Attacks on Light Workers

From the Standing Rock Protectors group...

Posting Attacks on People or Groups

Works for the Other Side

These are interesting - and difficult - times as we stay committed to Standing Rock, other protests and the Water is Life the Movement. We often get attacked or demeaned even by some who we know well or others we thought walked a strong spiritual road and knew how to stay in the light. I have not said too much about this - the attacks of the trolls and plants… and those so full of fear and hate they are judging everything they do not understand. I am used to this, as some of you are. Of being judged and accused of things - the dark energies trying to stop us. As my friend Wayne William Snellgrove recently said, “Once you learn to walk with the Spirit you will have no interest in judging those who don’t.” This is truth. But I have had a number of our Standing Rock Protectors group asking me why they are being attacked by various people or groups. Some are angry about these attacks. Some upset or scared. Some just confused. So I will speak more here, using myself as an example since none of us are exempt from foolish, bought or scared people acting out. Others are in huge ego. I don’t judge these people or their traits, but document what I see as why they do this.

I have many other things to do for the Standing Rock group and Water is Life Movement work I am doing, but I feel I need to take this time to speak: As much as I hate spending time on this issues.

Some people still cannot get beyond thinking only one group or color or age or gender can carry the water movement forward. This is not true and never was. I have often suggested people read the prophecies and understand how all must come together now. No one group is the sole guardian of their ways - the four colors must unite and share now (see Black Elk, Mayan prophecies, aborigine stories, Hopi and many others). That means sharing each others teachings, wisdom, ceremonies and beliefs.

Some of you non-Native friends have asked why Red members have angrily attacked you. Other Whites want to know why you are supporting a Red cause. Others are sickened by some of the hateful language that gets into comments in groups before they are removed. First, go back to Snellgrove’s words. Then read RH Fowler’s words in the pic about attracting biting bugs - and understand. Some are trolls. Some are plants. Some are still full of hate and rage. Some are stuck in the past. Some are paid to cause dissent. It does not matter which of these are those attacking anyone - let it go. Realize 98% of those in the groups and those you will contact are changing and walking a good spiritual road - whether it is red, black, yellow or white. Or a mix, like me.

Those attacking never ask questions or seek understanding - they simply cause turmoil. And in doing this, intentionally or not, they are doing the work of the greedy destroyers of our water and planet.

So, a little on me and the attacks/ hate/ anger/ judgments coming my way. And what I think of it.

For the past 35+ years I have travelled around the globe living with and learning from various indigenous elders. We had no internet when I began this trek, so I went to the elders and we sat around the fires and streams and I listened, learned, practiced and then shared as directed. If you read my first book, White Man, Red Road, Five Colors, you will hear of this in detail. I was taught by Mayan teachers, Native American, aborigine, garifuna (African), Celtic, and others. I never looked for this - it found me. And I give thanks to Creator each day for the blessing of these amazing teachers and what I have learned. I was born Italian Romany gypsy - my people were sheperds in Northern Italy and southern Switzerland. My grandmother was the medicine woman for four clans while she lived there. I have been adopted by my Mayan family and named Big White (with smiles) and my Lakota teacher and Ate and named Graywolf. I have been taught healing techniques, ceremonies, plant medicine, animal medicine, shamanic practices and spirit medicine by elders of many cultures. Others taught me energy medicine. So, I am a mongrel. My teachers told me I was to share what I learned (when the changes began) as best I could - and help any way I could to send energy for the four colors to unite. I take this very seriously and have done my best at this - and always will.

I provide teachings on nature and the teachings of many different ancestors, ceremonies in which I incorporate the ways of many groups and guide people on their healing road so they may help each other and the Earth Mother. All of this I do for the seven generations who follow. I have never claimed to be a “healer”, a “shaman”, an “elder” or any other label. As I was taught - we do not label ourselves. My peers and community may say what they see me as. If asked, I am a human being who can work with plant medicine or shamanic medicine or ….. whatever I know something about.

When I began this road I got many attacks for sitting with elders not of my color or culture. Other people also got the same attacks for working with people not of their community and culture. And I was angry often, even if I understood why th attacks came. When attacked, I would share I was not white, but of the olive-skinned tribes. My way not to act out - and true. My birth people were also chased, harassed and killed - it is why they came here. So I understand the rage around this treatment in the past and, all too often, in the present. I also see we must let it go to move forward. Not forget: Let go. Stop the hold rage has on us as humans. Many of those I grew angry with - red, black, yellow and white - because they had issues with an ‘outsider’ learning are now friends. We have sat together and forgiven ourselves and each other. This I love when it happens.

As I do my work now on Standing Rock support and Water is Life Movement expansion the light once again draws bugs that bite. Some of them I know. A couple I know to be hate-filled and angry. And jealous of anyone doing anything - because they have decided not to act. One I know who is white and pours lodges goes in those ceremonies angry and hate filled, leads them spewing this energy in the lodge and leaves in the same way. Not how we are trained. Not at all. And so people do not return to his ceremonies and he wonders why. I send love and light. Others decide they know what I offer and it is wrong! They know nothing. Yet they judge because their rage drives them. I send love and light again. Even the drum and Tibetan circles we do have been attacked lately. For ‘taking Native ways’. Drums are all around the world and we honor each type and own many. A Cheyenne friend asked to sing his family songs recently and we were all attacked by two people for this. For a Native American singing his family songs as we drummed for him. Craziness.

Other white folks have attacked me for sharing the same Mayan /Native /aborigine /etc. teachings and customs because they say I stir people up. Or they want to know why I spend so much time with my red and black and brown and yellow relatives. They can be really hateful. All of these are exclusionary people - “my way and no other” is their way. Very few, if any, have walked the road I have for so long, with so many people. This does not make me special, but it makes it hard to take seriously the hate and threats and judgments of those who have done little to unite us all. “Haters gonna hate” Abe Lincoln once said and, sadly, it still holds true with some. Racism and hate know no color.

What do I do when these painful attacks come? And, yes, they are painful. I understand them, but I try to be a caring person as I work 12 hours each day on what I do - so they hurt. But only until I send love and light to those in such hateful places of the spirit. I continue to do my best to share my light to build a new way. Those friends who have true spirits will shoo the bugs away. And that is the huge majority. I am asked often to offer a program or teaching. Or create a drum circle with Sue and our group. Or run a ceremony. Or officiate at a wedding. Or help with healing. Or run a course in healing ways. And those asking are of all colors and cultures. A few have said I make money off of what I do - wrong again. Many things I do without charge or with expenses covered only, other things I do to raise money for the water is life movement and other protests - through the non-profit I am part of. Here now, in Florida, I am asked to do many things for Water is Life and the Standing Rock protest. I am honored to: Even if a few attack this as well.

Use what I shared. I don’t usually say much about it, but I want you ALL to understand when attacks come. And have means to deflect them. I am with you. We are with you. As you are with me and each other. That is the hoop of many colors we now need.

I feel certain some other haters will attack this document as well now. Let them. See the anger and hate behind their words. They can point fingers and say things are not true, but they have no validity. They are empty. Pray they will awaken and join us.

Thanks for hearing this mongrel of many teachings and customs. And for being in the light of those standing for the Earth.

~ Jim Graywolf Petruzzi

human being