People talk about the aspect of keeping your medicine wheel in balance. Some Lakota people tend to forget this aspect in their lives. It is important that we remember to nurture our spiritual sides. Many religious and spiritual gatherings are held on weekends. This often can force you to make a choice.
If a person chooses to party up on Saturday, more than likely he or she will not be healthy enough to attend church or religious gatherings. It is said that in order to participate in traditional Lakota ceremonies a person must hold themselves with respect and be pure. Sundancers are to remain drug, alcohol, and violence free for at least a year before and then throughout their commitment to sundance. The dancers will be pure and will decide to never pollute their bodies for the rest of their lives.
It’s Saturday night and your aunt is having a party for your niece. They usually get together and have the kids’ games during the day, while the adults drink beer all day and into the night. Your cousin offers you a beer.
Do you…
- Tell her you prefer to drink Kool-Aid.
- Take one so they don't tease you. But then you decide you'll just sip on it.
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