Spiritualism, Religion & Me
I am spiritual, I have never been religious. I choose to express my spirituality through Native American symbolism. When I was working at the Calgary Drop-In , an old Native gentleman stop me one night to asked me about my jewellry and other attire. I told him about the bear fetishes on my earrings, and explained the artwork (medicine wheel) on my jacket. He leaned back in his chair, looked me in the eyes and sternly said, "How come all you white people want to be Indians? Indians don't want to be Indians". As I explained to him, we humans are spiritual by nature and our people lost our connection with the Divine over 2000 years ago; when the armies of Holy Rome rolled over most of Europe killing anyone who didn't convert to Christianity. Native Americans have only been separated from their spirituality for about 200 years (5 generations... not 50). We sense that connection is still strong and we wish to learn from the Natives, how to reconnect our spirit to the Creator.
I am spiritual, I have never been religious. I choose to express my spirituality through Native American symbolism. When I was working at the Calgary Drop-In , an old Native gentleman stop me one night to asked me about my jewellry and other attire. I told him about the bear fetishes on my earrings, and explained the artwork (medicine wheel) on my jacket. He leaned back in his chair, looked me in the eyes and sternly said, "How come all you white people want to be Indians? Indians don't want to be Indians". As I explained to him, we humans are spiritual by nature and our people lost our connection with the Divine over 2000 years ago; when the armies of Holy Rome rolled over most of Europe killing anyone who didn't convert to Christianity. Native Americans have only been separated from their spirituality for about 200 years (5 generations... not 50). We sense that connection is still strong and we wish to learn from the Natives, how to reconnect our spirit to the Creator.
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The rituals and rhetoric of Native spiritualism serve the same purpose as it does in any religious congregation, creating a sense of continuity, belonging and community. Not bad things, in and of themselves... but they do breed a sense of elitism which often results in intolerence for other beliefs. Which is why I am not religious. As with other religions, Native Spiritualism has its share of reformists and fundamentalists.
There is no wrong way to follow your heart... the truth is what is true for you. Allow others their truths and treat all that you learn with respect... it is the only way to live in the time of the 8th Fire. |
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