Spirituality and creativity are deeply connected. I've seen this connection proven over and over while teaching young people creative writing workshops. This connection needs to be fed if they are to believe they have a place in this world. Helping young people understand their connection to the earth is one of my passions. Inspiring them on to creative works through that spiritual connection has become one of the greatest joys of my life. And finding other artists/ writers/musicians who feel the same way has given me strength to continue in times of heartbreak. While in Arizona last year, I was given a book of poetry written by American Indian children.

There are poems about loss, the homeless, happy faces, love, culture, and friendship. There is profound wisdom in these writings, not only because they are by Indian children being taught that spiritual connection is a given, but because they are writings from the heart. The following poem was written by a Hopi third grader: "Faces, faces, faces. I like happy faces. They're like sparkling stars or like a rainbow that shines brightly near or far." My beliefs about spirituality are deeply connected to nature and creativity. To the American Indian, humankind and earth are one. There isn't humankind's existence and the animal and plant kingdom's existence. It is our existence. Our bodies are connected to the earth, both physically and spiritually. At the most basic level, everything is created, lives, dies and returns to the earth to nourish things to come. Before European contact, aboriginal people had definite forms of education for children that were passed down from generation to generation, and all were centered on contact with the natural world.

Nature is as much a part of human beings as our eyes, heart, and blood. As my friend Beth Carter says, "Nature isn't a place to go every now and then when camping. It isn't something we wipe off our feet and leave at the back door when we come inside." At our best we are connected to the animals, plants, rocks, the earth, and their voices and energy can speak to all of us. Understanding our connection with nature brings an understanding of our connection with all things.

I believe this connection starts in the womb. Reading to your unborn child, sending the baby thoughts, getting out into nature, sitting by a stream, telling the baby about the bigger picture are all extremely important. Once the child is born, continue this tradition. Children's dreams, ideas, thoughts are often the product of creative energy. Their curiosity leads them. Listen to what your child has to tell you.

Children know innately when they touch a tree or hold a flower that something inside them is going to click. If we can instill in children that they are part of the whole-a part of everything-they won't be as likely to abuse the land, each other or themselves. They will realize whatever they do effects so many other people.

Today, there are video games and television that are often more appealing to young people than finding their own creativity. Though I do not believe these things are all bad, they provide less of a creative outlet than other activities. There are many ways parents can help guide their children toward a spiritual connection through nature and the child's own personal creativity. Creating brings healing.

Children need opportunities to express themselves. Having a child draw or write about a walk in the woods is a kind of ceremony because it is reconnecting the child with the earth. Poetry is ceremony. Dance is ceremony. Creating with clay, fabric squares, or even rearranging the furniture can be a child's way of expressing connection.American Indians do not have a corner on spirituality. The connection is in every one. We all owe it to ourselves and others to pursue our creative gifts. I think what causes so many people to be sick and depressed is they stifle their creative energy due to fear of failure. have people tell me, "I'll write poetry, but it won't get published."

What difference does that make? If you're a writer and you're not writing, you're going to stagnate. It will eat you up until you do write. I've never met anyone who wasn't creative in some way.

MariJo Moore, Cherokee, is the author of Spirit Voices of Bones, Crow Quotes, Tree Quotes, Desert Quotes and editor of Feeding The Ancient Fires: A Collection of Writings by North Carolina American Indians. She may be reached at PO Box 2493, Candler, NC 28715. E-mail: MARIJOM@aol.com.

Image by Patrick Tafoya.