April 14, 2016 by IdealisticRebel

Let Me Walk in Beauty

From Self Reliance Book

“What you believe you become.

Believe in beauty, for the Earth Mother is covered

with beauty.

Believe in love, for your Earth Mother and Sky Father love you.

Believe in magic and you release your soul from the prison

your mind tries to build around it.

Above all, don’t be afraid.

The Great Spirit provides all that is needed.”

—Sun Bear

Sun Bear, Chippewa Tribe

Thy Sacred Dwelling

“Why have I two eyes if not to behold Thy glorious vision?

Why have I two ears if not to hear Thy gentle whisper?

Why have I the sense of smell if not to breathe the essence of Thy spirit?

Why have I two lips, Beloved, if not to kiss Thy beautiful countenance?

Why have I two hands if not to work in Thy divine cause?

Why have I two legs if not to walk in Thy spiritual path?

Why have I a voice if not to sing Thy celestial song?

Why have I a heart, Beloved< if not to make it Thy sacred dwelling?”

—Hazrat Inayat Khan

Weeping Cherry Tree Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2006

Global Peace

“Man Must first create peace within himself if he desires to see peace in the world;

for lacking peace within, no effort of his can bring any result.”

— Hazrat Inayat Khan

The Healing Heart

Sympathy—a china doll sheds a tear

and a piece of the Great Wall comes down.

Synchronicity—at the same time, in New Your City a lover’s heart mends a tear

and a flower breaks through the concrete.”

—Hadj Pearlman

Painted Sky Orchid. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2013

Let Me Walk in Beauty

“O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds,

and whose breath gives light to all the world,

Hear me—I come before you, one of your children,

I am small and weak.

I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty,

and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things that you have made,

my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise, so that I may know the things

you have taught my people,

and the lesson you have hidden in every rock and leaf.

I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers and sisters,

but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself.

Make me ever ready to come to you,

with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades as a fading sunset,

my spirit may come to you without shame.”

—Yellow Hawk Sioux Chief

Yellow Hawk, Sioux Chief

December 19, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

A Solstice Legend

The Peacemaker

The Native American myth of Deganawidah ahs many astonishing parallels with the story of Christ

The Native American myth of Deganawidah has many astonishing parallels with the story of Christ

The influence of Christian myths may well have affected another story from Native American traditions — that of the Deganawidah the Pacemaker. This semi-mythical character, also known as the Man from the North, was born into the Wendot tribe, later known as the Huron, who lived along the northern shore of present day Lake Ontario. According to tradition, Deganawidah was born of a virgin who, when she confessed to her mother that she was pregnant but had never known a man, was revealed to have been visited by a messenger of the Great Spirit Tarenyawagon, who was sending a messenger to bring lasting peace to humankind. At first there was much doubt among the tribes-people, and it is even told that Deganawidah’s grandmother tried three times to kill the child after prophecies that he would bring no good to the tribe. Yet Deganawidah survived, and grew imbued with wisdom, intelligence, and kindness. He spoke with animals and birds, and began to teach a message of peace among his fellows. The walking Huron found this distasteful and strange and tried to drive Deganawidah away. On reaching manhood he wandered in the wilderness for a time and then set forth in a white canoe said to have been made, astonishing, of stone, to visit other tribes. In the years that followed he traveled amongst the tribes and eventually founded the great Iroquois Confederacy, a democratic union of five tribes from amongst the northeastern woodlands, the concept that influenced not only the founding got of the United States constitution, but also that of the United Nations.

Deganawidah’s death remains mysterious, and like King Arthur, it is believed that he will return at the time of the his country’s need. Remembered still as the Peacemaker, he is seen as a harbinger of peace and as messenger of God. His life parallels that of Christ in many ways, especially in his birth and youthful deeds. He is a perfect example of the Children of Wonder, who come in the dark heart of Winter to bring light and a message of peace to the world.

Deganawidah, the PeaceMaker, was brought up with intelligence and kindness and, like Jesus, went on to spread a message of peace and democracy

–From The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas by John Matthews

August 25, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

What is Good

Hold on to What is Good

Hold on to what is good,

Even if it is a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe,

Even if it is a long way from here.

Hold on to life,

Even if it is easier letting go,

Hold on to the hand of your neighbor,

Even when we are apart.

—Native American Prayer

It is important to hang on to what is good in our lives. The good gets us through the bad, the stressful and the painful. Each day we are given a new portion of good for that day. Hold on to it because it is the love of God manifested for us to sustain us. Life isn’t always easy, but we are ever in the care and love of the Divine.

The Promise of This Day

Look to this day,

For it is life,

The very life of life.

In its brief course lie all

The realities and verities of existence,

The bliss of growth,

The splendor of action,

The glory of power—

For yesterday is but a dream,

And tomorrow is only a vision.

But today, well lived,