Aboriginal teachings of the 13 Moons can help all students live a balanced and healthy lifestyle
We are all connected to a higher power. Inspiring people to encompass positivity and wellness into their lives, learning the teachings of the “13 Moons” can help all students.
“The 13 Moon teachings remind us that we are part of the whole in regards to our connection with all the parts of mother earth, and the universe,” said Bob Crawford, aboriginal counsellor for aboriginal services at GBC.
Commonly referred to as Iroquois or Six Nations teachings, on Nov. 5, elder Renee Thomas-Hill of the Haudenosaunee tribe or “people of the longhouse,” during her teaching said that, “the moon has affected everyone,” while describing the journey of a girl facing life’s obstacles.
Affected by sadness and grief she learns how to cope and make her way through life, and teaches us how to live life in a positive way.
“I feel it is important for everyone to learn different teachings because it’s a way of learning how to live life in a positive and proper way,” said Jolene May, aboriginal student support staff for aboriginal services. “Following the right path, and caring for all the creator’s creations including yourself and mother earth.”
They show us how to be respectful and humble to all we are connected to, says Crawford, and that, “if we don’t act in a respectful manner it has a direct effect on those connections, which ultimately affect us as human beings.”
Living a balanced life is sometimes very difficult, but learning about life from this perspective is beneficial in helping all students live a balanced, healthy lifestyle, and to respect and be considerate of others; “it’s about wellness and positivity,” said May.
With obstacles making a constant appearance in our lives, it helps us acknowledge that we don’t have control over certain things in our lives, and that being appreciative of what we do have is most important.
“This certainly helps us as human beings by helping us to take a step back and enabling us to see the big picture in a clearer way,” said Crawford. “This helps us with our daily life struggles by helping us to put these struggles into perspective, and helps us to not sweat the small stuff that sometimes can seem like life and death issues.”
