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Native American Spirituality, Sun Bear Medicine Wheel Information,
Moons, Links to Bear Tribe and to Native American Culture Info
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:o) 2/25/2000 Thank you for your support and your patience while I reorganized.

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Rainbow Over Camp

Sun Bear Medicine Wheel Information*


Native American Spirituality
Here


MITAKUYE OYASIN

"We Are All Related"


Painting: When We Dance The Spirits Dance by L David Evening Thunder

When We Dance,
the Spirits Dance
by
L David Evening Thunder


LINKS  Updated gif 7/23/2000
NEW CD:  Singing With The Wheel: Medicine Wheel Chants and Songs by Wind Daughter.
SEPTEMBER 8,9,10 - NORTH CAROLINA MEDICINE WHEEL GATHERING

This page is presented by Star Spider Dancing. The name Star Spider Dancing was gifted to me a few years ago by my Cherokee friend, Teacher, and Elder, -- for my 61st birthday. I do not ordinarily use this name, but the Web seemed a proper place for it.
I will be adding information; please check back often. 4/23/00 - I am still adding information!

I am a product of the American melting pot. My father was part Blackfoot. He was from Canada. My mother's family were early settlers in southern Ohio, and later moved to where I was raised, in the San Bernardino Mountains of California, at the head of the Mojave River. This small mountain village is now under the lake formed by the Mojave River dam. From my father and grandfather and others, I learned much about all our relations (plants, animals, birds, stones, etc) in the immediate area. But I actually came to the Red Path, and knowledge of my Native ancestors way of life, Native crafts, and most important Spirituality in 1992.
On this page I hope to present information on various facets of our ancestors lives and beliefs. Also current happenings with those of us who are of mixed heritage (please see the Links section below), and my great love: the Sun Bear Medicine Wheel.
Arrow NOTE: please know that this Wheel is NOT the Medicine Wheel of any Native Nation, but comes from Visions given to Sun Bear by Grandfather, Creator, God (or whatever name is good for you), as well as his knowledge of various Native traditions.

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(Notation: 12/22/98)
The Medicine Wheel background on this page is an original made by Joanie, at my request. I sent her the picture of the Wheel, which was scanned from a newsletter clipping. I described the small "rainbow" picture I wanted for the top of this page to Joanie. She then created it for me, also the buttons seen on this page.
The "dancer in the necklace" used with the counter was a black and white picture clipped from a newsletter (paper). I asked my daughter to color it for me, and make a gif for the counter on this page. My brother then made the background for my Guestbook from that gif. Beautiful isn't it?




My Understandings About Native American Spirituality


Native Way of Life

      Each morning upon arising and each evening before sleeping, 
      give thanks for the life within you and for all life
      Treat every person with respect.
      Special respect should be given to 
                              elders, parents, and teachers.
      Never speak unkindly to another person.
      Touch nothing that belongs to another.
      Respect the privacy of everyone.
      Never walk between people when they are conversing.
      Never interrupt people who are conversing,
      Speak in a quiet voice.
      Never speak unless invited to do so.
      Do not speak of others in a negative way.
      Treat the Earth as your Mother.
      Respect the beliefs of others. 
      Listen with courtesy when others speak.
      Respect the wisdom of people in council.
                           from Sacred Earth News

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Spirituality: There are many things I want to say; am not sure where to start. Our ancestors did not have a religion, they had a Way of Life. A Way that kept one constantly aware of the sacredness and oneness of all Life. They understood that all things come from Creator, are one with Creator, that Creation and Creator are ONE. One can say that Creator is Life, Love, Intelligence, and since all are of Creator, all things have Life, Love, Intelligence - Spirit. All things, from the farthest Star, to the smallest grain of Sand.

On arising in the morning, you faced the East, and thanked Creator for the new day and for the warmth and light of "Father Sun"; you honored Father Sun for the job he was doing, as assigned by Creator, the source of All. You also honored the Spirit of the East, in charge of helping with new beginnings like the day, among other things. You emerged from a circular structure (most traditions, not all) which also faced the East. As you ate your first meal of the day, you thanked Creator for Mother Earth who nurtured and sustained all that you had, from your food, to your clothes, to your dwelling; and you thanked Mother Earth for her part in this Cycle of Life. When the food had been harvested, the workers had prayed, thanking Creator, Mother Earth, and the Spirits of the plants. A gift had been left in return for this bounty. If there was meat, the hunter had prayed that the animal who was to offer themselves for survival and health of the family show itself, and the hunter asked before killing for permission to do so. When you took any thing for your use, Standing People (Trees) for lodgepoles, or watercraft, or tools, you first asked permission, and gave a gift in return, as well as a prayer of thanks. Many tasks had rites, or ceremonies, as part of the task. These too were ways of thanking the rest of Creation for their gifts to the Two-legged Family. When making anything, be it a dreamcatcher, a dress, a home, you continually asked for the guidance and assistance of the spirits of the materials and thanked Creator for them. It was a given, that the spirits were part of Creator and Creator's messengers, and there to help. You need only ask.

The whole Way of Life reminds me of the Catholic Saint I read about who offered everything she did to the Lord, and thanked him, from scrubbing a floor to arranging flowers. I think her name was Theresa, but am not sure. (If you know, please email me.) That is the way our ancestors here on Turtle Island lived, is it not? I believe that at one time Two-leggeds all around Mother Earth had this Knowledge and lived in closeness to All Our Relations, thus with Creator. But by the time the Europeans came here to Turtle Island, they had lost this Knowledge and no longer lived in Harmony. They did not even understand what Jesus taught, although they thought they did. So because they did not understand that the Creation and Creator (God) are one, they thought we were "heathen". But I think it is they who really were. The Natives of Turtle Island had (have) a very advanced Philosophy and Spirituality, and lived it every hour of each day (most did, there are always exceptions in all Creation); many still do. And Creator is Creator, the Great Mystery, wether called God, Allah, Wakan Tanka, Dios, Dineh, or whatever. "A rose by any other name smells the same."

For more information on Native American culture, history, current issues and causes, current events, and Pow Wow schedules, please see the Links in the various categories of Native American Cultures. This is the "more information" I once promised my readers in a paragraph here. :o)

MEDICINE: Just a word about "Medicine" as used in translation from Native words. I have this theory that when the Europeans came and the Natives saw them give what the Europeans called medicine to sick people, the Natives of Turtle Island did not understand that this medicine was only for the physical body. The Native Peoples saw a being as a Whole person: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical all one. Their equivalent of "doctors" were also usually Spiritual Leaders, and they treated the Whole Person. "Medicine" in Native thought means "sacred", "power", "healing"-- that is as near as I can explain in words what I understand in heart, mind and spirit. Each Being has his/her own "Medicine". Objects can be "Medicine" for a Being. Some things are "Medicine" for emotions, or spirit, or mind, or body; some for all four. Herbs too are "Medicine", as well as modern medicines. And some of those might be "Medicine" too.

MEDICINE WHEEL: A basic Medicine Wheel is a Circle, with something to indicate the four Cardinal Directions. This can be four different colors for the four quarters of the Circle, or a + in the center of the Circle. Medicine Wheels can be drawn or painted anywhere, or made of natural materials, (today some are even made of unnatural materials). A Circle is Circle of Life, Eternity, Universe, (therefore Creator) and much more, layers on layers of symbology. Colors indicating the Directions also have meanings. So does the + .
But the most widely recognized Medicine Wheels are made with Stone People. Some are large and some are small. All are very Sacred and are considered to be sources of Healing on all levels of Being, and places of prayer and meditation. This is also true of drawn or painted Wheels, and those made from any material.

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Sun Bear Medicine Wheel Information

Sun Bear had a vision of bringing all people into Harmony with each other and with All Our Relations on Mother Earth. He was given a special Medicine Wheel and much ancient Medicine Wheel knowledge for this purpose. Learning, working with and meditating with this Medicine Wheel has accomplished this for many people and I hope it will help to bring you to a closer connection with All Our Relations, and with the Father of all fathers, our Creator. There are 36 Stones in this Wheel. The first one is in the very center, to represent Creator and in honor of Creator.

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TRAVEL THE WHEEL

Please look at the Stone Medicine Wheel in the border to the left. Can you see that there are SEVEN Stones in that inner Circle around the central Stone for Creator??
Friday, April 9, 1999, I put SEVEN pages here on this site. One for each of the seven Center Circle Stones: Father Sun, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, Thunderbird, Turtle, Butterfly, and Frog.
Start with In The Beginning (click here) and "travel" the Wheel just as if you were walking around it to each Stone, to learn from the Spirits who are honored and represented by that Stone. We only go forward around the Wheel. You can "travel" the complete Circle, going forward, or return to this page or the Diagram of Wheel page. [8/21/2000 - there has been a page for each of the 36 Stones of the Sun Bear Wheel for more than a year. I missed updating this paragraph!]

The next four Stones after these Inner Circle seven are the Spirit Keeper of the directions Stones; one at each of the four cardinal directions, starting with Wabun in the East.

There are three Moons in each direction quadrant of the Wheel, under the guidance and influence of the Spirit Keeper for that direction. Each one also has its own "totems", whose spirits will assist as you walk your Circle of Life, if you let them. Please click on a Moon Name below to find out more about your totems and what they can teach you. You will also discover a picture of a beautiful painting representing that Moon: -- kindly supplied by The Bear Tribe, established by Sun Bear to spread knowledge of the Medicine Wheel.  [Sun Bear's Unofficial Home Page]

The beautiful paintings and poetry are worth the trip to the Moon pages.
Plant and mineral images now on Budding Trees and Frogs Return pages.

Rest & Cleansing Moon

Jan 20 - Feb 18
Spirit Keeper: Waboose (North)
Totems: - Otter -- Quaking Aspen -- Silver
Clan: Butterfly (Air) ---- Color: Silver


Budding Trees Moon: Mar 21 - Apr 19 Frogs Return Moon: Apr 20 - May 20
Cornplanting Moon: May 21 - June 20 Strong Sun Moon: June 21 - July 22
Ripe Berries Moon: July 23 - Aug.22 Harvest Moon: Aug.23 - Sept.22
Ducks Fly Moon: Sept.23 - Oct.23 Freeze Up Moon: Oct.24 - Nov.21
Long Snows Moon: Nov.22 - Dec.21 Earth Renewal Moon: Dec 22 - Jan 19
Rest & Cleansing Moon: Jan 20 - Feb 18 Big Winds Moon: Feb. 19 - Mar. 20


Click here for a diagram of the complete Wheel.

Please email me asap if you find any non-working links on my pages. Thank you.



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Links  

  • Native American Cultures: My new site - 1/1/2000. Almost 300 links organized into 24 categories with some relevant articles, and more to come. Check out the Library annotations for the categories. There is also a Forum planned for this site. I will be updating and adding to the links. When you find a good one for me to add, please send the URL by Email

  • West Winds/Wind Daughter , is sponsoring several Women's Gatherings and other events in 2000. Please check the Agenda.
    I attended the October, 1999 Women's Gathering in Florida sponsored by West Winds. We all had an absolutely wonderful time, as well as a deeply spiritual experience connecting with each other, all our relations, and our ancestors. Wind Daughter radiates love and has a true talent for facilitating these kind of experiences. We talked and laughed and prayed and sang and danced; and were reluctant to leave and return to the mundane world. (Page designed by Star Spider Dancing)

  • LINK to new Links page for reciprocal links, friends, family New Links Page: There are several sites and individuals who have linked to Native American Cultures,   who do not have American Indian pages. This page furnishes these sites a link in return. This page also has links to a few pages created by friends and family members. An old Links page that I disconnected a while back, is also now linked to from here.

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    Links to Bear Tribe Information