Think Indigenous: Native American Spirituality for a Modern World

by Doug Good Feather

Medicine is essence, and essence is the most distinct and concentrated characteristic of a singular thing. Each distinct thing in this world has a natural energy, and natural energy comes in positive and negative forms, as well as masculine and feminine forms. Essence is created when bonds are formed, and essence is released when bonds are broken. These bonds can be in the form of relationships, ideas, molecules, or any assortment of instances when things come together or come apart. When two good things join together, the essence that is created is good medicine, and it is the foundation of love, health, and healing. Good medicine can be anything that promotes healing, well-being, and love and can be as simple as smiling at someone who may need it (even if it’s smiling at our self in the mirror). Even our mistakes can be medicine, because if we learn from our mistakes, then we can teach others the lessons of our mistakes, and helping people is good medicine. Good medicine is spending time with a good friend or animal relative, walking in nature, swimming, making love, laughing, enjoying a good meal, or having good thoughts and wishes for someone. Molecules can be another example of good medicine. A hydrogen molecule by itself is distinct, and so is an oxygen molecule; however, when these molecules bond in a certain sequence, they create a medicine that allows all life to exist—H2O, or water. Good medicine is the essence that’s created when at least two things come togethe...