Binding Law, it affects us all, and it will come back to us. Nature’s Laws are self-enforcing. What we put into our circle always returns to our web of life. Mother Earth will have the final say because she is the Mother to us all.
Nature is always giving us signs to bring us messages. Right now, the human beings are behaving out of balance, and Mother Earth is reflecting that imbalance through climate change.
We are the Earth. We are the voice of the Earth. In our Original Instructions as human beings, Kizhay Manitou gave us the responsibility to respect, take care of, and most importantly to make a journey to Mother Earth, to connect to the land and learn how to live.
We are the free and independent Original People of this land. As the roots of this land, we are the true leaders of our ancestral lands – Manito Ka Apit – Where Kizhay Manitou – the Great Spirit – sits.
We come from the Dakota, Nehetho, and Anishinaabe Nations who have lived on our ancestral lands since Kizhay Manitou placed us here with our languages, songs, ceremonies, teachings and ways of life. We have always been here.
As unique Dakota, Nehetho, and Anishinaabe Peoples, we speak with one voice. We have respect for each other. As the Original People we welcome you. We come forward to share with you. We come to share that love with you. We bring our shared understanding and that is this:
We are all brothers and sisters and we all have a sacred responsibility to take care of and make an alliance with Mother Earth.
We are a peaceful people. We are not asking for anything for ourselves. The human being was the last part of creation to be created. It is our spiritual responsibility to take care of that life.
Kizhay Manitou had a vision of a world filled with peace and love. It is through the land that we can find that peace and love.
All of humanity needs to make a journey to the land, to the sacred sites, places of healing, teaching and connection, to find peace.
We make an invitation to the whole human family, and all the children, to come to our lodges so we can teach them to love the land, connect to the land, and take care of the land. Our journey begins with gratitude to the Earth and to the Spirit. Kizhay Manitou gave all of us gifts to share with each other, to take care of the Earth and all life.
In our lodges, the children will hear the teachings, feel the ceremonies and feel the love for Mother Earth.
Our ancestors prophesized of this time – a time of climate change, a time of crossroads, a time of self-examination, and a time of choice. Our choice is not a choice of words, it is a choice of action. We need to stand strong now in alliance with Mother Earth.
We are all in this together. Today, we call on all Nations of the world to join us in the spirit of our Original Instructions to care for Mother Earth together, and find true peace.
It will require a peaceful journey back to the Earth, to find our direction for our survival.
As one of our great Lakota leaders of the past, Crazy Horse, said:
Upon suffering beyond suffering;
The Red Nation shall rise again.
It will be a blessing for a sick world
A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations
A world longing for light again!
I see a time, long after the skies have grown dark and dirty
And the Water has become bad-smelling
I see a time of seventh generation,
When all the colours of mankind
Will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life
And one whole Earth will become one Circle again.
COMMENT
Dearest Grandmothers-Grandfathers-Aunts & Uncles-Brothers & Sisters-Cousins: With GREAT GRATITUDE i receive your word-tones in the heart of my belly. They ring with TRUTH. As an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe, enrolled with the Mackinac Band(s) of Chippewa & Ottawa Indians, my belly-heart thrills with the depth you provide US ALL. Thank you! Thank you! THANK US!!!! With many Blessings to US ALL, and particularly to OUR EARTH MOTHER for attempting to sustain us beyond all reason. Joie Bourisseau
Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/12/25/turtle-lodge-great-binding-law-statement-manitoba-elders-162881