Inherent within each of us is this direct connection to the source of life, no matter what our cultural upbringing might be. Many of us, although not from a living tribal culture, also carry an awakened sense of love for Mother Earth and a deep longing for more connectedness and creative expression in our lives that flows from our authentic self.-Sandra Cosentino
Ever since my two little bare feet could feel the earth beneath me I knew this Mother Earth was my real mother. Listening to the soft flow of water in the creek, watching the playfulness of mystical creatures and faces in the clouds, speaking to the animals, and enjoying juicy strawberries all remind me that I am indigenous to this land. All these moments, and many more, are the magic that keeps me alive.
As children we naturally feel connected to nature, we are innocent, non-judgmental, love hearing stories, and enjoy happily living in the moment full of laughter and love. We give little thought to where we come from. “I’m from the earth”, you would declare defiantly with a puzzled look to anybody who dare ask you such an obvious question. (Unless of course you are from outer space-which is a totally different subject).
The Demise of the Indigenous Soul
What has happened to our indigenous soul? Society has buried it in the cavernous corners of its being, in the darkness of the psyche, or have drowned it by self-medicating with drugs, alcohol, or other sedating substances.
Martin Prechtel’s words eloquently tells us what happened when he says:
“Every individual in the world, regardless of cultural background or race, has an indigenous soul struggling to survive in an increasingly hostile environment created by that individual’s mind. A modern person’s body has become a battleground between the rationalist mind — which subscribes to the values of the machine age — and the native soul. This battle is the cause of a great deal of spiritual and physical illness.
Over the last several centuries, a heartless, culture-crushing mentality has enforced its so-called progress on the earth, devouring all peoples, nature, imagination, and spiritual knowledge. Like a bulldozer, it has left a flat, homogenized streak of civilization in its wake. Every human on this earth, whether from Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Americas, has ancestors whose stories, rituals, ingenuity, language, and life ways were taken away, enslaved, banned, exploited, twisted, or destroyed by this mentality. What is indigenous — in other words, natural, subtle, hard to explain, generous, gradual, and village oriented — in each of us has been banished to the ghettos of our heart, or hidden away from view on reservations inside the spiritual landscape. We’re taught to believe that our thoughts are actually the center of our life. Like the conquering, modern culture we belong to, we understand the world only with the mind, not with the indigenous soul.
And this indigenous soul is not something that can be brought back in “wild man” or “wild woman” retreats on the weekend and then dropped when you put on your business suit. It’s not something you take up because it’s fun or trendy. It has to be authentic, and it has to be spiritually expensive.”
Calling Back Your Indigenous Soul
There is a big shove towards Shamanism in our times because we are all longing to find our soul, regain balance and harmony, connect with our roots, and heal our collective wounds. These ancient ways, when learned properly, can teach us the songs of the ancestors, the teachings of the elders, the language of the sacred mountains, and the voice of inner wisdom.
It is up to each one of us to choose a personal path that resonates with your indigenous soul. Choose a path with heart and of truth. Seek guidance from a trusted source and trust yourself as you explore the mysteries of the dream world.
There is a call for each of us to remember who we are…Can you hear its voice?
by Joaquina W.
Image Credit: Alice Popkorn and Hartwig HKD
