During these challenging times of Covid, as we hunker down in our dens confused about the fate of the world, I pray You find inspiration from great books to keep your vibration high, your heart warm, and your perspective positive. Stories can inspire, and a really great one can literally change your life and your world vision profoundly.
As a psychic medium and shamanic healer, I was born with the ancient wisdom of The Knowing: The profound awareness of the inner-connection between all sentient beings.
Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer is one of those gems I discovered, and I wanted to share it with you.
Braiding Sweetgrass is a treasure chest of scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom combined to illustrate the connective tissue that holds us together in One Luminous Body of Spirit.
Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings—asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass—offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices. (amazon)
In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
One story in particular changed my perspective completely, affecting children. I want to share it with you: The Thanksgiving Address!
As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer shared a story about the indigenous children attending school, and instead of reciting “I pledge allegiance to the flag” the children instead give their gratitude and pledge allegiance to the natural world, to the gifts of Spirit, Mother Earth, our beloved Gaia.
This blew my mind. What a wonderful alternative. How much clearer the 
message would be received by the children, sending thanks and gratitude to the wind, to the oceans, to the air we breathe. This is such an easy concept and vision for a child.
This is much more in alignment with our Soul Spirit as opposed to pledging to a political object which in the mind of a child is incomprehensible.
Gaia, All Nations Under Spirit’s Divine Love
I keep a copy by my bed, and I recite a paragraph each evening before bed, and again in the morning, just to keep things in perspective. This is part of the daily routine, to help focus the brain on what matters, to set an intention that is in alignment with the heart, so the head can listen politely and not get carried away in thoughts of fear, worry or doubt. It’s a soulful exercise I wanted to share with you.
Can you imagine if all the children began their day thanking Mother Earth, Nature, and the Holy Tribe of Humanity?
What a glorious world and global community can be born once we all release the Knowing, recognizing, re-connecting the Divine Memory that we are all One Living Organism. One Life, One Collective Soul experiencing a human incarnation.
Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address
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.
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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 (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk) Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
Peace and Blessings from Agape Costa Rica!
Sally Rice, your Psychic in the Blue Zone
I’m currently reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” and finished the chapter with this Thanksgiving prayer. It is so meaningful that I have to share it with my Thanksgiving guests this year and going forward. Each guest can read a stanza and we all share unison “now our minds are one.” It’s a beautiful and enlightening sentiment.
Hello Ruth,
Thank You so much for sharing your new Thanksgiving ritual. and by now you’re probably done with Braiding Sweetgrass.
I absolutely cherish this book as a top 5 of favorites for spiritual growth.
I chose the audio version narrated by the author.
Wonderful journey with beautiful stories of Nature/Gaia, Spirit and Oneness.
Blessings,
Sally