Sometimes you find your sister as a little girl... you grow up with her and hold her close.
Sometimes you find your sister as a woman grown,
and you hold her closer for having missed growing up with her.

Today's American society - the streets, the workplace, the family - very often forces women into the position of having to be either ignored or taken advance of. We are called wimpy if we say nothing and bitchy if we speak. Since neither of these ways of existence is comfortable or healthy for us, we tend to either bring out our warrior side or we move ourselves emotionally into a place of subservience. The reality is that, as women, we are many things… sometimes the quiet one who hangs back, sometimes the Mother Bear who roars at the top of her lungs in anger, sometimes the wise Elder calm and full of wisdom. By allowing our twenty-first century culture to dictate to us who we are during this lifetime, we give up the special unique spirit which is the feminine birthright. Go sit on Mother Earth, alone without your drum, without your book, without your mate… go sit on her and ask her to pour her ancient knowledge into your mind. Ask her to warm your body and lighten your spirit. It is up to us to choose our path. Before you can understand the old ways, you have to know who you are today. Before you can determine when to hang back and when to step forward, you have to know what you believe.

The Sacred Instructions given by the Creator to Native people at the time of Creation were as follows:

• To Take Care of Mother Earth and the other 3 colors of Man.
  
• To Respect this Mother Earth and Creation.
  
• To Honour All life, and to support that Honour.
  
• To be Grate-ful from the heart for All life. It is through life that there is Survival. Thank the Creator at All times for
• All life.
  To Love and express that love.
  
• To be Humble. Humility is the gift of wisdom and understanding.
  Kindness. To be Kind with one-self and with others.
  Sharing. The Sharing of feelings and personal concerns and commitments.
  
• Honesty. To be Honest with one-self and with others. To be Responsible for those Sacred Instructions and to administrate those Instructions to other Nations.

Herb Lore: the Sacred Sage - ( salvia officinalis )
Sage was known in ancient times as a health giver, the name salvia means "health" or "salvation" in Latin. Today it is mainly used as a culinary herb. There are over 500 known species of sage. (if companion planting, grow sage near rosemary. Also sage will protect cabbage from its insect enemies. Cucumbers will be stunted if grown near sage.)

Physical Description:
Sage is an evergreen perennial that can grow to about 2 feet high. Common Sage - Its leaves are grey-green and grow in opposite pairs. The flowers are violet-blue and are found at the ends of stems and branches.

Medicinal Properties:
Sage tea is used for reducing excessive sweating/lowering fever (give cold, as an infusion) , as a carminative (aids in gas expulsion), to bring on delayed menses and for reducing mothers milk when she is weaning her baby. In earlier times it was also reputed to help the memory, for head colds, also for joint pain.

Magical Properties:
Sage was used in sachets for healing and prosperity. The smoke of sage, especially white sage, is said to be pleasing to good spirits. It is often used in smudging, sweat lodges, and many Native American rituals.

Delighting In All The Baby Steps Along The Way Of Her Journey - She Celebrates The Wonder of Her Unfolding.

As strong, beautiful women on the Red Road it is our duty and our honor to teach not only with our words but with our actions. We honor the Mother and each other by dressing and conducting ourselves in a way that shows others our pride in our femaleness without being 'showy'. We are Daughters of the Earth, and enjoy the richness Creator gives us whether we are planting corn or cooking it, whether we are loving a child or a mate, whether our tears are of sadness, wonder or joy.

Connect to the Creatures Our bodies and emotions react to the Moon cycles... we are the ones who garden the crops and the children. How can we not be connected to Nature in all her glory and wonder? For many of us, Nature grounds us, gives us strength and reminds us of what is real. Nature reminds us of the eternal rhythms of life. We know that life continues; the sun will rise, the moon will set and the birds will return again next spring. While Nature has the capacity to heal us, it also equips us to meet the daily challenges of life. Nature isn't only a refuge for solitary reflection - it is an essential ingredient in forging stronger communities and stronger commitments to each other.	Recognize Your Own Power - With visible breath I am walking. A voice I am sending as I walk. In a sacred manner I am walking. With visible tracks I am walking. In a sacred manner I walk. bringing the sacred pipe - white buffalo woman
Silversmith's Daughter Pass Along Your Wisdom - Think back... when you were growing up, did a trusted woman such as your aunt ever offer an observation or piece of advice that ended up shaping your perceptions or expanding your thinking? My mother used to tell me: "If you don't like something the way it is, change it.” Simplistic though it sounded, this little mantra helped me develop a proactive, can-do attitude that has served me well throughout my life. As role models for girls, women are in a prime position to pass along observations and advice that could have a substantive long-term impact. The right encouragement at the right time can be absolutely life changing. It can help girls switch tracks if they're heading in the wrong direction, and get them to envision themselves at higher levels of success than they've ever imagined.	Seven Generations - For the Native Peoples, making a decision with an eye on seven generations ahead means more than just making a long-term decision. It means taking into consideration the lives of seven generations of children. The idea is: whatever you do today will impact things far into the future. If you pollute the air today, then generations from now, the air will be poisonous to breathe. Chopping down a tree today will mean depleted resources years from now. According to our traditions, thinking seven generations ahead means that your decisions are not selfish and rash. It means that your decisions take into consideration the circle of life. Although it is not always possible to plan so far in advance, it’s important to hold seven generations as an ideal.
Mentor a Girl - People develop self-reliance when they're given the space to solve problems and make mistakes in the process. What happens with girls? Researchers have found that teachers are more likely to intervene and solve problems for girls than they are for boys. In addition, girls are rewarded for being good and behaving well, as opposed to being adventurous in their thinking, as boys are. Girls need to be given time and permission to creatively complete what they start. We can praise them for considering new problem-solving options, allow them to make mistakes, and refrain from “rescuing” them.	Practice Spirituality - Sage is used to purify the mind, body and spirit before praying. It is also used to purify sacred items such as pipes, and eagle feathers. Some may use it to purify their homes, offices, cars and some carry a small amount of Sage in a pocket or medicine pouch to insure personal and spiritual safety.

An 83-year-old woman wrote this to her friend... the last line says it all.

Dear Bertha,

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. I feel if it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. I am angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.