From Shaman’s Circle, 1996, by Nancy Wood
Whatever you become, my child, may it be rooted in grace.
Whatever your path through life,
may it offer you steepness and rough places, so that you do not become
complacent. Nothing is owed to you, but everything is available to you,
Even the decision to do nothing and to travel nowhere.
It’s up to you to decide
whether to follow the wisdom of our ancestors, or to pursue
the cheap solutions of the world. Your courage will arise
If you call it by name, just as love will find its way into your heart, in time.
My child, I cannot shoulder your mistakes
in order to keep you free from pain,
but I can open your eyes to beauty, if you will only take the time.