The Way of the Spiritual Warrior
“The Warrior demonstrates a willingness to take a stand. This is the capacity to let others know where we stand, where we don’t stand, what we stand for, and how we stand for ourselves.”
—ANGELES ARRIEN, ANTHROPOLOGIST/AUTHOR,
FROM THE FOUR-FOLD WAY
Ajo ajo Journey, journey
Ajo mi re. This is my journey.
Kini l’awa o? What are we?
Ajo ajo. Journey journey.
—SHANGO SONG, TRINIDAD
THE JOURNEY INTO ADULTHOOD is the intended time to claim the Warrior’s way. All the intensity, beauty, difficulty, and questions of the Thundering Years are de-signed to challenge us to determine what path we are going to take in life. Most Native cultures believe this is the purpose of the THUNDERing Years—a time when we commit to the way of the Warrior.
A Warrior’s way includes a journey to oneself and to one’s purpose. It is a “Hero’s” path because not everyone is willing to risk taking the journey; many people are afraid. They put their Thunder to sleep with drugs or alcohol, too much work, video games, or other distractions, or they hide their Thunder from criticism—only to find it emerge later in their adult life when they are in their 30s, 40s, or beyond. Usually it resurfaces as a crisis—a wake-up call to another chance to redirect one’s life, to take the spiritual path. As Dante Alighieri put it in The Divine Comedy, Inferno, “In the middle of this road we call life I found myself in a dark wood with no clear path through.” That is why the intensity of our Thundering Years is so powerful and meaningful. This is the time of our life we are meant to begin this path. We are meant to listen to our Thunder-energy, we are meant to be outrageous and, at times, difficult. This energy enriches us all. Ancient wisdom recognizes the need for this Thunder to be expressed in order for civilization to grow and change. When a community ignores this energy, or is too afraid of it, the entire community ends up in trouble. We can’t keep such energy down, we can’t repress it, without it resurfacing in some way.
“My message to our young people—is to be aware of the important time you live in. You will be alive to see the greatest pain the world has ever experienced, or, the greatest splendor. I see you riding on a tremendous wave, landing where my eyes cannot go.”
—KARYN BELL,
IRISH-AMERICAN
MENTOR
Spiritual “Warriorship” is embodied in the ancient traditions of Tibet, China, India, Korea, Japan, Africa, Northern and Southern American Indians, and ancient Celtic communities. All these traditions have one thing in common when it comes to Spiritual Warriorship: they all are founded on the belief that there is a basic human wisdom within everyone that can be tapped into to solve our difficulties and to increase our happiness. This wisdom is the intense Thunder-energy that, when used wisely, propels us into our adult years. It is also the energy that can harm us if it is misdirected or suppressed.
A Spiritual Warrior is someone who acknowledges the great potential within themselves and believes in this potential. Warriorship is about true fearlessness in one’s search for happiness and meaning. Living the life of a Spiritual Warrior means to value being part of the whole and to understand that we are all connected. The Spiritual Warrior is able to live in this modern world while acknowledging our relationship to and dependence on the spiritual world. Spirituality is not some vague notion or religious doctrine. It is a simple but powerful part of our human nature. It is within us all. It can be, and is, expressed in many forms. Throughout time and cultures, this spiritual energy has been recognized as being especially intense and meaningful during our Thundering Years. Spiritual energy moves us to ask the questions, “What is the meaning of life? Where do we come from? and What is my purpose here on earth?”
“A human being is part of the whole, called by us the ‘Universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and foundation for inner security.”
—ALBERT EINSTEIN, PHYSICIST
“All of life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
—RALPH WALDO
EMERSON, AMERICAN
ESSAYIST, POET, AND
SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHER
“I worry a lot about small stuff, unimportant stuff. But then I think about why we’re here. I believe in a God and all that goes with that. I believe in fate. But Why? Why am I here? I would like to know this.”
—LINDSAY, AGE 19
“I am told I am beautiful. But I don’t feel beautiful. I am told I am brave, but the truth is, I am full of anxiety and fear. I am told to follow my dreams, but my parents imply that my decisions are somehow wrong. I am told to stay near home, but I want to move far away and see new places. I am told to be patient, but I want to START MY LIFE NOW. I am told not to be afraid, but it feels like they don’t like my choices. I just want to GO; I am ready.”
—ALEXA, AGE 22
“Dreams count; the Spirits have compassion for us and have guided us.”
—CREE INDIAN
PROVERB
Alexa’s parents are afraid that her dreams of wanting to be a choreographer are not sound, and that she should pursue a more “serious” career. They talked her out of taking a trip to South America with other students the summer she turned 18 because it seemed too risky. Alexa is full of anxiety. She is ready to start her journey into adulthood and wants her parents’ support. Her anxiety is one expression of her suppessed Thunder-energy. Are your dreams supported?
It is such dreams and aspirations that are the foundation of our spiritual journey. Our longings and desires are what get us up and on with our lives. They are the trail we make through our lives and each of us must follow our own. A deep spiritual longing underlies all Thunder-energy. This is important to understand because as you have likely found out, the intensity of Thunder-energy is often misunderstood by others. But no one can feel too intensely. What is important is how you use this power—what you do with your Thunder. This energy, unique to your time of life, pushes you toward independence and is the thrust behind your hopes and fears. It can be the source of your creativity, or negativity.
You are standing at a crossroad, the forceful place where you are no longer a child but not yet a ripened adult. This crossroad is of great significance for you and others. This crossroad is also like being on top of a tremendous mountain—you can look back from where you have been, and you can also hold a vision of where you are headed. This place holds great potential.
Sitting on Top of the Great Mountain Exercise
Take a moment and imagine yourself on top of a great mountain. You are far above everything and can see for great distances in all directions. Use this great vision to see your life. . . .
Behind you is your life so far . . . all that has come to pass up to this moment. What do you see? What events brought you to this place in your life? What choices did you or others make that determined your life so far? How have you used this time? Can you see how one choice leads into another? What losses, trauma, or pain have you suffered? How have these affected you? What gifts, happiness, and opportunities have been given to you so far? Notice how all this has led you to YOUR LIFE NOW.
To your sides is your life now. Who are your friends? What do you give your time to? What pain are you experiencing? What gifts and opportunities are being offered to you now? What choices are you making that will determine what is to come? What are your dreams and fears? What problems and challenges face your community and the planet at this time?
In front of you is your future. What do you see? When you look in this direction it stretches out further, beyond all that you can see. But what awaits you in the near future, because of how you are living now? What do you see awaiting you and the planet in the distant future if you continue to go on as you are presently? Can you easily imagine that the future side of the mountain is vast and expansive, meaning there are many possibilities out there for you?
Now take a few moments to write down your thoughts, feelings, and responses to this exercise. Date it, so you can reflect on it later. After you have read this book, return to this exercise and experience it again. Now, what do you see as you sit on top of the great mountain?
“I saw myself on the central mountain of the world, the highest place, and I had a vision because I was seeing in the sacred manner of the world . . . the central mountain is everywhere.”
—BLACK ELK,
OGLALA SIOUX
HOLY MAN,
FROM BLACK ELK SPEAKS
In most native cultures around the world, the spiritual journey is considered the central purpose of each and every life. Spiritual practice was, and is, part of everyday life. Native cultures use special ceremonies and rites to help Spiritual Warriors on their heroic journey into adulthood. In these traditions, young people are given the opportunity to express and confront their spiritual and creative selves. They are given ways to open up to their potential and to their dreams. Ceremonies and wisdom teachings are part of the communal respect for the young Warriors and their Thunder-energy. They are offered rites-of-passage rituals, which help them open up to their many qualities and become recognized as adults. The spiritual thirst is understood as a longing for wholeness and a desire to belong to something great, no matter what form it takes.
“A warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken.”
—CHOZAN SHISSAI,
JAPANESE
SWORDSMAN
A Warrior’s Coming-of-Age and Empowerment
When we are born, a place is made for us. And, when you connect with your Thunder in a humane way, you will be given the confidence you need to accomplish your dreams. In Australian Aboriginal culture everything is experienced as “dreamtime,” because they believe Spirit cannot be separated from humanity. An Aboriginal elder shares that “the Thunder inside of the young is very real, and of great value to everyone.” Aboriginals believe that the ancestors created the plants and peoples, the mountains and deserts, and the oceans. Thus, when you relate to your Thunder-energy in a respectful way, you respect what the ancestors have given you. And, then you are given the confidence to express yourself in the way the Creator invented for you.
Celtic warriors were viewed as “stewards of change.” They were taught skills at a young age to carry as their medicine into their adult years—respect, self-confidence, recognition of fear, consciousness of their surroundings, and knowledge of their place in the great circle of life. In the Jewish coming-of-age ritual—the Bar and Bat Mitzvah—one becomes responsible for the yetzer hara, the good and bad desires known to exist within all of us. In this tradition, up to the age of 13 the child has innocence, a lack of responsibility. At 13, the intense journey into adulthood is acknowledged as beginning, which means one be-comes responsible for both good and bad impulses and all the actions that result from these influences.
Buddhists throughout the world offer coming-of-age ceremonies. Burmese Buddhists send the boys into adulthood with a lavish ritual called shin-byu. Tibetan Buddhists have rites they call empowerments to initiate the person with certain spiritual energies and to infuse them with spiritual power. These empowerments are done many times throughout one’s life, when one is ready to take on more sacred wisdom and powers. Those who choose to journey on the path of the Spiritual Warrior are “infused” or “empowered” with certain sacred powers through chants and words sung by one who is practicing in the holy ways and who has been empowered with this wisdom.
In the Navajo traditions such empowerments are called haatal (chantway), and the one being “sung to” is similarly infused with holy power by a holy person. Most Native American traditions have their own style of empowerment rituals, where one is “chanted” to and thereby receives certain holy energies. This can be compared to sacraments in Christian faiths, where one takes on the “body and blood” of Christ, thus being “filled” with his love and wisdom.
All these forms of empowerment are meant to guide and support us, and give us inner strength.
“I went to an empowerment offered by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. He chanted to us, and over three hundred people sat quietly opening their hearts and minds to this energy. He infused us all with compassion. I felt empowered with love and more capable of being courageous and compassionate. So I would say that somehow the empowerment took hold inside of me.”
—JACOB, AGE 19
We can also “empower” ourselves with sacred wisdom by calling on the energies and power of a Wisdomkeeper (see chapter 10). It is believed that all those who have taken the path of the Spiritual Warrior will share their energies and powers with us—we simply need to invite their energies into our hearts and minds.
To find Tibetan empowerment rites refer to the resources at the end of the meditation chapter in this book, look in the Shambhala Sun magazine, or contact your local meditation (Dharma) center. For more on Native American empowerment rituals check out your local tribes through the chamber of commerce in your area.
“They waited until their children reached the intensity of adolescence, and then they used that very intensity’s capacity for absorption, its hunger, its need to act out, its craving for dark things, dark knowledge, dark acts, all the qualities we fear most in our kids—the ancients used these very qualities as teaching tools.”
—MICHAEL VENTURA,
COLUMNIST FOR THE
LOS ANGELES WEEKLY
AND ADVOCATE
FOR TEENS
“Warriorship is a continual journey. To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.”
—CHÖGYAM
TRUNGPA,
TIBETAN LAMA,
FROM SHAMBHALA:
THE SACRED PATH
OF THE WARRIOR
In a classic journey of the Spiritual Warrior, as described in the Navajo tradition, a young Warrior prepares for adult life by harnessing the fierce power of the “Thunderers.” The Thunderers are spirit guides that represent the many forms of intensity that are part of the young Warrior’s life. But as many Navajo stories reflect, this Thunder-energy can be misused as well, causing harm to the Warrior and his or her entire tribe. When one of us overdoses, or harms ourself or others, everyone is harmed. The stories show that we need to find a balance by harnessing this intensity, this power we have and using it in creative and meaningful ways.
You who choose to travel the sacred path must be willing to journey into your dreams, your mind, your body and soul—to find your true power, your true medicine. You must be willing to journey to places inside and outside yourself to use sacred wisdom. Sacred wisdom is everywhere. To commit to this journey is to discover yourself and to find lasting fulfillment.
“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi
Engari takimano, no aku tupuna;
Te mana, te wehi, te tapu me te ihi,
I heke mai ki ahau, no aku tupuna . . .
My greatness comes not from me alone
It derives from a multitude, from my ancestors;
The authority, the awe, the divine, and the artistry
I inherited these gifts, from my ancestors.”
—TE MAORI ART EXHIBIT, NEW ZEALAND
“Warriorship . . . means having integrity, being brave,
and standing forthrightly but peacefully for all that supports life.”
—STEVEN MCFADDEN, JOURNALIST AND ACTIVIST
The Circle of Life: Mitakuye Oyasin
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”
—JOHN MUIR, NATURALIST
In his young adult years, Jeffrey Miller went in search of himself and of a spiritual path. His parents were concerned when the spiritual longings of their Jewish son, who was raised in a town on Long Island, took him around the world to India. There he found a new sense of belonging. “Among a community of seekers living on Kopan Hill, my questions and search for purpose no longer seemed strange, weird, or out of place. Suddenly I discovered that it wasn’t just me who wanted to find a deeper sense of meaning. My questions were the universal questions asked by generations of seekers—scientists seeking truth, mystics looking for a direct experience of the Divine, the pious seeking God. Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Muslim—it didn’t matter—there was a whole world and an entire lineage of seekers, of whom I was a part. I belonged. At Kopan I discovered that a trail through the spiritual universe had already been blazed” (taken from his bestselling book, Awakening the Buddha Within). Jeffrey is now Lama Surya Das, a much-sought-after Buddhist teacher. In his book he confides how his parents came to accept and be happy for his choices. Just as he found that he belonged to something great, you also belong. Everyone who asks the big questions such as “Why?” or “Who am I?” belongs to all those who seek truth and purpose.
“All things are tied together. When you cut a tree, whose roots connect with everything, you must ask its forgive-ness or a star will fall out of the sky.”
—LACANDON (MAYAN
INDIAN) PROVERB
Mitakuye Oyasin is a Lakota slogan that translates into “all my relations.” The Lakota are a Native American tribe that is also known as the Oglala Sioux, of which the great Oglala holy man Black Elk was a member. The words ex-press the Lakota belief that everything and everyone is connected. We are all related to each other, as well as to the animals and plants who share this planet. This is a principle that we find in ancient traditions: Each of us has a sacred and valued place in the circle of life. This wisdom is important throughout our lives, and it can protect and guide you on your journey through the Thundering Years. When everything else is confusing and chaotic, or you are getting too much input from others, you can rely on this truth: Remember you are part of something great. Such wisdom can, and will, get you through the most difficult times. When you are in trouble, you can return to the voices of the ancient ones and the Wisdomkeepers who have gone before and made it through great difficulties of their own.
“This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. All things are bound together.”
—CHIEF SEATTLE,
OF THE
SUQUAMISH INDIANS
Tapping In to Sacred Wisdom
Sacred wisdom is a power we can tap in to at anytime. Such wisdom gives us the strength and insight to be brave—to take risks, and to help ourselves and others. This journey of the Warrior is about finding and knowing our place in this great circle. There is such strength and happiness when we find the way to know ourselves and to BE ourselves.
Here is a simple meditation that empowers you with this wisdom. It takes about ten minutes. All traditions that use such a practice, such as Native American, Tibetan, and Christian mysticism (to name a few), know that we gain substantial benefits by invoking the help of Wisdomkeepers. Such meditations are offered on the belief that when you invoke help, you will get it. What spiritual person, along with their wisdom and medicine, do you want to invite into your life right now? Consider this before you begin the meditation. They can be alive or dead. Does Gandhi appeal to you? Or perhaps Martin Luther King or Padmasambhava, the Buddha of Compassion, would be of help to you right now. Or it could be someone alive such as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. There are many deities and Wisdomkeepers you can choose from, depending on what “medicine” you want to call forth: the courage of Black Elk, the love of Jesus Christ, the compassion of the Blessed Mary or Padmasambhava, the hope of White Buffalo Calf Woman, the power of Mother Earth, or the warrior energy of the Buddha. Once you have decided who you will be calling on, go ahead and begin the meditation.
Find a room or place outdoors where you can be alone, undisturbed, for ten minutes. Sit down in a chair or on a mat or cushion on the floor or ground. Gently close your eyes. Let yourself settle into your body. Sit comfortably, yet alert. For a moment listen to your breathing. Feel the breath move through your body, making your stomach rise and fall. . . . Then begin to imagine in front of you the Wisdomkeeper of your choosing. . . . Invite this being to sit in front of you. Believe that your simple invitation is enough to have the spirit of this great teacher show up for you. Then, imagine this being sending you a ray of love and light from his or her heart into your heart. Let this light and love fill your entire body, filling every cell, every molecule, and every atom. Then silently ask this being to fill you with wisdom and courage. Allow this courage to become your courage and this wisdom to become your wisdom. This is why your chosen Wisdomkeeper walked the great path of the Spiritual Warrior, to help you now. Imagine yourself being infused with wisdom and courage. Then sit quietly, breathing softly, filled with the love, strength, and wisdom of this teacher. . . . Before opening your eyes, thank this teacher for being with you. Gradually open your eyes, and notice for a moment how you feel.
Also helpful is to find some written teachings by a Wisdomkeeper and read a few lines or paragraphs before beginning each day. When you read such a text, it sticks in your mind and influences your entire day in a good way.
These Wisdomkeepers are waiting for us to practice their wisdom, to borrow from their courage and strength, to learn from their mistakes. The Wisdomkeepers before us, and living today, know that each of us has the ability to accomplish great things in life. They know, through experience, the many obstacles and difficulties there can be on the way to a full adult life. They want you to know that there is no obstacle great enough to stop you from living a full and creative life.
“The human potential for intelligence and dignity is attuned to experiencing the brilliance of the bright blue sky, the freshness of green fields, and the beauty of the trees and mountains. We have an actual connection to reality that can wake us up and make us feel basically, fundamentally good.”
—CHÖGYAM
TRUNGPA,
TIBETAN LAMA,
FROM SHAMBHALA:
THE SACRED PATH OF
THE WARRIOR
Giving Up the Lie of Your Insignificance
“Taking your journey requires you to leave behind the illusion of your insignificance.”
—CAROL S. PEARSON, AUTHOR OF THE LESSON
The sad truth is that many people today have lost touch with sacred wisdom and have given up on themselves and others. Sometimes to find wisdom we need to stop believing in a lie. Often, a lie is a belief that once may have had value but has outlived its usefulness and truthfulness. Examples of such out-dated beliefs include “young women shouldn’t go to college,” “men don’t have feelings,” “women are too sensitive,” “men should never be nurses or stay at home with the children,” or “cigarettes aren’t addictive.” Lies are heavy bag-gage for the soul. It is as if you are putting heavy garbage in your medicine bags and lugging it everywhere you go. You get weighted down, and discouraged. Lies are a coverup for the truth. They claim to be the way things are, when in reality they are untrue. Men do have feelings and cigarettes are addictive. Like a mirage, lies appear to be one thing when in reality they are something altogether different. Cigarettes used to be advertised as benefiting one’s health! Studies now show that “sensitivity” in a woman is part of her intuitive nature—not a flaw.
“Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable.”
—BRENDA UELAND,
AUTHOR OF IF YOU
WANT TO WRITE
Lies restrict us. Lies “convince” us to believe something that ultimately can harm us. Living a lie, such as “I can never disagree with my parents,” can hold us back. Has anyone ever lied to you, for example, by telling you “this won’t hurt,” or “it doesn’t matter,” when in fact it did hurt you, or it did matter? When we live by such lies, we have to generate a lot of energy to keep them from being discovered as a lie. That’s why there are often secrets protecting lies from getting out. The cigarette companies put a lot of advertising into trying to convince us that smoking has its benefits! Alcohol and beer advertisements try to do the same—convince you that you won’t have as much fun (or friends!) if you don’t include their drink at your parties. When we are addicted to something we typically lie to ourselves about the problem: “Oh, I can stop when I want,” or “I just do it on weekends.”
Warriors work at seeing through lies and help bring out the truth for every-one to see. A Warrior in Tibetan culture, a pawo, is considered a person who is courageous enough to be authentic and honest. Pawos challenge themselves to be genuine in this world that often fights against such honesty. It takes a belief in oneself, along with intense courage, to bring truth and genuineness into our daily lives. Spiritual Warriors have an urge to expose the lies that are around them, which threatens those who are invested in the lie. From the view at the top of the mountain, you can see through the lies.
There is one lie that we all need to break free of, to take the path of the Warrior, and to move into our adult years with all of our Thunder-energy intact. It’s The Big Lie. This lie convinces us that we are basically bad, weak, power-less, or insignificant. It tells us that we don’t have any sacred “medicine” within ourselves. Those who believe in this lie let obstacles such as poverty, illness, bad weather, bad schools, abusive parents, negative (false) labels, social back-ground, drug and alcohol addiction, or a disability stop us from setting goals and making dreams come true.
“The teachers at school worry about me because I enjoy the villains in Star Wars. And that’s because they’re so INTERESTING. I can spend hours coming up with new and exciting villain characters. So this means I’m dangerous? Is Stephen King dangerous because he’s so good at writing dark tales? My ‘dream’ doesn’t fit in to what others appreciate—so I am labeled bad news.”
—CRAIG, AGE 16
The Big Lie may tell us that we might as well give up making a better life for ourselves. It may lead us to believe that we don’t have choices, that life is basically a series of painful circumstances. For example, this lie tells us that if we are born poor, poor we will remain. That if our parents mistreat us, we will go on to mistreat others because this is what we were taught. This lie will convince us to give up on our dreams! It deceives us into believing that if we have a disability we cannot set our goals as high as others. It tells us we cannot get ourselves out of a harmful relationship. This lie suggests that we cannot make different choices from our parents. Don’t be cheated and belittled by this lie.
“The greatest thing a man [or woman] can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other.”
—ORISON SWETT
MARDEN, FOUNDER OF
SUCCESS MAGAZINE
“Whoever you are whatever you are start with that, whether salt of the earth or only white sugar.”
ALICE WALKER,
AFRICAN AMERICAN
WRITER, AUTHOR OF
THE COLOR PURPLE
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, he said.
They came.
He pushed them . . . and they flew.”
—GUILLAUME
APOLLINAIRE, POET
In truth, we have the power to change or re-create our lives at any time. We are not victims of our situation—we can choose to respond to life’s circum-stances in a variety of ways. As the Revolutionary leader Thomas Paine said, “You have the power to change the world.” And this change begins within ourselves. “We are the change we need.” Even when we are under the control of others, we can make decisions about how we want to deal with this control. We all have choices. You have choices. You can choose how to use your intensity. You have this incredible medicine inside of you that is bigger than all the obstacles placed in front of you. This Thunder-energy can be connected with sacred wisdom to make incredible things happen for you. Only the “lie of your insignificance” (whatever form this lie takes) can keep you from this power.
“My therapist kept telling me to believe that ‘anything is possible.’ But this was so hard for me. So much had gone wrong for me. She said I should just let the idea be with me for a while—that good things can and will happen to me. Her believing this helped. Then, things began to change for me. Once I let the idea in that anything is possible, I started to notice the opportunities that came my way.”
—NINA, AGE 18
Too many adults live by the lie that we cannot rise above difficulty or trouble. (You probably know a few.) One young person shared how her mother warns her not to dream “too big” because nothing ever really turns out. The mother teases her daughter when she shares her big dreams of becoming a scientist or a writer. Too many young people are inhibited by their parents’ fears.
“I want to fly helicopters. It seems impossible to my mother, and maybe she’s right. What’s the point? My parents think I can ‘do something better.’ Like what? They want me to get a master’s degree in SOMETHING. Why can’t they just leave me alone? It gets to the point I just want everyone to leave me alone.”
—JON, AGE 18
Our dreams develop during our Thundering Years. Never be talked out of your own dream. You don’t have to believe the lie that you are “stuck with” a certain situation, relationship, or life. You can use your intensity, and your life energy, your medicine, to create your own life’s path—a spiritual path guided by the ancient wisdom handed down to help us. A path that leads you to an adult life full of opportunity, creativity, and companionship. Whatever you do, don’t listen to others’ fears and doubts about your abilities to fulfill your dreams. Find those who support your dreams. Believe in yourself enough to follow your dreams and ideals, regardless of limitations and doubts. All dreams, small and large, are worth consideration and respect. Sometimes the simplest idea be-comes the greatest invention. It doesn’t have to be something big to be great. All dreams are great. Believing in your dreams gives them incredible power. When you believe in your dreams, your life begins to open up in ways you or others may have thought impossible. When one of us rises above our limited or negative circumstance we offer an example to all others that come in contact with us. This is a great achievement. This is part of being a Spiritual Warrior.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.”
—RALPH WALDO EMERSON,
AMERICAN ESSAYIST , POET, AND SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHER
“Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, ‘grow, grow.’”
—THE TALMUD,
JEWISH SPIRITUAL
TEACHINGS AND LAWS
Walking the Path
Before going on, consider the following questions and exercises. These questions will help you to get in touch with your Thunder-energy, making it more real for you. You may want to write your responses down in a personal journal so that you can reflect on them later. There is a lot of power in considering our lives and our choices, so a Warrior’s way includes reflection. The power in reflection comes from our ability to be in the driver’s seat of our lives, rather than being pulled around by circumstances. Reflection gives us insight and the time to make good choices. Most people who lose control of their lives don’t stop and reflect.
- What beliefs may your family or community be living by that may no longer be useful or true for you?
- What beliefs are you likely challenging with your Thunder-energy/dreams?
- Are you being discouraged from thinking for yourself? In what way?
- Are you being told something that doesn’t feel right? What?
- Do your parents/friends/siblings abuse drugs or alcohol, or gamble too often? How does this affect you?
- Is someone you know hurtful with their sarcasm?
- What secrets are you keeping that may be covering up a lie?
- Do you feel insignificant in any way?
- Do you feel anxious a great deal of the time? Do you worry a lot? What about?
- What would make you most happy right now?
- Do you feel limited by your life situation?
- What do your parents fear? How does this affect you?
- What do you know of your parents’ dreams for themselves? For you?
- Have someone else’s fears gotten in the way of something you wanted to try?
- Can you find others that will support your dreams and goals? Make a list of them. Have you made contact with them lately?
“Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life.”
—HERBERT OTTO,
AUTHOR OF
EXPLORATIONS IN
HUMAN POTENTIALITIES
“Some candles burn themselves and one another up,
Others taste like a surprise of roses in a room and you just a stranger who wandered in.”
—RUMI, SUFI
MYSTIC AND POET
Now write your thoughts and responses in your journal or simply take the time to reflect on your responses to the questions. Notice what feelings and concerns come up while you consider these questions. Do you find that there are reasons for you to take the journey of the Warrior? If you uncovered a lot of lies, sadness, or obstacles while reading the questions, you may have personal reasons to consider the wisdom contained in this book.
“I just need some other possibilities besides the same old shit from teachers and my parents. It’s not that it’s all bad, it’s just not for me. I’m wanting MORE, even though I admit I’m not sure what the ‘more’ is. I believe I’m supposed to follow this feeling to its conclusion; I just want to see what’s out there.”
—DREW, AGE 20
Ideally, our lives are a balance of using the wisdom we have inherited from the past and the wisdom of the present.
Indigenous cultures and ancient wisdom can give us guidance to help us use our Thunder-energy to make our dreams more real. One ritual that has been a powerful aid is making a medicine bag. Many indigenous and native cultures believe that we all hold an “original” and unique “medicine.” To express this unique medicine, Native Americans, Celtic Warriors, and members of indigenous African tribes, among others, carry pouches or bags that contain symbols of power; symbols that represent their medicine.
A medicine bag is something physical and “real” to hold on to as we undertake our life’s journey. You can make a medicine bag for yourself or buy one already made to hold objects that symbolize what you want to bring into your life as you journey into the adult years. You can collect pictures, rocks, words, quotes, herbs, dreams, favorite items, poetry, and/or prayers to put into it.
You can wear your medicine bag around your neck, keeping it close to your heart (or heart center), or you can place it on a private altar or in some other sacred place that is yours alone. Look into it when you need reminding of who you are and what you’re becoming. Add to it along the way. Take out things that no longer feel right to you. Hold onto it when you’re afraid. The medicine bag and its contents become symbolic of that part of you that no one can steal or destroy.
“Every child is born a genius.”
—ALBERT EINSTEIN,
PHYSICIST
“Pray to understand what man has forgotten.”
—PROVERB, LUMBEE
TRIBE, NORTH
CAROLINA
How to Make a Medicine Bag
- Find a piece of material that has value to you. It can have meaning because of its appearance or history. The material can be leather, velvet, cotton, or silk; whatever appeals to you. Leather and velvet work well because the ends don’t fray after they are cut.
- Cut out a circle (it doesn’t have to be perfectly round) the full width of your hand, or a small dessert plate.
- Punch a circle of holes about a quarter inch away from the edges and a quarter inch apart from each other. You can use a paper or leather hole puncher (depending on thickness of material), or you can use an ice pick to punch the holes in the fabric. When using an ice pick, place a wooden cutting board beneath the fabric and punch down through the fabric. The holes you punch need to be large enough to string something through the material to close the bag.
- Take a piece of rope, leather, hemp, or string of beads, about the length of a shoelace (24 to 30 inches), and lace it through the holes.
- Fill the bag with the power objects of your choice—artwork, poetry, quotes, favorite objects, stones or rocks, dried flowers, photographs—anything that has special meaning for you.
- Pull the string through until the ends meet and you can tie them, gathering the leather or fabric together. You can wrap some of the rope or string of beads just below the top of the gathering to close the pouch, or simply tie the two ends together. You can use the excess string to tie the bag around your neck if you like.
It is not necessary to punch holes and string your bag to keep it closed. You can simply gather your material into a pouch shape in one hand and loop some string or beads around the neck of the bag to keep your “medicine” from falling out.
Books, Resources, and Wisdomkeepers Related to This Chapter
The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer and Visionary, by Angeles Arrien, Ph.D. (HarperSanFrancisco, 1993). A great additon to The Thundering Years, focusing on specific paths and exercises. Takes from a variety of Eastern and Western traditions.
The Gift: Poems by HAFIZ, translated by Daniel Ladisky (Penguin, 1999). A wonderful book of poems that support the spiritual journey.
The Kingfisher Book of Religions: Festivals, Ceremonies, and Beliefs from around the World, by Trevor Barnes (Kingfisher, 1999). Offers simple descriptions and pictures of the major world religions.
The Nag Hammadi Library, edited by James M. Robinson (HarperSanFrancisco, 1990). A must-have for any Spiritual Warrior. A collection of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including The Gospel according to Thomas.
Navajo & Tibetan Sacred Wisdom: The Circle of the Spirit, by Peter Gold (Inner Traditions, 1994). A great resource for those who want to go further into the two great spiritual traditions of the Navajo and Tibetans.
Yoga Journal, a monthly magazine that goes beyond yoga and offers excellent articles on physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. To subscribe call 1-800-600-YOGA.
Zen Soup: Tasty Morsels of Wisdom from Great Minds East and West, by Laurence G. Boldt (Penguin, 1997). Thoughts and quotes from Wisdomkeepers that will inspire you.
Online Resources
The Dharma Dance Bistro
This site strives to help us connect with Spirit and nature through rhythmic drumming, dancing, and ritual in order to attain both personal and communal healing. The colorful background and graphics lead us through wonderful thoughts on the healing power of the ecstatic spirit. A very useful link page is included.
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies
This site offers many resources and links regarding shamanism and Spiritual Warriorship in various world cultures. This is also the site of Michael Harner, author of The Way of the Shaman (HarperSanFrancisco, 1980).
Path of the Feather
A guide to one’s personal journey of transformation and healing through shamanic journey, medicine wheels, spirit animals, and wisdom from the ancient ones. Contains numerous links to other interesting pages related to this one.
Spiritual Network
www.spiritualnetwork.net/native
This site contains lots of information on various topics with links to sections called the Rainbow Tribe; Sacred Earth Sites; the Medicine Wheel; Animal Totems; and Wisdom, Prophecies, Shamans. Many links to other useful sites are also included on this network. It is a site worth checking out.
“When I was seventeen years of age I had the small pox. I was left alone in a lodge, helpless, weak, and my eyes nearly closed. A bear came in and walked up to where I was lying. He sat down with his back pressed against me, and began to scratch his breast with his fore paws. By and by he got up and walked out of the lodge. Was I dreaming or had it really happened? While I was thinking it over the bear returned and, while I trembled for fear, went through the same motions again, and then went off, leaving me unharmed. I thought surely the bear has had mercy on me. When my father came again we talked it over and agreed that the bear had pitied me. After that I worshipped the bear, and in the dance I wore anklets of bear’s teeth.”
—POOR WOLF (GROS VENTRE),
FROM NEWS OF THE UNIVERSE:
POEMS OF TWOFOLD CONSCIOUSNESS
BY ROBERT BLY