A Cherokee Feast of Day
by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
Alexander Pope recognized the simplicity in the Indian's beliefs. Though all tribes are rich in symbolism to express what they believe, we all basically believe in One God, One Creator, One Great Loving Spirit over all. The Cherokees had their Father-Creator who was Yowah, the unity of three beings. The name Yowah was so sacred that only certain priests were allowed to say it. This same innate belief lives in each of us if we can only uncover it. Worship is of the heart, deep, joyous, personal. It is a life-current between each of us and our Creator. We can wrongly destroy ourselves but never the love that is beyond our understanding. It is there, even when we are too stubborn to receive it.
~ We perceive a battle between good and evil, and we also perceive good will win. ~
THE IROQUOIS
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Elder's Meditation of the Day - January 8
"Native Americans are essentially calling for righteousness. By this they mean a shared ideology developed by all people using their purest and most unselfish minds."
--Lorraine Canoe/Tom Porter, MOHAWK
The Native way is to first focus on decisions that will be good for the people and then for yourself. Righteousness means "to think right." Our way is to consider the good of all first. This helps our minds to be unselfish and pure. This it he spiritual way. This can be very hard to do because the world we live in says to take care of yourself first. A man of God cannot be taken advantage of unless it is the will of the Creator. The Creator really controls everything. To have a good future, the people must gather in a circle and pray for the highest good for the people.
Great Mystery,
today let me love instead of being loved.
Let me be giving instead of receiving.
Show me the advantages of having a
giving heart.
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Morning Prayer:
I pray for all of humanity to one day feel the pulse of the Mother Earth in their feet as they tread.
I pray for mankind to find the faith to believe in the messages carried by their dreams and to see
beyond the visible world. I pray that everyone I come in contact with can walk away with much, or
at least some, of the happiness that lives within me. I pray for peace, acceptance, and tolerance
for all who express their love for the higher power (whatever that name may be). Most of all, I pray
for an end to the violence and depravity that darkens many souls.
Peace be with us all!!
Aho , Amen , e-men .
