Jim Silentfeathers ~ The world is full of empty and lonely souls that wander around lost with cracked hearts; they feel separate and disconnected. We must help our lost and wounded brothers and sisters find their way and help heal them with hope, joy, and friendship, and mend their cracked hearts with love and compassion; We must help them to feel togetherness and connected once again.


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Jim Silentfeathers Being Cherokee....

I would like to speak a little bit about myself so members of this group and others will better understand who I am. Other words, a short introduction about myself and what it means to me being Cherokee.

First I must point out to everyone that I am not biologically a full-blood Cherokee, nor close too it. My mother was a full-blood Italian and my father was English/Cherokee. So biologically, I am 1/2 Italian, part English, part Cherokee. A cocktail of genetic soup that somehow made me into...well, me. I really had nothing to do with it and my parents are the guilty party, which caused me to enter into this world. Of course the Great One/Creator may have played a major part in it too!

So basically I was born a white boy, raised in the white mans world, and raised as a Catholic during my childhood. During my young years I was also taught by my father and his brother, my Uncle, the way of the Cherokee (Since we were "part" Cherokee). These teachings were kept more private most of the time and done during "nature outings" and "sitting around the fire" type of moments. Many times just out of the blue my father spoke to me about certain ways of the "true human being" or "Cherokee" when certain things would happen in everyday life situations. My Uncle would do this too and they would have my undivided attention every time. As a little child I was fascinated about this part of my ancestry and had a thirst for it, which remains as strong as ever until this day.

When I was a teenager I was in such conflict with the Native American way and the Catholic Church, that I ask my dad if I could stop going to church. He allowed me to stop and said these types of choices are left to the individual and not to be forced onto a person. I never could understand why I was being condemned to hell all of the time when all I was doing was going to a church and trying to learn more about God... I just could not grasp the Catholic way as I could the way of the Native Americans/Cherokee. Even unto this day when I am in spiritual duress etc., the safe place for me is Nature and the Native American Way of finding peace and spiritual comfort/guidance.

Needless to say, when I became an adult I got back into theology and studied everything I could get my hands on and eventually got a Doctor of Divinity/Theology and became an Ordained Minister. I am not your average "ordained minister" though and all throughout my life have been deeply involved with Native American & Metaphysical teachings and trainings. I actually have a Doctors of Metaphysics, but have yet to list that on any resume’...About 20 years ago or so I spent approximately 7 years on and off traveling with a Cherokee holy man as an apprentice/helper. I was a participant in many ceremonies of many different types and also met quite a few "interesting people". Seen some mighty strange things, but that is another story. Many of these people were involved in Lakota ways so I got familiar with many of their customs and traditions too. It’s been an interesting journey to say the least, and it has only just begun!

So basically, most of my life has been dedicated to the Cherokee/Native American medicine ways and shamanistic spiritual studies abroad. Of course in the middle of all this I had to maintain a basic physical existence, which consists of having a job and paying bills, etc. Seems this physical aspect of life is just part of the deal for most of us.... so you can say to a certain extent that I am involved in two different worlds at the same time everyday. :)

The Creator gifted me at birth with many blessings and about 50 years later I am finally realizing what some of them are. Over the last few years I have had a spiritual calling to do something like what I am doing here on facebook and with my blog. So SilentFeathers Sacred Pathways is part of this calling that I have had, where it takes me I have not a clue, nor does it concern me at the moment. I just know it is part of what I am supposed to be doing right now.

As for my name "SilentFeathers", this is actually my spirit name that was gifted to me in a ceremony. I didn't ask for it, it just came to me kind of like receiving a letter from a stranger in the mailbox. My real last name is pretty much irrelevant due to personal issues I am forced to deal with and certain important projects that I am involved in. It is in my best interests and the best interest of certain other individuals that my real last name is to be kept "irrelevant" and not in use across the Internet. It's a long story and will eventually be shared with you all when the time is right.

So my friends, this is a brief description of who I am and also why I consider myself being Native American/Cherokee. If you still don't get it, it is simply put like this; It is not measured by the amount of blood flowing through your veins, it is measure by how you live your life and how you feel about yourself through your own heart, mind, spirit, and soul. It's having good intentions, knowing yourself, and doing everything in your power to walk the path of the true human being. No one else can tell you who you are or what you are. Your truth of who you are is only found within you, deep within the "self", and no where else...For me personally, it is my Cherokee ancestry that is in my mind, heart, soul, and spirit which makes me who I am, therefore within my "self", the path that I have chosen...

I send a blessing through the wind to all who read this and I thank you all for your friendship.

SilentFeathers.....

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