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Crazy question...whatever happened to the Lakota secession from the US?

Note from Moderator of this forum: Thanks, Wendy, for bringing up this question for it is an interesting subject. I ask that anyone who wishes to comment on this subject do so in the thread titled "The Lakota Secession". Thank you. :)Phyllis Doyle Burns.

Ok, my friends - please let us keep this thread titled "The Hello Place" as a place for everyone to come, relax, and find Peace in sharing with friends. I like to see songs, prayers, stories, legends, myths here at the campfire - all related to Native American Peoples. If you have any discussion that might turn into debate or differences, please start another post - do not bring it to the campfire.

I am going to put the above question into it's own thread and title the post The Lakota Secession - I would like to do this because it seems like an interesting subject but, may take us away from the purpose of the campfire gathering. Thanks.

May the warm winds of heaven
blow softly upon your house.
May the great spirit bless
all who enter there.
May your moccasins make
happy tracks in many snows.
And may the rainbow
always touch your shoulder.

Welcome to the Campfire! This is a place where we get together, away from the debatable subjects, and share Native American stories, prayers, legends, myths and just relax and introduce ourselves. So, bring some sticks or a log and a story with you to add to the fire that burns within all of us and share with others. Please help us keep the campfire burning brightly.

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.

"Everyone has their own identity and they have their own purpose in this world, and they have ways of finding out that identity and carrying out that purpose. No one should interfere with that."

"Without self determination and self direction, anyone is lost."

Rolling Thunder, Shosshone/Cherokee Spiritual Leader. medicine man, a healer, teacher, activist and lecturer.

Pilamaya, Phyllis, for your kind words.

I am feeling better and the wrist is healing. The cast was removed this week and I am now able to type, although a bit painfully, with two hands. It seems that is also good therapy!

I am in the process of making a 'medicine wheel'. Have spent many hours researching and have learned so much. Finding the stones presented a bit of a problem, so in my first attempt, I used shells. I thought since they were 'natural' it would be ok.

I am not too pleased, however. But during my second search for stones, I did much better. It seemed like the stones I did not find the first time.....suddenly appeared! My ultimate goal is to get semi-precious stones.

This really has been a wonderful experience for me! One Native American Elder said that just the searching was a healing experience. I would have to agree.

So, dear Phyllis, if you have anything to add, such as prayers, or really anything, I would be grateful to receive any help you can offer.

Oh yes, my sage is nearly dry enough for the smudging. That would be my first step after completion, correct?

Walk in the Light until our paths cross again.
nayeli,
kimikaya

Kimi, Hi Dear Friend!

I am happy to hear you are healing. May Great Spirit guide you on your path of healing and also in making your medicine wheel. I have a friend at Prairie's Edge Trading Post who might be able to help you find some stones for the prayer wheel:

Prairie Edge Trading Post
Michael Lekberg
prairie1@rushmore.com

It is wise to thank Great Spirit for every item you put in your medicine wheel. Ken "Black Hawk" Cohen has written a wonderful book called "Native American Healing; Honor the Medicine". He gives some really good info and helpful tips on the sacredness of healing herbs, stones and ceremonoies.

Each of us is given spirit gifts (totems) at birth to help us discover our path on the "Good Red Road." You can define your path and serve yourself and others while enjoying the trip, for the journey is more important than the destination. All members of creation - animals, plants and minerals - have unique characteristics, energies and lessons giving you direction. Your path consists of the gifts of those with whom you share the Earth combined with your choices and spiritual energies

When you smudge your medicine wheel, you can also use cedar. I always use sage because I prefer the aroma and it is sacred, as is cedar. You probably already know this, but remember to offer the smoke to the four directions with prayer, smudge your medicine wheel and yourself, bathe in the smoke as you pray.

May your moccasins and your heart always find the happy path.
Blessings and walk in peace and beauty, Kimi.

One of my favorite prayers sent out to those who need it:

Great Spirit Prayer

"Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind,
Whose breath gives life to all the world.
Hear me; 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 you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice
Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.
Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others.
Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy

Myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

Check out this link to a Native American Prayer song

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