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cozyquiltz
I too am native. I can tell you with authority, don't go there! There is a lot of power in these types of ceremonies, etc and it isn't always of a positive nature. It may SEEM harmless enough, but you are messing with powers and principalities that are older than mankind and these plastic shaman types have no clue what they're doing. It's extremely dangerous and not at all what it seems. Also, and please don't take this wrong, but it is fact. No self respecting true medicine man would teach a non-native, period case closed. There are spiritual reasons for this. So all of these that advertise that they were taught by a genuine medicine man are false. They are false teachers of false religions and don't have the background to be doing ceremonies or teaching anything. Most medicine men won't leave the reservation, not to live anyway. If someone is teaching native spirituality off the reservation to non natives, they're a fake and should be avoided like the plague. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into messing with this stuff!
I like and agree with some things that you said, but not all.
First, I am not native. second, I have taken some of Tom brown's classes and I appreciate them.
Where I agree with you is that the philosophies are not harmless. There is danger in following that path and Tom is very clear about this in his classes. Tom has asked students to leave his school for being too arrogant or not having enough respect.
Where I disagree with you is where you say only natives can walk this path, which seems to be what you are saying. It is the case throughout the history of humankind in numerous cultures that people often developed a seclusionist viewpoint. I disagree with that on principal. It makes no logical sense that a spiritual truth would work for one human and not work for another based on ancestry.
It is also my opinion, having read some history on this, that when the europeans arrived, the natives were open to sharing their religion with them. It's a newer idea that "white men" can't learn this. The natives didn't always feel that way, but, granted, I only know a bit of history, I could be wrong.
Finally, if you believe the story of Stalking Wolf (Tom Brown's teacher), Stalking wolf believed that white men couldn't learn his spiritual philosophy, but his visions and the spirits who came to him told him to teach white men.
I know that you will probably disagree with me, and many many people are critical of Tom Brown Jr. What I wrote above is just my opinion and my observation. It's possible that you are right and I am wrong.
What is true, about Tom Brown Jr is that he has had numerous successful tracking cases. That's documented and indisputible. He follows tracks as well as a native.