John, an Oglala Lakota whose ancestral homeland is the Great Plains, is a gentle, spiritual man who walks in the sacred traditions of his people.  He began his musical and spiritual journey at the age of 6.  His voice was his first instrument, and singing remains an incredibly powerful facet in his multidimensional musical compositions.  The acoustic guitar was the next instrument for Two-Hawks, followed by everything from mandolin and piano to drums and mountain dulcimer.  Then came the American Indian cedar flute, the instrument that became his love, his passion, and his eventual trademark.  John says the cedar flute is an ancient instrument that has been a part of many American Indian cultures for thousands of years.  Mastering the cedar flute came easily for Two-Hawks, who makes complex maneuvers on it seem effortless.  John feels the Spirit meant for him to play the cedar flute, and those who have heard or watched him perform emphatically agree.

Although the music is the primary focus, Two-Hawks says “It is the message within and throughout the music that calls the heart to a place of balance and peace.  Our world has become extremely busy, overstressed, and out of balance.  The unspoken message of the ancient cedar flute reaches into the soul and calls us back to a time and place of powerful, simple wisdom and truth, a place where things made more sense and where life was less confusing.  This ancient way holds profound answers for the problems of today’s world, and offers direction and wisdom for all human beings.”  Two-Hawks writes a monthly Circle of Nations newsletter, which goes out via e-mail each month to over 30,000 people worldwide.  It is, and always has been, free.  “It has been my life vision to offer what I can to help bring mending to the sacred hoop of the nations of the world.  We need connection; connection to the earth, and connection to each other.  We need to rediscover the four aspects of ourselves, the spirit, soul, mind and body, and learn of their function and interconnectedness.  When we reach an understanding of this ancient wisdom, we will begin to find balance in this life.  This is where the cedar flute comes in.  In ways that words cannot, the flute can reach into the deep places of our being, and gently heal our spirit.  If we are to ever mend the sacred hoop and experience peace on earth, the healing must first begin within us, one human being at a time.”