Spirits of the South

Mitakuye Oyasin, my name is Lieven. Spirits of the South, Itokaga, I know you as the summer, the warmth, our youth and growing. I know you like the warm wind from the South that glides over us and caresses us. I know you as the path of self-worth, self-love and self-confidence. I know you as the warm storms that wash away and renew everything. I know you as the rays of sunshine that penetrate deep into us and heal us. I know you as our emotions and the sweetness of sweetgrass. I know the South as when the sun is at its highest point. I know the South as our bloodlines.

I am grateful for my two daughters who help me remember my inner child. I am grateful for the many paths with a heart that we follow and the self-love that we can grow on those paths. I am grateful for the many nutritious plants we can eat and the purifying water we drink. I am grateful for the warmth that comforts us when we are tired and cold. I am grateful for the sea when the sun shines thousands of diamonds in it. I am grateful for the challenge of giving more and more expression to our inner world. I'm grateful for showing us our worth.

I pray for support and connect with the turtle on this path. I pray that we may live as long and healthy as the turtle. I pray that we may be as patient and stable as the turtle. Turtle, remind us that we carry everything we need. I pray for support to remind ourselves to love all people and have compassion for every being. I pray for support to walk this path joyfully with love for ourselves, other people, four-legged friends, winged ones, plants and all other creations of Mother Earth. I pray for support to continue walking paths with a heart, even though they often hurt a lot. I pray for support to grow our self-esteem, self-love and self-confidence. And I pray for support to be very pure in our emotions like children.

(To Learn the Ways of Questioning: The Fire and Independence of adolescence, The Truths, and how they help us Grow along this Path.)

Aho

(I pray for support and connect with the snake on this path. I pray that we may walk through life as pliable as the snake. I pray that we can deal with change as easily as the snake. Snake, show us the way in transforming ourselves so that we can grow spiritually.)

(I pray for support and connect with the wolf on this path)