Spirits of the West

Mitakuye Oyasin, my name is Lieven. Spirits of the West, Wiyokpiyata, thank you for allowing me to stand here and speak. I know you as the place where the sun sets and the end of life. I know the West as the thunder that reminds us of our immense power. I know the West as a painting full of beautiful colors when the sun sets in the evening. I know the West as the harvest of the much hard work in our past lives. I know the West as the path of introspection and maturity. I know the West as the stone kingdom and sage. I know the West as living from the inside out and remaining within it.

I am grateful to be reminded every day that life is finite and that one day the sun will set on our lives too. I am grateful for our inexhaustible source of creativity with which we can put ourselves into the world. I am grateful for the many choices we can make every day. I am grateful for death that teaches us to live now. I am grateful for the healing we can receive every day if we open ourselves to it. I am grateful for our body, which we have been able to do the most fantastic things with for a lifetime.

I pray for support and connect with the bear on this path. May we have as much strength and self-confidence as the bear in the life of our dreams. May we be as grounded as the bear in healing others and ourselves. Bear, teach us the importance of being alone, silence and rest. I pray for support to balance the physical, mental and spiritual so that we are able to know our place on this earth. I pray for support to make choices every day that make us stronger and more beautiful.

(Where the Grandfathers teach us Acceptance of Responsibility That come during the years of Marriage and Family. That my own children grow Strong, and True.)

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