Frank Fools Crow & Faith Do you have the faith to move mountains, yet be humble as a stone? Can you call yourself a hollow bone as Fools Crow did, instead of ever calling himself a powerful medicine man? This is the delicate balance of being a medicine person, holy person or shaman. In today’s crazy world of self appointed “masters”, “shaman” and “expert”, it is important to remember these foundational concepts. Let me tell you a story that embodies all this, quoted from the life of Fools Crow: “When the medicine men of the other tribes had finished some of their tricks, a group of Sioux, led by Jim Iron Cloud, took it upon themselves to say that one of their medicine men would perform also, and they volunteered my name. When the announcer made this known, I was surprised, but felt compelled to do something, so as not to have the Sioux lose face. A small tree that had already been used by one of the southwestern medicine men was standing in the middle of the arena. I walked out to it, and having faith but not knowing what would happen, I prayed there with my pipe. As soon as I finished the prayers, little white birds that shone like bright lights swooped down from the sky from the west and passed over the tree. Then they came again from the north, then the east and finally from the south. Finally they settled down on the tree, while the crowd uttered shouts of sheer delight. After a minute or so the birds flew up and away, and something that looked like fire blazed out from the tree without burning it to end the performance. You ask me to explain, especially when I did not know what would happen, how this could be done. I just prayed to Wakan Tanka to bless me and let me enjoy my powers for the sake of the moment. When Chases the Spiders did his magic at Rapid City, he told some of ht epeople there that he needed food, and had been praying all the way over for it, asking God to let him have some fun that day so as to earn what he needed. God honors us in such instances, so long as we do not abuse the privilege.” Fools Crow by Thomas Mails What a beautiful story! Just one of the hundreds of magical things that happened around Fools Crow. He was a great leader of his people and highly respected by all tribal leaders and holy people. I wanted to share that story because it brings up so many points about the traditional Native American ways of the medicine men and women. This perspective is much needed in today’s world, now more than ever. One story embodies so much. Let’s examine some principles. First, Fools Crow himself never ever called himself a medicine man or holy man. Every single person around him did and he was considered one of the greatest medicine men the last 100 years. Even in this event, his ego never ask to perform or to discuss how great he is. His peers choose him and he humbly accepted. So many people today try to call themselves psychics and shamans and masters. These are terms given by the community and not oneself. Certainly not something one puts on a business card! A real medicine person has no card. When we have spent time with Jerome Kills Small, he told a story. Jeromone was the nephew of Fools Crow and lived with him for many years. He did not even know until later in his life that Fools Crow was even a holy person. He only knew he prayed all the time and people were always at the house talking to him! Great humbleness. Second, his humbleness is legendary as his power. He admits he had no idea what would happen. He just had his faith and his humbleness. He always referred to himself only as “a hollow bone”. That is why I say he had true power. Third, Fools Crow also lived the life of a medicine person. He prayed outside in the elements twice a day, no matter what the weather was for most of his entire life. No excuses. He allowed no separation of him from the force. He was also a Heoka, something that Jeromone told me and I never knew. Difficult to describe here, but everytime it stormed, he had to go out and sit facing the storm from when it started to when it stopped, no matter what was going on in his life. This is the commitment one makes “have the power”. Something that is very much lost in today’s world where everyone want to take a weekend class and be a “master” or “certified expert”. Fourth, Fools Crow was very opposed to the use of psychedelic plants. Most traditional medicine people in most tribes have a similar belief, although some southwestern and South American tribes do have this as a vital part of their tradition. There is much culture here and much explanation that I cannot go into here. Although he quietly supported others using them if it was part of their religious practice, he did not advocate them at all and was known for talking about how they were not part of any ancient Sioux tradition. His opinion, like many elders, is “why”? Living the life of a medicine person alone creates visions, insights and amazing spiritual experiences on a daily basis. Why rely on anything else to create an artificial bridge? All of my native teachers were of this same school of thought and were all traditionally trained. I would love to talk to this point much more. With medical marijuana, ayahuasca and peyote gaining so much popularity, I feel many people are getting the wrong message. The media and many are sensationalizing these things or making them seem different from other plants. I cannot personally think of a single medical condition that we don’t have plant just as powerful as marijuana, but reading the news you would think otherwise. Too many people are displacing energy and hopes without understanding the principle. No one ever needs to depend on a plant or mushroom to have visions or mystical experiences. Never under any circumstance. These things are the birthright of every living creature. These can be part of anyone’s daily life, but one has to live their life in a certain way. This is my own personal life experience too. I have never used mind altering plants, but have powerful visions and mystical experiences all the time. Please do not lose the principle. The power is your faith and traditional wisdom, not a mushroom. Yes, these things can cause great visions and insights, but no more powerful that is available to anyone at any time if they are willing to do some work to get there. To me, it is deceptive to make people think taking these psychedelic plants is the only way they can have these experiences. Yes, it is true you might have to do a sweat lodge or vision quest or something similar to receive the vision. I myself have many clients and friends who use these types of other plants. I do not encourage or discourage their use, because I feel everyone has to find their own way. These things can be powerful tools if used in the right way and right context with the right person teaching about them. Look at Frank. He is not having a psychedelic experience alone in his mind taking a mushroom. He is seeing something and thousands of people all around him are seeing and experiencing the same thing. How powerful is that?! These things are uplifting and inspiring to others by having a shared experience. Just some insights on a simple beautiful experience of Fools Crow. Hope you find it entertaining.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 04:36:30 +0000
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