Now Our Minds Are One

We took a lot of pictures this Thanksgiving. Me and Teagan and Garth. We set up my phone which has this really cool app that let's you set a timer and take like thirty some odd pictures at a time, one after the other. So we did that and captured us. And - as you can see - captured Phoenix and Nava, too. Though Phoenix looks a bit like we took a tiger image and photoshopped it in. Which I like. It makes me laugh.

We did a lot of laughing this Thanksgiving together. And talking. And cooking yummy food that was not traditional Thanksgiving food. Instead we made a broccoli dish with curry and coconut milk that invoked a bit of a Thai flavor. We made a mushroom salad that was warm and so the lettuce was warm, too. We made pumpkin soup, so that was somewhat in keeping with the holiday. We had roasted potatoes. And yes, I made a Turkey which I accidentally cooked belly side up - she looked the same from both angles, that funky bird - and she ended up cooking very well upside down.  

So perhaps saying we did not make traditional food is not quite correct, It's more like we took a few things that were Thanksgiving themed and merged them with new ideas that resonated with us on this day.

As it was with our thoughts around this day of giving thanks.

Because we talked - both on this day and leading up to our celebration together - about what Thanksgiving has meant in the past and what it means to us now. Because we felt - and feel still as we move forward in this not so easy time for humanity - that the stories of Thanksgiving past are not the stories that hold true for us. As in the three of us and in all of us as that collective we. 

And because of this, the shift in focus and meaning, Teagan found us a Thanksgiving prayer to read together before we started our Thanksgiving meal. We read around the table, taking turns in an order that Teagan prepared before we prepared our meal together. She choose our parts wisely, the words we invoked fell gently from our hearts. I want to share these words with you. And also the sweet and true poem that she - my thoughtful and powerful and oh so wise daughter - shared with us before we embarked on the reading of this prayer.  

Here are her words:

Today, we are all one. Today, we are all human. Today, I love you. Today, I am so happy to be sharing today with you. Today, I remember the origins of this holiday, and choose to allow the past to rest and for new meaning of the present to emerge. Today, change is a natural process. Today, I share my love, support, prayers and gratitude for all Native American people. Today, I share my love, support, prayers and gratitude for those fighting for their land. Today, I share my love, support, prayers and gratitude for those blessed enough to be living in peace. Today, I share my love, support, prayers and gratitude for those caught in the struggle of acceptance and respect. Today, I share my love, support, prayers and gratitude for those spreading energy of acceptance and respect. Today, I honor you, your people, your land, and your strength, and give thanks to you for being a part of this world and for showing up so fully. Today, we honor ourselves, for the miracle of being the only “me" there will ever be, for our minds, bodies, spirits, and hearts. Today, we give thanks, for being surrounded by those we love. Today, joy, love, and acceptance is unbiased, and any discomfort, pain, and confusion we may feel, is acknowledged as perfect, okay, and part of the human experience, not rejected, denied, or made to be fuel for anger or resentment. Today we love, today we are present, today we honor ourselves, and each other, from this house, to every other. 

And here is the prayer:

Thanksgiving Address

Greetings to the Natural World

The People
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.

The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.
Now our minds are one.

The Fish
We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.

The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.

The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one.

The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now our minds are one.

The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.
Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds are one.

The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.

The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.
Now our minds are one.

The Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.

Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one