OT: Question for Yvsa

DannyinJapan said:
Is there such a thing as a sacred text for (non-converted) Native American people?
Click to expand...
Nope. Danny there were over 500 tribes, which one would you pick? See what I mean?
Although there are similarities there are many differences. The Kituwa band of the Cherokee still follow the old Stomp Dance way as do many of the Creek and Seminole and many of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, as well as some of the other Northern and Plain's Peoples still follow the old Sundance way.
It would be as bad as organized religion if there were proselytizing going on between the tribes, but thankfully that just isn't done.
People who are interested come of their own volition. The Red Road isn't learned in a short time no matter which trail of it you take.
Even though I'm Cherokee I'm not Kituwa and I'm also Osage and maybe some Creek therefore I follow the Sweatlodge and Prayer way by my choice. If there is a generic way then it is the way I and many other mixed bloods walk the Red Road.
It is becoming more and more common as time goes on which is both a good and bad thing.
Distance is generally the problem with learning a persons own way's and sadly many of the Old Ways are disappearing.:(
 
thank you for your candor.
If you dont mind, I have another question.
Would you say that there were definite symbols that have religious meaning for you ?
I mean native religious meaning, of course...
I really appreciate your taking the time to help me out. This is research for a book Im working on.
 
Yuh nSuh?

Are you familiar with Walking on the Wind?


Kis







Walking on the Wind: Cherokee Teachings for Healing Through Harmony and Balance
by Michael Tlanusta Garrett

Edition: Paperback


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Buy this book with Medicine of the Cherokee by J. T. Garrett, Michael Tlanusta Garrett today!

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Product Details

Paperback: 193 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.58 x 8.39 x 5.43
Publisher: Bear & Co; (May 1998)
ISBN: 1879181495

Average Customer Review: Based on 11 reviews. Write a review.

Amazon.com Sales Rank: 53,685
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1 person recommended Two Cultures Meet: Pathways for American Indians to Medicine in addition to Walking on the Wind: Cherokee Teachings for Healing Through Harmony and Balance

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
How does one learn from the wisdom of Native American cultures without adding to the violence that has been done to the sacredness and integrity of those traditions? In this volume, Garrett, an Eastern Band Cherokee who teaches education at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, provides profound and beautiful answers to that question. As he notes, the book has two goals: to honor his people's vision of a balanced life and to share their accumulated wisdom about health and wellness with the larger, contemporary culture. Each chapter features delightful narratives of Cherokee stories and myths?the love of Moon for Sun, how the animals teach humanity to respect the harmony of nature, why possum's tail is bare, why turtle's shell is scarred, as well as recollections from Garrett's childhood. He notes that his father taught him that it was his task "to discover through the stories?the beauty and lessons offered to us through everyday experience." Garrett discusses lessons learned about how to make difficult choices, how to hear our intuitive sense of right and wrong and how to deal with painful experiences. Also included in this wide-ranging book are descriptions of the purposes of Pow-Wow, Iroquois False Face Societies, managing a modern kitchen in ways that respect the balance of nature and brief discussions about acid rain and greenhouse gases. Written in accessible language, Garrett's book is a useful primer on Native American spirituality.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ingram
Traditional Cherokee teachings passed down by author Michael Garrett's great-grandfather instruct us that all things are connected, have purpose, and are worthy of respect and reverence. Through stories of the Sacred Fire, the Talking Circle, the Giveaway, and Community, these stories counsel us to keep our feet on Mother Earth, our eyes and minds above the tree tops, and our spirit with the Great Universal Spirit.


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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Wonderful teachings!, November 28, 2003
Reviewer: merrymousies (see more about me) from Waterford, VA USA
This is a wonderful book - the lessons, the stories, the exercises, all are superb. Through these different avenues/activities Michael Garrett really conveys not only native american rituals (what, how) but also such deep meaning and connection with mother earth (why). Its a fun book to read, very open and honest style that becomes a real page turner. I love the opening poems to the different chapters that set the stage. Here's the oe for the chapter entitled The Rule of Opposites: "The good road and the road of difficulties; you have made me cross; and where they cross, the place is holy." There are wonderful drawings throughout the book as well. This is definitely one of those books that you read and you think about life in its purest sense. The exercises at the end of each chapter give you good real-world things to do to really understand the teaching. I love it!! Highly recommended!


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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Inspirational, December 28, 1999
Reviewer: Ann Scott-Smith from Waitakere, New-Zealand
This book is BEAUTIFUL from the illustrations to the text to the spiritual journey Michael takes you on. The ancient wisdom in this book will ring true to every human who reads it - no matter where you are from. I love the Native Americian teachings, and this is one of the best examples I have read.



Excellent for beginners, August 8, 2003
Reviewer: beachsi (see more about me) from Space Coast Florida
I began my American Indian roots exploration with this book. It is a wonderful book that teaches the interconnection of everything in life. Definitely a good read - I bought it so that I may refer back from time to time.




Totally Enthralling, July 18, 2003
Reviewer: unfetteredboi from Pompano Beach, FL United States
A friend suggested this book during a very low point in my life. I'm so glad he did as it was very instrumental in me getting out of my rut :)

I also then bought another copy for a friend who was having a hard time and sent it to her, and she loved it!

the writer does an amazing job of storytelling then taking the time to convey what the sometimes hidden meanings are....a great book for anyone looking for enlightenment, whether they are native american or not! enjoy this book!

Highly recommended, January 1, 2003
Reviewer: Iris Kalatzidis from San Diego, CA United States
very helpful tool for life. Very inspiring and spiritual, but also funny. This book is a must.



I loved this book!, February 23, 2002
Reviewer: Tara Tulley CPM (see more about me) from Payson, Ut United States
For someone just discovering there Cherokee Heritage This book is a must. Very enlightening!
 
Someone once told me that there was a lot of crap available because it was profitable.

Perhaps private email to Yvsa would bring you the most meaningful answers?
 
Sorry Nasty, I was trying to help. I didn't mean to offend your sensibilities.


Kis
 
Helpful as always Kis...I too was just trying to help.

ps: The proximity to Kis's message was unintentional and coincidental...it was not related to his. :footinmou
 
Nasty is spot on and I'm the one who told him that you can't find anything real in a book or online. I have a bookcase half full of books that like the one by Garrett that monopolize on the non-ndn's desire for the ndn spirituality and religion. The only real way to get it is from the horse's mouth so to speak. I had to learn this the hard way even though I was a believer in the Old Ways and had been since I was a young man.
And I knew some things intrinsically it seemed for some odd reason. I knew there is a Sage that grows here and I knew the story of the Cedar without anyone telling me. I used them for prayer for many years before I started learning from the Elders.
The problem with said books are that there is some truth in them, mostly in the animal stories, but most of it is New Age and caters to the wannabe warm and fuzzy crowd. The ndn medicine isn't anything to mess with if one doesn't know what they're doing. You can hurt yourself and others by screwing around with something you don't know about. Remember there is a dark side out there as well as the light side.
 
DannyinJapan said:
If you dont mind, I have another question.

Would you say that there were definite symbols that have religious meaning for you ?

I mean native religious meaning, of course...
I really appreciate your taking the time to help me out. This is research for a book Im working on.
Click to expand...
Danny there are symbols that have deeply religious meaning for me as well as many of the tools that are used in ceremonies.
But like the Elders before me that is not for discussion online or in email. It is face to face and then if I knew you were going to put it in a book I doubt that I would share anyway. Sorry.

It boils down to the non-ndn already taking so much that we had that we're not going to share our spirituality or religion freely. That desire is what leads to the monumentous book sales of such books as the one Kis posted.
Most non-ndns think we should just let them have all the information they desire and that just isn't going to happen.
However if someone comes and is sincere and truly wants to learn and honor our ways and wishes then these things are shared freely and openly.

I will share this much with you... Our spirituality and religion is part of our lives and daily makeup and can't be seperated from even the simple things we do everyday.
The non-ndn generally seperates their religion to one day of the week.
That disagreement and a vow I made when I was 6 years old is what led me to beat the living $hit out of my old man when I was 15 years old. He told me God was for Sunday and I told him my God(s) was for 24 hours of each and every day. Then he told me to stand up and I did at which point he slapped me. That invoked the vow. When I got through with him he bloodied a whole bedsheet and had several cuts on his face. I did it barehanded and if it hadn't of been for my mom I would've killed him then and there. Sure would've saved a bunch of people a lot of misery if I had of.
 
Popol Vuh

More Meso-American than "Native American", but still mostly authentic. Have a copy right here in my lap. ;)
 
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