"Going Native"

I know you have all probably heard the term "going native", as in "Watch out for Johnny he might go native on you!" or when you have watched old movies or read older books by explorers they may refer to doing what the natives do as going native, it is a derogatory term, a negative term and a pretty ignorant term as far as I can see describing the way someone might act as primitive, savage, beastly, dirty, crazy or wild. Another use is" I went native all day, I did not wear a bra." ok, so what, bra shma! I have even heard people say "What are you going national geographic on us?" It is looking at native people as crazy, wild, and dangerous, dirty, half naked heathens. Maybe if we all had a little more crazy in us we would be more free...but...here we are.  I don't mean it like that. What I am saying is that by "going native" we will get back to our roots, learn about where we come from, get back to simpler more natural was of living, eat more simply, shed unnecessary things, live from the earth and not just live on it. We can become more happy, free, simple and positive people. We can relearn what is important. These days things are so jumbled and our vision of what we want t gets so clouded by what we think we need, or what society says we need. We buy things left and right, we get more technology involved in our daily activities that most people  don't even know how to make a meal without a microwave these days. Where I live is in a bit of a protected bubble, there are many people here who feel the way I do, that are putting into action, they are living in the woods, simple and fulfilling lives with very little in the way of modern amenities.

 I did a bit of research on the term, and now days it is being used in the way that I desire it to be used. A positive thing, a good way of being. Going back to traditions, natural living, responsible stewards of the land. Living true to your peoples ways, or living like your traditional culture used to. Respecting the earth and the people. You can find other people and organizations in the same thought pattern as me, they are not calling it "going native" necessarily, although I have seen it used in that way. What they are calling it "going raw", "going eco". It is describing this reconnecting back to what we know as right as good as vital.


Here is a piece describing the old way of thinking-

The term 'going native' is employed to refer to the trepidation felt by the European colonizers in Africa that they may become desecrated by being assimilated into the culture and customs of the indigenous peoples. In today's liberal and anti-racist society, ‘going native' is understandably considered a derogatory and offensive term. The image of Africa as a savage, primitive territory is after all a predominantly Western construction and is due in large part to the tendencies of Europeans to judge other cultures unreasonably according to their own distinctly Western standards of what constitutes civilisation. This prejudiced position not only completely ignores the accepted notion of cultural and historical specificity, but also the fact that foreign cultures often live according to their own traditional, sometimes tribal, belief systems. Viewed from this perspective, the idiocy and sheer injustice of labelling another culture's rites (of which we are largely ignorant) acceptable or not becomes apparent.

Excerpt from "The Imperial Archive" at www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEnglish/imperial/key-concepts/Going-native.htm. 

Lets turn this around, lets make it into a desirable way of life, a real goal for people to strive towards. Most people these days don't even know what their origin is, what traditions they were born of, what lifestyles their people lived. I am not saying we have to go that far, by any means. I am only saying I feel like the ways of people and the world have become so muddled, so complicated. Why not try and simplify and reconnect? What can you cut out of your life to take it down a notch? Reduce your waste even..thats a start. Eat in a way that is basic...not bland, not boring at all, not hard....just less preservatives, less grease, less processed food. I am talking about simple ways to find integrity in the way you walk on this earth. By simplifying our lives, we reduce stress, reduce pain, reduce hardship reduce fear and reduce anger...... the world over. Yes I drive a car, yes I buy plastics, yes I talk on a cell phone, yes I have anger, yes I get stressed out, yes I use gas, yes I love shopping, yes I do. 


     This is a challenge to me and to you. A challenge to think more on where that thing you buy comes from, who made it, what impact it creates. As my friend says, "You will go crazy thinking about all the problems of the world. Being conscious is so hard, I wish sometimes I could just live my life and not be so sensitive." The weight can be so heavy on us conscious people. But if we stay focused, positive and live right, do right we teach by example and it will trickle down. I wish it would poor down really and happen faster, but I am only one person trying to make a difference. Stand up with me, with us, with my friends and family to make a bigger difference.

Go native, get back to your roots, simplify, reduce, free yourself! Thats should be a positive thing! 


Last night my power went out....ha! I lost me internet connection and thought I had lost this whole blog. I was bummed and tried to use it as a lesson. I told myself it was alright, I had a  chance to purge my mind and then it was all lost to the great garbage heap in internet heaven.You may think thats a bit ironic in this situation when I am talking about reducing.  But alas, it was autosaved and here we are. My thoughts were so graciously saved by this magic auto saver angel. Yeah!  


Recipe of the day:


Vegan Butternut Squash/Almond Patte'


1 1/2 cups steamed butternut squash
1 cup almond (soak for an hour or so before)
1/2 onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
salt 
olive oil


In cast iron pan saute the onion finely chopped with the garlic cloves that have been minced. Saute until brown. Salt to taste. In cuisinart place squash, almond, 1 tblsp olive oil, add onions and garlic and salt to taste blend up until smooth. Use to dip raw veggies in or spread on crackers or bread.