Over the years, 10 key principles to live by have emerged. These are principles that we have learned from our Indigenous partners and collaborators.
- FIND YOUR GIFT Your gift is your purpose in life. How you can be of service to others. It’s for you to discover and share.
- HONOR MOTHER EARTH We don’t own the land, the land owns us – the way we treat the earth, air and water directly impacts us. Be respectful of the natural world.
- CONNECT WITH the SPIRIT WORLD Look for your spirit animal, the one that you are drawn to or you see in nature. An animal sighting is a direct message from Great Spirit to guide you in life. The owl symbolizes wisdom, intuition, insight, freedom and vision. The hummingbird represents joy!
- THINK WITH YOUR HEART We are one heart beating. We are all connected to each other and the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
- SLOW DOWN & BREATHE Life is sacred. Live moment to moment with mindfulness.
- NOURISH YOURSELF Eat a healthy diet with plenty of organic, non-GMO foods. Plants are good for your health and can be medicinal in healing your body, mind, and spirit.
- WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED Know that you are never alone. Whatever challenges you may face, we’re in this together.
- WE ARE NATURE Spend time in nature, observing the trees and plants around you. Show gratitude for the forest, as they give us life and without them we would cease to exist.
- RECOGNIZE the POWER “ALL OUR RELATIONS.” We are all one – living on this one planet. Together we can create political, spiritual and ecological transformation.
- LISTEN TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES recognizing many native people as sacred wisdom holders, sharing wisdom for all of humanity.
With much appreciation to our Indigenous wisdom teachers and collaborators who contributed to the development of this list.
- Ojibwe, Midwestern US & Canada
- Aboriginal, Australia
- Lakota, North & South Dakota
- San, Namibia
- Monpa, Bhutan
- Shipibo, Peru
- Kogi, Colombia
- Mbuti, Congo
- Navajo, Southwestern US
- Tharu Nepa
Bonus: Chumash Elder, Art Cisneros, shares an opening prayer, his wisdom and blessings