At this unique and unprecedented moment in human history – in the midst of mounting social, political, economic, psychological and spiritual restlessness and uncertainty – there exists an unnamed rootlessness that permeates the very heart of the Human Family and condition.
And it is time to name it.
Too many human beings in the modern world have been in the pursuit of the industrial and material dream severed from our Indigenous Spirits. We have forgotten how to live in harmony on our Mother Earth, and have thus lost touch with our Indigenous Roots and our intimate connection to one another and all Life!
We are all part of the ancient Sacred Circle of Life, and therefore we are all Indigenous Peoples of Mother Earth. The essential truth of this reality cannot be denied no matter how we look at it; it is simply an irrevocable truth.
To embrace and reclaim our Indigenous relationship to all Life is to remember and lovingly celebrate our sacred relationship with our Mother Earth, all relatives of our One Human Family and our kinship with all Life.
The realization of this truth renders any form of prejudice intolerable, and equally renders any form of mistreatment of our sacred Mother Earth as completely unacceptable.
We have experienced a Great Spiritual Wintertime in the past 500 years. This has been a time of conquest, colonization and assimilation that has been filled with the utmost human cruelty, violence, injustice, abuse and physical and cultural genocide.
What we are finally discovering, however, is that the ”Hurt of One is the Hurt of All,” and that such actions strip away our essential humanity along with all things that make life worth living!
The global crises we experience today are additionally fueled by our belief in separation... a myth that has convinced us that we are separate from one another and separate from the Natural World. This has further channeled into the destructive belief that we are not whole and that we are hopelessly inadequate.
The industrial and material dream is given power by our sense of lost connection and wholeness with ourselves, each other and our Mother Earth.
It persuades and propels us to consume to no end, in a feeble attempt to recover a wholeness that cannot be bought or filled with material things.
It thrives on our inability to recall the ways of the ancestors, and celebrates the forgetting of our own sacredness as Sacred Beings.
For when we recognize the sacred within ourselves, we see it in all other things.
But this is all changing. It has been prophesied that a Great Spiritual Springtime would emerge out of this unimaginable darkness.
We live now not in the days of the prophecies, but in the days of the fulfillment of the prophecies.
As foretold by the Elders, the Indigenous Peoples of the world are reawakening to their spiritual and cultural identities. They are demonstrating to all members of the Human Family how to walk the Fourth Way, the Beauty Way... the Path that transcends assimilation, resignation and conflict to a new place of understanding, reconciliation and healing broken trusts!
This Sacred Path of the Fourth Way must be walked together in unprecedented, unified action to manifest World Peace – the Day that will not be followed by night!
We, the First Nation Indigenous Peoples have a strong, enduring and unbreakable spiritual foundation of cultural values and guiding principles. These have empowered us to survive and arise in the face of unspeakable hardship and suffering, yet we stand with greater strength and wisdom than ever before.
So we invite you, Our Beloved Relatives, to reawaken with us to what is already within each of us – the Unity of One Human Family and all Life.
We offer you our heartfelt greeting of solidarity and our shared wisdom of 16 Indigenous Guiding Principles to ensure that we may walk together on a Sacred Path that fully honors the Natural Laws and rights of Mother Earth!
This new Spiritual Springtime foretold by our Elders is now unfolding globally... as sure as the sun rises every morning.
My Beloved Relative, it would be an honor for you to join us.
Your brother,
Have you held in your heart a vision of healing for the world? One in which we restore the sacred bonds of trust and respect, learn to live in harmony with the natural world and leave a legacy of beauty for future generations?
Many Indigenous Peoples now believe that we are entering the springtime of a new possibility, one in which we can redesign our world to work in a more sacred, holistic and respectful manner.
At The Shift Network, one of the most important keys to making this possibility real is to receive and apply the wisdom of our Indigenous brothers and sisters... not just as an exercise in appreciating different cultures, but in understanding a more sacred way of living in the world – one that has essential insights we all need to not only survive but thrive.
Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr. reminds us in his letter above that we are ALL Indigenous Peoples. And yet most of us have lost our grounding in ancient ways.
If we had experienced mutual understanding and cultural exchange when Europeans first came to the Americas, for instance, we may well have seen an integration of wisdom that balanced out the patterns that led to so much suffering.
We can now grieve that history and work to heal it. And it’s also vital to engage in the sacred exploration of what a world built with respect for Indigenous wisdom would look like.
How would we make different political decisions? How would we learn to listen to each other? How would we begin to feel, sense and appreciate the wisdom of others rather than try to impose our way?
The Indigenous Wisdom for Compassionate Living and Unified Action virtual program is designed for you to develop real skills in discovering and applying Indigenous wisdom – based in sacred respect for the power in every voice – in your life.
You will learn how Talking Circles work by participating in them – lending your voice to key areas of exploration and seeing how the wisdom of the whole is harvested.
You will learn how to engage in participatory decision-making process that can be a model for a rejuvenated approach to democracy.
You will co-create a field of powerful blessing and healing intention for yourself, your community and our world.
You will experience a transmission of ancient wisdom in service to transforming modern life.
You will reclaim or deepen your own indigenous roots so that you can be a better leader of positive change.
You will, in short, help restore the sacred hoop that connects us all into one family.
While Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr. is the main teacher, facilitator and catalyst for this journey, he is building upon principles of wisdom distilled by leaders from many tribes and traditions.
In this 9-module transformational program, Chief Phil Lane, Jr. will guide and mentor you through an Indigenous path where you will embrace and reclaim your Indigenous relationship to all life and remember and lovingly celebrate your sacred relationship with Mother Earth.
Each session will build harmoniously upon the next. You will develop a complete, holistic understanding of the practices, tools and principles you’ll need to embrace your own indigenous spirit as an Indigenous being of Mother Earth.
Around the world at this very moment and as foretold by the ancient Indigenous Peoples of Mother Earth, we are reawakening – lighting the way to a sacred wisdom and entering into a way of being that is helping to lead us to heal and unify as one human family.
Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr. will share an introduction to Indigenous Talking Circles and The 16 Indigenous Guiding Principles for Building a Sustainable and Harmonious World.
In the first learning circle, you will:
Peoples from all walks of life during the past 500 years of the Great Spiritual Wintertime have dealt with hardship and suffering in various ways. These paths have ranged from the hopelessness of a broken spirit and despair, assimilation, self-hatred and discrimination, and even violent resistance. Not one of these outcomes nourishes the spirit of a person and their people, nor leads to the healing that is required to overcome and transform our destructive realities.
In this module, Chief Phil Lane, Jr. will share his ancient knowledge about the Medicine Wheel and the Four Directions that will help you to see and understand more of the ancient wisdom available from these integral energetic and healing Indigenous systems. In this teaching, he will explore the utility of this ancient symbolism and its application to your current life and the powerful gifts that you contain.
In the second circle, you will:
In the haste and paving over that is so characteristic of the modern world and material dream, ancient traditions for building and sustaining community have been largely forgotten. Even the most aware of us still carry unwanted patterns of being that can detract and discourage us from connecting with others and ourselves. And we often lack a “spiritual compass” to help guide us to maintain authentic relationships and engagement with others in community. The principle of a Talking Circle is that starting from within – working in a circle, in a sacred manner – we heal and develop ourselves, our relationships and the world.
In the third circle, you will:
After learning, applying and facilitating the Indigenous Talking Circle tradition, we can begin to sit with one another and deeply explore The 16 Indigenous Guiding Principles for Building a Sustainable and Harmonious World. These principles, developed and successfully utilized over the past 45 years, are fundamental truths exemplified in the phenomena of the natural world and our evolution as human beings. They are not doctrine or dogma – nor require any beliefs. They are a “spiritual roadmap” for building and sustaining peace, within ourselves and in our communities.
In the fourth circle, where you will learn about the first four Indigenous Principles, you will:
Mother Earth is one unified and living being, in which all life – including human life – is an interdependent and interconnected part of the unfolding story of Spirit that calls her home. Everything is connected to everything else. Therefore, every aspect of our healing and development is related to all the others (e.g., personal, social, cultural, political and economic). When we work on any one part, the whole circle is affected.
In the fifth circle with Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr., you will learn about the second four Indigenous Principles, and will:
If everything in our world is connected to everything else, how much more must we human beings be connected to each other? The basic fact of our oneness as a human family has always been known and understood by the wise. Nevertheless, the reality is that what happens to some of us really does happen to all of us.
We have recently begun to learn that if we poison the air we breathe and the water we drink (i.e. the environmental commons), we are poisoning ourselves. Similarly, if we poison our relationships with other people who live in the same social world as we do (the social commons), then we and our children will sooner or later discover that we have poisoned our own lives.
In the sixth circle, where you will explore four additional Indigenous Principles, you will:
In the mounting crises of our current age, we must have understanding and compassion for relatives who are no less frightened out of their wits, and therefore, unengaged and ineffective in supporting or leading change. Disbelief turns to despair, despair can transform to disconnection, grotesque disillusionment or total apathy. The negative strikes fear in people and drains energy.
This is not to say we should ignore the negative, but that it should be balanced with the antidote of hope, vision and unified action that moves to the positive by creating the world we wish to live in. This fills the human spirit rather than depletes it. To act otherwise is to misunderstand what it is that connects, inspires and enables a human spirit to engage fully in life in the face of our global challenges.
In the seventh circle, you will hear about the final four Indigenous Principles, and will:
Conflict and crisis are at the core of what it means to be an individuated spirit among relatives who, just like ourselves, are journeyers in this world. Being human is not easy! It is not a matter of IF conflict will arise, but a question of how it will be dealt with when it happens, and how it can be used as a force for connection and transformation. Sustained disunity is the poison of development, and too often it remains present through our inability or lack of wisdom to heal it. The Principles of Consultation have been utilized by thousands of Indigenous communities and other members of the human family around Mother Earth!
In the eighth circle, Chief Phil Lane, Jr. will support you to:
In this module, Brother Phil will support you to synthesize the vast richness available in the Indigenous wisdom principles and in the collaborative processes shared to envision how you will next move into the world in your truth and power as an empowered, compassionate healer who will make unified change happen in multiple dimensions in your life.
In this final module, you will:
In addition to Phil’s transformative 9-module virtual course, you’ll also receive these powerful training sessions with the world’s leading visionaries and teachers. These bonus sessions are being offered to further complement what you’ll learn in the course – and take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
These special images created by Chief Phil and his father are a beautiful illustration of the sacred world around us all. Send these images to friends or print them out to beautify your workspace or home. Images include the Medicine Bear symbolizing power and healing, and the Sacred Wolf following the Red Road of Life.
This award-winning semi-animated video depicts Phillip and Martha, a brother and sister who go for a walk in the woods with their grandfather. As they walk, their grandfather teaches them valuable lessons about life by drawing their attention to different aspects of the natural world around them. After they arrive at the home of another elder, they hear the traditional native story, "The Great Wolf and Little Mouse Sister." Beautifully and sensitively presented, this two-part video has been carefully prepared to teach positive, life-enhancing values to children and adults.
In this video, Indigenous People describe their experiences with substance abuse and the process they used to heal and regain insight into and connection with their Indigenous roots. Realizing that they were put on Earth to fulfill a spiritual purpose by seeking help from their elders and returning to their cultural traditions, including the sacred pipe, the sweat lodge and the Sun Dance, these individuals have found their true identities and are proud of who they are.
This dynamic and heartfelt video documents the devastating effects of the Indian boarding schools that dramatically shattered aboriginal culture, children, families and communities throughout North America. Viewers join Native American participants from Canada and the United States, during a four-day culturally-based healing process for understanding and recovering from this type of traumatic experience.
This e-book was written for “changemakers” working with communities committed to making just and lasting change. It bridges linear and holistic thinking systems by applying ancient wisdom to a new medium of communication – social networks – and the emerging sharing economy. It offers a framework for designing what we call deep social networks that produce meaningful results and build deeper relationships that learn and grow in ways that sustain and enhance life for all inhabitants of Mother Earth.
Nine Recorded 90-Minute Class Sessions with Chief Phil Lane, Jr.
Experience a rare opportunity to be mentored and learn with wisdom elder Chief Phil Lane, Jr. – from the comfort of your own home. Each class session includes renowned guest faculty, and helps you create the specific skills and abilities to transform of yourself and our world, and the sacred connection between them.
Nine PDF Transcripts of Each Class Session
In addition to the high quality MP3 audios, you’ll also receive the entire class transcription in PDF format after each session is completed. This way you can review, print and highlight the most important insights and practices that you’ll learn.
Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
After each lesson, you will then have the option to do related exercises and answer questions in order to accelerate your learning and integrate each session.
The Indigenous Wisdom Bonus Collection
We, at The Shift Network, feel deeply honored that Chief Phil Lane, Jr. has chosen to partner with us on this exclusive online training. As you may know, this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from a wisdom elder whose powerful teachings are helping to heal and awaken ourselves, our partners and our world, as well as align us in unified action.
Through this powerful online format, you’ll not only save time and money on workshop costs (plus travel, accommodations and meals – which would cost thousands of dollars), you’ll also be able to benefit from Chief Phil’s teachings and exercises from the comfort of your home – at your own pace!
If you are serious about living in harmony on our Mother Earth, and reconnecting with your Indigenous roots, one another and all of life, then it’s a great blessing for yourself, your loved ones – and our world – to participate in this one-of-a-kind training.
If you’re ready to take the next step in evolving yourself, click the register button below to reserve your space now.
Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr. is a member of the Hinhan Wicasa Oyate, Yankton Sioux Tribe and Chickasaw Nation. For more than 45 years Phil has been working with Indigenous Peoples from across the Americas, Southeast Asia, India, Hawaii and Africa. In 1970-1971, Phil worked with Indigenous Peoples in Bolivia. It was here where he began his lifelong dedication, with other Indigenous Peoples, toward actualizing the Reunion of the Condor and the Eagle. Phil served 16 years as an associate professor in Indigenous Education at the University of Lethbridge, where, in 1982, he co-founded – with elders from across North America – the Four Worlds International Institute (FWII). With the guidance of the Four Worlds Elders Council and Phil’s leadership and applied experience, FWII has become an internationally recognized leader in human, community and organizational development because of the institute’s unique focus on the importance of culture and spirituality in all dimensions of development.
In 1977, Phil was named a Modern Indian Sports Great by the national indian magazine, Wassaja, for his record-breaking accomplishments in track and wrestling. He has extensive experience in his own cultural traditions, is an award-winning author and film producer and holds Masters degrees in education and public administration. His film credits include the National PBS series Images of Indians with the late Will Sampson, Walking With Grandfather, and The Honor of All: The Story of Alkali Lake and Healing the Hurt, the first documentary to bring to public attention to Canada’s infamous residential school system’s intergenerational physical, emotional, cultural, mental and sexual abuse of more than 150,000 aboriginal children across Canada. In August 1992, Phil was the first Indigenous person to win the prestigious Windstar Award, presented annually by the late John Denver and the Windstar Foundation to “a global citizen whose personal and professional life exemplifies commitment to a global perspective, operates with awareness of the spiritual dimension of human existence and demonstrates concrete actions of the benefit for humans and all living systems of the Earth.” At this international event, in recognition of his hereditary lineage and long-time service to Indigenous Peoples and the human family, Indigenous elders from across North America recognized Phil as a Hereditary Chief.
In November, 2000, Phil received the International Award for Freedom and Human Rights from the Foundation for Freedom and Human Rights in Berne, Switzerland. Since 2007, FWII’s work has included a special focus on utilizing digital communications technologies for developing "Deep Social Networks and the Digital Fourth Way." The focus of The Fourth Way is contributing to the unification of the human family by co-creating community-based, culturally-respectful, principle-centered strategies and programming that transcends assimilation, resignation and conflict. The Fourth Way is guided by the "Four Worlds Principles for Co-Creating a Sustainable and Harmonious World," developed through a consultation process with Indigenous Peoples across the Americas. These principle-centered, collaboratively created and community-based digital networks' purpose includes: uplifting education, sustainable development, child protection and social justice with Indigenous Peoples and other members of the human family in the Americas, Southeast Asia and beyond.
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A: Your satisfaction with The Shift Network and this course is our highest priority! We offer a satisfaction guarantee for a full 14 days so that you can try out the course risk-free. The deadline to receive a full refund is 14 days from your date and time of purchase. If you find that the course is not meeting your needs, please submit a support request with the subject "Refund request."
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A: Please visit our Customer Support Center, where you should be able to find the answer to your question or the solution to a problem. And if you can’t, you can submit an online request form and we’ll get right back to you.
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A: Did you know that The Shift Network has an Affiliate Program? As an Affiliate of The Shift Network, you will be given links to promote our courses, which you can post on Facebook, or email to your friends, associates and contacts. You'll be eligible to receive 20% commissions for anyone who registers for one of our events using the links you've provided them. For example, if just five people sign up for a course that you are also enrolled in, you could recoup your own costs. To find out more, go to theshiftnetwork.com/affiliate and read about the program. If you sign up as an Affiliate, you'll immediately receive your Welcome email from Stephen Dinan containing the links you'll need to get started right away!
