These past few weeks I have been watching, listening and absorbing all that is happening in our world. I never want to be just another voice shouting an opinion into the ether. There is plenty of that already – and rightfully so. Throughout human history, seasons of change have almost never happened without a roar. Change seems to always come with civil and societal unrest. But in times like these, the constant chaotic onslaught can drown out the still small voice of reason, decency, clarity and wisdom. And we all need that voice now more than ever. Thus, I have sought the silence, waiting for the heart of things to be revealed, that I might be able to articulate my thoughts about things in a good way that makes a positive difference.
 
Current events have revealed something very telling about us collectively. We are struggling with our ability to feel empathy for those we are at odds with. We are having difficulty finding ways to really listen to each other. And most troubling of all, some have taken the dog whistles of racism, conspiracy and authoritarianism as a green light to publicly express their worst impulses. Whether it is the global pandemic, the social unrest about policing and race in America, or the current political climate, I see a common thread in our collective behavior in all these areas. There seems to be a tendency for many of us to go into our selective corners and barricade ourselves in. We make a snap decision about a given issue and wall ourselves off to hearing another perspective. The distance between us creates a chasm that divides and causes us to feel angry and shout at each other because we don’t feel heard.
 
In regards to the pandemic, admittedly, the information about it has been somewhat confusing. This confusion has created a breeding ground for the spreading of false or distorted stories, some of which have devolved into full blown conspiracy theories. I won’t entertain those here. The point of this writing is to illustrate that when we decide too quickly on any given issue based on limited information, we risk closing our ears to a broader perspective, and can become unable to hear anything that doesn’t fit our narrow view, thus stymieing our ability to learn, comprehend and understand. The result is we find ourselves arguing about details and missing the big picture. At the end of the day, there is a global pandemic happening. It is real. It has killed nearly half a million people. It can kill you or someone you love. It can kill your neighbor. Whether we know someone who has had Covid-19 or not (I do) shouldn’t determine how ‘real’ we believe it is. And it should also not cause us to forego our basic human decency, compassion and care for others where public health guidelines are concerned. It’s really that simple. Love your neighbor enough to shake off those selfish impulses and endure a few small inconveniences for the greater good. Remember, this too shall pass.

Where the issue of policing and race is concerned, I have a lot on my mind. I have seen a lot of posts on social media making the point that most police officers are good, and do their very difficult jobs with honor and integrity. And this is true. But it’s not the point here. And to try and make that the point is actually part of the problem. The point is that black and brown people keep getting killed by police at far higher rates than their white counterparts, but their cries for help have fallen on deaf ears for far too long. This is what we need to be looking at. Not whether or not most cops are good. We already know that. Most are good. That is not the issue. The issue is a deeply flawed policing system that allows for bad cops to keep killing black and brown people with impunity. That is what we need to be focused on. That’s what ‘Black Lives Matter’ is about. It simply means, ‘I am black, and my life matters as much as yours. So please stop the police from killing us just because we are black.’ That’s all it means. What is so hard to understand about that? Sometimes I see well meaning people respond to ‘Black Lives Matter’ by saying ‘All Lives Matter’. Again, this is not the point. Of course all lives matter. But it is not all lives that have been under constant generational assault by police and vigilantes, it is black and brown lives. To say ‘All Lives Matter’, ‘Blue Lives Matter’, ‘Defend the Police’, or other versions of rebuttal to 'Black Lives Matter' is tone deaf and frankly, insensitive to the very real issues that 'BLM' is trying to call our attention to. And one more thing; if we are pointing at the property damage and looting that occurred during the mostly peaceful nationwide protests, we are again arguing over details and missing the point.
 
The senseless, heartless killing of George Floyd by a veteran police officer evoked global protests and outrage not because it was the first time we had ever seen something like that. On the contrary, the outrage poured out because horrendous acts like this have happened so many times before, and almost nothing has ever been done. This kind of thing has been going on for generations. The killing of George Floyd is just the most recent display of overwhelming violence against black and brown people at the hands of police. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The time to change the way policing is done in America is long overdue. The system that funds, hires, trains, equips, and evaluates police officers needs a total overhaul. The policing system is struggling with two things: endemic racial bias, and an authoritarian warrior culture. These are very real problems that we need to fix. And we will only fix them if we apply our better angels and exercise our compassion. So let us come out of our corners and listen to each other. Yes, black lives DO matter. And yes, most police officers ARE good. Both of those things are true. What is also true is that American society as a whole is still infected with a racial bias toward black and brown folks. Too often they are seen as inherently bad. Just look at the movies. How often are the bad guys black or brown? Pay attention and you will be stunned by what you learn. It is true as well that policing is a hard job with a lot of risk. It is high pressure and very stressful. But we must get past this false narrative in our system of policing and our society as a whole that black and brown people are inherently bad. We must permanently put an end to racism and racial bias once and for all. So let’s put down our preconceived notions, try to see each other as human beings, use our compassion and apply our empathy, that we might find our way to the light of equality, fairness and basic human decency as we strive to solve this problem and heal the festering wound of racism in our nation.
 
In the end, all solutions require us to lay down our egocentricity, lower our voices and turn our ear to one another in the spirit of compassion and understanding. These are troubled times, but they need to be. We have something to learn here. Let us each look within and be honest with ourselves. If we see something that needs to change, may we find the courage to do so, for ourselves and for the greater good of all.

Friends and relatives,
 As I sit here in my quiet Ozark Mountain forest home, looking out the window at the budding trees, fluttering birds, blue sky and sunshine, the harsh reality of the global pandemic we are in the midst of seems far away. From my earliest years I have felt most content in the solitude of the natural world. The pines whisper their secrets as the winds blow softly upon them, and I am grounded and connected to their silent strength. In all my conversations about this pandemic with my Oglala relatives there is a common theme: what feels like a disruptive ‘new normal’ for so many is not disruptive or new for us at all. We don’t need to learn to be still, because we always have been. We don’t need to learn to make do with less, because we always have. And the quiet doesn’t make us stir crazy because we have always welcomed the silence. The slowness of life and absence of possession obsession in Native communities naturally lends itself to a world in which there is time and space for the things that really matter. So much of humanity has lost touch with that, and now it is making us sick.
 
The relentless pace of the modern world has created a performance driven society that leaves little room if any for quiet self contemplation. People have been moving so fast for so long that they have lost touch with who they are at the center of themselves. And being forced to stop can feel very foreign and uncomfortable. But this is a chance for a shift, a moment in which self reflection is finally given the space it has been denied. The speed at which modern life moves has caused too many to be like a rock skipping across the surface of the sacred waters, never knowing the deep mysteries that exist beneath. But now the skipping has stopped, and the rock can no longer just skim the surface. This is the time to seek the depth of what lies within. To turn our ear to those whispers that are only heard in the silence. And to sink away from the shallow, and into what is real. My friends, this pandemic will have its day, and it will pass. It is not forever. But in this defining moment we have a chance for a great transformative shift. We have a chance to find ourselves again, to reconnect with our Mother Earth, and to finally begin to reestablish our relationship with the natural world we all belong to. Maybe this time can be a reset for human beings. Maybe on the other side of this, we will find we have adjusted our breakneck pace to give ourselves more time to connect, more time to listen, more time to share, and more time to live a life of depth. May we emerge from this global crisis with our eyes wide open, that we may once again see clearly what is truly of value, and what is not. I pray for you all my friends. Be well and safe. And take this time to tune into the small voice that whispers within us all, and draws us back to that sacred place of connection, grounding and peace.

Your friend,
John Two-Hawks

If there is one thing I have learned in my time on this earth, it is that I don’t know everything, and I am not always right. As fervently as I might believe something, experience has taught me that I may not be seeing clearly, or completely, that which I cling to. These experiences have made me more humble, and hopefully wiser. As I contemplate the current state of our national dialogue, the vitriol on social media and our polarized political climate, it occurs to me that we are drifting away from an important facet of our public discourse – critical thinking. The dictionary defines critical thinking as: “the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.” The key to critical thinking is in the word ‘objective’. To be objective requires us to pull our psyche out of the place of emotion and opinion, to take an even view of a given topic. It also demands that we unplug from our unhealthy need to be right, and entertain the possibility that our views may need to be expanded or adjusted. The ebbing away of our penchant for critical thinking concerns me. Bots on social media have exploited this vulnerability to stunning success in influencing us collectively. How does that work exactly? Well, have you ever scrolled your Facebook feed and stopped at a meme or an article that aroused your feelings? What happens too often is that far too many of us share these excitable posts without ever considering where they came from or whether or not they are accurate. False narratives get propagated and great damage is done to our social discourse because arguments are being made from a false premise. So what would solve this? Critical thinking. Taking the time to objectively analyze and evaluate a meme or an article to determine whether it is factual or merely an inflammatory statement meant to gin up an emotional response that goes viral. The problem has been that we often fall prey to our own emotional responses, and give in to our knee jerk reactions. It can be so easy to click ‘share’. Too easy. It takes time to employ critical thinking. Might I suggest a few tools I employ on social media to help me sort out fact from fiction? Here they are: Restraint, Common Sense, Detachment, and Snopes. So, here’s how it works. An excitable post appears on my wall. Before I do anything, I look for the source. I refrain from engaging with it. If it seems too sensationalized or far fetched, I investigate. If it is a quote attributed to some well known person, I will do a Google search to see if that person actually said those words. SPOILER ALERT: Most of the meme quotes I look into are falsely attributed the person whose name is used to bolster the quote. If the post appears to be a news article, I look at the source. If the name of the news source is unknown or looks fishy, I will go to Snopes, and search the headline. Again, you would be amazed at how many so called news story posts are completely fabricated. Why are they doing this? Because they see a weakness in our increasing inability to use critical thinking, and they have exploited our emotional responses to cause division and polarization between us. We need to stop playing their game. I have a lot of great friends. There is not a single one of them I agree on everything with. But they are still my friends. We need to start thinking again. We need to get back to what it means to have a healthy, respectful discourse about important issues we see differently. We have gotten so accustomed to shouting at each other, I fear we have forgotten how important it is to listen. Keywords trigger our anger and render us unable to hear. So let us all make a determined effort to change the way we consume the stuff we see on social media. My method: ignore most of it. If it is inflammatory, don’t like it, don’t reply to it and don’t share it. Because doing so only feeds the discord these nefarious actors are trying to sow among us. Does this mean all our disagreements will magically be resolved if we all stop being played by social media bots? Of course not. But maybe, just maybe, we can get back to discussing and debating our important issues in a way that is more thoughtful, decent, and based in fact. For my part, I welcome a return to a healthy debate, and to critical thinking.

I stood outside tonight and looked up at the stars in the quiet forest of my Ozark Mountain home. As I gazed upward into the night sky, I thought about how small our human disputes are, and how large our global crises are. While we bicker with each other over race, religion and politics, over who’s this and who’s that, the temperature keeps rising and the storms keep getting stronger. Bob Dylan wrote in his song ‘A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall’, “I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world.” I wonder if we are able to hear that roar over the shouting and yelling we unleash on each other.
 
I recently received a slew of nasty attacks online, including threats of violence, after material from a slanderous blog post about me resurfaced. I was actually on Pine Ridge reservation at a Sun Dance, sleeping in my truck at night and singing the sun up every morning with the guys, when the attacks started. It was awful. The vitriol was palpable. The accusations were inflammatory and highly offensive. Not to mention completely ridiculous and fabricated. And it went on for days. Too much time was spent on it. Angry people who don’t know me from Adam trolled my Facebook page and posted snarling, hateful things. I responded privately when I could. Some were kind. Some were not. As I have said many times, it is far too easy to sit behind a screen and hurl insults at people we don’t know. This is the thing I have always disliked the most about social media. It has disconnected us from the cause and effect of human interaction. It doesn’t affect our conscience to hurt another human being when we are not there to see the suffering we cause. This numbing of our human decency is a global phenomenon and a worldwide epidemic problem that poses a great threat to all of humanity.
 
I had originally planned to write this blog in an attempt to defend myself and respond directly to the lies that were being spread about me. I had intended to include some personal and explanatory information, and make my case for why these bad things that were being said were so wrong. But then a few things happened. First, I spoke with several of my closest hunka relatives from Pine Ridge, Rosebud and elsewhere about what was happening, and their encouragement, support and love poured out and consoled me. These beautiful people truly know who I am, and I love them dearly. They know what’s true, and what isn’t. And they all gave me great advice and reassurance. Then, tonight, I went into my studio with a bag of my flutes. I stood there surrounded by the instruments that have been my life for the past 25 years. I could almost feel them reaching to embrace my spirit. Tears came as I thought of all the songs these instruments have sung to hurting people around the world. I quietly whispered a wopila to each of them for the healing they have imparted to others, and to me. And finally, when I walked outside tonight and looked up at the stars, it all became clear. What matters is the big picture, not the ‘me’ stuff. Who cares about the insults strangers hurl, when those who actually know you hear those insults and love you more? And who cares about being lied about, when the only truth that matters is the love you give? And lastly, who cares about all the egocentric, self-centered name calling we human beings engage in, when the ancient stars are looking down upon a world that is in desperate need of healing, reconnection, restoration, balance and love? We all need to stop yelling at each other and pay attention, because a wave may be coming that could drown the whole world.
 
My dad used to say, “Let other people do your talking for you.” That was his way of teaching me not to boast, and not to get too fixated on myself. I thank him for that lesson, which is part of the reason I decided against the original direction for this blog, which would have been way too self focused. And so no, there won’t be any juicy personal information offered here. Besides, most of that stuff has been on my website for the taking for years. Nor will there be any defensive rebuttals in this writing. I have opted to see the big picture instead. In conclusion, I will only offer this; the pathway of my life was not planned or contrived. All of what has become my life experience happened organically and unfolded gradually over time and continues to unfold. My only active part in all of it has been to accept and receive that unfolding, and embrace it. That is all I have ever done; with my identity, my music, my speaking and my writing, is to remain open to what comes, and to learn and grow from it. I don’t push anything. I have always been perfectly okay to wait. I will learn and grow from this hurtful experience too. In fact already have. For starters, I have witnessed firsthand how much stronger love is than hate. And that gives me hope for Mother Earth, and for our future generations around the world.

Demarcation:  “The determining and marking off of the boundaries of something”.  In this image, a woman walks casually over the very place where the infamous Berlin Wall once stood.  As I stand on the vantage point of perspective and cast my eyes upon the history of humanity, I can see clearly that which is at the root of nearly all human strife – demarcation.  It is uniquely human to draw lines, to divide and separate – and to then categorize, marginalize and label.  We have done it forever.  The demarcations we imagine between us have resulted in oppression, slavery, racism, genocide and war.  From ancient times, human beings have suffered with the sickness of demarcation.  From time immemorial we have divided ourselves from one another by race, color, gender, ethnicity, culture, class, and a myriad of other fictional justifications for divisiveness.  What is wrong with us?  When are we going to learn?  When are we going to finally realize that we are in this together, and that we have far more in common with each other than we often realize?  Did you know that 99.9% of all human DNA is identical?  That’s right – we are all 99.9% identical to one another.  What that means is that it is only the .1% of our shared DNA that results in all of our beautiful diversity.  That is a miracle, and it is something we should celebrate each other for – not hate each other for.  It is long past time for humanity to come to terms with itself; to put an end to the sickness of demarcation, and open our hearts and our arms to one another.  Especially to those who we have been fooled into thinking are so vastly different from us; those whose ethnicity or complexion is different from ours – those on the other side of our demarcation, our line, our boundary.  We must learn the power of empathy – to stand in someone else's shoes and feel what they feel – that we may finally see the truth, that we are not so different after all.  That, in the end, when the demarcations we have been duped into believing are erased, we will look over and find a friend, a brother, and a sister on the other side of a once impenetrable wall….

Friends and Relatives,
I will always remember 2017 as a year when the voiceless began to shout, the complacent began to stir, and the downtrodden began to rise.  I will remember 2017 as a catalyst that awakened the light of resistance, that humanity might overcome the darkness of hate, abuse and dishonor that is such a threat to our planet and all who dwell upon her.  I have always believed in the basic decency of most people.  Of course, there are always those troubled or disturbed individuals who can and do inflict damage on others.  And as we enter 2018, human beings are still struggling to turn the corner on race, religious fundamentalism and global consciousness.  And yet, as I look back at this past year and forward to the next, I remain very hopeful and enthusiastically optimistic.  When we tap into our capacity for empathy, when we set aside our differences and really listen to each other, and when we make the earnest effort to educate ourselves about the world we live in, we can rise from the place of ignorance and narrow views and see the bigger picture.  For it is only by reaching out and sharing, that we plant the seeds of understanding.  So my sisters and brothers across Mother Earth, as the sun rises on 2018, let us roll up our sleeves and get busy making our world a better place for all.  Let us judge less and communicate more, react less and act more, and let us find ways to make a difference – however small – in our own communities.  As I participated with the Chief Big Foot Memorial Ride last week, I visited and shook hands with many who were not Lakota or even Native.  And yet they were there nonetheless, making a sacrifice, praying and suffering right alongside us in the brutal cold to pay homage to those 420 Lakota people whose lives were snuffed out by hate, and to heal the resultant historical wound which has festered for 127 years and adversely affected not only our Lakota community, but America as a whole.  These good people – and our total acceptance of them – are a beautiful example of how we heal together.  Let us move into 2018 with that same spirit – a spirit of inclusiveness, open mindedness, sacrifice and activism.  Let us rise together to raise our voice for a world with more wisdom, more honor, more empathy and more love.  Divided, we fall and fail my relatives.  But together, we are unstoppable.  For it is together – and only together – that we rise.  Let’s make 2018 a powerful year for a better world!!

JTH Tour and more

We head to Little Rock for a Wisdom and Music event on January 9th, then the Tour picks back up on January 12th at The Hub on Canal in New Smyrna Beach, FL and will travel across Florida till mid-February.  Check the tour schedule for the Florida events!

The house I lived in from age 9 to 19 was not a happy place.  A lot of terrible things happened to me there.  But hanging on the door of the room where my dad kept his records, instruments and trophies was a humble glimmer of enlightenment.  It was a cheap, small, plastic sign my dad had put there.  I’m not sure where he got it, but I think it came from St. Joseph’s Indian School.  Regardless, it had a Native design on it, and a quote that I grew up reading and ultimately incorporating into the way I now try to live my life.  It read: “INDIAN PRAYER: Grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.”  I acquired one of these little plastic signs myself somewhere along the way, and it now hangs in my house right inside my front door.
 
There are a lot of heated words flying around right now about statues, flags, anthems and patriotism.  And it is tempting to jump into the fray with what, to me, seem like inarguable facts.  But I have quietly watched and listened as others have attempted to articulate these undeniable truths, only to find that their words fall on deaf ears and invoke more emotionally charged, nonsensical rebuttals.  Thus, I have taken time to contemplate and reflect on what the deeper issue is here, and now realize why logical explanation is futile: deep seated prejudice that causes an inability and/or unwillingness to truly listen.  Facts don’t matter when we are angry, and truth is inconsequential when we refuse to consider another perspective than our own.  Those who have little to no personal or ancestral history with oppression can find it difficult to empathize with those who have.  Add a dash of prejudice to that, and it becomes nearly impossible.  One cannot consider the view of a person who belongs to a group they have collectively prejudged with the broad brushstroke of racism and stereotypes, which means any chance for a logical, unbiased dialogue is usually hopeless.  So how do we, as human beings, free ourselves from this quagmire?  The answer is simple, but obviously not easy or we would have already done it.  In the Broadway musical ‘The Will Rogers Follies’, the Cherokee philosopher, writer and entertainer says, “Y’see, an Indian always looks back after he passes something so he can get a view of it from both sides.  A white man don’t do that – he just figures that all sides of a thing are automatically the same.  That’s why you must never judge a man while you’re facing him.  You’ve got to go around behind him like an Indian and look at what he’s looking at.  Then go back and face him and you’ll have a totally different idea of who he is.  You’d be surprised how much easier it is to get along with everybody.”  I beg to differ with Will on one thing.  I believe all people have the ability to look at both sides.  The question is whether we choose to or not.
 
The current rancor over statues and the national anthem is missing the point; or worse, trying to change the subject.  Because the point and the subject has always been about the fact that oppressed, marginalized peoples have been – and are still being – mistreated by mainstream American society.  As I said, the remedy is simple.  It’s called empathy.  It means to feel the pain of another, to listen and hear their truth, and to share and be involved in healing the hurt and brokenness.  In order to do that, it requires us to choose respect over prejudice, inclusion over division, open-mindedness over bigotry, humility over arrogance, truth over propaganda, empathy over apathy, and love over hate.  And yes, those are all things we choose, which means the power rests with each of us.  So take time to reflect before you make that choice.  Because until we stop being distracted by the smoke and mirrors diversion that wants us to argue about statues, flags and anthems, we will never address the very real issue that people from all walks of life are peacefully and legally standing up and taking a knee for – racial injustice in America.  All people, no matter their ethnic background, just want to be heard, included, treated fairly, and understood.  That is definitely not happening right now.  Because it can only happen when America can learn to live by the credo on the humble, plastic sign that hangs by my front door:  “Grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.”

A long time ago, the wisdom of a Lakota Unci (grandmother) was shared with me. It went like this: No matter what you do in this life, no matter where your path takes you, and no matter how short, long or winding your road is, never ever forget to have a good time! The shining sun will always be concealed by the clouds now and then, and the rains will slide away and be replaced once again by the sun. All of life is the same. There is ebb and there is flow. The tide comes in, the tide goes out. There are good days and bad days, times to laugh and times to cry. All of this duality is why we are here. Through it all, we are learning what really matters – and what really doesn’t. Spirit is teaching us how to be at peace, and even smile, when we find ourselves on a small boat with no oars in the midst of a storm.
 

In my new book, Hidden Medicine, I write about the severe abuse I suffered as a child and the journey I took to survive, heal and ultimately rise from the ashes victorious. I did not write this book because I am the only one who has experienced such things. On the contrary, I wrote it because we all have. It took me 30 years to arrive at the place where I could finally tell my story. And those 30 years have given me time to climb the mountain and look back with a heightened perspective on it all. It is that perspective I wanted to share, because it is a key to happiness. It is a road-map for how to be at peace with the ebb and flow – the good and the bad – of this life. There will always be dark days. And sometimes it will seem as if the sun will never shine again. I want to offer you an excerpt from my Hidden Medicine book that says it best:
 
There are moments in this life that test your faith; moments when it seems love has left us and we are alone. Love is like the wind, sometimes it swirls and gusts and you know it is present. But other times it is so still you can barely feel it, and yet it is all around you. We cry out for it and hear nothing, causing us to doubt its presence and question its existence. Love is a mystery. Its purpose is deep, and its vision long. We cannot always comprehend its hidden medicine. Thus, we must quiet our heart and lean in to hear its still, small voice. For just when it feels as if love has abandoned you and all hope is lost, it reveals itself, and you realize love has been with you all along.
 
So remember the wisdom of Lakota grandmothers. Good times and bad times will come. This we can be sure of. And the light always seems brighter after a great darkness. In all things, there is balance. So no matter what – never forget to have a good time. I offer you the lyrics to a Michael Jackson song to sum it up:

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just… smile.

If you haven't gotten my new book yet, I hope you will.  Click/tap the image of the cover below to get it.
It is also available on this site as a downloadable E-Book, on Kindle and on Amazon.

I will be doing author readings and signings of my book on May 7th at Ozark Research Institute in Fayetteville AR, and on May 12 at The Writers Colony in Eureka Springs AR, and at other events and venues in the coming weeks and months. Keep your eye on my Event Schedule and social media.

In Spirit and Friendship,
John Two-Hawks

My friends and relatives.. I have thought long and hard about whether I should say anything about this recent presidential election.  I have always kept my political views private, but after careful consideration, I have decided this moment in our collective history is too important for me to remain silent, and so I offer my thoughts....

Let me begin by stating that I am a political centrist.  I am not a 'D' or an 'R'.  In fact, I have values and views reflected in both, and have always welcomed healthy political discourse.  So this commentary is not a partisan rant, it is simply one man's conclusion....

Although he privately opposed slavery and was the only prominent founding father to arrange in his will for the freeing of all his slaves following his death, President George Washington remained a slave owner his entire life, having received his first 10 slaves as a gift at age 11.  President Abraham Lincoln was responsible for the largest mass execution in U.S. history (38 Dakota Sioux Indian men were all ordered by Lincoln to be hanged on December 26th, 1862).  Two beloved American Presidents, both stained with the blood of the racial prejudice of their time.  Since the words 'all men are created equal' were penned in 1776, wars have been waged, and thousands have suffered and died as this country inched its way forward in its painful struggle to collectively comprehend what was supposed to be a 'self evident' truth.  There is wisdom in those old handwritten words, wisdom that far exceeded the scope of the era in which they were penned. Wisdom that pointed the way to what was morally, ethically and legally right, despite the mindset of the majority at the time they were written.  And despite the fact that there are still people in America today who have yet to learn that all are created equal, the majority now understand that when it comes to equality, there can be no compromise....

My friends, if we put our politics aside and are honest with ourselves for a moment, I think we can all agree that some of the words and deeds of Mr. Trump during his campaign were perceived with giddy enthusiasm by some who espouse bigotry, racism and prejudice.  That enthusiasm emboldened these unsavory sorts to come out of the dark recesses of society and publicly align themselves with this candidate.  It gave them a green light to openly attack those they hate, and I have been shocked, hurt and saddened by what I saw, both at campaign events and online.  And now, post election, I hear well meaning folks saying we should all sing 'Kumbaya' and come together in unity.  I hear some people saying we owe Mr. Trump an open mind.  Well, I have to respectfully disagree on both counts.   I want to make this abundantly clear; no one should ever unify, unite or align themselves with bigotry in any form.  Nor do Americans owe Mr. Trump anything.  On the contrary, he owes America an apology for having inflicted damage on the hardly fought progress that has been made to live up to the wisdom in that credo that says all of us are created equal.  As for me, I have friends who are Black, Brown, Mexican, Immigrants, Muslim, LGBTQ, Female, etc..  I love these people.  So I must kindly ask anyone who is a closet bigot or is prejudiced against any of these groups of human beings.. please refrain from sharing/saying/posting things that are obviously bigoted.  I don't want to see or hear it anymore, as I do not share your prejudice nor do we see the world through the same lens.  And if you are one who thinks most Black people are thugs, most Mexicans are crooks and most Muslims are terrorists.. and you cannot or will not refrain from sharing or speaking these kinds of sentiments, I'm afraid our friendship will suffer greatly, as I am one who strongly espouses that credo that ALL are created equal.  The same goes for anyone who hated President Obama because he was Black or because you thought he was a 'secret Muslim'.  So no, I'm sorry, but I will not be singing 'Kumbaya' or agreeing to align myself in any way to the presidency of a man whose path to the White House was made possible in part by the inciting of bigotry, fear and hate, and whose actions since being inaugurated already pose dangerous threats to Mother Earth and Native people.  I will continue to hope and pray, and to contribute my efforts for a better, kinder, more inclusive world as I always have, but I just cannot and will not espouse or get behind most of what this deeply troubled man and his increasingly questionable administration stand for, so don't ask me to.  For again, when it comes down to these words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...", there can be no compromise.  And anyone who compromises on that indisputable wisdom remains in need of a change of heart....

This photo is a favorite of mine.  I took it while on tour in Ireland.  In the photo are two of my favorite people on this earth.  On the left is Morten Wolf Storeide, who is from Norway.  On the right is Brother Seamus Byrne, who is a monk from Ireland.  They stand at the base of a tower that was built by the Irish monks in ancient times as an escape from the Norse, who would come to kill and destroy them.  To see these two beautiful men – one of Norse heritage and the other of Irish monastic heritage – together as dear friends in this historically painful spot is a testament to the healing that can happen when love and peace reign supreme.  It is easy – perhaps too easy – to look at the global picture and become cynical about the idea of human beings ever living together on this earth in peace.  After all, for thousands of years up to the present we have demonstrated again and again how impossible we can make it to be at peace with each other.  It seems almost an alien concept to us, this ‘peace’ idea.  After all, I don’t think the way you do about lots of things, so how could I possibly live in total peace with you, right?

What is ‘peace’?
Is it the total absence of disagreement?  Is it some kind of utopia in which no one has a differing opinion or an opposing view?  I don’t think it is either of these things.  Peace is a state of existence in which human beings with widely diverse views do not consider the inflicting of physical violence an option for intellectual discourse, period.  Peace is not some gloomy place where people have all had a frontal lobotomy.  Nor is it an idea that only makes sense to hippies and flower children.  My friends and relatives, if humanity does not learn what real peace is, and find a way to it globally, well… I think we all know the answer.

So what will it take?

After countless centuries of war, it will at the very least take plenty of healing, education and enlightenment for humanity to find a worldwide peace.  Or it may very well take a global cataclysmic event large enough to draw all of humanity together.  Climate change would be such a thing.  Regardless of the catalyst, the onus is on us.  Peace will not be achieved by an angry minister shouting that he doesn’t care about offending someone he disagrees with any more than it will be achieved by an angry fundamentalist taking the life of another human being because he disagrees with them.  Both are guilty of hate, and hate is not the way forward for humanity on this earth.  We must learn – or relearn – the meaning of love.  We must learn the power of humility, compassion, empathy and kindness.  These virtues are not the traits of weakness.  They require great strength and wisdom.  This is the way to peace.  Peace is not void of turbulence.  It is the ability to navigate that turbulence with love….

Oh, by the way, Morten Wolf Storeide is the facilitator of The World Drum Project, a global vision that has sent a handmade drum to every continent on earth for people of all walks of life to touch it, play it and pray for world peace and healing.
And Brother Seamus Byrne is a healing music recording artist and spiritual teacher who has traveled the world sharing his message of grace, compassion and love.  Both know the meaning of peace....
 
As always, I continue to pray and work for world peace, and ask you to join your unique and beautiful prayers, positive energy and love with mine....

Click these links for:      John's Music    ~   John's Books

As a new year begins, we look ahead and consider what it may bring.  What does that mean to First Nations people?  What do Indigenous, Native people hope for when considering the future?  Here are some things I feel most American Indian and Indigenous people would agree are the dreams of new beginnings....

A Voice
The other night, Leonardo DiCaprio won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in ‘The Revenant’, a film which has a fair amount of First Nations actors.  At the end of his acceptance speech, he strongly asserted that it is time the world heard the voice of Indigenous people.  I applaud him for making that statement.  For centuries, the Native voice has been twisted and misunderstood, forcibly silenced or utterly ignored by mainstream America and the rest of the western world.  Humanity needed to hear that voice.  It still does.  The damage of the silent Indigenous voice can be seen globally, as the world now wrestles with human-inflicted climate change and an epidemic of dangerous religious extremism.  The wisdom in the old ways of First Nations peoples is needed now more than ever, and that only comes if the world will listen and hear that voice.  Also, if the voice of Native people is truly heard, mainstream society will no longer be able to ignore the continued use of tired, antiquated stereotypes and racially offensive terms and imagery which are in prominent every day use still today.  A new voice for Native people requires those outside of our communities to join their voices with ours to affect positive change of all kinds.

New Direction
There is a new day rising in Native communities across North America.  I see it in my own Lakota community.  There is a new generation of young, Indigenous people who are finding a deep strength in the traditions of their culture, and are passionate about ensuring a positive future for not only Native peoples, but for the planet and the world.  First Nations communities everywhere are turning back to the traditional foods that once nourished a strong and healthy people.  Native communities are looking at alternative energy sources like solar and wind to power the homes of their people.  We have always known the way.  We have just never had a voice.  Part of the reason for that is the perpetuation of false, fantasy type imagery of our people by the mainstream society.  How can you hear the voice of a people and take it seriously when all you know of them is a ridiculous stereotype?  You cannot.  So the new direction for Native people will require a new view of who and what we are (and were) by those outside of our communities.  
 
A New Day
We can, and we must change.  Humanity has no guarantee from the universe that we are to remain.  What Indigenous people around the world have always known is that we are part of the web of life.  We are not above it.  We have always known that what we do to the delicate balance of that web, we do to ourselves.  We must return to that balance.  We must seek the wisdom of old ways for a new day.  Native people have always known the way to a new beginning.  Perhaps the time has finally come for the world to listen....

“What is the meaning of life?”, a question human beings have pondered for centuries. And yet, the answer is surprisingly simple. It’s only the explaining and understanding of that simple answer that can get complicated!  So… is it purpose?  Yes, having a reason for your life does give it meaning.  In our Lakota way, we seek out that purpose through a custom called Hanbleciyapi — the crying for a vision, or vision quest, in which we go up on the mountain alone for several days and nights to ask Spirit to give us a vision for our life.  So purpose is definitely a part of the meaning of life.  But so is laughter!  Yes, I said laughter.  Finding and enjoying things that make you smile and laugh are also necessary to give meaning to our life.

What about service?  Of course!  There is nothing that enriches our lives more than those times when we serve. Whether it be another human being, or just the greater good, when we serve, we find meaning.  We also find meaning through learning and enlightenment.  Spiritual, emotional and intellectual growth help us to see the world and our lives through eyes more open, more illuminated and with more meaning.  And then there is the biggie… love.  Ohhhh yes, experiencing the power of love gives great meaning to our lives in both broad and intimate ways.  But even love is only a part of that simple answer to the question, ‘what is the meaning of life?’.

So, what is it?   What is the answer?!!  My friends, the profoundly simple answer is this: the meaning of life, is to live.  Yes, it is that simple, and yet how many of us do it?  How many of us really live, and live fully?  Having a vision, being enlightened, serving and loving, and experiencing laughter and happiness are the tenets of a life fully lived.  Listen to your inner voice, it will tell you of your purpose, the gifts you have to give.  Take the time to breathe in the beauty of your world, to celebrate its wonder and its mystery.  So live, my friends.  Live fully.  Fully present in all your moments.  Fully alive all of your days.  For when you are fully alive, there is no need to ask, ‘what is the meaning of life?’.

~ John Two-Hawks

The Native flute itself is an instrument that can and does heal.  It is a humble vessel, empty inside, with its ego out of the way, that allows spirit to flow freely through it.  It was born of love, and of a broken and then mended heart.  That power to mend became another of its uses, which continues to this day.  It survived terrible cultural upheaval, and is now experiencing a worldwide renaissance.  And why?  Because the world is hurting and humanity has lost its connection to the earth, to simplicity, humility and wisdom.  The essence of all Native music is its earth connection.  Whether it is a Native flute, a hand drum or a powwow drum, the songs Native people bring forth from these instruments are about connection, honor and spirit.

With ‘Horse Spirit’, the music is weaved into a braid with the stories of the Chief Bigfoot Memorial Ride, the history of the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, and reflections about how we all must address our wounds in order to truly heal them, and that when we do, we restore our health, our purpose and our happiness.  The response to this musical journey has been deeply moving for me.  People are resonating with it, finding inspiration and meaning for their lives.  What an incredible, humbling honor!

Wopila (Great Thanks) to all who have come out to attend my ‘Horse Spirit’ concerts, bought the album, and connected with it’s message.  Together, we ride into the shadows, that we may claim the light....