How do you walk in two different worlds?

The world of spirituality and the world we live in are so drasticly different, that more times then not disagree with each other. The old ways or the new ways? The old ways have the right balance, this society has almost no balance. Have any of you come across a way to live in these two such different worlds. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is going through this. What do you do to stay in balance?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sue C. on July 19, 2009 at 8:43pm

Coyote,
I think the only way to stay in balance for me, is to practice the old ways, as a part of my regular routine. When I am surrounded by the city and its rat race, I take time out and talk with the spirits of the old ones. The stones, standing ones, winged people, all the creatures of the earth that I see. I ask them for their message. I walk barefoot in parks and grassy areas... and in my garden or lawn. I meditate, often using cedar and sage and my drum, to focus on the heartbeats of life. Otherwise, I am lost and crazy... which makes me one thirsty girl. And I pray alot.
Try finding a tree that has two trunks, but one base. This standing one can help heal. Offer a gift (I was taught to use tobacco, usually), then sit in the Y and get real quiet. Hopefully, you can feel the healing energy. Sometimes it takes a few tries to feel it, but it has worked well for me. Hope it can help you.
Be blessed, Coyote!
Grandma Moon

Permalink Reply by Jordan on July 20, 2009 at 6:20am

Coyote,
I know for me its extremely hard to stay in balance if it were not for the gifts of others that the Great Spirit sends to me and my gift to them. I am one that needs nature deeply to help stay in balance. I try to go camping in the spring and fall as much as I can as this helps me reconnect with the GS and all that it has to offer me in the way of healing and energy. If it were only to stay in the low 80's here in the summer I'd be camping then as well. I feel my soul when I'm amount the GS and its friends.
I am DID/MPD and one of my littles wrote a poem that I'd like to share with you in a new reply. I hope it helps.

Tribalbearpaw

Permalink Reply by Jordan on July 20, 2009 at 6:23am

The Spirit

The sunlight of the spirit shines down on me.
The breath of the spirit blows through my hair.
The wings of the spirit sing their songs.
The moonlight of the spirit smiles down on me.
The stars of the spirit twinkle above me.
The sunlight of the spirit dances on the water.

©lil’t 4/16/94

Permalink Reply by Coyote (Karen B.) on July 20, 2009 at 6:34am

Thank you Sue and Jorden for your insight. And thank you Jorden for sharing your beautiful poetry, it inspired me. I do try to connect with our mother every day and meditate, feeling her love when I do. The outside world is a total contrdiction to how I know I can stay in balance by keeping the old ways and talking to Creator throughout the day to help me get through the worldly people. You both gave me other sugestions that I will try to help me stay in balance. Thank you both for replying.

Coyote

Permalink Reply by Jordan on July 20, 2009 at 6:56am

I found this Elder Meditation from the 18th that might help too.

The Creator gives us many laws to live by. These are different than the laws of man. The laws of the Creator are designed for us to live in harmony and balance with ourselves and each other. These laws are about having freedom and happiness. Our Elders teach us these laws. Laws about how to treat each other, laws about how to treat and respect our Mother Earth, laws about the environment.

Tribalbearpaw

Permalink Reply by Coyote (Karen B.) on July 20, 2009 at 8:45am

Thank you again Tribalbearpaw. The answers are there when we look for them.

Blessings...Coyote

Permalink Reply by MaJa on July 25, 2009 at 9:38am

WOW!
Thanks a lot for this wonderful poem, Tribalbearpow.
With love and peace
MaJa

Jordan said:

The Spirit

The sunlight of the spirit shines down on me.
The breath of the spirit blows through my hair.
The wings of the spirit sing their songs.
The moonlight of the spirit smiles down on me.
The stars of the spirit twinkle above me.
The sunlight of the spirit dances on the water.

©lil’t 4/16/94

Permalink Reply by Doc on July 25, 2009 at 7:53pm

My little one----I walk in only one world and that is the red road--it is 7 days a week--365 days a year--I am with my people every day---now I had to go out and find them--but it wasn't hard--every place that I have ever lived my found my own--that is one of God's kisses to me because He knows this is part of my recovery--our people are a spitirual people first--everything we do is to give thans to Him--if I find a rock I like then I leave tobacco as a "thank you"--when every hour of every day is in honor of Him then it is easy to stay in the spiritual world----I choose many years ago not to be part of this crazy world---make sence????--love Doc

Permalink Reply by Coyote (Karen B.) on July 25, 2009 at 10:24pm

Thank you Doc for your words of wisdom. What you say makes very much sense to me. In a few simple words you spoke a very powerful truth. Since I have been going to my healing circle life has been going in a good direction, not always easy, but then we would not learn our lesons if it were easy. But to choose to walk the red road only, it puts things in a clearer vision for me. Blessings.....Coyote

Doc said:

My little one----I walk in only one world and that is the red road--it is 7 days a week--365 days a year--I am with my people every day---now I had to go out and find them--but it wasn't hard--every place that I have ever lived my found my own--that is one of God's kisses to me because He knows this is part of my recovery--our people are a spitirual people first--everything we do is to give thans to Him--if I find a rock I like then I leave tobacco as a "thank you"--when every hour of every day is in honor of Him then it is easy to stay in the spiritual world----I choose many years ago not to be part of this crazy world---make sence????--love Doc

Permalink Reply by Dan S. on August 18, 2009 at 8:44am

I agree with those who have posted before me. The balance is between us individually, Mother Earth, and the Universe around us. Walking on the Red Road all the time helps keep me in balance, there are always distractions, no matter where we are or what we are doing, whether in ceremony or shopping. By being "Right Here and Right Now" is a great assist to me. We are historically a very adaptive people. Urban NdN's have been around for a long time now.
Peace and Blessings for today
Dan

Permalink Reply by Old george on September 7, 2009 at 11:54am

For me it's a matter of "perspective"....how I view the world around me...how do I envision myself as a part of the 'whole"that is Mother Earth. What helps me the most is to simply realize that I am a spiritual being having a physical experience and not the other way around.

Permalink Reply by Charlie R on October 22, 2009 at 10:46pm

well put George we are all spiritual beings having a human experance as a brother once said to me
"When I Dance out the western doorway and come to the face of the creator if he asks me how I treated the gifts he gave me in my life how would you like to answer him? I would like to answer him with I Honoured and Respected them to the best of my abillity and hope that he would be happy with that. this is one of the most important lessons ever shared with me. and the most important one for me to live by to the best of my abillity