The Stone/Rock People

There is a spirit and wisdom to be found in every single rock. Ever since I was a child I have been drawn to the rock people. I would find quartz all the time, but as a child I didn't know that it was quartz I was finding. I didn't just pick any stone either, it had to "feel" right to me. I remember one time we moved (my Dad is now a retired Marine) and my rocks got lost in transit. I was so sad.. It was quite some time before I started gathering rocks again, only now I collect gems as well!



I am very interested in learning from the stone people, and I am curious to read what other people write about the lessons/healing of stones. I find it all to be very intriguing and have many books on the subject.. but that doesn't influence me too much because at the end of the day, I go with my intuitive hunch and work with the rock spirit that is spiritually reaching out to me.

♥

Native Wisdom

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"The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."
~Black Elk (Oglala Sioux)

"The Wise Man believes profoundly in silence - the sign of a perfect equilibrium. Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit. The man who preserves his selfhood ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence - not a leaf, as it were, astire on the tree, not a ripple upon the surface of the shinning pool - his, in the mind of the unlettered sage, is the ideal attitude and conduct of life. Silence is the cornerstone of character."
~Ohiyesa (Santee Sioux)

"When I was young I walked all over this country, east and west, and saw no other people than the Apaches. After many summers I walked again and found another race of people had come to take it. How is it? Why is it the Apaches wait to die- that they carry their lives on their fingernails? They roam over the hills and the plains and want the heavens to fall on them. The apaches were once a great nation; they are now but few, because of this they want to die and so carry their nails on their fingernails."
~Cochise, Chiricahua Apache

"You must speak straight so that your words may go as sunlight into our hearts. Speak Americans.. I will not lie to you; do not lie to me."
~Cochise, Chiracahua Apache (1812-1874)

"If you talk to the animals they will talk with you
and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them
you will not know them, and what you do not know
you will fear. What one fears one destroys."
~Chief Dan George

♥

Changing for the better...

Today I walked one of the beach trails near my house. It felt so nice to be out in Nature and near the Ocean. I always feel so energized.



Today I am also starting to make healthier choices as to what foods I am eating. I am going to do my best to cut out fast food and soda. I am hoping to eat more fruits and vegetables. For protein I will have soy products and fish.

I am going to try and go walking at least 3x's a week, hopefully more, but at the least 3x's. I am also going to be using the Wii to do yoga. ;D Yay! 

Dreams of Painting

Last night I had a very interesting Dream. At the end of the dream, I was in this guest house in which half of the master bedroom was converted into a Painters studio. In the dream I was being educated by someone on the importance of making my own colors. I was told I needed to have only large tubes of paint in the primary colors (Red, Yellow, Blue) and from there I should make my own colors!!



As the dream progressed, I began working on the hummingbird painting (which I have been slacking on starting in real life). I was almost finished painting it when I woke up suddenly.

The most interesting part of this dream, is that I was using oil paints... the smell of which makes me horribly nauseas and light headed. I suppose we'll see, because now all I want to do is go downstairs and paint, but I can't b/c I have errands to run and places to go.. maybe I just need to take a day and devote it (or at least a portion of it) to my art and then that creative spark will ignite and I'll be back in artist-mode. 

;)

Women's Fancy Dance

It was about five years ago that I found out I am Native. It has been such a struggle trying to trace my Ancestry. I started going to powwows (about a year ago), with a friend of mine (also a Native), and after seeing the different dance styles... I knew I had to learn how to dance the Women's Fancy Dance. 

It's not even about competition, because (as I expressed to my friend) I don't really care about competing. I want to dance for my Ancestors and for the Elders. I want to dance b/c dancing brings peace to my soul. 

My Grandma is going to be helping me make my regalia. We are going to start with my shawl. Every design on my shawl will have personal meaning to me. I know it wont be a quick process.. it will take time for me to be able to go see my Grandma and start working on things, but aren't most good things worth the wait?

For those who may not be familiar with the Woman's Fancy Dance (also called Butterfly Dance) here are a couple of videos.

Hello ♥

Usually I have a self hosted blog on my website.. but I have heard good things about Tumblr so I thought I'd give it a try. 

So I suppose I'll introduce myself. My name is Nicole, but most people call me Nik. I am an Artist and Animistic in my world view. For those of you who do not understand what Animism is, here is a brief summary:

"Animism encompasses the beliefs that there is no separation between the spiritual and physical (or material) worlds, and souls or spirits exist, not only in humans, but also in all other animals, plants, rocks, natural phenomena such as thunder, geographic features such as mountains or rivers, or other entities of the natural environment." ~Wikipedia.  

If you want to know more about Animism then you can search for it on Wikipedia and read the whole article.  

The purpose of this Tumblr is to share my thoughts/ideas, beliefs, culture and other random things!

If you're the type to shove your beliefs (spiritual or otherwise) down the throats of others (meaning you will try to get others to believe as you believe), then do me a favor and spare me! Otherwise, welcome to my Tumblr!