Once upon a time, and that, a long time ago, in a land not

far removed from now, our young ones, when reaching the

age of puberty, retreated to the hills, mountains and

wilderness of seclusion, to quest and pray for a vision,

boys and girls, equally, neither more important than the

other.

Life had brought them to this place and time of transition

and maturity, and like the leaders, warriors, chiefs,

Medicine Keepers, both men and women who had gone

before them, the journey of our youth had now brought

them to a time and place in and through which they too

would find their roles and persona as adults within the

communal geography and society into which they were

born, raised, and now take hold of their responsibilities

and roles among their chosen people.

A Vision Quest, in the Lakota way Hanbleceyapi, or Crying

for a Vision, took much preparation and even greater

courage, as the experience was often harrowing and

frightening, as within a state and place of isolation, four

days without food or water, Visions often came in the form

of animals or spirit beings, and dreams.

The most important reason for the Vision Quest was and is

to understand one’s purpose not only in their societal

surroundings, but within the greater wold-view as well.

They prayed to understand their oneness with all things

better, and gain knowledge of the Great Spirit. In essence,

it was prayer to find not only their purpose, but the power

to fulfill that in a good way that serves the people, the

planet well.

Sadly, this is a lost practice, particularly within and among

our more “contemporary” culture, and so-called modern

societies. And, while there seems to be a resurgence of

Vision Questing, praying for purpose and power, more

often than not, our young ones are propelled into a

culture and future ill prepared, often lost, and left to

figure it out on their own.

We have established our foundation as a Faith Community

on the principles and paradigms of the Seventh

Generation Prophecy. We see and identify ourselves as

the generation of change, healing, restoration, unity and

harmony. We are told we are generational people of light

and love. We understand we are the generation and our’s is

a time, the time of returning wholeness to a world of

broken promises, separations, and selfishness. We are

seen as the generation that will unite all the colors of

mankind, restoring the Sacred Circle of Life as one. But

even as the prophets of old foretold, a people, without a

Vision, will perish, and that within the promise that our’s will

be a generation which will flourish. We tend to strive, much

more than thrive, as individuals, and collective members of

our places in the world today.

While I am convinced the fulfillment of the prophetic

destiny of the Seventh Generation, will be realized

holistically and collectively, as many arrows of light and

love, the process must and will begin within the single

quiver and bow of our own making and destiny. As the

song we sing, and the prayer we raise, for peace, let it

begin with me.

We may not individually set aside a time and a place of

retreat, solitude and isolation as did our young ones in

days past. We can, however, find and attain our place of

oneness in the process of discovery in our own time and in

our own ways and means.

I suggest, today, filling your quiver with Ten Essential

Arrows as we seek to find our way, and our place in the

efficacy of our generational greatness and destiny.

1 PURPOSE

First, consider the Arrow of Purpose. If we are to take our

rightful place and position within the shift of global

transformation, we must first understand what is our

principal purpose within that process.

Why am I here? What am I to do? What was I born for?

Why, not only was I created, but and more-so, what is my

Divine Agreement negotiated with Creator even prior to

this incarnation? What is my destiny. What is my purpose?

I can not answer these questions for you. We might

discover them together as we sit in counsel, but, when it is

all said and done, purpose is a discovery of our own

understanding of ourselves. This is one of many reasons a

prayerful quest is essential if we are to stand within and

amongst the ranks of generational shift and change. We

simply have to discover, find our purpose in life, for

without it we are nothing more than a rudderless ship, lost

at sea, tossed here and there by the random and raging

waves of life, and in no time in our history have those waves

appeared as intense and unstable as they do and are

today.

2 PASSION

The second arrow, is the Arrow of Passion. Out of our

discovery of purpose, flows the potential for passion.

Passion is what drives us. It is what motivates us. It is what

drives us. It is what wakes us up in the morning and puts us

to bed at eventide.

Purpose alone is not enough. Purpose without passion is

like a good steak without seasoning - something is missing

from the pallet, and the taste is lacking as is the fulfillment

and satiation of nourishment of and for the soul.

Passion is the fuel that feeds the fire of our heart and soul.

Without it, our purpose is often compromised and

unfulfilled. Passion is what you stand for. Passion is what

you will fight for, and for which, if necessary, die for.

Discover your Purpose, and infuse that with Passion and

together, those two of the Ten Essential Arrows will propel

you in a powerful and profound way towards the fulfillment

of your and our destiny as Seventh Generation relatives.

Both are vital to that attainment.

3 PLAN/DIRECTION

The third of the Ten Essential Arrows, is that of a good

plan. It is one thing to have a passion filled purpose; it is

rather foolish to proceed without a plan and direction, for,

if you don’t know where you are going, and how you are

going to get there, any old road will take you there.

It is said that if we do not stand for something, we will fall

to and for anything. No wise person begins a journey of

destination, without a good plan of how to get there.

As for us, Seventh Generation relatives, our plan is best

formed and disciplined under the template of the Seven

Sacred Teachings. This is the format of our plan, and while

the individual expression and experience of those

teachings reveal themselves singularly as regards our own

sense of purpose and passion, they can and will inform our

decisions and directions as we plan our steps and navigate

our way collectively.

4 EXECUTION

The fourth of the Ten Essential Arrows is execution. We

can fill our quiver with purpose, passion, and develop a

good plan, but until and unless we notch the Arrow of

Execution and launch, we are powerless, indifferent, and

ineffective in our reasons for being.

5 DEDICATION

It is easy to get discouraged in this arduous journey of life.

Hence, the fifth arrow is dedication. We can discover our

purpose, imbued with passion, guided and directed via a

good plan, but without dedication to the process, it is easy

to give up and lay down when the hard times and rough

obstacles come, and they will come. A first cousin to

dedication is determination, and together both are

essential if we are to persevere and succeed in the ultimate

attainment and fulfillment of our purpose.

6 COMMITMENT

Again, we can be purpose filled people, full of passion,

walking a good plan, be dedicated and determined, and if

we are defunct in our commitment to the process, we are

nothing more than sounding brass and clanging cymbals.

Commitment is an obligation, and no arrow is more

important and essential than the commitments we make, to

ourselves, our culture, our society, our community.

Commitment knows no compromise; it simply is, and serves

an unwavering promise of heart, mind, body, and soul to

stop at nothing to arrive and achieve.

7 PRACTICE

The seventh arrow is the arrow of practice. Few of us hit

the bullseye on our first shot. It takes exercise to develop

the strengths necessary to fulfill our purpose and attain

our destiny. We load, launch, and often miss the mark. We

reload, and try again, and try again, and again, and with

and in practice, we will hit the mark of destiny.

8 PATIENCE

The eighth arrow is the Arrow of Patience. It takes time to

discover one’s purpose. It takes patience to consistently

fuel purpose with passion. It takes patience to plan and

execute a good plan. It takes patience to remain

dedicated in the face of discouraging news or depressing

times. It takes patience to stay true to the course of

commitment. It takes patience to maintain and support the

practice.

Run, and do not get weary, for the journey of the Good

Red Road, while worth the arrival in every way, takes time,

and great patience. Be easy and gentle on yourself.

9 PERSEVERANCE

The ninth of the Ten Essential Arrows is Perseverance.

Patience alone is not sufficient to the task at hand. We

must exercise perseverance and determination to fulfill out

prophetic destiny.

Challenges will come. Hardships will come. Obstacles will

fall like boulders in front of us as we walk, and sometimes

run. The voices of critics and nay-sayers will sound long

and loud, but we must not be swayed if we are to walk in a

continuum of good ways.

The Arrow of Perseverance is perhaps the longest one in

our quiver as it is necessary for the long haul of endurance

and faithfulness.

10 PERFORMANCE

The Tenth Essential Arrow is that of performance. This is

the “doing” part.

Consider, if you will, the symphony. Instruments of all

sorts, shapes and sounds come together with a purpose -

Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, or perhaps Vivaldi’s Four

Seasons. Each instrument, each instrumentalist burns with

passion and desire to perform well and bask in the the

sweet harmonies of their combined collective. The

conductor establishes a plan and provides the direction.

They execute, remain dedicated and committed to practice

and patience, even amidst the frequent missed note, or

poor timing, and yet they persevere and press on. At long

last, the curtains unfold, the stage lights rise, a quiet

pause, and then begins the performance, one to which the

audience will arise in lingering silence of the final note, with

a standing ovation and repeated curtain calls. Why?

It all began with purpose, fueled with passion, directed

with a good plan, well executed to which there is a measure

of dedication and commitment, practice and perserverance

- The Ten Essential Arrows of Power and Success.

And so it is with us in our own symphony of life, and so

must we too discipline ourselves and arrange our lives to

live and thrive, and progress toward the goal, and the prize

that awaits us, which is a world filled with peace, harmony,

happiness, wholeness, and unity.`

It was career day in Ms. Jone’s third grade class. The topic

of the day’s discussion was what the students wanted to

be when the grew up. Mischievous Mike began - “Ms.

Jones, not only can I tell you, I can make it rhyme! When I

grow up to be a man, my plan is to pan for gold in Alaska,

and I can, if I think I can.” Well, this started a precedent.

Boisterous Billy was next. “Teacher, when I grow up to be

a man, my plan is to go farm in Nebraska, and I can if I think

I can.” Meek Mary was next. “Ms. Jones, when I grow up

to be a woman, I want to settle down and find a man, and I

can, if I think I can.” The notorious little Johnny couldn’t

sit still until it was finally his turn. “Teacher, when I grow up

to be a man, I don’t want to go to Alaska or Nebraska! I

want to hang around and help Mary with her plan! And I

can if I think I can, so, I think I can.”

So, what’s your plan?