In the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) culture, it is believed that our intentions influence our power of co-creation. As a child, I was always hearing of the various cultural rules that governed our daily lives but it wasn't until I became an adult that I started to understand why these rules existed. These seemingly odd rules governed everything from how, when, and where we harvested food/medicines, to how we named our infants; but, they all served one purpose: to maintain a balanced flow of love within our spiritual selves so that we may live the 'Good Life'. Love is understood to be the connection between ourselves and the Creator, and the intention to bring love was called bringing 'good medicine'.   The 3 understandings of the word 'Medicine' Anishinaabe people have three understandings of the definition of the word 'medicine': 1. Western medicine 2. Herbal medicine 3. Medicine (the type only spoken of in hushed voices)   This mysterious third understanding of the word 'medicine' is closely related in meaning to the word 'intention.' Many Native American tribes have this belief in good (and bad) medicine or intention, and they believe that intentions have the power to influence our physical reality.  Bringing 'Good Medicine' into your life Many people sought to influence their reality in a positive way by 'bringing good medicine' or good intentions into their home and into their lives. There are countless ways in which a person could bring good medicine into their lives including harvesting medicinal herbs, conducting ceremonies, and by being mindful to put only good intentions into your actions. Being authentic and honest is another component to ensuring that your intentions are positive and full of love. If you are doing good deeds for purely selfish reasons while trying to appear selfless - you are still unsuccessful at bringing in 'good medicine'. A traditional teaching in creating 'Good Medicine'  One of the intention teachings I received as a young woman was regarding the creation of a Ribbon Skirt, a traditional ceremonial skirt used by women. I was told to work on my skirt only when my heart was full of love, and my mind at ease. It was crucial that my skirt be created with the intention of pure, unconditional love for myself. It would be the skirt I would be healed in, the skirt I would use to connect with my ancestors, this skirt would be my literal connection to my past and my future - this was to be no ordinary piece of fabric. I was told that when I sat to work on my skirt, that I was to focus on the unconditional love I felt for myself and to direct all of these energies into the skirt's creation. Every backstitch was created consciously with love. This skirt will aid me every single time I wear it because it is 'good medicine' that I created for myself using love and conscious intention.     Implementing conscious intent into your daily activities Ceremonial items were not the only items created with conscious intention, often food was harvested, prepared, and cooked with conscious intention as well - but setting conscious intentions begins well before the food is harvested. Often, ceremonies are conducted to set the intention of harvest, asking for permission from the spirit guardians to harvest the plants and animals. If the food is found shortly after the ceremony, that is interpreted as a synchronous sign that the spirit guardians have given their permission to harvest. If the food is not found after the ceremony, that is interpreted as permission denied. If the food is harvested, there is usually a protocol that must be followed to ensure positive intentions are maintained. An example of protocols for plant harvest would be to use methods that ensure the plant has a method of regenerating itself after harvest. Then, the food is stored in a clean environment and prepared while directing love and gratitude into the food. Meals prepared in this manner are said to be 'good medicine' because they are created while directing love and gratitude into the food.   Living the 'Good Life' through conscious intent These actions of conscious intent are thought to influence reality enough to bring the intentions into physical manifestation. Native traditional lifestyle used to be all about living the best life possible by creating as much positivity as you can, they used to call this 'mino-bimaadiziiwin' or 'living the Good Life'. Living the Good Life was essentially ensuring that your inner life was balanced so that your external life can also be balanced. Once you are able to achieve this balance, you will find that you will have enough of everything you need. The Elders used to tell stories about their Elders - the last ones to have achieved the traditional version of the Good Life. Back then, the Good Life was simple - clean water to drink, healthy land that provided healthy food, and the ability to keep your loved ones happy, healthy, and comfortable. It was believed that to achieve the Good Life, all you had to do was put good intentions into everything you did. If you were unable to bring love into an area of your life, you would seek assistance to help gain balance and understanding regarding that issue.   Release your resistance to love Love was traditionally understood to have properties that were comparable to water - it flows to fill vacant spaces, along the path of least resistance. If we are holding resistance to something, love will not flow into that area of our life. It was understood that holding negativity towards a person or an event will only harm you in the long run and block your path to the Good Life. Being mindful of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors will enable you to identify, acknowledge, and release any resistance you have to love. Negative feelings and thoughts are often the most obvious indicator of someone that is holding resistance. In science, we understand that there is no darkness, there is only the absence of light and that there is no coldness, there is only the absence of heat; and likewise, in spirituality, we understand that there is no hatred or fear; there is only the absence of love.      To ensure you never miss a Celestine article, subscribe to our newsletter here.