YES WE ARE ALL CONNECTED

[Carol Anne Kincaid~Paradis]

FAITH.

After countless generations of living in

constant and close interaction with the natural

environment, the ancient Lakota people perceived

that everything and everyone are related. Our

prayers, whether apart from ceremony or in it,

always conclude with mitakuye oyasin ( all my

relatives), a phrase that sums up the simple yet

profound reality of our planet. Everything is

related because all beings are of the Earth and we

all connected, and that powerful connection can

be invoked any time we sincerely and respectfully

say the words mitakuye oyasin. In  this way,

the prayers we say are carried to the Creator by 

all our relatives.

Oh Great Spirit whose voice in the winds I hear,

• And whose breath gives life to all the world-
  Hear me.
  Before you I come
  One of your many children.
  I am small & weak.
  Your strength & wisdom I need.
  Let me walk in beauty & make my eyes ever behold the sunset.
  Make my heart respect all You have made,
  & my ears sharp to hear Your voice.
  Make me wise that I may know all You have taught my people,
  The lessons You have hidden in every rock.
  I seek strength, not to be superior to my brother,
  but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
  Make me ready to stand before You with clean & straight eyes,
  So when life fades as the fading sunset,
  may my spirit stand before You without shame.

Mitakuye Oyasin meaning “We are all related” or “All my relations”.

Yigaquu osaniyu adanvto adadoligi nigohilvi nasquv utloyasdi nihi (May the Great Spirit’s blessings always be with you)  Happy New Year Happy Trails Friend.

LOVE AND BLESSINGS