Winter Love
What’s LOVE got to do with it?
By Sharon Oliver
February is the month where love in all its forms is celebrated. But what is love? According to Merriam-Webster, love in its most general sense is the unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. This understanding links together romantic love, brotherly love, maternal love, and God’s love.
The Sweet Medicine SunDance Elders teach that Love is the breath of life; the inhale and exhale of the caring, sharing, teaching and healing energies of life.* It is the expression of the communication between our higher selves. Swiftdeer in the article featured in the December 2014 Deertracks “A New View of Relationships” says Love is always present in Trust and Faith.*
He says that understanding the difference between Trust and Faith is the key to co-empowered relationships.* Merriman-Webster defines Trust as the guaranteed reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. Swiftdeer says Trust must never be placed with another human no matter the degree of their enlightenment, knowledge, connection to you or type of relationship.* This is a disservice because it puts them in the unhealthy position to always be on their best behavior and engage with the purest intent and impeccable character.* In other words, they will always be perfect. Only Trust in yourself because you know your best and worst; in Nature that has no agenda and only follows Natural Laws; and in God.
Instead, engage others with Faith, the reasonable expectation that on a good day they can be dependable and reliable. With Faith we realize that not every day is a good day. We learn to discern whether a person chooses to be consistently fickle and capricious, or connected and focused with clear intent. Trust yourself to engage with absolute integrity. Engage with those you have the Faith they are dependable reliable people.
What does Love got to do with it? According to Swiftdeer, Love properly anchored in Trust of self, nature, and God is the only form of knowledge that works to help you and perhaps others become better people. “It advances your being [presence]and your refinement of character.”* Trust yourself to be your best with integrity while involved with another, and have Faith that this is a person you can respect. This approach leads to a relationship of mutual benefit and welfare.
* From “A New View of Relationships”, vol. XXI no. 2, December 2014, DEERTRACKS, pp 8-9.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ongoing until April 5 Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation
February 7 Community Purification Lodge
February 8 Earth Walkers Study Group Meeting
February 8 Drum Team
February 11 Heart of the Warrior Study Lodge Meeting
March 7 Community Purification Lodge
March 8 Earth Walkers Study Group Meeting
March 8 Drum Team
March 12-15 Three Arrows
February 7 Community Purification Lodge: East Lodge Intent
How do we fully assume authority for our self-growth with hope and joy as human beings? We gain strong self-worth and self-love by the virtue of our works – especially by and through how we dedicate ourselves to a meaningful expression of self-growth. To accomplish meaningful growth, we must learn how to be focused on the highest and most desirable outcome that produces maturity within ourselves for the benefit of others in any circumstance. To achieve and enjoy this kind of skilled self-worth, we must become trustworthy to ourselves. This purification lodge will provide an opportunity for participants to do ceremony that empowers self-trust.
Those interested please contact Ken Meisel
Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation celebrates the enduring cultures and creative achievements of over 60 Anishinaabe artists from across the Great Lakes region. These artists represent a continuation of Anishinaabe creativity, which has been ongoing for centuries. One of the largest presentations of contemporary Native American art in the Midwest and the first major Native American exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 30 years, this exhibition challenges perceptions about what Native American art can be, how it should be seen, and how it can be interpreted.
