Long ago there lived a woman of the people. Her mate was a good man, who did all he could to take care of his family. While out hunting, he was badly injured. Subsequently, he walked with a limp. He became quite angry over his injury. He felt useless and helpless. He refused to sleep with his mate in her tipi. He ignored his children. When his friends spoke to him, he turned away.
The woman loved her mate. She knew his good heart was locked away inside of him. Not knowing how to help him, she sought the aid of a Holy person. The healer assured her, the ingredients necessary for the man's healing were readily available. The only thing still needed was a single hair from the living chest of brother bear.
Many women would have felt daunted by this task. Some would have turned away in sorrow believing the task impossible. But not this woman of the people, for her heart was overflowing with love for her mate. She spent the rest of that day preparing for her journey into the hills where brother bear lived. The next morning she rose with the sun. With prayer and song, she thanked Wi (the sun) for his light.
The woman walked into the foothills, thanking in song and prayer Maka (the earth) for allowing her passage through the gentle rolling hills. Moving higher into the true mountains she thanked the trees growing upon the mountain side for their whispering and rustling song. She thanked the birds for their songs also. Indeed, the love she carried for her mate, expanded out to included all of creation. "Tunkashila", she sang, "I thank you for this world and I thank you for my mate."
The climb became harder now. Rocks bruised her feet. Brambles tore at her clothing. The night came with heavy clouds and high winds. Huddling in the crevice of a rock, her prayers continued. Trusting herself to Creator, she knew these seeming difficulties must also be a good thing coming to her from the heart of Tunkashila. Though she had food in her bundle, she chose not to eat. Late in the night she was able to fall asleep, a blanket of leaves above her and a bed of leaves under her.
In the morning, the woman began her assent anew. The air was cold and biting. Still she climbed. With prayer and song she called to the Creator to guide her to the den of brother bear. Searching all through the day without rest, it was near twilight when she began to find bear scat. Then she found brother bear's fresh paw prints in the damp earth.
Following the prints, she came to a cave. She could smell the bear. She could hear him rustling around in his cave. On inspiration, she laid a portion of her food out for the bear. Then from a hiding place she called out to him. Roaring fiercely, he charged from his cave, his great head swinging around searching for the cause of the disturbance. Smelling the food, bear circled around the food. Then standing on his hind legs he roared again. He ultimately ate the food and disappeared back into his cave.
For three days the woman brought bear food and hid. On the fourth day she brought food again. But this time she did not hide when she called bear out of his cave. When brother bear lumbered out for the food he had come to expect, he saw the woman. He roared before her so loudly, she felt the vibration through every bone in her body. Trembling, the woman stood her ground. Rising to his full standing height the bear roared at her again. This time the woman could see right into his open mouth. His great jaw and teeth were only inches away.
Mustering the last of her nerve, the woman said, "Please brother bear, I have come all this way as I need to obtain a cure for my mate." As she spoke these words she looked into brother bear's eyes. For just a moment she thought she was looking into the eyes of the healer. She continued, "I have chosen not to eat, but rather, I have given my food to you these last four days."
Bear rested back down on his fore paws. He said, "As you have brought me food, I have had the chance to heal from an injury to my leg." For the first time, the woman saw the injury to bear's right rear leg. Bear went on to ask, "What do you need to heal your mate? How can I help?"
The woman told him of her need for a hair from his chest. With a nod of his great head, bear agreed to give her a hair from his chest. Plucking the hair, she thanked bear profusely.
Quickly the woman came down from the mountain. She did not stop until she reached the tipi of the healer. She fell in a heap at the healer's feet. In her hand, she held up the single hair given to her by bear. The healer took the hair, held it up to the light, and looked at it. The healer looked at the woman. For a moment, the healer's eyes looked just like those of the bear. Turning to the fire pit, the healer threw the hair into the burning embers. The woman who loved cried out in anguish.
The healer said, "You now have all the tools needed to heal your mate. Remember all parts of the journey. Remember the climb to the top. Remember how you won over the trust of bear. Remember your patience. Now, go home and care for your mate in the same way."
Or do we ?
Is it possible that there are times when we choose illness or at least open ourselves to illness? What purpose could it possibly serve? I first confronted this possibility over twenty years ago. I seemed to be susceptible to fever and flu type symptoms which occurred at odd times through the year. I thought I had a weak constitution until I made a discovery vital to my health.
It was a Sunday night. I had to work early the next morning. I really did not want to work. I was emotionally tired and felt the need for a day off. I began to manifest flu symptoms. Upon examining my feelings, I found I was glad to have the 'excuse' to take the time off from my job. Going with the flow of thoughts, I began to wonder if there was any possibility that I was creating the illness (unconsciously) to give myself the needed physical and emotional rest. Right then and there, I decided to not get sick and give myself a "well day" off work. Signs and symptoms of flu faded. I took the next day off of work and returned to work the following day refreshed and ready. From that time forward, I began giving myself "well days". The need for sick days dropped dramatically. I actually started missing less work.
This example is not to suggest that all illness is psychosomatic. It is, however, to point out a relationship between mind and body does exist. Further, this relationship can be used as a channel to enhance the healing mechanisms already present in the body given to us by Creator.
In most traditional healing systems throughout the world, the strong connection between mind and body is used in the healing process. Of interest to us here is the Native American approach to healing, wherein this connection is often the most powerful component on the path to wellness. In stark contrast, the european medical model all but ignores this association. Of less than casual interest to the MD this pathway is for the most part either ignored or denied.
Traditional healers recognize that the base to true healing is not a physiology but rather a psychology. "Fixing" the body does not always heal the heart and spirit. This is not to suggest that botanicals and lifestyle changes are not helpful in the healing process. However, homeostasis is far more than body physiology.
Wakan Tanka, who made all things, is without form. Yet Wakan Tanka is simultaneously the essence of all things. This at first sounds like double talk. Until one gets past the narrow definition of life as biology. If we can expand our concept of life beyond biology to consciousness, we begin to touch the place where Wakan Tanka resides. The place where all things begin. It is here that true healing occurs.
The traditional healer has always recognized that the place of true healing is in our psyche. He/she seeks to touch that place where real life resides. It is for this reason, spirituality and healing are seen together as one. Yes, the healer may use herb and/or other methods to facilitate the healing. The inipi and eagle feathers may come into play as part of the experience. These are tools given to us by Creator, recognizing our need to process healing through conscious mind to facilitate acceptance.
Do not misunderstand, the methodology used by traditional healers does also have a physiology for opening the body to healing. As an example, let us take a look at the inipi (sweat lodge) ceremony. To the outside observer, inipi appears to be a place of intense heat, the aroma of burning herb, and prayer. The question is, what is the 'active' ingredient to healing through inipi?
First the intense heat. The human body produces it's own forms of intense heat as a step to homeostasis or healing. These forms are fever and/or inflammation. Bacteria and virus tend to live within a narrow temperature range. Raise or lower that temperature and you can kill the invading organism. The father of european medicine, Hypocrites, knew this truth. He said, "Inflammation and fever are the flames that cleanse the body." In inipi, we facilitate this process through the use of heat.
Second the herb. Without question the plants used in lodge are physically healing. Any book of herb use can tell you SOME recognized uses for grandfather sage or any of the other plants used in ceremony.
Thirdly, and perhaps most important, the prayers. This is where we touch Wakan Tanka. This is where Wakan Tanka touches us. This is the component that can not be explained, but only experienced. Traditional healers know, the most important factor in true healing is the opening we create between self and Creator. Yet, this is the channel that has too long been ignored in the European model of healing employed throughout much of the world.
Using the first two components of inipi, heat and herb a temporary fixing of the body may occur. For lasting and deep healing to occur the third and most important component is needed. We need to open the channel between self and Creator. Prayer, meditation, and the singing of sacred songs is a time honored method for opening the door. Indeed, our lives must become a "walking prayer". Every thought and every action indelibly marks our path and decides our future health or lack of it.
Freedom comes with the perception that all things are sacred.
~ Red Moon ~
We are all sacred vessels.
~ Fortunate Bear ~
This page was created on July 30, 1998
By Miranda
This bear set was created by
~ Miranda ~
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