Natural Systems

As an avid reader with an interest in learning more about our natural world and what can be done to live in a way that supports our planet, I searched for websites, books, and more that could be of value. In my search, I also began looking for knowledge of Native American cultures as they were the first stewards of these lands, lived in harmony with it, and maintained a reciprocal relationship. I hope to honor their knowledge and gain some further understanding as I move forward. In honoring this knowledge I would like to first link to the resources that inspired this post:

• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants – Robin Wall Kimmerer (book)
• The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address Greetings to the Natural World (PDF)
• Haudenosaunee Guide for Educators (PDF)
• Corn Tastes Better on the Honor System – Robin Wall Kimmerer (Emergence Magazine article)
• Nature Needs a New Pronoun – Robin Wall Kimmerer (article)

As a whole, the human population on earth has failed to maintain our connection to the earth, living in our minds, instead of feeling through our feet and grounding to the earth beneath us. Modern life has disconnected us from the knowledge of where things come from, how things are created, their impacts on our natural world as well as why that should matter to us. In damaging our relationship with our planet we have also failed to protect it. While taking it for granted we miss all the little miracles around us and we have to be reminded of everything we have to thank our world for.

While reading Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass I came across the Haudenosaunee (hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) Thanksgiving Address in which I found a simple and beautiful way to remind ourselves daily of all that we have in our lives to give thanks for. It was written as a daily reminder to be thankful for all the planet has provided for us.

The Haudenosaunee name refers to the confederation/alliance of six Native American nations which is more commonly called the Iroquois Confederacy in modern US History books. The Iroquois Confederacy was an inspiration for those who wrote the US Constitution. Living on the east coast myself this history is directly related to the land that supports me every day.

I designed the image above of the Thanksgiving Address using the copy included in the PDF I linked at the beginning. I did so as my own way to sit with and reflect on the content, as well as give myself a way to come back to it. The header is purple and includes an illustration of the Hiawatha belt, the color was chosen because the actual belt is made of wampum beads. Wampum (WAHM-pem) is something I have been familiar with since I was a child visiting Martha’s Vineyard and going quahoging (clamming for quahogs) with my family. The purple and white shells of the quahog are turned into beads that are still used in jewelry and other things today. The belt is a symbol instead of an accessory and is not worn as a belt. It represents the alliance of the original five nations in the Confederacy connected by the Great Law of Peace.

‘Thanksgiving Address’ does not refer to the holiday in the US but rather the concept of giving thanks and it is meant for daily use not just one day a year. The Haudonsaunee began and ended all social and ceremonial celebrations with the address and sometimes referred to it as “the worlds that come before all else.” This places a huge amount of importance on giving thanks to all the world provides for us and keeping it foremost in our minds. Traditions like these would be even more important today to remind us in modern times to remain connected to the world around us and grateful each day.

Finding myself inspired by The Thanksgiving Address I decided to expand on words I had already chosen as daily reminders—Gratitude, Happiness & Humility, Wonder—to build it into something longer. Many of the concepts, words, and phrases here also come from other places and people who have inspired me (In case you are interested one of those is the blog brainpickings.org).

GRATITUDE. Today we express our gratitude. We see the cycle of rebirth continues in the unceasing stream of life. Moments layer upon one another an interplay of all that has passed within the present moment. It is our sacred duty to live in balance and harmony with everyone and everything.

We breathe deeply bringing awareness and mindfulness as we give greetings and thanks to all the interdependent particles of the universe.

HAPPINESS & HUMILITY. Today we are present in this moment. As we meditate the walls between self and other vanish, here there is serenity and bliss, we are not alone. We float freely in the moment recognizing all Mother Earth has provided for us. Time ceases and we know no urgency just being.

Humbled and free we breathe deeply as we give thanks to the invisible force that connects the natural universe from stone to amoeba, mountain to river, songbird to human.

WONDER. Today we look at the natural world in wonder. We turn our minds towards forsaking labels that impoverish experience to wonder at the beauty of all beings. All processes and phenomena but condensed miracles interwoven in the quilt of life. As we are, so we see.

With our sight full of wonder we give thanks to its myriad kaleidoscopic manifestations as we breathe in the element of air and steady the wind of the mind.