Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Bits Of Inspiration ~ Spirit Nature

Hello everyone. We have all been bombarded with negativity lately. It takes a toll on mind, body, and spirit. I thought this would be a good time to stop, breathe, and focus on things that are positive. In my quest for direction I found it led me to the voices of Native Americans. They have a profound connection to earth, nature, spirit, and wisdom. So today I want us to spend a few moments and center ourselves on something other than the frantic, electronic world that surrounds us.



The following are quotes I have chosen for inspiration. Choose as many as you like, but choose at least one that helps you find your poetic voice. Don't rush. Listen to the music. Open yourself to peace. (Please write a new poem for the challenge, add it to Mr. Linky, and then visit your fellow poets to read their work.)

"Walk lightly in the spring; Mother Earth is pregnant." – Kiowa

"To touch the earth is to have harmony with nature." - Oglala Sioux

"We are all one child spinning through Mother Sky." – Shawnee

"The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives." – Sioux

"The soul would have no rainbow if the eye had no tears." - Tribe Unknown

"Listen, or your tongue will make you deaf." - Tribe Unknown

"All plants are our brothers and sisters. They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them." – Arapaho
  
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." - Blackfoot

This is the link for the source of my quotes:
Native American Proverbs & Wisdom

dream catcher photo:  tumblr_lnhvhaNsks1qha9aao1_500.jpg
Image: Photobucket

20 comments:

Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene) said...

love the spiritualness of these quotes. they come from the spirit of the soul of my heritage

Anonymous said...

Wonderful quotes. Afraid my poem isn't peaceful but that's where my thoughts took me this morning. Thank you sooooo much for this prompt, the quotes and the music.

Magaly Guerrero said...

Negativity is never welcome around my cottage, so let's bring on the positive Natural yum!

Susie, I LOVE this quotes. ♥

Kerry O'Connor said...

These quotes are poetry in themselves - so inspirational!

Helen said...

Music took me to another place, another time .. amazing way to begin this day.

Jazzbumpa said...

I found the inspiration, but, alas, have not succeeded in focusing on the positive.

JzB

Susie Clevenger said...

Thanks everyone. With all the madness that seems to fill our world these days I have sought the words of Native Americans to bring some peace in the chaos.

21 Wits said...

Oh yes, Susie, I do adore this challenge for today. You are so right, we need to get back to simple, everyday nature, and just simply disconnect a bit more!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

A beautiful prompt, Susie and I love your poem Mother Sky SO MUCH! My apologies, kids, I am barely hanging in, online. This summer has been a tough one, health-wise, and I am also over loaded with a variety of family happenings. I have to make it thru till mid-September and then I hope life will ease up. We live in hope. I will keep up as best I can till then.

Jim said...

Thank you Susie, for bringing in some of my American Indian experiences. Most I really don't remember very well but a couple I won't forget I posted here.

It isn't all of Native Americans but they were prominent. Another young lady and myself were also in the story. Hope that will be okay.
..
Oh yes, this project was in Nebraska. I mentioned this here so you wouldn't strain trying to place it here in the Houston area.
..

Margaret said...

Swamped with dentist, Ortho, and doctor appointments and school supplies and orientation and cross country ... And school begins Monday. Ha ha. I'm holding on somehow and hope to visit here and "play" tomorrow. I need a bit of peace.

Margaret said...

Our family week long vacation already seems a long time ago (and we just got back four days ago.)

Susan said...

Great challenge. Emphasizing what's good is a relief! Susie, please give us a link for these quotes translated from the oral cultures of each tribe. I linked back here but would like to respect the native American sources.

Kerry O'Connor said...

I wrote one line, Susie. We're in a week of tests at school and my free time is so limited but I will come back, perhaps tomorrow, to complete that thought.

:(

Sumana Roy said...

This is a beautiful prompt Susie...posted mine..it's quite late here so hope to visit everyone tomorrow morning...

Anonymous said...

Susie--I loved the quotes--I don't know if mine really fits, but it was percolating in my head and this came up. K

Anonymous said...

By this, I mean, the quote about the tongue was percolating in my head--I liked all of them, but that seemed to fit my case the best.

K.

Susie Clevenger said...

Thanks everyone for your support for the challenge. I certainly understand in the busy lives we live why it is hard to write for a particular challenge. Susan, thank you so much for bringing up the source link for my quotes! I neglected to put it in. I went back and added it.

Hannah said...

How relaxing and such an inspiring array of quotes. Thank you, Susie.

I'll be back with comments...my hubby is waiting on me to watch Noah with him. xoxo

Kerry O'Connor said...

I'm late and this poem is for Susie and FB's prompts this week so I have linked to both.