Walking on the Wind Cherokee Teachings for Harmony & Balance by Michael Tlanusta Garrett was a joy to read not just because of the short stories and anecdotes but the great and simple wisdom found on every page. It was a book I didn’t want to end and look forward to enjoying again and again.

There were a few main “rules or beliefs” that Garrett seemed to rely strongly on for explanation of many things. One was the Rule of Acceptance. This was an answer given to him by his father for many questions he asked while growing up.

The Rule of Acceptance says:

• It is important to listen and open our spirit by giving away our need to control or change other people.
• Sometimes it is not the right answer but the right question and being ready for what comes that is important. If you have to ask you may not be ready.
• Things that need to happen have a way of happening regardless of our expectations so our responsibility is to let life happen and to make good choices instead of forcing life to happen.
• Expect nothing and appreciate the value of everything.
• Right or wrong are considered relative and limiting value terms that potentially rob a person of the opportunity to experience life fully in mind, body, spirit and natural environment and thus to learn from his or her experiences.
• There is a natural way of things.
• Knowing that everything has its purpose and its own time.

Cherokee spiritual beliefs require harmony and balance which emphasizes:

• Everything is alive.
• Everything has a purpose.
• All things are connected.
• We can embrace the Medicine of all living things as we are all walking together in The Circle.

The Circle reflects the interrelationship of all living beings and the natural progression or growth of life itself. Harmony and balance are necessary for the survival of all life. The Circle honors all that is, all that has ever been, and all that will ever be.

• Creator
• Mother Earth
• Ourselves
• The 4 Directions

Medicine is the inner power that connects to all living beings through the heart. It can be used for creative or destructive purposes, either contributing or taking away from the Greater Circle of Life.

Being in harmony means being in step with the universe; being in disharmony means being out of step with the universe.

“Harmony and balance is not a point that you eventually reach and then have to figure out a way to stay there; it is a constant state of living and learning — with clarity and compassion.” Chapter 11

7 Life Lessons in the Rule of Opposites:

1. Opposites are extensions of themselves, one opposite implies the other in the Great Circle.
2. We choose our opposites — we are the source of our difficulty (until we learn we have wisdom to create more options).
3. Everything serves a meaningful and important purpose in our lives.
4. Asking the right questions, instead of asking for the right answer will teach us why we are asking questions and not just answering questions.
5. Questioning assumptions and recognizing underlying meanings or truths might be more important than learning what really happened.
6. Understanding underlying truths eliminates need for discord in our lives.
7. Through choice of perspective and appropriate actions, we are free to balance ourselves as we see fit.

Keeping It All Balanced:

• Find your own intuitive energy and listen to it.
• Find how you are good at helping others.
• Make sure to laugh every day and look for joy.
• Be open to the energy all around us and enjoy it.
• Eat well.
• Get outside and move.
• Celebrate life and love by opening all senses and sharing feelings with a special person.
• Use quiet times to release stress, anxiety, fear and pain that you experience in life.
• Find your own vision. What works for others might not work for you.

“…when we look at something as a gift, we tend to accept it as it is, to appreciate it as it is, and it just makes us feel good. There is a sense of connection. It touches something within us and somehow grants us sacred moments of harmony.” Chapter 12

There are so many answers to life to be found in Walking on the Wind Cherokee Teachings for Harmony & Balance. This book also encouraged many other books to read so my reading list has grown considerably. I am excited about that too. I hope you enjoyed this review.

You can get your own copy of Walking on the Wind Cherokee Teachings for Harmony & Balance by Michael Tlanusta Garrett on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

Walking on the Wind: Cherokee Teachings for Harmony and Balance by Michael Tlanusta Garrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very inspirational read. I will read again and again. I also was inspired to write other books mentioned in the text that I intend to look into. Beautifully written; humble, insightful and spiritually inspirational for anyone on many types of journeys.

View all my reviews

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For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

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Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.