Pre European History for North American People

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Pre 1600 knowledge, myth, lore, ways, & history upon the Native Peoples of the North Western Part of the world. Trying to relearn the teaching stories & ways of the past.

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  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "When temptation comes, I don't say, `Yes," and I don't say, `No.' I say, `Later,' I just keep walking the Red Road - down the middle. When you're in the middle, you don't go to either extreme. You allow both sides to exist."
    -- Dr. A. C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA
    We need to practice controlling our focus. Whatever we focus on we become. We also become whatever we practice. We need to focus on balance. Whenever something comes along to tilt us off balance, we need to be grateful, because it allows the opportunity to practice our focus. Sometimes this is called temptation. Temptation in itself is not bad. What really counts is what we do with it when it happens. We need to practice controlling our focus and keeping our thinking focused on the Red Road.

    Great Spirit, today, guide me through my temptations and allow me to focus on the Red Road

    Dec 28, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Always remember that the Great Mystery is good; evil can come only from ourselves!"
    -- Grandmother of Charles Eastman. SANTEE SIOUX
    The Great Mystery is love, good, and principle. He is a guiding Father. He doesn't play games. He knows only how to love. Sometimes, when things go wrong, we blame Him or others. Usually, if we are honest, we can see how decisions or things done in the past put us in a position to be hurt. It comes back to us. When this happens, it is not something the Creator caused, but something we, ourselves caused. Most of our problems are of our own making. When this happens, we should correct what we've done, ask the Great Spirit for forgiveness, and pray for guidance in the future.

    My Creator, bless me with Your good

    Dec 30, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "What you see with your eyes shut is what counts."
    -- Lame Deer, LAKOTA
    Another whole world opens up when we close our eyes and calm our mind. Be still and know; be still and hear; be still and see; be still and feel. Inside every person is a still, small voice. Sometimes it is necessary to close our eyes to shut down our perception in order to see. Try this occasionally when you are talking to your child or spouse, close your eyes and listen to them. Listen to the tone of their voice; listen to their excitement; listen to their pain-listen.

    Great Spirit, today, let me hear only what really counts

    Dec 30, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "They must give themselves to Wakan' Tanka and live a spiritual life. They will have the peace that frees them from fear."
    -- Frank Fools Crow, LAKOTA
    There are two wills available for us: self will and God's will. Our choice is: figure it out ourselves, or have the Creator involved in our lives. If we are honest with ourselves and look at past experiences, what are our lives like when we try to figure it out ourselves? Is there fear, confusion, frustration, anger, attacking others, conflict, fault finding, manipulation, teasing others, belittling others or devaluation? If these things are present, they indicate that we are choosing self will. What is it like if we turn our will over to the Creator? What are the results if we ask the Great Spirit to guide our life? Examples are: freedom, choices, consequences, love, forgiveness, helping others, happiness, joy, solutions, and peace. Which will I choose today, self will or God's will?

    Creator, I know what my choice is. I want You to direct my life. I want You to direct my thinking. You are the Grandfather. You know what I need even before I do. Today I ask You to tell me what I can do for You today. Tell me in a way I can understand and I will be happy to do it

    Dec 31, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    ".because if you believe in something, and believe in it long enough, it will come into being."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    We are created by the Great One to accomplish His will through our mental pictures or visions. Our thoughts are three dimensional: words, pictures and feelings. We create the vision by thinking the words and we create feeling for the vision by feeling enthusiasm, desire, commitment and other strong beliefs. Once we create the vision, we move toward and become like that which we think about. All visions are tested by our self talk; for example, "This isn't going to happen, where is the money coming from anyway?" When this happens, we need to let go of the test and focus on belief in the vision. Why? Because God said if we believe it long enough, He will guarantee it!!!

    Great One, let my beliefs be strong today. Help me to have faith in my visions

    Jan 1, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "People have to be responsible for their thoughts, so they have to learn to control them. It may not be easy, but it can be done."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    We control our thoughts by controlling our self talk. At any moment we choose we can talk to ourselves differently. The fight comes with the emotions that are attached to our thoughts. If our emotion is high and seems to be out of control, we can say to ourselves STOP IT!, take a few deep breaths, then ask the Creator for the right thought or the right decision or the right action. If we practice this for a while, our thought life will be different. It helps if in the morning we ask God to direct our thinking. God loves to help us.

    Great Spirit, today, direct my thinking so my choices are chosen by You

    Jan 2, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We don't have to say or think what we don't wish to. We have a choice in those things, and we have to realize that and practice using that choice."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    Having choices makes us fully accountable. No one can make us think anything we don't want to think. No one can determine our behavior and how we act. It's not what's going on but how we look at what's going on. If someone does something and we get upset, we can change how we look at it any time we want. We can tell ourselves in the morning that the day is going to be beautiful and that we have expectations that great things will happen. Doing this daily sets our mind to look for the joy and the excitement of each day.

    Great Spirit, help me to choose my thoughts with Your wisdom

    Jan 3, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Our circle is timeless, flowing, it is a new life emerging from death-life winning out over death."
    -- Lame Deer, LAKOTA
    When we look at the world in the manner which the Great Spirit designed it, we can see why it makes sense to live in harmony with it: the trees grow and bear fruit, the fruit has seeds, the seeds fall to the ground, the ground grows new trees, old trees die to make way for the young. Any time we think we can interrupt this cycle or change it we will experience turmoil and confusion. The Human Cycle exists as the baby becomes the youth, the youth becomes the adult, the adult has children, the adult becomes the Elder, and the Elder teaches the youth. Elders go on to the Spirit World. Spirit comes into babies to produce new life. Flow into the flow. Be the path of least resistance.

    My Creator and my Maker, today, teach me to just flow with the river of life

    Jan 4, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "But first, let us join hands and pray."
    -- Starleaf, SHINNECOCK
    Where two or more human beings joined together for a common cause, the helpers and the Grandfathers will show up to help. When our Indian people come together, the Elders say, "Always pray first, do a ceremony and ask the Creator to be with us and to help us. We can never pray enough." The Elders also say, "pray in a circle because the Creator made things in circles. When we stand in a circle and pray together, a sacred hoop will form above the people. This is the spiritual way."

    Oh Great Spirit, through my prayers I can find Your guidance. I pray You guide my path today. Touch my life with Your holy breath

    Jan 5, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "When we're through with this earth and all these problems, we don't have to come back. But as long as we're here we have a job to do and a purpose to fulfill, and that means dealing with the circumstances around us."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    We are put on the earth to participate in life. We have a beautiful mind, we have the ability to pray, we have the ability to change, we have the ability to accept, and we have choices. All things God created are constantly changing. This constant change causes our circumstances to change. Sometimes we say life is difficult. During these times we need to use our tools: the tools of prayer, and the tools of meditation. We are designed to change and live joyfully on this earth. The only requirement for living joyfully is to live according to the laws, principles, and values given to us by the Creator.

    Great Spirit, give me Your courage today, and guide my footsteps

    Jan 6, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "When we become hollow bones there is no limit to what the Higher Powers can do in and through us in spiritual things."
    -- Frank Fools Crow, LAKOTA
    If we want to be of maximum use to the Creator, we must ready ourselves to do so. if we are to become a channel for His purposes, we must prepare ourselves to do so. If we have resentment, fear, selfishness, or anger, we are not hollow bones. We must be rid of these things. We must change ourselves. We must ask for forgiveness for ourselves and forgive our brothers and sisters. We must keep our insides clean. We cannot use our power in a good way when we have blockages such as hate, judgement, and envy. When we are free of these things the Higher Powers can use us beyond our wildest imagination. Then we can really help ourselves and help our people. Only when we are hollow bones can we have an effect on the world.

    Oh Great Spirit, remove from me the things that block my usefulness to You. Remove from my day all thinking that is out of harmony with Your ways. Grant me Your peace and allow me to function as a hollow bone

    Jan 7, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "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

    Jan 8, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "So, with the Native way, it's not whether people find out about what you've done or not... that's not nearly as strong as having your source of morality within you, having your morality arise out of an inner perception of what is wrong, ridiculous, or shameful. You are your own judge."
    -- Eunice Baumann-Nelson, Ph.D., PENOBSCOT
    Inside each of us is a voice. It is a quiet voice. It is a guiding voice. If we listen for it, it will guide us, and help us avoid disaster. It is especially active when we are afraid, when we are in doubt, when we are scared, when we need help, and when we get angry. If we are excited emotionally, it is hard to hear this voice. If we are angry, it's hard to hear this voice because it is usually quiet. The best thing we can do is to practice getting quiet. If we don't get quiet, there is another voice called the judge. It tells us to attack or say bad things to other people or to judge ourselves. This voice is loud and usually gets us into trouble.

    Creator, Great Mystery, help me listen for the quiet voice. Let me know this voice of Yours. Your ways are gentle. Guide me with this voice. Thank yo

    Jan 9, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We cannot escape remembering the important things that have happened, and we cannot escape the awareness of the important things that have not happened."
    -- Ralph Salisbury, CHEROKEE
    There is a Master Plan. There are Natural Laws that run the universe. Everything on the earth has a purpose. Change is constant. That which is built is constantly being destroyed. That which is loose is being used to build new things. Nothing can be destroyed, only rearranged. Change will happen and every setback is only temporary. In other words, the Creator is in charge. We are not in charge. He designed the universe. He runs the universe and He will change what needs to be changed. As humans, it is easier for us to participate in all of this if we are spiritual. We need to be tuned in. Therefore, God gave us the spiritual concept of acceptance. When things change, we can change ourselves through the principle of acceptance.

    Great Spirit, let me live today in acceptance of Your will. Today let us do it Your way

    Jan 10, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Race and language makes no difference; the barriers are gone when persons can come together on high spiritual levels."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    Not only are race and language barriers overcome by spirituality, but all things are overcome by spirituality. Inside every human being is the spirit. When we see people, we can choose to look at their outside or we can choose to look at their inside. Spirituality resides inside of others, we must be able to look at our own inside. If we see spirituality inside ourselves, we will see spirituality inside others. The saying is, "what you sees is what you gets."

    My Creator, let me see all my brothers and sisters through the spiritual ey

    Jan 11, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The first thing that we want you to understand is that spirit has no color or race to it. It doesn't matter whether your skin is white, black, red, brown - whatever. No one out there is any better than you, and you are no better than anyone else out there."
    -- John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG
    We are all created to be of equal worth. We may be different sizes, different heights, different ages, different colors, we may have different beliefs and be of different cultures. In the unseen world, we are all spirit formed into different shapes and colors but we are all worthy. For example, you can have water, you can have steam, or you can have ice. Which of these is not made up of H2O?

    My Creator, today, let me see equal worthiness in all people

    Jan 12, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "It is a native tradition to sit in a circle and talk-to share what is in your heart."
    -- John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG
    The talking circle is also a listening circle. The talking circle allows one person to talk at a time for as long as they need to talk. So much can be gained by listening. Is it a coincidence that the Creator gave us one mouth and two ears? The power of the circle allows the heart to be shared with each other. What we share with each other also heals each other. When we talk about our pain in the circle, it is distributed to the circle, and we are free of the pain. The talking circle works because when the people form a circle, the Great Mystery is in the center.

    My Creator, give me the courage to share, and the courage to listen

    Jan 14, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "When you remove love and try to replace it with monetary things, you've got nothing ... get him to understand that he has to love himself before he can love anything else."
    -- John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG
    It is said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." That's the trouble, most of us do.

    Great Spirit, You are love; You are spirit. Spirit and love are interconnected. I am spiritual. Let me realize what I am really made o

    Jan 14, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    It's all spirit and it's all connected."
    -- Grandfather William Commanda, ALGONQUIN
    If everything is connected, we cannot disconnect. To disconnect is not a real choice. This is why we are always spiritual no matter what we do. Every alcoholic is spiritual. All our brothers and sisters are spiritual. We may not be behaving correctly, but nevertheless, we are spiritual. Our choice is to live out of harmony with spiritual ways or in harmony with spiritual ways. Everything is spiritual.

    Great Spirit, give me the knowledge to be in harmony with the spirit today

    Jan 16, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "If people are going to get back into balance, one of the things they have to do is seek the truth. They have to start really speaking the truth themselves, and that's a difficult thing to do. The way it is now in the world, we don't mind lying."
    -- John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG
    Well everybody's doing it. Do unto others before they do unto you. If it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all. These are excuses and rationalizations for giving up accountability. Be true to yourself. Seek the truth, the Great Spirit is the truth. The truth shall set you free. This is the truth. We cannot be free if we are dishonest nor can we live a balanced life if we are dishonest. As we grow, we need to start taking stands. All warriors take stands. The warrior's belief is constantly being aligned to truth. The warrior will always know where he/she stands.

    Great Spirit, help me today to seek Your truth, not my truth

    Jan 16, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "In our story of Creation, we talk about each one of us having our own path to travel, and our own gift to give and to share. You see, what we say is that the Creator gave us all special gifts; each one of us is special. And each one of us is a special gift to each other because we've got something to share."
    -- John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG
    We are all equally special. We need to focus on what is right for ourselves. As we focus on what is right for ourselves, we will start to see our special gifts. Then we can see how to share our special gifts with others. If we focus on what's wrong with ourselves, we will not be able to see our gifts. Then we will think we have nothing to give others and we become selfish and withdrawn. The more we focus on our good, the more we see the good in others. The more we see the good in others, the more we see the gifts they have to share. What you sees is what you gets!

    My Creator, today, let me use the gifts You have given me. Let me use them wisely

    Jan 17, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Heal yourself - your physical and spiritual bodies. Regenerate yourself with light, and then help those who have poverty of the soul. Return to the inner spirit, which we have abandoned while looking elsewhere for happiness."
    -- Willaru Huayta, QUECHUA NATION, PERU
    It is difficult to look inside ourselves, especially when we see conflict or confusion. During times of conflict we need to realize that we are talking to ourselves about our thoughts. This conversation is printing in our subconscious and forming our beliefs. During times of conflict we need to ask the spirit to control our self-talk. Only thorough finding that inner place and going there during troubled times will we ever find happiness.

    Great Spirit, You are my peace and you dwell within me. Let me look for You within myself

    Jan 19, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit."
    -- Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa), SANTEE SIOUX
    Be still and know. All new learnings, all ideas about new things, creativity, daydreaming and mental effectiveness come to those who learn about silence. All warriors know about the power of silence. All Elders know about stillness. Be still and know God. Meditation is about the place of silence. This is the place to hear God's voice. We can find tremendous amounts of knowledge in the place of silence. This is the sacred place of God.

    Great Spirit, teach me the power of silence

    Jan 19, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The first factor in the revolution of consciousness is the mystic death of the ego - the death of negative thinking, negative personalities. We must purify the soul of the inner enemies. Every time a defect manifests - envy, gluttony, anger, lust, whatever - that impulse to the heart. Ask, `Do I really need to invoke this?' And then honor the heart."
    -- Willaru Huayta, QUECHAU NATION, PERU
    Our egos have character defects. These character defects we sometimes act out and they invariably bring results to our lives that we might not want. If we continue to use these character defects, we will continue to have undesirable results in our lives. How do we change ourselves or get rid of a character defects. We can go to the heart and ask a question, make a decision, then honor the heart. For example, say I get angry today. I would go to the heart and ask, would I rather be right or would I rather be happy? How we answer this question can have an enormous impact on how our day goes. Once we decide the answer to this question, we need to honor the heart by saying, "Thank you for the power of changing my thoughts. I choose to be happy and to experience peace of mind."

    Great Spirit, today, let me teach only love and learn only love

    Jan 22, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "This is the time of awakening to the inner father and the inner mother. Without this we will receive no high initiation; instead we get initiated into darkness. That's because any investigation or revolution without God leads, not to freedom, but to more slavery."
    -- Willaru Huayta, QUECHAU NATION, PERU
    Honor the Father and the Mother. Father stands for wisdom and Mother stands for feelings. Inside each of us is the Father and the Mother. If we do not honor both, we will not grow in balance. To honor both the Father and the Mother helps our masculine and feminine sides grow. The winter season is a good time to focus on this. This is our season of reflection. Honoring both sides allows us to see the Creator is both Father and Mother.

    Great Spirit, Father Sky, Mother Earth, guide me today. Let me experience balance

    Jan 22, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    The most important thing now is to reveal the inner temple of the soul with right thinking and right activity."
    -- Willaru Huayta, QUECHUA NATION, PERU
    The key to growing a strong tree is to have a good system of roots and to feed the roots with good medicine. If we put poison in the root system, it will affect the tree, and it will become obvious to the rest of the forest what is being fed to the roots. This is also true of the human being. We need to feed our roots with right thinking. If our thinking is right, it will become obvious to the rest of the people. We don't need to tell people about ourselves with our mouth because our actions always tell them.

    Great Spirit, direct my thinking today. Feed my roots

    Jan 22, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Our true enemies, as well as our true sources of strength, lie within."
    -- Willaru Huayta, QUECHUA NATION, PERU
    A long time ago, the Creator put inside the human being the secrets to the laws of life. We usually know this is true even though we may not know what these laws are. If something goes wrong with our lives, we usually fix the blame on something outside of ourselves. We tend to give up accountability. One way or another we say, "It's not my fault." We need to realize that all permanent and lasting change starts on the inside and works its way out. If it's meant to be, it is up to me.

    Oh Great Spirit, let me realize fully that my problems are of my own making. Therefore, so are the solutions

    Jan 23, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Also ask your heart to purify and cleanse this defect and harmful desire. Ask also the help of the inner father and mother. Every time we eliminate a defect, we build our soul, our inner temple. We ascend. like going up a stairway."
    -- Willaru Huayata, QUECHUA NATION, PERU
    The building blocks to knowledge and wisdom are constructed through the lessons of our character defects if we constructively review our conduct each day, asking where we are resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid. Remember, we need to review constructively, not destructively. Destructive review is when we ask, "what's the matter with me anyway." or "how could I be so stupid?" These question lead to morbid reflection or remorse and seriously affect our self esteem. In constructive review we ask, "what will I do next time?" With constructive review we progressively eliminate the defect and replace it with wisdom.

    My Creator, allow me to have my defects because through them I gain in knowledge of Your will

    Jan 25, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "All life is a circle."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    The atom is a circle, orbits are circles, the earth, moon, and sun are circles. The seasons are circles. The cycle of life is a circle: baby, youth, adult, elder. The sun gives life to the earth who feeds life to the trees whose seeds fall to the earth to grow new trees. We need to practice seeing the cycles that the Great Spirit gave us because this will help us more in our understanding of how things operate. We need to respect these cycles and live in harmony with them.

    Great Spirit, let me grow in knowledge of the circle

    Jan 26, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We grieve more because we have been disconnected from our earth, our first Mother, our spiritual Mother."
    -- Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
    Where does all life come from? The Earth. Where does everything return to? The Earth. Where do values come from? The Earth. Many people are lost because they don't know the importance of connection to the Earth. They connect to money, to relationships, to success, to goals. When we are disconnected from the Earth, we have feelings of being sad or lost. When we are connected to the Earth, we feel warm and secure.

    Great Spirit, help me to stay connected to the Mother Earth

    Jan 29, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We call it the `sacred' red road because it is the road that will lead us to living the good life, an honest and healthy life."
    -- Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
    The Red Road is the path we walk on when we want a direct relationship with the Great Spirit. This requires sacrifice. This requires us to have our beliefs tested. To walk this path is really an honor. The returns for doing so are exciting, not only for ourselves but for the effect that will be felt for three generations. This means your children will see the benefits as well as your grandchildren. Do I want to walk this sacred road?

    Great Spirit, guide myself and my family on the Red Road

    Jan 29, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Bright days and dark days were both expressions of the Great Mystery, and the Indian reveled in being close to the Great Holiness."
    -- Chief Luther Standing Bear, SIOUX
    The Great Spirit created a world of harmony, a world of justice, a world that is interconnected, a balanced world that has positive and negative, this way and that way, up and down, man and woman, boy and girl, honest and dishonest, responsible and irresponsible, day and night. In other words, He created a polarity system. Both sides are to be respected. Both sides or anything are sacred. We need to do good and we need to learn from our mistakes. We need to honor what takes place in the daytime and we need to honor what takes place in the nighttime. We learn that we need to learn and we see what we are supposed to see by staying close to the Great Spirit. We need to be talking to Him all the time, saying "Grandfather, what is it you want me to learn?"

    Great Spirit, let me learn today that all things are sacred. Help me stay close to You, my Creator

    Jan 30, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "In sharing, in loving all and everything, one people naturally found a due portion of the thing they sought, while in fearing, the other found need of conquest."
    -- Chief Luther Standing Bear, SIOUX
    There are two systems of thought that are available for us to choose from. One is the love-thought system and the other is the fear- thought system. If we choose love, we will see the laws, principles and values of the Creator. If we choose fear, the results will be so paralyzing that it will cause us to take over and not rely on the Great Spirit. The fear-thought system will automatically cause attack, conflict, need to control over others. The love-thought system seeks peace of mind, unity and causes us to be love seekers.

    Great Spirit, today let me see only love

    Jan 31, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "You can't just sit down and talk about the truth. It doesn't work that way. You have to live it and be part of it and you might get to know it."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    We all read books that have much information in them. Often we pick up on little sayings that we remember. Inside of us is the little owl, the owl of knowing. It talks to us - guiding us and nurturing us. Often when we get information, it's hard to live by, but it's easy to talk about. It's living the Red Road that counts - Walk the Talk. If we really want freedom in our lives, if we really want to be happy, if we really want to have peace of mind, it's the truth we must seek.

    My Creator, help me in my search for the truth today

    Feb 1, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood and so it is everything where power moves."
    -- Black Elk (Hehaka sapa), OGLALA SIOUX
    In these modern times it is difficult to understand why we should think circles and seasons. People and society are always moving, through distance, over yonder, going here and going there - hurry up, grow up, be successful, climb the ladder of success, etc. The Elders tell us to slow down, to be patient, pray and think circles. Circle thinking applies to relationships, business and every area of our lives. We need to teach our awareness to look for seasons and cycles.

    My Creator, teach me the seasons of growth

    Feb 2, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "It's very hard to do things in the right manner, but as long as we do things right, we are in turn with the Great Spirit."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    When we are right with the Great Spirit, we are right with all things. It is impossible to be out of harmony with anything or anybody when we are in harmony with the Great One. So, if during the day a problem crops up and someone makes us mad, the best thing we can do is talk to the Creator first, ask for His help, then continue our conversation with the other person. In this way, our emotional nature will keep aligned with our thoughts, and we will always stay right with the Great Spirit.

    Great Spirit, I ask You to guide me on the Red Road today

    Feb 3, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We say there is a right time and place for everything. It's easy to say, but hard to understand. You have to live it to understand it."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    The Elders tell us there is a right time and a right place. Don't plant seeds in the fall - wrong time. One way we find out about the right time and right place is our experience. If we are lucky, we have a few friends who will share their experience; this will help us too. The best way is to let God guide us. Only He knows the right time and the right place. So we need to pray and ask Him for guidance.

    Great Spirit, show me patience so I can live in the right time and right place

    Feb 4, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Let the person I serve express his thanks according to his own bringing up and his sense of humor."
    -- Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa), SANTEE SIOUX
    "It is better to give than receive." But it doesn't really matter if we are giving or receiving. There is an identical feeling associated with both. We get this feeling every time we receive. We can't control when we receive gifts but we can control when we give gifts. Therefore, the more we give, the better we feel. When we are given gifts, or someone does something for us, it is the Indian way to honor this person.

    Great Spirit, let me honor and be respectful to those who are good to me today

    Feb 5, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We hold on to our otuhan, our give-aways, because they help us to remain Indians."
    -- Lame Deer, LAKOTA
    Our traditional communities and villages function on interdependence. Share the deer and give freely of what you have to another. Another way to express this principle is, it's better to give than to receive. To share what you have eliminates complexity. The Elders say, live a simple life. One of the principles in the Unseen World is, the more you give, the more you get. You can become a channel for abundance for your family, tribe, or community. A giving person sets up a flow or replacement. Whatever you share will be returned to you in an amount equal or greater. The Indian way is for everyone to give to another, thus the community wins.

    Great Spirit, today, teach me the principle of giving. Let me be Your channel of abundance

    Feb 6, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "I can tell you that understanding begins with love and respect. It begins with respect for the Great Spirit. All things - and I mean ALL things - have their own will and their own way and their own purpose; this is what is to be respected."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    Everything on earth has a purpose and is designed special. No two things are created identical. Sometimes in our minds we have a picture of how things should be, and often what we see is different from what they really are. When this happens we often want to control how things are, making them act or behave according to our picture. We need to leave things alone. God is running all things. How do we do this? In our minds we tell ourselves to love all things and respect all things just as they are. Accept what we cannot change.

    Great Spirit, teach me the value of respect and help me to accept people, places and things just as they are

    Feb 7, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "No individual or group can block another individual's path or change it against what fits his nature and his purpose. It might be done for a time, but in the end it won't work out."
    -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
    Every person is born for a purpose. We may know our purpose very early in our lives, or it may take us some time. Very often we need to experience many things before our purpose is clear to us. Sometimes we pick our goals to please others. Sometimes others pick our goals to make themselves happy. Often this makes us unhappy. We need to pray to the Creator and ask Him what our purpose is. When we live outside our purpose, our path is full of obstacles. When we live inside our purpose, our path is smooth. When we are aligned to our purpose, we are happy and content.

    Great Spirit, whisper to me, in terms I can understand, what You would have me do and I will do it

    Feb 8, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "It can be 100 degrees in the shade one afternoon and suddenly there comes a storm with hailstones as big as golf balls, the prairie is all white and your teeth chatter. That's good - a reminder that you are just a small particle of nature, not so powerful as you think."
    -- Lame Deer, LAKOTA
    No event, no relationship, no joy, no sadness, no situation ever stays the same. Every setback is only temporary. Even setbacks change. Why? Because the Great Spirit designed the world to be constantly changing. We are not the center of the universe, we are but a small part. The whole is constantly changing, and we as humans are constantly participating in the change. We have two choices, to resist change or participate in the change. Every change can be resisted, and every change can be made in cooperation. What will I choose today, resistance or cooperation?

    Great Spirit, teach me to make cooperative changes

    Feb 9, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The ground on which we stand is sacred ground. It is the dust and blood of our ancestors."
    -- Plenty Coups, CROW
    Mother Earth is the source of life and the place all life returns to. She gives us life. She feeds us through our journey and she waits for us to return to her. The Indian way is to recognize the earth as the place of our ancestors. That is why certain places on earth are considered sacred areas and sacred land; this is the place of our ancestors. We all need to reflect upon the earth, the place where our ancestors lived. We need to have love and respect for the earth.

    My Creator, let me honor the place of our ancestors, Mother Earth

    Feb 10, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Oh God! Like the Thunderbird of old I shall rise again out of the sea; I shall grab the instruments of the white man's success - his education, his skills, and with these new tools I shall build my race into the proudest segment of your society."
    -- Chief Dan George, SALISH
    One thing the Indian people do well is adapt. This is why we survive. We must learn to keep our culture, but also to learn the good things that other races have to offer. Education is the future weapon of Native people. We must learn the legal system, health, science and engineering. Indian people have great contributions to make to the world. We need to educate ourselves so we can better protect the land and our children. Otherwise, we will lose the things and the land that we have.

    Great Spirit, make me teachable today

    Feb 11, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "I wanted to feel, smell, hear and see, but not see with my eyes and my mind only. I wanted to see with CANTE ISTA - the eye of the heart."
    -- Lame Deer, LAKOTA
    Why is it that some people seem to have peace of mind every day? How do some people remain so darn positive? How do you stay positive if you work or live in a negative environment? How is it that two people can observe the same difficult situation, but one person is upset about it, and other isn't? Two people experiencing the same situation react entirely different. If each morning we ask the Creator to allow us to see with His understanding and with His love, we will open a new way of "seeing". This eye of the heart is a free gift given to us if we ask for it in prayer each day.

    Grandfather, allow me to see the world and all things You have made through "the eye of my heart.

    Feb 13, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Sometimes, life is very simple, but it is we two-leggeds, we who are thought to be smart that make it complicated."
    -- Larry P. Aitkin, CHIPPEWA
    Sometimes it may take years for us to find out what we are really after - it is to be happy. The Elders say, lead a simple life. This doesn't necessarily mean poor, it means simple. There are some things that makes life complicated such as needing control, needing power or being resentful or angry. These things make complications happen. We need to walk in balance in every area of our lives.

    Great Spirit, let me lead a simple life

    Feb 14, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    ".the spirit still has something for us to discover - an herb, a sprig, a flower - a very small flower, maybe you can spend a long time in its contemplation, thinking about it."
    -- Lame Deer, LAKOTA
    The world today is about hurry up! Get there faster! Work harder, produce more, hurry up, eat quickly, be on time, don't get stressed- headaches, conflict, drink to calm down, go to training on stress management, time management - STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! Go spend 5 minutes with a flower or a plant. Look at it - think about it - look at its beauty, smell it, close your eyes and smell it again. Touch it; touch with your eyes closed. Listen to it; listen to it with your eyed closed. Slow your mind down. Think about the little things. Now close your eyes and pray.

    Great Spirit, this feeling of calmness that I have, let me have it all day long

    Feb 14, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "One of the essential characteristics we need to learn as men was to be gentle, and to be gentle means to be serene, to enter meditation or a prayerful state in the morning and evening."
    -- Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
    The most important talk we can do during any day, is to start the day with prayer and meditation. We need to ask the Creator to be in our lives. We ask Him to direct our thinking. We ask Him for the courage and the power to be gentle. In the morning quiet time, we make our request for guidance using our spiritual tools. We pray for the people and we pray for ourselves. In the evening we thank the Creator for the day, for the lessons and for the opportunity to be of service to others. Then we go to sleep.

    Great Spirit, today, show me the power of being gentle

    Feb 15, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Because woman lives so close to our first mother, the Earth, she emanates the strength and harmonious nature of all things."
    -- Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
    At an Elders gathering, held in July 1991, we were told the Indian woman would play an instrumental part in leading the healing of Indian nations. The old people said we were to look up to her in a sacred manner. They said the Earth Mother would give the woman special gifts of love. The woman and the Earth Mother are connected in a special way. Women should pay attention to the lessons coming from the earth. Men should treat the women with respect, dignity and honor.

    Grandfather, Grandmother, give the Indian woman Your strength to heal our earth

    Feb 16, 2014

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Silence and self-control permeate the entirety of our lives."
    -- Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
    The Creator gave us all the Red Road and on this Red Road we are required to think and act in a spiritual way. To make sure I conduct myself according to the Red Road, I must make sure I develop my self discipline. Self control works best when we pray for the courage and power to do the will of the Great Spirit. We are here on the earth to do the will of the Great Spirit. Sometimes, we must battle ourselves to do this.

    Great Spirit, help me to have my self- control guided by spiritual ways

    Feb 17, 2014