Cherokee Traveler's Greeting

I will draw thorns from your feet.
We will walk the White Path of Life together.
Like a brother of my own blood,
I will love you.
I will wipe tears from your eyes.
When you are sad,
I will put your aching heart to rest.
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An Abenaki Legend

The Great Spirit, in a time not known to us looked about and saw nothing. No colors, no beauty. Time was silent in darkness. There was no sound. Nothing could be seen or felt. The Great Spirit decided to fill this space with light and life.

From his great power he commanded the sparks of creation. He ordered Tôlba, the Great Turtle to come from the waters and become the land. The Great Spirit molded the mountains and the valleys on turtle's back. He put

white clouds into the blue skies. He was very happy.He said, "Everything is ready now. I will fill this place with the happy movement of life."He thought and thought about what kind of creatures he would make.

Where would they live? What would they do? What would their purpose be? He wanted a perfect plan. He thought so hard that he became very tired and fell asleep.

His sleep was filled with dreams of his creation. He saw strange things in his dream. He saw animals crawling on four legs, some on two. Some creatures flew with wings, some swam with fins. There were plants of all colors, covering the ground everywhere. Insects buzzed around, dogs barked, birds sang, and human beings called to each other. Everything seemed out of place.

The Great Spirit thought he was having a bad dream. He thought, nothing could be this imperfect. When the Great Spirit awakened, he saw a beaver nibbling on a branch. He realized the world of his dream became his creation.
Everything he dreamed about came true. When he saw the beaver make his home, and a dam to provide a pond for his family to swim in, he then knew every thing has it's place, and purpose in the time to come.

It has been told among our people from generation to generation. We must not question our dreams. They are our creation.
*******

My prayer of thanks:

I pray to the Great Spirit of The First People,
To Grandfather Sun, to Mother Earth, to Grandmother Moon,
To the Four Winds and the Sacred Seasons of Life.

I ask for peace, love and hope for all the First Peoples of this great Nation.
I pray for guidance and courage for the coming New Year
for my brothers and sisters of the First People Nations.

I pray for abundance of all my brothers and sisters need.
I pray for blessings from you, Great Spirit,
to shine upon all my brothers and sisters of all Tribes and Nations.

I give thanks, Great Spirit Grandfather, for the blessings you have
bestowed upon me by bringing into my life all the wonderful friends
of the First Peoples that have come my way.

I give thanks to you, Great Spirit Grandfather,
for each and every new friend that has brightened my pathway.

Phyllis D. Burns
*******

Hopefully, we can all quickly begin the task of mending The Sacred Hoop of Life in Black Elk's vision and begin working together to save the Earth Mother, ourselves and all things.

- Black Elk Speaks, John G. Neihardt, Lincoln:Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1979.