40 Days of Peace Day Twenty Four
Allegiance to Gratitude
From Braiding Sweetgrass…
Thanksgiving Address
Words That Come Before All Else
Can you feel these words? This is how the world is meant to be. In the joining of these words with our hearts together as one, they are all we need. Together they show us the way to live in harmony and peace. “Cultures of gratitude must be cultures of reciprocity.” I have a duty to you, you have a duty to me. I have a duty to the animals, they have a duty to me. We share our gifts in a good way, in a dance around a circle that weaves us together AS ONE.
You may find yourself thinking “What is my TRUTH"?” “What is MY GIFT to the sacred circle?”
I hope I honor the Haudenosaunee relatives by sharing this here in this space. You can read from their words HERE
I imagine a day not to far off where we humbly listen to the wisdom of Indigenous stories and truth, ways of BEING in the world, practices that heal the earth and our relationship with all life. I see the rainbow bridge being laid, blessed brick by brick, making the way for all beings to walk together in peace.
I imagine children in schools reciting the Thanksgiving Address, practicing mindful meditation, growing food, nourishing the gifts of their souls to live their truths without a system to oppress their purpose, practicing gratitude with every breath, every choice. I imagine a world where all our elders are honored, as they should be.I imagine a day when the word factory farm is only a term in the dictionary, telling the story of a time in our evolution when we got off coarse, but found our way back home. I imagine our food system restored, where food is our medicine and medicine is our food and that “c” word is a word of the past.
I mean no disrespect to our patriots, or to our country, but I long for a world of true freedom and justice for ALL. I want to live in a world made of gifts and gratitude.
“The Thanksgiving Address describes our mutual allegiance as human delegates to the democracy of species. if what we want for our people is patriotism, then let us inspire true love of country by invoking the land herself. If we want to raise good leaders, let us remind our children of the Eagle and the Maple. If we want to grow good citizens, then let us teach reciprocity. If what we aspire to is justice for all, then let it be justice for all of Creation.
Every day with these words, the people give thanks to the land. In the silence that falls at the end of those words I listen, longing for the day when we can hear the land give thanks for the people in return.”
I am grateful for each of you who share this space together today. May your hearts be open to give and receive abundantly.
I love you,
Sarah