Native American

Click on one of the links below to find an interpretation of the Step in this faith tradition.

1. Powerlessness
2. Belief
3. Surrender
4. Moral Inventory
5. Confession
6. Willingness
7. Fellowship
8. Forgiveness
9. Amends
10. Daily Examination
11. Prayer Meditation
12. Service

Step 11: We pray and think about ourselves, praying only for the strength to do what is right.

Principle: Spiritual Awareness

We have always been a people of prayer. Something inside us becomes alert when an Elder prays. This step is about re-awakening our gift of prayer and using it for recovery.

Many of us view a path as a narrow trail, but a spiritual path is unlimited. Prayer and meditation widen the path and remove obstacles in our way. When we seek something bigger than our ego-self we find self-esteem. The deep root of our wellness is our relationship with the Great Mystery. Prayer and meditation keep our spiritual awareness of the unseen world of Spirit very close.

Text or Verse

With this sacred pipe you will walk upon the Earth; for the Earth is your Grandmother and Mother, and She is sacred. Every step that is taken upon Her should be as a prayer. The bowl of this pipe is of red stone; it is the Earth. Carved in the stone and facing the center is this buffalo calf who represents all the four-legged's who live upon your Mother. The stem of the pipe is of wood, and this represents all that grows upon the earth. And these twelve feathers which hang here where the stem fits into the bowl...represent the eagle and all the winged's of the air. All these people and all the things of the Universe, are joined to you who smoke the pipe - all send their voices to Wakan-Tanka the Great Spirit. When you pray with this pipe you pray for and with everything.
The Sacred Pipe

Practice

Morning prayer:

1. Ask the Creator to direct my thinking today.
2. Ask him to keep me from feeling self-pity.
3. Ask him to keep me from being dishonest with myself.
4. Ask him to keep me from having self-serving motives.
5. Ask the Creator for inspiration when I am faced with indecision.
6. Do not ask for anything for myself, unless others will be helped.
7. Pray that I will be shown what the next step will be.
8. During the day when I become doubtful I ask for the right thought or action.

Resources

Medicine Wheel and the 12 Steps for Men
Medicine Wheel and the 12 Steps for Women
www.whitebison.org (Go to Links menu to connect with the web site)

Native American Rehab Center
Indigenous Path
www.stopyouraddiction.com (Go to Links menu to connect with the web site)

Red Road to Wellbriety in the Native American Way
www.whitebison.org (Go to Links menu to connect with the web site)