Upon entering the world of Native American mythology, I was reminded that I too am Native American. For some reason Hawaiians are not called Native Americans, but we are. I suppose in some way I appreciate that American is not attached to our name. Native Hawaiian gives a sense of being set apart. Whenever I talk about or recall Hawaii, I do not consder it Ameerica. However, by the artful boundaries of man, we are a faction on Native American.
"Traditional Native Amican storytelling practices, partices and oral histories are a key source of our recovery off our authentic identity."(Beverly Singer). Practice of tradition, especially oral storytelling help to unveil our priorities. Oral storytelling is prominent in West Africa, Indiginous Australian , Celtic, Turkish, Jewish and Arab cultures as well as the Native Hawaiian and American. Structured oral rituals like the Passover, continue to relay the lasting power of the spoken word.
At the center of native culture, I assume in most nations, is the honoring of land and man. Where the Bible teaches us to love God first, then man, animals seem to be a peripheral, whose main purpose is sacrifice. However, the Native American call animals, "people of a different kind". That statement really changed something in my heart. It was almost as it gave me permission to heal the subconscious wound of separation, by seeing animals in a new light. Though I used to love animals, allergies and experiences have left me cautious in their presence. However in the past two weeks I have noticed a slight shift. It is not an overnight intense sort of healing, but a seed , bringing me closer to true wholeness.
In the past couple of weeks the Great Spirit has been speaking to me so much through my animal friends. I often see dear around, but even more this week. I have witnessed a group of turkeys crossing the road telling me to slow down, focus on community, and trust in Gods provision. A black bear running across the highway communicating that I am right to avoid the worldly chaos of productivity, to stay grounded and focused on quiet mystery, and that I am exactly where I need to be. A barn owl woke me u in the night to remind me I am protected and to keep going. There are so many more stories, but it has been so refreshing to hear God in these subtle ways. The native way is integration.
Another thing that I find, extremely precious, in the most honorable strong form of the word. Is that Native Americans tell the tales of how animals gained their unique qualities or found their homes. They were painted and shaped by experience. There is a story of how the racoon stained his paws in the mud, a man became a red breasted bird, and how the ground-hod, mole, and badger came to live underground. Animals and man have a much more active presence in the various tribles stories of creation.
Though native origin stories do not match the Christian mythos of the west they do reflect it in a hghly creative and colorful way. Some stories are hard to tell what is happening, they speak in parables, but so does the New testimate. I will say the majority of the stories begin with, "when everything was all water". There are various stories that I can see weaving together into the Great Narrative if you have eyes to see. Some begin with two wolds or brothers, ligh and dark, man living undergrund. I think if you cn imagine the elohim working with Great Spirit in the beginning you can find a place where these stories can bring the story alive even more vibrantly. In any case, they bring another layer to how I now see the world.
I have only managed to begin the animal tales section of the book which is not even a quarter of tthe way, but I will continue to chug along. If I need to skip some stories at the end of the section for the matter of keeping up witth one book a month I will go back and read the rest later. I am excited to see how these myths continue to broaden my capacity to see in the Spirit, hear from the Spirit, and be transformed.