BURDEN BASKET NATIVE INDIANS

We have featured the basket prophecy in the past on this blog and the baskets found in a part of Turkey that was once Syria. [1] This post is to share some information on the Native Indian spiritual reality of the basket.

It is called 'Burden Basket' and its about self-reliance.

Before the trail, river of tears and blood that came upon the land of ESAU and its people when the Europeans arrived. The wood was gathered by the women for the fire so that they could cook and heat the lodges. The burden basket was small enough to carry in one arm so that the other arm could collect the wood. Also herbs, plants for food and medicine were put inside the basket.

Grandmother fire caused very little smoke, and the light of fire for the night time enabled the people to continue with their creative activities and pursuits, Making meals and new moccasins. You were never asked to carry a burden heavier than one can carry. When the basket was not in use, it is written that it was put outside and it was a reminder of the people to leave their complaints or problems outside of the sacred space; and to not bring them in with you.

To seek counsel from an elder the people would bring the elder a gift. The gift would depend on the size or favor or help being requested. As we know there were many shaman elders and medicine people just like the Medicine Buddha. The meeting would be held in private, and a decision was not given for three days. On the fourth day, the answer would be given. During the three day waiting period, the wise elder would smoke the answer or dream the solution.

The burden basket was also about building the character of the person and people accepted its contents gracefully. The word of the wise elders in those times was considered to be sacred and holy. If a seeker sought counsel, the wisdom given was then honored to the letter.

So the burden basket had many uses, it wasn't just a utility, it was a guardian of the home. A reminder to respect the happiness and sacred space of others. In the West people often go to their friends and offload all their concerns, they leave them behind after having been uplifted by the change of energy. How many of us have given a sacred space for others, a sacred retreat? It is written that in Native Indian spirituality it was considered to be bad manners to offload onto others. So it was about not inflicting yourself and your own issues onto others because it can impact on their energy as well. Hence why healing is crucial.

During my life I have always been very self-sufficient and self-reliant, it is very rare indeed that I turn to a friend as a springboard. The firstborn had to be the strong one for her younger sibling, for her mother when her husband died. For everyone else when they required the wisdom of the elder. Jamie Sams is correct, "To have compassion for the burdens of others, and yet not take those burdens on as our own, requires a strong heart and character'. It takes great sensitivity and impeccable timing when communicating with others.

He also wrote "When the Children of Earth learn self-reliance and interdependence, our common Burden Basket, will one day be tossed in the Fire of Creation. The smoke rising from that Fire will signal the answer to all the prayers of the Fifth world of peace'.

What a wonderful intention. For the basket to be set alight, and for the people to watch the fire that ultimately brought peace to the world.

Here is the poem of the Burden Basket

"Burden Basket carries my grief,
And gives me strength to go on.
Burden basket reminds me not to take
My burdens to other's homes.
Burden Basket sings to me.
When the winter is long.
Reminding me of summer's heat,
bringing warmth to ancient bones."

The bereavement of my mother in the summer of 2005, was followed within weeks by another, when my friends young son was murdered in a knife crime. Then two friends, one from Spain and a beloved friend in the USA in 2010 also died in tragic circumstances.

After the first two funerals, in the spring of the following year, I was sent to Israel for the first time in May 2006.

The LORD said 'AMMI'.

Ammi in Hebrew means 'My People'.

Yes, my LORD, your people.

As you said in 2007, 'Ben Ami'.

ELIAKIM JOSEPH SOPHIA

1. http://academysounds.blogspot.com/2011/10/zechariah-5-daughter-zion.html