The Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world.

"Upon suffering beyond suffering, the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of Seven Generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again. In that day, there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. For when you are at the center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be one."

Chief Crazy Horse
Tasunke Witko
Oglala Lakota
c. 1840-1877

I'll be offline for the next four days. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Photos: Bear Lodge, The Badlands, and an alleged photo of Crazy Horse.

My Inter-Spiritual Path

This past week, while camping in the Badlands and hiking in the outdoor areas near my home, I've been pondering the fact that my path really is Inter-spiritual. Like so many seekers these days, my soul is multi-faceted, and I resonate with aspects of several different spiritual traditions. For example, this past week, the beauty of the Lakota country up north, together with a book I've been reading by Russell Means, have nourished amply the indigenous part of my soul. On Tuesday night, I gave a talk for an M.D. on Contemplative Hiking and Wilderness Spirituality, which together form a core aspect of my path. After the talk, a woman came up to me and began sharing about her Buddhist meditation practice, the spaciousness of which never fails to minister mightily to another aspect of my soul. Then, yesterday, I listened to a sermon by Black evangelical pastor T.D. Jakes, sent to me by a friend. One of Jakes' major points was the fact that we are made in the image of A CREATOR, which means that WE TOO are therefore meant to live a life of creativity. This is something I've known for quite some time, but the sermon reinvigorated my understanding in a fresh way.

Some would claim that we can only hit "spiritual water" if we dig ONE well deeply; that is, if we focus on only one tradition. However, I tend to favor the interpretation given by Inter-spiritual author Mirabai Starr, who points out that many of us find ourselves called to dig that single well "with MANY DIFFERENT TOOLS." I still do consider myself a Christ-follower, which means less that I focus the light of my attention on Jesus, and more that I look THROUGH HIS EYES at the world, enabling me to see all beings, traditions and landscapes in a calm, radiant light that melts them all into One. If Jesus truly is a "light, " as many Christians affirm, this means that he humbly works to reveal THE WORLD in a fresh and loving light, rather than training the light narcissistically back on himself. It is indeed true that, for me at least, this self-emptying light is "colored" by the unique personality of Jesus, which contributes to the light a calm and loving radiance. But it is rare that I focus the light back on him or on his words. In fact, I feel I honor Christ best when I follow him in forgetting both he and myself in order to reveal - and learn from - the wisdom of those around me.

On this path, I feel myself called - in union with the self-emptying Christ - to highlight the innate wisdom contained in every tradition, every person, every landscape, and every aspect of life. This past week, that meant highlighting the beauty and goodness inherent in Lakota spirituality, contemplative hiking, Buddhist meditation, and in the sermon of a Black evangelical preacher. In particular, this meant LEARNING from all of these amazing sources of insight, just as God learns more about his - or her - divinity through OUR eyes! I know this path is not for everyone, but for me, it definitely fits!

Photos: (Top) Nelson Larkspur and cascade, Greyrock Trail, Roosevelt National Forest, CO; (Middle) Western Wallflower, Lory State Park, CO; (Bottom) Formations in Badlands National Park, SD. These photos were taken May 16-20, 2015

Vine Deloria's Words of Praise for Russell Means

"As I was listening to Russell Means I continually looked around the room to see the faces of the people as he spoke. Almost every face shone with a new pride, a beatific vision of the tribe as it should be, not as it had become through a century of betrayal. Old men sat entranced and nodded ever so slightly at the different points Russell discussed. I came away from Means' speech with the feeling that Russell is a terribly important man to our tribe. He may be the greatest Lakota of this century and his ability to light the eyes that have been dimmed so long is probably more important for us than anything that anyone else can do. I think it is the pride in living that many Indians have lost, and in the clarity of Russell Means' speech many Indian people found that pride and also found a strength they did not know they had possessed. We should cherish this man as one of our greatest people. History has a way of leveling all the honors of a century and allowing the truly great figures to emerge from the shadows as they really were. I cannot remain silent and allow a chance to go by to honor as best I can a man who gave to my tribe even for a brief moment a vision of something better than what we had. If Russell Means has faults, and we all do, he also has talent and dedication which greatly outweighs the faults and which in my mind make him one of the great Indians of our time."

Vine Deloria, Jr.
Author of "God is Red" and "Custer Died for Your Sins"

Photos: The South Dakota Badlands, Russell Means, and Bison in the Black Hills.

In indigenous societies, to be a leader meant that, materially, you were always going to be poor . . .

"In indigenous societies, to be a leader meant that, materially, you were always going to be poor. This is because you had to make sure everyone else in the community was taken care of. So being a leader was avoided by many men. Leaders had to be chosen, designated, by the Elder Women. So a leader among the men did not rise to the position out of personal ambition, greed for power, or personal insecurities, trying to prove something. These are all characteristics of unfit leaders, which are common today in patriarchal society."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

Perhaps extinct life forms simply didn't want to live on this Earth with humans!

"In the 1960s, an elder De'ne' man from the Northwest Territories of Canada stated to an anthropologist who was intent on civilizing the De'ne' people: 'You white people are very arrogant. You think you are responsible for the extinction of different forms of life. Have you ever considered that maybe those life forms didn't want to live with you?' "

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Colorful Badlands and Bison in the Black Hills, SD, May 16-17, 2015

Our hearts affect Infinity!

"I saw that according to Natural Law, my heart is connected to and affects Infinity. With this connection in mind - knowing that your heart has an effect on the Infinite - you see how important it is to have a pure and healthy heart! Our hearts are part of the Infinite, not separate from it."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Badlands Yellow Mounds, yellow Salsify flower, and Bear Butte with Chokecherry flowers; Badlands National Park, SD, and Devil's Tower National Monument, WY, May 16, 2015

Woman is more Holy than Man.

"The Sun is male, Earth is female. The Sun gives energy to the Earth so that life can be created out of her, just as Man gives his seed to Woman. Earth and Woman are the most sacred of beings, they are Holy, because they create life from the energy of the Sun / Man. Because Woman is more Holy than Man, she lives longer, she can withstand more pain, she has more endurance, and she has a unique 6th sense that cannot be explained. Woman goes through two changes in life - from a girl, she blossoms into womanhood, and after her childbearing years she transitions into an Elder. Man, just like the Sun, goes through no changes - from the time he reaches manhood, he just goes and goes until burnout. He is never naturally purified. Man is 1-dimensional compared to Woman."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Bison feast on the emerald-green grass after a fire in the Black Hills, Wind Cave National Park, SD, May 17, 2015. The flower is Sand Lily, and the cone is from a Ponderosa Pine.

We don't build churches; we pray outside, in the Natural World.

"Every good thought is a prayer. That is what we believe. That is why we don't have church. Life is church, the Universe is our temple. To be conscious of the well-being of the Little People, that's a form of prayer . . . We don't build churches, and go inside to pray one day a week. We pray outside, in the Natural World. And our entire life is an act of prayer, because there is Holiness in all things in the Natural World here on Grandmother Earth."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Golden Banner, Bear Lodge, and the Badlands; Devil's Tower National Monument (WY) and Badlands National Park, SD; May 16, 2015

Humans are not row plants that thrive in a domesticated setting . . .

"Humans are not row plants that thrive in a domesticated setting; we are free, wild, living in the natural world, nurturing and being nurtured by the world around us - by Mother Earth. If you want a clear demonstration of the contrast between indigenous people living matriarchally and the modern subjects of the patriarch, simply compare a wild salmon to a farm fish. Wild salmon live in deep clean water, they're fast-moving, chasing their food, surviving by being fit and healthy. Their flesh is bright-colored and firm, free of disease and parasites. Farmed salmon are pale and mushy, sickly, covered with sores, infested with worms and parasites, the victims of confinement, inactivity, unhealthy diet. Does this remind you of anyone?"

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

The reason we decided to write this book is because The Trickster has completely tricked my people . . .

"The reason we decided to write this book is because The Trickster has completely tricked my people. The Trickster, or Iktomi, has come into our land, and completely colonized the Lakotah Nation. Many of my own people are only play-acting at being Indians. Only a few even realize that they are colonized. The Heyoka, the one who lives backwards, has come into our land to try to get the people out of this death condition, but it's not working - the people are not listening. They're not learning. Heyokas [tricksters] were rare when we were free. Walking backwards, talking backwards - they're always talking about bad things, but it means the opposite. So the Heyoka is a teacher. And the further you get away from the Great Mystery's teachings, the more Heyokas are needed. In Pine Ridge back in the 1960s, there was only one Heyoka in the entire nation. This is because most of the old people who kept our culture alive were still living. But as they died off, more Heyokas materialized. Now practically every Holy Man is a Heyoka. This means the people aren't listening to the teaching. The whole nation is becoming Heyoka. With so many people addicted to alcohol or to one drug or another, and sending their kids to school where they learn the anti-knowledge of patriarchal society, the whole nation is unwittingly turning Heyoka - they don't even realize it. Only a few great ones know that they are Heyoka these days. The others are Heyoka, teaching backwards, without even knowing it. This has become the tragic norm . . . 

"The white man is always confused by the concept of Iktomi, who is often represented by the Spider. American Indian people don't believe in the Devil. We don't believe in evil. We had no experience of it until we met a patriarch [Euro-American society]. A basic premise among indigenous people is that there isn't anything that is perfect. So you build this idea into the society, and therefore you have Iktomi, the Trickster, who is a sort of Heyoka. Iktomi is a teacher, he will teach you about the tricks of life, the foibles of life, about temptation, about egos. There is nothing evil about him. Iktomi, by the way, is a male. So Iktomi, as part of the natural world, is not evil, in fact he can be downright funny. But you've got to LOOK OUT. That's the lesson of Iktomi."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

"If You've Forgotten the Names of the Clouds, You've Lost Your Way," co-authored with Bayard Johnson (2013)

Photos:  Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

The indigenous male is always seeking to get in balance with the female.

"The indigenous male is always seeking to get in balance with the female. Always seeking some insight into the experience of the female and her unique position as a creator of life. Men of the Lakotah Nation have always felt great affection, honor and gratitude toward the White Buffalo Calf Woman for giving them the Inipi [sweat lodge] and Sundance - two of the Sacred Ceremonies given to humankind - for the specific purpose of helping the men develop and strengthen this sacred bond with our Mother the Universe . . . In our culture, women are taught to always treat their husbands as twelve year-olds, because men, no matter how old they are, will throw tantrums. They pout and demand to be babied. My wife tells me I've matured with 72 winters, and now act more like a thirteen year-old!"

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2015

The the Lakota, the four sacred colors represent the four races of humanity.

"For the Lakotah, black, red, yellow and white are four of the sacred colors. They represent the four races of people, and when you mix those four colors together you get brown, the color of the other race, and the color of our Grandmother the Earth."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photo: Yellow Mounds section of Badlands National Park, SD, May 16, 2016

Indigenous peoples believe members of industrial society don't know how to be happy.

"Modern anthropologists have observed indigenous hunter-gatherers, and found that about two hours per day is spent in fulfilling one's material responsibilities - procuring food, clothing and shelter. Compare this with the 'modern' man in industrialized society, where a minimum of 8 hours per day is spent working to cover the bare essentials of life . . . We indigenous people had time to notice the world around us, and to learn from it, and that is why we develop all these practices and all this knowledge which is still so elusive to patriarchal society. Foremost among these gifts is the ability to be happy, to be satisfied."

Russell Means
Oglala Lakota

Photos: Cottonwood tree, Salsify flower, and the Yellow Mounds, Badlands National Park, SD; May 16, 2015

God is crazed with love, and may do something silly at any time.

"Love dwells within us. God is crazed with love, and God's behavior is therefore unpredictable. God may do something silly at any time, because, like any lover, God does not reason. God is drunk with love."

Ernesto Cardenal,
Nicaraguan poet and monk 

  
Photo: Lambert Locoweed, Badlands National Park, SD, May 17, 2014

We must leave future generations a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning.

"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology.  We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it."

Lyndon Baines Johnson 

Photo: Mule Deer at sunrise, Badlands National Park, SD; May 17, 2014

Only one thing is needed.

 

"You are anxious and disturbed about many things.  But only one thing is needed."

Jesus,
Luke 10:42

Photo: Near sunset, Badlands National Park, SD; May 16, 2014

Our real Father is Tunkashila, and our real Mother is the Earth.

 

"We have a biological father and mother, but our real Father is Tunkashila [Creator] and our real Mother is the Earth."

Wallace Black Elk,
Lakota Spiritual Leader

Photo: The Badlands at sunrise; Badlands National Park, SD; May 17, 2014

Earth is Not an "It"

 

"When the people call Earth 'Mother,'
they take with love
and with love give back
so that all may live.

"When the people call Earth 'it,'
they use her
consume her strength
Then the people die.

"Already the sun is hot
out of season.
Our mother's breast is going dry.
She is taking all green into her heart
and will not turn back
until we call her by her name."

 

Marilou Awiakta,
Cherokee Nation

Photos: (Top) Long's Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO; May 19, 2014; (Middle) A hiker contemplates on the rock above Gem Lake; Rocky Mountain National Park, CO; May 19, 2014; (Bottom)  A lone Lambert Crazyweed pushes up through the cracked soil; Badlands National Park, SD; May 17, 2014

A Few Badlands Wildflowers

Here are a few of the wildflowers I discovered in the Badlands several weeks ago.  The purple flower is Lambert Crazyweed.

The yellow one is Golden Pea,

and the red bloom is Wild Onion.

Photos: Badlands National Park, SD; May 17, 2014

In silence and solitude we can have the thoughts of God.

 

"What nobler employment can we engage in than having the thoughts of God in silence and solitude as best we can, where the manifestations of His power are barest, far from stupefying noises and vice, far from ourselves . . .? "

John Muir

Photos: Lambert Crazyweed blooms on cracked badlands soil; Badlands National Park, SD; May 17, 2014