the ramblings of a woman who was transported from her comfort zone in the US Midwest to a different country and culture that shouldn't be so different, but is.
That is nice, but it's not a poem, it's a prayer, or rather spiritual medicine, native indian prayer. It's tree medicine - you can have owl medicine, dog medicine, etc. There are many, many Native American (or rather First Nations, as I am Canadian) prayers/poems/homilies/spiritual tonics. Here's some I know:
Earth, Teach Me
Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light. Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young. Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone. Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky. Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall. Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.
Honor the Sacred
Honor the Earth, our Mother. Honor the Elders. Honor all with whom we share the Earth:- Four-leggeds, two-leggeds, winged ones, Swimmers, crawlers, plant and rock people. Walk in balance and beauty.
Thanksgiving
Thank you to the earth, our Mother who sustains us all. Thank you to the rivers and the rains which supply us with water. Thank you to the birds and animals, our fellow beings who nourish and clothe us. Thank you to the plants which furnish medicines to cure our diseases or soothe our suffering. Thank you to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone. Thank you to the Sun, that has looked upon the earth with a warm and beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit. Oh Great Spirit, bring to our brothers the wisdom of nature and the knowledge that if her laws are obeyed the land will flourish for our children as it did for our ancestors.
Native American Prayer
Oh, Great Spirit Whose voice I hear in the winds, And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me, I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy - myself. Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my Spirit may come to you without shame.
4 comments:
LIKE!
Makes me want to go hug a tree! :-)
Lovely poem - thank you for posting.
I love this! So very true! Thanks for sharing this!
That is nice, but it's not a poem, it's a prayer, or rather spiritual medicine, native indian prayer. It's tree medicine - you can have owl medicine, dog medicine, etc. There are many, many Native American (or rather First Nations, as I am Canadian) prayers/poems/homilies/spiritual tonics. Here's some I know:
Earth, Teach Me
Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.
Honor the Sacred
Honor the Earth, our Mother.
Honor the Elders.
Honor all with whom we
share the Earth:-
Four-leggeds, two-leggeds,
winged ones,
Swimmers, crawlers,
plant and rock people.
Walk in balance and beauty.
Thanksgiving
Thank you to the earth, our Mother who sustains us all. Thank you to the rivers and the rains which supply us with water. Thank you to the birds and animals, our fellow beings who nourish and clothe us. Thank you to the plants which furnish medicines to cure our diseases or soothe our suffering. Thank you to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone. Thank you to the Sun, that has looked upon the earth with a warm and beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit. Oh Great Spirit, bring to our brothers the wisdom of nature and the knowledge that if her laws are obeyed the land will flourish for our children as it did for our ancestors.
Native American Prayer
Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.
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