Book: WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW
Marcus L. Endicott (mendicott@igc.apc.org)
Wed, 11 Nov 1992 09:20:21 -0800 (PST)
/* Written 9:15 am Nov 11, 1992 by mendicott@igc.apc.org in igc:alt.gathering. */
/* ---------- "Book: WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW" ---------- */
WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: STRANGE AND PROPHETIC DREAMS OF THE INDIANS
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by William Willoya and Vinson Brown
Copyright @ 1962 by Naturegraph Publishers
1992 Printing
Paper ISBN 9-911010-24-6
Cloth ISBN 0-911010-25-4
$7.95
Naturegraph Publishers, Inc.
P.O.Box 1075
Happy Camp, California 96039 USA
>TABLE OF CONTENTS
>
>FORWARD
>I. THE RETURN OF THE SPIRIT
>II. DREAM OF THE SIOUX PIPE BAG
>III. INDIAN PROPHETIC VISIONS
> A. Prophecy of Montezuma, Aztec King
> B. Vision of Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crow
> C. Prophecy of King Djojobojo
> D. Prophecies of Krishna and Buddha
> E. Vision of Deganawida, Prophet of the Iroquois
> F. Visions of the Blackfeet and of an Assiniboine
> G. Hopi Prophetic Visions
> H. The Great Dream of Black Elk
> I. Wovoka and the Ghost Dance
>IV. AN ESKIMO IN SEARCH OF GOD
>V. THE TASK OF THE WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW
>APPENDIX
> A. William Willoya, by Vinson Brown
> B. The Peyote Religion
> C. The Prophecy of Proudhon
> D. Science and Prophetic Dreams
> E. Understanding the Symbology of Prophetic Dreams
> F. How Prophetic Dreams fit into Patterns
>BIBLIOGRAPHY
>ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
>INDEX
[from the FORWARD, page 1]
>
>For the light of truth shines best through open minds.
>
[from APPENDIX - A. WILLIAM WILLOYA by Vinson Brown, page 81]
>
> Another reason why Willy can be of such help is because he still has a
>lot of the old Indian Spirit, the spirit that comes from living in the
>wilderness, from living close to nature. There is a great power in this
>spirit, a power about which the white men know little.
>
> B. THE PEYOTE RELIGION
>
> The Peyote Religion, which also is called The Native American Church, is
>an example of the need of the Indian to understand religion in his own way.
>Members of this religious movement believe in Jesus and the Bible as coming
>from God, but also believe that God sent the Indians the Peyote Woman, who
>brought to them the peyote drug, used in their ceremonies. This drug, when
>taken properly, with prayer, meditation and singing, brings visions to the
>Indians who use it, and they say gives them directions and warnings from God.
>The peyote button is taken from a cactus plant found in Mexico and the
>southwestern United States. It is chewed, but has a bitter taste. The
>peyote ceremony is generally held in a tipi, with a circle of Indians inside,
>led by the Peyote Chief. A half moon of ashes, a drum and various other
>ceremonial helpers (some of which are shown in our color plate) are used.
>The ceremony usually lasts all night, with considerable singing and drum
>beating.
> The visions of those who take peyote are often very strange and
>beautiful, as shown in our color plate. Colors of most brilliant shades may
>appear and usually pulsate, probably in tune with the beat of the Peyote
>Drummer. The fantastic experience gives evidence of transforming and
>improving character when tied in with religion, but there seems to us to be
>some danger that Indians and others who uses peyote might come to depend on
>the drug too much, and not enough on their own efforts. The purification of
>the hearts of men requires hard work and anything that helps this is good,
>but should not be depended upon alone. Certainly peyote should be used with
>great care, particularly as there is evidence it may be harmful to some
>people, and not used at all where it is against the law.
> There is considerable controversy over whether the drug compounds found
>in peyote are harmful or not, though most authorities are agreed that they
>are not habit-forming. use of the drug even in religious ceremonies is
>banned in some states, but in Arizona recently the State Supreme Court
>declared the law an unconstitutional infringement of religious freedom.
>Followers of Peyote teach the leading of a life of purity. In fostering
>ceremonies that use some of the old Indian ideas of religion, they probably
>help preserve and rebuild some of the wonderful old Indian spirit that the
>Indians were losing. Some of the Peyote dreams have been of a time coming
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>when all peoples would be united in brotherhood. If true, then Peyote itself
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>is a step in this direction, and the followers of this religious movement are
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>being made ready for something bigger and wider that will bring all peoples
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>together in love and harmony.
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>ABOUT THIS BOOK AND ITS AUTHORS
>
> An Indian who read this book said: "It makes me feel strange. It makes
>me proud of my people, but ashamed of my own life and wanting to improve it."
>A white man who read it said: "I never knew the Indians had such feeling; I
>never knew they had such strange and wonderful visions. That they tie all
>together into a meaningful pattern makes me think there is something behind
>them." Whether you are white, Indian or of any other race, you will find in
>this book a new an exciting way to look at life and a promise of glory and
>peace for all mankind.
> The Oglala Sioux beaded bag shown in the upper right is a unique key to
>this story, for somehow it started one of the remarkable visions told about
>in this book and it started an unusual partnership of an Eskimo and a white
>biologist in writing it.
> The Eskimo, William Willoya, was born and educated in Alaska, but has
>traveled in Europe and over much of North America, searching for the
>fulfillment of a wondrous dream. How he found it is part of the story.
> Vinson Brown, author of eighteen published books, has his M.A. in
>biology from Stanford University and also minored in Anthropology at the
>University of California. he has traveled in Asia, Central America, and over
>much of western North America, visiting many Indian tribes and studying their
>thoughts, dreams and customs with understanding and love.
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