April 2025 Newsletter Update
What are the Best Qualities and Roles of Elders?
What are the Best Qualities and Roles of Elders? Has the Elder Earned the Title?
Elders function as global leaders. Native Americans best show us how Elders function in different roles. They lodge within their inner power through out the red and blue roads of their lives.
Global Leaders champion human rights and peace. Consider the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and many others.
Greta Thunberg at age 20 rates as a Global Leader.
Greta has indeed emerged as a prominent global leader in the realms of human rights and peace, particularly through her unwavering commitment to climate activism. Her journey began in 2018 with a solitary school strike outside the Swedish Parliament, which rapidly evolved into the “Fridays for Future” movement. This inspired millions worldwide to advocate for urgent climate action. In 2019, Time magazine honored her as its Person of the Year. They recognized her for “sounding the alarm about humanity’s predatory relationship with the only home we have.” This mobilized a global youth movement.
Thunberg’s activism transcends environmental concerns, intertwining with broader human rights issues. Her advocacy highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities. This emphasizes the need for justice and equity in climate policies. Furthermore, she has been a vocal critic of political leaders who downplay the climate crisis. She urges them to take meaningful action to safeguard the planet for future generations.
Thunberg’s Recognition
Her recognition as a global leader is not only due to her environmental advocacy. It is also her embodiment of the values of peace, justice, and collective responsibility. Thunberg’s ability to unite individuals across borders and backgrounds underscores the power of youth-led movements in shaping a more equitable and sustainable world.
In summary, Greta Thunberg stands as a testament to the profound impact that determined individuals, regardless of age, can have in championing human rights and peace on a global scale.
Link – Book by Greta’s mother reveals the reality of family life. Greta transformed from bullied teenager to Climate Activist. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/23/great-thunberg-malena-ernman-our-house-is-on-fire-memoir-extract
Native American Traditions
In many Native American traditions, the first 60 years of life are viewed as a period of growth and contribution to the community. During this time, individuals are encouraged to develop their unique gifts and share them with others, much like a tree that blossoms and bears fruit. This phase emphasizes personal development, service to others, and the nurturing of future generations.
Good Red Road: A Path of Balance and Purpose
The Red Road includes about 1st 60 years of life. A Native American offers their special gifts to their people’s. They blossom and bear fruit, like a tree.
A Red Road is how someone makes a mark in their outer environment. The Red Road includes the 1st 60 years of life. A Native American offers their special gifts to their people’s. They blossom and bear fruit, like a tree.
The concept of the “Good Red Road” is a profound Native American philosophy. It emphasizes living with balance, purpose, and respect for all aspects of life. This path is a holistic way of being that encompasses spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
The “Red Road” serves as a metaphor for a spiritual and ethical journey. As described by Oglala Sioux medicine man Black Elk, it represents a commitment to live in harmony with oneself, others, and the Creator. This journey is guided by principles such as the Seven Sacred Virtues of the Lakota Prayer: Honesty, Humility, Compassion, Respect, Generosity, and Wisdom. The First 60 Years: Blossoming and Bearing Fruit.
Living the Good Red Road
Walking the Good Red Road involves embodying values that promote harmony and respect.
- Self-Discovery: “Search for yourself, by yourself.” This encourages individuals to find their own path and truth, rather than relying solely on external influences.
- Respect and Generosity: Treating others with kindness and sharing one’s blessings are fundamental aspects of this path.
- Environmental Stewardship: Recognizing that nature is not for us but a part of us. It treats all natural beings as members of our family.
- Spiritual Practice: Engaging in regular prayer and reflection, often rising with the sun to connect with the Creator.
- Community and Family: Building strong, healthy relationships and contributing to the well-being of the community.
By embracing these principles, individuals can walk the Good Red Road. They lead lives that are balanced, purposeful, and in harmony with the world around them.
Native American Elder: The Good Blue Road
After about age 60, elders may choose focusing within themselves. They can elect discovering Power Within.
In many Native American cultures, elders are revered as the spiritual and cultural anchors of their communities. Reaching the age of 60 often marks a significant transition. This invites individuals to deepen their connection with the sacred and to guide others through their wisdom.
Embracing the Sacred Path
At this stage, elders may choose to focus inwardly, seeking to discover and harness their inner power. This journey often involves reconnecting with spiritual practices that have been passed down through generations.
Core Spiritual Practices
- Smudging Ceremonies: The use of sacred herbs like sage, sweetgrass, and cedar in smudging rituals serves to purify spaces and individuals. It fosters spiritual clarity and protection.
- Sweat Lodge Rituals: Participating in sweat lodge ceremonies.
- Medicine Wheel Teachings: The Medicine Wheel represents the interconnectedness of all life, guiding individuals through the cycles of life and helping them achieve balance and harmony.
- Storytelling and Oral Traditions: Elders often serve as storytellers, passing down myths, legends, and historical accounts that preserve cultural identity and impart moral lessons.
Intergenerational Wisdom Sharing
Elders play a crucial role in mentoring younger generations, sharing knowledge through storytelling, language preservation, and traditional crafts. These intergenerational connections ensure the continuity of cultural practices and strengthen community bonds.
Honoring the Elder’s Journey
The path of an elder is one of continuous learning and spiritual growth. By embracing sacred practices and sharing their wisdom, elders also illuminate the way for others to follow.
Elder women called “crones” indicated a Wise Women. The word crone or “crown” refers to the 7th chakra. It is a Crown of Wisdom.
Elders, including men, connect to their Divine/Great Spirit. In Lakota this is “Wakan Tanka.” The Wisdom of our connection to the Divine within us.
In Lakota tradition, Wakan Tanka represents the Great Mystery or Great Spirit. It is the sacred force that connects all beings.
Elders, whether women or men, through their life experience, open more fully to this connection, embodying spiritual wisdom and unity.
Opening/Closing Prayer to Wakan Tanka
Wakan Tanka, Spirit of Mystery, We greet You with breath and stillness. East, brings us new vision. South, brings us warmth and joy. West, brings us rest and reflection. North, brings us wisdom and strength.
We honor our Elders . Their words, their walk, their knowing. We open our crown like the sacred flower, To receive Your light, to walk in peace. We give thanks.
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin. All My Relations
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