Spring \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Bee Hiving Moon<\/p>\n
The essence of the Peacemaker legend<\/a> follows as told by Mohawk chief Jake Swamp at the planting of a Tree of Peace in Philadelphia in 1986. “In the beginning, when our Creator made humans, everything needed to survive was provided. Our Creator asked only one thing: Never forget to appreciate the gifts of Mother Earth. Our people were instructed how to be grateful and how to survive. But during a dark age in our history 1000 years ago, humans no longer listened to the original instructions. Our Creator became sad, because there was so much crime, dishonesty, injustice and war. So Creator sent a Peacemaker with a message to be righteous and just, and make a good future for our children seven generations to come. He called all warring people together and told them as long as there was killing there would be no peace of mind. There must be a concerted effort by humans for peace to prevail. Through logic, reasoning and spiritual means, he inspired the warriors to bury their weapons and planted atop a sacred Tree of Peace”<\/p>\n It is said that the Tree of Peace given by the Peacemaker symbolizes the Great Law of Peace. The symbol is a great white pine, and it is said to shelter all nations who commit themselves to Peace. Beneath the tree are buried the weapons of war of the original five nations. Above the tree is an eagle that sees far. Also, four long roots stretch out in the four sacred directions, and they are called the white roots of peace. The Peacemaker invited any man or nation desiring to commit to the Great Law of Peace to trace the roots to their source, and take refuge beneath the Tree of Peace. The Peacemaker’s teachings stressed the power of reason to assure righteousness, justice and health. Faithkeeper Oren Lyons, an Onondaga, states that the Great Law of Peace includes freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right of women to participate in government.<\/p>\n The seed-idea underlying all Iroquois philosophy is that peace is the will of the Creator, and it is the ultimate spiritual goal and natural order of things. The prayer below comes from the people of the Iroquois Confederacy. The prayer is based on the tradition of interconnectedness that the Iroquois or Haudenosaunee possess. This prayer is said to be the backbone of the Iroquois culture. The prayer expresses the belief that rather than take the world for granted, it must be respected, and that we must thank all living things in order to align our minds with creation and the Creator. Usually, a faithkeeper is selected to share the prayer of thanksgiving at the opening and closing of social, government, and ceremonial events. The prayer is comprised of three levels:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Spiritual Forces on the Earth, Spiritual Forces in the Sky, Spiritual Forces beyond the Sky The Spiritual Forces on the Earth are: We give thanks to our Mother Earth During the year they purify the lakes We give thanks to the birds Spiritual Forces in the Sky are: Spring \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Bee Hiving Moon The essence of the Peacemaker legend follows as told by Mohawk chief Jake Swamp at the planting of a Tree of … Continue reading Reimagining Faith: Tree of Peace<\/span>
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\nthe People, our Mother Earth, the Waters, the Fish, the Grasses, the Plants,
\nour Sustenance, the Animals, the Trees, and the Birds.
\nThroughout the year we bring our minds together as one
\nWe give thanks to one another
\nAll year long she gives us all that we need
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nEveryday it quenches our thirst
\nWe give thanks to the waters In winter it replenishes the lakes.
\nWe give thanks to the waters<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWe give thanks to the fish
\nWhen the wind turns warm a green blanket appears
\nWe give thanks to the grasses
\nIn early summer the flowers turn sweet
\nWe give thanks to the medicinal plants
\nIn early summer they help us survive
\nWe give thanks to the food plants
\nIn midsummer we dance for the green corn
\nWe give thanks to our sustenance
\nIn midsummer we dance for the red beans
\nWe give thanks to our sustenance
\nDuring the winter their pelts warm the soul
\nWe give thanks to the animal creatures
\nSince early times they have been our companions
\nWe give thanks to the animal creatures
\nIn early spring we are glad they reappear
\nWe give thanks to the animal creatures
\nAt one point in time it became a symbol of peace
\nWe give thanks to the trees
\nAt the end of spring the sap will flow
\nWe give thanks to the trees
\nIn early morning they carry messages
\nWe give thanks to the birds
\nIn times of danger he warns the people
\nWe give thanks to the birds
\nIn the summer they sing sweet songs<\/p>\n
\nthe Four Winds, our Grandfather Thunder, our Elder Brother Sun, our Grandmother Moon, and the Stars
\nThroughout the seasons they refresh the air
\nWe give thanks to the Four Winds
\nIn early summer they bring the falling drops
\nWe give thanks to our Grandfather Thunder
\nEvery morning he brings light and warmth
\nWe give thanks to our Elder Brother Sun
\nEvery night she watches over the arrival of children
\nWe give thanks to our Grandmother Moon
\nIn the night their sparkle guides us home
\nWe give thanks to the stars
\nThe Highest Spiritual Forces beyond the Sky are: our Protectors, Handsome Lake, and the Creator
\nAll the time they remind us how to live
\nWe give thanks to our protectors
\nAt one point in time he brought back the words of the Creator
\nWe give thanks to Handsome Lake
\nEveryday we will share with one another all of these good things
\nWe give thanks to the Creator.
\n– Prayer of Thanksgiving, Iroquois Confederacy<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"