A significant majority of spiritually practicing Native Americans do not view their path as a religion, as Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus, view theirs.  These belief’s provide us with a seamless practice that makes our environment, our culture and our lives an integral part of our very being.

These are some of the guiding principles of the spirituality that I have found.  It has released me from the horrorific life I once had and has brought me through that abyss as a far better human being and man.

For those of you who haven’t read my dairies, I am a recovering Heroin addict, abuser of women and other human beings, a lost soul in the dark abyss of self destruction and committing suicide on the installment plan.  I will be celebrating 18 years in recovery, in a few short months and continue to be a practicing member of a thriving 12 step communtiy.  

I have offered myself in volunteering in hospitals, walking crack, meth and heroin addicted babies, HIV prevention among homosexual adolescent prostitutes and providing a sounding board for women who were unable to confront their abusers.  I did none of these things for any reason other than, they helped me heal and bring about closure for many of my own demons. I am neither noble nor crass, I am a human being, that wanted more from my life than I was experiencing.

I know that sounds selfish and self centered, yet I understand that if I don’t help others, I will never be able to help myself heal from the insanity that I grew up in and the insanity that I inflicted on others.

My spiritual awakening was facilitated by a stroke at the age of 33, caused by a combination of drugs, alcohol, insufficient weight (145 lbs, I am 6 ft tall) and lack of proper diet and liquid intake.  Great Spirit came to me in a vision, as I was lying in that doorway many years ago, in my own bodily fluids, and deemed that enough was enough.  That vision showed me that where I was and what I was doing were the anti-thesis of what my spirit wanted for me in this life.

As I was recovering in the hospital from the stroke, I was introduced to many forms of spiritual pathways and none of them seemed appropriate for me.  I was invited to a sweat lodge 12 step meeting on one of the local reservations and there I found what I have sought all these years.  A path to enlightenment that energized me, that opened my heart, mind and soul to the magnificence of being.  I found a way of life that makes it possible for me to fulfill my essence of life without having to take anything from any one else without their permission.  This path showers me in grace each day, bringing new opportunities for growth in all aspects of my life, but most importantly, my spiritual well being.  

I hope that everyone who reads about this spiritual path finds something to take away, that brings joy, happiness, spiritual grace and a desire to live their lives more fully for themselves and their families.  I can only share with you what I know from living on this planet for 50+ years and for the last 17+ allowing myself to become open to all the wonders that are granted to me each and every day.  

There are many newcomers here, who I believe feel betrayed and minimized by their experience at Dkos. I would offer you an opportunity to grow from that experience, set aside bitterness, open your heart to the path of peace and know the contentment of self discovery.  I have a wonderful teacher, who offered me this simple way to take positive out of a negative.  I married that wonderful teacher.  She said to me, do you still love me, do you still love your children, are you alive to enjoy your family.  I answered yes to each question. Her response was “then all is right with the world”  

There are many difficult and tumultuous roads ahead of us, in this fight to regain our country and bring it back to a path that will show the world that America really does care about the rest of world. Not for what can exploited from them, but what we can offer to the world to make it a better place.  I don’t know what will happen in the future, I only know that I will fight with all that I am to insure that my children have a world to live in that carries these virtues.

1.Respect Mother Earth
2.Respect the Great Spirit
3.Respect our fellow man and woman
4.Respect for individual freedom

THE TEN INDIAN COMMANDMENTS!

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect!
Remain close to the Great Spirit
Show great respect for your fellow beings
Work together for the benefit of all mankind!
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed
Do what you know to be right
Look after the well-being of mind and body
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good
Be truthful and honest at all times
Take full responsiblity for your actions…..

If I can instill these in my children and they share them with others in a meaningful way, then others will know the value that is placed upon them.  
 “The culture, values and traditions of native people amount to more than crafts and carvings. Their respect for the wisdom of their elders, their concept of family responsibilities extending beyond the nuclear family to embrace a whole village, their respect for the environment, their willingness to share – all of these values persist within their own culture even though they have been under unremitting pressure to abandon them.” Mr. Justice Thomas Berger, Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry, (aka the Berger Inquiry).

 “Rather than going to church, I attend a sweat lodge; rather than accepting bread and toast [sic] from the Holy Priest, I smoke a ceremonial pipe to come into Communion with the Great Spirit; and rather than kneeling with my hands placed together in prayer, I let sweetgrass be feathered over my entire being for spiritual cleansing and allow the smoke to carry my prayers into the heavens. I am a Mi’kmaq, and this is how we pray.” Noah Augustine, from his article “Grandfather was a knowing Christian,” Toronto Star, Toronto ON Canada, 2000-AUG-9.

 “If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone.  Our bible IS the wind.” Statement by an anonymous Native woman.  

Here are few links to show you more about Native American spiritualism.

http://members.aol.com/porchfour/religion/nativeam.htm

http://impurplehawk.com/naspirit.html

recommended reading list

http://www.barefootsworld.net/nativespiritualitybooks.html

As with any spiritual enligtenment, there will be frauds and those that will try to benefit from those that are seeking the path of truth, honor and justice.  Here are few suggestions that are offered, please follow the link.

http://www.native-languages.org/religion.htm

I am not a full blood, was not raised within my own culture and have received my spirituality through the openness of other Native Americans who, through their own spiritual desire to bring enlightenment to others, have granted me this great gift.  I am not a teacher, I am a seeker, there are many great teachers in our world, both Native and Non-Native.  I am truly blessed that I have had the benefit of both worlds.