Worry

I do believe this is an appropriate time to post this "teaching" of the concept of "WORRY". As this New Year is upon us, many people make the so called, "New Years Resolutions". Yet within a few days or weeks thay have been forgotten. Without perseverance and inter-strength they are destined to fail as soon as the thought entered your mind or the words were spoken.

I ask you to say to yourself upon waking this New Years' day, "I will not WORRY about anything today". Consciously hold this thought throughout the day, when concerns manifest themselves enter your everyday life. Say this to yourself everyday of your life until it becomes an automatic part of your Being, a habit.

White Crow December 2008

Worry

The word itself is an odd word to speak, just speaking it complicates the mouth. Try saying it, slowly, concentrate on the movements required just to speak this word.

Worry, seem to be an ever present part of the Human Condition.

Worrying, I have found, occupies most peoples' minds on a daily basis. They worry about money, the biggest concern for most, worry about health, your family and friends, the mortgage, whether someone likes or loves you, the wellbeing of the children, business, school, the list seemd to be endless.

What if I tell you, "YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING".

A concept from the Ancestors and taught to me as a boy. Would you believe I have never worried about anything in my many years? I know there will be doubters out there, let me tell you a Story.

Should a situation or a person cause you to be concerned or worry. Your first reaction, seems to be , is to worry about it. THIS IS TRULY NOT NECESSARY.

First of all THINK ABOUT IT, honestly, look deep within yourself. Ask yourself, what can I DO, MYSELF, to change this situation to make it go away or no longer be a concern. Should you find in your mind, NOTHING YOU, YOURSELF, can do to change the problem or situation to make it go away, FORGET ABOUT IT, what ever it is, it is COMPLETELY OUT of YOUR CONTROL, it is going to occur. OR, you could WORRY about it. Worrying is not a healthy thing, Physically, Mentally or Spiritually.

I have found when people get to worrying about something, in their minds, this problem grows bigger and bigger, real or imagined, the more time they spend worrying about something that is completely out of your control it grows greater, in your minds.

So, if there is nothing YOU can do to improve the situation, JUST LET IT GO, FORGET ABOUT IT, all things work themselves out over time. You will find when you worry and in your mind it becomes greater, when this problem manifests itself in your life, it is generally NOT as great a problem as you may have thought it would be, because worrying enlarges problems in your mind.

Worry, what a destructive mind set.

WORRY, WHY?

Think about!

White Crow September 1977

Getting a Life

A Grandfather Story of the Onondaga Nation - A very long time ago, when Humans could speak with the Animals -

An Onondaga boy, Young Wolf, was innocent in the ways of Life. His Father concerned about his young Son because Young Wolf seemed to perfer play and dance over learning the skills of hunting. Young Wolfs' Father was one of the Great Hunters among the Onondaga. He told Young Wolf that one day he would have to get a Life; otherwise Life would get him. Puzzled, Young Wolf set out to discover the meaning of his Fathers' words: "Get a Life, or Life will get you." These words rang in his ears until he knew that he would have to find the answer.

Soon his Father planned to be away for several days on a hunting trip. It was near the Full Moon of the Autumn, when the Leaves were coming down and Winter was near. Young Wolf heard of someone called Wise Old Woman who lived in another Village. He heard his Mother say that she had Special Powers and knew about everything. Being only seven, Young Wolf could not make the long trip to the other Village. He appealed to his Uncle, who traveled frequently to the Village of Wise Old Woman. He asked his Uncle what his Fathers' words meant. The Uncle knew he would not be able to explain it in a way that Young Wolf could understand, but he did not want to disappoint the Boy. The Uncle said, "I think it means for you to do something that would be special in Life."

Young Wolf knew that the Animals would always be truthful to him. They had been his Friends for all his seven years of Life. He wondered, though: was dancing the Raccoon Dance not something meaningful in Life? It was certainly meaningful to him. He asked his Uncle to take some Sacred Tobacco to Wise Old Woman and ask her that question. The Uncle was thinking about seeing her anyway, because he was ready to find a Wife, and he needed some Sacred Tobacco. A deal was struck, and Young Wolf went to get some Sacred Tobacco.

Young Wolf went to see his Friend Raccoon. They would play chase and he learned much from Raccoon about hiding and climbing Trees. "Raccoon, can you tell me how to get a Life?" Young Wolf asked Raccoon as they were playing chase. Raccoon seemed puzzled, but responded, "Life is about playing and sneaking food." Somehow, Young Wolf did not think it was the same for him.

Next he saw Squirrel, and asked him the same question. Squirrel thought for a minute and said, "Oh that is easy. It is hiding Acorns and other Nuts and Seeds so you can find them whem it gets cold and Snow is on the Ground." Again, Young Wolf did not think that this applied to his Life, although he hid Acorns in the Ground as taught by Squirrel, then dug them up for his Mother when Snow hid the Ground.

Rabbit was hopping through the Laurel patch when he heard a familiar voice. "Rabbit, I have a question for you," shouted Young Wolf. Rabbit really liked questions, so he stopped to talk with his Friend and listen to his question. Rabbit answered, "Well, for you as a Human, it would mean to learn to hunt the Animals, but of course, not little defensive Rabbits!" They both pondered, then looked at each other and said in unison, "Nope, that is not you."

Once again, Young Wolf continued down the trail looking for the answer to the question before his Father returned from the hunting trip.

Young Wolf saw Red Feather, a Friend who was about twelve years old, and asked him, "What are you doing?" Red Feather said he was making a strong Bow so he could hunt Rabbit. He wanted to please his Father by being a Hunter. Young Wolf already knew that was not the answer, so he continued his search. Overhead, Eagle was soaring in the Sky. Once Eagle had saved Young Wolfs' Life when he wandered away from his Mother in the Planting Field. Eagle saw him near a Cliff and swooped down to save him from falling off a Cliff. Now, Eagle swooped down to see his Friend Young Wolf, who was sitting on a stump with a sad face. "What is wrong?" said Eagle. Young Wolf explained his search for an answer to the question. Eagle said the answer was to be responsible, learn to plant food, and be with his Family always. Young Wolf thought that was a really good answer, but he still was not sure it was the answer for him.

As he continued his trip home he saw Worm Digger, who always worked in the Planting Fields hoeing and planting. Maybe she would know, so he asked her the question, Worm Digger thought long and hard, then said, "The answer for me would be different than the answer for you. I believe it is for you to find that out for yourself." With that, Young Wolf headed home. He slept that night and waited for the next morning, when his Uncle would return from the other Village.

The next morning, Young Wolf went to the Ceremonial Grounds, where he Danced around and around. He had learned a new step from Rabbit and from Hawk that he wanted to try for himself. He practiced the Eaglr Dance, the Wolf Dance, and the Raccoon Dance. He could hear the Drums and the Rattles with the rustling of the Leaves blowing in the Wind and with the whispering of the Pine Trees. The sound of the Wind reminded him of the great Ceremonies where the Clans would come together. He saw himself as a Dancer, summoned by the Chief at the Grand Council. Suddenly Young Wolf saw his Uncel. He knew that he had the answer. The Uncle said he had seen Wise Old Woman, who said that the Uncle was not ready for a Wife. "What did she say about me getting a Life?" The Uncle said, "Oh, yeah, well, she said for you to just do well what you do, and you will get your own Life." Confused even more, YoungWolf waited for his Father to return from the hunting trip.

As the days' Sun touched the Mountains in the distance, Young Wolfs' Father came into the Village with two large Bucks. There was an excitement in the air. His Father came and sat down by his Son. Young Wolf started telling him about his visit with all the Animals and the new Dance steps he had learned. The Drumming started for the Ceremony of Giving Thanks for the Gift of Food, and his Father fell into a slumber. Young Wolf sang a Song he had learned and was sharing the new Dance with his Father when he saw that his Father was sound asleep, Young Wolf, not wanting to disturb his Father, lay in his Fathers' arms and fell asleep himself. Suddenly his Father awoke with excitement and said, "Young Wolf, In have had a Vision! I saw you Dancing some new dance steps like Eagle, Hawk, Wolf and Raccoon. You were singing a new Song as the Drumming played a new beat."

"The Chief summoned you to Dance at the Ceremony of Giving Thanks! I was so proud of you! Everyone came to see you, and we Feasted with the Deer." There was silence as Young Wolf hugged his Father and smiled, because he now knew how to get a Life for himself.

White Crow December 1949

Thoughts:
Each of us are different. Unique in your own way.
Each of us must seek out what we do best in Life. Not only what YOU do best, but what is MEANINGFUL, gives YOU the most SATISFACTION and JOY in YOUR LIFE.
When you live ANOTHERS' Dreams or Visions,
YOU HAVE NO DREAMS OR VISIONS OF YOUR OWN!

White Crow September 1958

Rule of Opposites

The Concept of the "Rule of Opposites"

It is believed to be more important for a person to look beyond SURFACE VALUE, such as right and wrong or good and bad, in order to seek what is TRUE.

In my Traditional Way, understanding of the Rule of Opposites facilitates the recognition of MEANING AND TRUTH, which provides a means of Walking a Path of Life, seeking Purpose and Direction in Life.

There are grave differences between an approch emphasizing THIS AND THAT and the approach emphasizing THIS OR THAT. It is the nature of the latter that can result in bad feeling, thoughts and actions.

I speak about the importance of INTENTION or ATTITUDE, and how this can make a difference in Life Experiences - the idea that "Attitude is Everything". In my Traditions, INTENTION is critical. It is considered to be as significant as, if not more important than, the act itself because in the Teachings of the Grandfathers, INTENT IS THE ACT ITSELF.

There is no such thing as keeping the Mountains and getting rid of the Valleys; they are one and the same, and THEY EXIST BECAUSE OF ONE ANOTHER.

The Nature of Opposites are, that both opposites are true. For every right, there is a wrong. The only TRUE DIFFERENCE between these positions lies in the unique PERSPECTIVE of the individual. One person looks at a situation and sees right, while another person looks at the same situation and sees wrong. However, both are TRUE; both persons are CORRECT in their perceptions. Right and wrong are not really opposite poles, but rather thay exist in a Circle, where one is the extension of the other, where one begins the other leaves off.

The question, "Who Am I"? Automatically implies the opposite question, "Who Am I Not"? Opposites are thus an inherent part of any given experience.

Because many people are not consciously aware of the existence of Opposites, they may make Choices that create disharmony. Conflict seems to be an ever-present part of the Human condition. My Traditional Way, the idea of conflict is in itself an ILLUSION. As the Grandfather puts it, "All is vibration or energy and what has the appearance of conflict is best understood as discord, energies seeking resolution in harmony."

All things are made up of energy. Thoughts and Feelings, are nothing more than energy. Through the Choices you make, your thoughts and feelings, and even your actions, take on a distinctive nature according to your perceptions of right and worng.

Feelings of Joy or Sadness, Opposites, are nothing more than energy of a particular magnitude. It is not until a Choice is made that the energies make up the feeling of joy or sadness and the tears that flow from either. In actuality these Opposite Feelings are ONE AND THE SAME, nothing more than energy that has been assigned a direction through Choice.

YOU CHOOSE the opposites that become the source of your "problems". You may not be aware that you often have more Choices available to you than you realize, you make Choices that may not prove to be useful or constructive. As your perceptions change, hindsight may reveal that a greater array of Choices were possible. The challenge is to achieve a greater range of Perception. It is never the Energies themselves that are the source of your problems, but rather, your understanding and use of these Energies.

The following is a commomly posed question that reflects ones' outlook on Life: "Is the glass half-empty or half-full?" This question suggests that the answer can be only one of two possibilities. However, the Rules of Opposites, as the Grandfather explained, poses a different question altogether: "Is the glass the right size?" After all, it might be too big or too small. This is just one example of the way in which you limit yourself through your perception of Choice.

1. Opposites are extensions of themselves, one opposite IMPLIES the other.
2. You choose your own Opposites where you are the TRUE SOURCE of the difficulty you experience.
3. Everything that happens in Life, happens because YOU ALLOW it to happen.
4. Everything serves a MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT function in your Life.
5. Asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS, instead of asking for the RIGHT ANSWERS, allows you to know the FUNCTION rather than the EFFECT of your Choice.
6. Questioning your assumptions allows you to recognize underlying MEANINGS AND TRUTHS and the relative VALUE of Choices made.
7. Understanding underlying TURTHS eliminate any need for DISCORD in your Life.
8. Through Choice of PERSPECTIVE and appropriate action, you are free to BALANCE yourself as you see fit.

The Rule of Opposites provides a reminder to clarify your assumptions by asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS rather than seeking the RIGHT ANSWERS.

When faced with a decision between the UNACCEPTABLE and the UNDESIRABLE, you may often focus on the Choice between what seems to be the "lesser of two evils". A change in perception may focus on a different question. Ask yourself, "Does this situation represent a deeper TRUTH or LESSON than I perceive right now"?

Rather than understanding the situation as a LIMITATION, you could be helped to see an OPPORTUNITY. Looking at DECISIONS with the Rule of Opposites, may lead to a better understanding of the question, the TRUE meaning of the SITUATION or EXPERIENCE. Being angry you may invest considerable energy in defending why someone made you upset. An alternate course of action would be to EXAMINE the energy of your DISCORD and to CLARIFY the UNDERLYING MEANING of your feelings. Question the FUNCTION rather than the EFFECT of the Choice to be angry.

In the Traditional Way of my People, everyone and everything is believed to posses Universal Purpose, each having a place in the Circle of Life. Because of this conception, it is important to seek the UNDERLYING MEANINGS of experiences rather than make SURFACE JUDGMENTS that may cloud your perceptions. As a Human Being, you possess the ABILITY TO REFLECT on your feelings, thoughts and actions. You are able to view circumstances from multiple frames of reference, you may sometimes fail to do so.

When you ask a question, you need to include in your focus both the OPPOSITE of that question and turn your focus to what is TRUE, rather than what is RIGHT or WRONG, GOOD or BAD. The question, "What did I say?" implies the opposite question, "What did I not say?" These are both equally important questions, and part of the same TRUTH. An alternate question is required to REVEAL the Choice that was made and the VALUE of the Choice. "How did I come to make this Choice?" or "What it means to me?" Are questions that seek to CLARIFY the UNDERLYING TRUTH more than the OUTCOME or CAUSE of a decision or action.

You are sometimes faced with a decision between your concept of right and wrong. This is a natural part of living. Every decision requires you to consider many complicated factors and carefully weigh your options. You may come in contact with people that will always "yes, but" you. For every positive statement or resolution, they have a "yes, but". They always have a reason not to do something or not to see something another way. They end up spending a lot of time and energy being UNPRODUCTIVE. It is important to remender, in their defense, THAT CHANGE CAN BE VERY FRIGHTENING FOR ALL OF US.

Opposites, you choose.

White Crow May 1948

Gathering

Squirrel Teaching -

Squirrel is the Spirit of Gathering.

We as Human Beings are great Gatherers. This is a Lesson in what we Gather, material things and people in our Lives.

Squirrel Teaches us the importance of planning ahead for the Winter, here symbolizing times of turmoil in our lives, when the Trees will be bare and the Nuts will be long gone. He Teaches us to always be prepared, and to always have plenty to share with others if need be. Squirrel Teaches us the way of burying a special seed now, and watching it grow into a beautiful Tree that will protect and provide for others in the future. He also offers us a Lesson as well, and that is not to Gather too many things so it becomes cumbersome, impractical or harmful.

Sometimes, it is important for us to lighten our load if we have Gathered too many things or people that do not meet our needs, or relationships that are hurtful. As Squirrel knows, there is a certain Balance that must be struck in the process of Gathering, in which we are prepared and fulfilled, but not overloaded or over-whelmed. Not only Things also People can Over-whelm us, Physically, Mentally and Spiritually.

Squirrel has a special hollow in a Tree where he stores all of his Gathered Nuts. This special place represents an untroubled Heart, Mind and Spirit, in which to store the right amount of Wisdom and Caring.

Sometimes, opening-up to the Universe requires that we let go of the things and people which weigh us down and disrupt our movements or Life. Sometimes, if our hands are closed, or if they are completely full, we have to Choose to drop something in order to open them. And other times, we just have to open our hands in order to receive what the Circle of Life has to give.

The process of Living always involves something to Learn, something to experience, something to understand. Life Lessons. There will be both GOOD experiences and BAD ones, depending on individual interpretation. There are people we Gather around us who are helpful, and there are those who are harmful to us.

What we take away from each experience, each encounter, veries from situation to situation, time to time, and is simply a matter of perspective and Choice.Unfortunately we sometimes get so caught up in troubling experiences, destructive thoughts and feelings that we are unable to experience the fulfilling ones. In a sense, we do not allow ourselves to experience the good ones and to open up until we are ready, until we decide that whatever burdens us, or carrying, is no longer worth carrying.

Remember, as Squirrel, GATHER ABOUT YOU WHAT IS NEEDED, be it Things or People.

Gathering to much may become a BURDEN, let go of the EXCESS.

Gathering, necessities or burdens, your Choice.

White Crow Febuary 1949

Onguehowe (Witch) and Rabbit

In the Time before the Grandfathers, a long time ago - no one really knows how long it was - Rabbit was a Brave and Fearless Warrior. Rabbit was befriended by Onguehowe. Onguehowe and Rabbit spent much time together sharing and talking. The two were very close.

One day Onguehowe and Rabbit were walking along and they sat down on the Trail to rest. Rabbit said, "I'm thirsty." Onguehowe picked up a Leaf, blew on it, and then handed Rabbit a gourd of Water. Rabbit drank the Water but didn't say anything. Then Rabbit said, "I'm hungry." Onguehowe picked up a Stone and blew on it and changed it to a Turnip. She gave the Turnip to Rabbit to eat. Rabbit tasted it and then ate the Turnip with relish. But still Rabbit didn't say anything.

The two continued along the Trail, which led into the Mountains. Near the top, Rabbit tripped and fell and rolled almost to the bottom. Rabbit was in very sad condition when Onguehowe got to him. She used her Magic on Rabbit to heal his great pain and mend his broken bones. Rabbit didn't say anything.

Several days later Onguehowe went searching for her friend. She searched high and low but Rabbit was nowhere to be found.

Finally, Onguehowe gave up. She met Rabbit quite by accident one day. "Rabbit, why are you hiding and avoiding me?" Onguehowe asked.

"Because I am afraid of you. I am afraid of your Magic," answered Rabbit, cowering. "Leave me alone!"

"I see," said Onguehowe. "I have used my Magical Power on your behalf and now you turn on me and refuse my friendship."

"I want nothing more to do with you and your Powers," Rabbit contered. Rabbit did not even see the Tears his words were bringing to Onguehowes' eyes. "I hope we never meet and that I never see you again," Rabbit continued.

"Rabbit," Onguehowe said, "we once were great friends and companions, but no more. It is within my Power to destroy you, but because of the past and the friendship we have shared together I will not do this.But from this day forward I lay a curse on you and your Tribe. From now on, you will call your Fears and your Fears will come to you. Be on your way, for the sweet Medicine that bound us together as friends is broken."

Now Rabbit is the Fear Caller. He goes out and shouts, "Eagle, I am so afraid of you." If Eagle doesn't hear him, Rabbit calls louder, "EAGLE, STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Eagle now hearing Rabbit, comes and eats him. Rabbit calls Bobcat, Wolf, Fox and even Snake until they come.

As this Story shows, People are so afraid of tragedy, illness, disaster and being taken, that they call those very Fears to them. This Teaches them Lessons, yet not necessarily Learned Lessons. The idea here is: what you resist will persist! What you Fear most is what you will become.

Rabbit is symbolically FEAR. As the Grandfather told me, you will meet people that act or react, first out of Fear, not looking to other Choices they may have. They are Rabbit Medicine People. You will come to know them, when you meet them along your Life Path.

FEAR!

White Crow June 1944

Status of Man in todays Society

I can write of things that happened in my World as a Child, the Lessons taught, the Lessons learned, and they can TRULY relate to the Society of today. The same turmoil of the World was experiencing in the 1930's and 1940's, the years of my Childhood, has not changed, only, in the FACT that the same conditions remain.

As my Stories, my Concepts, my Perceptions unfold for you, the Concepts taught by the Ancestors, THIS IS MY STORY, take from it that which WORKS for you, discard the rest. CHOICES.
As a Boy, we were at War, the most HORRIFIC, most Inhumane act a Human Being can in-flick upon another Human Being, this I have experienced as a young Man. As I try to understand the Human Condition of Society today I alway call upon the Teachings, as a Boy, of the Ancestors. We all have to look to the Old Ways when the World was a much simpler place to Live. I know we can never "go back", Physically, yet we NEED to UNDERSTAND and bring forth the Perspectives and Wisdom of the Ancestors in order to SURVIVE EACH OTHER.

White Crow December 2008

Status of Man in todays Society

Nature and Natural - Would you agree, they are Synonymous?

According to Mr. Webster:
NATURAL - Existing in or produced by NATURE, free from pretension or artificial.
NATURE - The physical World and its' phenomena. The World of NATURAL living things.

Man, us Human Beings are no longer connected with Nature, we are the only Species on Earth that is UN-NATURAL.

You should never loose that CONNECTION. Do not ever loose your Awe of the Natural World. Yet Man has become as A VIRUS ON THIS EARTH.

The Physical Being is a very fragile Entity. Organisms so minute, unseen by the Human eye, causes illnesses, even unto death. We Humans are such here on this Earth, should you look at the Earth in its' entirity, we are but minute organisums also. Like a Virus that attacks us Humans, WE have caused the illnesess of Earth and could well be, even unto its' DEATH.

White Crow From the Teachings from age 6 to age 16.

What is Silence?

Ask the Grandfathers: "What is Silence?"

They would answer: "It is a Great Mystery! The Silence is the Creators' Voice!"

If you ask: "What are the fruits of Silence?"

They would answer: "They are Honor, self-control, Truth, true courage, endurance, patience, dignity, and reverence. Silence is the basis of Character."

In the time of the Grandfathers there was Pride in a singular humility. Spiritual arrogance was foreign to their nature and Teachings. No one ever claimed that the Power of articulate speech was proof of superiority, IT IS A GIFT. They believed profoundly in Silence - the sign of a perfect equilibrium. Silence is the absolute Balance of Body, Mind and Spirit.

The man who preserves his Selfhood ever calm and unbroken by the Storms of Existence - not a leaf astir on a Tree; not a ripple upon the surface of a shinning Pool - his IS the ideal attitude and conduct of LIFE.

White Crow January 1951

Spirituality of the Grandfathers

The Grandfathers attitude toward the Eternal, the Creator, an omnipresence, that surrounds and embraces us, was as simple as it was exalted. To them it is the Supreme Conception, bringing with it the fullest massage of Joy and Satisfaction possible in this Life.

Religion, as it is known today, is better described, in the Time of the Grandfathers, as Individual Spitituality. Solitary Worship. It was not a collective body of People nor did we have one Man as the Leader or to talk to the Creator in ones' behalf.

The Grandfathers spoke directly to the Creator. They stood erect, did not bow down nor humble themselves before the Creator. The Creator is everywhere, in all things of this Universe. With this Concept, one would have to constantly be bowed if that was required by the Creator. There were no Temples or Shrines. It would be deemed sacrilege to build a House for the Creator who may be met face to face in the mysterious, shadowy paths of the Primeval Forest, on top of a Mountain or the depth of a Valley.

The Creator set no Value upon material things. There were no Offerings nor Sacrifices.

We believe that the Spirit pervades all Creation and that everything Possesses a Spirit, though not neceaasrily a Spirit Conscious of Itself. The Plants, the Water, the Animals, the Birds and all Beings that Crawl or Swim, each have an embodied Energy, and as such an object of Reverence.

The Creator is not a "God" battling Evil. The Good and the Bad things in Life are here to ensure Balance. One without the other, the Universe would be out of Balance, thus Chaos, the Circle of Life Broken. Without the Bad things in Life, how could you comprehend the Good?

None should, nor did, exhort or in any way meddle with the Spiritual expression or experience of another. The Worship of the Creator was and is Silent, Solitary and free from all Self-Seeking.

White Crow May 1945

Birth Prayer

The Birth Prayer -

In the Traditions of the People, at the first Dawn of a Childs' Birth, there is the Birth Prayer and Naming Ceremony. The Clan Mother of your Clan, the oldest Woman, performs this duty as Grandfather Sun crests the Eastern Horizon. The Clan Mother lifts the Child above her head, facing the Sun rise. Thus presenting the Child to the Ancestors and the Universe and giving the Child his or her Birth Name.

Due to Life Circumstance, I being thousands of miles away from my People, I performed this Cermoney for my Son.

The Birth Prayer for my Son -

CREATOR, hear my words, I Pray.
CREATOR, I ask you to look upon this Child. Protect him and bring Balance into his Life.
MOTHER EARTH, I will Teach him to Respect you as he grows. Wherever his Path will go, support and care for this Child.
GRANDFATHER SUN, shine upon this Child as he grows. Let him be strong in every way,
not only Physically but Mentally and Spiritually. Surround him with your warm Living Energy.
I know there will be cloudy days, shine through to this Child, keep him safe.
FOUR WINDS OF THE UNIVERSE, recognize this Child. Sometimes you will blow strong, sometimes gentle. Let this Child grow to know your Value and Weather the Storms.
WATER OF LIFE, he can not Live without you. I ask this Child never Thirst in any way.
FIRE, burn away the Obstacles of Life for this Child. Make the Way clear so the he will not Stumble in Walking a Path of Learning to Love and Respect all Life.
CREATOR, I will Teach this Child Honor and Respect. Let his Spirit shine in this Universe.
I THANK YOU CREATOR.

Within the Traditions, a Birth Name does not necessarily follow one throughout ones' Life.
My Birth Name was Po Quage (Shinning Lake).

Due to Natures' circumstance on the first Day of my Birth; I was born in the Moon of the Hard Cold (January), in the Mountains of New York State. When I was twelve, my Grandmother, the Clan Mother of the Bear Clan, told me the Story of the Birth Ceremony by her at the Dawning of my First day.

There was much Snow and Cold. While she stood on the Mountain looking out across a Valley that had a frozen Lake, the Sun appeared above the Eastern Mountain. As my Grandmother lifted me above her head to offer the Birth Prayer, the Sun's rays reflected off the frozen Lake and into her eyes, thus the Name Shinning Lake.

My Elders Name, White Crow. That is another Story.

White Crow November 1990

Have you ever seen Weasel Dance?

As I Post this Story I am sure many of the Female readers may become annoyed at its' concepts. Please remember this Story involved me as a Boy, thus giving it a perspective from the Male point of Perceiving. All Stories have the ability to change Gender of the Symbolic Characters within the Story. Should a young Girl be curious and have the same Questions, as I did as a Boy, she would have been referred to a Female to interrupt the Symbolism, thus changing it to the Female Understandings and Concepts.

This is a Concept, a Teaching passed down from Generation to Generation, ever evolving, take from it that which WORKS FOR YOU. Indiividual interruptions are yours to Question, Accept or Reject, the CHOISE IS YOURS.

I Pray this Story, this Teaching, becomes a part of your Life Story and Perspective.


White Crow November 2008


Have You Ever Seen Weasel Dance?


Crossing the Mountains on a warn Spring Day in the Calendar year 1948, my years are twelve. I was heading for a Beaver Pond in a small Valley to swim. As I step from the cover of the Trees onto the open Meadow, a flash of white catches my eye. I pause to investigate, but I only see a few Rabbits off to the side nibbling the Grasses.


As I looked harder, there it was once again, the flash of white. All of the Rabbits lifted their heads for a moment then went back to their nibbling. Then I noticed one Rabbit was not eating, but was very intensely occupied with the spot where I had seen the white flash. To my surprise, Weasel jumped high above the Grasses, turned completely over in mid-air. This causing the white flash of her under belly. Then landing on her feet and laying flat in the Grasses, and that one Rabbit never taking its' eyes from Weasel.


Later that day, returning home, I asked my Grandmother, "Have you ever seen Weasel Dance?"


"No", my Grandmother said. "But I know of this from the Stories. The Creator has smiled upon you this day, allowing you to experience a new Lesson. But you must talk with The Grandfather about this Teaching."


A few days later The Grandfather came down from the Mountains for a visit.


"Grandfather, have you ever seen Weasel Dance?" I asked him.


The Grandfather sat quite for a long time, his face very serious. I know he was thinking very hard, but I know he would answer in his own time. Maybe right out, or it might be in Symbolic Words that I would have to think about and come to the Answer with my own Conclusions.


The Grandfathers' face relaxed, he reached out one of his big hands and placed it lightly upon my shoulder as I stood before him.


"Little Brother," began The Grandfather, "Yes, I have seen Weasel Dance, and I have heard the Stories and know of the Lessons the Creator knows you will need from this experience."


Another long pause as The Grandfather looked out across the Valley. I was thinking maybe I should not have asked. I could see The Grandfather was thinking very hard.


"Little Brother," The Grandfather began again, after the long pause. "Weasel is the Medicine of Woman and Rabbit is the Medicine of Man, that is, when Men are afraid. Some Men walk their entire Lives being afraid of this or that. They are Rabbit Medicine People, you will come to know them when you meet them. I am an Old Man, times are changing and this Lesson changes as the Generations change. In not to many Seasons you will be out there among the Todays' Men and you will need to Know the Lessons of this Generation of Man. It is best you ask your Friend Rabbit Man, he is of the todays' World."

I thanked The Grandfather and hoped Rabbit Man would come soon.

The Cycles of the Moon past twice before Rabbit Man returned to the Mountains. As always, I was pleased to see him, as was my Grandmother. Even though some times he made her blush and she would scurry off with a little giggle and the comment, "Men!"

Rabbit Man and I walked a short way from the house and sat under the Willow Trees by the Stream. It was always cooler there on warm days.

"So, my Young Friend, I have heard upon the Winds you have had an encounter with Woman Medicine," Rabbit Man said trying to contain out and out laughter.

"Rabbit Man, have you ever seen Weasel Dance?" I asked, trying not to be effected by his laughter.

"Come, let us walk and I will tell you the Lessons of Dancing Weasle," he said. "But first, tell me your Story of Weasel Dancing."

As we walked alomg a Deer Trail near the Stream, I told Rabbit Man the Story of what occurred when I saw Weasel Dance.

"Only one Rabbit watched Weasel, the others nibbled the Grass and would glance in her direction only once in a while. Weasel would run a short distance, jump, and make a complete turn in mid-air. Race back past Rabbit with her thin Tail waving so fast it was a blur. Springing up and down on her stiffened legs. Rolling in the Grass, tumbling, standing on her hind legs, bobbing her head from side to side and swaying her body. Running back and forth and the Rabbit, sitting there, following her with his eyes and turning his head to follow every movement of Weasel, often flashing her white under belly."

"I sat down with my back to a great Oak Tree to see what this funny little Weasel was up to. As I watched her actions I noticed each time Weasel ran past Rabbit she was getting closer and closer to him. I believe Rabbit was mesmerized by the antics of Weasel."

"Then Weasel reaced closer and past Rabbit, turned quickly and raced back. As Weasel reached Rabbit she lay flat on her back and grabbed Rabbit by the throat. Rabbit squealed, the other Rabbits scattered, as Rabbits do. Weasel and Rabbit rolled about for a few moments then Weasel ran off dragging Rabbit back to her Den to feed her young."

"Let us set here." said Rabbit Man, smiling at me and pointing to a large Pine Tree. Squirrel scampered up the Pine holding fast to the Pine Cone in its' mouth as we approached to relax beneath this great Tree.

"Have you told your Grandmother this Story?" he asked, still smiling.

"Yes, I have", I said. "She told me to ask The Grandfather for the Lessons about the Weasel Dance. And The Grandfather told me to ask you, because he was to old and that you are a Man of the Today World."

Rabbit Man laughed hard and I was not sure why. Was he laughing at the actions of Weasel, at the Grandfather for saying he was to old, or at me because I could not see that this was as silly Leasson?

Rabbit Man stopped laughing and with a smile looked at me and said. "Forgive me My Young Brother, I am not laughung at you. I laugh to think that The Grandfather thinks I am a Man of the World. I go to the city to work, but my Heart never leaves these Mountains. Now I will tell you of the Lessons of Danceing Weasel."

"As The Grandfather said, Weasel is Woman Medicine. When you grow older and move out into the World and come in contact with the Women of the World, do not become like Rabbit. Women will dance before you, play their Women Games and try to entice you and make you believe it is all your idea."

"As Weasel scurried about, jumping, flashing her white belly, doing flips, all the time getting closer and closer to Rabbit. Women do these things in their manner. Rabbit becoming entranced by the actions of Weasel, not expecting anything more than the amusement caused by Weasel. Then when least expected she has him by the throat and the games are over."

"Little Brother, I do not want you to think you should fear Women, they are not a Need, but a necessity in Life."

White Crow June 1948

The Stories

My Life Story at this point on my Life Path is that of the Mountains, without "worldly experience". Through my Teachings, regardless of where you are on your Life Path, regardless of the amount of Life Experience, basic Life Stories, concepts and perception evolve. I Gift to you a concept, a perception. As with all Stories, take from them that "works" for you, let the rest blow into the Wind.

The Stories

There are many Stories told within the Circle of Life. These Stories were used among my People to Teach the meanings of Our Life Circles. They were themselves a Way of Understanding among my People, and also between different Peoples. Because my People did not have a written language, these Stoies were memorized and passed down through countless Generations.

The Stories are about Animals and People. You will find these Stories about Bear, Mice, Wolf, Raccoon, Beaver and Elk.The Stories are almost always allegorical in form, and everything in them should be read Symbolically.

Every Story can be symbolically unfolded for you through your own Medicine, Reflections and Seekings. As you do this, you will Learn to see through the eyes of your Brothers and Sisters, and to Share their Perceptions.

Questioning is one of the most vital Paths to Understanding these Stories, which will Teach you of the Circle of Life. When you question, the Circle is turning for you. These Stories are magical Teachers in this way. They are Truths whose Petals can be unfolded by the Seeker without end.

These Stories were ment to be Told, not Written. In this way the Teachers were able to give inflections to particular words to reflect their Symbolic content. For example, the Word "Year" holds many meanings. It reflects the concept of as Cylce, which in turn Symbolizes the Circle of Life and the Universe. Similary, the Word "Way" can mean a simple Path or Direction, but it can also mean an entire Philosophy of Life, a Religion, or of Perceiving.

I want you, my Brothers and Sisters, to know that I too am still Learning about the Way of the Circle of Life. The Understanding of this Way is not found just through the Memorization of Stories and Symbols. It is a Living, Growing Thing that comes from Touching others Lives and Experiencing within each of the Four Great Directions. I Know my own Concepts and Perceptions will change and evolve as I venture out into the World.

The Way of the Circle of Life itself is a Living Thing. It is always Growing and Turning within the People. It is not to be Learned by studying Archaic Rituals or Traditions alone, but by Seeking Understanding and then allowing it to Grow within your own Heart, Mind and Spirit. Within the Life Circle there are many Ancient Stories Taught to me, but there are also new Stories that I have Learned from within my own Understandings and Experience. They are there as Teachings from which you can Learn, and which you can Build upon in your own Way. You too are a Life Circle and the Magic of your Perceivings will be unfolded.

When you have Heard these Stories they now become a part of your Awareness, or Understanding. Stories are like Paths, or Ways. Whenever you Hear a Story, it is as if you were Physically walking down a particular Path that it has created for you. Everything you Perceive upon this Path or around it becomes part of YOUR EXPERIENCE, bouth Individually and Collectively.

Particular Stories have within them many Mirrors which Reflect certain Realities that Exist in all of us. Each one of these Mirrors, when you look into it as a Whole Thing, can be a Teacher for you. Experience the Story, open your Mind, Heart and Spirit as you Walk down its' Path, so that you may look into its' Mirrors and See the many Images that are Reflected there for you.

The Story IS the Life Circle, you ARE the Story, you ARE the Life Circle. The Story causes the Life Circle to Turn as you Turn within it.

These are Lessons to Learn and Learned Lessons to Contemplate.

YOU ARE THE STORY!

White Crow October 1950

Purpose Part 3

I ask, Purpose, is it the simple Humor I expeienced as a Boy, or is it the beatings that gave me the strength to endure War?

I believe it is both, plus every Human Emotion or encounter, from the smallest to the most overwhelming has Purpose. I am sure somewhere along your Life Path you have encountered People or Situations that have Changed your Life. Should these be a Good or Bad experience, they were placed in your Life Path for Purpose. Lessons that are required for each of us to Survive, not only others but also ourselves.

Everything within the Universe has Purpose. In your Life, every thing you encounter, every person you encounter, every situation that happens along your Life Path has Purpose. You may not see or understand its' Purpose at the moment it occurs, yet with further deliberation, the answer WILL be there.

We will hear many "Waiting Stories" from people who are waiting for LIFE TO HAPPEN. Waiting to grow up, waiting to fine the perfect mate, waiting for the right job, waithing for the Children to grow up and waiting for retirement and so on. However, Life is ment to be LIVED, and every experience in Life is to be experienced fully as a Gift.

Every experience offers a unique opportunity to LEARN and GROW in ways that would not be possible without all of your experiences, both GOOD and BAD. Therefore, there is no real RIGHT or WRONG way of doing things, in that you may Learn something Valuable no matter how things are done.

As my Grandmother told me, "Don't ever try to be what you are not, but don't ever let anyone else tell you what you are either. Your Life, as it IS, has Purpose."

In the real sense, everyone and everything possesses VALUE, WORTH and PURPOSE by merely existing in the Circle of Life. Every experience also possesses VALUE, WORTH and PURPOSE by the very fact that they occurred and therefore IT IS a GIFT.

Purpose makes you WHO YOU ARE. Without all of the Good and Bad experiences in your Life you would be a completely different personality, even if you never completely understood the Purpose of these People, Events or Encounters along your Life Path.

All things have PURPOSE, you DO have PURPOSE.

White Crow November 2008

Purpose Part 2

The calendar year is 1953, my years are eighteen.

I lie in a Hospital bed at the U.S. Army Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. A bleak room, the view from the window, a brick wall about four feet away. I have many hours to contemplate my Life Cercumstance, dwelling on Whys and Purpose. Many Whys enter my thoughts throughout the long days and nights, being confined to this depressing little room. How had I made it through the Korean War, the horrific encounters, Human Beings inflicting the most inhumane things onto other Human Beings? Plus fourteen months as a prisoner of war, how and why did I survive this most horrific time on my Life Path?

As I have told you, all things have Purpose.

Actually this Paradox of Purpose goes back many years, starting in the calendar year 1939 through the year 1941. During this time in my Life my Father would beat me severely, because, I could not or would not conform to His Ways. As long as I can remember, I knew who I was, a proud and honorable Human Being of the Onondaga People, not a white Euro-American, that he and the State run School system tried to make me into. A phenomenon of the time, it was called, "assimilation", taking American Indian Children and placing them into State or Federal Schools, that they believed would take away their Indian-ness and the Children would somehow, miraculously be assimilated into the dominate White Society, no longer Indian.

Yet, neither my Father nor the School System could break this Spirit that I knew who I was. Some called it, stubborn. If I would just say the Words, it would all go away. Honor, this was stronger than any beating or anger toward me by the school teacher. Should you loose your Honor all is lost. I endured and I am sure it made me a better Human Being because of it.

At that time I truly did not understand the Purpose of the beatings nor the anger.

From my Hospital bed, contemplating my Life situation, the Hell of War and my time and torture as a POW. How and why was I the one who survived, when thousands did not.

The Purpose, as I see it, after much deliberation, the beatings as a Boy, gave to me, Strength, Perseverance and the ability to overcome and tolerate pain. This equipping me for what was to come later on my Life Path, War!

I know this may seem to be the extremes of Purpose, yet the Truth of it is, if what had not happened as a Child, would I be here today, a Proud Onondaga Indian? I do believe with all of my Being, these circumatances occured, these encounters, for the Purpose, SURVIVAL!

White Crow December 1953

Purpose Part 1.

In the Spring cycle of the calendar year 1943, my years are eight.

The Grandfather and I sat beneath the Apple Tree in my Grandmothers' yard, it was in full bloom, the air is filled with the aroma form its' sweet smelling blossoms. A warm breeze out of the South, welcomed, after a hard cold Winter. He was telling me the Teaching Stories, Purpose.

Before I tell you this Story I must give you an insight into what was happening around us.

My Grandmother had Chickens, ten Hens, a very large Red Leghorn Rooster, standing about eighteen inches and a very small Bantam Rooster, standing about six inches. The Bantam Rooster, for those who do not know, is a very colorful little bird and very spunky. You might say he "had attitude". When my Grandmother scattered corn out to feed the Chickens, this little Bantam Rooster would scoot sideways right up next to the big Red Leghorn Rooster and peck up the corn right where he was feeding. Now you know there was corn scattered all around a large area. This large Red Leghorn would be annoyed by the small Rooster getting up into his face, you might say, and eating, what I am sure, he concidered was his food. The Red Leghorn Rooster would side kick the little Bantam and he would go tumbling several feet. The Bantam would pick himself up, shake himself, smooth his feathers and then scooting back to where the larger Rooster was eating. This was repeated over and over, as long as there was corn to be eaten. I had watched this every day for the past two years that I came to live with my Grandmother. I saw it as very funny, at times giving me uncontrolled laughter because of the Bantams' very silly antics. I could never figure out the reason for this action by this silly little Bantam Rooster.

As The Grandfather and I were setting under the Apple Tree this scenario was going on with the Roosters. When there was a pause in the The Grandfathers' Story.

"Grandfather, you tell me everything has Purpose. What is the Purpose of the silly Bantam Rooster? He is too small to eat, just what is his Purpose?" I asked trying to contain my laughter.

The Grandfather looked down at me, amused at me trying hard to control my giggles. As always he had to think about it. He picked up his Pipe, filled it with Tobacco and lit it.

"Little Brother, as you know we are speaking about all things having Purpose," The Grandfather said. "The way I see it, this silly little Bantam Roosters' Purpose is to give you Humor."

I have to agree with The Grandfather, many times a simple answer for Purpose is all that is required, even when I could not understand the Bantam Roosters actions.

White Crow May 1943

Wisdom

It was a very hot August afternoon in the calendar year 1942, my years are seven.

The Grandfather and I sat in the shade of the Willow Trees that grew next to the stream running near my Grandmothers house. I had heard my Grandmother and The Grandfather often speak about "Wisdom." About People they said had Wisdom, yet in my eyes they did not look any different, nor speak any different, than most people I had met in my seven years. Many great events and Stories were experienced and relayed to me under those Willow Trees, but that is another Story.

When there was a pause in the Teaching Stories, both honoring the Silence, listening to the Voice of the Stream.

I asked The Grandfather, "What is Wisdom?"

The Grandfather thought for a long time, puffing on his Pipe. He never had a quick responce to my questions, he always thought before speaking. At times, when he thought for a long time, I thought he may not know the answer or that maybe I should not have asked the question.

"Little Brother," The Grandfather began. "People seem to have in their minds, "Wisdom" is something very profound, comes with age and much Life Experience. Let me tell you a Story."

"On a hot day, much like today, visualize, you are walking along and determine you need to rest, to get out of the Sun. You see just ahead a beautiful Oak Tree and its' shade looks cool and inviting. Before you sit down under the Tree, look, if there is Bird droppings on the ground, don't sit there!"

"THAT IS ALSO WISDOM."

I have come to know, 'Wisdom" does not have to be something, in your mind, is considered profound. Nor does many years or many Life experiences equate to "Wisdom". I have met along my Life Path many young People with little Life Experience that have "Wisdom" beyond their years. I have also met People in the middle of their Life Paths and ones near the end of their Life Paths that did not or could not make a decision nor communicate with "Wisdom".

"Wisdom" is not a physical thing. It is not words spoken due to being a great orator; they may be hollow words, yet may influence you or influence a whole People. "Wisdom" is not allocated nor Gifted to a few Human Beings, all who look within themselves have "Wisdom". This is from the Heart, a clear Mind and a strong Spirit. Look from within, question those who say they are passing on "Wisdom", should you not be able to FEEL these words with TRUST in your Heart and Mind, they are but words spoken into the Winds, deceptions.

I have found over my many years, "Wisdom" is not a complicated thing. It is simple Truth, "Wisdom" comes from the Spirit without expectation of reward, to guide, to help, a single Human Being or all of Humanity.

"Wisdom", a reflection, a reaction moving you Spiritually, causes your Mind to ponder and leaves a good feeling in your Heart.

"Wisdom", is it bird dropping on the ground or a profound statement?

"Wisdom", think about it, determine in your own Mind, Heart and Spirit.

WISDOM!

White Crow August 1942 Recorded Febuary 1997

Time

TIME -
Time, a concept of Man, thus it is not perfect.

Modern society is a slave to Time, some to the point, they worship Time, even in its' imperfect state.

In today's society, if it is twelve noon, you eat lunch. You consume food not because you are hungry, you eat because it is the lunch hour.

What do you think it would be like if you lived in a Timeless Dimension, if Time did not exist and therefore never had to worry about Time?

Time contributes to Memory, the Past and Expections, the Future - Two of the things in Life that can truly make you who you ARE and that also can Blind you, preventing you from being WHO YOU COULD BE.

When we cross over, when the Physical Body dies, you are released from the Grips of Time into the Timeless World of Spirit. In between two events, birth and death of the Physical Being, you live your Life, always limited at any given point in Time to what you are able to perceive from your current frame of reference. Remove the restraint of Time, and there would be no anxiety about Beginnings or about Goals or Outcomes. There would be no Fear of Death, or Endings.

The Grandfathers did not speculate about Life after Death of the Physical Being, nor concern themselves with Time as we know it in the Twenty First Centry.

As a Boy living in the Mountains with my Grandmother, we did not have a Clock nor a Calendar. We woke at first ligth, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. IT WAS NOT A CONCERN, was it six AM, seven AM, or eleven AM. We woke when we were rested. We ate when we were hungry, not because it was mid-day. We slept when we were tired. IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.

As the Seasons came around, we planted when the warn breezes came from the South. Was it by todays' Calendar, April, or was it May. As the Seasons past, the Plants grew, came to fruit, then the Season to Harvest. Was it September by todays' Calendar, or was it October? IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.

We did not Celebrate the New Year in January, January is in the middle of the Cold Season. The Concept of a New Year is when Mother Earth is renewing herself. By todays' Calendar, April or May.

Time as we know it today would have been incomprehensible to the Grandfathers of the past, as it was with my Grandmother.

TIME -
We borrow Time - We budget Time - We buy Time
We donate Time - We find Time - We give Time
We gain Time - We have Time - We Invest Time
We lose Time - We look for Time - We make Time
We manage Time - We plan Time - We save Time
We pray for Time - We spend Time - We Take Time
We search for Time - We use Time - We waste Time
We wait for Time - We watch Time.

When there is nothing more to do, then Time beomes a Burden, in the end,
WE KILL TIME!

Time, what a Concept!

White Crow March 2003

The Forked Tree

On a very cold night in November 1942, my Grandmother and The Grandfather, speaking to me about Life and the coming Lessons I would require to fulfill my own Life as I matured into manhood.

The Lesson, The Forked Tree

"There is a twin-ness about Man," began The Grandfather. "A twin-ness of his nature. And there have always existed the twin parts of The People. It is always the other Man who does not understand, or the other Man who is the one at fault. The other Man is represented by the Forked Tree. The duality of Man. It is forked, but both parts of this are one thing. The two forks look exactly the same. And each fork branches into many Leaves that look exactly the same. But the question is always, which reflection is which? Which one am I? Or am I both? It is a great Teaching, and this is why it Symbolizes the building of Your Life Circle."

"This twin part of myself is quite evident," The Grandfather continued. "I have found myself moved many times to do things that have become entangled in the Lives of others and have been misunderstood by them. I have never set out to hurt someone else intentionally, but I have sometimes brought pain to People anyway."

"Yes," my Grandmother agreed. "This is part of the Teaching. One half of you Loves, and the other half of you at times Hates. This is the Forked Medicine Tree of Man. The clever thing the Medicine has taught us here is this. One half of you must understand the other half or you will tear yourself apart. It is the same with the other half of any People who live together. One must understand the other, or they will destoy each other. But remember! Both halves must try to understand. Even within yourself, at times, it is hard to know which of the Forks is which. 'Now why did I do that?' One half of you asks the other half. You may do things quite often which you do not mean to do or say, sometimes to yourself and sometimes to others. But you would not kill yourself for these mistakes, would you? I am quite certain that you would not. Yet there are those who have done this, who have killed either themselves or others. These are Men who have not learned. An entire People can be like this. These People and Men are not Full, they are not Whole."

There was a long pause as the winter Fire crackled and flickered, each of us Honoring the Silence.

"These People had been taught by the Euro-Americans," The Grandfather went on to say. "Taught that Good and Evil existed as separate things. We have talked about these things, Evil was a new concept to our People. These People that are not Whole have these two concepts set apart. But they are not separate. These things are found in the same Forked Tree. If one half tries to split itself from the other half, the Tree will become crippled or die. These People try to split this Tree within their Law. But you can not split these things with Law. Rather than taking this Lacking Way, we must tie together the Paradoxes of the Twin Nature with the things of ONE UNIVERSE."

"There are many Forked Trees," my Grandmother said. "let us pretent for a moment they alternated, The first one will be called Good and the next Evil. But the question will still be the same as before. Which is which? They are perfect twins and look exactly the same. They are all twins."

"But haven't I seen and experienced Evil?" I commented, unsure of myself, not knowing who would reply to my question.

"No, Little Brother," The Grandfather said with concern in his voice. "There is no such thing as Good and Evil. This is only a tool used by the Euro-Americans to create fear among themselves. It is only the Man who searches for what he perceives as Good who will also discover things that he will perceive as Evil. If this Man then tries to dictate his own perception of what is Good to others, he will ultimately become an Evil Man himself. And now here is the next Paradox, which is the other Twin? The Man who dictates his own perception of what is Evil to others is also Evil. One is Mirrored into the other. Because in Truth they are one of the same Forked Tree, and are alway perceiving the Mirrored Image of themselves."

"The answer to this conflict is the Giving Way," my Grandmother added. "Whenever one Gives from his Heart, he also receives. Every Man has his Separate Way. And every Man IS a separate Way. But we all Dance within Brotherhood and in Giving. We, all of us, ARE the great Forked Tree. We must bind together all things of the Universe by the Give Away. The Medicine Power is within all People, and all of the Universe. The Creator has been generous in his Giving and has Taught us Understanding, so that we might also Give."

The Grandfather continues. "Now as you begin your Life Journey, your Quest, the Lessons within the Forked Tree, the Twin-ness, you will discover the Understanding within Your Life Circle. As you seek to discover WHO YOU ARE, you will also discover who you Brothers are, the Twin-ness, and what your position is within the Harmony of this World. When a Man seeks the Forked Tree, he ultimately seeks both of his own Identites."

"You will Learn from the Forked Tree, and your Teachings, that we are all one, the two sides of the Twin-ness, within the Circle of Life. You will also Learn of your Personal Medicine. And through this, you will learn much about yourself. Look at BOTH SIDES of the Medicine, ONE BALANCES THE OTHER."

YOU ARE THE FORKED TREE

White Crow November 1942

White Crow Speaks 2001

Universal Spirit - Interdependence

In the Time of the Grandfathers the perception was that the Spirit of the Universe resided in the Earth and all things of this Earth, including Human Beings. With this perception the Grandfathers remained equally open to all possibilities that might manfest itself through the Natural World.

The Cycles of Nature and Life, Human behavior, Animal behavior, Plant growth, Morals and Religious expression. In this inclisive view, Universal Spirit, Human Beings are related and interdepentent with Animals, Plants and everything that exists. Thus, it becomes in evey sense abnormal to view the World as dead matter, private property or commercial resources.

The roots of this Native Sense ran much deeper than the modern American in that all of Nature, not only Human Beings, HAVE RIGHTS. This is essential for the foundations of Native Culture AND those of modern society.

Twenty first century Society believe they have removed themselves from Nature, believing they are above it or superior to it. Yet, Universal Truths, we are not above Natures Laws.

MANKIND IS NATURE!

Doing and Being

The words of my Grandmother - In the moon of the Hard Cold (January) 1942

"You will find your toughest job is simply, TO BE."

Like the Sun and the Breeze
The Earth and the Trees
A Raccoon's toughest job
Is simply TO BE.

There are Stories from the time of the Grandfathers, they are Lessons in "Doing" and "Being".

The Stories are about Raccoon and Beaver -

In Human terms, Raccoon is a happy-go-lucky fellow with alot of mischife mixed in. Raccoon is not a "Do'er", he is a "Be'er".
Raccoon, he will make his home in a hollow of a tree, under a rock or even down your chimney, it is not a concerned.
Where as Beaver, he builds his dam and home, forever working to maintain this dam to protect his home in the pond created by the dam.

As an adult, you become as Beaver, he is a "Do'er". You learn of all the responsibilities required of you to live in the "Real World". You seek to develop a "True Purpose" in Life, setting aside the carefree wonder that Raccoon has for the World in order to construct your personal "Dams", wherein you seek purpose.
You may accept somewhere along the way the idea that you are only as worthwhile as the things you accomplish: the larger the Dam, the better the person; the more work that has been done, the greater the reward, be it security, status, power, wealth, love or anything you set your mind to.

Still, one simple truth remains:

WE ARE NOT HUMAN DOINGS
WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS

There is the unspoken danger in sacrifing your BEING for the sake of DOING.

Sometimes, "Doing" gives you a reason to avoid "Being", to avoid your own inner experience. Your challenge is to decide what is best for you and where you can strike a Balance between the two by relating what you are "Doing" to your inner experience, your "Being", and vice versa.

How often have your heard either yourself or someone else saying, "I wish I had the Time....?" and yet you do not MAKE the Time. You do not take the time to Honor the relationship between "Being" and "Doing", and to actively Learn from it.

Unfortunately, assuming that Being and Doing are one and the same, often proves harmful. Focusing on only one, in the belief that there is no distinction between the two, can lead to disharmony and a feeling of emptiness or disconnectedness.

There is a Euro-American saying - "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."
The Grandfathers saying - "If at first you don't think, and think again, don't bother trying".

BEING SAYS - It is enough just TO BE; our pourpose in Life is to develop the INNER SELF.
DOING SAYS - Be active; work hard, apply yourself fully and your efforts MAY be rewarded.

WALKING IN HARMONY AND BALANCE MEANS EXPERIENCING BOTH, EQUALLY!

Be'er or Do'er????
Find your Balance within each.

White Crow April 1958

The Day of the Bear

In the Summer of the year 1941, begins the Story of the Day of the Bear, my years are six.
In the Summer of the year 1989, completes this Story, my years are fifty four.

The pink Skies at the Dawning, before Grandfather Sun gives his warmth to the Earth.
The air, frest and cool.
The Aroma of damp decaying Leaves and Pine, mingle.
Birds awaken with song to clain territory and preclaim the dawning of a new Day.

The Night spent.
I had slept on a bed of Pine branches, my cover, dry Leaves to ward off the damp night air of the Mountains.
The cold Water of a Mountain Stream my bath, awakening and stimulating.
Wild Blackberries and balls of Corn meal with Maple Sugar and Honey, my breakfast.

A Day to wander and explore high in the Mountains, free from all of the hate and rejections people cause because of differences.
Upward I climb, following Animal Trails.
Mid-morning, the Sun warm on my naked back.
The freedom, the pleasure, the excitement, new sights to see, vistas across Valleys man has not seen from the time of the coming of the Europeans.
The Trail grows steep and curves around a giant Granite Bolder.
As I reach the bend in the Trail, Black Bear approaches on the same Trail.

We pause, Black Bear stands on his hind legs, a head and shoulder taller than me.
We look at each other.
At that moment, I feel no fear, only see the beauty of this magnificent great Animal, my Brother.
Time seems to have stood still, yet it must have been only moments.
Bear lowers himself, walkes slowly off the Trail and down the Mountain.
Only then, fear comes to me in a rush.
My mind racing, knowing what could have happened.
One swipe with his mighty Paw may have caused much damage, even to my death.
I felt weak and sat with my back to the giant Granite Bolder.
As if giant arms surrounded me, the Energy of the Great Rock gave to me strength.
Calming myself and contemplating the encounter.
In time I came to know the joy and excitement of the overwhelming encounter.
Bear had no reason to fear me, I posed no threat as a Boy of six years.

Many Seasons have past, my Hair no longer dark and long.
Now it is as the Winter Snow.
I seek a Vision, on a Vision Quest.

No longer in the cool green Eastern Mountains of my youth, now in the hot arid Desert Mountains of the West.
Fasting, Praying, Dreaming, in search of a Vision.

The Vision comes.

Once again I am the naked Boy in the green Mountains of my youth.
Once again I see, I smell, I feel, I hear, the Vision has taken me back, back to the Day of the Bear.
Once again, the encounter.
Bear stands, we look at each other, he speakes.
"Have no fear Little Brother, pass, I search for Blackberries in the Valley below.

I feel in my Heart and Spirit, My Brother Black Bear, would have spoken such, if the Creator had given him the Power to Speak.

White Crow October 1989

Hawk and Eagle Teaching

The Teachings from Hawk and Eagle, let your mind soar.

Opening up to all your Relations includes learning the importance of observing and listening to Lessons offered by your Brothers and Sisters of the Animal World. Therein lies powerful medicine that may guide you on your Life-journey. One such Lesson comes from considering the difference between Hawk and Eagle.

When hunting, Hawk sees Mouse.... and dives directly for it.
When hunting, Eagle sees the whole pattern.... and dives for the movemant, learning only later that it is Mouse.

Observing the difference between Hawk and Eagle Teaches you the difference between Specifics and Wholeness.
All things are connected, and all things are constantly moving and changing. Wholeness shows you the motion of all things, and Specifics give you a point of reference from which to view all things by reminding you of relation or relationship between one thing and another.
Through Eagle, you are reminded of the great expance of the Universe and its' circular motion of the interconnectedness and interdependence, remembering always to keep the larger picture in view as you move through Life.
Through Hawk, you are reminded of the need to remember where you are in relation to everything else, focusing neither completely on yourself, nor on everything else, but rather, recognizing the relationship that exists and Honoring that relationship at all times.
To beable to draw upon the Power of your Winged Brothers and Sisters is to draw upon the Power of perspective in your relationship to all things. With Wisdom, you seek to understand your place in the Universe and what it is that you have to share. You seek to walk in step with the Universe and its eternal rhythms, Balance. You seek to feel your relationship with Creation, and to contribute to the Greater Circle in whatever way you can. And as you develop your own INNER VISION, you are able to soar upon the wings of both, SPECIFICS and WHOLENESS, using your capacity for perspective to deepen clarity of Thought and Action in your Life.
To soar upon the Wings of both Hawk and Eagle, THAT IS TRUE PRESENCE OF MIND.
Let you Heart, Mind and Spirit Soar!

White Crow July 1977

White Crow Speaks 1998

Words

You could hear or read all of the words of all the languages of this Earth, and NOT come to know the truths of ones' Innermost Feelings. What is Truly Felt, may not necessarily be head within the words spoken.

I Gift to you Words, your interpretation of these Words will be YOUR unique interpretation, this I realize. My Teachings were in the form of much Symbolism, my Words to you may take on this form, more out of habit than tying to confuse or mislead. All Words should not be accepted literally, they should only be accepted as MY WAY of expression.

Every Word is perceived differently by each individual. All depending upon each Persons' Life Experience; Mind Set, your Childhood Teachings; Influences of Societies Law or Religious Infulence. We, each of us, are Unique in OUR WAY of understanding due to these Influences.

As you mature and grow, look at these Mind Set Impressions, Impressions put upon you from Birth. Another individuals concept, that in most cases you were not allowed to QUESTION nor DISPUTE. Discard those that no longer WORK FOR YOU. In doing this you must LOOK WITHIN YOURSELF and most of all be HONEST with yourself. People, I have come to know lie to themselves. The damage here is only to THE SELF.

Few Humans truly communicate with each other within the TRUTHS of their Innermost Spiritual Being, the TRUE SELF or BEING. Your Physical Self or Being is but a shell, allowing you to function in this Physical World, nothing more. I have found most Humans talk AT each other, not TOO each other. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!

Words of Opposites; Love and Hate, Likes and Dislikes, all are individually felt by degree . I love or hate, or I love or hate very much. What is the truth of the Inner Feeling, by what Degree of Emotion? Only YOUR concept of these emotions can be your guide, without truly knowing MY concept. The strengths of emotions are Individual. In truth, what ever anyone may speak can never be completely understood by the person those Words are spoken too.

If you can not FEEL the Words, they are but words spoken into the air. Your brain registers the Words, but the truth of these Words are still only YOUR perception. What is the Truth of the Inner Being or Emotion of the person speaking the Words? What is the Truth of the Inner Feelings of the person hearing the Words?

Words spoken can hurt or bring joy, depending upon YOUR interpretation. But did my Inner Self convey or intend them to hurt, or were they ment to bring joy? Words my cause fear or may cause your Spitit to Soar, but was that my intent in speaking the Words?

I have found most conversations to be lacking in the Truths of the Inner Self. When trying to reach out to another Human Being it becomes difficult when we only have Words by which to express ourselves. Misunderstandings, misinterpretations, influxes; strengths and weaknesses in the expression and some times Body Language, if not interpreted as meant by the speaker, may mislead.

How often have Words been spoken to you because the other person THOUGHT that is what THEY THOUGHT you wanted to hear? Where is the TRUTH in this kind of communication? Where is the Honor?

My Teachings have tought me to speak from the Heart, the Spirit, the Inner Being, and to maintain my Honor. I have never intentionally spoken Words to hurt or mislead another individual, yet due to Individual Perception and concepts, the Words were received not as I intended.

How often have you come to know People who speak Words that may influence you and at times a whole People? Then come to know their actions do not comply with these Words. Words of deception often influence, and may cause disruption within your life or the lives of all Humanity. This has within it a lesson to be learned, yet a difficult one.

Does this lesson leave you confused? Have not the Words expressed the turths of my Inner Being, my Heart, my Spirit? I fear they have not.

Why? Because I only have Words to express myself. Should you have the ability to KNOW my Mind, my Heart, my Spirit, my Inner most Feeling, ONLY THEN, could you know the turths of this Lesson. Only then coulld you know MY TRUTHS.

WORDS!

White Crow November 1998

White Crow Speaks 2001

We like to think we are independent as individuals and as People of different Cultures on Mother Earth, everything that happends to one of us happends to all of us. The Creator connected us all to elemental LIFE ENERGY itself. If you hurt another, you hurt yourself. You have learned that everything is your Brothers and Sisters. There is a reason why this is taught and why it is true. It comes from the Old Wisdom taught by the Grandfathers, who were from another dimension, another time. They understood these things, and you must understand them too,

TO SURVIVE EACH OTHER.

MAN IS HIS OWN WORST ENEMY

In sharing the Old Wisdom, you take a chance in sharing with others, because they have their own Story, so it is always good to say,

THIS IS MY STORY

Collectively, it is a Story that belongs to all of us, if we could go far enough back to be as one again.

EVERYONE IS HIS OWN STORY

White Crow November 2001

The Center is Your Spirit

The Center of Your Spirit, the ever-changing, ever-lasting connection with all that IS, all that moves and flows and breaths and flickers. You are ONE WITH ALL THAT IS, and all things are connected like the blood that unites ones' family.

You arise, emerging from formlessness and return once again to formlessness, boundless, an undivided relm of the Spirit - complete consciousness and forever emerging. You are your Spirit, you learn your Spirit, you become your Spirit, and once again you are your Spirit.

Your Spirit and your Mind are in a constant state of motion. They also interact with others in a never ending series of Energy exchange. You ARE Energy, no matter in what form you see yourself or others. Time gives you an abstract point of reference in which to locate yourself.

BUT SPIRIT KNOWS NOTHING OF TIME, ONLY GROWTH.

White Crow June 1995

Choice

Journey of Life, Choices
At birth you were Gifted with, Life, Spirit and Choice. Choice is what makes you Human. No other creature on this Earth has this Gift.

Your Choices have consequences, but a lack of Choice or a failure to make Choices can have consequences as well. When you are Thankful, it is important to be Truly Thankful for all the Choices you have in Life, so you can come full circle with all that Life has to offer. Here are some Truths about Choices to help you, regardless of where you are in your Journey or Path in Life. These are Gifts to me from my Grandmother as I grew as a Child.
**** You do have Choice. This is gifted to you as a Human Being with a Natural Will. Choice is a beautiful Gift that you often ignor when you are too busy Blaming others and Lamenting what you do not have.
****Truth is inside you, not just outside of you or somewhere to be found in another place. The Grandfathers would be the first to say that you have within you every Message and Truth that has ever existed. These Truths were known by your Ancestors, who are always connected to you. You Need to Choose to Listen and Understand.
****You can be your own best Friend or your own worst Enemy. The Choice is yours to make. You can Choose the acceptance of the Gifts of Life and Friends.
****The Choice of Words are only Words unless they express Feeling. Expression is a Tool for Hearing yourself, but Choosing to Listen is a Gift for Understanding. There is much to be Learned in Silence which is a Great Teacher.
****The best Lessons about Good and Bad Choices are shown by how you Value Choice. The True Lessons are about being a Helper to all Creation.
****The Answer is always there before you ask the Question, The Key is to know how to ask the Question to get the Real or True Answer to what you Choose.
****Too often you Choose or try so hard to be what you ARE NOT that you forget who YOU REALLY ARE,
**** Choosing to Search for something is not nearly so hard as Knowing what to do with it when you find it.
****The Past, Present and the Futrue are NOW. You have everything in your Grasp right now, in the Present, Choices.
****Your Imagination is your Freedom.
****Humility is your greatest Strength,
****The Worst thing about having so many Choices is having to Choose. The best thing about having Choice is the Choice to Choose.

Choices!

White Crow December 1945

The Flowering Tree

The Flowering Tree
The Going Within

The Circle of Life is the Universe. It is Birth, Life, Learning, Change and Death. This great Circle is the Lodge of our Bodies, our Minds, our Hearts and our Spirit. It is the Cycle of all things that exist. The Circle is our Way of Touching, and of Experiencing Harmony with every other thing around us. And for those who Seek Understanding. This Circle is the Flowering Tree.

Symbolically THE You and THE TREE reflect each other. Both have Roots, Grow and Flower. The Flowering is as you accomplish things in your Life, you Truly Bloom.

When we experience the Flowering Tree, we see the Lightning Flash within our Darkness. Then we Hear the Thunder within the illumination. One speaks quietly to us, and the other Sings to us of our Learning from within. Together they become one Song. This song they Sing is the Song of Life, the gentle going within Learning.
As Life Sings, this Song is Echoed by many other lives. These within Songs, the Grandfathers tell us, are the Songs of the many Reflections that Live within all of us.

You are, and all Creatures, are LIFE SONGS. Each time you make someone Happy or Feel Joy, they have Touched, YOUR LIFE SONG.

Within every Man and Woman there is also the Reflection of the Old Man and an Old Woman, THE WISDOM, a Little Boy and a Little Girl, THE INNOCENCE.
THE VOICES WITHIN
It seems there are times in each of our Lives when we are not in Balance with our Brothers and Sisters. We are unable to Communicate with Ourselves or with the World we Live in. And yet each one of us Knows of the Powerful Person who Lives within us, and who can settle any Problem, no matter what it is.

This Powerful Person within is your Spirit.

But we never really want to admit to anyone, or even to ourselves, that we actually have a Problem. So everyone of us Sneaks down many times to the River inside ourselves.

This River inside us is the Spirit of the Power of the Universe.

But when we go there to Hear the Powerful Person inside, we usually are afraid to Speak about it.
That is, until one day the Little Boy or Little Girl, THE INNOCENCE, within each of us Speaks to us about it. This Little Boy or Little Girl, our Innocence, begin to make themselves Known in our Minds.
"It is a very Strange Thing," the Child Speaks inside our own Hearts and Minds.
"What is it that is so very Strange?" We ask the Little Voice, not wanting to admit to anyone else, or even to the Child inside ourselves, that we Know what they are talking about.
But the Child within us Speaks again, asking us, "Have you never seen what is in the River?"
And we reply to ourselves, "No."
And even though we Know, we ask the Little Voice within, "What was it that you saw?"

We do this because we do not want ourselves or anyone else to Know we have often sneaked down to the River.

Now the Child within becomes frightened. But this Teaches us something. It Teaches us that we, at times, cannot Trust Ourselves, because the Adult that is within us is not able to communicate with the Child, or Innocence, that is also within us. They are Strangers to each other.

This is due to MIND SET. The Teachings as a Child are endelibly imprinted and the Adult Mind must sort out that which is Your Medicine. This is the ACT OF CHOICE.

And we move on, putting those things out of our Minds. We leave the Child within us there on the Meadow.

The Meadow Symbolizes Everyday Life.

Within our Time of Night.

Which here Symoblizes, Introspection, Fear and Blindness.

We Know the Child within us is Crying, and he is alone and frightened. During one of these Nights, OUR TIME IN THE DARKNESS, while we are feeling lonely and afraid and wondering why everything seemd so terrible, we Hear another Voice Speaking inside us.

This Darkness or Night is the times in your Life when there is Turmoil and Fear, REAL OR IMAGINED.

The Voice tells us to Calm ourselves. We Hear the Voice say to the Child within us, "Calm yourself, my Child." And we, like the Child, look to see who it is that has Spoken.
"Who are you?" we Hear the Child within ask.
"It is me, Old Man Grandfather," we Hear the Voice answer the Child.
And it is me, Old Woman Grandmother," we Hear a softer Voice inside say.

This is the Voice of the Gentler Side of Wisdom from within.

Then we Feel her turn an Arrow in us, a Teaching Arrow within the Bow that is our Tension, to make the Fire. Soon inside us there is a Bright Fire.

This Fire respresents the Living Spirit, either of a Person or of a Whole Peoples.

It is warm within us, and the Fire Illuminates the Darkness that is in the Lodges of our Minds. Sitting within our illumination, this warm and Living Spirit of the People, are the Old Man and the Old Woman, And these Ancient Ways Speak to us, offering some Food of the Spirit to the Child inside us.
Every Man and every Woman is a Life Circle and the Living Circle of the Flowering Tree. The Grandparents within are the POWER of the North, the GROWING of the South, the CHANGING of the West, the REBIRTH of the East, the Law of the Universe and the Law of the Earth. The Grandmother is the Marriage of these Teaching Ways.

The Grandmother and the Grandfather, the Wisdom, they are the Powerful Person in the River inside you.

Then we Hear the Child within say, "But I saw only myself reflected when I visited the River which flows inside me."
"That is True," the Grandparents answer together.
"I do not understand this, how very strange," replies the Little Child inside us.
And we Hear the Old Man say, "All People come to the River, and they too Perceive only themselves, as you do."

The Truths found, as you look within yourself are and always will be your own Reflection. Only you can change what is Reflected back, THE POWER OF CHOICE.

As we Learn we always change, and so does our perceiving. This Changed Perception then becomes a new Teacher inside each of us.
Often our first Teacher is our own Heart. This Teaching Voice is Spoken by the Child within us. Within the Stories, this Teacher may be Symbolized by the Old Man, the Old Woman, the Little Boy, the Little Girl, the Contrary, the Spirit, or the Knowledgeable Fool within us. These Seven Symbols, or Teachings, are a tiny portion of Life. When you have Learned to place these Seven Pieces of Life together within yourself, you will discover there are seven more. Their reflections will go on and on for ever.
The Voices within, the Child, INNOCENCE, the Old Man, WISDOM, are our helpers to obtain a Peaceful Heart and a Quiet Mind. Listen to your Voices within, YOUR SPIRIT.

YOU ARE, THE FLOWERING TREE!

White Crow January 1951