40 Days of Prayer ~ Day Two
Allegiance to Gratitude
Wopila
This one is dedicated to my beloved Sicangu Oyate, my forever family, those with me in body, those with me in Spirit, all who are a part of my heart.
My gratitude is eternal, like our love.
And to Robin Wall Kimmerer for being YOU and for writing my favorite book, Braiding Sweetgrass.
“I pledge alliance…” it begins.
In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin tells the story of a difference type of allegiance that her indigenous culture practices as a way of life, not by placing your hand over your heart and reciting words, but by living and speaking gratitude with your heart.
There are different rituals and ceremonies practiced, “ways of sending gratitude into the world, to recognize all that we are given and to offer our choicest thanks in return. Many Native peoples across the world, despite myriad cultural differences, have this is common -we are rooted in cultures of gratitude.”
The Thanksgiving Address
Or The Words That Come Before All Else
This Thanksgiving has nothing to do with pilgrims or holidays. This word Thanksgiving is a state of being grateful that is practiced everyday. This Thanksgiving Address is recited in schools, and also to open and close meetings of Native peoples. “This ancient order of protocol sets gratitude as the highest priority. The gratitude is directed straight to the ones who share their gifts with the world.”
In this ritual, they are reminded every day, “beginning with where our feet first touch the earth, we send greetings and thanks to all members of the natural world.”
Thanksgiving Address
Words That Come Before All Else
The People
Today we have gathered and when we look upon the faces around us we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now let us bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.
Now our minds are one.
The Earth Mother
We are thankful to our Mother the Earth, for she gives us everything that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she still continues to care for us, just as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send thanksgiving, love, and respect.
Now our minds are one.
The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst, for providing strength and nurturing life for all beings. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. We are grateful that the waters are still here and meeting their responsibility to the rest of Creation. Can we agree that water is important to our lives and bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to the Water?
Now our minds are one.
The Fish
We turn our thoughts to all of the Fish life in the waters. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that they continue to do their duties and we send to the Fish our greetings an our thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
The Berries
When we look about us, we see that the berries are still here, providing us with delicious foods. The leader of the berries is the strawberry, the first to ripen in the spring. Can we agree that we are grateful that the berries are with us in the world and send thanksgiving, love and respect to the berries?
Now our minds are one.
The Food Plants
With one mind, we honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden, especially the Three Sisters who feed the people with such abundance. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans, and fruit have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them as well. We gather together in our minds all the plant foods and send them a greeting and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Medicine Plants
Now we turn to the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are so happy that there are still among us those special few who remember how to use the plants for healing. With one mind, we send thanksgiving, love and respect to the Medicines and the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
The Trees
Standing around us we see all the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who each have their own instructions and uses. Some provide shelter and shade, others fruit and beauty and many useful gifts. The Maple is the leader of the trees, to recognize its gift of sugar when the People need it most. Many peoples of the world recognize a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now our minds are one.
The Animals
We gather our minds together to send our greetings and thanks to all the beautiful animal life of the world, who walk about with us. They have many things to teach us as people. We are grateful that they continue to share their lives with us and hope that it will always be so. Let us put our minds together as one and send thanks to the Animals.
Now our minds are one.
The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them the gift of beautiful songs. Each morning they greet the day and with their songs remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader and to watch over the world. To all the Birds, from the smallest to the largest, we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Four Winds
We are all thankful for the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.
Now our minds are one.
The Thunder Beings
Now we turn to the west where our grandfather the Thunder Beings live. With lighting and thundering voices they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds are one.
The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest brother the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them at night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
The Wisdom Keepers
We gather our minds together to consider the Wisdom Keepers who have come to help the people throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live. With one mind, we send our greetings and our thanks to these caring teachers.
Now our minds are one.
The Creator
We now turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it is not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send greetings and thanks in their own way.
And now our minds are one.
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. The Sacred Hoop.
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
Shams of Tabriz’s 40 Rules of Love
