The birds gathered by species, and when the roll call was complete, they took off to places south, where living conditions are more favorable for the winter. The leaves, that worked so hard all summer to gather the sun’s light and convert it to energy for the tree, have fallen to the ground one by one, until all that remain are the dormant branches that once supported them. The plants have shriveled and retreated below ground. After stuffing their cheeks full of nuts and berries, and adding them to their winter cache, the chipmunks have curled up in a ball for a long winter’s nap.
We humans, rather than adjusting ourselves to conform to seasonal changes, adjust the natural world to conform to us. Our alarms still go off early to still get us to work at the same time. We add in extra caffeine to compensate for our instinct to stay in bed snuggled under the warm covers. We add sparkly lights inside and outside our homes to compensate for loss of light. We are expected to power on the same in December as in July.
However, there is one way in which nature’s cycles have nonetheless entered our souls and changed our behaviors during this dark half of the year. The darkness encourages a period of slowing down to reflect. We send cards to our friends and family to remind them how much they mean to us. We take stock of the year’s successes and failures, and make plans and dreams for the year to come. And we express our gratitude by making donations to causes we believe in.
For me, this is a time to give thanks not only to organizations, but also to the natural world. I sink into her embrace and reach out with my energetic roots to connect with everything surrounding me. I offer my gratitude and in turn receive strength through our interconnectedness. I recommit myself to being a voice for her, to share her stories, to inspire others to remember their undeniable connection to and reliance on her.
I am not alone in this quest, and am inspired by the words of likeminded souls. I recently listened to Robin Wall Kimmerer read the audio version of her book, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. I love listening to authors read their own books, the experience all the more intimate as their heart and soul comes through not only their words but their voice.
My heart shifted from an underlying fear stemming from the scarcity at the root of capitalism, to a soft fullness rooted in hope as Robin eloquently drew a picture of a culture based on gratitude and reciprocity. Mother Earth’s embrace was palpable as she introduced the Onondaga Thanksgiving Address and Greetings to the Natural World. Here I share both a portion of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s words, followed by a translation of the Thanksgiving Address.
“Imagine raising children in a culture in which gratitude is the first priority. Freida Jacques works at the Onondaga Nation School. She is a clan-mother, the school-community liaison, and a generous teacher. She explains to me that the Thanksgiving Address embodies the Onondaga relationship to the world. Each part of Creation is thanked in turn for fulfilling its Creator-given duty to others. ‘It reminds you every day that you have enough,’ she says. ‘More than enough. Everything needed to sustain life is already here. When we do this, every day, it leads us to an outlook of contentment and respect for all of Creation.’
“You can’t listen to the Thanksgiving Address without feeling wealthy. And, while expressing gratitude seems innocent enough, it is a revolutionary idea. In a consumer society, contentment is a radical proposition. Recognizing abundance rather than scarcity undermines an economy that thrives by creating unmet desires. Gratitude cultivates an ethic of fullness, but the economy needs emptiness. The Thanksgiving Address reminds you that you already have everything you need. Gratitude doesn’t send you out shopping to find satisfaction; it comes as a gift rather than a commodity, subverting the foundation of the whole economy. That’s good medicine for land and people alike.
“As Frieda says, ‘The Thanksgiving Address is a reminder we cannot hear too often, that we human beings are not in charge of the world, but are subject to the same forces as the rest of life.’
“For me, the cumulative impact of the Pledge of Allegiance, from my time as a schoolgirl to my adulthood, was the cultivation of cynicism and a sense of the nation’s hypocrisy — not the pride it was meant to instill. As I grew to understand the gifts of the earth, I couldn’t understand how ‘love of country’ could omit recognition of the actual country itself. The only promise it requires is to a flag. What of the promises to each other and to the land?
“What would it be like to be raised on gratitude, to speak to the natural world as a member of a democracy of species, to raise a pledge of interdependence? No declarations of political loyalty are required, just a response to a repeated question, ‘Can we agree to be grateful for all that is given?’ In the Thanksgiving Address, I hear respect toward all our nonhuman relatives, not one political entity, but all of life.
“Cultures of gratitude must also be cultures of reciprocity. Each person, human or no, is bound to every other in a reciprocal relationship. Just as all beings have a duty to me, I have a duty to them. If an animal gives his life to feed me, I am in turn bound to support its life. If I receive a stream’s gift of pure water, then I am responsible for returning the gift in kind. An integral part of a human’s education is to know those duties and how to perform them.
“The Thanksgiving Address reminds us that duties and gifts are two sides of the same coin. Eagles were given the gift of far sight, so it is their duty to watch over us. Rain fulfills its duty as it falls, because it was given the gift of sustaining life. What is the duty of humans? If gifts and responsibilities are one, then asking, ‘What is our responsibility?’ is the same as asking ‘What is our gift?’ It is said that only humans have the capacity of gratitude. That is one of our gifts.”
And so I invite you to open your minds and your hearts, and let the words of the Thanksgiving Address wash over you:
The People
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance an harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
Now our minds are one.
The Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one,
The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms – waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.
Now our minds are one.
The Fish
We turn our minds to all the fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. The also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together we give thanks and look forward to seeing plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
The Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the last Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still those among us, those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodes as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one.
The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the tree life.
Now our minds are one.
The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the birds – from the smallest to the largest – we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Four Winds
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the four winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind we send our greetings and thanks to the four winds.
Now our minds are one.
The Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds are one.
The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she gives the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.
Now our minds are one.
The Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have name, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
Blessings
Amen
Namaste
May it be so