The Four Worlds International Institute

The Fourth Way: Guiding Principles for Building a Sustainable and Harmonious World





The Four Worlds Guiding Principles for Building a Sustainable and Harmonious World

The Sixteen Principles for building a sustainable and harmonious world community emerged from a 36-year process of reflection, consultation and action within Indigenous communities across the Americas. They are rooted in the concerns of hundreds of Aboriginal elders and leaders and thinkers, as well as in the best thinking of many non-aboriginal scholars, researchers and human and community development practitioners.

These guiding principles constitute the foundation for the process of healing and developing ourselves (mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually), our human relationships (personal, social, political, economic, and cultural) and our relationship with Mother Earth. They describe the way we must work and what we must protect and cherish.
We offer these principles as a gift to all who seek to build a sustainable and harmonious world community.

PREAMBLE

We speak as one, guided by the sacred teachings and spiritual traditions of the Four Directions that uplift, guide, protect, warn, inspire and challenge the entire human family to live in ways that sustain and enhance human life and the lives of all who dwell on Mother Earth, and hereby dedicate our lives and energies to healing and developing ourselves, the web of relationships that make our world, and the way we live with Mother Earth.

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Starting from within, working in a circle, in a sacred manner, we heal ourselves, our relationships and our world.


STARTING FROM WITHIN

Human Beings Can Transform Their Worlds
The web of our relationships with others and the natural world, which has given rise to the problems we face as a human family, can be changed.

Development Comes From Within
The process of human and community development unfolds from within each person, relationship, family organization, community or nation.

No Vision, No Development
A vision of who we can become and what a sustainable world would be like, works as a powerful magnet, drawing us to our potential.

Healing Is A Necessary Part Of Development
Healing the past, closing up old wounds and learning healthy habits of thought and action to replace dysfunctional thinking and disruptive patterns of human relations is a necessary part of the process of sustainable development.


WORKING IN A CIRCLE

Interconnectedness
Everything is interconnected; therefore, any aspect of our healing and development is related to all the others (personal, social, cultural, political, economic, etc.). When we work on any one part, the whole circle is affected.

No Unity, No Development
Unity means oneness. Without unity, the common harmony that makes (seemingly) separate human beings into ‘community’ is impossible. Disunity is the primary disease of a community.

No Participation, No Development
Participation is the active engagement of the minds, hearts, and energy of the people in the process of their healing and development.

Justice
Every person (regardless of gender, race, age, culture, religion, sexual orientation) must be accorded equal opportunity to participate in the process of healing and development, and to receive a fair share of the benefits.


IN A SACRED MANNER

Spirit
Human beings are both material and spiritual in nature. It is, therefore, inconceivable that human community could become whole and sustainable without bringing our lives into balance with the requirements of our spiritual reality.

Morals and Ethics
Sustainable human and community development requires a moral foundation centered in the wisdom of the heart. When this foundation is lost, morals and ethical principles decline and growth stop.

The Hurt of One Is the Hurt of All: The Honor of One Is the Honor Of All
The basic fact of our oneness as a human family means that development for some at the expense of well-being for others is not acceptable or sustainable.

Authentic Development Is Culturally Based
Healing and development must be rooted in the wisdom, knowledge and living processes of the culture of the people.


WE HEAL AND DEVELOP OURSELVES, OUR RELATIONSHIPS, AND OUR WORLD

Learning
Human beings are learning beings. We begin learning while we are still in our mother’s wombs, and unless something happens to close off our minds and paralyze our capacities, we keep learning throughout our entire lives. Learning is at the core of healing and development.

Sustainability
To sustain something means to enable it to continue for a long time. Authentic development does not use up or undermine what it needs to keep on going.

Move to the Positive
Solving the critical problems in our lives and communities is best approached by visualizing and moving into the positive alternative that we wish to create, and by building on the strengths, we already have, rather than on giving away our energy fighting the negative.

Be the Change You Want To See
The most powerful strategies for change always involve positive role modeling and the creation of living examples of the solutions we are proposing. By walking the path, we make the path visible.

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Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.
Alfred Lord Tennyson


Whispergently said:
Dear Chief Phil, I am back among the living and doing well, I've walked along our rivers edge and tried to piece the places my father wanted to lead me.

This morning I left with all intent of resolving issues with those who had done me wrong, they happen to be goods that I unknowingly purchased through the advice of sales reps in those same stores, I have discovered that no one is of the same caliber as those who worked for Teletech, we (myself too) believed in being honest with our customers and we stood our ground with our supervisors and debated the issue until we fully understood exactly what was required, we won many battles, but now I find I'm losing my battle at this end of the world for lack of help from those around me, they are all dormant in their own little world, we have here in Timmins Ontario Canada and overabundance of wealth and we have greed that is killing the souls of many by them giving up and not taking a stand. We are being plagued with unemployment because Exstrata Mines has set up its shop in Quebec, all I can say aren't we lucky that this unhealthy Corporation that was making many people sick is now leaving over 700 unemployed, yet we see the City spending like there is no tomorrow, I'm presently being evicted from my home and I refuse to lay down and abide by rules governed by people who are so uncaring and ruthless. My landlady will soon have to run to the bank and try to borrow money, to my surprise I learned that the SmartMeter from Hydro have been installed and many customers will be duped into NOT understanding what they were signing up for, I read too much therefore understood fully the impact of receiving a bill you don't have the savings for. Someone, my guess is my landlady has taken in excess of 1300.00 dollars from my home, see I didn't believe in banks and started saving my money at home. Who has a key to my home but my landlady and she has a 16yr old daughter who is an avid liar and is presently the cause of harming many people here. Pray that she is not successful at her little warped attempts at charging a man who is innocent, may she be shamed to her actions.

I wish the best to all, be on the lookout for more diseases the ill effects from the Gulf will be felt worldwide, that smell of tar is going to mixed with many unhealthy and even death will be associated to it.

Remain vigilant in these dire times of need.

I sleepy now, rest for a bit
Whispergently


Whispergently said:
Dear Chief Phil, I am back among the living and doing well, I've walked along our rivers edge and tried to piece the places my father wanted to lead me.

This morning I left with all intent of resolving issues with those who had done me wrong, they happen to be goods that I unknowingly purchased through the advice of sales reps in those same stores, I have discovered that no one is of the same caliber as those who worked for Teletech, we (myself too) believed in being honest with our customers and we stood our ground with our supervisors and debated the issue until we fully understood exactly what was required, we won many battles, but now I find I'm losing my battle at this end of the world for lack of help from those around me, they are all dormant in their own little world, we have here in Timmins Ontario Canada and overabundance of wealth and we have greed that is killing the souls of many by them giving up and not taking a stand. We are being plagued with unemployment because Exstrata Mines has set up its shop in Quebec, all I can say aren't we lucky that this unhealthy Corporation that was making many people sick is now leaving over 700 unemployed, yet we see the City spending like there is no tomorrow, I'm presently being evicted from my home and I refuse to lay down and abide by rules governed by people who are so uncaring and ruthless. My landlady will soon have to run to the bank and try to borrow money, to my surprise I learned that the SmartMeter from Hydro have been installed and many customers will be duped into NOT understanding what they were signing up for, I read too much therefore understood fully the impact of receiving a bill you don't have the savings for. Someone, my guess is my landlady has taken in excess of 1300.00 dollars from my home, see I didn't believe in banks and started saving my money at home. Who has a key to my home but my landlady and she has a 16yr old daughter who is an avid liar and is presently the cause of harming many people here. Pray that she is not successful at her little warped attempts at charging a man who is innocent, may she be shamed to her actions.

I wish the best to all, be on the lookout for more diseases the ill effects from the Gulf will be felt worldwide, that smell of tar is going to mixed with many unhealthy and even death will be associated to it.

Remain vigilant in these dire times of need.

I sleepy now, rest for a bit
Whispergently
I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.
Confucius

waldenthree coordinator said:


Whispergently said:
Dear Chief Phil, I am back among the living and doing well, I've walked along our rivers edge and tried to piece the places my father wanted to lead me.

This morning I left with all intent of resolving issues with those who had done me wrong, they happen to be goods that I unknowingly purchased through the advice of sales reps in those same stores, I have discovered that no one is of the same caliber as those who worked for Teletech, we (myself too) believed in being honest with our customers and we stood our ground with our supervisors and debated the issue until we fully understood exactly what was required, we won many battles, but now I find I'm losing my battle at this end of the world for lack of help from those around me, they are all dormant in their own little world, we have here in Timmins Ontario Canada and overabundance of wealth and we have greed that is killing the souls of many by them giving up and not taking a stand. We are being plagued with unemployment because Exstrata Mines has set up its shop in Quebec, all I can say aren't we lucky that this unhealthy Corporation that was making many people sick is now leaving over 700 unemployed, yet we see the City spending like there is no tomorrow, I'm presently being evicted from my home and I refuse to lay down and abide by rules governed by people who are so uncaring and ruthless. My landlady will soon have to run to the bank and try to borrow money, to my surprise I learned that the SmartMeter from Hydro have been installed and many customers will be duped into NOT understanding what they were signing up for, I read too much therefore understood fully the impact of receiving a bill you don't have the savings for. Someone, my guess is my landlady has taken in excess of 1300.00 dollars from my home, see I didn't believe in banks and started saving my money at home. Who has a key to my home but my landlady and she has a 16yr old daughter who is an avid liar and is presently the cause of harming many people here. Pray that she is not successful at her little warped attempts at charging a man who is innocent, may she be shamed to her actions.

I wish the best to all, be on the lookout for more diseases the ill effects from the Gulf will be felt worldwide, that smell of tar is going to mixed with many unhealthy and even death will be associated to it.

Remain vigilant in these dire times of need.

I sleepy now, rest for a bit
Whispergently
waldenthree coordinator said:
I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.
Confucius

waldenthree coordinator said:


Whispergently said:
Dear Chief Phil, I am back among the living and doing well, I've walked along our rivers edge and tried to piece the places my father wanted to lead me.

This morning I left with all intent of resolving issues with those who had done me wrong, they happen to be goods that I unknowingly purchased through the advice of sales reps in those same stores, I have discovered that no one is of the same caliber as those who worked for Teletech, we (myself too) believed in being honest with our customers and we stood our ground with our supervisors and debated the issue until we fully understood exactly what was required, we won many battles, but now I find I'm losing my battle at this end of the world for lack of help from those around me, they are all dormant in their own little world, we have here in Timmins Ontario Canada and overabundance of wealth and we have greed that is killing the souls of many by them giving up and not taking a stand. We are being plagued with unemployment because Exstrata Mines has set up its shop in Quebec, all I can say aren't we lucky that this unhealthy Corporation that was making many people sick is now leaving over 700 unemployed, yet we see the City spending like there is no tomorrow, I'm presently being evicted from my home and I refuse to lay down and abide by rules governed by people who are so uncaring and ruthless. My landlady will soon have to run to the bank and try to borrow money, to my surprise I learned that the SmartMeter from Hydro have been installed and many customers will be duped into NOT understanding what they were signing up for, I read too much therefore understood fully the impact of receiving a bill you don't have the savings for. Someone, my guess is my landlady has taken in excess of 1300.00 dollars from my home, see I didn't believe in banks and started saving my money at home. Who has a key to my home but my landlady and she has a 16yr old daughter who is an avid liar and is presently the cause of harming many people here. Pray that she is not successful at her little warped attempts at charging a man who is innocent, may she be shamed to her actions.

I wish the best to all, be on the lookout for more diseases the ill effects from the Gulf will be felt worldwide, that smell of tar is going to mixed with many unhealthy and even death will be associated to it.

Remain vigilant in these dire times of need.

I sleepy now, rest for a bit
Whispergently


Phil Lane Jr. said:
waldenthree coordinator said:
I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.
Confucius

waldenthree coordinator said:


Whispergently said:
Dear Chief Phil, I am back among the living and doing well, I've walked along our rivers edge and tried to piece the places my father wanted to lead me.

This morning I left with all intent of resolving issues with those who had done me wrong, they happen to be goods that I unknowingly purchased through the advice of sales reps in those same stores, I have discovered that no one is of the same caliber as those who worked for Teletech, we (myself too) believed in being honest with our customers and we stood our ground with our supervisors and debated the issue until we fully understood exactly what was required, we won many battles, but now I find I'm losing my battle at this end of the world for lack of help from those around me, they are all dormant in their own little world, we have here in Timmins Ontario Canada and overabundance of wealth and we have greed that is killing the souls of many by them giving up and not taking a stand. We are being plagued with unemployment because Exstrata Mines has set up its shop in Quebec, all I can say aren't we lucky that this unhealthy Corporation that was making many people sick is now leaving over 700 unemployed, yet we see the City spending like there is no tomorrow, I'm presently being evicted from my home and I refuse to lay down and abide by rules governed by people who are so uncaring and ruthless. My landlady will soon have to run to the bank and try to borrow money, to my surprise I learned that the SmartMeter from Hydro have been installed and many customers will be duped into NOT understanding what they were signing up for, I read too much therefore understood fully the impact of receiving a bill you don't have the savings for. Someone, my guess is my landlady has taken in excess of 1300.00 dollars from my home, see I didn't believe in banks and started saving my money at home. Who has a key to my home but my landlady and she has a 16yr old daughter who is an avid liar and is presently the cause of harming many people here. Pray that she is not successful at her little warped attempts at charging a man who is innocent, may she be shamed to her actions.

I wish the best to all, be on the lookout for more diseases the ill effects from the Gulf will be felt worldwide, that smell of tar is going to mixed with many unhealthy and even death will be associated to it.

Remain vigilant in these dire times of need.

I sleepy now, rest for a bit
Whispergently
Topic 1: Avi's Draft 1 Song : "Moses Come Again" (available for your review via Google docs)
Topic 2: Silk Road For A Thousand Years linking trade, cultures and spirituality (Hammer Dulcimer Story, a Powerpoint One Minute, available via Google Docs)

Please send me your email if you would like to review this for possible Demo project with NOVA-DC-MD hub and your community in USA.

Avi Dey
EMAIL: twin@waldenthree.net

waldenthree coordinator said:


Phil Lane Jr. said:
waldenthree coordinator said:
I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.
Confucius

waldenthree coordinator said:


Whispergently said:
Dear Chief Phil, I am back among the living and doing well, I've walked along our rivers edge and tried to piece the places my father wanted to lead me.

This morning I left with all intent of resolving issues with those who had done me wrong, they happen to be goods that I unknowingly purchased through the advice of sales reps in those same stores, I have discovered that no one is of the same caliber as those who worked for Teletech, we (myself too) believed in being honest with our customers and we stood our ground with our supervisors and debated the issue until we fully understood exactly what was required, we won many battles, but now I find I'm losing my battle at this end of the world for lack of help from those around me, they are all dormant in their own little world, we have here in Timmins Ontario Canada and overabundance of wealth and we have greed that is killing the souls of many by them giving up and not taking a stand. We are being plagued with unemployment because Exstrata Mines has set up its shop in Quebec, all I can say aren't we lucky that this unhealthy Corporation that was making many people sick is now leaving over 700 unemployed, yet we see the City spending like there is no tomorrow, I'm presently being evicted from my home and I refuse to lay down and abide by rules governed by people who are so uncaring and ruthless. My landlady will soon have to run to the bank and try to borrow money, to my surprise I learned that the SmartMeter from Hydro have been installed and many customers will be duped into NOT understanding what they were signing up for, I read too much therefore understood fully the impact of receiving a bill you don't have the savings for. Someone, my guess is my landlady has taken in excess of 1300.00 dollars from my home, see I didn't believe in banks and started saving my money at home. Who has a key to my home but my landlady and she has a 16yr old daughter who is an avid liar and is presently the cause of harming many people here. Pray that she is not successful at her little warped attempts at charging a man who is innocent, may she be shamed to her actions.

I wish the best to all, be on the lookout for more diseases the ill effects from the Gulf will be felt worldwide, that smell of tar is going to mixed with many unhealthy and even death will be associated to it.

Remain vigilant in these dire times of need.

I sleepy now, rest for a bit
Whispergently

Warm Greetings to our Chief, our Sisters and Brothers,

I feel immense gratitude toward the collective souls who collaborated so beautifully, to author the Fourth Way Guiding Principles. It is drafted in compassionate, easily understood, inclusive and respectful wording.

 It is an honor to learn of who you are, and to be a member of a growing community, brought into being by  esteemed and spiritually endowed, visionary scholars.

I offer my deepest appreciation for the spirit of your carefully chosen words, intended to help us re-generate  more balanced and harmonious relationships within and among ourselves. We are giving birth to a sacred, honorable, flourishing and life-affirming new world, walking our path with great heart, open to the wisdom of all our relations.

Aloha,

Phyllis

Dear Sister Phylis,

 

Your Comment;  offer my deepest appreciation for the spirit of your carefully chosen words, intended to help us re-generate  more balanced and harmonious relationships within and among ourselves.

 

Discussion: Thanks for  your appreciation, but what process exists or can be developed to execute your appreciation ? What resources ?  who will volunteer to do one or more demo project to demonstrate success in arts, heritage, and science, as 'prototype', in your community and mine here in DC area ?   Question; Twin Project USA C2C ?   Join my new facebook group, "Heritage Music Circle' for virtual teaming ? 

Have a chat with Grandmother Dawn Sky Weaver in PA ?

Dear Waldenthree Coordinator, Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for opening the discussion and asking to know what processes exist or can be developed to execute my appreciation for the Guiding Principles, and what resources will I use, to make this path of the Fourth Way visible.

I volunteer 3-4 days a week in Guerneville, California, at the headquarters for the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, and the Center for Sacred Studies, where I enjoy sharing an open, warm-spirited energy with my co-workers, and the public who visit our gift store, Samadhi Life, or who just drop by to learn more or visit.

My spiritual practice each day includes going within, working in a sacred manner through ritual, to heal and develop myself and the ancestors I hold in my DNA. I do my best daily to work mindfully, bringing the best of who I am to others. When my best attitude wavers, I always have my practice to refer to. 

It’s time for me to begin teaching again, so I’m developing classes, workshops and public speaking engagements to offer locally. My passion is deeply rooted in various forms of indigenous health care, a sustainable and sacred approach to wellness, spiritual development, and deep-ancestral participation, assisting in the restoration of health and balance for the people, the earth, and our beloved cosmos.

For years, I have enjoyed providing tools, education, and other concrete verbal instructions on how to access and increase health awareness and healing. I teach how to create reciprocal relationships with plant medicine spirits without ingesting them, in both medical and non-medical settings. 

The core teaching and experiential part of my work is to help bring about deep cellular regeneration and visible repair if needed, that can be medically documented. This is brought about by a "cellular spin"  when we communicate in a circle, in a sacred manner, with 20 thousand generations of ancestors on both sides of our families in DNA, RNA and mitochondria. 

This sacred dance of life that starts within, heals past relationships among and throughout ancestral lineages, correcting attitudes, emotions, spiritual diseases and physical illness we may have, that is always influenced by ancestral histories.

Because all of nature is included in these sacred journeys, it is a time that heals our inner world, geographical places of ancestral origin, the ways we relate to the world-at-large, the original ancestors whose land we are sitting in at the time, and our Mother earth. In other words, all things change, because it's all connected.  It is a beauty way of participating in our own inner earth tapestry, and reweaving our often badly damaged environmental one. It is indigenous sacred technology taught by ancestors.

As people understand the meaning of working within their deep ancestral roots, a new appreciation develops for what our relatives are capable of actively providing for us individually, and collectively as a global family.

The ancestors have asked me to teach in specific ways, for reasons of safety and healing influence during this critical and sacred time of earth transitions.

Internally, they represent our deep personal community of wisdom teachers, healers, guides and elders, and are community development specialists in their own sacred, open-hearted right. In their own words to me one day, they asked this question: “Do you think there is anything you have ever experienced in your lifetime that we have not already experienced?”  Well, obviously not, I thought, as you’ve been living inside of me since I was born, and your were here first.  “Nnnnnnno”, I answered. It became clear to me that this type of internal healing and spiritual development would necessarily prepare me to relate to the outer world in a more integrated, aware and respectful manner. It was also beyond intimidating and to involved and exciting to put into words.

As people learn that each cell is a universe unto itself, open-ended healing possibilities are recognized, revealing how our inner earth can be re-generated and made whole again, in synchronistic sacred dance with our Mother earth. The natures of our health and essences of our beings can only become more personally and respectfully aligned with the Earth as a holy, ancient and beautiful body.

 

The “how to” (or experiential) formats of my classes, represent a teaching style that evolved from personal interactions (initiations) with plant and ancestor spirits, that I have never been able to write about concisely or easily, until now, in this forum, where I can finally see read it in print. You have no idea really, of how it feels for me to get this into a readable format. It's been more than 20 years. For me, it's all about who I'm talking to, and their need to know.

Basically, in the classes and workshops, the ancestors and plant spirits become more visible teachers, and I just provide the place to learn and steps to reach the path within. The rest of the story remains as results that change lives for the better, if one is willing.

So, you could probably imagine how happy and excited I felt as I read what was so beautifully written on the side-bar of the FWII website. It says so much, very simply, in a few words. I found it to be a reflection of the work I’ve been living and teaching for many years. “Starting From Within, Working In A Circle, In A Sacred Manner, We Heal And Develop Ourselves, Our Relationships, And The World”.

Nature is abundantly present in classes and workshops taught from within the sacred space of a living container—the Medicine Wheel. It gives sincere and respectful permission for the spirits to be actively involved as teachers, healers, ancestors, and guides, while keeping us safe.

In this way, they have their own platform then, to help deepen our faculties of observing from within, feeling, seeing and knowing the heart intelligence--HEART CONSCIOUSNESS, and spiritual dimensions of their gentle, respectful, and wise actions toward our collective benefit spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. We are of one HEART CONSCIOUSNESS.

I give great thanks to Creator for all my relations in this forum. Thank you waldenthree, for taking the time to ask, and to all my relations for listening.

In peace and good health,

Phyllis

waldenthree coordinator said:

Dear Sister Phylis,

 

Your Comment;  offer my deepest appreciation for the spirit of your carefully chosen words, intended to help us



waldenthree coordinator said:

Dear Sister Phylis,

 

Your Comment;  offer my deepest appreciation for the spirit of your carefully chosen words, intended to help us re-generate  more balanced and harmonious relationships within and among ourselves.

 

Discussion: Thanks for  your appreciation, but what process exists or can be developed to execute your appreciation ? What resources ?  who will volunteer to do one or more demo project to demonstrate success in arts, heritage, and science, as 'prototype', in your community and mine here in DC area ?   Question; Twin Project USA C2C ?   Join my new facebook group, "Heritage Music Circle' for virtual teaming ? 

Have a chat with Grandmother Dawn Sky Weaver in PA ?

Kia ora, and we continue to grow in heart, in mind, in soul so we unite across the Papatuanuku - Mauri ora
Thank you for sharing this, I believe that one thing that is missing is a statement on freedom of spiritual expression, what we might think of as religious freedom.  I find that many have good intentions, but often bog down in the expectation that good works are tied to compliance to a single religious belief system.  We must move to a place where each religious or spiritual belief system is respected, as long as it's followers do nothing that would harm others.  I belong to a faith system that cares for others regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.  It is powerful because it represents the right of each individual to make choices and live those choices in peace.  In our present day, spirituality is very important, and it is too easy for others to say spirituality or religious belief is a way of dividing people rather than unifying them.  I think it would be wise to add a clear statement on the right of each individual to express their spiritual identity in whatever way they choose, and to have the belief that others will not interfere.

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