A Gift to the People: A Collection of Writings by Ghost Dancer

A Gift to the People:

A Collection of Writings by Ghost Dancer

Collected by Lynda M. Means PhD

Revised and Expanded Edition

Copyright 2006, 2008

All Rights Reserved.

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200

Bloomington, IN 47403

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Phone: 1-800-839-8640

© Lynda M. Means, PhD. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 9/24/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4259-4902-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-8789-4 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Table of Contents

Forward

Revised and Expanded Edition

Part I:

Essays and Short Stories

Chapter One

The Way of the Old Ones

Chapter Two

For The Women—And The Men

Chapter Three

American Indian Basics

Chapter Four

Our Circle of Relatives

Chapter Five

Growing Up Muskogee

Chapter Six

Muskogee Boy’s Training

Chapter Seven

Dancing With the Dolphins

Chapter Eight

The Ani-Yun-Wiya: The Beginning

Chapter Nine

The Ani-yun-wiya: Part 2

Chapter Ten

The Ani-yun-wiya: Part 3

Chapter Eleven

Why the Mounds Were Designed Round

Chapter Twelve

Cahokia Mounds and Other Sacred Places

Chapter Thirteen

Dancing With Fire

Chapter Fourteen

The Story of the Cedar Tree

Chapter Fifteen

The Power of the Drum

Chapter Sixteen

Inipi Purification (Sweat Lodge) Ceremony

Chapter Seventeen

Building the Purification Lodge

Chapter Eighteen

The Sacred Fire

Chapter Nineteen

The Medicine Wheel

Chapter Twenty

Sacred Stones

Chapter Twenty One

What is the Near Future?

Chapter Twenty Two

Love is the Answer

Chapter Twenty Three

Life with the Wolves

Chapter Twenty Four

Volunteers

Chapter Twenty Five

Walking the Path

Part II:

Spiritual Exercises

Spiritual Exercise 1

Breathing the Way of Spirit

Spiritual Exercise 2

Opening the Spirit Eye/Mind’s Eye/Third Eye

Spiritual Exercise 3

Searching Your Past

Spiritual Exercise 4

Who Am I

Spiritual Exercise 5

Circle of Love

Spiritual Exercise 6

Salt Crystal Water Bath

Part III:

English/Muskogee Dictionary

English/Muskogee Dictionary

About the Author

Dedicated To

All of My Relations

That All People May Live

With a Better Understanding

Among All Beings

And To Contribute To

Peace and Harmony

In Our Universe

We Are All One

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book

goes to preserve and to share the culture of Native Americans

Photo Credits

Original Cover Photo by M. L. Bentley

Photo Stylizing & Cover Design by Marc Running Fox Ryder

Photo of Lynda Means by Craig Mercer. Photo taken at Washington University Powwow,

St Louis, MO, April 2006.

Forward

As a professor of Native American Studies for the past twelve years, I became disenchanted by the sources of information available to teach about real Native Americans or First Nations Peoples. Knowing that there were some 500 plus distinct Native groups in North America, I did my best to choose books and videos that best showed Native Peoples today and yesterday.

A few years back I met a man at a Powwow who changed my way of looking at Native People from this continent. I explained that I was a professor at a local university and that the information I used was inadequate to paint a true picture of the Natives of this land. I was tired of reading of the Bering Strait theory and finding that the scientific community discounted oral tradition of the Native

My students, as part of their class work were required to go to Cahokia Mounds and write a research paper. They were instructed not to tell me the information they learned but how they felt as they toured and learned about Cahokia. Then almost at the end of the semester, I would give them the piece people on this continent. Thus began my friendship with Ghost Dancer. written by Ghost Dancer. Many said they wished they had had the piece first, but I assured them they could certainly return to Cahokia with a whole different mindset. Thus began my own personal journey into the life of a man who lived what most people have only heard or read about.

I have learned that life is all about the journey, not the destination. I have learned who I truly am. I have learned that oral tradition, even though it may have changed over the many thousands of years, is still based on truths. And I have learned that I am, as well as everything, and every being around me, LOVE.

After a certain point in our relationship, Ghost knew that there would be more to his writing than teaching a bunch of university students. His words were for the whole world. The writing was done on legal paper, handwritten in English, not his first language. I then transcribed them onto the computer just as he wrote them adding only punctuation and grammar corrections. Since his first language is Muskogee, his English sometimes leaves out words. Muskogee grammar is quite different than English. I added nothing but to clarify a sentence, many times asking him directly to get exact answers.

This is the culmination of two years of his writing. Some of these articles have been shared online and in various publications but this is the first time that all of his written work of the past two years is available to the public. None of the lessons that Ghost wrote are changed. A little bit of the information is repetitious but I left it as he wrote it.

The TIME is right to share this information. Our world, our Earth Mother, is in need of our help. Only we can choose our destiny. Please read the following pages with love in your hearts for Love is the answer to all things. In Love all things can be done!

Walking in Love and Beauty Always

Lynda M. Means PhD

January 2006

Revised and Expanded Edition

The revisions are small corrections that were missed in the first edition as well as an easier to understand diagram of the Medicine Wheel.

The expansion includes a chapter on the building and symbolism of The Sacred Fire that didn’t make the first edition. We decided that it needed to be added after the chapter on the building of the Purification Lodge. The last chapters added were pieces Ghost wrote for a newsletter in response to readers after the first edition.

We hope you feel the Love that has been put into this book and pray that this new edition brings further enlightenment and understanding to all. This book is about the Message (how each person can apply it in their own lives, how we can all live better lives in the new jungles of our society).

May you all continue to Walk in Love and Beauty Always!

Lynda

January 2008

Part I:

Essays and Short Stories

Chapter One

The Way of the Old Ones

Spiritual knowledge, beliefs, practices, and understanding is an individual experience. For each individual must come to know Spirit on a one on one basis. For the living Spirit is in all that exists and the only true teacher is Spirit.

Once an individual sits still and silent, and empties oneself of everything, until they feel, hear and know the heartbeat of Mother/Grandmother upon which they sit, then, and only then can they start to know and see how everything is connected. The more they open themselves up to what is truly real, the more they will see, experience, and understand.

With this knowledge and understanding comes true power, the power of choice. For each and every moment there will always be choices. Living is true experience. For in life in the physical existence, we will experience every form upon our senses.

Never will the spiritual Teacher, who is a true one, give you an answer to any question, because each person must find the answer himself. Once the person finds the answer, then there are a lot more questions, for more things have opened up to that person.

Many people seek the power and knowledge of the universe through books, teachers, guides, etc. But, Spirit teaches us the truth such as: He who seeks the universe will know nothing. While he who seeks to know his true self will know everything. For within him is everything in the universe that exists…

For knowledge can never be taught. It must be experienced. For a person who tries to teach you knowledge will only sound foolish. When a person truly knows his true self, then he will see how he is connected to all things and what part he has in the Circle of Life. For each has a purpose and responsibilities and has a part in the Sacred Circle.

Each day of life is a true blessing, for it allows us to have another day to experience and learn more about the Sacred Circle of Life and about ourselves. Most people live in a world of illusions, caught in jobs, television, money, society, how they look, who they can impress, and even rushing everywhere because they don’t have time to do other things. I ask you to ask yourself: Is that truly living? Is it real or just another illusion?

When was the last time you hugged a tree and thanked the tree for its beauty, the air you breathe, for the shelter it provides, for the food it provides, every thing, to learn first hand about the life of rabbit, squirrel, bird, frog, tree, plant, deer, fox, etc. They learned how they lived, what they ate, where they and all the things you take for granted? When was the last time you sat down and talked to one of the Stone People? One of the Animal People? Or any other?

The old ones always used to send the children to learn about each and slept, what they liked, what they feared, who were their enemies, who were their friends, etc, until they understood and knew all these things. They learned to feel the flow of life and to blend and become one with it and all that exists. Their Spirits touched the Spirit of all things.

These are the ways of the old ones, when all lived in respect, honor, and truth with our Mother/Grandmother, Father/ Grandfather, and all of our relations. When we truly seek the Spiritual Path, then we will make the choice and seek these ways of the old ones, no matter where we are, nor how old we are. Remember, it is always each person’s choice.

This is the way of the Old Ones.

Chapter Two

For The Women—And The Men

This is a lesson for you to teach the other ladies, the Beloved Women, who are now remembering who they are, and as a teacher, everyone else.

First it is also very important that you believe in yourself, your power, and your gifts. If you truly believe then things will begin to come easily to you. You are like a rose who has many petals. Each layer that is peeled back will reveal more inside. That is why in the old days a woman’s vagina was referred to as a flower. For each petal held a secret. Each petal peeled back leads to another secret, until it goes to the center and is one with pure Love!

Just as women have been programmed by society, religious dogmas, parents etc. not to understand their bodies; even not to find their hidden pleasures. Why? To keep them from their true power! A woman’s body is totally, completely sensitive. Every single area is filled with nerve senses that ignite the essence of a woman. Very few women have experienced a touch, kiss, stroke, massage to every single cell of their bodies. That is why the inipi, sweat lodge ceremony, is described as the womb of Mother Earth. Every single pole, every part of the structure is alive and has messages, spirits, and pleasures there. The hot rocks are love pouring into the passage of the womb to the center of Love! That is why it is so important not to have bad thoughts or feelings in the lodge. A lodge is of Love! This is why a woman cramps, menstruates, and pure pleasure are all in the same place, in the core of herself. It is your connection to the universe. A man penetrating a woman’s womb is not making love! There is a difference in that, as there is a difference in right and wrong. Making love is when two people give their love totally and completely with no strings attached. They do what their heart wants them to do with no expectations or limits. Making love could just as well be touching her cheek with love in the heart. When a person does anything with pure love, then it is a power that is beyond anything else. The key to all life is Love. Being a Beloved Woman is very special, for the person must have a heart of pure Love for the people, all people whether they are tree people, four-legged people, or two-legged people. And that loves helps all that it touches whether one knows it or not.

If you have had a lot of pain in your life, and have had your struggles with many different problems, a heart of love has helped many, many people in this situation. This is especially important when a person is praying. If a person prays with true Love in their heart for what they are praying for, with total true Love to whom they are praying to, then that prayer is sent forth on True Power, the Power of Love that connects everything in the universe. This applies to everything they do, say, think, feel, touch, smell, and taste in life. If we do it in True Love, then it is a Power. That is why the old ones say you must touch your Power. Even our conscience is Love. Our true Spirit, which is part of Creator, is Love. Our conscience tells us when we do something wrong, because it is Love, and Love only wants good things for us. We can be anything we want. We can create whatever we want if we do it in True Love.

These are important lessons that if you practice them, you will become more gifted and will see the results. We must walk our path in True Love and teach others to truly love, for when you give love, you receive love.

Please share this with friends and family, for it is their choices in life that they must make. No one can make their choices for them.

Remember to walk in Beauty and Love Always.

Chapter Three

American Indian Basics

Many of you believe all Native Americans practice the same or basically the same religious beliefs and customs. This belief is not only totally false but it is also perpetuated by government, education, and religious dogmas. Then, modern society, television, movies, and new age thinking, promote this type of thinking. Many even try to portray the traditional Lakota beliefs as pre-dominant for all tribes. What is truly sad is that this has gone on so long that many Lakota have taken that same mentality and think this as well. This is all caused by ignorance; ignorance of true history backed by evidence, ignorance of understanding, people, terrain, geological locations, tribal history, religious prejudice, ideology, government, academic theologies, and true agendas. Let’s look at some true facts that most of you have never heard of nor would ever even consider to look for truth.

Before the so-called finding of the New World as it was called by a very stupid lost navigator called Christopher Columbus, many visitors from other times, countries, and empires had been here. This is backed by scientific and geological evidence that has been carbon dated and analyzed to be true. But even before the eras of Rome, Phoenicians, etc. - true civilization was already here. With cities, yes, real cities, works of art, temples, plazas, paved or laid with stone streets, administration buildings, etc. What do you know of the Ai or Jeru people? The Etowah Nation? The Hofunlke? Mound Builders? Unless you really search you will never know what the true picture is. You have to remember this: during the invasion of North America by all those foreign nations, the invaders were after wealth, fortunes, fame, not peaceful knowledge and friendship. Not one nation came to North America for friendship, trade or peace. Every nation was battling each other to take all they could, either by direct murder, deceit, lies, treachery, and mostly by disease. That’s right, the first mass use of biological warfare for the purpose of genocide was done right here in this country. The churches of Judeo-Christian belief were some of the worst, plundering the cities, and robbing vast amounts of our Nation’s treasures, art, culture, records, and untold amounts of artifacts dating back thousands of years.

Stop and study the economic conditions of Europe in the years 1400-1800. You will come to see that every European Nation profited from the murders, mass genocide, and robbing of the Native American Peoples in North, Central, and South America. The Judeo-Christian churches got their fortunes from this as well. Not one Nation, or church or museum abroad has ever had to return or reimburse the Native Nations. Why? Because even to this day, religious dogmas, government and society do not feel Native Peoples are equal or even human, because of their blind ignorance, self-guilt, and prejudices. Since this has been the history of the European invaders and of the people whose ancestors came here, no traditional person or holy person would ever truly reveal the truth to these evil people. And this is still true today. Many tribal nations lost their own languages, their own traditional histories, religious beliefs and their own traditional characters, morals and standards. These things have been bastardized by the government and society to become like them. All of our ancestors look upon this with disgust.

Very, very few Native Americans can even begin to tell you their own tribe’s traditional history, because they honestly don’t know. But they will never admit it either. What’s even worse is that they can not even tell you about any of the other tribes’ history even if it was a traditional enemy. In the ancient times, natives of the Etowah Nation which was in Georgia, South Carolina, northeast Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, could tell you about the Iroquois, the Aztec, the Cahokia, Mayan, Toltec, Hopi, Polynesian, even Inca. Why? Because of the traditional learning of your enemies and neighbors; the traditional messengers and envoys of trade shared teachings, medicine, art work, by master carvers, stone workers, healers, teachers, and religious teaching exchanges. All nations knew these people of other places. Not today! See, when there was respect and honor all nations taught and upheld these teachings. They could tell by a moccasin which tribe it was from, what the designs on the moccasin meant, and what that person’s Nation’s particular customs, beliefs and how they lived; no matter how far a distance they lived. They might never have ever been there, but they knew all this by learning, listening to the storytellers, the traditions, the traders, the special speakers who came as visitors, etc.

Now what type of religion did the Etowah practice? Do you have any idea? Well, the individuals who all participated in the tribe’s ceremonial practices, recognized the solar solstices, lunar solstices, equinoxes, the fire, the sun, and all living things. They had royalty, kings and queens, musicians, artists, doctors, priests, teachers, warriors, government administrators, messengers, historians, orators, actors, etc. They used the stars, planets, Mother Earth. They used herbs, teas, amulets, crystals. They recognized that Mother Earth was a living being, the universe was alive; that everything in the universe affected their lives each and every day. They understood that every thought they had created an entity, that everything had power. Every attitude affected everything around it, like a ripple in a wave.

See, unlike modern man, or even the invaders of the 14-15-16-17-1800’s, the Native People understood that their every action, every feeling even, affected everything that existed. They prayed every single morning giving thanks for the rising sun, giving thanks for the gift of life, giving thanks for the water in which they bathed and purified their bodies to start the new day, giving thanks for the beauty that was all around them, for they lived their lives in beauty and harmony.

Since water was so plentiful around the Etowah People, different types were used for different types of ceremonies. The rivers, streams, fresh springs, hot springs, sulfur springs, lakes, creeks and the ocean, represented and was the life blood of the Mother Earth. Going into the water was going into the womb of our Mother Earth, to be cleansed and purified and reborn. When we drank of this water, we were drinking the sacred blood of the Sacred Mother/Grandmother, like a babe suckles at his mother’s breasts for life. Lying on the bottom of these waters, we feel the heartbeat of the Mother throughout the entire flow of the water and through our own bodies. Our hearts become one. We were one.

Each plant had a purpose, a use, a power of its own. Never would anything be picked or used, or consumed without first the proper prayer and the prayer of thanks for the plant. Some plants such as corn (maize), cedar, ginseng, datura, etc. were so important that ceremonies were done during planting time and harvesting time, for these were so important to the peoples’ everyday life.

Unlike most western tribes, females were truly Blessed Ones. Beloved Women were Sacred to every person of the Nation. Clan Mothers had control of the clan. Clan Mothers took the needs of the people to the Nation’s council. The council told these needs to the kings and queens. Then the needs were met.

Every single person had a purpose and was guided and helped to ensure that they achieved their specific purpose. Some children were selected for their memories, to start training to be historians. Some were selected to be artists or sculptors. Some were chosen for musicians, actors. Some were chosen for their ability to be leaders. As a child was born, he was watched by all to see the character and nature of the child. Each child demonstrated as it grew its natural abilities and interests. These were respected and promoted by the Clan Mothers to insure the child would receive the best training and teachers in that particular area.

The Sacred Fire was and is a most important aspect. The Sacred Fire Keeper dedicated his or her life to the Sacred Fire, for the gift of fire came from the sun as a gift to the people. The Sacred Fire Keeper had many who also were Fire Keepers, who worked and learned from the older ones.

Each year, the Fire Ceremony would commence with the coordination of the Green Corn Ceremony as well. When every fire in the Nation was extinguished, fasting and purification was done while preparations were being made. The Sacred Fire had to be cleaned and all redone. Special wood was prepared that had been previously selected for this purpose. The High Priests had been in the Sacred Temples, fasting and on spiritual journeys to receive the visions and guidance for the people from their specific spirit helpers. The High Priestesses were all glorious and had danced with Grandmother Moon for the full cycles of the moon. They had danced with Sister Datura and danced the Water Dances in the waters (streams, rivers, waterfalls etc.) bringing the power of the moon to themselves for the people. They had used their spirit bowls (bowls specifically designed) to journey back to the past to visit the High Priestesses in the ancient past, finally, to visit the true Mother, Mother Earth. There they would talk to her and receive her gifts and be shown what they needed to do.

All these things took place for three days in preparation for the final day which would be the fourth day, the Day of the Fire. On this day, all would gather as the Sacred Fire Keeper would lead the procession to the Sacred Fire, followed by the High Priest and Priestesses, Clan Mothers, The King and Queen, Prince and Princesses, and the people. When all was ready, the Sacred Fire Keeper would unwrap the Sacred Crystal, sing his special prayer song to the Sun and using the powerful crystal, light the Sacred Fire again for the people. Then, each female by rank and position would come forth and take a burning ember back to their own home to bring this sacred gift from the Sun to their home hearth. Then feasting and the Fire Dancers would commence.

Now, in explaining some of this to you I have given you a basic group religious practice. But, understand this, this was an example of one Nation’s group ceremony. In understanding Native American Traditional Religions, one must understand that each person must find and connect to the spirits their own way, using their own individual spirit helpers, their own special songs and chants, special place where they go, and what they do. Some may use the plant, dog fennel, a hallucinogen, to help. Some may run; run until they are totally exhausted and dehydrated. Some may use snake (poison) venom to go to the spirit world. Whatever method that a person uses, it is his or her own special beliefs or practices. It does not belong to anyone but that one person. Each person’s own method is respected and never, never put down or even suggested as being wrong or should be good for anyone else. See, in Native American Traditional beliefs and practices, there is no specific way, no laws, no books, that say you must do it this way! For in doing something like that, then a person has no special direct connection to the Spirit, or even to the Spirit of all living things, there would be no individuality.

I hear and read about people claiming that this belongs to this Tribe or Nation, or it was given to this tribe only. When I hear things like that I laugh! For it is totally hogwash to even think that way. Some of their claims are so ridiculous; they even go against the tribe’s true history. Many have combined the newcomer’s (European) religions to their beliefs, so that they are like the religious dogmas of the European Churches. Many are reflecting these acts of these other peoples’ practice as putting themselves or their tribes as the only right way or the only true way, or as the originators of a certain practice. But all you have to do is search the true history of the tribe to see and know the truth.

From the beginning of time, there have been people, nations, here on this continent. Certain practices are tens of thousands of years old. Sharing knowledge and customs was common. So some tribe that wasn’t even known, say for instance 10,000 years ago, how can they then lay claim to practices that have been used by others for 100,000 years? Then there are tribes who have forgotten where they actually came from, before they grew prosperous, or became a large Nation, because other tribes had been devastated by disease and war with the white invaders. Some tribes moved to these areas after the Nations and People were all but wiped out and took on many practices and customs of the people who survived, and now believe and proclaim these as their own teachings and that they belong to them. They sound just like those who came across the waters 500 years ago claiming they own this, they are the only ones, and all must believe as they do. All of this is caused by ignorance. And then you must look at the motive. For a true Spiritual person understands no one can claim anything they did not create themselves, for only can the Great Spirit, Manitou, Great Mystery, Master of Breath, God, the Creator, lay claim to creating all. We as humans are pitiful and mostly only create problems, destruction, and our own deaths.

Historical records of a tribe, along with archaeological artifacts, and museum pieces, all can open your eyes to the truth. It is like the coming of the white invaders mentality. It has assimilated into the very people of a tribe, now thinking they are the best and the only right ones, and all others got their beliefs from them. When a person claims these things or a tribe claims these things, there is a strong motive. Money! Religion of any kind can never be true if it is based on money, fame or power, or control of a people or any one individual. Then it is sad to see people proclaiming to be Holy Ones, drinking alcohol, using drugs, cursing and doing bad things, for a true sacred person does not do these things. And how can one of them help someone when they need help themselves. No one can tell you how to pray. That is foolish. How you pray, what you say and do is between you and the Creator. I realize that a lot of people are lost and confused in the world. I realize that many people are searching for the connection to the Spirit. And there are those in the world who will try to sell you religion for their own personal gain. Or even sell you so-called Sacred items or Sacred Ceremonies as well. But remember this: if it is really truly Sacred then you know it can’t be sold! So stop and think.

These things cannot be taught in a book or even a series of books. They must be learned by living and experiencing these things. It is sad today to see all these different ones who buy a book, read it, and then proclaim themselves as teachers of these things. What is even sadder is all the people who believe these people. Books like this one can give us a start, but we must find a true teacher to continue from here if we are to understand fully, much less teach!

Now let’s study what is truly Tradition. We hear all the time Tradition is this or that. Native Tradition is a deep, buried in the heart, spirit being, of specific customs. Also Natives always learned to be adaptable; to co-exist with their environment. This is important because, as I have said, many tribes moved from place to place, either out of necessity or by being forced or driven from their lands. And True Tradition always respects other’s beliefs and customs. If it suited them, or they saw something that they liked or enjoyed, then they adapted it to themselves.

Native Tribes may have used many, many different ways, or items, or even nature, but it was and is a way they all understand as part of themselves. Every Native knows you must watch all of Nature: plants, water, animals, birds, clouds, season changes, storms, insects, to learn how they live, what they do, their character and rituals. All things have Nature within them, and we as humans do as well. It is Nature, and we are all a part of it. No matter if you are butterfly, eagle, frog, deer, oak tree, blackberry bush, a trout, snake or human, each living thing is a part of you, just as you are a part of each of them. You sometimes act