Native American Spirituality

[frogguruami]

Anyone practice it?

I have always leaned toward Native American spirituality but it was always tempered by more pagan/Wiccan practices. Over the last two years I have been falling away from the pagan practices. Now I am trying to expand and develop the Native American side of things because that is where I feel most comfortable.

Just wondering who else is out there..

FTR, I am not Native American. I know it matters to some.

[AlpineMama]

Just out of curiosity - and I do ask this out of ignorance - how is Native American spirituality NOT pagan? Obviously it has nothing to do with Wicca, but as far as I knew, it was very much pagan.

Can you share a little bit more about your beliefs/practice/important principles? I know you were asking for advice and not looking to share per se, but I would love to hear more!

[frogguruami]

Well, i supposed it can fall under the umbrella of paganism but I find the practices and rituals to be different than Wiccan practices and rituals. Wiccan rituals have always been very formal and less participatory. (not that they AREN't participatory, they just have more formal direction from the beginning.)

The problem I have is finding groups that think about things from a Native American perspective as opposed to a Wiccan perspective. Maybe it is just issue of terminology. I have found myself frustrated with the Wiccan community and I guess I am beginning to wonder if it is because I have been trying to use it as a replacement for the type of community I really wanted but could never find.

[Tuesday]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

Anyone practice it?

I have always leaned toward Native American spirituality but it was always tempered by more pagan/Wiccan practices. Over the last two years I have been falling away from the pagan practices. Now I am trying to expand and develop the Native American side of things because that is where I feel most comfortable.

Just wondering who else is out there..

FTR, I am not Native American. I know it matters to some.

Hi Frogguruami. I don't practice Native American spirituality nor am I Native American (although my husband is and my kids have this heritage, obviously). I recently finished reading this book Honouring the Medicine: The essential guide to Native American Healing by Kenneth Cohen. http://www.qigonghealing.com/sacred_earth/catalog.html The title of the book is deceptive - the book actually gives a very clear and detailed explanation of Native spirituality. Spirituality and healing seem to be very entwined.

I mention this book b/c it helped clarify some questions I had concerning images I had seen ... and things I had felt and sensed over my lifetime. I was able to share knowledge with my husband too which has helped reinforce his own interest and confidence in his Native heritage. Not sure what to suggest in terms of finding a place to practice but the Cohen book might be a good place to start. Perhaps you could email him - the author at http://www.qigonghealing.com/sacred_earth/catalog.html I mean. Cohen is a Jewish guy who follows the Native path and seems very well-respected in those communities.



http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/co...an_Healing.asp

[frogguruami]

Thanks for the book rec. I am always looking for new books!!!!

[JTA Mom]

I don't mean to offend, but there's no such thing as "Native American Spirituality" anymore than there is a "European Spirituality," or an "Asian Spirituality". The Navajo's have different traditions from the Apache, which have different traditions from the Chippewa, etc etc etc. Also, I find it weird that the majority of the authors on 'Native Spirituality' are not native themselves, nor do they include a Native co-writer. I wonder how these authors got all of this knowledge, ya know?

So maybe the problem you are having is that you are searching for something that doesn't exist. I know there is a general "Native American Church" but it's not some united thing that all the different tribes participate in. Perhaps look into the different tribes and see which path resonates with you more?

For the record, I have a friend who follows the Lakota Way (as the Lakota call it). She's not Native American (and therefore not Lakota), so she has encountered wariness in the community. She's been there for a decade though, and once they saw that she was committed, she was accepted. She's still an 'outsider' though in many ways. This stems from a lot of Native Americans having issues with outsiders appropriating their culture. All this to say that if you decide to pursue a certain tribal spiritual path, be prepared for some coldness.

Ami

[Tuesday]

JTA Mom - you made an interesting point and now I should clarify - the healing book I recommended above - the author very carefully and respectfully details individual traditions - just as you describe. My husband comes from the Mohawk (Kanienkehaka) tribe for instance and the author will discuss a belief that Kanienkehaka tribe may have as opposed to Apache, say, or Seneca.

I'm thinking this is likely why the book wasn't called "Native American Spirituality" - for the exact reason you mention.

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by Tuesday

JTA Mom - you made an interesting point and now I should clarify - the healing book I recommended above - the author very carefully and respectfully details individual traditions - just as you describe. My husband comes from the Mohawk (Kanienkehaka) tribe for instance and the author will discuss a belief that Kanienkehaka tribe may have as opposed to Apache, say, or Seneca.

I'm thinking this is likely why the book wasn't called "Native American Spirituality" - for the exact reason you mention.

I wasn't responding to any specific book, Tuesday. Although now it sounds like something I would be interested in reading. I'm always interested in healing books.

I'm not Native American, but I've known people who were, and also being an anthropologist by training, I know that many Native Americans have issues with outsiders getting involved in their culture/spirituality. I was just trying to pass along that tidbit to Frogguruami and anyone else interested in "Native American spirituality". Plus, I wanted to give Frogguruami a way to look further into a belief system that fits her.

Ami

[avent]

Interesting thread.

I have always felt a connection to "Native American spirituality" in that I feel I may have had a connection in another life and have had dreams and visions about participating in ceremonies. I understand that there is no one "Native American spirituality" and I don't mean to offend, but since I don't have enough knowledge I cannot place my dreams with the practices of a particular tribe or group.

Anyway, I am Muslim in this life. And I'm so nervous about even exploring native traditions and offending someone or being rejected I don't bother trying to get more info. But I can feel it in my heart and my dreams sometimes.

[frogguruami]

I used the word spirituality to distinguish my question from that of religion. I feel they are significantly different things. I think there is a "Native American Spirituality". Sure different groups use different terminology for things and their rituals vary based on the parts of the country they are in. But the essence of their beliefs, the core, is the same. The core is the spirituality and the core after it has been filtered by culture and circumstance is religion.

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

I used the word spirituality to distinguish my question from that of religion. I feel they are significantly different things. I think there is a "Native American Spirituality". Sure different groups use different terminology for things and their rituals vary based on the parts of the country they are in. But the essence of their beliefs, the core, is the same. The core is the spirituality and the core after it has been filtered by culture and circumstance is religion.

I'm a bit confused. So, is there another 'group' that also has a general spirituality, or just Native Americans?

Also, their core beliefs are VERY different. The Navajo, for example, hold being reserved, quiet and a person of few words in high esteem. A good person has all of those traits. However the Kwakiutl (of the Pacific Northwest) really stressed being extravagant, especially when it came to holding feasts for their neighbors. Destroying large caches of food, throwing copper items in to the sea, killing slaves, all meant that one had a higher status than another. Also, the Navajo have a completely different worldview/understanding than the Mayans. And so on & so forth.

I guess I don't quite get what you are talking about.

Ami

[Tracy]

I know that I was drawn to animal medicince many years ago.

I loved this book and cards for many many years.

http://www.amazon.com/Medicine-Cards.../dp/0312204914

[marimara]

I have been drawn to Earth traditions as well as animal and nature medicine in my life too. I do have Native American blood in me though, but then again, I also have alot of other different kinds of blood in me too
When it comes to my personal spirituality, I am drawn to Earth/Nature based spirituality, Great Spirit, Animal Teachers. DreamTime. Reverence for natures, ocean, sky, planets, stars, wind, rain. Music, dance, and silence are important. But it doesn't have to be specifically Native American flavored for me. I am also part Irish, so I have that Celtic blood too, that reaches out to trees and to the ocean.

So, to the OP, I believe in a sort of a melding of the Pagan of the ancient Celts and the Native Americans' nature-based tradition. However, I am not officially a part of any local group or anything.

[doubledutch]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

The Navajo, for example, hold being reserved, quiet and a person of few words in high esteem. A good person has all of those traits. However the Kwakiutl (of the Pacific Northwest) really stressed being extravagant, especially when it came to holding feasts for their neighbors. Destroying large caches of food, throwing copper items in to the sea, killing slaves, all meant that one had a higher status than another.

imho, you're describing values, not spirituality. besides, the op clearly recognizes the differences in the details, but perceives an underlying commonaily to the basic beliefs of many (doesn't have to be *all*) tribes. i don't think that's crazy. however, i agree that your suggestion to narrow the focus is probably a helpful one.