A good day to die - the ancestors way of life

I have not blogged for since February 23 because a) I can be a lazy bugger and b) I have been thinking deeply. On March 6 Clay posted in his blog  Good day to die reflection has had me transfixed. 

I’ve read this post multiple times and listened to it twice (using Siri) in particular the following woke me up like a cold shower:

This phrase resonates with strength and fearless acceptance. Often attributed to Native American warriors, particularly the Lakota Sioux, it encapsulates a mindset where life and death intertwine, not as opposites, but as integral parts of a seamless existential dance.

At first glance, it might seem like a call to arms—a warrior’s fearless charge into battle. But looking deeper, we find something richer, more nuanced, and strikingly relevant today. This statement is not merely about death; it’s about embracing life so fully, so passionately, that each day feels complete. It reflects living with integrity, purpose, and a clear conscience so that when death does come—inevitably—it finds one ready, unburdened by regret.

In Lakota philosophy, death is not an end but a continuation of a larger cycle. Warriors saying, “Today is a good day to die,” are acknowledging that death is as natural as breathing, neither to be feared nor obsessed over, but simply met with open eyes and open hearts. It is this willingness to confront mortality directly that grants a profound freedom to live authentically.

My interest in Norse, Celtic & Greek civilisations has been a pursuit of application in they way I live, but these peoples are long gone and for the most part resigned to legend. It struck me how the wisdom of the Native American people can be so relevant and the fact this culture is still alive makes it highly relatable.

I now feel I can truly make sense of what it means and also think about what I do today to make sure, as best I can, that if the all father deems it, a good day to die.