The Mystic Indian

People have at times given me much Humor and at other times strong Anger due to their concepts of the “Mystical Indian”.

Why is it, most people think us Native Americans, Indians, are all Mystical or have great Spiritual powers? I do believe people look to Hollywood or these so called ‘New Agers”. These People who try to mix my Culture or other Native Cultures with their Christian, Euro-American Concepts and Religion. These are two concepts, Cultural differences, they are completely different. The concepts, such as heaven and hell, right and wrong or good and evil are perceived in a completely different light by the two cultures.

For Native Americans who are raised from childhood within their Culture Teachings have an outlook on life that can be completely incomprehensible to Non-Natives or Natives children raised away from their Culture. Their heads filled with Christian ideology and Euro-American concepts about Life, the World and the Universe around them.

In the Society of today, the concept of Nature, most people no longer see that they are a part of Nature, their belief; they are outside of it or above it. We Human Beings are just another entity upon this Earth and the Universe, not separated from it, nor superior to it.

People, non-Natives, just walk up to an Elder and blurt out question after question, mostly in a disrespectful manner. You are generally seeking a “Shaman”, when in actuality the word “shaman” is a European word, not Native American. You ask things you “want” to know, not what you “need” to know, for what ever in your mind is seen as something mystical or spiritual. And yet should you be gifted with this information you could not completely understand nor comprehend the truth of it. The reason here being; what ever is in your mind about Native Cultures would be wrong. Concepts and Perceptions of our Culture Ways have been past from generation to generation, instilled into the minds of our children from birth, a way of Life. As with you, the ones with the questions; have been taught your Christian and Culture Ways, which in most cases can be incomprehensible to Natives who were raised from childhood in their Culture.

The Mystical Indian: A concept in the minds of non-Natives. We, but yet another group of humans set upon this Earth to live and struggle, to love and to die like all other cultures of Man. The differences being; we Natives have a different concept of the Natural World which we hold close and look to it for our survival. Religion is better understood as Individual Spirituality. Your Christian God spends its’ time fighting Evils, real or imagined, these being concepts of Man. Requiring a place, building or church to worship your God and one man, such as a priest, to speak to your God for you. So how can you believe your God is ever present if you have to go to church or seek advice from a preacher?

In my Native Culture we believe the Creator is omnipresent, everywhere all of the time. We can speak to our Creator at will; we need no one to speak for us. Be it, along a Mountain Path, the open Meadow, along the shore of a Lake or Ocean, wherever one has the need to speak for thanksgiving or guidance. Our Creator does not require us to bow our heads while calling upon him. Should this be a requirement, my people would have to walk with their heads bowed constantly being that the Creator is every where all of the time.

There is no such thing as right and wrong or good and evil. These are individual concepts or perceptions. In my mind I may see “good”, yet in your mind seeing the same circumstance as “evil”. Who is right and who is wrong? We are both right. I speak here of reality, a mental thing, not actuality, a physical thing, think about it!

The “Mystic Indian”, a manifestation in the minds of people who can not find within their own Culture or Religion that which is life fulfilling for the individual.

The “Mystic Indian” is not in actually, only the reality within the mind.

Think about it and smile.

White Crow April 2009

Connected/Disconnected

Humor

Laughter

Many People hold the expectation that in order for an experience to be considered "Spiritual", it must be serious, intense and deeply profound. Some of the most Spiritual People I have come to know, along my Life Path, are those who know how to laugh, don't always take everything, includinng themselves, so seriously. Not placing themselves above everyday encounters, and know how to relate to others through humor and laughter as well.

Being Disconnected:

When something has become so serious and so sacred that you cannot laugh about it or your Life Experience, then that something has lost its' True Sacredness. You have lost sight of what is Truly Sacred. It becomes distant, elevated and untouchable, out of reach of the average Human Being.

Being Connected:

Look for the joy in Life. This is when you truly began to grasp the Life Emergy and Sacredness of all things around you. Making yourself available to that which transcends the Physical form, taking on the Spiritual. People who are able to laugh, to find humor in all Life encounters are usually the same ones who are able to overcome moments in their Life of discouragement and disappoints, by taking stock and utilizing what they do have, physically and spiritually.

Humor is Healing

White Crow August 1953