June 26 Daily Feast, Elder's Meditation, THINK on THESE THING

June 26 - Daily Feast

Someone said it is impossible to spit in the same water twice when it is a flowing stream. It is all water under the bridge - running on down to the sea, merging with other rivers flowing in the same direction. All rivers run to the sea. We cannot stop them any more than we can call back some incident to change it. It is water under the bridge, and has gone to join all the other experiences until their identities are forgotten. There is no use in chasing what is past. We can only love and care for what we have at hand. What is better than to enjoy the present time, the present company? To see this time equally important with the past is to regain some of what we though we had lost.

~ Although ice and snow may lie deep upon my wigwam, I should find a warm fire within. ~

TECUMSEH

'A Cherokee Feast of Days', by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Elder's Meditation of the Day June 26

"...when faithful human beings or other creatures called upon them for help, they [the Powers of the Four Directions] must send their powers..."

Fools Crow, LAKOTA

Each of the four directions has special powers. These powers or Grandfathers are there to help us. The powers are from the East, the South, the West, and the North. To call upon the power we need to stand in the center and face each of the directions and honor all forms of life in each direction. Facing the East we honor all the two legged, four legged, winged ones, plants' nation and the animals. We repeat this prayer in each of the four directions. This allows us to become centered. When we are centered, then we are ready to call the helpers. It is said, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. If we are to be ready, we need to remember to always get quiet first. We do this by honoring and praying to the four directions.

Grandfathers from the four directions, come to me today with Your powers. Give me Your gifts so I can serve the people.

'THINK on THESE THINGS'
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Everyone must have a way of life. The home, the position, the social level, the health of the body and of the emotions are all a part of daily living. But beyond that there must be a reason, a way of life. We must believe in something, live by something, and have a shelter within ourselves where there are no pretenses.

Life cannot be one carefree round of living on the surface. It is a thing of depth and width and height, and full of avenues never investigated. Like the body, it is made up of many parts. Beneath the skin there must beat a heart, a network of nerves, the strength of muscles, and much we cannot begin to explain.

As the body depends upon the heart we must have in our lives something to depend upon, something with which to identify ourselves. There must be a central point, a hitching post to keep all of life running smoothly.

We need something to help us retreat as well as to go forward. We must have something to live by, as well as something for which we would willingly die. We need divine wisdom to see, and the strength to break away, those almost invisible fingers of possessiveness that grip our lives.

We do not simply live, we live because. We live because of others, because of beautiful things and times and places. We live because God gave us life to be happy in, and to find a special way.

Donadagahv’I

Tawodi Unega
( White Hawk )

I will be going by My new true and traditional Cherokee Name From the Bird Clan . It will not be official, however, until I can have the ceremony for it By my Udo ( Brother ) Mashu: Tawodi Unega ( White Hawk )

"Be good, be kind, help each other."
"Respect the ground, respect the drum, respect each other."

Abe Conklin - Ponca/Osage, (1926-1995)

May The Creator walk with you.