Native American Writing Class-room/forum

The difference that I see in the Native American path and the way that I have been raised is this: The Native American way is expressive and positive the "White" way (for lack of better terminology) is restrictive and repressive. Almost every one of our Ten Commandments have a negative in it somewhere. Now anyone who has ever used positive affirmations knows that as soon as you add a negative such as "no" or "not", the effectiveness of that affirmation has been taken to zero. In order for an affirmation to work you have to remove all negative's from the statement. If I tell myself, "I can not have chocolate." It effects my psyche and all I can think of is chocolate and everything I see and desire is chocolate. However, if I tell myself, "I will limit myself to chocolate on special occasions." I will eat less chocolate, but when I do, it is a celebration on a mental and physical level, because I have told myself that eating chocolate is for special occasions.

I didn't print out the steps to the Red Road, but all of them are affirming and they put us in the driver seat. It is more about my actions as opposed to my punishment. While my actions not only affect me, it is still up to me to operate in a way that blesses not only myself, but all my relations, be it Earth, Animal or Human.

What stood out to me was the lack of condemnation. The gentle urging to choose the right path not only to benefit yourself but everything and every one around you is very refreshing. In our society we are judged at every step even though one of the most consistent themes in our scripture is "Judge not, lest ye be judged, for with the same measure it shall be measured unto you." In other words we don't have the right to judge, but the same energy and strength that we use to judge another, will be the energy and strength that we are judged with.

I am going to join Ann and memorize all 26 steps and 10 commands although it may take a little longer, but I found them very positive and affirming.