Wakan Tanka is Always With Us
Never lose your trust in Wakan Tanka, the Great Mystery, for even when shadows pass over our path or our path seems impossible, the light of our Creator continues to shine just beyond the horizon. Be ever hopeful, for the bounties of our Beloved Maker of All Good Things never cease to flow upon us. At times, when viewed through the eyes of hardship, these gifts may seem to decrease, yet when seen with the eyes of the spirit, they are overflowing, full, and complete.
Our Human Family, like fish within the waters, is constantly immersed in the living sea of Wakan Tanka’s blessings. Let us remember that we are not alone in this journey. Therefore, let us not surrender to hopelessness under any circumstance. Instead, let us be firm in our hope and unwavering in our faith. Hope is the sacred fire that gives warmth in winter storms. Faith is the lodge pole that holds the Sacred Lodge upright when winds test its strength.
We are called to STRIVE, to turn wholly toward the Worlds of Light, where the wisdom of our ancestors and the sacred beings dwell. To walk in that direction is to invite the Sacred Teachings of the White Buffalo Calf Woman and other Sacred Teachers into our hearts, breathing prayers that rise like smoke toward the heavens. From this turning, we acquire innate courage and ideal power, not the power of domination, but the power of love, of unity, of spiritual resilience.\
This courage is the heartbeat of the buffalo, which faces the storm rather than runs from it. This ideal power is akin to the soaring of the eagle, which sees the entirety of Mother Earth from its heights. It is the gentle strength of the hummingbird, who finds sweetness even in the midst of thorny places. It is the endurance of the turtle that carries the world upon its back with patience.
The Sacred Hoop (Čhaŋgléska Wakháŋ): Our lives are circles within the great circle of creation. Hope means trusting that even when part of the circle dips into the night, the sun will rise again. This cycle of darkness and light is a testament to the enduring nature of our faith and the resilience it instills in us.
The Four Colors—Red, Yellow, Black, and White: Each represents a direction, a people, and a teaching. Together, they remind us that the fullness of blessings is revealed when the Human Family stands united.
The Flowing River: Just as water finds its way around stones, so too do the blessings of the Creator find us, even when obstacles appear.
The Sacred Tree (Wakháŋ Čhaŋ): Its deep roots in the earth and branches reaching into the heavens symbolize faith unshaken by storms, and hope always stretching toward the light. This symbolism serves as a reminder that our faith, like the roots of the tree, runs deep and is unshaken by the storms of life.
Therefore, beloved relatives, stand firm in hope, even when trials seem unending. Remember that we are surrounded by blessings, upheld by our ancestors, and guided by the Great Mystery. By turning to the Worlds of Light, we grow strong in spirit, filled with courage, and able to walk the good red road with dignity and joy.
