The Oahspe Bible is not a book that greatly rewards hurried reading. Its language, imagery, unusual vocabulary, spiritual teachings, and vast accounts of heavenly and earthly affairs can easily overwhelm the reader who attempts to move through it too quickly. There is a difference between reading the words of Oahspe and absorbing what Oahspe is attempting to teach. For the Faithist, the second is far more important.
The earth groans beneath the weight of forgotten prayers. Her belly shakes, her breath becomes wind and flame. The rivers no longer sing, but roar with anger, flooding the lowlands and drowning the careless paths of men. Smoke rises like the mourning songs of widows; the trees cry out as their limbs are devoured by fire. The bones of the ancestors stir in their resting places, whispering that the balance has been broken. The sacred hoop trembles, cracked by greed…
Our thoughts are like the winds; they shape our path and bring us closer to harmony or lead us astray. When our minds are calm and strong, we walk in balance with the Great Spirit, and our hearts find peace. But when our minds are troubled, like stormy waters, it shows in our bodies and our days. The mind has two sides, like the sun and the shadow. The mind of man, untaught, is like the shadow—uncertain, wandering. But the…
“Only see the virtues and wisdom in your neighbor; you should not seek out his faults.” – Eskra 44:16 To find the good in our neighbor, we have to start by focusing on their strengths and the ways they bring light into the world. We have to keep in mind that everyone has some kind of gift or talent, even if they shine in ways we wouldn’t expect. Look for acts of kindness they offer, no matter how small. Speak…
O Creator, we give thanks for this day and the paths it opens before us. Thank You for the gift of freedom to choose our way, even though we cannot always choose the trials we face. Yet, we are grateful for the wisdom to shape our responses, to keep them strong and good. In doing so, we become the ones who guide our steps and shape our lives. Thank You for clear sight, which lights our path and helps us…
“After Creator Jehovih shaped man from the breath of the sacred winds, He spoke, saying: ‘So you will know you are the work of My hands, I have placed within you the gift of understanding, the strength to create, and the wisdom to walk with honor upon the Earth.’” (Oahspe 1:1) The ancestors have taught us that Creator’s hand touches everything. When we walk the Earth, we walk on sacred ground. The trees whisper His wisdom, the rivers sing His…
Last year I had the opportunity to travel throughout various reservations in the United States, visiting households of relatives, friends and strangers to share, in a non-intrusive way, the sacred text of the Oahspe. One special lady I met in California was Enola. She expressed how she had lived a very difficult life and that she had been searching for a way to be closer to Creator. I share her story below. Enola is a quiet soul, one who walks…
The Oahspe, as a spiritual text, brings teachings that connect deeply with Native American ways of understanding life, the spirit world, and the balance of creation. Adopting it as part of your spirituality offer numerous benefits. Strengthening Our Connection to Nature The Oahspe teaches a deep respect for the natural world, a message that connects strongly with Native American traditions. Central to both is the idea that the Earth is sacred, and all life—whether plant, animal, or human—has a purpose…
In a time when the stars were still finding their place in the sky, the River People lived peacefully along the winding waters. They fished, grew corn, and sang songs to honor Creator. Their hearts were strong, their spirits steady, for they lived in harmony with all things. But one day, Coyote came to their village. He wasn’t like other animals. His eyes were sly, his words smooth as running water, and he carried trouble like a shadow. “River People,”…
A story based on Book of Inspiration, chapter 12. Many ages ago, when the earth was new and the stars still whispered their wisdom to the rivers, the Great Spirit walked among the creatures. In those days, all life moved in harmony, each creature carrying the wisdom of its purpose within its heart. One day, a young bird perched on the branch of a cedar tree. Her feathers were soft and new, and her heart was full of questions. She…