Mother Earth Spirituality.ppt

Mother Earth Spirituality New Age Worldview adds two elements: Animism: Animal spirits Totem animals Power animals: Bear: strength, resourcefulness, protection Owl: perception, wisdom, instinct Wolf: sensitivity, guidance, truth Eagle: intuition, inspiration, achievement Nature-based Mother Earth spirituality theology = reverence for Earth as Mother Social activism: Anti-pollution; pro-native issues such as protection of burial sites, etc., anti-war “A Vision of Hope” Mother earth spirituality is based on premise that First Nations spiritual teachings can help the entire world find an ecologically sustainable, peaceful global society… Varieties Three Main Types: Tribal Reconstructionist Native peoples attempt to reconstruct revive own tribe’s spiritual traditions Added elements include concern for environmental social justice issues Pan-Indian Spirituality Native people’s adoption of generic “Sioux” inspired spirituality to replace lost traditions Political component – American Indian Movement (AIM) uses Mother Earth spirituality to foster two goals: 1) develop sense of pan-Indian identity that transcends tribal lines; 2) distinguish lands, rights, religion of native peoples from non-Native – “whites” excluded from rituals New Age Mother Earth Spirituality Native Non-Native people’s attempt to practise spirituality inspired by Native (primarily Sioux) traditions Appropriate for any person drawn to earth-based, environmentally sound, healing-oriented spiritual tradition Primal Shamanism 4th “type” of Mother Earth Spirituality Draws on world’s shamanic traditions (not just Native American) Michael Harner, author The Way of the Shaman (1980) Foundation for Shamanic Studies (1983) Does NOT stress reverence for Mother Earth, but does provide training in shamanism for many non-Natives who DO practice Mother Earth spirituality Bear Tribe Medicine Society Sun Bear (Vincent La Duke) born 1929 (Ojibwa) Sun Bear’s Vision (age 4): bear surrounded by globes of many colours, w