The Hoop of many ‘hoops’

The struggle between opposites, both within and in the world, continues. And the fight, which began with Cain and Abel, is becoming the accumulated fight in the world. It is creating a tension which is heightening our awareness of the differences between us. This is exactly what the original fight was supposed to do, develop our conscience. But now that everything is becoming well identified, its function may well be nearing its end. Which brings us to the turning point, and a new paradigm shift. The Native elder Black Elk in his vision describes it in this way -

"And I saw that the Sacred Hoop of my People, was one of many hoops, that made one large Circle,

as wide as the day, and as far as the starlight.

And in the Center, grew one mighty tree, to shelter the Children of one Mother, and one Father.

And I saw that it was holy."

I want to try and compare the Native and the biblical descriptions of reality, and try to verify that Armageddon is already happening. I said earlier that our personal struggles are similar to our global Struggle. War is the immature choice. Avoiding war is the mature choice.

If we agree that the Native Peoples were the first humans in this Land, then it stands to reason, that they would see reality from a connected perspective, because of their unique relationship with the Land. We could symbolize their position in reality as a dot within a circle.

The Christian on the other hand believes that he was expelled from the Garden, and recognizes that there is a separation between himself and his God. His position can be symbolized as a line moving away from the Circle. Both however, recognize that there is a process, which brings us into a proper relationship with our God/the Creator.

But that process is different for each culture. Where one describes how to get back into the circle, the other describes how to find your position in the circle. One sees reality from outside the circle. The other feels connected to Mother Earth, but recognizes that he/she needs to find their position in relation to the Four Corners- as outlined in the Medicine Wheel.

From the Native perspective, the Great Spirit comes through Nature, as the Voice from the unknown. There is mystery in life, and life takes on depth and meaning within the larger framework of Nature. The Great Spirit speaks through the Nature spirits, and often emphasizes its message through signs, coincidences, and certain sacred intermediaries.

From within the circle, Native persons relate to their surroundings in a sacred manner, because they recognize that there is more to life than is apparent. And that’s because they've had evidence of the spirit manifesting itself in their life.

Native Peoples relate to the Earth, with mystery and respect, because they see the Earth as the noble domain of the Great Spirit. Christians on the other hand, see their life in relation to the example revealed by their God - the life of Christ. Christians recognize that they have fallen, and need to be reconciled with the Father. The life of Christ becomes the Way. And the process of reconciliation becomes one of growth in relation to the example. The Christian way is a journey back to the Father, and in that sense is lineal.

There is an element of incompleteness in both descriptions, however - the 'lineal' systems have lost their connection with the Earth. Native Peoples on the other hand have not been allowed proper representation in the world.

It is for this reason, that we need a new order in the world. A new order that can effectively deal with the injustices perpetrated against aboriginal Peoples throughout the world (next chapter).

A New World Order is really like a shinuk. There is darkness, and there is Light. Darkness is the state in which the world is in, when it is absent from the Light. It is the winter of life, the season in which the cloud of confusion reigns. Light comes from the future, and it gently pulls us into its realm. Light is openness and spaciousness, and when it comes, a new sense of wholeness is celebrated - A warm connectedness joins us all.

Truth is the knife that cuts between the darkness and opens the door to the Light. It is the awareness of the Light in our lives, which comes like a shinuk, and symbolizes rebirth. It comes after the winter in our life, and invariably after a long hard struggle with the ‘cold’. We hide in the caves of darkness. And we cling to the security of our familiarities. But soon the end of winter comes, and a warm wind gently raises us up.

Rebirth is the realization of having fallen, made in the light of our renewal. (The degree we have fallen is directly related to the terror of having recognized the dark road). Making a change in directions, and turning to the Light is like being reborn. Becoming aware that there is a larger life to live, and a Creator, whom we are all a part of, is the Resurrection of the Light in our lives. Rebirth is the awakening of the self, which we have been denying.

From the Native perspective, it is becoming aware of our true position in life. It is becoming aware that we are an eternal being, standing at the center of the Universe. It is a realization of an awakening happening within us - a finding of our true home.

It can be described as, a feeling or a knowing that all the great people we have shared a common moment with, are now together sharing that special moment with us, in the Light of our Awakening. It is a moment shared by the whole Universe. It is the Universe coming together, to celebrate the event of all of us coming together. It is the Plan becoming fulfilled according to prophecy. This is eternal living, and the memories of those moments are stored in Heaven, or the Spirit World - Together we all make up that Kingdom.

Both the Native, and the Biblical descriptions, have a rebirth happening in the world, after a great tribulation. And both emphasize that we create our own Heaven, by how we live our life. The difference is that one comes into being, and the other becomes reconciled. The Circle of Humanity becomes fulfilled in its moment of wholeness (connectedness) and the individual becomes fulfilled in their moment of rising (awakening).

So in a sense, both the individual and the whole (world) become reconciled in each other. Together they merge, and in that moment of history, they experience the Eternal Now. “Eternal living” becomes the renewal of life - One in one another.

What we find, and what we share depends on what we have to share. We store up good experiences shared in love and truth. These stay with us, and become part of our Spirit World - the World to which we shall go to after death. It is the World that will survive.

How much power we have stored up in the Spirit World depends on what kind of a life we have been living. So, behavior does play a major role in defining how we will come home. Both the Native and the Biblical teachings describe ways in which we can store up power in the Spirit World.

In the same sense, we can see the larger process in the world, coming to fulfillment. Using the idea of opposing hemispheres, we can project what is happening within us to what is happening in the world. The divisions are the same. Our Larger Being within is the same Creator coming to life in the world.

A lot of damage has been done to the Native ideology, and their belief in the interconnectedness of all things. Native peoples all over the world have suffered because of the modern intrusion into their world. We have all lost something during the process of industrialization - a sacredness that we may never regain.

Perhaps some day we will rediscover that lost world and the People of the Earth will come together as One. I think this will be the new birth in the world, the Hoop of many hoops - a true confluence of East and West, left and right.

There still exist some cultures that haven't been destroyed by the influence of the ‘green skins’. These people still relate with the Earth holistically.

After 'the fight' in the world is finally given up, a New ideological relationship between all Peoples could become a reality - A new Covenant between the Earth and its Peoples could become a Reality.