the DEVIL

"Others will use commitment as a means of avoiding God. And still others need validation from others to move closer to God." -Rev. Sinclair Grey 111

This is a remarkable observation, Sinclair! This phenomenon did not occur within indigenous cultures of the world in this manner. The existence of God and a relationship with God was not first an intellectual exercise. Spirit was the same as breath. Being close to Earth in an honoring relationship with the Earth is the line of demarcation between spirituality and religion and Christianity and the spirituality of the indigenous people before the blood bath of the missionary periods.


The missionary and the churches forced the notion that became a belief that the devil was everywhere in everything. The spiritual (natural) practice of native folks was outlawed and the custodians of Earth were forced to accept a belief system antagonistic towards the Goddess, honoring of the feminine, the give-away, offerings, ceremony and ritual, and the flowing relationship between Earth, people and Spirit.


Traditions came from intimate relationships and insights into the “Spirit-that-moves-within-all-things”. The approach to acceptance of callings on one’s life to serve God did not have the judgments and condemnations common to Christianity. The relationship between Spirit and a person allowed and expected the natural tendency to run from one’s calling to be a healer, a heyoka, teacher, or peace keeper, whatever. The questions of eternity did not start from a Western perspective where the acquisition of things held the highest value. The mind of the West (Christianity) needs to justify misdeeds and altercations between Mother (the Earth) and child but the indigenous spirit needs to seek balance. This is a fundamental difference between a Western and Christian approach to life, commitment and the natural Earth and the Earth way of indigenous cultures the world over.



~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

Novembre 2007