A hope for Thanksgiving

 Almost all day the mist has varied from light to moderate to heavy and back and forth some more. The light dusting of snow we got has mostly melted. There's no sign yet that the deer are munching on this year's pumpkins. Flying squirrels visit the feeders after dark some nights. Still no sign of a pileated woodpecker at the suet feeder. Should we conclude things are going our way, going against us, or just going? 

On balance, we believe we have much to be thankful for this Thursday, not least of which is the outcome of the recent election. On balance, we believe we have much, much more that needs to be done to have our country reflect the values we espouse. Then again, that's probably true for each of us, isn't it? We know we lose patience, tempers and vision much more frequently than we'd like. Something, something, "only human," right?

Today has been a day full of minor frustrations, including seeing a couple of bozos without masks walking around inside our local Target store and, as far as we could tell, no one proposing to escort them out the door. What would be an appropriate way to deal with folks like that? Perhaps more significantly, we found ourselves earlier today wondering what it might be like if Trump and his accomplices were subject to restorative justice?

In Native American and First Nation justice philosophy and practice, healing, along with reintegrating individuals into their community, is more important than punishment. The Native peacemaking process involves bringing together victims, offenders and their supporters to get to the bottom of a problem. While contrary to traditional Eurocentric justice, this parallels the philosophy and processes of the modern restorative justice movement. In the Native worldview there is a deep connection between justice and spirituality: in both, it is essential to maintain or restore harmony and balance.

 

there are several kinds of healing

Photo by J. Harrington

Since the day after tomorrow is "Thanksgiving" for many of US, and a Day of Mourning for some Native Americans, and since we find our days have been too full of anger and negative thoughts and feelings for too long, we were pleased to find and are happy to be able to share these thoughts from Native Hope:

Here at Native Hope, we hope that this Thanksgiving, the hearts of all people, Native and non-Native, are filled with hope, healing, and a desire to dismantle the barriers—physical, economic, educational, psychological, and spiritual— that divide us and oppress us.

Wouldn't you like to live in a country that has practiced restorative justice with the original inhabitants of the land on which we now prosper? Since, in so many ways, we have more to be thankful for than many others on this earth, would it not be proper to ensure we all benefit from hope, healing and dismantled barriers? That would be something else for which we could all feel proud and thankful some year, don't you think?

For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet 

Joy Harjo - 1951-

Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop.

Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.

Open the door, then close it behind you.

Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean.

Give it back with gratitude.

If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back.

Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire.

Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time.

Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters.

Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you.
Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them.

Don’t worry.
The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves.

The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more.

Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time.

Do not hold regrets.

When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed.

You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant.

Cut the ties you have to failure and shame.

Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction.

Ask for forgiveness.

Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor.

Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse.

You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return.

Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.

Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long.

Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes.

Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go.

Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short.

Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark. 

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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.