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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 30

"If anyone has children, they better teach their children to follow the traditions that we're leaving behind because it is later than we think with all that's going on."

--Juanita Centeno, CHUMASH

The habits, attitudes and beliefs that carry the human through the trials of life are developed at a very young age. If we are taught respect at a very young age, the odds are we'll be respectful through our whole lives. If we are taught to dance at a young age, we'll dance our whole lives. If we are taught to sing the traditional songs while we are young, we'll sing those songs through out whole lives. And  we drum and sing songs to? Our children. This is how we keep it going.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 29

"Tell the people not to cry. Tell them to be happy."

--John Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA (told to his son, Archie, s he died)

Our Elders know about the two Worlds, the Physical World and the Spiritual World.

Many times, before we pass to the Spirit World, our relatives, who have gone there before us, will come for us and they will help us.

The Spirit World, the Elders say, is a good, happy and harmonious place.

When we die, it means we have only entered another world. We will all see one another again.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 28

"Sacred sites and areas are protection for all people—the four colors for man—and these sites are in all areas of the earth in the four directions."

--Traditional Circle of Elders, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

The Elders say that values come from the Mother Earth. Different places and areas around the Earth have different values. The Water people live in harmony and know the values that correspond to that particular part of the Earth. The Desert people know the values of the desert and respect and live in harmony with that part of the Earth. The Woodland people know the values of their part of the Earth and live in harmony. If you live in harmony with the Earth, you will live a life that is full of values. We should have great respect for the Mother Earth.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 26

"In our modern world today, we may seem like drowning men because of the loss of much of our spiritual tradition."

--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

Our spiritual tradition shows us the way to live in harmony, balance and respect. The tradition taught us how to behave and how to conduct ourselves. The spiritual way taught us to pray and to purify ourselves. Handed down from generation to generation were the teachings about a way of life. Our relationship to Mother Earth and to each other was very clear. The Modern World does not relate to spirituality but to materialism. If we do not allow spirituality to guide our lives, we will be lost, unhappy and without direction. We are spiritual beings trying to be human, not human beings trying to be spiritual. It is said, Know thyself.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 25

"Come forward and join hands with us in this great work for the Creator."

--Traditional Circle of Elders, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

The Elders have spent years learning to pray and communicate with the Great Spirit.

Their job is to pass this knowledge to the younger people.

The Elders have told us we are now in a great time of Healing.

The Creator is guiding the younger people to help them figure this out.

We must get involved and participate.

We should pray and see what it is the Great Spirit wants us to do.

We need to sacrifice our time and do what is our mission

–To help the people and be of maximum use to the Creator.

Every person is needed to accomplish this great Healing.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 24

"Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors—the dreams of our old men, given them in the solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people."

--Chief Seattle, DWAMISH

Our Spiritual ways have carefully been given to chosen people. Slowly, through our past generations, through past conflicts, our Elders prayed for guidance, which the Creator provided. Then it was passed down to the next generation through culture, ceremony and oral traditions. our Indian religion has been tested and is about how we should behave and treat other people, animals and the earth. This knowledge is written in the heart of every person. We can find this knowledge by looking inside ourselves.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 23

"We must relearn how to cry.

A strong man cries;

 it is the weak man who holds back his tears."

--Archie Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Indian men and other men should really meditate on this Elder's saying.

So many men have been taught it is unmanly to cry, to show emotions or to feel.

 When people cry, the Elders say there are two types of tears – one type will taste salty; the other type will taste sweet.

One is caused by pain, and the other is caused by the release from the pain, or joy tears.

 A strong man knows himself and knows his relationship with the Great Spirit.

The release of tears is a spiritual act.

Our bodies are designed to cry.

We should honor our bodies and use them as the Creator intended.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 22

"Everything's so simple, and we make everything so complicated. That's why we're confused."

--Vickie Downey, TEWA/Tesuque Pueblo

The Creator designed a very simple set of Laws for us to follow.

If we follow these simple things, we'll be happy.

If we don't follow these simple things, our lives become complicated. For example:

Respect Mother Earth

Love one another

Be truthful

Give to your brother and sisters

Be gentle with each other

Be happy

Following these simple Laws will have great rewards.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 21

"The manner with which we walk through life is each man's most important responsibility, and we should remember this with every new sunrise."

--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW

Every spiritual person should carry a vision of God's will in every area of their life. One day at a time, each morning at sunrise, we should spend time praying to the Creator. We should say something like, my Creator, this morning I ask you to show me, in terms I can understand, what you have or me to do. By doing this daily, over time, we will develop an unquestionable vision. Each person is responsible for taking the time to do this. It will bring great joy and peace of mind to those warriors who do.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 20

"You have wandered away from your teachings. You must concentrate on your spiritual teachings...Don't be sidetracked."

--Henry Quick Bear, LAKOTA

Why are the Elders always telling us to know The culture and listen to the teachings? When We go off track, why do the Elders say, return to the teachings? The teachings tell us how to live in harmony with the Laws and principles of the Great Spirit. Living means Life – a good life, a happy life. Many of us have grown up without the teachings and the culture, that is why we don't know how to live. To improve on relationships, to treat our children with honor and to respect our Elders, we need to live by the old teachings again.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 19

"There's a deep wound in people-that they have been so cut off from the source of their being, their mother, their Earth Mother."

--Francis Story Talbott II (Medicine Story), WAMPANOAG

When we are connected to the Earth Mother, or when we are clear on our purpose, we will feel connected and safe. We will feel love. When we are disconnected from the Earth Mother, or we don't know who we are or why we are, we will feel pain. It will be similar to a little child who has lost its Mother. We will hurt inside-we will be wounded within. If this happens to the whole community, the people will be very sad and lost. It will seem like there is death in the air. When this happens, it is time for ceremony and reconnection to God and Mother Earth. This is the time of prayer.

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Teaching Of the Sweat Lodge

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 18

"The sacred fire used to heat the rocks represents the eternal fire that burns at the center of the universe."

--Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA

Our Sweat Lodge represents the womb of Mother Earth.

This is the place of forgiveness.

 The altar is the place where the Grandfathers are heated.

The Sweat Lodge and the altar represent the whole story of the universe.

The Sweat Lodge and the ceremonies are sacred.

 The Great Spirit gave these things to us to help us.

He taught us to do the ceremonies in harmony with Mother Earth. We need to know and understand these things.

In the Spirit of Peace and Unity,

Rod

Waaseyaa Nimkii-bineshiin Migizi-nini

Shining Thunderbird Eagleman

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 17

"By listening to the inner self and following one's instincts and intuitions, a person may be guided to safety."

--Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA

Be still and know.

 The Medicine Wheel teaches the four directions of inner power-not personal power, but the power of God.

These four directions are emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual.

As our emotions get too far our of control, we simultaneously create an equivalent mental picture, our physical body fills with stress and tension, and we become spiritually confused.

 When we experience these uptight feelings, the best thing to do is mentally pause, slow down our thinking, breathe slowly, or pray and ask the spirits to help.

Only when we approach the stillness of the mind do we get access to our spiritual guidance system. To be guided, let your mind be still.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 16

"Each of us must know in our minds and believe in our hearts that even though we are different, you are like me and I am like you."

--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA

One of the definitions of humility is having an awareness of one's own character defects. To recognize and acknowledge that one has imperfections is being humble. We should never pray for ourselves unless by doing so it would help another person. To have self-importance puts self first and this is not humble. We each have strengths and we each have weaknesses. Both the strengths and weaknesses are sacred. Life is sacred. We learn sacred things from weaknesses also. Therefore, all lives are developed through trial and error, strength and weakness, ups and downs, gains and losses- all of these are part of life and life is sacred.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 15

"We were taught generosity to the poor and reverence for the Great Mystery. Religion was the basis of all Indian training."

--Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa), SANTEE SIOUX

Every Indian knows and has a feeling inside that, bottom line, our real purpose on earth is to be of service to our fellow man and to be of maximum service to the Great Spirit. The Creator designed the earth to be self supporting --everything is interconnected and all things were created to be of service to each other. The Indian way is to pray about all things. Religion is not separate from any part of our lives. Everything is spiritual and we are to view all matters in this way. Family is spiritual, work is spiritual, helping others is spiritual, our bodies are spiritual, our talk is spiritual, our thoughts are spiritual. We need to practice seeing all things as spiritual.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 13

"I went to a holy man and asked him for help. He told me to get on the Red Road. `Pray to Wakan-Tanka (Great Spirit) to help you walk the Red Road."

--Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA

All Indian traditions, customs and ceremonies help us answer three questions: who am I?, why am I?, and where am I going? Only on the Red Road can we find the answer to these three questions. When we can answer these three questions, we are on the Red Road. When we cannot, we have gone astray. That is why the Holy Men tell us to pray to the Great Spirit and to seek the Red Road. Why am I? My purpose is the serve the Great Spirit. Who am I? I am an Indian who walks the Red Road. Where am I going? My vision is to serve my people.

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 12

"The old people say,

`Learn from your mistakes'. So I try to accept everything for what it is and to make the best of each situation one day at a time."

--Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA

The Creator did not design us to beat ourselves up when we make mistakes.

Mistakes are our friends.

 It is from mistakes that we learn.

 The more mistakes we learn from, the faster we gain wisdom.

The faster we gain wisdom, the more we love.

The more we love, the fewer our mistakes.

 Therefore, mistakes help us to learn love.

God is love.

Mistakes are sacred and help us learn about God's will for ourselves.

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Happy Spring time

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Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 11

"The symbol of wholeness, represented by the medicine wheel, is still being used in D/Lakota ceremonies today. The center where the "X" crosses is considered the home of Tunkasila, Wakan-Tanka, God. I speculated, `If this is the symbol of wholeness, the symbol of the psyche, with Wakan-Tanka at the center, then Wakan-Tanka or God would be within you.'"

--Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA

The Medicine Wheel represents everything. All the directions originate from the center outward. The center is the home of the Creator. The Medicine Wheel represents the human being. At our center is the home of the Great Spirit. This is why we are spiritual. The easiest way for us to find God and talk to Him, is for us to become centered. This means, relax our bodies, still our minds, let go of our emotions and listen quietly. Shhh. Be still.