Humans are not row plants that thrive in a domesticated setting . . .

"Humans are not row plants that thrive in a domesticated setting; we are free, wild, living in the natural world, nurturing and being nurtured by the world around us - by Mother Earth. If you want a clear demonstration of the contrast between indigenous people living matriarchally and the modern subjects of the patriarch, simply compare a wild salmon to a farm fish. Wild salmon live in deep clean water, they're fast-moving, chasing their food, surviving by being fit and healthy. Their flesh is bright-colored and firm, free of disease and parasites. Farmed salmon are pale and mushy, sickly, covered with sores, infested with worms and parasites, the victims of confinement, inactivity, unhealthy diet. Does this remind you of anyone?"

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

The reason we decided to write this book is because The Trickster has completely tricked my people . . .

"The reason we decided to write this book is because The Trickster has completely tricked my people. The Trickster, or Iktomi, has come into our land, and completely colonized the Lakotah Nation. Many of my own people are only play-acting at being Indians. Only a few even realize that they are colonized. The Heyoka, the one who lives backwards, has come into our land to try to get the people out of this death condition, but it's not working - the people are not listening. They're not learning. Heyokas [tricksters] were rare when we were free. Walking backwards, talking backwards - they're always talking about bad things, but it means the opposite. So the Heyoka is a teacher. And the further you get away from the Great Mystery's teachings, the more Heyokas are needed. In Pine Ridge back in the 1960s, there was only one Heyoka in the entire nation. This is because most of the old people who kept our culture alive were still living. But as they died off, more Heyokas materialized. Now practically every Holy Man is a Heyoka. This means the people aren't listening to the teaching. The whole nation is becoming Heyoka. With so many people addicted to alcohol or to one drug or another, and sending their kids to school where they learn the anti-knowledge of patriarchal society, the whole nation is unwittingly turning Heyoka - they don't even realize it. Only a few great ones know that they are Heyoka these days. The others are Heyoka, teaching backwards, without even knowing it. This has become the tragic norm . . . 

"The white man is always confused by the concept of Iktomi, who is often represented by the Spider. American Indian people don't believe in the Devil. We don't believe in evil. We had no experience of it until we met a patriarch [Euro-American society]. A basic premise among indigenous people is that there isn't anything that is perfect. So you build this idea into the society, and therefore you have Iktomi, the Trickster, who is a sort of Heyoka. Iktomi is a teacher, he will teach you about the tricks of life, the foibles of life, about temptation, about egos. There is nothing evil about him. Iktomi, by the way, is a male. So Iktomi, as part of the natural world, is not evil, in fact he can be downright funny. But you've got to LOOK OUT. That's the lesson of Iktomi."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

"If You've Forgotten the Names of the Clouds, You've Lost Your Way," co-authored with Bayard Johnson (2013)

Photos:  Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

The indigenous male is always seeking to get in balance with the female.

"The indigenous male is always seeking to get in balance with the female. Always seeking some insight into the experience of the female and her unique position as a creator of life. Men of the Lakotah Nation have always felt great affection, honor and gratitude toward the White Buffalo Calf Woman for giving them the Inipi [sweat lodge] and Sundance - two of the Sacred Ceremonies given to humankind - for the specific purpose of helping the men develop and strengthen this sacred bond with our Mother the Universe . . . In our culture, women are taught to always treat their husbands as twelve year-olds, because men, no matter how old they are, will throw tantrums. They pout and demand to be babied. My wife tells me I've matured with 72 winters, and now act more like a thirteen year-old!"

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

The the Lakota, the four sacred colors represent the four races of humanity.

"For the Lakotah, black, red, yellow and white are four of the sacred colors. They represent the four races of people, and when you mix those four colors together you get brown, the color of the other race, and the color of our Grandmother the Earth."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photo: Yellow Mounds section of Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2016

Indigenous peoples believe members of industrial society don't know how to be happy.

"Modern anthropologists have observed indigenous hunter-gatherers, and found that about two hours per day is spent in fulfilling one's material responsibilities - procuring food, clothing and shelter. Compare this with the 'modern' man in industrialized society, where a minimum of 8 hours per day is spent working to cover the bare essentials of life . . . We indigenous people had time to notice the world around us, and to learn from it, and that is why we develop all these practices and all this knowledge which is still so elusive to patriarchal society. Foremost among these gifts is the ability to be happy, to be satisfied."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Cottonwood tree, Salsify flower, and the Yellow Mounds, Badlands National Park, SD; May 16, 2015

Indians never try to explain the unknown.

"Indians never try to explain the unknown. That's why you hear us talk about the Great Mystery, which we treat with great respect. We always thought the white man was foolish because he claims to know everything about the unknown while knowing nothing about this life; in contrast, we Indians know everything about this life and nothing about what comes after."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

This weekend, I took a trip to the Badlands and to Bear Lodge (Devil's Tower), both of which are located in historic Lakota lands. While in South Dakota, I picked up a book by Russell Means. It's entitled "If You've Forgotten the Names of the Clouds, You've Lost Your Way: An Introduction to American Indian Thought and Philosophy." I'll be quoting from this book over the next few days :)

Photo: Chokecherry and Bear Lodge, Devil's Tower National Monument, WY, May 16, 2015

Sabbath rest beams from every feature of rock and sky.

"Sabbath rest and the confidence of settled tranquility beam from every feature of rock and sky."

The Contemplative John Muir

Photo: Cottonwood tree, red cliffs, and a sideways view of Horsetooth Rock, near Masonville, CO, May 11, 2015

The Great Spirit and the Christian God are the same . . .

"I was raised mostly by my grandparents. They gave me the proper training. They taught me about the Great Spirit and also the Christian God. I believed in both because I was taught both were the same."

Noble Red Man
(Mathew King)
Oglalla Lakota 

Photos: (Top) Oregon Holly-Grape and Cub Lake after a rain, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, May 11, 2015; (Second) Flowering Cottonwoods, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, May 11, 2015 . . .

(Third) Wild Plum flowers, Greyrock Trail, Roosevelt National Forest, CO, May 9, 2015; (Bottom) Noble Red Man (Mathew King)

Ego can clothe itself in subtle spiritual garb!

Recently, I've been aware of the subtle ways in which ego clothes itself in spiritual garb. These include such things as secretly reveling in being part of an "in-group" of spiritual practitioners that is composed of well-known or famous people, focusing on "levels" of spiritual development and placing oneself high on the scale, identifying an "image" of what it means to be a mystic or contemplative and then seeking to inhabit that image - as well as castigating oneself for NOT being well-known or accepted, which results in a failure to express one's gifts in the humble social context in which one HAS been placed. By contrast, we can learn so much from Nature, which simply radiates its true essence without artifice or facade. What could be less egoic or self-conscious and more spiritual than a mountain or a tree? Our role as human beings is to allow the sincerity of a natural landscape to become conscious through our love and appreciation. Accordingly, spirituality does NOT involve focusing on OURSELVES or on our own level of development! We are meant instead to become LOST in awe and wonder!

Photos: (Top and Bottom) Cottonwood trees and ruddy cliffs, Lory State Park, CO; (Middle) Long's Peak appearing out of the mist, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO. Theses photos were taken on May 11-13, 2015

Beauty is God!

"Oh, the infinite abundance and universality of Beauty! Beauty is God - what shall we say of God that we may not say of Beauty?"

The Contemplative John Muir

Photo: Ruddy sandstone and pastel-green Cottonwoods; Lory State Park, CO; May 13, 2015

It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect.

"It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become toward the defects of others."

Joseph Addison,
17th century English essayist

Photo: Bull Elk with asymmetric antlers, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, May 11, 2015

All physical phenomena, when followed up, are found rooted and growing in God.

"All physical phenomena, when followed up, are found rooted and growing in God."

The Contemplative John Muir 

Photos: (Top) Ruddy cliffs and Cottonwood Tree, Lory State Park, CO; (Middle) Thimbleberry (Boulder Raspberry) and Arthur's Rock, Lory State Park, CO; (Bottom) Fishing near Horsetooth Reservoir, CO. All three photos were taken on May 13, 2015

The softest thing in the universe overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.

"The softest thing in the universe
Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.
That without substance can enter where there is no room.
Hence I know the value of non-action.

Teaching without words and work without doing
Are understood by very few."

Lao Tsu
6th century B.C.E., China

Photo: Falls with Thimbleberry (Boulder Raspberry) flowers, Lory State Park, CO, May 12, 2015

All that we call destruction is creating.

"All that we call destruction is creating."

The Contemplative John Muir

Photo: Oregon Holly-Grape blooming in the Fern Lake Burn, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, May 11, 2015

The warm blood of God flows through death itself.

"The warm blood of God flows through these mountain granites, flows through these frozen streams, flows through trees living or fallen, flows through death itself."

The Contemplative John Muir 

Photos: Oregon Holly-Grape, bark artistry on a burnt tree, and snags, Fern Lake Burn, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, May 11, 2015