German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, 1788-1860, wrote, “Every truth passes through three stages before it is recognized. In the first, it is ridiculed. In the second, it is violently opposed. In the third, it is regarded as self-evident.” Today, many of us seek the spiritual truths of our Native ancestors to guide us along our way. For too long, we have been made to feel that our spiritual legacy is one that has no value. Furthermore, we cannot seem to gain a foothold on anything that is of value in the western philosophy of materialism and competition. Aside from actually being outlawed at one point in history, the wisdom of our ancestors has been under-discussed, under-investigated, invalidated, even ridiculed as nonsense. In reality, the original state of consciousness of our ancestors is rarely appreciated for the opportunity it offers to lead us up and out of our current state of universal chaos.

Our Native grandfathers recognized nature’s way of balance and used it to peacefully move through their lives. Inspired by their examples we too can acquire energy from a spiritual life in this very tired world. The mystical wisdom of our grandfathers has been trivialized, diminished, even labeled foolish by our gatekeepers, the wealthiest in the western world. However, our ancestors’ spiritual concepts are breaking into mainstream consciousness despite the resistance of a materialistic society. Those who obstruct the spiritual validity of others are standing in the way of an urgently needed healing of the planet.

The knowledge of our grandfathers came from lessons taught by the experience of daily life. Under guidance from his father, a young boy learned how to hunt the creatures of the forest, to fish the streams for salmon, and how to ride a pony without saddle or bridle. He could imitate the calls of birds and animals as he acquired an intimate knowledge of their habits. He learned to fashion spears and knives, arrows, quivers, and other weapons of war. From the red fir he made a spear with barbed stone points to be used for hunting the buffalo when he grew older and stronger. He learned to watch for the roots of plants that provided food and medicine. This training developed his senses to a keen alertness and fitted him for a life of economic self-sufficiency.

The wisdom of our grandfathers also included spiritual development. From the tribal myths and legends, akin to the moral lessons of Aesop’s Fables, they taught that selfishness and greed were great sins. Under the gentle teaching of his father, a boy learned to share food, even to his last morsel, with the poor and never to casually destroy animals or plants, but to kill only when in need. Traditional Native fathers taught respect for the wisdom of the elders, and always to be thankful for the bounteous gifts of the Great Spirit.

Our grandfathers gave us many natural laws, which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good. Today they are sometimes referred to as the Native American Ten Commandments. They taught us to treat all living beings with respect; that we should never be the first to break a bargain; that it was a disgrace to tell a lie; that we should speak only the truth; and that it was a shame for one man to take another’s property without paying for it. We were taught to believe that the Great Spirit is omnipotent, that hereafter he will give every man a spirit-home according to his deeds.

Although many in the western world today still linger between ridicule and opposition, millions of people throughout the planet at large are beginning to regard as self-evident, the sacred principles of ancient spiritual wisdom.
“When the Earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the Earth from many colors, creeds and classes, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the Earth green again. They shall be known as the Warriors of the Rainbow.” - Hopi Prophecy