Received this account of how Bertelstein runs his fraudulent ceremony.
-----------
- Medicine Path holds their Sacred Pipe Ceremony and Healing Ceremony in an upper middle-class home at 3009 Deakin Street, Berkeley, CA 94705. The structure used for the ceremonies is a a geometric dome/building in the backyard.
- Prior to entering the geo-dome, each person is smudged however, the burning of sage is never used to smudge. Palo Santo essential oil is sprayed on the hands. The person claps three times and a smudging feather is used once on the front and once on the back of the person.
- For those of us new to this group, we were told that George Bertelstein is waiting inside and to approach him, shake his hand, and tell him our name. All this was done while George remained seated.
- There was no fire. Instead, many tea candles were lit that provided the only source of light. In the center of the floor was a buffalo skull and other animal skulls. The room was decorated with many things involving what appeared to be Lakota, Catholic, and Peruvian/Amazonian decorations. motifs, and artifacts. A Jar Candle Sagrado Corazon De Jesus and a Jar Candle Virgin Of Guadalupe were lit.
- . Some people began their prayers with "Great Spirit" and others began their prayer with "God" and others began with "Tunkasila." At the end of the prayer, we were told to say "Mitakuye Oyasin."
- The c'anupa was then lit and was passed around the circle for everyone to smoke. George Bertelstein was the last person to smoke the pipe. He then left the ceremony. Jeff Wright then instructed the first person in the circle to go around hugging the next person and the next person, and for the next person standing in the circle to do the same. I never did see George again that night,
- Afterwards, inside the home in the kitchen I asked Jeff my questions about the Healing Ceremony. Jeff told me that San Pedro is used and showed me the cacti growing in potted plants right on the deck of the backyard. He told me that people got well into a paper bag. He told me that hape is used in the ceremony and that George administers it through a tepi. He told me the ceremony begins in the morning and ends at night.
- An email was sent in regard to the Healing Ceremony that read, "The financial contribution for this Ceremony is $250. If you are unable to offer the full amount, you may offer a reduced contribution of $200".
