A letter I recieved that all can learn from.
Let me tell you when I got this letter in my e-mail as I read it I cried! This is why I am here and this is why I do these pages this is why I walk this Red Road! And for the rest of my life I will never forget this and I am hoping that this letter will teach all who read it to do as she has done. And touch you and your life as much as it has done to mine! Pilyamayaye Eagle! It has been an honor!

Hi Mother2Wolf,
I was just about to e-mail you when I found your reply in my mail. I would like to share something with you, if i may.

So many times we do things and we wonder if they make a difference to anyone or not. We do not always hear how they have. Fewer times ones forget to say Thank You to the one who has helped or given of themselves for another. This why I try and feel it is important to say thank you :) .. Tonight I was not feeling well, I have been fighting pnemonia for the past week and I went to your website. It was just what the doctor ordered ... I can not begin to share with you in words how the songs heard on your webpages helped me ... Your site is one of the most beautifully done sites on the web ...I knew when it was done opening before i read a word that the spirits blessed this site and felt you walked and lived in a very good way, it gave me goose bumps Mother2Wolf . I am originally from NH and have lived in MN and now am in ID. I am still learning to walk the red road and still learning about my family's people, who are Wabenaki and MiqMac, I like many others had this side of the family hid from them but was lucky in that they taught me how to live in a good way and taught me about always giving something back. It is my hope now that in sharing with you how your website touched my heart and spirit that when the days come that you wonder to yourself ...does it matter you will remember these words : Yes, it does, it mattered to one person .
Mother2Wolf may Great Spirit bless you and yours and may your days be long and beautiful for many years to come
You have a beautiful spirit:)
WEagle

Story From WEagle

A GREAT AND STRONG MAN

We have all heard stories about great chiefs, great leaders of men, heroes and warriors of greatness, all who achieved fame in their life times or after life. I would like to share with you about a great man who was never famous, rich (by the standard measure of being a rich man), nor was he well educated by books and professors but, he was a great man.

He was a tall man with the back of a bison and the strength of one. He was strong; strong willed, strong in strength, strong in endurance, strong in charature, yet a more gentle soul one could not find. He did know how to spell, write, or read. His signature was a simple mark, an X. Still he could hold you with his words and his vast timeless knowledge of things. He did not know how to do math but he did know how to add and subtract. He knew when he was cheated and knew when something was fair. He made no fuss about either one, in his infinamint wisdom he knew all things came around and would square things up in the end. There were far greater things to put his heart and energies into than feuding and fighting with ones over small potatoes and sour grapes. He was slow to anger and even slower to react in a fast manner, so common among people today.

Grandfather was very spiritual, many came to save his soul and make him civilized. He said nothing. He simply loaded his pipe and went for a walk in the woods leaving those without a word to them to mutter, think and believe what they would. He never told anyone anything. He spoke seldom and when asked about something would take his pipe and tap the tobacco down and place it between his lips, after a minute or two he would reach up and remove it from his mouth and holding it with the bowl in his right hand he would look up and reply using few words. He never wasted anything including words. He seldom spoke to others outside his family and even then he said little except to one or two.

He believed in taking care of and protecting all placed in his care. He believed in always replacing what he took from Mother Earth and all life to sustain his own and his families. He believed in thanking and giving thanks for all and for all living things. He asked nothing for himself but for others believing to do in this way was a good way to do. He believed every word, deed, and thought would come around. He believed what was sent out would come back home to roost one day.

Grandfather never needed a calendar, a watch to tell the time, or listen to a weather forecast to know what the weather was. The seasons were his calendar. The sky his time piece, his almanac, and his weather report. The birds, animals, and those who swam, crawled and flew also provided him with the time of the year it was, the forecast of weather to come, and gave of themselves for food to meet his survival needs. The trees and plants shared with him the time of year it was, and helped him to meet his needs of survival. He in return respected them, loved them and took care of them.

Often Grandfather could be found in the woods sitting under the shade of the tall pines or under a maple. The giant rocks and trees along with many little animals and the deer sat and stood around him chattering happily as some of them took gratefully food he had brought to share with them. The pines whispering sweetly and the tall ones rustling in the breeze speaking in tones ever so gentle and reassuringly.

Grandfather would sit amongst the great historians, the wisdom keepers, all the medicine keepers. People of great wisdom and knowledge that held degrees and honors could not hold with these simply true great ones he choose to sit among. Grandfather had a love for these ones and a respect for them that was returned to him for all the days of his life.

He often took me with him to the woods and to the waters that crossed through the land. He taught me to fish so that I might never be thirsty, hungry, cold or lonely. He instilled in me the importance of living a simple life and a full life. He shared with me his love for all things and all living things. He shared with me the importance of family, seeking guidance, always remembering to give more than asked for, taking only what I needed and sharing with those who had a true need.

He shared with me the butterflies I felt in my stomach were put there to keep me humble, the shame I felt when one had to remind me I had not obeyed the ways and not followed a good path and had hurt one unnecessarily were to teach me humility and to know the pain another felt. Oh, yes Grandfather was a very wise and strong man.

He was a warrior taking care of his family and providing for them. He was brave when his only child, a daughter at the time, passed on, after a full life, at the age of six months. Two years later a son was born to him. It was not until almost fifty years later another girl would born into his family. A girl who looked much like his own daughter who had passed on. Tears flowed down his cheeks each time he looked at the miracle born to his son and his wife.

Grandfather and I would have a bond that would remain long after his passing on.
Grandfather was truly a great and honorable man. His strength and bravery unsurpassed. His love, wisdom, and knowledge spoke quietly in all his thoughts, words, and deeds. His Spirit shines brightly giving guidance and direction on a well worn path. Those once small, wobbly feet he placed so lovingly and gently upon it, long ago on that cold Wolf Moon now follows those foot prints left by this great and strong warrior. She knows she is to take nothing and leave only footprints, disturbing and harming no more than needs to be.

Often she, just as her Grandfather before her, can be found among all our relations hearing, seeing, learning and laughing, as she grows and shares life and living a full life with her mate.

Grandfather, hear my heart
Hear my Gratitude
Grandfather see my hands
Hear my Prayer
Grandfather walk with me
So I might learn the lessons
you have to teach me
AHO!

©29 October 2001
WEagle

A MOTHER'S CIRCLE OF LIFE

Otter lived in the wooded north near Little River. She lived among the roots of the old and wise Cedar along the bank of the river. Otter loved to play. She swam in the river, she would often slide down the bank on her belly and slip into the water where she would swim, dive and frolic away the long hot days of summer. In winter she would slide down the frozen river bank into the water. The water was not just for playing though, it was also where Otter was able to find food. She and her mate often would work together chasing fish toward the bank and corralling them for easy catching. Otter were good fisherman. They spent hours together, both in the water playing, foraging, as well as, walking in the woods and playing among the flowers, trees, and plants. They were happy together and were soon going to have a family. Father Otter would leave and not return until the little ones had grown and were well on their way of fending for themselves though.

The time for Otter to give birth was coming close and it was now time to prepare her home for the birth of her little ones and her trips to the water and away from her home were now mainly for food. Mother Otter would spend the next few weeks alone. Her mate had left her now and would not return for a long time.

Finally, the babies were born. After a few months they had grown enough to begin their journey outside their home. Otter took very good care of them. She began their journey by taking them to the water. They followed her into the water staying close to their mother as they swam playfully across Little River to the other side. Otter took them deep into the woods. She brought them fish to eat as they rested near the bottom of Bear Mountain. The sun had gone down and Otter's young were very nervous and afraid. She chirped to them as they huddled next to her. Slowly they settled down and drifted off to dream land in a peaceful sleep. As Otter laid with her children she looked up at the night sky and said this is the best day of my life for my children have learned not to be afraid.

Early the next morning they began the climb up Bear Mountain. The little ones following their mother as they played and chuckled with one another. As the bright sunshine began to disappear and dusk set in the little ones became weary and tired but Otter snorted and grunted encouraging her young to continue a little while longer. As the sun finally set they laid down to sleep and mother Otter said, as she lay looking up at the sky, "This is the best day of my life for my little ones have learned perseverance." Mother Otter lay her head down and fell asleep.

The chattering of the birds and the call of the morning doves blended in with the songs of Mother Otter and her young as they began to climb further up the mountain. The little one's were curious about everything and stopped many times to look at the flowers. They let out shrill whistles to one another as well as to the birds, butterflies and bees who they met on their journey up the mountain. Soon they became hungry and began to growl. Mother Otter led them to a stream which often pooled and fish could be found. She chuckled as she watched her young imitate her ways of catching the fish that swam near the edge of the stream. When her children had caught and eaten enough to make them full she led them to a hollow log where they all fell fast asleep. Mother Otter peeked out and up at the sky and said, " This is the best day of my life for my children have learned to be independent".

The next morning while they were at the stream Mother Otter caught the scent of danger. She quickly gathered her young around her and took them to the water under a log where they would be safe. She made low growling sounds warning her young to be still and quiet. She sniffed the air and found the danger to be gone and it safe to continue her journey with her little ones up Bear Mountain. Again they huddled together to sleep and Mother Otter looked up at the sky and said, "This is the best day of my life for my little ones have learned to protect themselves from danger." She then snuggled down and went fast asleep.

As the sun reached over the mountain they could almost see the top of the mountain. The little ones ran playing and frolicking about. Mother Otter was tired from the long journey. The little ones seeing she was having trouble offered to help her. She chirped at their generosity and kindness. Finally near the top and the sun beginning to set they laid down for the night to sleep but again before Mother Otter's eyes closed she looked up at the sky and said, "This is the best day of my life for my little ones have learned compassion and kindness."

In the morning they continued on their journey and she showed them all the flowers and plants. She said look up at the sky and see how blue it is and all around you, the trees which have changed from their green dresses to their fall finery of golds, reds, oranges and rust colors. Her young looked up and all around them. They breathed in the fresh cool crispness of the fall air. As night fell once more they laid down to sleep and Mother Otter looked up at the sky, the stars and the bright harvest moon and said, "This is the best day of my life for my young ones have learned of all the beauty of this world." She laid down near them and fell asleep.

The next day they continued and now they could see the top of the mountain very clearly. It was not far away at all. Upon reaching the top of the mountain they saw two very large and old cedar trees. Here Mother Otter said to her young ones, " I must leave you now and go on alone, but you must continue on and remember all that you have learned so you may pass it on to your own little ones one day." The young Otters began to cry in high pitched shrill whistles. As they began down the mountain alone, Mother Otter chirped in soft and gentle tones as she passed between the two old and wise cedars that stood as a gate, looking up at the blue sky, "This is the best day of my life for my young Otters have learned courage to walk with trust and belief in themselves."

©5 February 2002
WEagle667

Poem from Ceta Luta
As the Eagle
As the eagle flies
high and focused…so the man or woman who makes stop in their lives.To not make stop… today is to risk the ever growing cost of disconnection. Who can risk traveling so far and so fast without taking time to understandthat endless flight may be exciting but leads often to confusion and disaster. How sweet the sound of the wind that raises brother eagle to touch the heavens and to know the land of Great Spirit. How sweet the flow when flight and stop make rhythms in our life.
Ceta Luta
11/8/01

Words of Wisdom

"A Strong Man"
The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width of his arms that encircle and protect you.

The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It is in the gentle words he whispers.
The strength of a man isn't in the words he speaks.

It's in how he keeps his word.
The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy he is with his or "your" children.

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how he is respected at home.
The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches.

The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in the heart...that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn't in how many women he's loved.
It's in whether he can be true to the ONE woman he's trying to love.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry.

The strength of a man isn't in how much food he eats from your table.
It's in the effort he puts forth when you are unable.

The strength of a man isn't in how he makes love.
It's in the understanding that there is more to making love... than making love.

 

A strong man puts Creator first, family second and his work third.