You might be asking yourself “How is it possible that a “primitive” ceremony could possibly help the modern world.
The answer it this, the indigenous perspective is based on survival and how people relate to the Earth. Because they recognize that their life depends on a number of essential factors (connections) – they hold these to be sacred components of life.
The first sacred connection: How do you relate to the natural world?
The second sacred connection: How are you in relation to yourself?
The third sacred connection: How do you relate to your fellow human beings?
These are the three points of connection that indigenous life styles and philosophies continually reinforce. The natural mind recognizes that we have to consider these three factors every time a decision is to be made. Decisions that are healthy will positively reinforce these connections; decisions that are unhealthy will weaken the connections.
What I witness on a continual basis in the modern world are individuals and groups making decisions that are dis-connective. Dis-connective patterns quickly lead to dis-ease, which if not resolved will eventually lead to disease. Many people in this modern life are living in a perpetual state of dis-ease. We are all familiar with this state of being. It has become the norm in so many ways. The modern world makes it easy to disconnect. Dis-ease is now considered a standard part of life. Tension and stress is perceived as a normal state of being.
This internal tension is forcing us to become aware of our past – of how we got to this place of conflict with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. We often find ourselves searching for the wisdom of ancient indigenous peoples. Through this search we are brought back to the transformative healing connection power of indigenous ceremony.
Advanced Connection Practices
Passed down for generations of indigenous healers, these transformative and re-connective techniques have remained in hiding until recently. From the Native American traditions the universal ceremonies have been re-introduced to the modern world. The ceremonies of sweat lodge, vision quest, sacred drum, and sacred pipe have been taught to select individuals of the modern society to help bring these transformative ceremonies out to the modern people. These are the 4 universal gifts to all of humanity.
Sweat Lodge – Purification Rite through the power of the elements
Vision Quest – Connection Practice of deep immersion and isolation in nature
Sacred Drum – The heartbeat of the earth and the unity of community
Sacred Pipe – The tool of connection to creation, self, others, and spirit
These ceremonies, what I call the Advanced Connection Practices, are returning to the people of the world. As the patterns of trauma and disconnection are revealed we finally have the opportunity to transform and become healthy once more. We CAN have fulfilling lives of connection and love! We can heal the grief of the past and move towards a bright future of love, peace, and purpose.
By Salvatore Gencarelle
Salvatore has been through an intensive mentoring period with a Native American healer that required both dedication and sacrifice for 17 years as a ceremonial guide, creator, singer, and mentor, under the direct supervision. It was through this process he earned the responsibility to pass these teachings on. Salvatore is also an artist, photographer, freelance writer, a musician, and a former Paramedic. He is a healer working with both Native American traditions and those of the modern world.
Sal is the author of a book on his experiences entitled A Man Among the Helpers and has worked with 8 Shields for the past five years bringing his skills, experience and expertise as a teacher and mentor in advanced connection practices through the Leadership Initiation Project.
Sal will be visiting the UK this Autumn and will be offering workshops and talks in East Sussex, Devon, Glastonbury and Scotland. To find out more and to read details of our Transformative Learning training commencing in 2016, please click here.