Steps For Recovery:: Resources For Sober Life

Walking With The Great Spirit

John Newport, Ph.D

To my way of thinking, one of the greatest gifts of recovery lies in the invitation to form a deep and abiding relationship with a higher power of our own choosing. As I have shared in previous columns, my own spiritual quest has entailed a blended path to spirituality, drawing upon teachings from various traditions I have been exposed to. These include the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha, the Judaic traditions, and the rich spiritual traditions of the original residents of this continent. In this column I would like to expound a bit on what I have learned, and continue to learn, from the traditional Native American conception of a higher power in the form of the Great Spirit, also known as Wakan Tanka in the Sioux tradition.

As distinct from the descriptions ascribed to God by major monotheistic religions, such as Judiasm, Christianity and Islam, the traditional belief structures of Native American cultures perceive the Great Spirit as an all-embracing divine essence embodied in everything - an essence that permeates every living creature, cell and atom throughout the entire universe. In traditional Native American cultures, reverence for the Great Spirit has translated into a profound reverence for nature in its manifold manifestations - including the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms - which in turn embodies a profound sense of kinship with and stewardship for every living creature and the entire planet.

One of my favorite readings which captures the essence of the Great Spirit is the following quotation from Chief Seattle, in a speech he gave in 1854 in presenting treaty proposals on behalf of his people to representatives of the United States government:

"Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every tender shore, every vapor in the dark woods, every clearing, and every humming insect are holy in the memory and experience of my people.All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."

In his best seller "Last Child in the Woods", Richard Louv observes that as a society, we have reached a point where incredibly large numbers of people have become enmeshed with technology and material acquisition, to the point where they have lost touch with the natural world. He coins the term "Nature Deficit Disorder" to describe our growing sense of alienation from nature. Indeed, as we have moved away from a sense of connection with our natural roots, a profound sense of spiritual isolation has set in. I personally believe that millions of young people, as well as adults, continue to turn to artificial means of sensory stimulation, including addictive use of alcohol and drugs, in a misguided effort to fill this void.

If we desire to heal ourselves from this profoundly alienating sense of disconnection, I believe it behooves us to embrace the essence of the Great Spirit and consciously bring ourselves closer to nature. We must wholeheartedly seek to restore our vital connection with the source through appreciating and honoring the divine nature of our Mother Earth and Father Sky. We must pursue this connection at both a personal and familial level, as well as through our relationships with our communities. We can begin to reconnect with nature by taking "mini-nature breaks" - walking in a nearby park savoring the wonders of the trees, birds and flowers. It is especially important that we instill in our children and grandchildren a reverence for the Great Spirit in the form of nature. In reality, we only borrow the land we walk on from the Earth, as well as from our children, who will inherit whatever of our planet is left to leave behind.

During the 35 years I lived in Southern California I spent countless hours communing with the Great Spirit during my weekend hikes through Joshua Tree National Park, as well as in hiking through breath-taking hills and valleys in the Indian Canyons just south of Palm Springs. Here in the Northwest, I take frequent breaks from my writing by looking out my window at the birds, deer and raccoons by the beautiful lagoon in front of our home.

How does this relate to our recovery? I believe that if we choose to pursue a truly holistic pathway to recovery, we must embrace the Great Spirit through re-establishing our connection with, and reverence for, nature. I firmly believe that our growing sense of alienation from nature lies at the root of much of the unrest that permeates our society today. Indeed, I fear that as a culture we've become caught up in an addictive pattern of over-consumption and exploitation of precious natural resources that threatens the very livability of our planet. I firmly believe we need to wholeheartedly embrace the essence of the Great Spirit, and to honor and hold sacred our Earth Mother and every living plant and creature. We are called to walk this path if we truly desire to pass on a beautiful planet to our children and grandchildren; one that is filled with abundant natural resources. Until next time - to your health!

John Newport, Ph.D., is author of The Wellness-Recovery Connection: Charting Your Pathway to Optimal Health While Recovering from Alcoholism and Drug Addiction. He is a free-lance writer, consultant and speaker based in Port Townsend, Washington. "Dr. John" is available to conduct training programs for both addictions professionals and treatment program alumni, focusing on various facets of wellness and recovery. He is also available (either in person or by telephone) for low-cost personal counseling on all issues relating to wellness and recovery. To contact him, visit his website at www.wellnessandrecovery.com or call (360) 385-0229.

May 2008 Issue

Online Contents:



May 2008 Issue Online Contents: May Publisher's Note Feature: Interventions Walking With The Great Spirit The Road Less Travelled: Treasure Hunt Love Sex and Recovery I Don't Want To Grow Up! The "S" Word - Surrender Hats Off to Old Timers May Soberscopes	Walking With The Great Spirit John Newport, Ph.D To my way of thinking, one of the greatest gifts of recovery lies in the invitation to form a deep and abiding relationship with a higher power of our own choosing. As I have shared in previous columns, my own spiritual quest has entailed a blended path to spirituality, drawing upon teachings from various traditions I have been exposed to. These include the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha, the Judaic traditions, and the rich spiritual traditions of the original residents of this continent. In this column I would like to expound a bit on what I have learned, and continue to learn, from the traditional Native American conception of a higher power in the form of the Great Spirit, also known as Wakan Tanka in the Sioux tradition. As distinct from the descriptions ascribed to God by major monotheistic religions, such as Judiasm, Christianity and Islam, the traditional belief structures of Native American cultures perceive the Great Spirit as an all-embracing divine essence embodied in everything - an essence that permeates every living creature, cell and atom throughout the entire universe. In traditional Native American cultures, reverence for the Great Spirit has translated into a profound reverence for nature in its manifold manifestations - including the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms - which in turn embodies a profound sense of kinship with and stewardship for every living creature and the entire planet. One of my favorite readings which captures the essence of the Great Spirit is the following quotation from Chief Seattle, in a speech he gave in 1854 in presenting treaty proposals on behalf of his people to representatives of the United States government: "Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every tender shore, every vapor in the dark woods, every clearing, and every humming insect are holy in the memory and experience of my people.All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." In his best seller "Last Child in the Woods", Richard Louv observes that as a society, we have reached a point where incredibly large numbers of people have become enmeshed with technology and material acquisition, to the point where they have lost touch with the natural world. He coins the term "Nature Deficit Disorder" to describe our growing sense of alienation from nature. Indeed, as we have moved away from a sense of connection with our natural roots, a profound sense of spiritual isolation has set in. I personally believe that millions of young people, as well as adults, continue to turn to artificial means of sensory stimulation, including addictive use of alcohol and drugs, in a misguided effort to fill this void. If we desire to heal ourselves from this profoundly alienating sense of disconnection, I believe it behooves us to embrace the essence of the Great Spirit and consciously bring ourselves closer to nature. We must wholeheartedly seek to restore our vital connection with the source through appreciating and honoring the divine nature of our Mother Earth and Father Sky. We must pursue this connection at both a personal and familial level, as well as through our relationships with our communities. We can begin to reconnect with nature by taking "mini-nature breaks" - walking in a nearby park savoring the wonders of the trees, birds and flowers. It is especially important that we instill in our children and grandchildren a reverence for the Great Spirit in the form of nature. In reality, we only borrow the land we walk on from the Earth, as well as from our children, who will inherit whatever of our planet is left to leave behind. During the 35 years I lived in Southern California I spent countless hours communing with the Great Spirit during my weekend hikes through Joshua Tree National Park, as well as in hiking through breath-taking hills and valleys in the Indian Canyons just south of Palm Springs. Here in the Northwest, I take frequent breaks from my writing by looking out my window at the birds, deer and raccoons by the beautiful lagoon in front of our home. How does this relate to our recovery? I believe that if we choose to pursue a truly holistic pathway to recovery, we must embrace the Great Spirit through re-establishing our connection with, and reverence for, nature. I firmly believe that our growing sense of alienation from nature lies at the root of much of the unrest that permeates our society today. Indeed, I fear that as a culture we've become caught up in an addictive pattern of over-consumption and exploitation of precious natural resources that threatens the very livability of our planet. I firmly believe we need to wholeheartedly embrace the essence of the Great Spirit, and to honor and hold sacred our Earth Mother and every living plant and creature. We are called to walk this path if we truly desire to pass on a beautiful planet to our children and grandchildren; one that is filled with abundant natural resources. Until next time - to your health! John Newport, Ph.D., is author of The Wellness-Recovery Connection: Charting Your Pathway to Optimal Health While Recovering from Alcoholism and Drug Addiction. He is a free-lance writer, consultant and speaker based in Port Townsend, Washington. "Dr. John" is available to conduct training programs for both addictions professionals and treatment program alumni, focusing on various facets of wellness and recovery. He is also available (either in person or by telephone) for low-cost personal counseling on all issues relating to wellness and recovery. To contact him, visit his website at www.wellnessandrecovery.com or call (360) 385-0229.