Cherokee Prayer to A Special Mother - Vickie Graff

My Mother passed last night, finally free. I wanted to let you know,
I just can't post today.
But You are all in my heart and have given so much comfort to me.
I cannot just let you not know.
Thank you all for the sending of strength, love, comfort and friendship.
You helped me find my way through the days vigil
and now I know in my heart you will help me find my way once again now that she has flown free.

I will read this at her Memorial
Vickie Graff




Cherokee Prayer

Do not stand at my grave and weep..
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry..
I am not there. I did not die.

I am not dead, I did not die
I float thought the air,
I fly through the sky,
I am the breeze that lifts your hair,
I am the air beneath your feet,
I am the bird that calls in the night
Or the sound of soft wings in flight
I am the strength that stands beside you now
Do not stand at my grave and cry..
I am not there. I did not die.
I am not there, I did not die.

The first stanza is a Cherokee prayer,
the 2nd stanza came whispered in my ear the morning my Grand mother died.
In my heart I know it was a gift from her.


Vickie Graff


May your Mother journey well,
no doubt, she weaved golden threads through the hearts of the others
she touched, in this journey through her life on earth;
May she journey well; and; until you are all reunited again;
may everyone journey well
- my sincere condolences to you and your family; extended family and friends
- you do your Mother, very proud
Love, Susan

 

Walk On

Good morning, Grandfather.
I entered this life a ways back and put skin on to walk two-legged on this Creation
and what a glorious time it was.

It taught me about breath and about sensing and feeling and caring through my heart.

And I walked on around that Red Road, looking and trying to understand more about the mystery
and the secrets She holds.

And You spoke to me through the wind, And You sang to me through the birds.

And You brought challenges forth so that I might listen to the message

You bring me more sincerely.

And I kept walking down this road.

And I came round the bend at the middle of that curve in the road

and I began to find a secret in the Spirit of my Self…

And still I walked on,

sometimes blind and deaf, and sometimes with pain.

But I fought with my fears and I embraced my unknowingness

-And still I walked on.

And my children and my family stood with me,
and we came to know each other in those later years
more than we had before for some of our falseness
had fallen away and still I walked on.

And I kept walking on this road towards You, towards that other world
that grew closer to me with each step.

And as the door of the Great Spirit world came closer
my fear loomed up inside sometimes…But something called me forth the Morning Star rose
with each day and my prayer became a centering and
still I walked on-

Until I began to hear the Song of the Mother,
and Her arms embraced me so,
That instead of walking She carried me right to the door.
And as the door opened, I heard Her Song,
And Her Song lifted me up, so I could soar.

Jyoti
Native American/Earth Wisdom