Welcome New Readers from Twitter (& all others)

7/30/2013

          When I was a kid I memorized the Rudyard Kipling poem “IF” for school. After that it kind of became my bible, I would look to it for advice. Yesterday I met a racist bully on twitter. I say racist because she made judgments about me and my work based solely on the colour of my skin. She did not bother to even read my website; not even the link I sent which would have answered all of her alleged questions. I say bully because she chose to attack and publicly defame me, rather than take on one of the many hugely successful (read wealthy) spiritual teachers; who could sue her ass. I choose to see our encounter as an act of the Divine… for some as yet unrevealed reason. This encounter reminded me of these lines from "IF", “…or being lied about don’t deal in lies. Or being hated, don’t give way to hating. And yet don’t look too good nor talk too wise.”    Sage advice indeed, so I bless this sister and wish that she finds joy, peace and love (and perhaps a valium).
           For the several new readers I will restate what I said in the blog of 1/22/2013. This is NOT a Native site. I am here to share what I learn about spiritualism with all people, from ALL sources. Wisdom is wisdom whether
it comes from Lao Tzu or Black Elk. It would be impossible to talk about spiritualism and not included Native sources. The Native teachings are very clear and to the point. As you can see with my posts on the Grandfathers’ Teachings… two sentences from the actual teachings (reference source linked) then 400 words from me musing about how that fits into 21st life.
          Personally I identify spiritually through Native symbolism… I do NOT practice or teach any religion (Native, Christian, or other). I respect
everyone’s right to practice as they wish. I have Native friends who express their spirituality through Eastern symbols and teachings, many of my Native Brothers and Sisters are Christians, one of my best friends is a practicing Wiccan. These things all converge in the metaphysical truths that they are grounded in; our connection to source energy (the God of your understanding), our connection to each other and everything else for that matter. Also understanding the power we have as creators of our reality through that energy.
           The 7 Teachings are good advice for anyone in any culture. Living from these virtues of Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Humility, Honesty & Truth; you will be the best person you can possibly be.
           As for co-opting the pretty names and symbolism without accepting the struggles of Native people. I openly support Idle-No-More, both personally and on my blog sites ( here & Angels of the Road). I have carried signs in marches, I have participated in round dances, and I spread awareness any chance I get. Idle-No-More is a fight for justice which should be supported by everyone. I am not a racist… I support the poor, disenfranchised and marginalized in society regardless of ANY factors. I lobby against injustice whenever I see it. I do no harm and inasmuch
as possible leave every situation better than when I found it.
I walk my talk…I choose love over fear and compassion over greed. And my life is joyous in each moment.

Welcome to Spirit of the 8th Fire & have a joyous day.

2 Comments

A. Thoughtfor-Consideration

7/30/2013 02:46:16 pm

While I have no doubt that your intentions are pure, I hope this comment will give you something to consider. I am not attacking you in any way. Please consider this comment as an opportunity to learn.

In most indigenous north american cultures, there are practices and teachings that are proprietary (belonging to an individual, clan/moeity, family, or other). This may encompass songs, ceremonies, medicines, and more. Within the cultures there are strict protocols as to who can use these practices and teachings and how they may be used and taught - if at all.

To take those teachings and make them your own is appropriation which is, at its most basic, disrespectful and insulting within many of these cultures. This is challenging to anyone with a "Western" upbringing where our culture is, frankly, based on appropriation.

Sadly, the sting of appropriation becomes even more biting when one considers the extent to which indigenous north american cultures have been appropriated, misappropriated, and misrepresented over the past centuries. As people seek to reclaim their cultures in the face of ongoing assimilation attempts, your perceptions of these cultures (and you are teaching these perceptions whether you realize it or not - I've read your blog) are, unwittingly perhaps, misrepresentations of indigenous north american cultures.

I do not teach people what black men think or how to be a black man because I am not a black man. Why would it be OK for a non-Tlingit to teach Tlingit ways? Or for a non-Anishinabek person to teach Anishinabek ways?

But it goes deeper than that. In many indigenous cultures, using certain practices or teachings in ways that do not conform to strict protocols can be considered dangerous (for you, your family, or others). The dangers may not be readily apparent to someone raised with a "Western" worldview. To understand these protocols (or to even be aware of them) can take a lifetime for someone who was not immersed at an early age. For someone who IS aware of these protocols, to see another "teaching" others can be frightening. It's like watching a child teach another child how to start a car and put it into gear - when neither child in the vehicle knows how to use the brake or steer the vehicle, or which lane is the safe lane.

When learning about the many and diverse spiritualities of indigenous northern american cultures, it is also important to know that these spiritualities are highly textured and multi-layered - unveiled over time when the circumstances are right. Because you heard a legend or a teaching does not mean that the full lesson or spiritual importance of that teaching was revealed. In fact, this aspect of teaching is a hallmark of may indigenous north american cultures. The lessons in the teachings may reveal themselves over time when the time is right, or you may receive additional teachings in the future when someone feels that the time is right to teach you.

So, in other words, it's OK to identify. It's OK to learn. But when it comes to sharing what you learn about the many and diverse aspects of spirituality of north america's indigenous nations, it's best that you don't.

My hopes for this comment are three-fold.

1. I hope that you will have a better understanding of the response you received from the Twitterer and view through the perspective of the 7 Teachings you espouse. I saw the exchange, and if you understand the importance that the balance of power plays in racism and the context in which her comments were made - which I hope I have outlined satisfactorily above - then you will also understand that her comments are not racist.

2. I hope your receive this comment with Love, Respect, Bravery, Humility, Honesty & Truth and that it contributes to your Wisdom, as that is the sprit in which it was written.

3. With this additional Wisdom and in the spirit of the aforementioned 6 other Teachings, I hope that you will amend your blog accordingly.

Bonny link

7/31/2013 06:22:42 am

Dear Friend
First allow me express my gratitude for your willingness to share your insights. I read your comments last night but chose not to respond until I had a chance to read them again in the freshness of the morning. Something must have registered though, because as I lay waiting for sleep to come, I realized that I erred in placing my collected blogs on The Grandfathers’ Teachings under Native Perspectives. Those blogs (6/7) have been posted intermittently over the past 8 months since launching the website, and for easy of reading if anyone was curious I brought them together. Angels of the Road (my other blog) has 260 entries, so looking forward a couple of years it seemed like a good idea. I have moved that page to a newly created subpage of blogs and re-titled it “My Understanding of the Grandfathers’ Teachings. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
I do not teach these prophecies or the 7 virtues, I share awareness of these as I share all else that I have learned (ie: modality, manifestation, quantum theory, etc), so that other seekers (of light/spiritual awareness) may use them in finding their own path. Krishnamurti has said that “truth is a pathless land”. We may choose to get direction from others and to some extent share our journey, but ultimately each must find their own way. Think of it like recommending a book to someone… you tell them about the content and author; if they are interested they will read it for themselves.
I am not privy to any secret or sacred knowledge or rituals… I do not pretend to be a Medicine Woman, Shaman or even an Elder. The Elders of the Ojibwa who taught us (a mixed race group of both Natives & non-Natives) believe that we are in the time of the 7th fire. They feel required to share the philosophical teachings with all of humankind, so that we can make right choices in choosing spiritual values over technology. Brother Walter and Brother Leonard (now passed) made it very clear that in sharing these truths it was required that we help spread this information until everyone in every corner of the world has heard and understands that the time for change is now. I share this belief.
I do not teach this stuff, so please stop assuming that I do. The only time I have even attended any ceremony was at the specific invitation of my elders. I teach life-skills and self-awareness in a very real world way to people who are struggling in their personal life or careers. I also teach seminars on working with marginalized populations to human services workers. That relates more to my experiences with Angels of the Road then it does my spiritual journey but it all overlaps in one package that is me. The healing I do is for stress related issues and is energetic in nature (biofield transmission).
Thank you for enlightening us on issues around appropriation and exploitation, but please ask your friend (she doesn’t want to talk to me) to save her accusations for someone who is doing either. The last time my taxable income exceeded $10,000 was in 2008; before I took everything I had and set out to discover problems inherent to the shelter which were keeping my client friends from moving forward.
I have to disagree on this point, the balance of power does not play a role in racism; it plays a role in appropriation, oppression and injustice. Knowing those factors may explain why someone holds racist views but it does not make them less racist. Understanding the oppression of the German people post World War 1 may explain how Hitler came to power but it does not justify the holocaust. Racism is simply the judging of someone’s value and character based only on the colour of their skin. It is wrong and it is always wrong no matter who is doing it.
Again I am most grateful for your input on the issue of appropriation, it has been most educational and I hope other readers will take advantage of the opportunity to grow in awareness. I will always welcome open dialog and sharing of information or ideas.
P.S. Thanks for acknowledging the right of my spirit (and by extension everyone else’s) to identify and express, from its own heart space. Have a joyous day.

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