Experience with Two Feathers Medicine Clan & Spiritual Practices

16–24 minutes

·

·

Summary by AI Summarizer

RLK Reflections: A Dive Into AI, Spirituality, Tech, etc. , from the center of my mind
Experience with Two Feathers Medicine Clan & Spiritual Practices
12 minutes
December 17, 2023

The text recounts the author’s experience with the Native American Two Feathers Medicine Clan led by Duke Big Feather. The author participated in traditional ceremonies involving peyote and ayahuasca, which are legal for Native Americans. The author reflects on spiritual practices and mystical experiences, including teachings from Don Miguel Ruiz and Jacob Boehme, and emphasizes the need for proper intentions and frameworks for personal growth.

The author created an audio file discussing these experiences. They engaged in various spiritual practices during their quest for understanding gifts of the spirit, spiritual healing, and other traditions while fitting their discoveries into a Christian worldview. Various methods of contemplation practiced include Johrei, healing contemplation from Bruno Groening, and Eastern spirituality traditions.

The author has connections to different Christian and Eastern rites and enjoys learning from diverse spiritual traditions. They explore mystical experiences, emphasizing the importance of intention, healing, and the role of spirituality in health. The writing touches on the historical and contemporary views of peyote and ayahuasca in Native American spirituality, and spiritual healing.

The author shares a story about being part of the Two Feathers Medicine Clan, experiencing Native American spirituality through sweat lodge ceremonies and engaging with spiritual healers. They acknowledge the controversial nature of the ceremonies while emphasizing their legal status and healing aspects. The text invites readers to consider experiences and observations within an ethical context under qualified guidance.

The author reflects on their family’s spiritual connections, including their mother’s prophetic gift and her relationship with Duke Big Feather. They also make connections between peyote ceremonies, personal healing, and broader spiritual journeys through collective consciousness.

The writing concludes with a true story of the author’s experience with COVID-19, expressing gratitude for protection and questioning the significance of spiritual practices and influences throughout their life. Readers are invited to form their theories regarding the relationship between spiritual practices and health.

For more on these subjects, the author encourages exploring various YouTube educational content and provides links to religious traditions and practices.

Contact details for the author are shared through their social media platforms.

I created an audio file using Google Notebook LM in which a man and woman dive deeply into my blog post. It’s an excellent rendition. 

Summary by Randy Kemp

I’m a conservative Eastern Catholic, Buddhist – mystic – Yogi— minus any metaphysics, hopeful universalist — and an AI nerd striving to achieve Fr. Richard Rohr’s ‘non-dual mind ‘ with help through silent contemplation and spiritual healing methods. I’ve gained much insight from Fr. Richard Rohr, Fr. Ron Roth, the Byzantine and East Syriac rite churches, and virtual and in-person programs at the Theosophical Society in America.

These contemporary Christians, along with the Eastern Churches, have influenced my thinking. I’ll let Claude AI summarize them.

Summary by Claude AI:

Ron Roth (1934-2009) was a former Catholic priest who developed a spiritual healing ministry. His theology included:

  • Integration of Christian healing traditions with elements from Eastern spirituality
  • Emphasis on the power of prayer for physical and spiritual healing
  • A universal approach to spirituality that transcended traditional religious boundaries
  • Focus on personal spiritual experiences rather than dogma
  • Belief in the divine presence within all people

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar known for his work in contemplative spirituality. His theology features:

  • A non-dualistic approach that seeks to transcend binary thinking in Christianity
  • Strong emphasis on contemplative practice and mystical traditions
  • Integration of wisdom from various religious traditions, particularly Eastern practices
  • Focus on male spirituality and rites of passage
  • Concept of the “Universal Christ” that extends beyond institutional Christianity
  • Criticism of literalist interpretations of scripture in favor of more profound, mystical readings

Eastern Orthodox Archbishop Kallistos Ware said:

“We know where the Church is, but we cannot be sure where it is not . . . “

Here’s a summary of the core idea:

  • Stop thinking about the problem and think about God instead. This is the central tenet of the Golden Key. Fox asserts that whatever the trouble – be it health, financial, or interpersonal – the solution lies in redirecting your thoughts entirely to the Divine.
  • Scientific Prayer: Fox describes this method as “scientific prayer.” It’s not about pleading or begging but about recognizing God as the ultimate power and allowing that power to work in your life.
  • Simplicity of Method: The technique is remarkably simple. Instead of dwelling on the issue, you consciously shift your focus to contemplating the attributes of God, such as wisdom, truth, and love.
  • Consistency is Key: The essay emphasizes the importance of persistently applying this method. By continually turning your thoughts to God, you drive out the negative thoughts associated with the difficulty.
  • No Need to Outline Solutions: Fox advises against trying to figure out how the problem will be solved. The focus should solely be on connecting with the Divine, and the solution will unfold naturally.
  • Universal Application: The Golden Key is presented as a universally accessible tool, available to anyone regardless of their background or beliefs. It is God who works, not the individual’s limited abilities.
  • Transforming Difficult People/Situations: The principle can also be applied to troublesome individuals or challenging circumstances by replacing negative thoughts about them with thoughts of God. This is not about controlling others but about preventing harm and fostering positive change.

In essence, the Golden Key is a practical guide to shifting consciousness from focusing on problems to focusing on a higher power, thereby allowing divine action to bring about resolution and peace. Emmet Fox’s concise writing made this powerful message accessible to a wide audience, and it continues to resonate with those seeking spiritual solutions to life’s challenges. The Golden Key’s message has been influential in various spiritual and self-help circles, including early Alcoholics Anonymous.


Besides having different interpretations of scripture, Protestant churches are splitting into conservative and liberal church divisions. Ancient sacrament churches, such as Western and Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and the Assyrian Church of the East, don’t, but they have different perspectives on theological issues. Take, for example, the Catholic concept of priests forgiving sins and what ChatGPT says in part. This makes them closer to Protestant churches than to Catholic ones.

From ChatGPT response:

Key Difference from Catholicism

  • The Catholic Church teaches that priests have direct sacramental authority to forgive sins in the person of Christ (in persona Christi).
  • The Orthodox and Assyrian Church of the East teach that priests act as spiritual guides, leading the penitent to God’s forgiveness, rather than possessing an intrinsic power to forgive sins themselves.
  • I embrace these Christian isms: Christian inclusivism, hopeful Universalism, and the Orthodox view of heaven and hell. I don’t think God is a sadist or runs a torture chamber. The big theological and philosophical question is what to do about evil people. One can confine evil in an afterlife that is Eastern Orthodox and/or N.T. Wright’s vision and God’s mercy and grace encompass moral people outside the Christian umbrella (also known as inclusivism). Or have a temporary hell or purgatorial for all, which I hope is the answer.
  • Decades ago, I went on a quest in my spare time when I wasn’t working or involved in academics. I wanted to see if gifts of the spirit, spiritual healing, Native American ceremonies, meditation, contemplation, mindfulness, metaphysical reflection, homeopathy, Eastern medicine, saints of all religions, etc., were valid. Then, I had to retrofit what I discovered into my theological and philosophical Christian worldview.
  • This is my contemplation practice:
  • I once knew a psychiatrist and abnormal psychology professor who saw everything through the lens of an Existential/ Phenomenological/Zen view of pure experience. I mimic this when I view other traditions, much like psychology users, who use Buddhist mindfulness via scientific usage.
  • Those in the Lakota and Cherokee tribes call God the ‘Great Mystery.’ A mystical journey? See Coming into a mystical way of seeing – Saint Innocent Orthodox Church.

Journey with Two Feathers Clan (youtube.com)

Story

For many years, I had an opportunity to be part of an extended Native American family. It was with the Two Feathers Medicine Clan, under the leadership of Duke Big Feather. Most members were Lakota, but other tribes were represented – like the Ute. Before becoming a Western-rite and Eastern-rite Catholic, I participated in the sacramental life of the Lutheran, Anglican, and Liberal Catholic churches. For many years, I have received the darshan of Eastern holy people, taken part in authentic tribal sweat lodge ceremonies with Native American medicine people, hung out with spiritual healers and professional homeopaths, and received spiritual light from the Johrei and Sukyo Mahikari groups. I like to take wisdom from the Charismatic, Christian Holy Fools, Native Americans, Yoga, and Zen traditions.

Some ceremonies would be considered controversial but perfectly legal for them to host, which would be the Peyote and Ayahuasca ceremonies. Now, I will tell you my standard CIA answer. I can neither confirm nor deny that I have ever participated in any such controversial ceremony. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) IMF hearing | Agent Brand ( HD )

  • Did I become an outside observer of these ceremonies?
  • Or did I become the field anthropologist and scientist and decide to participate?
  • I will let the reader decide. It’s like the story “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton.
  • I have two favorite Eastern twentieth-century deceased saints. One is Shiva Bala Yogi, who taught a simple silent meditation method similar to Soto Zen. The other is Neem Karoli Baba, who taught love and service to all, similar to the Sikh tradition. I take silent meditation methods from the Heartfulness, Mindfulness, and Soto Zen traditions. I blend these with metaphysical contemplations from Christian Science, Unity’s Daily Word magazine, and the Fox Golden Key. Perhaps I might be like the Fung Fu show Kang in Pebble from my hand Kung Fu.

Some things have a scientific basis, like the Therapeutic touch practiced by nurses in hospital settings. See, for example, this three-minute video by a nurse with RN and Ph.D. degrees: What Is Therapeutic Touch? (youtube.com).

Spiritual healing has existed for centuries with Native American groups, medicine people, and holy people. Folks normally engage in both Western medicine and ancient spiritual healing ways. Spiritual healers usually want folks to use Western medicine or ancient methods like homeopathy or Traditional Chinese Medicine. How can one tell if something works unless medical tests are routinely taken?

“Never Judge a book by its cover.” I once knew a psychiatrist and abnormal psychology professor who saw everything through the lens of an Existential/ Phenomenological/Zen view of pure experience. I mimic this when I view other traditions, much like psychology users, who use Buddhist mindfulness via scientific usage.

Let me introduce a BBC article om this topic: What Western medicine can learn from the ancient history of psychedelics (bbc.com)

This is the eagle (North America) flying with the condor (South America). It’s a symbol of Native American spiritual unity. Jimmy Hendrix, in his song, asks the question, “Are you experienced?”

I have visited the equivalent of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain temples, as well as Islamic mosques and Native American ceremonies, in the past. I love Buddhist and Sikh temples and Native American ceremonies the best. Let’s have a bit of YouTube education on different religious traditions:

The key is to Let’s ask AI about Don Miguel Ruiz, Jacob Boehme, and embrace the methodology but not the religious philosophy.

How did Jacob Boehme get his mystical experiences?

Jacob Boehme, a German philosophical mystic, had his first significant mystical experience in 1600 at 25. It occurred when his eyes fell upon a burnished pewter dish that reflected sunlight with such splendor that he fell into an inward ecstasy—this moment seemed to reveal to him the deepest foundations of things. He later went outside and felt as if he could see into the very heart of nature, harmonizing with his inner vision.

Bing Co-Pilot AI

Summary by Google Gemini of Those Who Have Never Heard: A Survey of the Major Positions 

The article surveys major Christian views on the destiny of those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus. It highlights the tension between God’s universal desire for salvation and the belief in salvation through Jesus. It then explores perspectives like universalism, inclusivism, postmortem evangelism, universal opportunity before death, restrictivism, and agnosticism, referencing biblical texts and the associated theological arguments. The article emphasizes that all views agree that Jesus is the only Savior.

The author of The Four Agreements talks about the term nagual. What does it refer to?

  1. In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz uses the term nagual to refer to the unseen essence or spirit that permeates all of creation. It’s not just a concept, but the very fabric of the universe, the limitless potential and unknowable mystery that exists beyond the physical world we perceive with our senses. Our connection to something greater than ourselves or the unexplainable synchronicities we experience are manifestations of this all-encompassing nagual.
  2. The concept of nagual, as used by Don Miguel Ruiz in The Four Agreements, is a stark contrast to tonal. While tonal represents the physical world and the known, nagual symbolizes the unseen essence or spirit that permeates all of creation. Together, these two concepts are believed to encompass all of reality.

Google Gemini AI

In “The Four Agreements,” author Don Miguel Ruiz describes the tonal and nagual as two aspects of the universe.

  • Tonal: the light of the stars, representing one side of a picture that encompasses all reality
  • Nagual: the light between the stars, representing the other side of the picture, which, together with the tonal, describes all reality as an abundance of light infused with life and universal love

Ruiz uses these concepts to convey that everything is interconnected and part of a larger whole.

Meta AI

But if one has an opportunity to attend such ceremonies, there are some guidelines to follow.

  • They are conducted in a Native American church setting under a legally protected environment.
  • Qualified elders or medicine people conduct them in the Native American way. Who follow the Red Road code of ethics?
  • One’s intentions are for ‘therapeutic’ purposes, as defined by M.D. and Ph.D. researchers – studying the subject matter.
  • One must have the proper frameworks for observing and integrating any experiences. Duke of the Two Feathers Medicine Clan emphasized that unexplained healing – can and does happen. For Integration, I like Carl Jung’s framework (i.e., Jungian archetypes and collective unconsciousness).
  • One must be in sound medical condition and follow any dietary regulations.
  • This short YouTube video covers Ayahuasca and Peyote at Ayahuasca vs Peyote: Which one is right for you?

One can learn more about these ceremonies and their legality from the website at Oklevueha Native American Church – (oklevuehanac.com).

When I wanted to learn about Native American practices and ceremonies, I joined the extended family of the Two Feathers Medicine Clan with Duke Big Feather. He had a spread called ‘The Spirit of Crazy Horse’ in Crete, Illinois, USA. Well, he is now deceased, and that place no longer exists. He was also the spiritual leader of the Two Feathers Medicine Clan, now defunct. He used to talk about miraculous healing in medicine ceremonies.

But he relayed a story to me once. First, I need to mention two things. Peyote and ayahuasca are viewed in two ways in Native American spirituality.

  • First, as a sacrament (like the Eucharist).
  • And secondly, as a medicine (similar to how Western doctors would view medicine).

Anyway, Duke knew a Roman Catholic priest who had a crisis of faith. So, he invited this priest to one of these all-night peyote ceremonies. After the ceremony, the priest no longer had – a crisis of faith. And went back to serving the Christian community as a Roman Catholic priest. Peyote song (Walking with the King!)

Suppose we limit God to just the ancient sacramental and contemporary churches. Or outside of Christianity, in what I call the wisdom tradition. And we tend to judge how God can reach folks – outside of Holy Scripture. See What Should Christians Take from the Native American Church Peyote Ceremony? Take the Christian peyote ceremony, for example.

Here is an informative video on this topic. Dr. Joe Tafur Explains Peyote and Ayahuasca

There are other controversial systems of medicine I am familiar with – like Homeopathy. I recommend subscribing to the free lay article newsletter at Homeopathy Plus.

Now, let me end this story with this Antinode. My Protestant mom, Lucille, who is now deceased, allegedly was born with the gift of prophecy. But she and the Native American spiritual leader, Duke, became good friends – after I introduced them. My mom also liked to see Amma – Mata Amritanandamayi – Official International Site, the hugging saint, with me when she came to the area.

Perhaps the peyote and Ayahuasca ceremonies are a journey through Jung’s collective unconsciousness, similar to the Tibetan Book of the Dead journeys. The Death of Death: Bringing the Tibetan Book of the Dead to Life | Dr. Andrew Holecek

Watch these videos of medicine man Russell Four Eagles being interviewed by the Theosophical Society.

A True Personal Story

Let me end with a true story. It’s an offbeat story so that you can read some of my spiritual blog posts. In February – March 2020, I ended up having a tsunami of Covid-19 hit me. But, while it coursed through my whole body, it didn’t hit the lungs. It’s like they were magically protected. I followed the Illinois isolation protocols. I also didn’t need hospitalization or modern medicine. Why was I protected?

  • Was it because of my deceased mom’s genetic constitution? For the record, she was born with the gift of prophecy. I have experienced this many times in my life.
  • Was it because I hung around with authentic Native American medicine people and ceremonies, Indian holy people, and Catholic Chiasmatic and other spiritual healers?
  • Was it because I was a lifelong user of homeopathy?
  • Divine intervention?
  • Etc.

You come up with a theory. But I was protected. Since then, I have had all the recommended CDC vaccines.

If you wish to contact me, you can do so via my social media accounts

Summary by AI Summarizer RLK Reflections: A Dive Into AI, Spirituality, Tech, etc. , from the center of my mindExperience with Two Feathers Medicine Clan & Spiritual Practices12 minutesDecember 17, 2023 The text recounts the author’s experience with the Native American Two Feathers Medicine Clan led by Duke Big Feather. The author participated in traditional…

Leave a comment

Issue is a magazine-style theme design that displays blog posts, reviews, artwork and news.

⏬

It comes with different styles to spark your creativity in making it just as you’d like to.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Go back

Your message has been sent

MagBlog is a magazine theme focused on sizable type and imagery to expand your content. Make it yours ⏬