Mitakuye Oyasin, this is a common phrase, greeting, salutation given by those who understand it's meaning in the Spiritual sense. The term is of Lakota origin yet universally used and it means in a literal context, "all of our relations". It is a verbal acknowledgement of respect, as well as kinship.

Many can comprehend human kinship, even when it crosses racial boundaries, though the relationship between mankind and all other Creation has lost the spiritual connection that brings harmony and purpose to our being.

Mitakuye Oyasin means EVERYTHING... Including US!! It is said that all things that cast a shadow possess Spirit, and all Spirit comes from our maker, therefore we are all undeniably related.

The beautiful Rose that you notice every day. The unique pebble that captures your eye. The feather of a magnificent hawk you find in your yard. A lock of hair from a loved one, or even the trusty rabbits foot on your key ring. These things are all physical forms of spiritual existence.

They are items from the Greatest Inventor. The Master of all Mysteries. The Creator of Everything. From a small child's comforter, to the four leaf clover pressed in the diary of a young girl, wishful things come. Our nature from birth holds a reverence for things we associate with blessing and assurance. Heirlooms, trinkets, keepsakes and curios are all objects of fascination, that may be valuable to no one else, yet they are emotionally priceless to their keepers.

As we grow older, and supposedly wiser, we sometimes outgrow our net oral instincts to cling to items of Spiritual importance to us. We distance ourselves from the Spirit realm with the ignorance of modern intellect. This is one of the reasons why nature has become something many no longer relate to, or respect. The knowledge of man often times brings with it confusion in Our relationship with Creation. Our ears become deaf to the Spirits that call out to us. Our inner being, our Spiritual Self; must be nurtured, and some have unknowingly hidden their instincts away.

The familiar Voice of the Spirit World no longer speaks to them. They have moved from their Center, lost touch with their inner man. Spiritual gifts come to us all, though many do not recognize them and fail to understand our relationship with all things.

The existence of Spirit is something that many debate. yet these doubts are forgotten when someone dear to them has passed on. It is not uncommon to find the living visiting the graves of the departed. Bringing them items and gifts that they enjoyed in life. Or simply just going to talk to them, and yes, finding solace from these encounters with the spirit of someone greatly missed.

The items one considers Medicine differ as widely as personalities do. They are generally object of natural substance, being from a living source. Medicine Bags are worn by some constantly, and by others only when felt necessary or needed. They may contain tokens from Animal, Plant, Bird, Stone, or Human. These things offer their own individual Spiritual qualities. When carried by one in a respected manner, they offer protection, blessing, or simply confidence or assurance. It can be called good luck by those who do not understand the sacred aspects of things, but to those of us who have had personal experiences involving the Spirit Realm, our Medicine is very important to us. The Medicine Bag is Sacred and Powerful.

The collection and reverence of the items we choose, or the gifts of Medicine that we have been given by others teach us lessons, relating to Spiritual things. We learn of offerings that are given in respect of the items that are accepted as Medicine. We learn of Purification of these items by smudging with Sage, Sweet Grass, with a blend of Cedar, as well as the care of our selves as spirits and of others, along with the value of everything that has been given because Life is Spirit ...these lessons develop a respect for all our relations, and from this we begin to re-awaken; our inner being, our spiritual selves, our Wanagi.

Mitakuye Oyasin,
Hawk

Reprinted from Country Road Chronicles, January 2001