The Four Worlds International Institute

Humbly seeking counsel in 2 areas: Origin of Warriors of the Rainbow quote, & non-Native convener of Medicine Wheel lodge.

Please, I humbly seek counsel, both in regard to a widely referenced prophecy & to the seemingly endless debate over who may rightly convene ceremony in the Red Road way.

Regarding the prophecy, sometimes the words alter slightly, & sometimes it's attributed to different people. “When the Earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the earth from many colors, creeds and classes. And who by their actions and deeds shall make the Earth green again. They shall be known as the Warriors of the Rainbow.”

The source/origin of this prophcey appears as "Black Elk Speaks," "Native American," "Hopi," "Chief Seattle, Dwamish" & others. One source that goes into detail regards the Cree woman named "Eyes of Fire." Perhaps Eyes of Fire did first prophesy the Warriors of the Rainbow. Does anyone know, & how may one trace that information? Does it matter? Where possible I like to find out where quotes originated. Otherwise it seems anyone could say anything & claim it is ancient prophecy.

Regarding who may rightly convene ceremony in the Red Road way, this is a sensitive area, & I respect each of the various views I've heard. Some Native Americans view this as obvious; only Native Americans should convene ceremony, only Native Americans should use words from tribal languages, etc. Some refer to new-agers' lack of understanding or entitlement. Some believe only full-blooded Native Americans should do so. On the other hand, some believe that a convener of ceremony does NOT need to be of Native American blood, but sincerely, spiritually given to understanding of the Red Road & walking its beautiful path. This one likely would not consider themselves the teacher, but a facilitator of this leveling opportunity.

I am not of Native American blood as far as I know. I'm a 57 year old woman who, for many years, has received teaching of the good Red Road. I've applied my being toward this path, have quested in vision quest... Now I am setting out to offer lodge ceremony, a new lodge, a sister lodge to one facilitated by Native Americans in another state where I used to live. My teacher there has encouraged me toward this work. Most ceremony here will be talking circle based on the Medicine Wheel. I have asked for the blessing of the First People of this region, & their tribal leader is planning to come here this week to offer that blessing.

Also, I use a few words & phrases from Native American languages. Some might call me a new-ager, perhaps meaning that I'm not entitled. I go in circles with myself about the truth or untruth of this. Yet I prayerfully give my best effort to honor the Red Road & others' beliefs. I do my best to honor Creator & honor all, for all are One. All is interconnected. Of this I have no question. Mitakuye oyasin.

I prefer not to share this on Facebook at this time, but to receive your gentle feedback here. Thank you for loving counsel.

Blessings.
Lisa Henry

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Hi Lisa!

I see you have been around since 2010.  Your question is so heartfelt I have stopped by to write something on the Rainbow and read your words.  In most ways you have intuitively answered yourself.  Looking within, using your intuitive sensibility is the proper way to move forward.  Some questions will like these ones here can only lead to more questions.  Trust in your knowing.  I am what I am, meeting many different peoples of culture, language and tongue and custom but I do not use another's spiritual words mainly because I cannot pronounce them correctly. I only wear my shoes and I know the closet from where they come from.  Lately I was at a gathering listening to someone pray and I happened to punctuate it with Ah-ho!  Everyone resounded in kind and I got a kick out of it!  : )  It was not a Native American ceremony.  But they all knew what it meant!  Normally I do not talk that way.  My husband was raised in Pakistan, and makes funny sounds meant as "I heard you."  If I am praying to Creator I do not think Creator cares what language I am using.  What matters is that I am in an authentic, sincere space.  So we have ego, get to know yours.  Ego is such a show-off sometimes that is just OK to be a showoff.  Let's not take stuff so seriously.  Just be conscious about it.

hugs

Carol 

Thank you for responding, Carol; your thoughtful words are appreciated. What you said is ground that I travel again and again in my heart, I believe as true, & it is where I settle most of the time. "Looking within," "Trust in your knowing," and "Let's not take stuff so seriously," for instance. I trust my knowing of my intentions & "that I am in an authentic, sincere space." I remember to not take myself too seriously, and know to minimize dogma.

The question I put forth regards the propriety of non-Native convening ceremony. I encounter this on the medicine wheel of my heart from time to time, particularly when I read or hear conversation/duality on this matter.

It comes back to honoring the sacred. I know that I do. However, I am (any of us are) capable of trusting in what I know, while still being off-track. With best intentions, I can still be wrong. That doesn't mean I am wrong to convene ceremony; indeed I believe this is just, or I would not set forth to do it.

There seems to be no definitive & final answer to my question, being why I called it a seemingly endless debate. In itself this is enough for me to return to my intuition, and move forward. Creator knows, I know, my community knows, & so it is. It's just an area where I want to learn more about what is on people's hearts, and I trust that this will continue to be revealed to me. I am grateful to you for sharing with me what is on your heart in this matter! 

As for using Native words, I agree fully & loved your sentence, "I only wear my shoes and I know the closet from where they come from." Do you happen to know anything about my 1st question, regarding origin of the "Rainbow Warrior" quote?

Blessings,

Lisa


Carol Petersen said:

Hi Lisa!

I see you have been around since 2010.  Your question is so heartfelt I have stopped by to write something on the Rainbow and read your words.  In most ways you have intuitively answered yourself.  Looking within, using your intuitive sensibility is the proper way to move forward.  Some questions will like these ones here can only lead to more questions.  Trust in your knowing.  I am what I am, meeting many different peoples of culture, language and tongue and custom but I do not use another's spiritual words mainly because I cannot pronounce them correctly. I only wear my shoes and I know the closet from where they come from.  Lately I was at a gathering listening to someone pray and I happened to punctuate it with Ah-ho!  Everyone resounded in kind and I got a kick out of it!  : )  It was not a Native American ceremony.  But they all knew what it meant!  Normally I do not talk that way.  My husband was raised in Pakistan, and makes funny sounds meant as "I heard you."  If I am praying to Creator I do not think Creator cares what language I am using.  What matters is that I am in an authentic, sincere space.  So we have ego, get to know yours.  Ego is such a show-off sometimes that is just OK to be a showoff.  Let's not take stuff so seriously.  Just be conscious about it.

hugs

Carol 

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