Red Road Spiritual Autochthonous Principles

Traveling the #RedRoad #FireKeepers

1. Observe nature with awe and gratitude. A sense of love

and respect for all creation will begin to grow within me.

2. Learn to trust Creator and accept my circumstances,

Overcoming adversity will produce spiritual growth

within me as I walk the Red Road.

3. Seek for truth within myself, that I amy remove

hypocrisy and evil intent from within my heart.

4. Repent and humbly surrender my will to Creator, that I

may become one with Great Spirit.

5. Communicate with Great Spirit from my heart-listen,

and live the insight I receive.

6. Learn true abstinence-it is in serving others, with an

attitude of loving-kindness, that I create a flow of Living

Waters which will purify my heart.

7. Attain complete, joyous harmony with Great

Spirit-walk the Red Road. This requires that I totally

surrender my will to the will of Great Spirit, and love

others unconditionally without judgment because that is

who I am.

"In his book Black Elk Speaks, John G. Neihardt explored spiritual beliefs as he says they were told to him by Black Elk (1863–1950), an Oglala Lakota and Catholic.Neihardt is non-Native. In the late 20th century, his work was criticized as diverging from, and misrepresenting, Lakota beliefs and ceremonies.Neihardt said that Black Elk believed he had an obligation to "help to bring my people back into the sacred hoop, that they might again walk the red road in a sacred manner pleasing to the powers of the universe that are one power."

"Hear me, four quarters of the world--a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is! Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds. Great Spirit, Great Spirit, my Grandfather, all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike. With tenderness have these come up out of the ground. Look upon these faces of children without number and with children in their arms, that they may face the wind and walk the good road to the day of quiet. This is my prayer; hear me now!" - "Black Elk's Prayer for All Life"

"The Red Road which runs north and south, is a unique spiritual path, a way of life and enlightenment which has no end. ... Just as there is a Red Road, a place where miracles begin, there is a negative counterpart, the Black Road- “Chanku Sapa,” which runs east and west. This is a path of non-spirituality and greed." Quote from Native Times

"WHAT IS THE RED ROAD?

The "Red Road" is a metaphor for living a spiritual way of life. Oglala Sioux medicine man and holy man, Black Elk, spoke of the all the people on the red road as being one interconnected circle of people that made a sacred hoop. Only you can walk your journey, but many are on the road.

WHAT IS WALKING THE RED ROAD?

"Walking the Red Road" is a deep sense of obligation and a meaningful personal commitment to purposefully live your life each day practicing and embodying The Seven Sacred Virtues of the Lakota. Some people are standing on the road, and some people are walking on it. Are those walking the red road seeking perfection? No, they are simply walking in the right direction in a good way and they have seven sacred virtues that guide them. The Lakota received these virtues from the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman who brought Sacred Pipe to the people. The stem of the pipe represents the male and the bowl represents the female. When the stem of the pipe is merged with the bowl, the pipe comes alive and empowered with The Seven Sacred Values of the Lakota:

1. Wóčhekiya - Prayer

2. Wičákha - Honesty

3. Wahwala - Humility

4. Waúnšila - Compassion

5. Waóhola - Respect

6. Wawokiye - Generosity

7. Wóksape - Wisdom

Those interested in walking the red road start with becoming familiar with these seven values. When learning them, you must control your anxious mind and be patient - there is no rank, level or social status to achieve. Study these values, practice them, learn the sacred ceremonial songs, participate in sweat lodge ceremony and be genuine and diligent in honoring these ways. Honor the gift of the vision whereas Wakan Tanka blessed the covenant of Native Ways becoming Human Ways to those that walk the red road.

If you don't have access to a local indigenous Native American community to help you learn these ways, we have an online community opening soon, where there will be classes and discussions about The Seven Sacred Values of the Lakota and other teachings on indigenous Native American spirituality.