THE WEB OF LIFE

This post is dedicated to Steve-
He wrote, just today, that nobody wanted to talk to him about American Indians. This, after he wrote a beautiful post yesterday at Bullet Holes In The Mailbox

The following is something that my friend James sent me some time back. It is his true experience interacting with "the Spirits".
James is a Seneca Indian. He has followed the ways of the Sundance since his Mother's passing many years ago. He also takes part in the traditional tribal dances here in Maryland and along the East Coast.

Steve- it's not that I did not hear or want to comment on your post. I just thought that James words may do it better.

“The Understanding of Life…and of Death”

Written by: James M. Edwards

My Mother had just passed away…I didn’t understand why the creator would limit this time that we spent on this Earth. The Creator has the ability to give Live; which is such a precious gift, why did the Creator create Death?

Everyday since my Mothers’ death, I asked the Creator “Why was Death created”. The Days turned into weeks…and the weeks turned into months…THEN I stopped asking.

One day I was driving down the road, I began to hear a voice! This is what the voice said to me…

First…the Creator created the Earth…Then the Sun was created to give light to nourish and allow everything in creation to grow. The Moon was created to give comforting night light under the evening’s sky. Then the heavens were filled with the Stars in the night sky to give guidance, so the children would always be able to find their way home.

The Creator created the Mountains, the Valleys, the Rivers, the Lakes and the Oceans. The Creator filled the skies with many different color birds with many different sizes. Then the Creator filled the Rivers, Lakes, Streams and Oceans with many different colors and sizes of fish. The Creator filled the Lands with many different color grasses, trees, bushes and flowers. Then, the Creator filled the lands with many different color animals of many different shapes and sizes.

The Creator gave everything in creation their original instruction for living their cycle of life. Birds would fly south for the winter and Bears would Hibernate, Bees would make Honey, and Salmon would swim up stream in the spring.

The Creator wanted to create something completely different, so the Creator created Man and Woman. The Creator also gave them the conscience decision to make their own choice, without having any original instruction other than living a good life.

As the Creator thought about it, the Creator realized that a Daughter could hate their Mother or an Auntie could hate a Nephew, and go through eternity with this hatred. So the Creator wanted to create some way so that people would respect this great gift of life, in some way where people would be more Loving, Caring, Compassionate, and Forgiving.

After the Creator thought about it long and hard, the Creator realized the only way for people to understand the value of life and the precious gift we call life…was to limit the time we spent walking on this Earth, so the Creator created Death.

When we see an older person pass, we say that this is natural; when we see a child pass, we ask why! This is to remind us of the frailty of life. To remind us of the precious gift we call Life; in hopes that we will live our lives and be more Loving, more Care, more Compassionate and more Forgiving in our Lives.

This is what was told to me, by the Spirits. I have shared this story with many people. They have asked me to send it to them. Stories given to you by the spirits are never meant just for that person, but to be shared with anyone it can help. Please remember this and look at how you live your life, and Live your life as if it were your Last Day! I hope this will help other people who have lost a loved one and who have asked the question “Why”.

Here I have included a song that James wrote as he watched his Mother dying. The loss of her has affected him deeply.

Mama’s Song

Written by: James M. Edwards


I can see your smile
I can see your face
I can feel every heartbeat you take

When the tears start to flow
My heart wants you to know
That I’m sorry that you have to go

Seasons start to change
But the memories still remain
Time has come to pass
And the day will come at last

When I’ll come home to you

I heart will never break
No, my heart will never break
Maybe this time, I was wrong

I’ve watch each second that has pass
It’s like counting sand in an hour glass
Longing only to be with you

Seasons start to change
But the memories still remain
Time will come to pass
And the day will come at last

When I’ll come home to you

Seasons start to change
But the memories still remain
Time will come to pass
And the day will come at last

When I’ll come home to you


Here ,I have included a few photos of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.. I visited about a month ago.

It is a beautiful museum, full of symbolism and honor for the Native Americans. It was designed by a team of Native Americans from across the United States- Cherokee/Choctaw, Hopi, Blackfoot and Navajo/Oneida were a few of the tribes represented within the design team.

All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree,
the man, the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.
Chief Seattle






And a few examples of their intricate beadwork.




Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.

Chief Seattle