The Lakota Indians were true nature lovers. They loved the land and all the things that belonged to it, and as they grew older, they loved it more and more.
The elders deeply loved the land and would sit or lie on the ground with a deep sense of closeness to the mother’s power. It was a pleasure to touch the earth with their skin, and the older people loved to take off their moccasins and walk barefoot on the sacred land. Their tipis were set on the ground, and even their altars were made of earth.
Birds fly through the sky and land on the ground to rest, and it is the final resting place for all living and growing things. The earth has a calming effect, strengthens us, purifies us, and heals us.
That is why the older Indians prefer to sit on the ground rather than stand up and move away from its life-giving powers. Sitting or lying on the ground allows them to think more deeply and feel better, to better understand the mystery of life and to connect with the other lives that surround them.
They have a kinship with all creatures on the land. The land, sky, and water were a truly universal principle. With the world of animals and birds, there was a sense of brotherhood that made the Lakota feel safe among them, and many Lakota people became so close to their feathered and furry friends that they spoke the same language in true brotherhood.
The old Lakota people were wise. They knew that a person’s heart becomes hardened when they distance themselves from nature, and they knew that disrespect for living, growing things also leads to disrespect towards people. Therefore, they always taught their young ones not to stray from its soothing influence.