Thanksgiving; my favorite time of year
Greetings all Souls. Blessings of light, love and peace I send to you all. I have been struggling with writing lately, so I take a different route with this piece. I want to share something very dear to me (I claim this not as my own at all. It is not my heritage or culture, but I do love it so). November brings us a month where we share gifts of thanks for so many things. A few blogs ago, I shared a version of this which I made my own. I want to share the original with all who are willing to read.
This, the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, is something I first read in Robin Wall Kimmerer's book, Braiding Sweetgrass. It is beautiful. It is a way of giving thanks for our natural world and all things in it. Something, I believe that we as a first world nation, have forgotten. The diversity this earth provides us with is something which can never say thank you for enough. The Great Spirit, Source or Creator, has bestowed upon us all a cornucopia of wonder and plenty. So much for all of humanity to be thankful for. I encourage you all to read the book I have mentioned and sit with her words.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy comprises the six indigenous nations of the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora. Nations where I grew up and learned much about. Nations we were taught to respect and admire for their resilience and dedication to the natural world. Children in these Nations learn that, according to Native American tradition, that people everywhere are embraced as family. Again, another thing we have lost along the way as the world continues to get faster, louder, more mechanized and more technological. We've lost our connection to not only the earth, but to our brothers and sisters all over this planet.
Enough of my rambling and please enjoy the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address (this version is the Mohawk version as published in 1993 and provided courtesy of the Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project.) I claim none of this as my own (except the photographs) and only share it to honor a people, culture and way of life I deeply respect and revere and wish we could return to.
"Greetings to the Natural World
The Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all 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 happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one
The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use 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 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 beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. 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 to 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 us 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 Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. 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.
Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the 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 together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.
Now our minds are one.
The Creator
Now we 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 this 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.
Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one."
Thank you for reading and allowing this to become part of your mind and personal history. I hope it has touched you and resonated as it has with me.
Om Mani Padme Hum. I send blessings to you all. May Lung-ta, the Wind Horse, carry them, swiftly, to you and to all sentient beings throughout this earth. May you take a moment to touch trees and truly know them, place your hands in our sacred waters, touch that water to your face and ask those waters to heal you, feel the wind in your hair and be thankful for the breath it gives and place your toes into the soil and give thanks for the plants it produces which nourish and ground us.
"Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time."
Namaste, friends.
