What is the GOOD RED ROAD?

The Red Road is the term used by Native American Indians to describe the path each individual travels during their lifetime on Mother Earth.

The Red Road as described by two Native American Spiritual leaders:

“One may be of any race or of almost any religion and walk the Red Road. The Road is a path, away. It’s full meaning is the way one acts, the methods one uses, and what directs one’s doing. There is more to the Red Road then spoken word or written words on paper. It is behavior, attitude, a way of living, a way of “doing” with reverence – of walking strong yet softly, so as not to harm or disturb other life.” — John Redtail Freesoul (Cheyenne-Arapahoe), Spokesman for the Redtail Hawk Medicine Society, from his book “Breath of the Invisible” a Quest Book.

“Together the two path form a north-south road, the good Red Road. This is your spiritual path, the one where you will be happiest.” — Medicine Hawk, Council Chief of the Shadowlight Medicine Clan, and an award winning author, from “Indian Ceremonies” by Medicine Hawk & Gray Cat, from Inner Light Publications.

Since the Red Road has different aspects to each individual purpose, I believe it is appropriate for me to share with you my personal thoughts regarding my walk on the Red Road.

“As I travel down the Red Road sometimes for what appears to be no fault of my own, one of the four parts faulters – the physical, the emotional, the mental or the spiritual. At those times I must strengthen one or more of the other three aspects the emotional, the mental and the spiritual so as to achieve harmony to continue my trip on a smooth path. It seems the further you go on this path the steeper the slope becomes.

For an indepth view on Native American Spirituality, I recommend you read the two books above. Breath of the Invisible, and Indian Ceremonies.

Blessings to all who read this and strive in their own way to walk the Good Red  Road

Crazywolf

Code of Ethics

1. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
2. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with espect and honor.
3. Do not take what is not yours. Whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours. You cannot enjoy what it not yours.
4. Respect all things that are placed upon this Earth.
5. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if only you speak.
6. Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or mimic them. Allow each person the right to a freedom of opinion. Respect that opinion.
7. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
8. All persons make mistakes. No matter how small or how large the mistake is, it can still be forgiven.
9. Bad thoughts cause illness of the spirit, the mind and the body. Keep bad thoughts at bay. Practice optimism.
10. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. Treat all natural beings as a member of your family.
11. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, allow them find their own place.
12. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual Self, Emotional Self and Physical self all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body, to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
13. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
14. Treat the elders as special gems - their wisdom will shine.
15. Be true to yourself first.

" The interest in Native art, culture and history is, if anything, overdue. This nation, in fact this entire western hemisphere, is built on a Native American foundation. I also think that much of contemporary "modern" life is lacking in the meaning and the spiritual focus that was at the center of many, if not all, of our traditional American Indian cultures. People feel lost and they are turning to Indians for answers. Sadly, many Native Americans are having just as hard a time as anyone and may not have the time or the balance to help non-Indians. Without forgetting the good things that are part of today’s world, I firmly believe we all need to look back to the things that have been wrongly abandoned. Native American cultures and traditions can offer powerful positive examples. But the real challenge for everyone, Indian and non-Indian alike, is to being human, to accept our responsibilities and to embrace community, in the fullest sense of the word."

Said by Joseph Bruchac - in a Good Red Road interview and author of over 60 books on Native American Indians and cultures - when asked "What, in your opinion, is behind the sudden surge in people who are interested in Native American art, culture and history?"

The phrase - "The Good Red Road" is a term used by many different Native American tribal communities to represent one who is walking the road of balance, living right and following the rules of the Creator. Aho.

© 2018 crystalwind.ca. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copy or posting on other websites is prohibited.