A Braid of Greater Understanding
Individuals in a community were given the task of experiencing the Old Things through many perspectives. They were also given the additional responsibility of applying this wisdom in their own lives. When the community gathered in a Circle to share all that they had learned, the weaving of their individual understandings would begin, each strand woven into a braid of greater understanding, wisdom that could then be preserved for the seventh generation hence. We learn through the ancient songs of the Walking People how it was that they came to their greatest learning.
(Pg. 33)
NOW THE PEOPLE SANG A NEW SONG
LET US LEARN ALL WE CAN
LET US SEE ALL THERE IS
LET US HEAR EVERY SOUND
LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER
RECEIVE THIS GIFT.
(Pg. 44)
AND AT LAST
THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO COUNSEL TOGETHER.
AND AT LAST
THEY BEGAN TO FIND THEIR OWN WISDOM.
AND LATER
THEY SAID
THAT THIS WAS THEIR FIRST LEARNING. . .
IF THERE IS NOT ONE AMONG US
WHO CONTAINS SUFFICIENT WISDOM
MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER
MAY FIND A CLEAR PATH.
(Pg. 46)
AND
THE PEOPLE AFTERWARDS SAID
THAT THIS WAS OUR SECOND LEARNING . . .
THOSE WHO ALWAYS FOLLOW
ONLY LEARN THE SHAPE OF ANOTHER BACK.
(Pg. 48)
AND
THE PEOPLE AFTERWARDS SAID
THAT THIS WAS THEIR THIRD LEARNING . . .
THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF CHOOSING
BUT TO CHOOSE QUICKLY IS OFTEN BEST
OR THE CHOICE MAY COME TOO LATE.
(Pg. 50)
AND AFTERWARDS THE PEOPLE SAID
THAT THIS WAS THEIR FOURTH LEARNING . . .
ALTHOUGH MUCH MAY BE RESOLVED
AMONG THE PEOPLE
SOMETIMES
AN ELDER VOICE IS BEST.
AND FROM THIS LEARNING . . . AND THE FIRST . . .
THE PEOPLE LATER DERIVED
THEIR GREATEST LEARNING . . .
THAT NEITHER ONE WAY . . . NOR THE OTHER
BUT A BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO
LIGHTS A CLEAR PATH.
(Pg. 53)
SO
LET US NOW LEARN HOW TO BE A PEOPLE
WHO SEEK THE WISDOM OF ORDERED COUNCIL.
LET US REMEMBER
HOW QUICKLY ONE WHO LEADS
MAY BE TAKEN FROM US.
LET US UNDERSTAND
THAT WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE
MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR MANY.
AND IF ALL THIS ESCAPES YOUR MEMORY
REMEMBER ONLY THIS:
SEEK THE WISDOM OF ORDERED COUNCIL . . .
HOWEVER MANY
HOWEVER FEW
HOWEVER OLD
HOWEVER YOUNG
SEEK THE WISDOM OF ORDERED COUCIL.
Let even the youngest among you
Sit and be heard.
Do not do this because I advise it . . .
Nor even in my honor . . .
DO THESE THINGS
AS YOU SEE THE WISDOM
THAT LIES THEREIN.
NOW
I speak as one of the People
Who would like her People remembered.
AND I SAY THIS . . .
When other Peoples cross our path
When they sit with us awhile.
LET THEM SAY
THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A PEOPLE
WHO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER
WHO TAKE COUNCIL TOGETHER
WHO FOLLOW AN ORDERED PATH
TO WISDOM.
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