greetings from the arizona desert, USA

[WineHippie]

i am grateful that i found this site and thank you for allowing me to post ...
***
there is so much info i have read in my short time here which inspires me
to reply, i will pick and choose carefully ... what interests me particularly
is your method of discussion/research as opposed to ranting/egos ...
***
on my path, i have done much reading and have tried to develop my skill of discernment ...
i admit that i have been naive and gullible in my quest, yet that is a result
of being an optimistic/hopeful/curious person ...
***
i also make my self ready to alter/evolve opinions when new info comes to light,
and i play my own "devil's advocate", trying to find as many versions of a story
as i can for contrast & comparison ... i rely more on my intuition than on my mind ...
***
i have already referenced this site on another forum in which i post frequently,
specifically the thread re: little grandmother where i found connection to drunvalo m
and received validation of my own personal conclusions regarding their activities
and info - you folks did the research and i appreciate that
***
i sincerely hope that i can learn in this place and that i may be able to offer
something in return
***
see you around the campus ...

[WineHippie]

well, a couple days and 45 views and not one person
says hello, welcome, boo or anything ...
i get the message, though, and will exit gracefully ...
carry on

[mekwan]

Hello 

[critter - a white non-ndn person]

Hi. 

Hope you stick around and add in where you can! 

[wolfhawaii]

welcome committee was out for a long lunch...sometimes people need a little time to reflect and decide if they want to say something or not....your screen name may have given some here pause for thought, sure did for me. Howdy!

[AlaskaGrl]

Ah clear Arizona skies...  Hello from the bottom
of the atmosphere - S Florida. 

[Saga]

I was just too lazy to log in when I saw this and then forgot, lol.

Welcome from another "newbie". :p

[earthw7]

ya welcome

[WineHippie]

thanks for saying something, folks ...
it's just that there i no point in continuing as an invisible, unheard person ...
***
plus, i was feeling quite guilty in regard to "appropriating" native ways
and being a white woman who knows nothing genuine about those
ways -
***
shook me up a bit, cuz i always thought i was so smart ...
***
my heart is in the right place, and i never intended to be racist, but now
i see how it could be taken that way -
***
i am humbled and a bit disappointed in my self but all i can do is try and do better ...

[WineHippie]

your screen name may have given some here pause for thought, sure did for me. Howdy!

gee, this never crossed my mind ... i could have chosen a new
name for this forum, but i have been using this one for years
so i registered with it cuz it felt more authentic ...
***
years ago, i chose the screenname to describe my self ...
over 30 years in napa valley, i became a wine lover ...
that, and my roots as a flowerchild in san francisco circa
1969 - we didn't call ourselves "hippies" (the media did
that), but instead preferred the term "freaks" ...
***
yes, i moved from sex, drugs & rock'n'roll through what you
term as "nuage" and i do not apologize for searching
***
we can go deeper if you like, i mean, i have read comments
posted in some threads which express dismay/disbelief
at the manner in which some people can "fall for this stuff"
and if you really wanna know, maybe i can shed some light ....

[critter - a white non-ndn person]

my experience is that most people here are focused on the aim of the forum. not saying
people here are not friendly, just it's a different kind of forum than most.

i think, a person who sees their error and corrects it is a good person. live n learn..

thanks for saying something, folks ...
it's just that there i no point in continuing as an invisible, unheard person ...
***
plus, i was feeling quite guilty in regard to "appropriating" native ways
and being a white woman who knows nothing genuine about those
ways -
***
shook me up a bit, cuz i always thought i was so smart ...
***
my heart is in the right place, and i never intended to be racist, but now
i see how it could be taken that way -
***
i am humbled and a bit disappointed in my self but all i can do is try and do better ...

[kiya]

Hi Winehippie,

I just joined yesterday.  I hope you can understand that many ndn's esp reservation skins can be hard when it comes to this stuff... don't take it personally...it is many years of our faith and ways being stolen from us...then finally in the 70's being given the right to pray our way then the white frauds think it is thier right to steal it back from us...or worse, to pick n choose pieces of our ways to intermix with celtic and new age ideas then pawn them off as Native when it is fashionable to do so.  My grandmother is furious that I am praying the native way and refuses to discuss her father or tribe...thank goodness thru my father's side of the family I was able to connect to my Ute heritage.     

The best thing I can tell you is if you feel drawn to the native way to pray...go to the reservation, go to powwows, read books by registered, known, native elders, go to the local indian center and volunteer. 

But the best thing you can do when you are around natives is to be humble...be silent...listen, watch and learn.  Don't talk about all of your experiences...tell them you are grateful to be there and to learn...acknowledge you know nothing...that is all the native way.   When one is around elders and is babbling...the elders will sit back and say nothing.  They will never challenge you or tell you you are wrong in your beliefs...that is a REAL ELDER.   These charletons will get mad or challenge your beliefs.

When I began learning I always imagined myself as a lil child...I wanted to emulate, copy those around me...I found with a humble attitude and a gentle spirit I was welcomed warmly. 

One other thing since you are in AZ... the So. Ute tribe has the bear dance every spring.  I will be there.  It is so much fun and they are so grateful for new people coming!  But do beware..most ndns are very put off by hippies...for the reasons that have been presented here!  I am glad you are here!

Toksa, Kiya