Father Sky Quotes

“Alice told Shadow a magical tale of the green wreath and the red ribbon. In the story, Father Sky, who reigned over the spirit, came to Mother Earth, who bore the form of a woman of clay named Mary. Sky and Earth married, and together they conceived a beautiful star child made of both spirit and earth.

The Star Child grew up and walked the world. The child of Father Sky and Mother Earth taught the world to live with the spirit in their clay hearts. Alice said the red of the holiday bow signified the Star Child’s sacrifice, and the green balsam of the wreath signified the everlasting life that was for all people born to the spirit of Father Sky.

Shadow loved the story. It reminded him of his own sweet mother and the tales of Thunderbird who flew the skies in bird form in service to Gitche Manitou. Thunderbird was Shadow’s guardian, just like Shadow was the guardian for Theo. Shadow adored the season of light. He always felt warm and cozy when it came around.”
― Steven James Taylor

“So there we were, in the middle of the night, on our hands and knees with scrub brushes, steel wool, sponges, scouring powder and buckets of water making the old shop look spic and span. We secured from the task at 0400. I should have hit the rack but instead went topside and out to the canoe, the sacred spot where Lieutenant Goldberg and I had sat together contemplating the why's of life. I was saying farewell in my own way. I wanted to experience the Oriskany for the last time on the high seas. It was still dark – the dark that comes just before dawn. The waning moon, merely a fluorescent nail clipping, hung near the horizon. The night air was crisp; the sky a deep, cold black with pinpoints of stars shimmering through the earth’s canopy. Above me was the endless universe; below me, the deep mystical sea. Large undulating swells gently rocked the ship like a babe in its mother’s arms. Mother Ocean. Father Sky.

I meditated upon this new life that I am now obliged to live. I thought about youth. I thought about old age. Apparently bad memories fade away with time and only the moments of goodness and joy remain. Those who are nearing the end of their lives revel in the bliss of yesterday but we the young have this day and tomorrow to contend with. Today, we see the world naked, exposed before our eyes. We see hatred, misery and pain. We find it difficult to live for today. Only the desires for tomorrow’s better world can alleviate the suffering that is today. Only tomorrow can offer us hope that glimmering moments will again materialize. So we continue to exist for a dream, a wish that tomorrow we can say: “This is a day worth living.”

Excerpted from God, Bombs & Viet Nam: Based on the Diary of...”
― Gerald Maclennon, Wrestling with Angels: An Anthology of Prose & Poetry 1962-2016 Revised

“In the morning sun, I see myself, my true Self
I have served you and I have loved you
My beloved Soul

Who I was yesterday
Who I am today and
Who I become with the rising sun

I rise with you beloved Soul, space within
Tell me, whisper in my ear
Your truth
Tell me, when will the white buffalo come?
The prayers, sweetest of dreams of those before us
Of all here and now
Of those yet to come
I look to the sacred four directions
Father Sky
Mother Earth
Together we breathe
White buffalo calf woman
return, we are ready
Past, present, future
To usher in new times and new energies
Give us signs, show us the way

Balance,
Miracles
We are ready
Higher Self
Greater forces of the Universe
Breathe us forward

We wait no longer
We are the ones

We call upon you
White buffalo
Higher Self
Beloved Soul
Secure us in your strength, faith
Great will power

We breathe
We are ready
For it is you and
it is me

We are white buffalo calf woman
before you
Wait no longer for the other
Awaken

Feel your great strength
In the morning sun
We see ourselves, our true Self

Beloved, now we dance.”
― Ulonda Faye, Sutras of the Heart: Spiritual Poetry to Nourish the Soul