RETURN OF THE SPIRIT

excerpt from WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW, STRANGE AND PROPHETIC DREAMS OF THE INDIAN PEOPLE, by William Willoya and Vinson Brown

"Listen, oh my ears, listen, as the fawn listens for its mother in the forest, but listen, my ears, for the Words of the Spirit.

Watch, oh my eyes, watch, as the otter watches over his children, but watch, my eyes, for the Way of the Spirit.

Feel, oh my fingers, feel, as the lair cub feels the warm tongue of the bear, but feels my fingers, the Touch of the Spirit.

Day by day, I shall gather strength from Thee, thinking, thinking, but stilling my thoughts, as the calm of summer stills the waters of a pond.

When my heart is quiet, when my thoughts are still, when I have forgotten my pride, when I am filled with love for all Your creatures, lead me, oh Grandfather.

In Thy love I shall grow, oh Ancient One, until hatred disappears, until all envy and jealous and petty thoughts are blown away as the wind blows the fog from the valley.

I was weak, but now You make me strong; I was proud, but now I shall be humble; I was filled with bad thoughts, but now they shall be gone forever, even as the wise youth leaves the ways of childhood and becomes a man.

I am longing, oh Grandfather, for Thy spirit; into the silent places I go seeking, even as the Eagle Chief climbs toward the sun.

I will go with my mind at peace; into the darkness I shall go and fear no evil.

On the feet of my breath I shall cross the skies and the vastness of space shall be as the hollows of my hand through which I pierce as the lightning touches earth and sky.

Then will come Your spirit, oh Center of All Being; as the light of the outer world fades, the light of the inner world shall glow, and I shall be swept as on waves of glory into Thy nearness and Thy knowledge.