These photos were taken in Southern California on the back Road to Big Bear. Some were taken out the window. (No I wasn't the driver!) A few were taken on a pit stop, in search of a restroom. Anyway, there is something strangely beautiful about this landscape and I love the Joshua Trees. They look otherworldly or like something Dr. Suss would have created.
My Great Grandmother lived on an Indian reservation, when she was a child, and rode on horseback to school. Ever since I was little, this captured my imagination. I would try to imagine what that must have been like ... so different than my life near the beaches of Southern California. She wasn't Native American though, that bit of ancestry comes from my Dad's side of the family.
Anyway, I love the Native American flute, and many of the Native Americans' teachings, and thought they would somehow fit this post.
Here is the beautiful music of R. Carlos Nakai
Native American Prayer
Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me,
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty
and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
Prayer excerpt, translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark in 1887.
In Black and White
Honor the sacred
honor the Earth,
our Mother.
Honor the elders.
Honor all with whom we share the Earth:
Four-leggeds, two-leggeds,
winged ones,
Swimmers, crawlers,
plant and rock people.
Walk in balance and beauty.
Native American Elder
Hold On
Hold on to what is good,
Even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even it it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if someday I'll be gone away from you.
~ Pueblo Indian Prayer
Blessings and Light to you all!
7 comments:
Beautiful desert scenes.
Nice post.
Prayers sound much like the Gnostic gospels. Love the photographs. Though I am not a desert person, I'd rather be there than a swamp. It's the sky I think. I need a big sky.
Another lovely post, Lucinda. I could walk right into the photos. The prayers are perfect.
Hi Lucinda..what a gorgeous and inspiring post! I love that prayer too..so beautiful..thanks for sharing such sacred moments, images and beauty..your photos are amazing.
Wishing you a magical end of August and a beautiful September!!
Very wonderful trip in the California Desert with your very beautiful pictures !!!
Have a nice day !!!
Thank you, Lucinda, for this most beautiful post! As I ride along on the highways of such places, I'm always disturbed by the ugliness of the telephone poles and electrical wires that ruin the purist of pictures.
Thanks for the lovely comments everyone!!! :)
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