Grieving Moon: Surviving In Spite Of

 

 

Today, we are under the influence of Leo moon as some celebrate Thanksgiving Day and the myth of it, and to Native Americans, it is another mourning day.  The morning dew was silver in its glazing of Mother Nature.  It is a day to remember where your pride lays and why.  It is Leo’s influence to dig deep and know how to celebrate a mourning day without it being macabre.  In 1621 it was a time of politics, of alliances, of diplomacy, so it is said.  Today it is all about truth and reconciliation and finding peace and harmony with the conquerors and their story of that first thanksgiving.  We gather with friends and family in order to build relationships and to show gratitude for our tribe and our life as it is today. 

Following is the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address:

Greetings to the Natural World:  The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the

duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our

minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She

supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us

as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with

strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and

streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of

Water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and

purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find

pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow,

working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we

give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden.

Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people

survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods

together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to

take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are

still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one

mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world.

They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up

their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes

and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their

own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty

and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and

strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our

heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and

appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to

the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the

moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change

of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength.

With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and

thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they

keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one

to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he

travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the

fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the

night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement

of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches

over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our

Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the

night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing

things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as

one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help

throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we

were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these

caring teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all

the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all

the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest

words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

 

This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was developed, published in 1993, and provided, courtesy of: Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk) Mohawk version: Rokwaho (DanThompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk) Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)

 

Today I celebrate "Surviving In Spite Of" 

©Carol Desjarlais 10.09.23

 **My ainting is called "Murdered and Missing Indiginous Women"