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North - Consecration

The fourth step around the Sacred Circle is Consecration, total selflessness, the creating of a secure relationship with the Great Father of Spirits. This is done through great devotion, great selflessness; prayer, fasting, studying, not taking offence, and of course living all these principles in our daily lives. As one progresses in many hours of devotion each day, always thinking and feeling the correct thoughts while praying and fasting and studying, a connection is made, and Gitchi Father gives unto each child a good manitou to stay with them, that they may always be connected. This Good Spirit will always give advice on how to help others, thereby keeping us on the Path of the Father Of All.

Often times, the more the Good Manitou, that has been assigned to assist the new member of the family, is listened to, a gift is revealed. The good spirit always offers a gift to the new child, so that the new child can actually help in the work, contribute to the family. This gift that has been offered, is only to be used to help others. If used to help ourselves, the Good Spirit leaves the selfish person without guidance in the use of the gift. The person becomes a wayward child, running around causing havoc, thinking they are doing good, but actually leading people away from the Family of the Great Manitou. 

So let us be self-less, as the Great Manitou has requested of us, that we may be prepared for the great culture of heaven, and join with our ancestors who have walked this Sacred Road before us!

West - Sanctification

Once a person decides that they would like to live the culture of the Sacred Circle. To begin a new life following the Path of the Great Manitou, one of his children, walking in the footsteps of our Great Father, to grow up to become like Him. This is marked by the adoption ceremony, where those who have shown that they can care for others, without taking offence, are adopted into the family of The Father of Manitou.

To find a family where a person can bear their burdens, to lighten that family's load; to care for them when they are suffering; to comfort them when they need comforting; always establishing peace; to be the example of living the way of the Gitchi Manitou in all circumstances; is a great blessing!

South - Purification

The second step around the Sacred Circle, the process to becoming like Gitchi Manitou, is to purify ourselves.  We purify ourselves through love of each other.  This love is all about helping people. And since there are numerous ways in which we can help others, this step may also take a long time in which to develop consistency, as different ways of helping others will reveal themselves as we go through our lives here upon this earth and beyond.

The basics of these steps are quite easy, and come naturally as we begin to care more and more about others. The first step of the Second part is:

A person who is following this great step-by-step process should always be helping everyone, and looking for ways to help everyone, and going out of their way to help everyone in everything they do.

The second step of the South is: To help, to encourage, and to uplift everyone with our words, all our communications, both verbal and non-verbal.

The third step of the South is: To take this principle of helping everyone into our innermost selves. In reality, that which goes on inside ourselves, does not stay within ourselves, but comes out metaphysically. This means, even those good thoughts which happen within us, can not only help us, but can help those outside of ourselves as well. This means we need to think specifically good thoughts and good imaginations all the time. We need to be thinking how to help other people, imagining the outcome of their good goals being achieved.

The fourth step of this South part is: To apply this same principle of helping everyone to our emotions, our feelings. Our feelings project outwards, influencing all around us. This means we can influence the surrounding environment for good by projecting our most wonderful, helpful, heartfelt emotions outward as well.

A person who is dedicated to following the Path of Gitchi Manitou, will not only stop doing harm to others, but will spend their energy helping others in all ways possible. Those who find their joy in helping others will find their hearts changed, and will find the love of Gitchi Manitou within them always.

East - Dedication

The first step on the path of the Sacred Circle is, we must not hurt people. And since there are many ways in which we can hurt others, this step may take a long time to complete, as different ways of hurting others will surface as we go through our lives here upon this earth. This means that we may be working on this step for a long time, even during times we are working on other steps.

The basics of this step are easy though. The first step of the first part is: A person who is following this great sacred road should not physically harm anyone, nor cause any physical harm to come upon anyone, by any action or inaction.

The second step is: To learn not to hurt anyone with words, spoken or unspoken, seen or unseen, real or imagined, verbally or non-verbally, written or not written, or in any other way which exists or does not exist.

The third step is to take this principle of not hurting anyone into our inner selves. In reality, that which goes on inside ourselves, does not stay within ourselves, but comes out metaphysically. This means, even that which happens within us, not only causes damage to our inner workings, but comes out to attack people outside of ourselves. This means we need to control our thoughts; do no harm to anyone in our thoughts, not even to imagine any harm, or let thoughts of harm come to others. This applies to both the thoughts we think, and the thoughts we do not think.

The fourth step is: To apply the same principle of not hurting anyone in our emotions, our feelings. Our feelings project outwards, influencing all around us. This means we are responsible for our part in the surrounding environment, whether good or bad. It is imperative that we have no bad feelings toward anything, that we do not contribute to any negative emotion in the atmosphere. We must not justify ourselves in this regard.

A person who is serious in following this Path, will not only stop doing harm to others, but will undo any harm previously done to others. Those who humble themselves to this accountability will find The Great Spirit walking with them.

Central Belief

I wrote a few things down for this video, so that I could remember to cover everything accurately.  

In the centre of the Sacred Circle is the Sacred Fire. The Sacred Fire is the altar upon which the Great Manitou places His heart for all to see. The first thing we must believe about Gitchi Manitou is that He is Father to all. And as a Father, He loves and cares about all of us. He has the same desire as all Fathers, that their children will grow up to do well, to become even greater than their dad. This is the core of our faith, this is the central doctrine of our belief, this is the light which lights the Great Path of our Ancestors who have walked the Sacred Road before us.

The heart of our Great Father is that He loves us with all His heart, might, mind, and strength, that He has figured out how to walk the Sacred Road perfectly, which has enabled Him to become who He is, and He is willing to share that information with us, that we may become as He is.

The fact is, He wants for us to even go further than what he has gone. For this reason, He has freely shared with us the programme which He follows, so that we can achieve what He has achieved. This means, our Father shares with us the Sacred Way by which He lives His life, and the results of living that Sacred Way, so that we can achieve those same results, should we wish.

We can certainly see that the purposes of the Great Manitou, are to lead us to greater and greater Happiness and Joy! Any beliefs that do not go along with the Sacred Fire are not a part of our faith, for all must meet this Sacred Belief.

Culture

Let us live the Culture of the Great Manitou.

Getting Rid Of The Fear Of Viruses

Let us all try to do our part in wisdom, to raise the immunity of the populace, thereby protecting everyone!

Hoe Your Own Row

Power And Popularity vs Walking The Sacred Road

I have had some people come to me and ask how to walk the Sacred Road, and they have stayed long enough for me to teach them, and give them a good start. Then they come back in a year or so, to tell me that it did not work, that they have not become a Medicine Man, nor get any visions from heaven. After questioning why they are so upset, they reveal the true nature of their hearts, that they want to be a Medicine Man so they can be special, so they can be respected. Gitchi Manitou knows all our hearts, and knows if we want to be special, and will not give his power to those who are so selfish. The powers of the Great Manitou are entrusted only to those who will serve quietly, those who just want to help others, those who will refuse a reward, those who will refuse to be acknowledged as the person doing this great deed! The heavens will test us, and all the Manitou will watch us. They will only assist those who are humble servants of their fellow man.

There are also those who come and learn, and become a great asset to their people. Many times, people are surprised to find out who it is that has been chosen by Father, because the heavens have seen into his heart, and have seen that he is pure, only wanting to help, giving of himself to others. This is the mark of a true Medicine Man, to give all to his people, holding nothing back, neither in his heart, nor in his hands.

The New Medicine Man

There was once a boy who came to an old Holy Man, and asked to be taught. The Holy Man asked the boy, “Why do you want to learn?” The boy responded, “I want to become the greatest Medicine Man who ever lived. I want all people to respect and honour me, as you are respected and honoured.”

”The path you seek is an arduous journey,” replied the old man. “I am willing. How long will it take?” asked the boy. The Holy Man thought for a moment and said, “Five years.” Jumping up, “I am willing,” the boy responded enthusiastically. The old Holy Man smiled and said, “I will teach you. Come back tomorrow morning, early.” The boy was elated.

The boy arrived early, and they began their training. The first thing the revered old man taught was to face east and sit still. They spent the entire sunrise sitting still.

All that week the boy arrived early, sat facing east, and sat still. Finally the boy cracked, “I want to learn how to be a great Medicine Man, and all you have me doing is sitting still. When are we going to heal people? When will you teach me the herbs? I want to be powerful and help people!” The old Holy Man did not answer a word, just sat still watching the sunrise. Impatient, the boy left.

The next morning, the boy arrived early to find the old Holy Man already sitting in the same spot as he was yesterday, in the same position, quietly waiting for the sunrise. The boy meekly sat beside the old man. It took about two hours for the sun to completely rise, and the boy sat still most of that time.

After the sun was clear of the horizon, the old man began to stir, and so the boy spoke gently, “Why will you not teach me?” The Holy Man answered, “We must first learn to sit still, even on the inside, and to appreciate each moment Gitchi Manitou gives. For, He will only entrust his power to those who love His people, and truly appreciate His gifts.”

From that moment on, the boy began to follow the old man, learning the herbs, the ceremonies, becoming one with the Great Manitou and all nature. The boy would spend every hour of the day, and many times most of the night, in the forest, picking herbs, drying them, and getting ready for the day that he would finally be asked to heal someone. He spent so much time on his Medicine Man studies that he neglected school, and would not bring his mother firewood, nor help with the chores. His friends seemed to speak with him less and less, until they hardly even asked about him anymore. ‘This does not matter’, thought the boy. ‘Soon they will respect me, and honour me. My five years are almost up.’

The day finally came. Early one morning, the boy arrived at the place where he and the old man sat each morning for five years. The revered old Holy Man was not there. In his place was a turkey feather and a simple wooden bowl. In a rage the boy screamed, “Is this all I get? After five years of service, all I get is the feather of a bird that can barely fly, and a piece of common wood? Where is my Eagle Feather? Where is my conch shell from the ocean? Where is my new ceremonial vest that represents my power? I am not a boy anymore. I am a man, and need the tools of a man.”

The young man, still upset, searched until he found an Eagle feather, and traveled to a far city where he was able to acquire a fine brass bowl, and a new doe-skin vest, then returned to his village. He went in to see the village council, told them that he was now a fully trained Medicine Man, that he had been training for the last five years under the great Holy Man, and showed them his fine brass bowl, eagle feather, and new ceremonial vest. The village council told the boy that they would tell people about him, so the people could choose to go to him for healing or not.

Five months passed, and no one came. The young man thought the old Holy Man must have said something to turn the village council against him, that maybe the old Holy Man was filled with pride, and did not want any competition.

Feeling betrayed and ashamed the young man moved to a village far away. He met with the village elders and told them that he had been trained by the great Holy Man, and that he was now ready to take his place among the great Medicine Men of the people. The elders agreed to let the young man live there, and counseled him to get to know the people, to be friends with them, and soon enough he would earn their trust.

In this new village, the young man found lodging with an elderly grandmother who had no relatives to take care of her. The young man told the old grandmother all about his training, and how he was now a great Medicine Man. The old grandmother smiled, and told all her old friends, who came to the young man with their aches, and pains, and colds. It was not prestigious work, and so the young man thought he would not become a famous Medicine Man treating the old women. He put away his fine brass bowl and eagle feather. The simple wooden bowl and turkey feather were good enough for the old women. He would save the good brass bowl and eagle feather to treat the Great Chiefs and people who were important, so that his reputation would grow.

With time, the old grandmother grew weaker and was getting close to death. The young man became sad, for over the almost five years he had been in this new village, he had grown to love all the old grandmothers, especially this one. This old lady had become as his own grandmother, and his heart was moved with compassion toward her.

Day in, and day out, the young man worked feverishly to keep his grandmother alive. He took care of her not only with medicine, but he chopped wood and kept her fire going, he brought her food, he did her laundry, he cleaned her house, he talked to her and sang her songs long into the night. Ceremony after ceremony, the young man would not rest. And when the old grandmother died, for four days the young Medicine Man danced around her funeral fire, cried, offered prayers, and sang songs of grandmother’s valiant life.

The next morning, the young man was called to come meet with the village elders. The young man thought perhaps they were going to ask him to leave their village now, since he could not even keep the old grandmother alive. He did not care though. He would not dishonour Grandmother’s memory by arguing with her people. If the village elders wanted him to leave, he would leave without incident.

Entering into the great hall, the young man saw every elder of the village, even the old Chiefs from other villages. They waved to him to come in and sit down. The chief of the village rose and spoke to the great council, telling them of the old grandmother, and of all the care that the young man gave her, not only her, but all the grandmothers of the village. Tears came to the young man’s eyes, still tender from the loss of his adopted grandmother. The Chief announced that this young man has proven himself a defender of their grandmothers, and caretaker of the old and infirm. Turning to the young man, the Chief then asked him to stay in the village, and become their Medicine Man.

Then, from the back of the room, another man came forward. It was the revered old Holy Man. The ancient man stepped forward and placed in front of his young protégé, his own pipe, bowl, and eagle feather, which he used for the most important ceremonies. These he now passed on to the young man. Then finally, the old grandmothers of the village stepped forward, presenting the young man with a full set of new ceremonial clothes, which they had sewn themselves just for him.

At home, the young man carefully hung all the extravagant gifts in his closet, and getting out his turkey feather and wooden bowl, began to serve his people with a new heart, and a new understanding.

The Passing Of A Loved One

Two months ago, I attended to a funeral. Death is never an easy subject, but rest assured, there is life after death. I have visited the spirit world many times, and can say, it is a beautiful vibrant place. Our ancestors are there actively engaged in life. They are also actively involved in our lives here, striving to teach us the lessons that will help us as we enter the spirit world. The passing of a loved one is not the end, but is just another step on our journey.