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Kiz_Paws Bag Of Trix

Great Spirit, I Seek Something

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by
kiz_paws
, 01-22-2008 at 03:56 AM (1921 Views)
I have always had a keen interest in the way of life of the North American Indians. In Canadian schools, we learn so little about the many tribes that once scattered our beautiful country. I mean, we learn just a touch of who they were, how they survived, and all that. But as a child, it always kind of bothered me that a way of life was lost when 'the white men came', and over the years, I have just had this fascination with the culture. Well, to make a long story short, I just came across some incredible reading, and wanted to share a portion with you, my friends here at LitNet:

"...The worship of the "Great Mystery" was silent, solitary, free from all self-seeking. It was silent, because all speech is of necessity feeble and imperfect; therefore the souls of my ancestors ascended to God in wordless adoration. It was solitary, because they believed that He is nearer to us in solitude, and there were no priests authorized to come between a man and his Maker. None might exhort or confess or in any way meddle with the religious experience of another. Among us all men were created sons of God and stood erect, as conscious of their divinity. Our faith might not be formulated in creeds, nor forced upon any who were unwilling to receive it; hence there was no preaching, proselyting, nor persecution, neither were there any scoffers or atheists.

There were no temples or shrines among us save those of nature. Being a natural man, the Indian was intensely poetical. He would deem it sacrilege to build a house for Him who may be met face to face in the mysterious, shadowy aisles of the primeval forest, or on the sunlit bosom of virgin prairies, upon dizzy spires and pinnacles of naked rock, and yonder in the jeweled vault of the night sky! He who enrobes Himself in filmy veils of cloud, there on the rim of the visible world where our Great-Grandfather Sun kindles his evening camp-fire, He who rides upon the rigorous wind of the north, or breathes forth His spirit upon aromatic southern airs, whose war-canoe is launched upon majestic rivers and inland seas -- He needs no lesser cathedral!

That solitary communion with the Unseen which was the highest expression of our religious life is partly described in the word bambeday, literally "mysterious feeling," which has been variously translated "fasting" and "dreaming." It may better be interpreted as "consciousness of the divine." ..."
The above quote is a mere excerpt taken from Interesting Site! and there is plenty of informative text to peruse, for those interested.

Anyhow, the more that I read and learn, the more I really want to kind of integrate some of the beautiful teachings of these precious people with some of the teachings that I was brought up with.

So, yeah, just wanted to share that here, afterall, this is a blog full of all kinds of stuff.

Kiz_paws

... We are all seeking ...
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Comments

  1. NikolaiI's Avatar
    I am 1/128th Cherokee. I only have a bit of knowledge of mainly only the Lakota way. It is rare, these days, but it is precious as it is rare. I participated or attended Inipi three times, I believe, with my friend whose lodge it was, and others who attended. I bonded with these people in this ceremony, and they are now close to my heart and I dream of them and they are in my visions. Like you I grew up in a very similar fashion- with awe of the natural lifestyle of theirs, and of their spirituality! With my childish enthusiasm. Anyhow, Kiz, I read your other blog and though I didn't comment, I've prayed for you and your family. I can say nothing more, you know that words cannot express appreciation for another's pain or joy. I've also just now written a new blog entry. It is rather long, it took me about forty minutes to write and finish editing, but I think it reads okay, at least. Coming from a different angle from this Indian piece of writing you've shared, I still come to some of the same points, with some of the same conclusions. I'd be interested in what you think of it, but you are by NO means obligated to spend time reading it! Just wanted to mention. So apart from all that I hope you are not struggling with anything too difficult, and may you have success in your endeavors...Nik
  2. motherhubbard's Avatar
    That was a lovely quote Kiz. As always, I really love reading your blog
  3. B-Mental's Avatar
    Thats so cool, Nik! Cowbell-a-thon to you!
  4. mtpspur's Avatar
    Interesting and somewhat beautiful in its way. It has echoes of what I desire in my walk with God unimpeded by formality and expectations from the masses. And for that I thank you.
  5. B-Mental's Avatar
    Kiz, I read that pretty picture like a book... To me the light shone like 3 places, until You realise the indian is the 4th, and the artist is the 5th...the viewer is the 6th. Kind of bizarre to read, but very cool...to know how easy it is. B
  6. kiz_paws's Avatar
    Thank you Nik, for your well wishes, and yes, I shall go to your blog and check out the entry. Thanks to B, mtpspur and M-H, for your kind comments -- interesting thoughts you had, B, I never thought of that.
  7. jon1jt's Avatar
    Natives saw a landscape to be worshipped and thankful for. The white settlers were no different than most people today: seeing the land and everything that comes from it in terms of a market value. Very sick world we're living in, ya know.
    Great post.

    Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, and all who fought against the oppressors, RIP.
  8. NickAdams's Avatar
    Another gem from your bag of trix. My mother tried to teach me as much as she could about our Native American heritage, but unless you're on the rez, this information is not easy to come by.
  9. kiz_paws's Avatar
    Amen to that, jon, and thanks for reading!

    Nick, I hope that things change and that the stories, beliefs and traditions can be shared and learned by many.
    I think that I have just begun my little quest, but the Library is a great start. As well, a little 'sensible' Googling has taken me to various sites I found interesting [sensible googling meaning wading through the nonsense out there, sheesh, no shortage of that, eh?].
    Thanks for reading!