June 2007

Hau kola na tiyospaye (Hello friends & extended family),

Welcome to all new Circle members! Each section of the Circle of Nations newsletter is written 'facing' one of the four sacred winds, beginning with the east, then the south, west and finally the north. This is to honor the old ways. It is to teach and to help us to focus and find the center. I have designed the Native Circle website in the same spirit. I welcome you all to the Circle....

EAST - Wiyohinyanpata - Yellow (Four Winds)
The Secret Power of the Four ‘H’s....
Do you want your life to mean something? Do you want it to have value, substance and integrity? Do you want it to be content and happy? If you answered yes to these questions, then allow me to share what I call the simple wisdom of the Four H’s....

Humility, Humor, Honesty and Honor

And we begin with Humility. In short, humility is the opposite of arrogance. It is a quality which takes root in grace and is seasoned by experience. Humility is not weakness, but rather indicates deep strength. It takes a real depth of character to be truly humble. Humility is total self acceptance and understanding, and thus positively affects self confidence and self esteem. True humility makes us comfortable in our own skin. It can also cause us to be more content in our life. We see that we are imperfect, and it is okay. We see that our life has imperfections as well, and yet it is okay. Humility helps us understand that those imperfections are a normal part of life, and that they are what make us real and human. We will be wrong sometimes. And we will never have all the answers. When we understand this and accept it, we become truly humble, and truly at peace.

Humor, it has been said, is the ‘WD-40' of healing. It is powerful medicine for the soul. Humor is the ability to remove the heaviness from a burden. It is the gift of laughter in the midst of pain or struggle. And it is the ability to see our own flaws in a humorous light, and chuckle at how silly we can be. True humor is never cruel. True humor gives us balance and perspective. It makes it okay to smile at ourselves when we realize we really are just human after all. Oh, and by the way, humor and humility are very close friends.

Honesty is not just about ‘telling the truth’, it is about being truthful, and believe me, there is a difference. Honesty is not an act, it is a state of being. You can ‘tell the truth’ and still not be an honest person. Honesty is a condition. It does not seek to deceive. Honesty means you are not only honest with others, you are honest with yourself. Real honesty means you live your life in a state of self truth, which means you can see yourself clearly, as you truly are.

And lastly, there is Honor. Honor is integrity. It is that considerate thing you do when no one is looking, and no one will ever know. Honor can be given, and it can be received, but real honor exists within. Honor can be seen in the big things, but it most often reveals itself in the small things. Honor is conscientious. It is considerate of others. It thinks of others first. Honor remembers to return the favor. It is patient, humble and honest. Honor is respect, morality, courage and wisdom.

If you take these Four H’s, and apply them to your life, amazing things will happen. Seeds of deep meaning will take root in the soil of your life, and with time and continued ‘watering’, beautiful things will spring forth. There is an enormous amount of wisdom to be realized by applying these Four H’s to your life. In the end though, the most significant blessing will be that you lived your life in a good way, you were happy, and others were blessed because of it. Many drops of rain make a great ocean....



SOUTH - Itokagata - Red (Red Earth)
A word from Peggy....

Hello friends

Being Kind...... that is really on my mind today. Being kind means I am sensitive to the world, that I feel the connection and that I care. We don't have to agree with each other, we don't have to see the picture the same way. I may see the underside, you may see the top. What difference does it make? We are all in this same boat of not knowing. Admit it, you just don't know, so give up the stubborn prideful arrogance we can sometimes cling to, and just be kind. A smile, an encouraging word, a moment to praise and lift someone up.
We live in a world of survivalism. An “I want my piece of the pie” kind of mentality. When we worry about me.... it is very difficult to see. Seeing is about trusting that a kind gesture is as or more important than an eloquent speech or a great painting. Greatness can be measured by the true loving kindness we share.
Wow, do we live in a world that has lost touch with kindness. Pain can cause us to become introspective and judgmental.
Survivalism, protecting me against you, my rights, my money, my possessions, my opinions, my knowledge, me, me, me. Yuck, yuck, yuck!
Hey today how about we all pay it forward. Compliment people, listen to them, care about them, and touch them. It will create a circle and believe me, we will find more kindness in the world, and that is the missing ingredient. What a simple concept. What if we put our tongues on check and thought first, "is what I am about to say kind?" Be a lot less chatter I suppose.
For you people who know me well, you know I am speaking to myself..... I need to learn the path of kindness as much as anyone else. But I am ready, because I am tired and weary of meanness and survivalism. Love, so simple, so pure, really can heal the world.

Now some new business stuff..... A new CD is on the way, and may be available for release by the July newsletter..... Keep your eyes on the website. The new CD is entitled: ‘Cedar Dreams’ ~ Solo American Indian flute music. For 8 years you all have been asking for a solo flute CD, and now you will have it!!!
We are thrilled to tell you we are opening up several new Retreats! Check them all out here:
The Retreats
Congratulations John, for your incredible music on the HBO movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". An incredible film, art and storytelling at its finest..... Folks remember, this is a movie not a documentary... it is meant to tell a story to encourage us to be kinder to each other, to create bridges of understanding and empathy.
One Day Retreat and Evening Concert in Dayton Ohio in August. Be there!!!
Check out the Ohio Retreat
New Two-Hawks greeting cards with words of wisdom and music are coming. They should also be ready by the next newsletter.

Love to you all,
Peace,
Peggy
Red Earth


WEST - Wiyohpeyata - Black or Blue (We are STILL Here!)
Well, the HBO movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee made its premier and is still running on the HBO network. I just wanted to say here that I am very honored to have had my music featured in this movie, which covers a very difficult period for my people, the Lakota Sioux. This movie is deeply moving (and not just because my music is featured in it!), and I have watched it evoke strong emotions in many. All done and said, it is my feeling that this movie has done, and will continue to do, a lot of good. It is not perfect. No movie ever is. In fact, even documentaries, which are supposed to get all the facts right, get it wrong sometimes. But this is not a documentary, it is a movie. And movies are not about ‘facts’, they are about human stories. Getting hung up or stuck on a detail can keep us from seeing the bigger picture. And the bigger picture is that this movie is giving people a deeply emotional glimpse of the Indian experience, and mostly from the Indian perspective. This is an incredible telling of a very Indian story on film. All the actors are phenomenal. The filming is extraordinary. And the story, which will make you reflect, cry and ultimately wonder why, is tragic and oh so very, very human. And it was an immeasurably great honor to have my flutes, voice and drums be a part of it.


NORTH - Waziyata - White (Words of Wisdom)
A few thoughts of mine, which may or may not be considered ‘wisdom’....

Pretending you know, when you don’t, is like driving blindfolded

Truth is never one dimensional

Tradition is like the river, it remains the same, but is always shifting

A raindrop is the ultimate example of humility


May Wakantanka encircle you and yours with faith to believe, hope for the future, and love for all....

As always, in the spirit of mending the sacred hoop of the nations of the world
Your Oglala Lakota friend and brother,
John Two-Hawks
http://www.nativecircle.com
http://www.johntwohawks.com
Reprinting of this Circle of Nations newsletter is encouraged! All I ask is that it be printed in its entirety, with no changes, and that I be given proper credit, unless I have otherwise okayed it. Wopila (great thanks)!