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....