Theos-Talk Archives (March 2002 Message tt00116)

In a message dated 03/03/02 9:13:42 AM, bri_mue@yahoo.com writes:

>Leon: ""Actually, the Native American Indian Shaman I met many
>years ago (named, "Crazy Eagle") who also confirmed the existence of
>a relative of his in Mexico who taught Castenades." 
>
>Maybe "Crazy Eagle" or however the person behind this assumed 
>name was seeking self importance. Name dropping, and claiming to 
>know to someone who is important is more then common.

Does such an unfounded and opinionated generalization make my experience any 
the less true? Or that "Crazy Eagle" was not the name self-chosen, or given 
him when he was initiated into the shamanistic mysteries -- as is common 
among Amerindian tribes? Or, perhaps, given him at birth by his Shaman father 
-- as is also common? (This is a fact -- not like your wild, innuendo loaded 
and prejudiced guess about the veracity of Crazy Eagle and his "assumed 
name".) 

>Expecially if in the case of "Crazy Eagle" as you describe nicely
>covers his back by stating it was "not he" who claims this (or is it you
>?) about Castaneda, but someone else, who is not there to confirm it. And
>no doubt will never be reached.

That's possible... But, what difference does it make? How does that have any 
relationship to my discussion about shamanistic trickery (Which I knew 
something about long before I met Crazy Eagle around 1980 in New York).

>Instead of "Crazy Eagle" and yourself who never really have 
>known or met Castaneda personally, I think the more reliable sources 
>are in this case the people who did indeed lived with Casteneda 
>personally, known him intematly for many years and can prove it.

Where is such "proof"? And who are those people? And, if they exist, how do 
you know them? Besides, I didn't say that Crazy Eagle knew Castaneda, but 
that he told me he knew of the Yaqui Indian Shaman who informed Castaneda on 
his research trips to Mexico -- which I had no reason to disbelieve.

>By the way doesn't Castaneda mentions similar to the "Sun absolute", 
>and what does he say about that ?

I wouldn't know. Do you? And, if so, where is your evidence? I read 
Castaneda books around the mid 70's and can't remember anything he said about 
any particulars, since all of it was already "old hat" to me... All I know 
about Castaneda's exposition of Amerindian shamanism is that it was 
consistent with what I learned about Indian "Medicine man" magic from my 
father (and his "Native American" friends) many years earlier. In addition, 
I studied North, Central, and South American native Indian religions, their 
arts, and their mystical lore for several years after I came out of the Army 
-- where I served 2 years in combat alongside Amerindian (Mohawk, Navaho, 
Paiute, Sioux, etc.) troopers (or "warriors," as they say) who were close 
friends of mine. Also, my roommate at college before WW II was a Mohawk 
Indian. But, I've never been interested in keeping records or references to 
answer the non sequitur questions of prejudiced historians out to prove a 
point -- whatever it is. (So, I suggest you do your own research along these 
lines, if you are interested.:-)

Incidentally -- (you can use this "direct experience" in your "mystery 
teachings" history research, although there are no written records to verify 
it :-) -- my father, a freemason, alchemist and mystic kabbalist, was born in 
America (1898) of European parents -- (Austrian -- his father, my 
grandfather, was a "Freimaurer" and skilled artist-craftsman in the court of 
Archduke Ferdinand, and his mother, my grandmother, was of royal blood, who 
met and were married on the boat to America) -- and always claimed he was a 
reincarnated American Indian Chief who was killed during the early Indian 
wars. When, on a business-fishing trip in Northern Canada around 1946, he 
showed his alchemical (dye chemistry) magic during a "pow wow" and "councel" 
to the chieftains of the Sha-Wa-Naga nation (formerly, tribes who escaped to 
Canada during the Indian Wars with the US army hot on their tails, following 
Chief Joseph [1877) -- told them his secret name, used the proper secret 
handgrips, smoked the peace pipe, and recited the catechism of the "mystic 
evolutionary path." (He was also a 33rd degree Mason, knew all the secret 
"signs", and claimed to be a direct line descendant of Grand Chief Moses of 
the "Twelve Tribes" -- and, besides, looked exactly like the face embossed on 
the old American Indian nickel coin :-). So, the chiefs councel accepted him 
completely, initiated him as a "Grand Chief," and gave him the full Eagle 
feathered floor length head dress, as well as a heavy Star Sapphire silver 
ring, equivalent to his rank and mastery of the "Medicine." I can't be sure, 
since I haven't seen it since about 25 years ago, but I think my youngest 
brother still has this headdress on display in his home in Florida, and I'm 
sure he still wears the Sapphire ring which I gave him after it was willed to 
me after my father suddenly died in his sleep on the 100th anniversary of the 
first Sioux Indian uprising and massacre in 1862 (which could be a 
coincidence but -- being a dyed-in-the-wool "mystic" who prefers to give 
others the benefit of the doubt if I don't know the "facts" of the matter by 
first hand experience, verified testimony, or logical analysis -- I like to 
believe otherwise.:-)

LHM