Speaking of Spirit

"Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence." -- Christal Quintasket - Salish The elders of the indigenous nations have been telling the world for hundreds of years that there would be a time when their wisdom would be needed. This time would come after many years of people ignoring and/or silencing the wise women and men (shamans, medicine people, gurus, prophets, lamas, grandmothers, grandfathers and all other spiritual people) around the world, who warned that not honoring Mother Earth would lead to dire results. Now, the elders are coming together in venues large and small across all the continents. They are sharing their wisdom; sharing their rituals and sharing their culture. For many indigenous people, this is the fulfillment of prophecy that told how the Native People would save Mother Earth as well as the four-legged, finned, winged and crawling ones.  Once, I w...

Photo credit: (c) 2011 Linda M. Rhinehart Neas Has this ever happened to you?  I have been sitting here for an hour trying to come up with something that will have meaning, something that will resonate with my readers, something that will bring inspiration, enlightenment or simply affirmation.  Nothing!   My mind is foggy. There is so much flying around in my head - responsibilities, lesson plans due, bills, concern about family members.  I can't see anything in the vast halls of my accumulation of knowledge. I am getting frustrated, and I know that frustration will produce brain-cramps that will further the problem. So...I am off to do other things - shower, dress, eat, anything to occupy my foggy mind. ~~~~ Well, doing other things did aid me in finding something to share. As I was wandering around the house, I began thinking about what others did to become inspired. From several different faith paths, I remembered that the holy people would...

Photo Credit: Creative Commons via Bing "Our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and take nothing for granted - folks who work hard for what they have, then reach back and help others after them." ~ Michelle Obama This weekend, we celebrated the life of one of the elders of our community. What a beautiful celebration it was! People from near and far, who knew and loved our neighbor and friend, Les Thomas, came to share stories filled with joy, love, compassion, and wisdom. Les was full of wisdom, but not the kind many think of - the old sage sitting with followers thirsting for a drop of insight. No, his was the wisdom of a life well lived, full of humility and compassion. This dear man left us a legacy far greater than all the riches of the world. He left us with examples, many of which we shared at his memorial, of how to serve others; thereby, making the world a much better place.  As I said, Les was humble. He didn't go around tell...

" Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. " (From Story of Life - Author Unknown) As we move through life, we are given choices.  These choices create who and what we are.  Sometimes, we make choices that send us in a direction that isn't healthy for mind, body and/or spirit.  That is when people come into our ...