Four Directions

Agápe Story: Four Directions, response by Craig Turner

Source: “Four Directions Prayer,” adapted from traditional Indigenous and Lakota oral invocations; English text attributed to Vera Dery (c. 2002).

“Creator, it is I. Thank you for today's sunrise, for the breath and life within me, and for all of your creations. Creator, hear my prayer and honor my prayer. As the day begins with the rising sun, I ask,

Spirit keeper of the east, Brother Eagle, be with me. Fly high, as you carry my prayers to the creator. May I have eyes as sharp as yours so I am able to see truth and hope on the path I have chosen. Guide my step and give me courage to walk the circle of my life with honesty and dignity.

Spirit keeper of the south, Wolf, be with me. Help me to remember to love and feel compassion for all mankind. Help me to walk my path with joy and love for myself, for others, for the four-legged, the winged ones, the plants and all creation upon Mother Earth. Show me it is right for me to make decisions with my heart, even if at times, my heart becomes hurt. Help me to grow and nurture my self-worth in all ways.

Spirit keeper of the west, Brown Bear, be with me. Bring healing to the people I love and to myself. Bring into balance the physical, mental and spiritual, so I am able to know my place on this earth, in life and in death. Heal my body, heal my mind and bring light, joy and awareness to my spirit.

Spirit keeper of the north, White Buffalo, be with me. As each day passes, help me to surrender, with grace, the things of my youth. Help me to listen to the quiet and find serenity and comfort in the silences as they become longer. Give me wisdom so I am able to make wise choices in all things which are put in front of me, and when time for my change of worlds has come, let me go peacefully, without regrets, for the things I neglected to do as I walked along my path.

Mother Earth, thank you for your beauty, and for all you have given me. Remind me never to take from you more than I need and remind me to always give back more than I take.”

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When we read this prayer through the lens of business and leadership, a transformative vision emerges:

Reverence Over Extraction: Imagine if businesses revered the Earth, their customers, and even their competition with the depth of reverence exemplified in this invocation. Imagine viewing natural resources not merely as line items to exploit, but as gifts where the guiding rule is to never take more than we need, and always give back more than we take. Imagine treating competitors not as enemies to conquer, but as peers walking the same circle — sharpening our vision, testing our courage, and pushing us toward greater purpose.

Gratitude as an Operating Principle: Imagine if an enterprise operated with daily gratitude — for the sunrise, for breath, for teams, partners, and the community that grants the license to operate. Gratitude shifts a company from scarcity and fear-driven hoarding into generosity, abundance, and organic innovation.

Leadership and Personal Stewardship: A business is only as strong as the people who run it. Imagine if stewards actively pursued the virtues of the four directions — courage, honesty, dignity, compassion, healing, and wisdom.

At its core, Agápe Capitalism is a model for business rooted in unconditional love. It challenges the assumption that you must stab the other in the back before they get you. When leaders prioritize inner growth, accountability, and the well-being of all life, business ceases to be a machine and becomes an instrument of growth, healing, and shared prosperity.

Photo by Engin Akyurt