VISIONS, FEELING, AND THOUGHTS ARE ALIVE
Native Americans know that everything in life has spirit. All that we see in the tangible world is alive. Those things we cannot see as having form are just as alive as the solid forms of the natural world. Every thought has life force depending upon how much feeling it is connected to with the person. If the person envisions the thought, the mind’s eye also adds life force to that idea by creating a picture or vision
If the thought has deep emotion and imagination connected to it, there is a very good chance that the Dreamer or Visionary will be able to make that thought come to fruition. The secret is using the life force available to bring physical life to the dream or envisioned outcome.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
I'm not sure what I think about this one. This is coming close to the New Agie visualize it and it will happen. I've been to some talks by slightly goof ball speakers at my old job. I never could believe that somebody was getting paid for this. Oops, I did buy the book.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
LOOKS FAR WOMAN CLAN MOTHER OF THE FOURTH MOON
Mother, teach me how to see
The shining lights of stars,
The faces of the Ancestors,
In worlds both near and far.
Show me how to welcome
The visions appearing to me,
Seeing the truth in detail,
Unraveling each mystery.
Walk me through the Dreamtime
Of altered time and space,
That I may share my visions
With every creed and race.
Doorkeeper of all dimensions,
I seek your medicine ways
Of how to earth me visions
Seeing, truth inside me, today.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Looks Far Woman is the Clan Mother of the Fourth Moon Cycle, usually associated with part of the month of April. Since the Clan Mother moons are twenty eight days long the months gradually lose the continuity.Her colors are all the light spring colors. Looks Far Woman fills the role of Seer, Oracle, Dreamer, and Prophet. She is the Mother of visions, dreams what lies within. She helps us to understand dreams and visions. She teaches us to enter the world of our dreams, to journey into those other realms. With this knowledge we have the potential to not only heal ourselves but others.
The shining lights of stars,
The faces of the Ancestors,
In worlds both near and far.
Show me how to welcome
The visions appearing to me,
Seeing the truth in detail,
Unraveling each mystery.
Walk me through the Dreamtime
Of altered time and space,
That I may share my visions
With every creed and race.
Doorkeeper of all dimensions,
I seek your medicine ways
Of how to earth me visions
Seeing, truth inside me, today.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Looks Far Woman is the Clan Mother of the Fourth Moon Cycle, usually associated with part of the month of April. Since the Clan Mother moons are twenty eight days long the months gradually lose the continuity.Her colors are all the light spring colors. Looks Far Woman fills the role of Seer, Oracle, Dreamer, and Prophet. She is the Mother of visions, dreams what lies within. She helps us to understand dreams and visions. She teaches us to enter the world of our dreams, to journey into those other realms. With this knowledge we have the potential to not only heal ourselves but others.
ACCEPTANCE
The balance and acceptance
Of all parts of the whole,
Come when we can honor
The lessons in every role.
The shadow reflects the lessons
Of every denial we hold
The mind can thwart or assist,
Choosing to encourage or scold.
The body reacts to all thoughts,
Whether they hinder or aid’
Freewill determines the outcome,
As we choose to love or degrade.
The spirit watches in silence,
Nurturing the Eternal Flame,
Counting the losses and victories
Of the “Will versus Shadow game.”
The playing field of Mother Earth,
With the worlds of spirit unseen,
Affords a multitude of choices,
Lessons for every human being.
Wholeness to each if different,
Finding balance without denying,
That peace comes from acceptance,
From truth instead of lying
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Of all parts of the whole,
Come when we can honor
The lessons in every role.
The shadow reflects the lessons
Of every denial we hold
The mind can thwart or assist,
Choosing to encourage or scold.
The body reacts to all thoughts,
Whether they hinder or aid’
Freewill determines the outcome,
As we choose to love or degrade.
The spirit watches in silence,
Nurturing the Eternal Flame,
Counting the losses and victories
Of the “Will versus Shadow game.”
The playing field of Mother Earth,
With the worlds of spirit unseen,
Affords a multitude of choices,
Lessons for every human being.
Wholeness to each if different,
Finding balance without denying,
That peace comes from acceptance,
From truth instead of lying
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
INVOKING THE INFINITE
Weighs the Truth watched as some of her human children gathered to conduct a ceremony. The Circle was formed, and the speaker called out an invocation to the Great Mystery. These human beings were learning one of her greatest lessons, self determination. She had not asked her children to return thanks, they had chosen to do this because their hearts were full
One by one those in the Circle expressed their gratitude for the lessons they were learning. Little did they know that they were asking the Infinite to join them. The love of the Great Mystery walked among them. There is an eternal grace and inner peace that come when we take on responsibilities for the well being of all life. As the Infinite walked among them, their faces lit from within. When our spirits and our humanity are balanced this is reflected by our natural responses.
Weighs the Truth was happy, she saw that her children were learning to balance the shadow side of ego with the spirit side of determination. When we do this we also become guardians of the Great Mystery’s /creation.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
One by one those in the Circle expressed their gratitude for the lessons they were learning. Little did they know that they were asking the Infinite to join them. The love of the Great Mystery walked among them. There is an eternal grace and inner peace that come when we take on responsibilities for the well being of all life. As the Infinite walked among them, their faces lit from within. When our spirits and our humanity are balanced this is reflected by our natural responses.
Weighs the Truth was happy, she saw that her children were learning to balance the shadow side of ego with the spirit side of determination. When we do this we also become guardians of the Great Mystery’s /creation.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
THE STRENGTH OF THE SHADOW
Rotten behavior, like rot in an apple’s core, spreads otward devouring every piece of innocence, positive creativity, and kindness in its path.
Does our shadow side have strength? Usually the answer is yes and it has as much strength as we can give it. When people lose sight of their positive, honest intent, and opt to feed the shadow that stalks the crooked trail, they have much healing to do before they can come back into balance.
The shadow side of human nature contains many types of rotten behavior. Sometimes this is directed towards others. Sometimes it turns in on itself, feeding on self destruction. In all cases, the shadow is allowed to experience all the joys it has robbed from the non shadow self. We feel helpless and hopeless. No matter how hard we try we can’t seem to stop hurting others, often the friends and family closest to us.
Adapted from Jamie Sams Earth Medicine.
Does our shadow side have strength? Usually the answer is yes and it has as much strength as we can give it. When people lose sight of their positive, honest intent, and opt to feed the shadow that stalks the crooked trail, they have much healing to do before they can come back into balance.
The shadow side of human nature contains many types of rotten behavior. Sometimes this is directed towards others. Sometimes it turns in on itself, feeding on self destruction. In all cases, the shadow is allowed to experience all the joys it has robbed from the non shadow self. We feel helpless and hopeless. No matter how hard we try we can’t seem to stop hurting others, often the friends and family closest to us.
Adapted from Jamie Sams Earth Medicine.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
INVOKING THE INFINITE
Weighs the Truth watched as some of her human children gathered to conduct a ceremony. The Circle was formed, and the speaker called out an invocation to the Great Mystery. These human beings were learning one of her greatest lessons, self determination. She had not asked her children to return thanks, they had chosen to do this because their hearts were full
One by one those in the Circle expressed their gratitude for the lessons they were learning. Little did they know that they were asking the Infinite to join them. The love of the Great Mystery walked among them. There is an eternal grace and inner peace that come when we take on responsibilities for the well being of all life. As the Infinite walked among them, their faces lit from within. When our spirits and our humanity are balanced this is reflected by our natural responses.
Weighs the Truth was happy, she saw that her children were learning to balance the shadow side of ego with the spirit side of determination. When we do this we also become guardians of the Great Mystery’s /creation.
Inspired by Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
One by one those in the Circle expressed their gratitude for the lessons they were learning. Little did they know that they were asking the Infinite to join them. The love of the Great Mystery walked among them. There is an eternal grace and inner peace that come when we take on responsibilities for the well being of all life. As the Infinite walked among them, their faces lit from within. When our spirits and our humanity are balanced this is reflected by our natural responses.
Weighs the Truth was happy, she saw that her children were learning to balance the shadow side of ego with the spirit side of determination. When we do this we also become guardians of the Great Mystery’s /creation.
Inspired by Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
THE STRENGTH OF THE SHADOW
Rotten behavior, like rot in an apple’s core, spreads otward devouring every piece of innocence, positive creativity, and kindness in its path.
Does our shadow side have strength? Usually the answer is yes and it has as much strength as we can give it. When people lose sight of their positive, honest intent, and opt to feed the shadow that stalks the crooked trail, they have much healing to do before they can come back into balance.
The shadow side of human nature contains many types of rotten behavior. Sometimes this is directed towards others. Sometimes it turns in on itself, feeding on self destruction. In all cases, the shadow is allowed to experience all the joys it has robbed from the non shadow self. We feel helpless and hopeless. No matter how hard we try we can’t seem to stop hurting others, often the friends and family closest to us.
Adapted from Jamie Sams Earth Medicine.
Does our shadow side have strength? Usually the answer is yes and it has as much strength as we can give it. When people lose sight of their positive, honest intent, and opt to feed the shadow that stalks the crooked trail, they have much healing to do before they can come back into balance.
The shadow side of human nature contains many types of rotten behavior. Sometimes this is directed towards others. Sometimes it turns in on itself, feeding on self destruction. In all cases, the shadow is allowed to experience all the joys it has robbed from the non shadow self. We feel helpless and hopeless. No matter how hard we try we can’t seem to stop hurting others, often the friends and family closest to us.
Adapted from Jamie Sams Earth Medicine.
Friday, March 25, 2011
CROW MEDICINE-DIVINE LAW
Feed your strengths and you will flourish. Support your trivial weaknesses and you will languish, while your shadow flourishes and becomes strong.
When we pick on ourselves, the shadowy sides of our natures are given strength. This misuse of our freewill allows the shadow side to feed on our usable life force, inviting disaster.
When we continue to express ourselves freely, using or strengths to direct our efforts, we find balance and essential wholeness. When we support what is most creative and positive within us, and refuse to give in to anything that weakens our resolve, we find new strengths available, flowing unaided into our beings.
Inspired by an entry in Jamie Sams Earth Medicine
When we pick on ourselves, the shadowy sides of our natures are given strength. This misuse of our freewill allows the shadow side to feed on our usable life force, inviting disaster.
When we continue to express ourselves freely, using or strengths to direct our efforts, we find balance and essential wholeness. When we support what is most creative and positive within us, and refuse to give in to anything that weakens our resolve, we find new strengths available, flowing unaided into our beings.
Inspired by an entry in Jamie Sams Earth Medicine
WEIGHING THE FORCE OF INTENT
The young men were learning to hunt with their bows and arrows. The finest archer in the Tribe was teaching them the techniques that would bring food to the People. The old hunter told the boys about a strange guidance system that he counted as the secret to his success. He made his own arrows and crafted them with love. He then pricked his finger with his knife, putting one tiny drop of blood on each arrow while he silently placed his intent inside of his creations.
The boys looked curious. What was the intent the Old One placed in his magical arrows? They did not have to wait long before the hunter told them.
“I return thanks to the great Mystery for the creatures who will bring food to my family. I ask that my arrows be guided, making a clean and painless kill. Finally, I place the drop of my blood on each arrow to represent the bond of red blood that I share with my Four legged Brothers, and the Winged Ones, who offer their bodies as food so our People may live. I show my gratitude to the Creator for guiding my hands and these arrows before I ever place on in a bow.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Too many of us fail to show gratitude to the animals we factory farm. We treat them like crap and then we wonder why get crap in return. I wonder how much of our physical illness can be traced to stress hormones produced by animals forced into crowded, filthy conditions before they end up on our table. Animals that experts tell us would die from the diet they're fed to fatten them for us.
The boys looked curious. What was the intent the Old One placed in his magical arrows? They did not have to wait long before the hunter told them.
“I return thanks to the great Mystery for the creatures who will bring food to my family. I ask that my arrows be guided, making a clean and painless kill. Finally, I place the drop of my blood on each arrow to represent the bond of red blood that I share with my Four legged Brothers, and the Winged Ones, who offer their bodies as food so our People may live. I show my gratitude to the Creator for guiding my hands and these arrows before I ever place on in a bow.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Too many of us fail to show gratitude to the animals we factory farm. We treat them like crap and then we wonder why get crap in return. I wonder how much of our physical illness can be traced to stress hormones produced by animals forced into crowded, filthy conditions before they end up on our table. Animals that experts tell us would die from the diet they're fed to fatten them for us.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
WATCHING THE COMING OF SPRING
The throes of winter, dying hard,
Left snow in the shade of trees.
Teasing, dipping, and dancing,
The sunlight warmed be briefly,
Then, like a fickle lover, disappeared.
With raging winds or warming breeze,
Will spring’s sweet breath
Change the snow to rain?
Can the thawing snows,
Living in the mountain heights,
Send rushing waters to cleanse
Death’s pale and frozen shade?
Awaiting the return
Of the Earth blanket’s green,
I understood the reluctance of humans to
Commit to one another.
Fearing the cold,
They forgot how to love the snow.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Meditation of changes in seasons and changes in people. We may love, but we also grow in different directions. We either must grow together or be ready to accept the pain and responsibility of growing apart.
Left snow in the shade of trees.
Teasing, dipping, and dancing,
The sunlight warmed be briefly,
Then, like a fickle lover, disappeared.
With raging winds or warming breeze,
Will spring’s sweet breath
Change the snow to rain?
Can the thawing snows,
Living in the mountain heights,
Send rushing waters to cleanse
Death’s pale and frozen shade?
Awaiting the return
Of the Earth blanket’s green,
I understood the reluctance of humans to
Commit to one another.
Fearing the cold,
They forgot how to love the snow.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Meditation of changes in seasons and changes in people. We may love, but we also grow in different directions. We either must grow together or be ready to accept the pain and responsibility of growing apart.
THE WEIGHING OF POWER
Those who possess the power of knowing and trusting their Medicine grasp that power lightly. They understand that by clutching or holding on the idea of power, one becomes possessed by it.
These wise individuals never need to defend who or what they are, because they are confident in the Medicine they carry. The precious understanding of one’s role in life and one’s gifts is between each individual and the Creator. The Earth Mother protects these gifted ones because they have come home to the Self, examining and working on all their weak points.
Through using the cold eye of self examination, these individuals do not point fingers at others. They understand that there is no need to fight against jealousy or ignorant attempts to slander. They choose to maintain the dignity of their inner peace, and that is why we call them the Faithful and the Peacemakers.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
These wise individuals never need to defend who or what they are, because they are confident in the Medicine they carry. The precious understanding of one’s role in life and one’s gifts is between each individual and the Creator. The Earth Mother protects these gifted ones because they have come home to the Self, examining and working on all their weak points.
Through using the cold eye of self examination, these individuals do not point fingers at others. They understand that there is no need to fight against jealousy or ignorant attempts to slander. They choose to maintain the dignity of their inner peace, and that is why we call them the Faithful and the Peacemakers.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Sunday, March 20, 2011
THE RACCOON'S LESSONS
The forest was full of homeless and wounded creatures after the great fire. The Raccoon Tribe ravaged all the nearby mountain cabins and brought food to the hungry. The Tribe of little bandits worked long and hard to supply what was need to help the other friends of the forest.
Mama Raccoon was busier than most of the others of her Tribe, mending the cuts and bandaging the burns of those who came for assistance. Days dragged into moons, and still the needy came in hordes. Mama Raccoon was the protectress of the frail, the children, the injured, and the underdog. She took her mission very seriously and labored day after day with little relief or rest. The other raccoons became increasingly worried because Mama was close to collapse.
One morning, Mama Raccoon fell over, barely alive. The others took her to the burrow and nursed her as best they could. In her lapses of dreams and consciousness, Mama Raccoon herd the Earth Mother saying, “You gave all of your strength to others, forgetting to weigh the consequences. The little bandit in you who robbed food from those who had a lot, giving it to those who had none, has lost her balance. In order to heal, you will need to see the error of robbing yourself of all your energy and giving it away, leaving you with none”
Mama Raccoon learned these lessons and got well. Now she teaches these same lessons to humankind, reminding them to give to the best of their abilities without robbing themselves of their health or sense of well-being.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Not much I can say about this one right now.
Mama Raccoon was busier than most of the others of her Tribe, mending the cuts and bandaging the burns of those who came for assistance. Days dragged into moons, and still the needy came in hordes. Mama Raccoon was the protectress of the frail, the children, the injured, and the underdog. She took her mission very seriously and labored day after day with little relief or rest. The other raccoons became increasingly worried because Mama was close to collapse.
One morning, Mama Raccoon fell over, barely alive. The others took her to the burrow and nursed her as best they could. In her lapses of dreams and consciousness, Mama Raccoon herd the Earth Mother saying, “You gave all of your strength to others, forgetting to weigh the consequences. The little bandit in you who robbed food from those who had a lot, giving it to those who had none, has lost her balance. In order to heal, you will need to see the error of robbing yourself of all your energy and giving it away, leaving you with none”
Mama Raccoon learned these lessons and got well. Now she teaches these same lessons to humankind, reminding them to give to the best of their abilities without robbing themselves of their health or sense of well-being.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Not much I can say about this one right now.
THE RACCOON'S LESSONS
The forest was full of homeless and wounded creatures after the great fire. The Raccoon Tribe ravaged all the nearby mountain cabins and brought food to the hungry. The Tribe of little bandits worked long and hard to supply what was need to help the other friends of the forest.
Mama Raccoon was busier than most of the others of her Tribe, mending the cuts and bandaging the burns of those who came for assistance. Days dragged into moons, and still the needy came in hordes. Mama Raccoon was the protectress of the frail, the children, the injured, and the underdog. She took her mission very seriously and labored day after day with little relief or rest. The other raccoons became increasingly worried because Mama was close to collapse.
One morning, Mama Raccoon fell over, barely alive. The others took her to the burrow and nursed her as best they could. In her lapses of dreams and consciousness, Mama Raccoon herd the Earth Mother saying, “You gave all of your strength to others, forgetting to weigh the consequences. The little bandit in you who robbed food from those who had a lot, giving it to those who had none, has lost her balance. In order to heal, you will need to see the error of robbing yourself of all your energy and giving it away, leaving you with none”
Mama Raccoon learned these lessons and got well. Now she teaches these same lessons to humankind, reminding them to give to the best of their abilities without robbing themselves of their health or sense of well-being.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Not much I can say about this one right now.
Mama Raccoon was busier than most of the others of her Tribe, mending the cuts and bandaging the burns of those who came for assistance. Days dragged into moons, and still the needy came in hordes. Mama Raccoon was the protectress of the frail, the children, the injured, and the underdog. She took her mission very seriously and labored day after day with little relief or rest. The other raccoons became increasingly worried because Mama was close to collapse.
One morning, Mama Raccoon fell over, barely alive. The others took her to the burrow and nursed her as best they could. In her lapses of dreams and consciousness, Mama Raccoon herd the Earth Mother saying, “You gave all of your strength to others, forgetting to weigh the consequences. The little bandit in you who robbed food from those who had a lot, giving it to those who had none, has lost her balance. In order to heal, you will need to see the error of robbing yourself of all your energy and giving it away, leaving you with none”
Mama Raccoon learned these lessons and got well. Now she teaches these same lessons to humankind, reminding them to give to the best of their abilities without robbing themselves of their health or sense of well-being.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Not much I can say about this one right now.
THE FALLACY OF DOMINATION
The abuse of power, as seen in the need to control the masses, has been fueled by greed throughout time. The fallacy of dominant societies is found in the historical evidence that there will always be another power-hungry opposition that will come along to play the role of conquerors.
The greedy power brokers of the world have not realized that is impossible to dominate the human spirit. Trying to permanently break the spirit of any race or group of human beings is futile. A temporary conquest can be achieved, but the human spirit will always rise again, in the following generations, the changes found in the will are imbued with more determination and a deeper understanding of the roles life offers.
Some say that the Sacred Hoop of Life was broken when Native Americans lost their lands and freedom. My Elders have taught me that this Circle of Life, the Sacred Traditions that represent our Medicine Wheel, has not been broken. The Faithful, the Wise Ones, have kept the fires burning, ensuring that the goodness, the strength of spirit, and the Beauty Way of our people will always endure. Our task is rediscovering the spirit and healing the fallacies that insist that that any spirit can be dominated or broken forever.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
This could also be called the Fallacy of Control. We've been reminded that we don't control the natural world. That no matter how well we engineer our man made creations it won't be enough. It doesn't mean that we give up. It does mean that we have to respect the forces that we can't control. No matter how hard we try, there will always be something that we can't predict. That there may be more truth to the old song "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start over....again."
I am getting more than a little tired of the cynicism of some of the news providers. "Radiation found on Japanese beans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1" Turns out, after you've read the story, carefully, that they're dried fava beans and the radiation is just slightly higher than the normal levels; three hundred times lower than any level that could be considered dangerous.
I'm still trying to figure out how thw spinich got contaminated since it isn't the growing season. Still the levels are low.
And I haven't run across a story yet that gives the information in numbers. I.E. this is the amount of radiation being given off. This much is dangerous. Many words, very little information.
The greedy power brokers of the world have not realized that is impossible to dominate the human spirit. Trying to permanently break the spirit of any race or group of human beings is futile. A temporary conquest can be achieved, but the human spirit will always rise again, in the following generations, the changes found in the will are imbued with more determination and a deeper understanding of the roles life offers.
Some say that the Sacred Hoop of Life was broken when Native Americans lost their lands and freedom. My Elders have taught me that this Circle of Life, the Sacred Traditions that represent our Medicine Wheel, has not been broken. The Faithful, the Wise Ones, have kept the fires burning, ensuring that the goodness, the strength of spirit, and the Beauty Way of our people will always endure. Our task is rediscovering the spirit and healing the fallacies that insist that that any spirit can be dominated or broken forever.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
This could also be called the Fallacy of Control. We've been reminded that we don't control the natural world. That no matter how well we engineer our man made creations it won't be enough. It doesn't mean that we give up. It does mean that we have to respect the forces that we can't control. No matter how hard we try, there will always be something that we can't predict. That there may be more truth to the old song "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start over....again."
I am getting more than a little tired of the cynicism of some of the news providers. "Radiation found on Japanese beans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1" Turns out, after you've read the story, carefully, that they're dried fava beans and the radiation is just slightly higher than the normal levels; three hundred times lower than any level that could be considered dangerous.
I'm still trying to figure out how thw spinich got contaminated since it isn't the growing season. Still the levels are low.
And I haven't run across a story yet that gives the information in numbers. I.E. this is the amount of radiation being given off. This much is dangerous. Many words, very little information.
Friday, March 18, 2011
HUMAN HUNGER
The voices of the homeless
Cry out in their pain,
Asking for a crust of bread
Or shelter from the rain.
Abandoned Elders and children,
Forgotten by the score,
Cry silent tears of loneliness,
Drowned by the city’s roar.
War torn nations bathed in blood
Forget the innocents’ plight,
Yet there they lay dying,
Not caring who was right.
The sick and weary travelers
Of the world seek some rest,
A solace for the hungry heart,
The common human quest.
Some hearts hunger for the love
That they have never known.
Some hearts ache with longing,
To fly where eagle has flown.
Greedy hearts seek power,
Others look for ways to share,
Earth Mother loves without judgment,
And shows us how to care.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
What a culture we've created. While the religious right cried crocodile tears about human dignity they support the destruction of every program and support that helps make life worth living. I even read a blog poster that wanted to know where the verses were that said he needed to take care of the poor. Matthew 25 anyone?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
DAY OF RECKONING
We all face a day of reckoning at some point. Our actions, thoughts and words have caused things to happen as we’ve walked the path of our life. Those effects were and are dependent our sense of integrity and accountability. We must be clear with ourselves and others about what we intend and what we do. Our desire to deal fairly with others, admit our shortcomings when we have to and make amends where needed mark us as trustworthy.
When people have made peace with themselves, with others and the Great Mystery; you can see it. There is an inner peace about the life they’ve led and are leading that needs no defense. This can bring a great sense of serenity.
Inspired by Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
When people have made peace with themselves, with others and the Great Mystery; you can see it. There is an inner peace about the life they’ve led and are leading that needs no defense. This can bring a great sense of serenity.
Inspired by Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
RIGID AND ABSOLUTE
One of the most dangerous human creations is a rigid and absolute code of ethics that disallows freewill and the natural development of intuitive integrity.
The rebellion of the human spirit against other determined laws or codes that wield punishment, without exception or compassion, have brought countless civilizations and religions to their knees.
The intuitive integrity that evolves through personal experience and freewill allows humankind to make and correct mistakes in judgment and behavior. The unseen Code of Ethics that urges humankind to evolve is quite simple. Everything we do to another is eventually experienced inside ourselves because the “grand illusion” is separation.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
It’s almost funny. Some of the most outspoken advocates of “heroic” individualism also seem to be members of the most fundamentalist churches. But, when you strip away the rhetoric, the most individual thing they worry about is making money with the least amount of interference from anyone else. Make things my way and damn the workers or the environment. Let me use my property any way I want to, even if it means opening an underground music club that operates at all hours of the night even if it’s in a residential neighborhood. Declare that you believe everything in the Bible is God given and literal’ except for the parts about feeding the poor, caring for the sick, protecting the weak; heck they’re just a bunch of free loaders they can look out for themselves.
Then there’s the rest of us who are just hoping we can keep the roof from collapsing. Maybe if we can keep it up long enough everybody else will finally wake up. But, don’t hold your breath.
The rebellion of the human spirit against other determined laws or codes that wield punishment, without exception or compassion, have brought countless civilizations and religions to their knees.
The intuitive integrity that evolves through personal experience and freewill allows humankind to make and correct mistakes in judgment and behavior. The unseen Code of Ethics that urges humankind to evolve is quite simple. Everything we do to another is eventually experienced inside ourselves because the “grand illusion” is separation.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
It’s almost funny. Some of the most outspoken advocates of “heroic” individualism also seem to be members of the most fundamentalist churches. But, when you strip away the rhetoric, the most individual thing they worry about is making money with the least amount of interference from anyone else. Make things my way and damn the workers or the environment. Let me use my property any way I want to, even if it means opening an underground music club that operates at all hours of the night even if it’s in a residential neighborhood. Declare that you believe everything in the Bible is God given and literal’ except for the parts about feeding the poor, caring for the sick, protecting the weak; heck they’re just a bunch of free loaders they can look out for themselves.
Then there’s the rest of us who are just hoping we can keep the roof from collapsing. Maybe if we can keep it up long enough everybody else will finally wake up. But, don’t hold your breath.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
WEIGHS THE TRUTH
The Protectress of the weak
Weighs the truth for all to see,
Divine Law seeking balance
Setting the spirit free.
And here amid the chaos
Of earthly trials she stands,
Ready to issue justice,
Compassion in her hands.
She answers when deception
Shows the destructive face
Of human greed and hatred,
Dividing every creed and race.
Keeper of Great Mysteries laws,
Whose guiding ways we seek,
May we accept the Oneness of
The truths we hear you speak.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
The Clan Mother of the third moon reminds us that no matter how benevolent we believe ourselves to be, we still carry the seeds of bigotry and judgment in our hearts.
Mea culpa, mea culpa. I’ve been reading the comments on the AOHell stories about the Japan quake. I don’t know why I’m ever surprised at the virulence and downright nastiness on the boards, but the lack of compassion on so many of the comments just blows me away. God’s punishment on Japan for Pearl Harbor? Please. We might as well blame the damage to the coastal south from hurricanes on the south’s history of slavery. Or a powerful hurricane in New England for the massacres of Native Americans in the mid seventeenth century.
Why weren’t the plants better designed. It’s a magnitude nine quake. They don’t come much worse than that. Murphy’s Law in action on steroids. If something can happen, it will eventually and it will be worse than you could possibly have imagine.
Newsflash! The Creator; whether it’s Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, the Great Mother created a universe that include planets with huge fault lines, ocean trenches, mountains, and vast seas among other wonders. Crap happens; it’s not the Creator’s fault. That Creation also includes enough compassionate, courageous human beings who stretch out a helping hand to their injured brothers and sisters. It gives me hope. For the rest? Please go sit in a corner, stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and hum real loud. And stay there.
Weighs the truth for all to see,
Divine Law seeking balance
Setting the spirit free.
And here amid the chaos
Of earthly trials she stands,
Ready to issue justice,
Compassion in her hands.
She answers when deception
Shows the destructive face
Of human greed and hatred,
Dividing every creed and race.
Keeper of Great Mysteries laws,
Whose guiding ways we seek,
May we accept the Oneness of
The truths we hear you speak.
Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine
The Clan Mother of the third moon reminds us that no matter how benevolent we believe ourselves to be, we still carry the seeds of bigotry and judgment in our hearts.
Mea culpa, mea culpa. I’ve been reading the comments on the AOHell stories about the Japan quake. I don’t know why I’m ever surprised at the virulence and downright nastiness on the boards, but the lack of compassion on so many of the comments just blows me away. God’s punishment on Japan for Pearl Harbor? Please. We might as well blame the damage to the coastal south from hurricanes on the south’s history of slavery. Or a powerful hurricane in New England for the massacres of Native Americans in the mid seventeenth century.
Why weren’t the plants better designed. It’s a magnitude nine quake. They don’t come much worse than that. Murphy’s Law in action on steroids. If something can happen, it will eventually and it will be worse than you could possibly have imagine.
Newsflash! The Creator; whether it’s Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, the Great Mother created a universe that include planets with huge fault lines, ocean trenches, mountains, and vast seas among other wonders. Crap happens; it’s not the Creator’s fault. That Creation also includes enough compassionate, courageous human beings who stretch out a helping hand to their injured brothers and sisters. It gives me hope. For the rest? Please go sit in a corner, stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and hum real loud. And stay there.
Monday, March 14, 2011
SPLITTING THE BLANKET
The traditions surrounding marriage in traditional Tribes is certainly an eye opener for most non native peoples. From long ago, until the present time, only women owned property among the Iroquois nations.
Long ago if Iroquois men wanted to go to war, they had to get permission from the Clan Mothers. This made sense because the burden of losing the men in battle would fall to the women who would have to raise their families alone. Every material thing from a marriage belonged to the wife and when she felt that the marriage was not working, she was the one to split the marriage blanket by placing the husband’s clothes, his half of the marriage blanket and his hunting items outside the longhouse. He would then have to go back to his mother’s Clan in shame to live with them in their longhouse, bearing the common knowledge that he had not been a good husband, father or provider.
Although the decision to split the blanket and end a marriage was not taken lightly, the burden of a just decision rested with the woman. The man was also free to leave if the wife was not fulfilling her duties, but he had to leave without anything but his personal possessions.
Imagine the effect this custom would have on modern society. Could this practice ensure that both marriage partners would strive to get along? Could an arrangement like this ensure that both parties would take their roles of union and devotion as sacred, weighing the truth of their love for one another against the consequences of improper behavior?
Jamie Sams Earth Medicine
I've wondered where "splitting the blanket" came from. Interesting, she literally splits the blanket. I suspect that a lot of time and care was taken before the marriage was celebrated. In many of the traditional communities making good marriages, raising children, and the like is the business of the families not just the couple and/or their children. It's the business of the community because the price of failure isn't confined to only to the people directly involved. Perhaps if it were harder for us to get married, maybe we wouldn't give up so quickly.
Long ago if Iroquois men wanted to go to war, they had to get permission from the Clan Mothers. This made sense because the burden of losing the men in battle would fall to the women who would have to raise their families alone. Every material thing from a marriage belonged to the wife and when she felt that the marriage was not working, she was the one to split the marriage blanket by placing the husband’s clothes, his half of the marriage blanket and his hunting items outside the longhouse. He would then have to go back to his mother’s Clan in shame to live with them in their longhouse, bearing the common knowledge that he had not been a good husband, father or provider.
Although the decision to split the blanket and end a marriage was not taken lightly, the burden of a just decision rested with the woman. The man was also free to leave if the wife was not fulfilling her duties, but he had to leave without anything but his personal possessions.
Imagine the effect this custom would have on modern society. Could this practice ensure that both marriage partners would strive to get along? Could an arrangement like this ensure that both parties would take their roles of union and devotion as sacred, weighing the truth of their love for one another against the consequences of improper behavior?
Jamie Sams Earth Medicine
I've wondered where "splitting the blanket" came from. Interesting, she literally splits the blanket. I suspect that a lot of time and care was taken before the marriage was celebrated. In many of the traditional communities making good marriages, raising children, and the like is the business of the families not just the couple and/or their children. It's the business of the community because the price of failure isn't confined to only to the people directly involved. Perhaps if it were harder for us to get married, maybe we wouldn't give up so quickly.
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