navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #34 » Mitakuye Oyasin
Open Poetry #34
Post A Reply Post New Topic Mitakuye Oyasin Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Abe
Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694
Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end!

0 posted 2004-11-28 01:36 PM



We have been Warned from Messages
Passed down from Ancient Prophecies
About the perils for our Mother Earth
And all Animals, Plants, and the Seven Seas.

There is a path to Understanding
And ways to turn these things around
With Beliefs that flow from Sacred Sites
Teachings of the Answers can be Found.

We must put Hearts and Minds together
And join in one Cause to Sight the Blind
To save our Mother from Destruction
By the wanton Greed of Humankind.

Some Ancestors saw the Dangers
And sounded Warnings through the Years
But the Wisdom of their Words
Was mostly lost and fell on deaf ears.

As Sacred Sites are desecrated
And some destroyed by progress (?)
The loss of what lies beneath
We can’t see and can only guess.

There is a different World View
Now we can look at Her from Space
And some of those far-off Images
Show Her as an ever-changing Place.

The "Heart of everything that is"
From the Black Hills of South Dakota
Shows as the shape of that "Heart"
And Sacred to the Tribe, Lakota.

The Dine see Big Mountain
As the Mothers life-giving Liver
And as the Coal is taken away
The poisons flow into Life’s River.

The Aborigines see the Coral Reefs
As Mother Earth’s Blood Purifier
And pollution of our Water/Life’s Blood
Could bring the end to Her Empire.

The Indigenous of Rain Forests
Know they give our Mother Breath
But watch and know as Great Trees fall
We’re headed for a sure, slow Death.

The Gwich’in of the Arctic Refuge plain
Know this as "Where the life begins"
And They know too, that Oil Drilling there
Will be one of Mankind’s worst Sins.

The way Mother Earth is treated
Should cause all Humans great concern
For, the balance of Nature is tipping
Towards the point of No Return.

We must find other forms of Energy
And leave a safe World for Generations
Of our Children and their Children
Of all of our Mother’s Nations.

The Indigenous Peoples always knew
That we must All make Connections
To Mother Earth’s Sacred Chakras
If we can Hope to make Corrections.

If not, the "Powers of Destruction"
Will overwhelm Us, One and All
And Life on Earth as We know it
Will take a Fatal, Final, Fall.


11-25-2004

The preceding was partly inspired by the words of Chief Arvol Looking Horse. He is the 19th generation keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle and holds the responsibility of spiritual leader among the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota People. Please visit http://www.wolakota.org/menu.html for more info about him and his organization.

The Meaning of "Mitakuye Oyasin"
This is a Lakota expression that means "we are all related" (mih-TAHK-e-yeh oh-YAH-sin). It is often spoken as a closing for prayer or as a parting comment. It is to remind us of our role and responsibility in this world.
Its significance goes beyond the Lakota; other Native American groups have used these words in logos and printed material. When you see colorful ribbons and streamers on regalia of any tribe or clan -- the four colors of black, red, yellow, and white -- this is the same representation. By reminding us of skin colors of people on this planet, we are to be mindful of our responsibility.
You may also see colors blue (for sky and Grandfather, the Great Spirit) and green (for ground and Earth Mother). These remind us of our relationship to all that is. We are brothers and sisters to all living things; everything we see and experience is sacred and worthy of our respect. Most importantly, it reminds us that we have been created by Grandfather. Just by being, we have importance and significance.
Mitakuye oyasin
Thanks to> http://home.earthlink.net/~jbntractiv/jackpg/oyasin.html











Del "Abe" Jones

© Copyright 2004 Del - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2004-11-28 01:58 PM



Thank you so much for this treasure, Abe.
And thank you for your earlier thoughts.

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
2 posted 2004-11-28 02:55 PM


Abe~
Ah, from this kindred Cherokee heart, please know that I treasure your words~

You are always the ever observant tender-of-the-ancient-fires~

THANK YOU~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

Email noles1@totcon.com

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
3 posted 2004-11-29 05:49 PM


Enjoyed...James
Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
4 posted 2004-11-29 06:26 PM


Thank you sir!

~ Let peace begin with me... ~

RSWells
Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533

5 posted 2004-11-29 06:44 PM


I could go on and on about how true this is, how far removed we are from mother earth and so our souls, how in abusing and ignoring her we are committing suicide and how much closer to being a god earth is than the inventions of tribal cults but instead I'm going to recommend a book;

"The Dreams of the Earth'

by Thomas Berry

enjoyed Abe, honestly

Magnus
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA
6 posted 2004-11-29 06:48 PM


Hard to argue reality, isn't it...and yes,
we are all related....in many ways...if only
we would live that life, huh?

miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
7 posted 2004-11-29 07:02 PM


Abe,
   So true... Yes, I agree we should be better custodians of the Earth.  My husband and son are studying some of the practices of native Americans.  I'll pass this on to them.  
   Thank you for taking the time to tell about your sources and explain the colors, etc.  Great write!

         miscellanea
  

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #34 » Mitakuye Oyasin

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary