THE CHEROKEE OR TSALAGI NATION HAVE TRADITIONALLY CALLED
OURSELVES THE PRINCIPAL PEOPLE (ANI YUN WIWA), IN THAT OUR CREATION
STORIES AND PHILOSOPHY REFER TO OUR SACRED DUTY TO INSTILL LIGHT, TO
MANIFEST GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BEINGS.
COMING TO PEACE IN OURSELVES, FORGIVING OUR RELATIVES AND ALL OUR
RELATIONS INCLUDING OURSELVES FOR WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, WHAT
COULD HAVE BEEN, AND ACCEPTING WHO WE ARE-THIS IS A PRIMARY STEP
UPON THE BEAUTY PATH. CASTING OUT PATTERNS OF ATTACHMENT AND
EXPECTATION ENABLES US TO ACT IN THE NOW. ONCE WE MAKE THAT STEP,
WE EVER WALK IN THE WAY OF BEAUTY.
A PRAYER OF THANKFULNESS PUTS YOU IN HARMONY FOR THE DAY, THAT
YOU MAY EVER RESONATE WITH A SONG OF HARMONY. TO WALK THE
BEAUTY PATH REQUIRES A MOST COURAGEOUS AND COMPASSIONATE BEING-COURAGE ENOUGH TO TURN ASIDE THE IGNORANCE AND COMPASSION
ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS IT, TO BRING FORTH LIGHT AND THE BEAUTY OF ONE
ANOTHER. ALL BEINGS ARE SACRED. THIS IS AN IDEAL THAT ALL OF OUR
PEOPLE HOLD.
IN THE TSALAGI TRADITION, THE YEARLY FRIENDSHIP CEREMONY IS VERY BIG
MEDICINE, WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FROM ALL OVER THE PLANET TO
RENEW TRIBAL TIES AND OFFER TO THE SACRED FIRE THE OBSTRUCTIONS AND
LIMITATIONS OF MIND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED THROUGH
UNCLEAR SPEECH OR ACTION. THUS WE ARE EVER RENEWED IN THE SACRED
CIRCLE; THUS WE ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM ONE ANOTHER.
LET US CHOOSE EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES TO WALK IN THE WAY
OF OUR ANCESTORS, KNOWING THAT IT IS NEVER EASY OR SIMPLE OR QUICK,
BUT ENDURING, PATIENT AND VERY SLOW. IF WE REALLY WANT TO WALK IN
THE PATH OF BEAUTY WE MUST PUT ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND COME
TOGETHER AS "THE PEOPLE OF ONE FIRE!"
Linda Gonzalez
Painting by A. Gonzalez