Weekly Intent - Ralph Brown
Intent - September 27, 2008
Personal Power - An Indian Perspective
Indian people use the Medicine Wheel to guide them in many areas of life as it is both a tool and a guide that was given to us by the Creator.
Our happiness and attitudes are an important part of our lives; recognizing and using our personal power will help us succeed in all areas of life. In the Great Wheel everything is connected; all things are related.
There are two "powers" - one in the North and one in the South of the Medicine Wheel. Both powers have their place in the Wheel. When you make the effort to truly understand them, they will bring many gifts. Seek their nature and they are like weapons (spiritually speaking) wielded by the warrior.
The power of the North is one of brute strength, force and personal will. It is the most common form of power and is generally understood and accepted. The power of the South is more subtle. It is one of ease, surrender and, rather than coming from will, it comes from love. Both of these are powerful in their own right - but the power of the South comes from love, and is therefore closer to the source, the Creator. Love is a force that is gentle in nature but powerful and mighty.
The North and South can be viewed as "up" and "down". On a compass, North is always "up" while South is "down". In the North is found male energy (think of Father Sky or Sun), while female energy is found in the South (think of Mother Earth). Male energy bears down and female energy rises up. Perhaps there is an easier way to remember these powers. A living example of the two powers can be seen in the story of "The Oak and The Willow".
On the banks of the Great River, there lived two trees. The first was a mighty oak tree. The oak tree was tall and given to bragging about just how strong he was. He would look at the willow and think, "How weak and soft she looks. So unlike my own powerful stature."
The willow for her part would sway gently and comfortably, letting the oak tree say and believe what he wanted. He was, after all, very strong.
One day the wind began to blow. As the day went on, the wind blew harder and harder, and all of the creatures who could take cover did so. The wind raged on, growing stronger. The willow bowed humbly to the wind's power, but the oak tree remained stiff and resisted the force of the wind until he was snapped in two!
After the wind had quite blowing, the willow said to the oak, "Mighty brother, had you only known that to meet force with resistance is to create a greater force - and in that force, something must give."
Every warrior must learn there is great strength in surrender. If he does not surrender, he will be broken like the oak tree.
In a piece of art entitled "Winter Man's Marriage", I illustrated the powers of the North and the South. You will see how the "male" and "female" energies are expressed. We all have both of these energies within us. The key is to learn how and when to use them, which is why we must learn of their natures. The buffalo is a symbol of the gifts that are found in this learning as the buffalo is considered to be the "gift animal" of the people. Women must learn the power of the male as she is the one who gently guides this power. Men must learn there is great power in surrender and being kind and gentle.
May you find the gifts in this and walk with these understandings, and may all the Creator's blessings be yours.
In spirit, Ralph P. Brown (Tawennihake)
Ralph P. Brown (also known as Tawennihake) is a Mohawk Indian of the Akwesasne tribe. He currently resides in Nebraska, creating his art and delivering his message from Earth Lodge Studios. Ralph is a self-taught artist who uses a stipple style to create the pointillistic impressions of his cultural and spiritual ideas. He draws inspiration from his native culture, nature and his unique perspective on the world and his spirituality. Visit his web site at http://www.mirroredwindows.com for additional insight, stories, lessons and visual creations related to many native American stories. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved worldwide. Please contact the author at the website mentioned above for permission to reprint.
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Posted by Intent at September 27, 2008 11:01 PM
Comments
1. Posted by
Sherry
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on
September 28, 2008 07:25 AM
Welcome (Tawennihake) Ralph,
The wisdom of your Indian heritage is needed in today's America. I have always felt that the Indian heritage is really the true soul of this Nation, the soul we have too easily dismissed as unimportant to this Nation's growth, and future well-being, but that would someday be fully recognized by this Nation when it reaches it's emotional maturity.
thanks ....ruth
2. Posted by
ruth
on
September 28, 2008 03:41 PM
I really enjoyed this write-up from Ralph, as I take a deep breath and bend as a willow in a force that has all but broken me, since the oak tree could not stand in this storm. Now I learn about the South, as the North has always been my home, while I discover how to make peace within both homes, as one.
3. Posted by
Char4
on
September 28, 2008 05:58 PM
PS: As I was replying above, one of the neighbor ravens flew by my window as it squawked, for it was the ravens that showed me the willow tree that resides in a pre-school playground that's next to my morning jogging area in a beautiful park.
4. Posted by
Char4
on
September 28, 2008 06:04 PM
PPS: I'm part Cherokee and my grandfather was a Shaman on my mother's side, so it feels natural to be at one with nature, even tho I've had to re-learn everything that I had forgotten, as I grew up, since I became concerned with the fast-paced adult world of things, money, etc. It's as if nature is calling me back to my beginnings....
5. Posted by
Char4
on
September 28, 2008 06:10 PM
From Tibetan Buddhism we have, The Heruka is the yogic personification of the male, or positive, aspect of the Enlightening Power; his consort, Vagra Yogini, is the personification of its female, or negative, aspect. The long staff symbolizing the Heruka, indicates that the Divine Pair are in union, for the two aspects of the Enlightening Power, or Truth, are inseparably one. (Ideally, or rather to be sought after, as you suggest.)
The Buffalo, a physical gift to the people, reminds me of the mental 'gift-waves' that are "helpful psychic and spiritual influences which the Divine Gurus radiate or broadcast. The Christian, in like manner, (receives or) prays for heavenly grace and guidance."
--Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines
That's it in a nutshell.
From a peanut,
6. Posted by
Sherry
on
September 28, 2008 10:05 PM
By the way, the art work is absolutely beautiful.
And Char, Is that you over on intent.com?
7. Posted by
Sherry
on
September 29, 2008 06:41 AM
Ralph...beautiful! Thank you.
The medicine wheel is one's energy field. Depending on the source point, line and angle each individual radiates and reflects a quality of energy. This "science" will never be found through external experiments or apparatus. This is spiritual territory and flows from inner soul to outer surface of effect.
What's at the heart of matter? What's at the heart of every matter? That is the warrior journey. And this is the time for those warriors to gather.
I'm glad to know you in our circle of light that radiates into our world. Shadow is part of this circle...watch it's dominance thin. Warrior medicine is balance.
Trish~~
8. Posted by
Trish
on
September 29, 2008 08:31 AM
Well, if it said Char on intent, so that's me one year ago. I grew my hair long (4 inches more) and cut it all off and then gained weight and now my hair is growing again and I am losing weight. I suspect when all settles down, I will be settled :-), as it's pretty hectic now!
9. Posted by
Char4
on
September 29, 2008 10:40 PM
When I smile again, I know I will be at the right place...
10. Posted by
Char4
on
September 29, 2008 10:41 PM
Ralph,
It dawned on me sometime ago that each chakra or energy wheel is a medicine wheel. Wheels are meant to move in synch like gears in a whole system. What can we learn from these wheels? Is the information outside in? From an expert and authority figure? From books and academia?
Truth is found within and a true teacher will take one there. This Truth includes one's very own Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine. They are driving forces behind one's reality.
Trish~~
11. Posted by
Trish
on
October 1, 2008 12:55 PM
Sherry, Thank you for all of the thoughts you shared with me. It is refreshing to meet people who look for the similarities instead of the differences in cultures, peoples, etc. There are many paths to the top of the mountain and while the journey may be different for each person, wht is important is tht we strive for the top. I am glad that we have made this connection.
In Spirit, Ralph
12. Posted by
Ralph P Brown
on
November 2, 2008 11:01 AM
Ruth, Thank you so much for your response to my article. I felt guided to share something else with you that gos beyond the article on intentblog.co. You seem to resonate with the Indian culture and there is more to be found by going to www.mirroredwindows.com The call is going out to spiritual warriors. Ruth, thank you for getting it! In Spirit, Ralph
13. Posted by
Ralph P Brown
on
November 2, 2008 11:05 AM
Char4,
Thank you for your response to my article on intentblog.com It is always nice to connect with fellow Indians but it's especially good to see those who are "awakening" to the spiritual and cultural call and accepting what is your birthright to receive. There is a cellular memory that is part of your blood. The fact that you are open and ready to receive is enough to begin. Creator is speaking to you in signs and symbols (like the raven and the willow tree). If I can help in any way with your journey, please let me know. For now, I am glad that we have made this connection. In Spirit, Ralph
14. Posted by
Ralph P Brown
on
November 2, 2008 11:09 AM
Trish,
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding my art and for sharing your thoughts on PERSONAL POWER and the article. By the way, you are correct that each chakra is a Medicine Wheel - they are a wheel within many other wheels. Like all wheels, the chakras need to be in balance to flow and work smoothly and correctly. Becase these are energy, to bring them into balance we need to charge them with positive energy - energy that is of the highest right. Because doing this aligns us with the Source of all goodness and the highest light and allows us to tap into the "flow" from which ALL good comes, bringing all good things into our life. I would invite you to my site where you will find information about my upcoming book 13 Virtues to a New Life. While I talk about this from a Native American perspective, I think it will resonate with you. For something to be "truth" it has to transcent all racial, cultural, idealogical boundaries. I hope you will give it a look. In the mean time I am grateful for this connection and all that you have shared.
In Spirit, Ralph
15. Posted by
Ralph P Brown
on
November 2, 2008 11:13 AM
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Ralph P Brown commented on Weekly Intent - Ralph Brown
Trish,
Thank you so much for your kind w -
Ralph P Brown commented on Weekly Intent - Ralph Brown
Char4,
Thank you for your response to my -
Ralph P Brown commented on Weekly Intent - Ralph Brown
Ruth, Thank you so much for your response to my
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Ralph P Brown commented on Weekly Intent - Ralph Brown
Sherry, Thank you for all of the thoughts you s
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Trish commented on Weekly Intent - Ralph Brown
Ralph,
It dawned on me sometime ago that
Briefly put, The intellect of the rational soul, which is the faculty that conceives any thing, is given the appellation of chochmah - the "potentiality" of "what is." When one brings forth this power from the potential into the actual, that is, when a person cogitates with his intellect in order to understand a thing truly and profoundly as it evolves from the concept which he has conceived in his intellect, this is called binah.
These chochmah and binah are the very "father " and "mother" that give birth to the love of God. Da'at implies their union.
Next his heart will glow with an intense love, like burning coals.
"My soul thirstest for God." This thirst is found in the element Fire, which is found in the divine soul. -- Likutei Amarim Kabbalah
This is essentialy kundalini yoga, up and down being relative. And this is essentially why you voodoo guys at IB scare me, (with your oneness).
Dear Ed, thank you for answering my email. You make this voodoo seem almost normal.