We must see ourselves as part of the Greater Circle, no greater, no less, but part. We must honor all our relations by honoring and understanding the Universal Circle for what it is, a unity of interrelated and interdependent strands. The Web is not a web without each and every of its strands serving its purpose, no matter how great or small. This may sound complicated, but it is not. Things get complicated only when we refuse to recognize the power of the whole, robbing ourselves and our world by seeing only separate and unrelated parts, such as unused resources or inanimate objects. It becomes even more complicated when we approach other people with the same mindset. This is a disruption in the natural flow of life energy and it is harmful to ourselves and to all other living things. Mother Earth is teaching us a hard lesson by reacting to all our pollution, disrespect, and misuse of the gifts She has offered to us.

The Medicine Way is a seeking of harmony within ourselves, with others, and within our surroundings through harmony and balance of personal, social, and environmental relationships. It emphasizes an active relationship between the physical and spirit worlds and the necessity of seeking harmony and balance with both. The Law of Reciprocity is given very careful attention. It is where something is offered for everything that is respectfully taken in order to honor and maintain the harmony and balance of interrelationship and interdependence. Permission is asked and thanks is given. This requires time and patience. It requires that we listen to what is in our hearts and to what is around us. Just as it never hurts to show appreciation for others, it never hurts to show appreciation for all living things, for Mother Earth, and for life itself by simply saying, "Thank You." Kindness, respect, generousity, and patience are not simply ways of acting, but ways of living and feeling. The way of harmony and balance is not a part of life, "it is life."! We live in accordance with the natural way of harmony and balance, we become part of the sacred flow in an ever-moving stream of life energy and natural beauty.

Every life is a precious gift to be respected and treated with care. This is not only out of respect for a gift that has been given, but also out of the belief that everything and everyone has a purpose to fulfill during his or her lifetime on Mother Earth. Every person, like every animal, tree, plant, and mineral, possesses some unique quality or talent to be discovered through a variety of experiences in this world. Harmony is the key to meaningful life experiences in which all learning contributes to an overall sense of our life purpose, and to harmony and balance. This purpose is manifested by a striving for wisdom and generosity exemplified by our Elders who have accumulated a lifetime's worth of experience in the world, and returned once again to the child's first smile. Our Elders have spent much time on Mother Earth, and they have seen much. Many have learned the inner secrets to a harmonious way of life and they are the Keepers of Wisdom.

Our Traditional Teachings relate to us how important it is that we move through our lives with courage, humility, respect, and kindness in our heart. All these signify a deep respect for the gift that we have been given in the breath of life, as well as a respect for all life. Wisdom transcends all circumstance, and ultimately comes from a harmony within the self, and between the self and the universe; an inner strength derived from the unity of spirit, natural environment, body, and mind. An Elder once said, "All that moves is sacred, only by understanding this can you realize the rhythm of Mother Earth, and thereby know how to place your feet."

One universal truth that quides the whole of our experiences is that the spirit does not keep time, it only records growth. We need not have known someone for a long time to really know them, or to feel a special connection with them. This is an important opportunity for learning and for sharing. These are the things the spirit holds most  dear.

Everyday we have choices. We may not like what they are, but we can choose how we will react. If we don't choose what we want in our lives, then life will decide for us. And if we do not like how it has chosen, we are sure not going to like what it has in the future. Few people really think they have a choice, and it may appear that way , unless we are fighters. People willing to swim against the tide are fighters. They do not agree with everything they see and hear just to be one of the crowd. They think and act for themselves. We develop muscle when we swim upstream, and with the mental and spiritual power that comes with it, we accept and reject , change even the way we look, and find solutions we never knew existed. Our eyes are opened so that we see clearly. Our ears are unstopped... for all these favors we thank the Great Spirit and Him only.

The habitual comfort of a familiar place keeps us where we are, even when we are not happy there. The hurt of leaving something we have grown accustomed to makes it more difficult. It takes time to adjust. But once an adjustment is made, we could never go back. The ache for the old familiar no longer has the pull it once had. Like the delicate tendrils of an ivy cling tenaciously, each sensitive feeling must be loosened and detached before we can begin to feel at home. Until we lose the world we once knew, we cannot fully adjust to a new one. It is a slow, strange unraveling of old ways of thinking and doing. But one day we can look back and wonder why it took so long when being free and joyfully alive is so good.

Some people have the gift of persuasion. It just seems their words ring more true than anyone else's. It may be the manner or the quiet confidence in which they speak that makes them more trusted and more heard than most. They can calm us or stir our emotions - sometimes in the wrong way. We put our trust in the authority of other people at a time when we should sort things out for ourselves. Who are these people with power in their words to test our strength? It would be a shame to listen to double talk when our great need is courage and quiet peace. The same power is on our tongues to build or irritate other people and ourselves as well.

Traditionalists believe that the connection we all have with others (not just people) is to be considered nothing short of sacred. "Relation" is something that extends beyond biological connection to one also of a spiritual nature. For every connection that we have, we are part of it and it is part of us, and there is energy in that which we call "life." The traditional view of "family" symbolizes a unique approach to the entire process of living as we move through the Circle of Life.

The longest road you will ever have to walk in your life is the sacred journey from your head to your heart. It has also been said that we will never solve the many critical and life threatening issues before us solely through the intellect. For every problem the intellect solves, ten more are created. By itself the intellect is a sacred gift of the Creator, but without an open, visionary and creative heart there is no wisdom. Both the mind and heart are sacred and are inseparably connected.

Our Creator gave wisdom to all people. To each person was given the urge to seek it out. Few there are, however, who have the strength and courage to undertake the sacred journey to find it. As we venture forth on our journey toward self fulfillment and wisdom, we must remember to take with us only those things that bring more unity within ourselves and others, that bring goodness and understanding and help us to serve one another in better ways. Our Creator gave our people, and all other people who live close to Earth Mother, wisdom and knowledge through dreams, visions, fasting, prayer, and the ability to see the lessons the Creator has put in every part of creation. Consider a stand of trees. The oak tree does not tell the pine tree to move over and the pine does not tell the fir tree to move over. Each tree stands in unity, with their mouths pressed toward the same Earth Mother, refreshed by the same breeze, warmed by the same sun, with their arms upraised in prayer and thanksgiving, protecting one another. If we are to have peace in the world, we too must learn to live like those trees.

With the unfailing guidance and assistance of our beloved Elders that walked the path before us, it has become very clear that the long spiritual wintertime of our peoples may finally be over and the long-awaited springtime is unfolding, slowly, but steadily with every-increasing beauty and healing in every direction. It is also very clear that as we heal ourselves and our communities, our peoples will have a greater and greater role to play in the positive unfolding of this dynamic change throughout the world.

As American Indian, I accept you as you want to be. However, I will respect you for how you are with others. Humility and the Rule of Acceptance helped me to cope with criticisms. They also helped me to better appreciate the unique values and teachings of our Medicine. One of the most important lesson learned, was having the negative energy move around me, instead of internalizing and reacting to criticism. The Rule of Acceptance is the ability to accept anything said or done with the realization that it is what another says or does, not what I say or do. In this case, an action does not necessarily require a reaction, but an "interaction." This interaction may be with the person or persons creating the action, or it can be with someone else to clarify or resolve a state of nonacceptance. As a student of life, I learned to accept and listen well. To others, this can be very difficult in an environment where they are taught to be assertive, to analyze, critique, and "take charge." They have so many lessons to learn yet in life.

There will be times during our Earth Walk, that our very foundations will be shaken to the very core of our Being. For each of us, it will be different, and unique from another, even if we do not see it. It is during these times that we are at our weakest, that we see our greatest faults, feel our greatest weaknesses and face our greatest fears which sometimes test our own personal faith. It is at these times, that we MUST remember that Our Family is greatest, when we all pull together and share our various strengths to help each other. KEEP THE FAITH, ALWAYS!

One of the most overlooked wonders of our world are the Trees. The "Standing People" have much to offer us. First, let's look at the structure of the tree. It has many branches, but they are all conected by one trunk. This is representative of all the twists, turns, and paths that we embark upon in our lives, yet, we are always ourselves. A Tree is enduring. To destroy a Tree, one must remove the roots from the ground, and then leave them exposed to the elements so that they will die. This tells us that those aligned with the "Standing People" are patient, and survivors. A Tree draws its nourishment from the earth. It then transforms the elements of the earth into food. This shows a natural ability to change. It also shows independance, resourcefulness, and an ingrained ability to work with the elements and components around us. The Tree has roots that spread deep into the earth. This tells us that we are deep rooted in many things, and have a very old soul. Our tendencies will be to be a "jack of all trades" and master of none unless we can trace ourselves back to the original root, and remain focussed upon it.

My restless soul wanders in the wandering path of life, as the spirits speak to me in hushed tones. The clouds of darkness surround me, and my way back becomes entangled in a web of turmoil. The four directions I have journeyed, and in the silence of my heart, I speak alone. Tears roll as a raging river, for I yearn to find my resting place. My inner peace evades me, and my spirit is bare, for it has no color, no identity. The whispers of sadness surround me, and I reach out, but I feel no touch, and comfort comes in bits and pieces. I journey through the shadows, afraid to smile, afraid to laugh, and the others, they do not know, they only judge. The endless streams of empty thoughts and feelings that no one cares to hear, never ends. The light that once shined bright has faded and left a darkness in my heart. I am quickly reaching the point of despair, and my emotions are beyond repair. I feel everyone and everything has gone and left me behind to wallow in sorrow with my disillusioned heart and mind. Oh my Great Creator, take me home, rest my spirit, rest my soul.