Answers are on the opposite end of the questions.

August 23, 2026

Answers are on the opposite end of the questions.

“In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals, for Tarawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell men that he showed himself through the beast and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and moon should man learn…” Eagle Chief (Letakos-Lesa) Pawnee

I often look to Native American thought for insight and ideas. Perhaps it is that indigenous peoples were more oriented around the land and survival than we civilized folks are. An interesting thought earlier today was that indigenous people resonate at the same frequency as the land. They are in sync with the surroundings, as we modern folk have shifted away and lost track of nature and the land. These life lessons often revolve around learning from nature and the world around us rather than from school or someone’s ideas. The lessons are often handed down in story form from father and mother to children; they are not printed in a holy book or text that so often lends itself to translation and interpretation. Many nights we as children fell asleep to stories of old that my father would tell us, and I have told my sons and now will tell my grandchildren these same stories.

“All things in the world are two. In our minds we are two, good and evil. With our eyes we see two things, things that are fair and ugly…. We have the right hand that strikes and makes for evil, and we have the left hand full of kindness, near the heart. One foot may lead us to an evil way; the other foot may lead us to a good. So are all things two, all two.” Eagle Chief (Letakos-Lesa) Pawnee

Dr. Michael Garrett, writer, teacher, and counselor, discusses a theory of opposites numerous times in his writings within Native American thought. For each entity, there is an opposite. As I ponder the concept of soul, is there a soulless aspect within humanity? Working with adolescents, in all honesty, I would say I have never met a soulless person; I have come close, however. Conduct Disorder children have no concept of right or wrong and essentially focus totally on themselves. The world revolves around them, and everything else is insignificant. A good friend, Dr. James Sutton, considers and discusses in his writing CDD children as “more dangerous, deficient in social understanding, and poorer skills in general.” I recall my first meeting with James and how I was informed, as a high school teacher, there was nothing I could do for these kids. He went on to state most, about ninety-nine percent, would end up dead, in jail, used car salesmen, politicians, and/or evangelists. If this would hold true could be a reason we have so much difficulty in Washington; no one really cares.

“Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence.” Mourning Dove Salish, 1888-1936

There are times I find it difficult to say there is a purpose for some of the people I have met, but as I think about this possibility of opposites, all things have purpose, if not only to give contrast to the good. I was interviewed by a student earlier in the day, and a question was asked: have I ever intentionally hurt an animal? All I could think of was feeding mice and rats to snakes; it was intentional to provide nourishment to the reptiles. But it would be a matter of perception as to whether a squeaking rat being constricted was hurting as it died, being suffocated by the snake. I do feed mostly frozen-thawed rats and mice, however. But it made me think about other issues and how some people see them. So many are concerned about health care reform, and yet even prior to legislation nearly four years ago, my premiums went up, and all I use it for is medicines, since I seldom go to the doctor and my visits are often free. I am sitting here thinking that having a wife in health care does have its advantages at times. So we have differing perceptions, and some of the people out there could be without a soul, so how do we continue as a society?

“Soul, the word rebounded to me, and I wondered, as I often had, what it was exactly. People talked about it all the time, but did anybody actually know? Sometimes I’d pictured it like a pilot light burning inside a person–a drop of fire from the invisible inferno people called God. Or a squishy substance, like a piece of clay or dental mold, which collected the sum of a person’s experiences–a million indentations of happiness, desperation, fear, all the small piercings of beauty we’ve ever known.” Sue Monk Kidd, The Mermaid Chair

“I simply believe that some part of the human Self or Soul is not subject to the laws of space and time.” Carl Jung

Whenever I get into individualism and creativity, I find myself discussing soul, and I always sort of end up with it being a definitive aspect of who we are and how we see ourselves. Should soul be or not be an entity or thing? It is far more and less. Soul is a paradox, and perhaps, like Jung, I do see it as not subject to laws of space and time. So, with perhaps not a final answer, I should call a friend; maybe I will close today with the usual: please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts, and always give thanks, namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

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