Hair:  In the King James version of the Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 11:15, it says, “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her:  for her hair is given for her as a covering.”  While many may not believe it, major accredited studies have revealed that Native Americans recruited for war had superlative skills only if allowed to keep their hair.  Anglo culture has been forcibly removing native peoples’ hair, particularly males’, for centuries — even in our time.  Hair is an extension of the nervous system, and can be seen as exteriorized nerves; a type of highly evolved “antennea” that transmit vast amounts of important information to the brain stem, the limbic system, and the neocortex.  I waited 41 years to have a child.  And, by the grace of God, He gave me one.  She came out of my body with strawberry blonde, straight hair just like mine.  I have watched it evolve from peach fuzz, to straight, short “boy hair”, to curls like Shirley Temple, to a glorious mane like that of a horse — lush and thick and full of life.  Recently my only child had eye surgery.  The doctor actually cut two muscles in each of her eyes.  I had been terribly worried about her and the outcome.  Surprisingly, my tears only flowed when she got three inches cut off her virgin hair.  For seven years it remained untouched.  Seven is a sacred number both in Biblical terms and also in indigenous ones.  The Constitution of the Iroquois Nation, the confederation of which the U.S. original thirteen colonies’ political system was influenced, was based on the philosophy that in their every deliberation, they must consider the impact of their decisions on the next seven generations.  Recently, some of Marie Antoinette’s jewels were given to Sotheby’s auction house.  I believe a huge, natural pearl went for the most money but, if I could have, I would have chosen to buy the locket which contained her hair.  I recall as a child seeing my mother’s red hair in her baby book which my grandmother had cut and my own reddish blonde hair in my baby book which my mother had cut and preserved.  Now my little one’s hair will go in her baby book, and someday I hope to see her place her own daughter’s hair in it.  The story of Sampson and Delilah in the Bible, in my opinion, has a lot of truth encoded in it.  When she cut his hair, the once undefeatable Sampson fell.  Some cultures still feel a woman’s hair must not be seen, unless it is by immediate family.  I personally do not believe one’s hair is something to remain hidden; rather I believe it must be allowed to be free.  In centuries past it was customary for a young girl to wear her hair down; wearing it up was a sign she was married.  Whatever your beliefs, I hope and pray we all respect one another’s cultural and spiritual beliefs about hair.