The Sacred Walk on the Red Road is a combination of teaching from the White Bison and the Native American Red Road of recovery in the form of a twelve step program. On the Sacred Walk there is also a great emphasis on the Sacred Circle and why it is such a powerful tool for use in dealing the negative influences in our lives. These teachings comes from Black Elk and his philosophy and views of the world as great changes were occurring during his time.This combination of teachings is intended to bring about healing, not only for Native Americans but all the people of the world whom are facing negative spirits which bring out the a dark side within all people.
This program is a fifty-two week or one year long interactive classroom/group sessions. During the year many subjects and tools are taught and discussed for a better understanding of how issues begin as well as finding the right tool for healing. This way of thinking does not dish out blame for our actions and ill chooses in life, but to empower individuals to bring about healing in their own lives by understanding that things that occur in our lives, both good and bad are part of the learning process. That issues, conflicts, and ill will have a beginning and an end, but the end only comes when great learning comes from them. The Wellbriety Movement on Hoop Journey I, was the birth of theFirestarters program. These are men and women that have committed themselves to a four year period to introduce the Wellbriety Movement to all who are seeking healing in their lives. Firestarter Circles are made up of Native and non Native people in their own communities who work the Medicine Wheel 12 Steps of sobriety, recovery and healing using tools provided to them by White Bison as well as culture, experience, strengths, and hopes for all people. Firestarters use the White Bison book The Red Road to Wellbrietyto learn how to heal in a cultural way. The meetings, groups and talking circles gather people together to learn how to use the appropriate ceremonies and traditions to bring about healing in their own journeys. There are now more than 350 Firestarters Circles throughout Turtle Island.
In Native American tradition the circle is sacred because it is one of the one true shapes in the universe. It is the circle of life and the forces that binds all things together both seen and unseen. Black Elk once said, “Everything the Great Spirit of the world does, is done in a circle. The sky is round and I have heard the Earth is round, like a ball and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls in a circle. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same and both are round. Even the seasons form a circle in there changing way and always come back to where they were. The life a man is a circle from childhood to childhood and so it is in everything where power moves all things in a circle” (Black ElkOglala Sioux, 1863 to 1950).
Our Galaxy
The Bald Eagle's nest with one new born.
Our neighbors in our solar system
All medicine people believe that the circle applies to the old saying that “What goes around comes around”. When we do good to all things both seen and unseen, good we receive even if it is only at the end of journey. So what is placed in the circle can be good or bad and like a homing pigeon on a round trip flight, good or bad it will return. Religions make the power of the sacred circle as a halo (a circle) that is placed over the head of a one whose is holy. At times the halo is given a cross over it, looking much like the four directions Medicine Wheel and at the center of the circle where the four directions meet is where the Great Creator is and always will be.
This philosophy in our spirituality, religion and program already changed the lives of many people who have taken time learn about the Sacred Walk on the Red Road. The Sacred Walk is not just for sobriety from substance abuse, butfor all nature of negative behaviors that bring people down.One must make a choice to live life on a sacred path or bestuck in the never ending cycle of negativity. It was said once that “A man's life is not measured by the things he does in his life, but by the choices he makes".
"Walking on Mother Earth" Every day should be Earth day
The days of when we believed in coming together as a people to teach one another about how we could make a difference must be a thing of the past. I hear the trumpet sounds of dispute, violence, misunderstanding, and who is right and who is wrong. The drumbeat of my heart is a sad one. For we the people have turned into we the users, takers, and abusers of that which gives us life. No longer can I get together with people to show our neighbors that we are grateful to the Mother Earth for all things she provides. That I will do my part to respect what our Creator has entrusted in us. That the Creator did not give her to us, but rather that we were given to her. That we should not fight over her land and what she provides. But to give as much as we take and to take only what we need to use in our lives. To respect all things of the Creator's making, both seen and unseen, all communities of the four legged, the winged ones and creatures of the water, as well as those who dwell beneath the earth. Our Creator has given us the freedom to choose for ourselves and to do the right things for ourselves and all things. I am bound by the love and kindness of our Creator to honor, respect, and hold all things good or bad sacred for they are the Creator’s doing. Iwalk the Red Road in harmony with what is my part of the Earth Mother. It is said that we came from her and we will surly return to her at the end of our journey. I do not and will not try to change them who will not listen, but I will encourage and lead by my actions, all those who wish to make Mother Earth a better place to live and die. In this way I have come to be, in this way I am, in this way I willreturn to my Mother. Onehawk Hirajeta Comanche February 25, 2003
Tradition Respect Unity Spirituality Teaching (T.R.U.S.T.) 3250 E Lowe Ave Fresno, California 93702 Office: 559.478.1040
