Author
The Four Sacred Gifts
the Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times
About My Mexican and Aztecan abuelita (Grandmother) would raise her
hand multiple times while cooking, giving thanks to the spirit, to the
earth, to the water, and to this food that provides nourishment for all
of us. Every chance she got, she would take us outside into her garden.
“Mira, hija (look, daughter),” she would
well as in the political, economic, and
say, “the owers are turning all day long
social arenas. I knew I needed more
toward the sun. They are mirasoles
than information to deal with this
(sunflowers). No matter if we are in
perpetuated illusion of separateness;
health or sickness, no matter what is
I was in need of wisdom. So I turned to
happening outside of ourselves, we
indigenous Elders from around the
must remember to look at the
world to provide guidance on how
sun. It is a new day. Remember
to live as a whole human being,
this, hija, for in remembering, you,
understanding my connection to
your brothers and sisters, and our
myself, other people, earth, and spirit.
family will enjoy life.” As I listened
In 1995 — while volunteering my
to my Grandmother, I learned even
leadership training to youth with
more deeply just how important
the American Indian Science and
this lesson is for orienting away
from the darkness of pain and
By Anita Sanchez, Ph.D.
Engineering Society — indigenous
Elders from around the world whose
toward the light in this journey of life.
people had been faced with
My earliest dream as a little girl of
Anita Sanchez, Ph.D., Aztec and Mexican-
genocide provided the wisdom of
four years old was to connect people’s
American, is a transformational leadership
how to live in harmony. They called
hearts to each other all around the
consultant, speaker, coach and author of the
this wisdom the “four sacred gifts.”
world. This dream carried me through
new book, “The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous
The rst gift is the power to forgive
childhood and adulthood. I became
Wisdom for Modern Times” (Simon & Schuster).
the unforgivable; the second gift is
the rst in my family to get a doctoral
She bridges indigenous teachings with the
the power to heal; the third gift is
degree and my passion grew to
latest science to inspire and equip women
the power of unity; and the fourth
inspire tens of thousands of people
and men to enjoy meaningful, empowered
gift is the power of hope in action.
to discover and trust their gifts so
lives and careers. For more information, visit
For 22 years, I’ve used these gifts
that they become a life-giving
www.FourSacredGifts.com.
to support my life and provide
connection to each other and our
guidance to leaders around the
earth. I am now living my dream,
world with great success. Then, I
consulting and training leaders and
The path to happiness and fulllment
felt the call from my Grandmother,
their teams in global corporations and
is not a straight shot. There are many
indigenous Elders, and from the spirit
non-prot organizations.
curves along the way, and doubt
within me to write a book and share the
My grandmother’s words to turn toward
sometimes caused me to question my
four sacred gifts with all humankind so
the sun — the light — were essential in
purpose in life. After 19 years of training
we can live in right relationship, joy,
my evolution to achieve all that I have. I
leaders in diversity, inclusion, and crosscultural
and peace with one another. That’s
had an inner darkness to overcome, a
competence, I still did not see a
how my book — “The Four Sacred
secret of the nine years of childhood
signicant number of women or people
Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern
abuse I had endured at the hands of my
of color rising to levels of leadership in
Times” — was born. Welcome to this
father, complicated further when he was
these organizations. Even though there
community of human beings who accept
murdered in an incident of racial hatred,
were white male champions along the
these four gifts from the 43 indigenous
leaving my mother to raise six children in
way, the structures and belief systems
Elders from around the world. Together,
economic poverty. It was my mother’s
reinforced by racism, sexism, classism,
we will use these gifts to create harmony
and grandmother’s love that continually
and homophobia made sustainable
and connection with all beings.
LS
reminded me to turn towards the light.
change seem impossible.
Their love made it possible for me to
Division and separation between
Want to comment or have any questions on
pursue my dreams.
people was growing within families as
this article? Email us at info@latinastyle.com
38 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 23, No. 6, 2017