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Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We
have been given the
duty to live in balance and harmony with each
other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together
as
one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
Now our minds are one.
The
Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all
that we need for
life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon
her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she
has from
the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The
Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst
and providing us
with strength. Water is life. We know its power in
many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and
oceans.
With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.
Now our minds are one.
The
Fish
We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were
instructed to cleanse
and purify the water. They also give themselves
to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water.
So,
we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The
Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye
can see, the Plants
grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life
forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and
look
forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
The
Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we
harvest from the
garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains,
vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive.
Many
other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the
Plant Foods together as one
and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Medicine Herbs
Now
we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning
they were instructed to take away sickness.
They are always waiting
and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those
special
few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one
mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines
and to the keepers
of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
The Animals
We
gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the
Animal life in the world. They have many things
to teach us as people.
We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use
their bodies
as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in
the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and
we hope that it
will always be so.
Now our minds are one
The Trees
We
now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of
Trees who have their own instructions and uses.
Some provide us with
shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things.
Many people
of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength.
With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now
our minds are one.
The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who
move and
fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each
day they remind us
to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen
to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the
largest-we
send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Four Winds
We
are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear
their voices in the moving air as they refresh
us and purify the air
we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four
directions
they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength.
With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the
Four Winds.
Now our minds are one.
The Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where
our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings,
live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the
water
that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil
things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our
minds together as
one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds
are one.
The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each
day
without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the
light of a new day. He is the source of all the
fires of life. With
one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds
are one.
Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother,
the
Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman
all over the world, and she governs the movement
of the ocean tides.
By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches
over the
arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send
greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now
our minds are one.
The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like
jewelry.
We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the
darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things.
When we
travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together
as one, we send greetings
and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
The Enlightened Teachers
We gather
our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who
have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget
how to live in
harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as
people. With one mind,
we send greetings and thanks to these caring
teachers.
Now our minds are one.
The
Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send
greetings and thanks
for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need
to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the
love
that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send
our choicest words of greetings
and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
Closing Words
We have now arrived
at the place where we end our words. Of all the
things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything
out.
If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send
such greetings and thanks
in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
Much Love...Mitakuye Oyasin!
Papa Medicine
Crow
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