Finally, we have reached that space where it becomes clear what had been expected of every individual at the level of microcosm. Essentially there was an expected practical behavior; under pinned in approach to life along these lines:
The ancient Blackfoot approached life like this … every impact, down to so much as a bruised blade of grass, in the course of going about anything, whether daily sustenance or whatever, generated awareness of impact. This in turn demands a life of ‘right action’ in relation to all things, as one’s life foundation, to live in the balance. It is within the cosmos’ ‘living clock’ this principle was observed and followed in such a way as to discover what would be ‘gifted’ to sustain the people. In the western culture Jung observed this principle as synchronicity but I will then note the Pikuni knew how to read the clock, it wasn’t ‘coincidence.’
This preceding demanded an integrated approach that precluded ego in the western sense .. it was never about ‘me’ but about sustaining a system of perpetual motion which depended on all; right down to awareness of impact to the single blade of grass and the correct action or ‘lived awareness’ demanded of that fact. Development of the individual was integrated to the whole of it all, precluding any practical separation. As this system of perpetual motion moved through the seasons, this living clock was acknowledged with ceremony. Everyone in the ancient way could read this movement until the Europeans arrived. And we should all know the consequence of this ‘new’ education.
Now, when we flip a light switch, everything it had meant to honor life within the cosmos is dishonored in a practical sense for the sake of ‘convenience.’ Think about it. Whether solar, wind generator, hydro-electric, gas-fired, strip-mined coal or nuclear generated; you just contributed to death within the cosmos with so small an act as the flip of a switch. Each of these systems required dealing death within the cosmos, to construct a grid that is putting the planet to death. This gives me a cynical laugh when considering the circumstance of people paying for plane tickets to attend workshops on what it means (or meant) to be Native American. Whether these are new age self-delusional souls seeking meaning or modern tribal mentalities meeting to consult on issues of ‘culture’, one is no different to the other, each has just contributed to death within the cosmos. And the cosmos doesn’t care whether your skin is Red or White.
Quoting Karl Schlesier, a son, brother and father to three generations of Cheyenne Arrow Keepers:
“In the long and disturbing history of Indian-White relations in North America there have been other Whites, men and women, who became full fledged members and shared the fate of the tribes in the struggle for survival. These, often, had been taken as prisoners when young, and they grew up with new siblings and new parents and a new, wide range of relationships. They were not discriminated against because in the old world of the tribes skin color never mattered; what mattered were the expressions of one’s spirit and the voice of the heart. But adoption by a human alone was not enough. The adoptee had to open himself/herself to the spirit world of the specific tribe and had to be embraced by it. Thus, adoption was made final or was denied on the highest spiritual level beyond a first move made by adoptive elders.”
What Karl is referring to, is whether the environment within the cosmos had embraced the concerned individual; as would have been recognized in the long ago ‘lived philosophy’ or the foundation all had been based on, in the living clock … recalling the order of priority in caring for things:
1) The great community or cosmos (interpreted as territory)
2) The environment (within the cosmos)
3) The nation (within the environment)
4) The clan/band (within the nation)
5) The family (within the band)
6) The self (within the family)
What chance do you suppose ‘the spirit’ will recognize ANYONE in a so-called ‘native studies’ program, where light switches are flipped everyday; to study in the western culture’s classroom at the same university hosting departments teaching the European civilization’s philosophy and technology? This, contrasted to; in the ancients’ days, one would not so much as consider any association with any entity at odds with living intelligently in the cosmos. Forget romantic love; if your interest did not bring harmony into the family at the nuclear level, the relationship would never develop. This is because you have no right to disturb the peace of any other, and on realizing that person or institution interested in associating with you would be in conflict with the values upholding your family, within the band, within the nation, within the environment, within the cosmos, is antithetical to the greater social health; you would, at the individual level, deny any possibility of a relationship developing. Already, if we have ‘elders’ approve sending us to university, we can see how lost our peoples have become.
James, we all feed off death, but few humans are conscious of the real impact of our actions, we are too far removed from nature, where our food comes from, the damage we do to produce it. You know I have been involved in petroleum, and water developement, I see the damage caused by over use, we are wasteful, if we used these resources sparingly, we had enough of both to last thousands of years, we wasted them in 100 yrs! Since the beginning of time men have moved across the face of the world, no people can remain in isolation, and men will go where there is land it is in our nature, as it is with animal, and, plants and with all that lives.
Hello Ishmael
I was just watching a spider take down a cockroach twice its size. It's where we are headed, back about 300 million years.
People were more aware once upon a time, we've become radically dumbed down socially; recalling I'd previously pointed to our social circumstance this way:
"....those high IQs in science who can see no oxymoron in the fact of any proposed ‘saved by science future’ is relying on the culture and mentality producing the technologies destroying us, to save us"
Pointing to an insight of human nature from two and a half thousand years ago:
“Their judgment was based more upon blind wishing than upon any sound pre-vision; for it is a habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not fancy” -Thucydides
If you'd not stumbled across "Yurugu" by Marimba Ani, it's well worth a read and very relevant to your observation we all feed off death; as well, I will add here - those many who demand an end to wars and insist on 'ecologically sound' shifts in policy but yet would go on depending on 'the grid' and continue to support science in areas such as space exploration, come up short and are little different to those they criticize. The damage required to develop civilization to the point of exploring space points to an attitude of callousness towards life akin to armies ... the superficial difference is this is a war on nature (called by the euphemism 'management') as opposed to a war on men.
Intelligent dismantlement of the monstrosity we all suck the planet's blood by would be our best hope but more likely a solar EMP will take us down with considerably (near total or perhaps complete) loss.
300 million,"yea gods" the dragonflies had 2 ft wing spans, I've watched them eat gnats, they eat them alive, start at the head first! EMP, possibly, another Carrington event, maybe a nuc, Pat is right, we better stop screwing around. I talked to my family about living off the grid, they look at me like a old kook, so I will embrace my demise along with my family, too many to feed, they still depend on me. Thanks for the reference, will find the book "Yurugu," your book "Penucquem Speaks" is great, have asked my children to read it, the essay about Ginsberg, Cassady, Kerouac, laughed hard, damn funny, Thanks Ron.