Child of the Earth

Child of the Earth class led by Grandfather Rick McBride. Long before the invention of organized religions, there existed traditions that flourished throughout the “old world,” or what academics call the physical world, whether Earth Mother or Gaia, and direct communication with and experience of those “other-worldly” beings, variously named the prehistory. These ancient traditions resulted from recognizing the existence of the unseen, or spirit world, through the observation of the gods, spirits, ancestors, guides, or helper beings. In their exuberance to overthrow these “savage,” or “pagan” ways of life, the three major world religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, have sought to displace and expunge these natural, tolerant, compassionate, and Earth friendly ways of life, with devastating effects on the Earth as well. What is it to be “Earth friendly” today; can nonreligious people be “good” people; what is the phenomenological basis for either a heaven or a hell; how have religions influenced languages and how have languages influenced the behavior of nations; do people have direct experience with “spirits” today; and, most importantly, what of this survived, where is it found, and can it benefit the mainstream now? We will expand this discussion to include the recent mainstream awakening into what it calls “deep ecology,” and where spiritually aware environmental activism fits in today’s world.
Rick McBride is mixedblood Tsalagi (Cherokee) who has walked the Red Road for over 35 years. He was named Cante Lute (Schan-tay Lou-tuh) by the spirits through his sundance chief, which means Red Heart. He is a sundancer and has been traditionally trained and authorized to lead ceremonies, such as inipi (purification lodge), prayer with the Canunpah (Pipe), drum healing and so forth. He has been publicly teaching these ways for over 12 years now. Workshops and lectures are one way to learn from the wisdom of Indian Country. Ceremony brings this knowledge to life. Combined, teaching and ceremony render practical guidance to everyday living. And so, Rick sees his role as that of “translator” of indigenous ways so that mainstream-educated people get the full benefit of these ways. It has taken him years of dedicated interaction with many Elders, as well as his activities as ceremonial leader to get to this place in his life.

For further information, visit his website: http://www.mixedblood.info (http://www.mixedblood.info/)