Thursday, April 22, 2010

Every Day is "Earth Day" in the Traditional Navajo Culture....


Father Sky and Mother Earth depicted in a traditional Navajo Sandpainting.....

The traditional "Navajo Way" contains no concept for religion as being a separate activity from daily life. Navajo religion has been described as "life itself, the land, and well-being." All living things... people, plants, animals, mountains, and the Earth itself, are relatives. The purpose of Navajo life is to maintain balance between the individual and the universe and to live in harmony with nature and the Creator.

"We the five-fingered beings are related to the four-legged,
the winged beings, the spiritual beings, Father Sky, Mother Earth, and nature.
We are all relatives. We cannot leave our relatives behind."
Betty Tso, Traditional Navajo

"Our way of life is our religion, and our teaching. If we are relocated by
force, we will die slowly. The people would not be in balance with Mother
Earth and Sky Father and the spiritual people. In every way, here we are
connected to the land. We belong here."
Mary T Begay, Navajo Elder

Native American wisdom is hard to beat....I have known about the "Navajo Way" for the last 35 years or more....as I sat and typed this post, I did some soul searching...it is all such a simple concept, but such a profound one as well. I am making the vow here and now to give back to Mother Earth, it is time for everyone to make this same vow to Mother Earth and to themselves.....

Monday, April 19, 2010

Long Haired Kachinas Assure Me it is Spring!


Our old plum tree in all her glory....could Spring really have arrived???? I must check with the Long Haired's to see if this is so.....

I turned to my oldest and dearest friend, the Hopi Long Haired Kachina, whom I have been caring for since the 1970's.... as close as we have become, I know I can trust him when he tells me "Yes indeed, Spring has arrived!"

Alvert Lamy's Zuni Long Haired told me that I was worrying about nothing...he was surrounded with Turquoise...the stone of "trust and beauty"....surely I should trust him to know if Spring was really here!

I really got in Sterling Francis Sr.'s Hopi Long Haired's face...and said I wanted answers....he just shook his rattle at me....but I know he is ready for Spring, as he is holding an ear of corn!

Upon being questioned by me...Vince Sanchez's Zuni Long Haired simply replied that he was already wearing his Spring "whites"...so believe it!

These two Roland Hosteen Navajo Long Haired's concur that Spring has arrived!

The blue sky and the white billowy clouds peek through the blossomed branches...It is a beautiful sight!

This Long Haired told me to enjoy the blossoms today...if there is rain or snow again this Spring, I will at least have had today to enjoy their beauty....the Kachinas are so wise!

"The dark skies on the front of me have done their job....and brought the rains that in turn have brought the flowers....My work is done." says this Long Haired Kachina....

"Yes"...said Roland Hosteen's Navajo Long Haired...."Just look at the Sun symbols on my shawl....Spring is here!"

Garrick Weeka's Zuni Long Haired is so sure that Spring has arrived, that he is even thinking beyond the blossoms, and is concerned with the sacred corn crops.....

Russell Shack's Zuni Long Haired reminded me that the dragonflies he proudly wears are a sign of good things to come....and joy...surely Spring is here, that is a good thing, and would bring much joy to me!

The mighty Sun is wise and reliable....I can count on him to be there every morning when I awake...I believe he is right....Spring is here to stay!

These beautiful blossoms only come around once a year...I am going to enjoy and appreciate them while they are here....

Lo and behold.....I looked out my back window today, and our old plum tree which had been white with snow only a day or two ago, was now covered in white again....only this time, it was beautiful white blossoms! Were my eyes playing tricks on me? When did this happen...overnight????? Could Spring have finally arrived here, one month late? I don't want to be tricked again...as I mentioned in an earlier post, the frog fetishes that were responsible for all of our rain (and snow) were keeping silent....who should I turn to this time, to be sure? The Long Haired Kachinas are known as the "bringers of gentle rains and flowers"...We've had more than our share of rains...but this is the first sign of flowers...maybe they are the experts and can tell me if Spring has finally arrived...I gathered my Long Haired's together and had a pow wow with them all, from the youngest to the oldest, and the shortest to the tallest...and they all comfirmed that Spring has arrived...Now I don't doubt the Long Haired's, but those frogs did fool me....so I hedged my bet and asked the mighty Sun if Spring was really here to stay, and he promised me that he would stick around most of the time, but that even on the darkest of days, I would always find beauty in the nature around me...He also told me that I, like so many of you...need to take time to stop and smell the blossoms, like events in our lives, they are fleeting....we need to enjoy them to the fullest while they are here! I am going to heed the Sun's advice and make sure that I take time each day to appreciate what the Long Haired's have brought us, with their gentle rains and flowers.......