Legends tell of a number of Great Civilizations such as Atlantis that have risen and fallen since ancient times.  Eight Great Powers emerged, as remnants of those civilizations reconstituted themselves into magickal lodges, mystery schools and secret societies that preserved and taught spiritual knowledge handed down through the millennia.

The 8 Great Powers (one for each direction on the wheel of life) represent different bodies of knowledge that can ultimately lead to enlightenment.  While each Power holds a way to the light, no one Power holds The Truth, and no valid teacher will claim to have “the only way”. 

The Sweet Medicine SunDance path is part of the Southwest Power.  Seekers who are curious about our path are welcome to join us for purification lodges, classes or ceremonies like a Vision Quest.  Some are so touched by their experiences, that they’re hungry for more. When a person apprentices to a spiritual path, they choose a path that “sings in their heart” and inspires them to heal and grow.  The Sweet Medicine SunDance path is one such path.

Apprenticeship is first and foremost an agreement between you and Spirit, and secondly an agreement between you and someone who has walked on this path before you (called a Guide).  You apprentice to the Path, not to a person.  This decision gives you access to lineage teachings, practices and ceremonies, set in place thousands of years ago, to support your journey to enlightenment from the perspective of the Sweet Medicine SunDance spiritual tradition.  We call this the Gateway Process. 

The essence of our Path is expressed through the SunDance Vow, taken as part of one’s initiation into the First Gateway.

For further information about apprenticeship, contact Debbie at Flowering Tree Lodge.

Apprenticeship and the Gateway Process

SUNDANCE VOW

Great Spirit, I vow from this time on to dance towards enlightenment.

I will fight my inner darkness with any tools and knowledge that works.

I accept all teachers, teachings, paths as equal;

I honor all paths to the light.

I choose the Sweet Medicine SunDance way as my Path with Heart and

the pursuit of knowledge and pleasure as my way of self-growth.

I will learn to walk in balance with Grandmother Earth

and in harmony with her children.

As a warrior I will fight the enemies of ignorance,

superstition, dogma, prejudice, racism, slavery, poverty,

sickness, disease, illness and death.

I vow to always honor the elders, the women, and to protect the children.

I will use my love, my physical abilities, my knowledge,

and the medicine tools in this battle with darkness.

I will empower all other humans on their search for individual, autonomous freedom.

Great Spirit, hear my intent.