Red Elk Speaks

Thought I’d share with you what it’s like to be a Medicine Man….especially an Inner Heyoka one.
Though my being a “breed” has “I don’t believe it” by many NAs as well as those of other “skins”…it has, to me at least, been a WONDERFUL experience.
Medicine People walk a fine line between what most would call Insane and INsane….as in: Sane WITHIN.
This jars many Medicine Apprentices and Does scare some so much, they cease their training.
Others see the “advantages” that their new knowledge gives and turn to the Sorcery side.  Ego – Pride – “POWER” has stepped in.
These are the ones with less training.  “Grabbing the ball and running”…withOUT seeing the End Posts.  Like running in a very heavy fog.
No “goal(s)” and so “Power-Heady” (“I’VE GOT THE BALL!  I’VE GOT THE BALL!….Ha HA!”) they learn JUST ENOUGH to “Do” SOME, and off they go.

A lot like new Teens, aren’t they?

Then there are those trained in “The Traditional.”

These have been “rote taught.”  Ancestor Passed Down to Today Knowledge.  Aho?
In this training they are told, at times Shown, then go test the learning. “Cementing” what they have been given.

High on Herbal, as well as Spiritual, training.

The Sorcery ones do as said, the Traditional ones are in a far longer training time.

Sorcery around 4 years,  and as high as 5.

The Traditional: 7, to as high as 17.

Then there are the Inner Heyoka.   Our training well beyond the others.  In my case, 41-42 years.  Most about the same.

We 12 left…(and one may be “gone,” leaving 11) are the last of this “Society.”

I replace one who ‘passed’….but as we still left ‘go’, the Society will totally cease to exist.

We “Inners” are trained to ‘align’ with the Creator and let “Him” be our “Herbs,”Etc.

In this connection, we have found NO plants are necessary.  NO chants are necessary.  Etc., etc..

We 12 (?), as All the others, are TRAINED.

What’s it like to be a Medicine Person?  A walk between what man calls “normal” and ALL of ALL in Medicine call “Sane, WITHIN.”

The Sorcerers are ‘stuck’ in the “world”…the Traditionalists have “reached out” PAST the world (and are the best respected)…the Inners  WALK BETWEEN THE STARS (and are therefor about USELESS in WORLD Ways).   The LEAST understood.  Aho?

Nevertheless, to be in Medicine is, indeed, WONDERFUL!    Ho
Red Elk

(WS)