He was a brave, analytical, strong man. His vision was rare. He saw many things, and assisted his tribe in knowing themselves better. His gifts illuminated each members path, which in turn enlightened the whole tribe.
She was a compassionate, balanced, teacher and nurturer. She shared her passion and created space that allowed others to share their passions. Everyone felt safe and at peace with her, as if they were home. She had the gift of allowing others to feel free.
Together they were Balanced in Strength and Grace
One day, their world changed forever.
The partnership that was made in the stars, was torn apart by an outside force.
At least that’s how it seemed at that moment in time.
She was a crane, traveling out to surrounding areas… meeting with other leaders, and bringing back new knowledge. He was a bear, a warrior and protector of his people.
He went out to meet his spirit animal, to be initiated as Chief. A quest to find and communicate with a bear. The bear willingly gave of himself as this was the bears time to go back to the spirit world. Animals would offer themselves up as a sacrifice for the flow of the universal energy. He conquered his fears, receiving his spirit animal using only his left hand. Realizing he had the ability to do as he willed, he didn’t need for anything outside of himself. The beauty in this realization is that he finally recognized the value of things outside of himself, and how they are vital to the realization of self.
She went out to meet a neighboring tribe to discuss new findings. The other tribe brought to her attention a new group of people who are lighter skinned with new machines, tools and weapons. She heard of how they came in peace, and how they wished to develop partnerships with her people. They brought gifts to show their intentions… many blankets for the winter.
Before he left for his quest he heard all about the new people. At that time he did not trust them, and did not want their gifts.
Returning from his quest he realizes there are lessons to learn through all experience with the universe, and lead with a heart of gratitude for all things. This is grace, and is a vital part to strength. He brought this way of thinking into his Chieftainship.
When his partner, and lover, brings the news of the gifts as an act of kindness, and shares the lighter skinned peoples said intentions to work together, he makes the decision to give the lighter skinned people a chance.
Winter falls upon the land… colder then ever before… the blankets help keep them warm, as the buffalo were scarce and the fur they gathered wasn’t enough for the whole tribe. He saw how the buffalo were hunted, and in his heart started to feel angry at the ways of this new lighter skinned people. He so badly wanted to see them as a blessing from the universe, but he soon started to realize that not all lessons feel like blessings.
This was difficult for him to find balance. The balance between trusting his instincts as a protector and trusting his heart to lead him through lessons that must be learned. He wanted to believe in the good of all people, and had a hard time seeing what he considered the bad parts as valuable. He was a protector after all… protecting those he cared for from pain and harm.
Or perhaps he was a protector of something far greater than he could imagine.
The blankets kept them warm… and continued to bring the peoples temperatures up. The tribe started to feel the heat of this sickness throughout their whole being. The elderly passed over first, along with very young children.
As he watched his people pass…he felt the fever within him grow. The fever seemed to re-light the fire of anger within his heart, forgetting what lessons he had learned from the bear. With each day he grew weaker and weaker as his anger grew deeper and deeper. The fire consumed him until he was no longer able to speak, losing his grace… and passing over.
She was engulfed in feelings of guilt, anger, sadness, regret… feelings she had never felt so deeply before. Her heart was darkening and weakening with the passing of each of her relatives. Was this all her fault? What should she have done, what could she have done differently? Not only did she lose her closest and dearest friends and confidants, she was losing her partner and her lover. She wanted to give up, she wished she had caught the fever… she didn’t feel worthy to be one of the last remaining.
One night an eagle came to her in a dream… showing her the cycle of life, and how everything was connected. Sharing the perspective that experiences are to learn and grow from, no matter how they feel.
She realized that strength was vital to her grace. She realized this was her lesson. He showed her the vastness of strength, and that grace alone isn’t enough. He taught her the importance of truly knowing strength in order to walk in true grace. She was grace because he was strength… but now she had found her own strength within.
This was the lesson the universe brought through him…
One can not walk in grace without having
the strength to do so in even the most trying times.
One must have Strength in order to live in Grace.
Miigwech and Gizaagi’in
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