Indigenous Revival

One of the depressing side effects of the rise of modern economies has been the vast devastation wreaked upon indigenous peoples, lands, and traditions. But what no champions of endless economic growth could have foretold was that in the twilight of industrial culture, the spiritual survival of humanity might depend upon the knowledge and practices of the earth-based traditions they would so smugly reject and desecrate.

The Ringing Rocks Foundation celebrates these earth-based cultures while spreading the word about their precious but threatened healing technologies. With a mission to conserve “indigenous healing practices and cultural traditions," the Sedona-based foundation conducts field research, provides grants to local indigenous cooperatives, and sponsors public educational events such as a presentation at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian by Diné sandpainter Walking Thunder. Ringing Rocks has dedicated a contemplative healing space among the red rocks of Sedona and published a ground-breaking book series called Profiles of Healing, described as “an unprecedented encyclopedia of the world's healing knowledge told through the stories of traditional shamans and medicine people.” Featured shamans in the series include African healer Vusumazulu Credo Mutwa and Ikuko Osami, Japanese Master of Seiki Jutsu.

Visit their website to learn more about their efforts to conserve global wisdom.

Photos used via Creative Commons license.