Walking Spirit in a Native Way

  Anishinaabe Healing   When someone leaves this world, we do not say they are gone. We say… they are traveling. For four days, we build a fire that must not die. Not because we fear the dark— but because we understand it. The spirit has begun a journey that the body cannot follow. A path older than memory. A road our ancestors walked before names were written. And for those first four days… they are still close. Closer than breath. Closer than tears. So we light the fire. Not just with wood— but with intention. Every spark is a prayer. Every crack of the flame is a voice saying: “You are not alone.” They say the spirit watches. They come back to see who is there. To feel the love one more time. To hear the laughter through the grief. To know… they mattered. The fire becomes a beacon. In the dark between worlds, light is everything. The flame tells them where home is. Where their people are. Where their name is still being spoken with love. We sit with that fire. We don’t rush...

You of little brain! Smarter than we think! The great minds of science know so much and yet ~ Do they really? I read an article recently where researchers determined that animals don’t really reason or think. They only respond instinctively to their habitat and in accordance with the particular evolution of their species. Some scientists disagree but this is the generally accepted thought. In the spring the park where I worked received our firewood packs to offer to campers. We keep a large supply at headquarters and a usage supply near our store for customers. The day the firewood was delivered I was on duty as ranger at the gate of the park. The truck rolled up with the firewood. I asked him to leave a couple of pallets of the firewood at the gate and then unload the rest of the supply in our storage yard. The driver unloaded three pallets and left the gate to deposit the rest of his load. I opened the shed and began putting the firewood packages in the storage shed. I unloaded the f...

  Ancient Celtic Sweat Lodges • Scotland, the Islands & Ireland Geromy Gordon is in Orkney Islands. February 11 at 2:19 PM  · Many people are surprised to learn that the Celtic peoples of Scotland, the Hebridean islands, and Ireland had their own form of sweat lodge. These small stone structures were used for healing, purification, and sometimes before important events or seasonal changes. The old belief was that steam could cleanse the body and spirit, and help restore balance. In Irish Gaelic they are called Teach Allais (“house of sweat”), and in Scottish Gaelic Taigh-fallais. Archaeological evidence shows many of these sweat houses date to the medieval period, with some sites possibly going back as early as around 500–800 AD. Most surviving examples were in use from the 1600s–1800s as part of traditional folk healing. These stone huts were small and low, built to hold heat and steam from hot stones and water. They were often located near streams or wells...

Bald Eagle - Messenger of love WOW!!  Thank you for what you are doing! Freedom to speak is the strength of the people to make a better world honoring our earth. Elders teach that the power of the masses in this time will be the path to a new man going forward living in peace with one another. They offer Seven Gifts given by Spirit to man as a guide. These gifts should all be applied together! The Seven Grandfather Teachings Wisdom ~ Nbaa kaa win ~ Use the wisdom for the people. The understanding that is gained through interacting with all things that is of the creation. Respect ~ M’naa den d’mowin ~ Respect everyone, all humans and all things created. Regard each with esteem and consideration. Allow others to believe in their reality. Bravery ~ Zoon gide’iwin ~ Do things even in the most difficult times. Be ready to defend what you believe and what is right. Always stand up for the people. Honesty ~ Gwe kwaad ziwin ~ Be honest in every action and provide good feelings in the heart...

           L ook, Listen, Feel, Sense Did that just happen? Spirit is always with us! You already know this. I do not know a whole lot and certainly do not hold pretense that I understand the presence of Spirit. I am only a man walking a journey in this realm. I do know this. There are moments when Spirit chooses to appear to us, and for me, they are not happenstance. I believe that Spirit will show a sign or act as a guide in a time when there is need. Our task becomes the challenge to understand the message. Many years ago when I was still a young father in my late twenties, I had such a visit. I should say my second oldest daughter had a visit. It was around midnight, and everything was silent through the house. My oldest daughter was ten and sleeping soundly in her room. I awoke and went to the bathroom. Our bedroom had a bathroom connected to the master bedroom and knowing my way I did not use a light. As I re-entered the master bed...