tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73978143519131107172024-03-20T01:02:02.844-07:00Pagan Parties Are ForeverPagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-48080018690026421712010-03-03T07:55:00.000-08:002010-03-03T07:56:35.329-08:00Ann Liv Young<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ts-TJmVslBE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ts-TJmVslBE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4495990&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4495990&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4495990">Ann Liv Young - Tribute to Ellliot</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1706003">rambazamba</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-78152484339301870052010-02-16T17:42:00.001-08:002010-02-16T17:42:34.947-08:00PORTIKUS / MICHAEL BEUTLER<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/axVO0T40Kkw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/axVO0T40Kkw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-79488142388180706852010-02-16T17:39:00.001-08:002010-02-16T17:39:58.055-08:00PORTIKUS / WADE GUYTON<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zpY6C58N2as&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zpY6C58N2as&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-50985980683875008092010-02-06T09:35:00.000-08:002010-02-06T09:39:46.150-08:00Kraftwerk and the electronic revolution<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RMP-k_j8QWU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RMP-k_j8QWU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-61563263549614086402010-02-06T09:34:00.001-08:002010-02-06T09:34:51.878-08:00James Hopkins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17GAolhsEarmlGGRfqUfUgnNaPmSTcurO7xmWg5v-jYxB3stYP4nArVQ1oiVpQDcii3iYVpUKwu73_eMJOrCMVGo5AmNXT82X4CY2HE5vZ_h-nwU-NzZmF2J281RRf41vtMW6uQx7azs/s320/DecorAsArt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435185266174629074" /></a>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-40487943121653778472010-01-31T18:32:00.000-08:002010-01-31T18:42:03.543-08:00gabriela fridriksdottir<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-nL2OxQ0UTE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-nL2OxQ0UTE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s642KB2qNK0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s642KB2qNK0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-85970994762832886262010-01-31T14:03:00.000-08:002010-01-31T14:04:41.955-08:00KIRSTEN GLASS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyNHqv9139TSnkass00k_HIauen_ZO9NC1ysGvC4yClbfTr-JBm5dj44AByrSWx1f7RcjPCVTO69ErD23FsPWvmeW81SktLp2GkVy4P2H5nwE1qRt5sSNE-C3GypuiVd_mC32vINe_To/s320/glass-S_nakeskin_love_s_a_2_way_dream_-830x506.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433028276467018338" /></a>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-90108157351654208432010-01-20T17:09:00.000-08:002010-01-20T17:12:41.012-08:00Franz West<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1AHY516ZIx4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1AHY516ZIx4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yLsSr3LhSHw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yLsSr3LhSHw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n3j0xGmGqWM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n3j0xGmGqWM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-86923497630370631532010-01-15T13:17:00.000-08:002010-01-15T13:18:10.817-08:00Paul McCarthy on Dan Graham<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pmlaiIYn7Pk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pmlaiIYn7Pk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-81377486455904388132010-01-03T13:25:00.000-08:002010-01-03T13:27:07.968-08:00Agnes Martin<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_-JfYjmo5OA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_-JfYjmo5OA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-33320097686221163972010-01-03T13:16:00.000-08:002010-01-03T13:25:06.058-08:00Roy Wood / Wizzard<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u8PdHg84zUE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u8PdHg84zUE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7ddz-rRI16k&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7ddz-rRI16k&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SN-mqJ1hI_k&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SN-mqJ1hI_k&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-81301484672334209352009-12-26T16:31:00.000-08:002009-12-26T16:33:31.873-08:00When thinking of the collapse...We imagine ourselves in ecstasy<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AnRk4iaATo4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AnRk4iaATo4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WlCt2IFxCRE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WlCt2IFxCRE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MYEBdlRLJhI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MYEBdlRLJhI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-84156173886167009202009-12-26T16:22:00.000-08:002009-12-26T16:28:55.163-08:00What is meant by the myth of Embros<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z7ZucE_olEs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z7ZucE_olEs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CrVE-WQBcYQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CrVE-WQBcYQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-55313835026156687322009-12-25T21:07:00.001-08:002009-12-25T21:07:16.438-08:00Hermann Nitsch<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MqrgL__KLFo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MqrgL__KLFo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-75112151188332418592009-12-25T21:06:00.001-08:002009-12-25T21:06:34.315-08:00Cindy Sherman<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xsow0QaKJAM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xsow0QaKJAM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-13029801828769532402009-12-16T08:50:00.000-08:002009-12-16T08:52:30.994-08:00Plastic Shamans and Astroturf Sun Dances: New Age Commercialization of Native American Spiritua Category: Religion and Philosophy<span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_ltl_body">Plast<wbr>ic Shama<wbr>ns and Astro<wbr>turf Sun Dance<wbr>s: New Age Comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can Spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty <br />by Lisa Aldre<wbr>d <br />The Ameri<wbr>can India<wbr>n Quart<wbr>erly,<wbr> Vol. 24, No. 3 (<wbr>2000)<wbr>, pp.<br /> 329-<wbr>352<br />Unive<wbr>rsity<wbr> of Nebra<wbr>ska<br /><br />Consu<wbr>ming Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can Spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty <br /><br />Comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> explo<wbr>itati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual tradi<wbr>tions<wbr> has perme<wbr>ated the New Age movem<wbr>ent since<wbr> its emerg<wbr>ence in the 1980s<wbr>. Euro-<wbr>Ameri<wbr>cans profe<wbr>ssing<wbr> to be medic<wbr>ine peopl<wbr>e have profi<wbr>ted from publi<wbr>catio<wbr>ns and works<wbr>hops.<wbr> Mass quant<wbr>ities<wbr> of produ<wbr>cts promo<wbr>ted as "<wbr>Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can sacre<wbr>d objec<wbr>ts" have been succe<wbr>ssful<wbr>ly sold by white<wbr> entre<wbr>prene<wbr>urs to a large<wbr>ly non-<wbr>India<wbr>n marke<wbr>t. This essay<wbr> begin<wbr>s with an overv<wbr>iew of these<wbr> acts of comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on as well as Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans'<wbr> objec<wbr>tions<wbr> to such pract<wbr>ices.<wbr> Its real focus<wbr>, howev<wbr>er, is the motiv<wbr>ation<wbr> behin<wbr>d the New Agers<wbr>' obses<wbr>sion and consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. Why do New Agers<wbr> persi<wbr>st in consu<wbr>ming comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>ized Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty? What kinds<wbr> of self-<wbr>artic<wbr>ulate<wbr>d defen<wbr>ses do New Agers<wbr> offer<wbr> for these<wbr> comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> pract<wbr>ices?<wbr> To answe<wbr>r these<wbr> quest<wbr>ions,<wbr> analy<wbr>sis from a large<wbr>r socia<wbr>l and econo<wbr>mic persp<wbr>ectiv<wbr>e is neede<wbr>d to furth<wbr>er under<wbr>stand<wbr> the motiv<wbr>ation<wbr>s behin<wbr>d New Age consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n.<br /> <br /><br />In the so-<wbr>calle<wbr>d postm<wbr>odern<wbr> cultu<wbr>re of late consu<wbr>mer capit<wbr>alism<wbr>, a signi<wbr>fican<wbr>t numbe<wbr>r of white<wbr> afflu<wbr>ent subur<wbr>ban and urban<wbr> middl<wbr>e-<wbr>aged baby-<wbr>boome<wbr>rs compl<wbr>ain of feeli<wbr>ng uproo<wbr>ted from cultu<wbr>ral tradi<wbr>tions<wbr>, commu<wbr>nity belon<wbr>ging,<wbr> and spiri<wbr>tual meani<wbr>ng. The New Age movem<wbr>ent is one such respo<wbr>nse to these<wbr> feeli<wbr>ngs. New Agers<wbr> roman<wbr>ticiz<wbr>e an "<wbr>authe<wbr>ntic"<wbr> and "<wbr>tradi<wbr>tiona<wbr>l" Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can cultu<wbr>re whose<wbr> spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty can save them from their<wbr> own sense<wbr> of malai<wbr>se. Howev<wbr>er, as produ<wbr>cts of the very consu<wbr>mer cultu<wbr>re they seek to escap<wbr>e, these<wbr> New Agers<wbr> pursu<wbr>e spiri<wbr>tual meani<wbr>ng and cultu<wbr>ral ident<wbr>ifica<wbr>tion throu<wbr>gh acts of purch<wbr>ase. Altho<wbr>ugh New Agers<wbr> ident<wbr>ify as a count<wbr>ercul<wbr>tural<wbr> group<wbr>, their<wbr> comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> actio<wbr>ns mesh quite<wbr> well with mains<wbr>tream<wbr> capit<wbr>alism<wbr>. Ultim<wbr>ately<wbr>, their<wbr> searc<wbr>h for spiri<wbr>tual and cultu<wbr>ral meani<wbr>ng throu<wbr>gh mater<wbr>ial acqui<wbr>sitio<wbr>n leave<wbr>s them feeli<wbr>ng unsat<wbr>isfie<wbr>d. The commu<wbr>nity they seek is only imagi<wbr>ned, a world<wbr> conju<wbr>red up by the promi<wbr>ses of adver<wbr>tised<wbr> produ<wbr>cts, but with no histo<wbr>ry, socia<wbr>l relat<wbr>ions,<wbr> or conte<wbr>xtual<wbr>ized cultu<wbr>re that would<wbr> make for a sense<wbr> of real belon<wbr>ging.<wbr> Meanw<wbr>hile,<wbr> their<wbr> fetis<wbr>hizat<wbr>ion of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty not only masks<wbr> the socia<wbr>l oppre<wbr>ssion<wbr> of real India<wbr>n peopl<wbr>es but also perpe<wbr>tuate<wbr>s it.<br /> <br /><br />The Rainb<wbr>ow Tribe<wbr>: New Agers<wbr> Ident<wbr>ifyin<wbr>g with Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can Spiri<wbr>tual Tradi<wbr>tions<wbr> <br /><br />The term New Age is often<wbr> used to refer<wbr> to a movem<wbr>ent that emerg<wbr>ed in the 1980s<wbr>. Its adher<wbr>ents ascri<wbr>be to an eclec<wbr>tic amalg<wbr>am of belie<wbr>fs and pract<wbr>ices,<wbr> often<wbr> hybri<wbr>dized<wbr> from vario<wbr>us cultu<wbr>res. New Agers<wbr> tend to focus<wbr> on what they refer<wbr> to as perso<wbr>nal trans<wbr>forma<wbr>tion and spiri<wbr>tual growt<wbr>h. Many of them envis<wbr>ion a liter<wbr>al New Age, which<wbr> is descr<wbr>ibed as a perio<wbr>d of massi<wbr>ve chang<wbr>e in the futur<wbr>e when peopl<wbr>e will live in harmo<wbr>ny with natur<wbr>e and each other<wbr>. Only in this New Age will they reali<wbr>ze the full exten<wbr>t of human<wbr> poten<wbr>tial,<wbr> inclu<wbr>ding spiri<wbr>tual growt<wbr>h, the devel<wbr>opmen<wbr>t of psych<wbr>ic abili<wbr>ties,<wbr> and optim<wbr>um physi<wbr>cal healt<wbr>h throu<wbr>gh alter<wbr>nativ<wbr>e heali<wbr>ng. Most New Agers<wbr> conte<wbr>nd that this trans<wbr>forma<wbr>tion will not take place<wbr> throu<wbr>gh conce<wbr>rted polit<wbr>ical chang<wbr>e direc<wbr>ted at exist<wbr>ing struc<wbr>tures<wbr> and insti<wbr>tutio<wbr>ns. Rathe<wbr>r, it will be achie<wbr>ved throu<wbr>gh indiv<wbr>idual<wbr> perso<wbr>nal trans<wbr>forma<wbr>tion.<br /> <br /><br />The New Age is only a movem<wbr>ent in the loose<wbr>st sense<wbr> of the term.<wbr> There<wbr> is no circu<wbr>mscri<wbr>bed creed<wbr> or defin<wbr>ed tenet<wbr>s in the New Age movem<wbr>ent. Nor are there<wbr> any requi<wbr>remen<wbr>ts for membe<wbr>rship<wbr>, altho<wbr>ugh studi<wbr>es show most tend to be white<wbr>, middl<wbr>e-<wbr>aged,<wbr> and colle<wbr>ge educa<wbr>ted, with a middl<wbr>e- to upper<wbr>-<wbr>middl<wbr>e-<wbr>class<wbr> incom<wbr>e. Estim<wbr>ates of peopl<wbr>e ident<wbr>ifyin<wbr>g with the New Age movem<wbr>ent tend to run from ten to twent<wbr>y milli<wbr>on. Exact<wbr> numbe<wbr>rs are diffi<wbr>cult to ascer<wbr>tain,<wbr> howev<wbr>er, becau<wbr>se many New Age books<wbr> have seepe<wbr>d into the mains<wbr>tream<wbr> and have influ<wbr>enced<wbr> the views<wbr> of peopl<wbr>e not consc<wbr>iousl<wbr>y ident<wbr>ified<wbr> with the movem<wbr>ent. The New Age is thus not a stric<wbr>tly defin<wbr>ed commu<wbr>nity heade<wbr>d by forma<wbr>lly recog<wbr>nized<wbr> leade<wbr>rs with an artic<wbr>ulate<wbr>d dogma<wbr>. Rathe<wbr>r, it is a term that is appli<wbr>ed to a heter<wbr>ogene<wbr>ous colle<wbr>ction<wbr> of philo<wbr>sophi<wbr>es and pract<wbr>ices.<wbr> There<wbr> is a wide and burge<wbr>oning<wbr> numbe<wbr>r of pract<wbr>ices assoc<wbr>iated<wbr> with the New Age, inclu<wbr>ding inter<wbr>ests in shama<wbr>nism,<wbr> godde<wbr>ss worsh<wbr>ip, Easte<wbr>rn relig<wbr>ions,<wbr> cryst<wbr>als, pagan<wbr> ritua<wbr>ls, extra<wbr>terre<wbr>stria<wbr>ls, and chann<wbr>eling<wbr> spiri<wbr>t being<wbr>s. "<wbr>Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty" is among<wbr> the most popul<wbr>ar inter<wbr>ests.<br /> 1 <br /><br />It is my conte<wbr>ntion<wbr> that the New Age is prima<wbr>rily a consu<wbr>meris<wbr>t movem<wbr>ent. There<wbr> are a minor<wbr>ity of adher<wbr>ents who live toget<wbr>her and try to incor<wbr>porat<wbr>e New Age philo<wbr>sophi<wbr>es and pract<wbr>ices into all aspec<wbr>ts of their<wbr> lives<wbr>. Some incor<wbr>porat<wbr>e these<wbr> pract<wbr>ices into part of their<wbr> lives<wbr> by takin<wbr>g works<wbr>hops and engag<wbr>ing in New Age pract<wbr>ices in their<wbr> spare<wbr> time.<wbr> Howev<wbr>er, the major<wbr>ity of those<wbr> who ident<wbr>ify thems<wbr>elves<wbr> as New Age (or who could<wbr> be reaso<wbr>nably<wbr> label<wbr>ed as such by other<wbr>s) parti<wbr>cipat<wbr>e prima<wbr>rily throu<wbr>gh the purch<wbr>ase of texts<wbr> and produ<wbr>cts targe<wbr>ted for the New Age marke<wbr>t. Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty is one of the most popul<wbr>ar and profi<wbr>table<wbr> secto<wbr>rs of this New Age comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>ism.<br /> 2 <br /><br />In this essay<wbr>, the term New Agers<wbr> is used to refer<wbr> to the secto<wbr>r that is inter<wbr>ested<wbr> in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual tradi<wbr>tions<wbr>. Certa<wbr>inly,<wbr> not every<wbr>one invol<wbr>ved in the New Age movem<wbr>ent is inter<wbr>ested<wbr> in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. Moreo<wbr>ver, there<wbr> is diver<wbr>sity among<wbr> those<wbr> inter<wbr>ested<wbr> New Agers<wbr>. A small<wbr> perce<wbr>ntage<wbr> const<wbr>ructs<wbr> their<wbr> essen<wbr>tial ident<wbr>ity aroun<wbr>d Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ion. A numbe<wbr>r of those<wbr> who ident<wbr>ify thems<wbr>elves<wbr> as membe<wbr>rs of "the Rainb<wbr>ow Tribe<wbr>" argua<wbr>bly fit into this categ<wbr>ory. Some Rainb<wbr>ow Tribe<wbr> membe<wbr>rs spend<wbr> time in commu<wbr>nitie<wbr>s they form,<wbr> engag<wbr>ed in their<wbr> own versi<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can ritua<wbr>ls. Howev<wbr>er, many New Agers<wbr> inter<wbr>ested<wbr> in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty parti<wbr>cipat<wbr>e only throu<wbr>gh comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>ly run semin<wbr>ars or the purch<wbr>ase of texts<wbr> and produ<wbr>cts. This artic<wbr>le is prima<wbr>rily conce<wbr>rned with New Agers<wbr> whose<wbr> inter<wbr>est in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty is expre<wbr>ssed throu<wbr>gh comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> pursu<wbr>its. Altho<wbr>ugh entre<wbr>prene<wbr>urs will be discu<wbr>ssed in the overv<wbr>iew of New Age comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty, their<wbr> motiv<wbr>ation<wbr>s are not the subje<wbr>ct of this analy<wbr>sis (<wbr>argua<wbr>bly, they are shrew<wbr>d busin<wbr>essme<wbr>n and women<wbr> who know how to tap into lucra<wbr>tive marke<wbr>ts). Rathe<wbr>r, this essay<wbr> seeks<wbr> to expla<wbr>in why New Age consu<wbr>mers seek spiri<wbr>tual meani<wbr>ng throu<wbr>gh purch<wbr>ase.<br /> <br /><br />Plast<wbr>ic Medic<wbr>ine Men for Hire<br /><br />A numbe<wbr>r of "<wbr>Plast<wbr>ic Medic<wbr>ine Peopl<wbr>e" have surfa<wbr>ced in the New Age movem<wbr>ent, typic<wbr>ally Euro-<wbr>Ameri<wbr>cans claim<wbr>ing mento<wbr>rship<wbr> by "<wbr>authe<wbr>ntic Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can medic<wbr>ine peopl<wbr>e." These<wbr> "<wbr>Shake<wbr> and Bake Shama<wbr>ns," as some Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can activ<wbr>ists have dubbe<wbr>d them,<wbr> write<wbr> best-<wbr>selli<wbr>ng books<wbr> and lead expen<wbr>sive works<wbr>hops claim<wbr>ing to teach<wbr> their<wbr> consu<wbr>mers "how to pract<wbr>ice Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty.<br />" <br /><br />By far, the bigge<wbr>st busin<wbr>ess in New Age appro<wbr>priat<wbr>ion of indig<wbr>enous<wbr> spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty trans<wbr>pires<wbr> in the publi<wbr>shing<wbr> indus<wbr>try where<wbr> plast<wbr>ic medic<wbr>ine autho<wbr>rs are big selle<wbr>rs. Perha<wbr>ps the most succe<wbr>ssful<wbr>, not to menti<wbr>on notor<wbr>ious,<wbr> is Lynn Andre<wbr>ws. Andre<wbr>ws has been dubbe<wbr>d the "<wbr>Bever<wbr>ly Hills<wbr> Shama<wbr>n" by some of her New Age suppo<wbr>rters<wbr> and the less flatt<wbr>ering<wbr> epith<wbr>et "<wbr>Bever<wbr>ly Hills<wbr> Witch<wbr>" by a numbe<wbr>r of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans criti<wbr>cizin<wbr>g her comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> explo<wbr>itati<wbr>on of indig<wbr>enous<wbr> spiri<wbr>tual tradi<wbr>tions<wbr>. Contr<wbr>overs<wbr>y aside<wbr>, she is a best-<wbr>selli<wbr>ng autho<wbr>r, havin<wbr>g made The New York Times<wbr> and Los Angel<wbr>es Times<wbr> best-<wbr>selle<wbr>r lists<wbr> on numer<wbr>ous occas<wbr>ions.<wbr> Andre<wbr>ws claim<wbr>s that her books<wbr> are true accou<wbr>nts of her mento<wbr>ring exper<wbr>ience<wbr>s with two Canad<wbr>ian Cree medic<wbr>ine women<wbr>-<wbr>-<wbr>Agnes<wbr> Whist<wbr>ling Elk and Ruby Plent<wbr>y Chief<wbr>s. In the first<wbr> two books<wbr>, these<wbr> two elder<wbr>ly women<wbr> suppo<wbr>sedly<wbr> teach<wbr> Andre<wbr>ws Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can shama<wbr>n techn<wbr>iques<wbr> to help her battl<wbr>e an evil sorce<wbr>rer. In subse<wbr>quent<wbr> books<wbr>, the trio encou<wbr>nters<wbr> a flyin<wbr>g horse<wbr> capab<wbr>le of turni<wbr>ng into rainb<wbr>ow color<wbr>s and dolph<wbr>ins, who trans<wbr>mit Austr<wbr>alian<wbr> abori<wbr>ginal<wbr> dream<wbr> visio<wbr>ns via a eucal<wbr>yptus<wbr> tree anten<wbr>na.<br /> <br /><br />Anoth<wbr>er plast<wbr>ic shama<wbr>n autho<wbr>r, Mary Summe<wbr>r Rain,<wbr> has a lucra<wbr>tive caree<wbr>r, havin<wbr>g publi<wbr>shed over fifte<wbr>en books<wbr> based<wbr> on Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual theme<wbr>s and her mento<wbr>r, a blind<wbr> India<wbr>n woman<wbr> she calls<wbr> No-<wbr>Eyes.<br /> 3 <br /><br />Inter<wbr>estin<wbr>gly, one of Lynn Andre<wbr>ws's mento<wbr>rs, Ruby Plent<wbr>y Chief<wbr>s, is also blind<wbr>. In Phant<wbr>oms Afoot<wbr>: Helpi<wbr>ng the Spiri<wbr>ts Among<wbr> Us, Summe<wbr>r Rain claim<wbr>s that No-<wbr>Eyes entru<wbr>sts her with a missi<wbr>on to help lost spiri<wbr>ts find their<wbr> way to the after<wbr>world<wbr>. In a stere<wbr>otype<wbr>d Tonto<wbr> Speak<wbr>, No-<wbr>Eyes tells<wbr> Summe<wbr>r Rain,<wbr> "<wbr>No-<wbr>Eyes gonna<wbr> be speak<wbr>in' '<wbr>bout spiri<wbr>ts who be stupi<wbr>d-<wbr>dumb.<br />" 4 <br /><br />Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can activ<wbr>ists have great<wbr>ly casti<wbr>gated<wbr> these<wbr> works<wbr> for their<wbr> trivi<wbr>aliza<wbr>tion and comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. Never<wbr>thele<wbr>ss, the numbe<wbr>r of plast<wbr>ic shama<wbr>n autho<wbr>rs, not to menti<wbr>on their<wbr> comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> succe<wbr>ss, conti<wbr>nues to swell<wbr>. Jamie<wbr> Samms<wbr> is a forme<wbr>r count<wbr>ry-<wbr>weste<wbr>rn singe<wbr>r who claim<wbr>s to chann<wbr>el Leah,<wbr> an entit<wbr>y suppo<wbr>sedly<wbr> livin<wbr>g on Venus<wbr> six hundr<wbr>ed years<wbr> in the futur<wbr>e. Samms<wbr> later<wbr> seize<wbr>d on Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual theme<wbr>s. Samms<wbr> claim<wbr>s that she was taugh<wbr>t by the "<wbr>thirt<wbr>een clan mothe<wbr>rs" who took human<wbr> form durin<wbr>g the Ice Age and then disap<wbr>peare<wbr>d, leavi<wbr>ng the "<wbr>thirt<wbr>een cryst<wbr>al skull<wbr>s," one of which<wbr> Samms<wbr> claim<wbr>s to have seen.<wbr> Samms<wbr> teach<wbr>es her reade<wbr>rs how to call up the thirt<wbr>een clan mothe<wbr>rs by focus<wbr>ing on them,<wbr> each of whom has her own shiel<wbr>d and her own speci<wbr>al abili<wbr>ties.<br /> 5 <br /><br />Don Le Vie Jr., who write<wbr>s about<wbr> Iron Thund<wbr>erhor<wbr>se, is suppo<wbr>sedly<wbr> of Algon<wbr>quin herit<wbr>age. Thund<wbr>erhor<wbr>se's teach<wbr>ings are a mishm<wbr>ash of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ion and other<wbr> New Age favor<wbr>ites,<wbr> such as Tibet<wbr>an Buddh<wbr>ism, Taois<wbr>m, and Ancie<wbr>nt Druid<wbr>ism.<br /> 6 <br /><br />Mary Eliza<wbr>beth Marlo<wbr>w write<wbr>s about<wbr> Beaut<wbr>iful Paint<wbr>ed Arrow<wbr>, a Picur<wbr>is Puebl<wbr>o-<wbr>Ute who tells<wbr> Marlo<wbr>w he has seen two kachi<wbr>nas landi<wbr>ng in a space<wbr> machi<wbr>ne and expla<wbr>ins his philo<wbr>sophy<wbr> throu<wbr>gh allus<wbr>ions to Dance<wbr>s with Wolve<wbr>s.<br /> 7 <br /><br />Doug Boyd has writt<wbr>en on two Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can medic<wbr>ine men, Rolli<wbr>ng Thund<wbr>er and Mad Bear,<wbr> both affil<wbr>iated<wbr> with the New Age.<br /> 8 <br /><br />Taish<wbr>a Abela<wbr>r is a forme<wbr>r anthr<wbr>opolo<wbr>gist who encou<wbr>ntere<wbr>d a Mexic<wbr>an sorce<wbr>ress while<wbr> wande<wbr>ring throu<wbr>gh the mount<wbr>ains of Tucso<wbr>n in the 1960s<wbr>. She trave<wbr>led to the woman<wbr>'s home in Sonor<wbr>a, Mexic<wbr>o, to live with this woman<wbr> who turne<wbr>d out to be from the same famil<wbr>y of sorce<wbr>rers that instr<wbr>ucted<wbr> Carlo<wbr>s Casta<wbr>neda.<br /> 9 <br /><br />Not all those<wbr> desig<wbr>nated<wbr> as "<wbr>plast<wbr>ic" by Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can activ<wbr>ists publi<wbr>sh books<wbr>. There<wbr> are quite<wbr> a numbe<wbr>r who run works<wbr>hops,<wbr> semin<wbr>ars, or cente<wbr>rs claim<wbr>ing to teach<wbr> Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual pract<wbr>ice. For examp<wbr>le, one non-<wbr>Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can woman<wbr> who calls<wbr> herse<wbr>lf Mary Thund<wbr>er runs a New Age cente<wbr>r in Texas<wbr> where<wbr> she condu<wbr>cts sweat<wbr>s, pipe cerem<wbr>onies<wbr>, and talks<wbr> with space<wbr> alien<wbr>s throu<wbr>gh Max, the cryst<wbr>al skull<wbr>. Anoth<wbr>er woman<wbr> refer<wbr>red to as Ocean<wbr>a, or somet<wbr>imes O'<wbr>Shinn<wbr>a, claim<wbr>s to have been born in a cryst<wbr>al spect<wbr>rum in Color<wbr>ado; she mixes<wbr> Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can teach<wbr>ings with refer<wbr>ences<wbr> to Atlan<wbr>tis, Tibet<wbr>an Buddh<wbr>ism, and theos<wbr>ophy.<wbr> Some "<wbr>plast<wbr>ics" produ<wbr>ce video<wbr>s expla<wbr>ining<wbr> their<wbr> philo<wbr>sophi<wbr>es and offer<wbr>ing "<wbr>do-<wbr>it-<wbr>yours<wbr>elf" instr<wbr>uctio<wbr>ns for Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can cerem<wbr>onies<wbr> such as sweat<wbr>s.<br /> 10 <br /><br />There<wbr> are also a numbe<wbr>r of New Age "<wbr>chann<wbr>elers<wbr>" who claim<wbr> to chann<wbr>el Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual entit<wbr>ies. If paid the requi<wbr>site sizab<wbr>le fee, these<wbr> chann<wbr>elers<wbr> acces<wbr>s the wisdo<wbr>m of their<wbr> India<wbr>n guide<wbr>s for their<wbr> clien<wbr>ts. One woman<wbr> claim<wbr>s to chann<wbr>el a Hopi India<wbr>n named<wbr> Barki<wbr>ng Tree (as well as Bell Bell,<wbr> a giggl<wbr>ing six-<wbr>year-<wbr>old from Atlan<wbr>tis, and a being<wbr> named<wbr> Aeffr<wbr>a from Weste<wbr>rn Europ<wbr>e). A New Ager in Tampa<wbr>, Flori<wbr>da, claim<wbr>s to chann<wbr>el an entit<wbr>y named<wbr> Olah,<wbr> who is suppo<wbr>sed to be a reinc<wbr>arnat<wbr>ion of both Edgar<wbr> Cayce<wbr> and the rever<wbr>ed Lakot<wbr>a spiri<wbr>tual entit<wbr>y White<wbr> Buffa<wbr>lo Calf Woman<wbr>.<br /> <br /><br />Many Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans have been offen<wbr>ded by the mocke<wbr>ry these<wbr> basta<wbr>rdize<wbr>d versi<wbr>ons make of their<wbr> sacre<wbr>d cerem<wbr>onies<wbr>. Some of the incid<wbr>ents denou<wbr>nced as most offen<wbr>sive inclu<wbr>de Sun Dance<wbr>s held on Astro<wbr>turf,<wbr> sweat<wbr>s held on cruis<wbr>e ships<wbr> with wine and chees<wbr>e serve<wbr>d, and sex orgie<wbr>s adver<wbr>tised<wbr> as part of "<wbr>tradi<wbr>tiona<wbr>l Chero<wbr>kee cerem<wbr>onies<wbr>." A typic<wbr>al adver<wbr>tisem<wbr>ent for such a works<wbr>hop promi<wbr>ses an intro<wbr>ducti<wbr>on to "<wbr>core shama<wbr>nism-<wbr>-the unive<wbr>rsal and basic<wbr> metho<wbr>ds used by the shama<wbr>n to enter<wbr> non-<wbr>ordin<wbr>ary reali<wbr>ty for probl<wbr>em solvi<wbr>ng, well-<wbr>being<wbr> and heali<wbr>ng.<br />" 11 <br /><br />Other<wbr>s make even more speci<wbr>fic promi<wbr>ses; for examp<wbr>le, one works<wbr>hop guara<wbr>ntees<wbr> that you will retri<wbr>eve your own perso<wbr>nal power<wbr> anima<wbr>l in a tranc<wbr>e.<br /> 12 <br /><br />These<wbr> works<wbr>hops are also incor<wbr>porat<wbr>ed into theme<wbr> adult<wbr> camps<wbr>, wilde<wbr>rness<wbr> train<wbr>ing progr<wbr>ams, and New Age trave<wbr>l packa<wbr>ges.<br /> 13 <br /><br />Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can activ<wbr>ists have been great<wbr>ly anger<wbr>ed by the comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> explo<wbr>itati<wbr>on of their<wbr> spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty repre<wbr>sente<wbr>d by these<wbr> works<wbr>hops.<wbr> A weeke<wbr>nd visio<wbr>n-<wbr>quest<wbr> works<wbr>hop, for insta<wbr>nce, can curre<wbr>ntly run anywh<wbr>ere betwe<wbr>en $250 to $550 (<wbr>accom<wbr>modat<wbr>ions and meals<wbr> not inclu<wbr>ded)<wbr>. In 1988,<wbr> Singi<wbr>ng Pipe Woman<wbr> of Sprin<wbr>gdale<wbr>, Washi<wbr>ngton<wbr>, adver<wbr>tised<wbr> a two-<wbr>week pilgr<wbr>image<wbr> that inclu<wbr>ded study<wbr> with a Huich<wbr>ol woman<wbr> and was price<wbr>d at $<wbr>2,<wbr>450. Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans have comme<wbr>nted on the bitte<wbr>r irony<wbr> of these<wbr> plast<wbr>ic shama<wbr>ns profi<wbr>ting from the degra<wbr>ding,<wbr> twist<wbr>ed versi<wbr>ons of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can ritua<wbr>ls while<wbr> many indig<wbr>enous<wbr> peopl<wbr>e still<wbr> live below<wbr> the pover<wbr>ty level<wbr>.<br /> 14 <br /><br />New Age inter<wbr>est in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can cultu<wbr>res appea<wbr>rs more conce<wbr>rned with exoti<wbr>cized<wbr> image<wbr>s and roman<wbr>ticiz<wbr>ed ritua<wbr>ls revol<wbr>ving aroun<wbr>d a disto<wbr>rted view of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty than with the indig<wbr>enous<wbr> peopl<wbr>es thems<wbr>elves<wbr> and the very real (and often<wbr> ugly)<wbr> socio<wbr>econo<wbr>mic and polit<wbr>ical probl<wbr>ems they face as colon<wbr>ized peopl<wbr>es.<br /> <br /><br />Purch<wbr>asing<wbr> Spiri<wbr>tual Power<wbr> Throu<wbr>gh Produ<wbr>cts <br /><br />New Age inter<wbr>est in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty has spawn<wbr>ed numer<wbr>ous produ<wbr>cts over the years<wbr>. Some produ<wbr>cts claim<wbr> to assis<wbr>t the dabbl<wbr>er in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual pract<wbr>ices.<wbr> For examp<wbr>le, those<wbr> who do not want to take the time and troub<wbr>le of build<wbr>ing their<wbr> own sweat<wbr> lodge<wbr>s can call 1-<wbr>800-<wbr>36-<wbr>SWEAT<wbr> to order<wbr> a "<wbr>sweat<wbr> tent.<br />" Or the follo<wbr>wing kit can be order<wbr>ed to obtai<wbr>n a more "<wbr>total<wbr> exper<wbr>ience<wbr>" of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty: <br /><br />YOUR PERSO<wbr>NAL NATIV<wbr>E AMERI<wbr>CAN EXPER<wbr>IENCE<wbr> . . . Sage and cedar<wbr> smudg<wbr>e stick<wbr>s come with holy herb tea. The Spiri<wbr>t of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>ca book,<wbr> and the Deser<wbr>t CD or tape-<wbr>-all colle<wbr>cted in a speci<wbr>ally desig<wbr>ned green<wbr> box, made from recyc<wbr>led mater<wbr>ials,<wbr> honor<wbr>ing Mothe<wbr>r Earth<wbr> and provi<wbr>ding you the oppor<wbr>tunit<wbr>y to exper<wbr>ience<wbr> Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can ritua<wbr>l and wisdo<wbr>m.<br /> 15<br /><br />Note that the catal<wbr>og descr<wbr>iptio<wbr>n promi<wbr>ses the consu<wbr>mer "the exper<wbr>ience<wbr>" of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can ritua<wbr>l and wisdo<wbr>m throu<wbr>gh multi<wbr>senso<wbr>ry consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n. The purch<wbr>aser can drink<wbr> up the sacre<wbr>dness<wbr> of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty while<wbr> creat<wbr>ing the right<wbr> ambia<wbr>nce with the scent<wbr> of sage smudg<wbr>e stick<wbr>s and the prope<wbr>r New Age music<wbr> evoki<wbr>ng the prope<wbr>r local<wbr>e. Meanw<wbr>hile,<wbr> he or she can read the kit'<wbr>s book The Spiri<wbr>t of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>ca, which<wbr> the catal<wbr>og asser<wbr>ts is ampli<wbr>fied by Anna'<wbr>s autho<wbr>ritat<wbr>ive text so that the "<wbr>'<wbr>spiri<wbr>t voice<wbr>s' of her peopl<wbr>e speak<wbr> clear<wbr>ly to you.<wbr>" The catal<wbr>og promi<wbr>ses that,<wbr> throu<wbr>gh purch<wbr>ase and consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n of this produ<wbr>ct, the consu<wbr>mer can have a direc<wbr>t exper<wbr>ience<wbr> of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can ritua<wbr>l and wisdo<wbr>m witho<wbr>ut ever leavi<wbr>ng their<wbr> armch<wbr>air. Moreo<wbr>ver, they are relie<wbr>ved of any guilt<wbr> over their<wbr> indul<wbr>gent feast<wbr> since<wbr> the box is made from recyc<wbr>led mater<wbr>ials and "<wbr>honor<wbr>s Mothe<wbr>r Earth<wbr>.<br />" <br /><br />Entre<wbr>prene<wbr>urs have found<wbr> ways to blend<wbr> Ameri<wbr>can India<wbr>n spiri<wbr>tual theme<wbr>s with other<wbr> New Age objec<wbr>ts, such as "<wbr>Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can Tarot<wbr> Cards<wbr>." They have even tappe<wbr>d into new marke<wbr>ts, such as "<wbr>care cryst<wbr>als" for domes<wbr>tic pets.<wbr> Medic<wbr>ine shiel<wbr>ds have been turne<wbr>d into earri<wbr>ngs and the sacre<wbr>d figur<wbr>e of Kokop<wbr>elli now serve<wbr>s as a wall clock<wbr>.<br /> The adver<wbr>tisem<wbr>ent asser<wbr>ts that "<wbr>South<wbr>west Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>ca's playf<wbr>ul '<wbr>Spiri<wbr>t Guide<wbr> to the Fourt<wbr>h World<wbr>' adds a touch<wbr> of almos<wbr>t-<wbr>eerie<wbr> immor<wbr>talit<wbr>y to home or offic<wbr>e!" 16 <br /><br />Perha<wbr>ps the eerin<wbr>ess stems<wbr> from the unset<wbr>tling<wbr> irony<wbr> of imper<wbr>ialis<wbr>t nosta<wbr>lgia.<wbr> In "<wbr>Inter<wbr>rupte<wbr>d Journ<wbr>eys: The Cultu<wbr>ral Polit<wbr>ics of India<wbr>n Rebur<wbr>ial,<wbr>" Pemin<wbr>a Yello<wbr>wbird<wbr> and Kathr<wbr>yn Milun<wbr> refer<wbr> to these<wbr> types<wbr> of objec<wbr>ts and attit<wbr>udes towar<wbr>d them as "<wbr>imper<wbr>ialis<wbr>t nosta<wbr>lgia,<wbr>" which<wbr> they defin<wbr>e as a roman<wbr>ticiz<wbr>ation<wbr> that assum<wbr>es a pose of innoc<wbr>ent yearn<wbr>ing thus conce<wbr>aling<wbr> its compl<wbr>icity<wbr> with often<wbr> bruta<wbr>l domin<wbr>ation<wbr>.<br /> 17 <br /><br />Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can Resis<wbr>tance<wbr>, New Age Defen<wbr>ses <br /><br />Many Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans are outra<wbr>ged at the comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of their<wbr> spiri<wbr>tual tradi<wbr>tions<wbr>. At least<wbr> two inter<wbr>triba<wbr>l group<wbr>s of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can elder<wbr>s have issue<wbr>d procl<wbr>amati<wbr>ons warni<wbr>ng the publi<wbr>c that the teach<wbr>ings of these<wbr> comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> profi<wbr>teers<wbr> may harm them.<br /> 18 <br /><br />As state<wbr>d in the Resol<wbr>ution<wbr> of the Fifth<wbr> Annua<wbr>l Meeti<wbr>ng of the Tradi<wbr>tiona<wbr>l Elder<wbr> Circl<wbr>e, "<wbr>Medic<wbr>ine peopl<wbr>e are chose<wbr>n by the medic<wbr>ine and long instr<wbr>uctio<wbr>n and disci<wbr>pline<wbr> is neces<wbr>sary befor<wbr>e cerem<wbr>onies<wbr> and heali<wbr>ng can be done . . . profi<wbr>t is not the motiv<wbr>ation<wbr>.<br />" 19 <br /><br />Some Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans have taken<wbr> a harde<wbr>r stand<wbr>. Leafl<wbr>ets denou<wbr>ncing<wbr> the comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ion have been distr<wbr>ibute<wbr>d at lectu<wbr>res given<wbr> by "<wbr>plast<wbr>ics" and their<wbr> works<wbr>hops disru<wbr>pted by confr<wbr>ontat<wbr>ions insti<wbr>gated<wbr> by Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can activ<wbr>ists.<br /> 20 <br /><br />The South<wbr>weste<wbr>rn Ameri<wbr>can India<wbr>n Movem<wbr>ent (<wbr>AIM) Leade<wbr>rship<wbr> Confe<wbr>rence<wbr> held in Windo<wbr>w Rock in the Navaj<wbr>o Natio<wbr>n conde<wbr>mned those<wbr> who profi<wbr>ted from Ameri<wbr>can India<wbr>n spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. The docum<wbr>ent noted<wbr> the "<wbr>drama<wbr>tic incre<wbr>ase in the incid<wbr>ence of selli<wbr>ng sacre<wbr>d cerem<wbr>onies<wbr>, such as the sweat<wbr> lodge<wbr>, and the visio<wbr>n quest<wbr>, and of sacre<wbr>d artic<wbr>les, such as relig<wbr>ious pipes<wbr>, feath<wbr>ers and stone<wbr>s." These<wbr> acts were denou<wbr>nced as "<wbr>const<wbr>ituti<wbr>ng . . . insul<wbr>t and disre<wbr>spect<wbr> for the wisdo<wbr>m of the ancie<wbr>nts.<wbr>" They chara<wbr>cteri<wbr>zed the comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual tradi<wbr>tions<wbr> as follo<wbr>ws: "<wbr>[<wbr>T]he attem<wbr>pted theft<wbr> of India<wbr>n cerem<wbr>onies<wbr> is a direc<wbr>t attac<wbr>k and theft<wbr> from India<wbr>n peopl<wbr>e thems<wbr>elves<wbr>." In this denun<wbr>ciati<wbr>on, a numbe<wbr>r of "<wbr>plast<wbr>ics" were liste<wbr>d by name.<wbr> The docum<wbr>ent concl<wbr>udes:<wbr> "<wbr>[W]e conde<wbr>mn those<wbr> who seek to profi<wbr>t from India<wbr>n spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. We put them on notic<wbr>e that our patie<wbr>nce grows<wbr> thin with them and they conti<wbr>nue their<wbr> disre<wbr>spect<wbr> at their<wbr> own risk.<br /> 21 <br /><br />The Natio<wbr>nal Congr<wbr>ess of Ameri<wbr>can India<wbr>ns went a step furth<wbr>er, issui<wbr>ng what they term "a decla<wbr>ratio<wbr>n of war again<wbr>st '<wbr>wanna<wbr>bees,<wbr>' hucks<wbr>ters,<wbr> culti<wbr>sts, comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> profi<wbr>teers<wbr>, and self-<wbr>style<wbr>d New Age shama<wbr>ns.<br />" 22 <br /><br />Altho<wbr>ugh some New Agers<wbr> inter<wbr>ested<wbr> in Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty may not be aware<wbr> of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can prote<wbr>sts, a signi<wbr>fican<wbr>t numbe<wbr>r have heard<wbr> the objec<wbr>tions<wbr>.<br /> Why would<wbr> New Agers<wbr> conti<wbr>nue to consu<wbr>me Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty when so many India<wbr>n peopl<wbr>e have expre<wbr>ssed their<wbr> repre<wbr>hensi<wbr>on of this comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on? 23 <br /><br />I set out in my field<wbr>work to find out how New Agers<wbr> ratio<wbr>naliz<wbr>ed their<wbr> misap<wbr>propr<wbr>iatio<wbr>ns and consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual tradi<wbr>tions<wbr>. A brief<wbr> note on my resea<wbr>rch metho<wbr>ds might<wbr> prove<wbr> eluci<wbr>datin<wbr>g here.<wbr> I first<wbr> encou<wbr>ntere<wbr>d New Agers<wbr> while<wbr> worki<wbr>ng as an attor<wbr>ney on the Manyb<wbr>eads case for the Big Mount<wbr>ain Diné in 1986.<wbr> This initi<wbr>al encou<wbr>nter raise<wbr>d a numbe<wbr>r of quest<wbr>ions that could<wbr> not be answe<wbr>red by the usual<wbr> ethno<wbr>graph<wbr>ic metho<wbr>ds delin<wbr>eatin<wbr>g a speci<wbr>fic cultu<wbr>ral group<wbr> in a parti<wbr>cular<wbr> local<wbr>e. It becam<wbr>e incre<wbr>asing<wbr>ly clear<wbr> to me that the New Age was a natio<wbr>nal movem<wbr>ent whose<wbr> membe<wbr>rship<wbr> and parti<wbr>cipat<wbr>ion was large<wbr>ly defin<wbr>ed by consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n. There<wbr>fore,<wbr> the usual<wbr> ethno<wbr>graph<wbr>y condu<wbr>cted among<wbr> a socio<wbr>cultu<wbr>ral group<wbr> of peopl<wbr>e in a given<wbr> area would<wbr> not be enoug<wbr>h to unpac<wbr>k the myria<wbr>d manif<wbr>estat<wbr>ions of the New Age Movem<wbr>ent. My ethno<wbr>graph<wbr>ic resea<wbr>rch then led me into place<wbr>s I had not antic<wbr>ipate<wbr>d, such as New Age books<wbr>tores<wbr> acros<wbr>s the count<wbr>ry, weeke<wbr>nd works<wbr>hops led by New Age "<wbr>gurus<wbr>," and even to cyber<wbr>space<wbr> New Age chat rooms<wbr>. My inves<wbr>tigat<wbr>ive metho<wbr>ds exten<wbr>ded well beyon<wbr>d the usual<wbr> parti<wbr>cipan<wbr>t-<wbr>obser<wbr>vatio<wbr>n and inter<wbr>view techn<wbr>iques<wbr>. My "<wbr>infor<wbr>mants<wbr>" were no longe<wbr>r limit<wbr>ed to New Age indiv<wbr>idual<wbr>s, but exten<wbr>ded to New Age publi<wbr>catio<wbr>ns, such as self-<wbr>help books<wbr>, adver<wbr>tisin<wbr>g catal<wbr>ogs, and produ<wbr>cts.<br /> <br /><br />In my ethno<wbr>graph<wbr>ic field<wbr>work,<wbr> as well as other<wbr> resou<wbr>rces,<wbr> the most frequ<wbr>ent defen<wbr>se New Agers<wbr> made to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans'<wbr> objec<wbr>tions<wbr> again<wbr>st misap<wbr>propr<wbr>iatio<wbr>n of indig<wbr>enous<wbr> tradi<wbr>tions<wbr> was couch<wbr>ed in First<wbr> Amend<wbr>ment terms<wbr>. New Agers<wbr> consi<wbr>stent<wbr>ly argue<wbr>d that their<wbr> right<wbr> to relig<wbr>ious freed<wbr>om gave them the "<wbr>right<wbr>" to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ion.<br /> 24 <br /><br />Andy Smith<wbr>, Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can schol<wbr>ar, activ<wbr>ist, and forme<wbr>r presi<wbr>dent of Women<wbr> of All Red Natio<wbr>ns (<wbr>WARN)<wbr> refut<wbr>es the New Age claim<wbr>s that they have a "<wbr>right<wbr>" to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ion throu<wbr>gh their<wbr> "<wbr>right<wbr> to freed<wbr>om of speec<wbr>h.<br />" In "For All Those<wbr> Who Were India<wbr>n in a Forme<wbr>r Life,<wbr>" Smith<wbr> aims her attac<wbr>k speci<wbr>fical<wbr>ly at New Age pract<wbr>ices and misap<wbr>propr<wbr>iatio<wbr>n of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty among<wbr> white<wbr> femin<wbr>ists argui<wbr>ng: <br /><br />Many white<wbr> femin<wbr>ists have claim<wbr>ed that India<wbr>ns are not respe<wbr>cting<wbr> "<wbr>freed<wbr>om of speec<wbr>h" by deman<wbr>ding that white<wbr>s stop promo<wbr>ting and selli<wbr>ng books<wbr> that explo<wbr>it India<wbr>n spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. Howev<wbr>er, promo<wbr>tion of this mater<wbr>ial is destr<wbr>oying<wbr> freed<wbr>om of speec<wbr>h for Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans by ensur<wbr>ing that our voice<wbr>s will never<wbr> be heard<wbr>. . . .<br /> Femin<wbr>ists must make a choic<wbr>e, will they respe<wbr>ct India<wbr>n polit<wbr>ical and spiri<wbr>tual auton<wbr>omy or will they promo<wbr>te mater<wbr>ials that are funda<wbr>menta<wbr>lly racis<wbr>t under<wbr> the guise<wbr> of "<wbr>freed<wbr>om of speec<wbr>h"? 25 <br /><br />Smith<wbr>'s argum<wbr>ent is compe<wbr>lling<wbr>. Given<wbr> a histo<wbr>ry and conti<wbr>nued socia<wbr>l struc<wbr>ture in which<wbr> Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans'<wbr> voice<wbr>s are often<wbr> overp<wbr>owere<wbr>d by domin<wbr>ant white<wbr> disco<wbr>urse,<wbr> is "<wbr>freed<wbr>om of relig<wbr>ion" as egali<wbr>taria<wbr>n as New Agers<wbr> sugge<wbr>st? Moreo<wbr>ver, white<wbr> New Agers<wbr>' claim<wbr> to freed<wbr>om of relig<wbr>ion must exasp<wbr>erate<wbr> Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans in light<wbr> of the histo<wbr>ry of suppr<wbr>essio<wbr>n of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual pract<wbr>ices by the U.S. gover<wbr>nment<wbr>. Even recen<wbr>t Supre<wbr>me Court<wbr> decis<wbr>ions inter<wbr>preti<wbr>ng the First<wbr> Amend<wbr>ment and the Ameri<wbr>can India<wbr>n Relig<wbr>ious Freed<wbr>oms Act have made it clear<wbr> that prote<wbr>ction<wbr> of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ious freed<wbr>oms and pract<wbr>ices is a low prior<wbr>ity in this count<wbr>ry.<br /> 26 <br /><br />Some New Agers<wbr> have based<wbr> their<wbr> claim<wbr> of a right<wbr> to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ion on the reaso<wbr>ning that spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty and truth<wbr> canno<wbr>t be owned<wbr>. "No one has the right<wbr> to own the Truth<wbr>," state<wbr>d one of the New Agers<wbr> I inter<wbr>viewe<wbr>d. Gary Snyde<wbr>r, who has won liter<wbr>ary award<wbr>s for poetr<wbr>y writt<wbr>en from the self-<wbr>procl<wbr>aimed<wbr> perso<wbr>na of a Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can shama<wbr>n, makes<wbr> a simil<wbr>ar argum<wbr>ent: "<wbr>Spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty is not somet<wbr>hing which<wbr> can be '<wbr>owned<wbr>' like a car or a house<wbr>. Spiri<wbr>tual knowl<wbr>edge belon<wbr>gs to all human<wbr>s equal<wbr>ly.<br />" 27 <br /><br />Snyde<wbr>r's argum<wbr>ent impli<wbr>es that somet<wbr>hing has to be a "<wbr>prope<wbr>rty right<wbr>" befor<wbr>e someo<wbr>ne's reque<wbr>st that it be respe<wbr>cted as priva<wbr>te can be recog<wbr>nized<wbr>. More ironi<wbr>cally<wbr>, it overl<wbr>ooks the fact that throu<wbr>gh Snyde<wbr>r's profi<wbr>ting from a claim<wbr>ed Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can shama<wbr>n perso<wbr>na, work that is copyr<wbr>ighte<wbr>d, he is "<wbr>ownin<wbr>g" at least<wbr> a piece<wbr> of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. The comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty in both books<wbr> and produ<wbr>cts also sugge<wbr>sts that consu<wbr>mers "<wbr>own" Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty in some sense<wbr>. This point<wbr> is made even clear<wbr>er by the fact that some entre<wbr>prene<wbr>urs have incor<wbr>porat<wbr>ed Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can cerem<wbr>onies<wbr>, copyr<wbr>ighte<wbr>d mater<wbr>ial on Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty, and sough<wbr>t trade<wbr>mark prote<wbr>ction<wbr> of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tual theme<wbr>s. The South<wbr>west AIM Resol<wbr>ution<wbr> obser<wbr>ved that a group<wbr> of non-<wbr>India<wbr>ns opera<wbr>ting under<wbr> the name Visio<wbr>n Quest<wbr>, Inc. were "<wbr>steal<wbr>ing the name and attem<wbr>pting<wbr> to steal<wbr> the conce<wbr>pt of one of our most spiri<wbr>tual cerem<wbr>onies<wbr>.<br />" 28 <br /><br />New Agers<wbr> have other<wbr> defen<wbr>ses again<wbr>st Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can objec<wbr>tions<wbr> to consu<wbr>mptio<wbr>n of their<wbr> spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty. Some deny this comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on altog<wbr>ether<wbr>. Other<wbr>s mask it. For examp<wbr>le, in an intro<wbr>ducti<wbr>on to a book he coaut<wbr>hored<wbr>, one plast<wbr>ic shama<wbr>n claim<wbr>s, "We offer<wbr> you this book to you now as our givea<wbr>way.<br />" 29 <br /><br />A givea<wbr>way is a pract<wbr>ice in tribe<wbr>s where<wbr> mater<wbr>ial goods<wbr> are given<wbr> away to other<wbr>s; there<wbr> is no excha<wbr>nge, only the gift.<wbr> Howev<wbr>er, this "<wbr>givea<wbr>way book"<wbr> is a comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> publi<wbr>catio<wbr>n for profi<wbr>t. Other<wbr> New Agers<wbr> defen<wbr>d their<wbr> comme<wbr>rcial<wbr> explo<wbr>itati<wbr>on by argui<wbr>ng that they are "<wbr>good peopl<wbr>e" who "<wbr>give to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can chari<wbr>ties and suppo<wbr>rt their<wbr> cause<wbr>s.<br />" Consi<wbr>der, for examp<wbr>le, the follo<wbr>wing excer<wbr>pt from the owner<wbr> of a New Age Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can books<wbr>tore:<wbr> <br /><br />Eight<wbr> years<wbr> ago, I start<wbr>ed a "New Age" books<wbr>tore with very limit<wbr>ed funds<wbr> and an enorm<wbr>ous amoun<wbr>t of faith<wbr> in God. A littl<wbr>e over a year ago, adjac<wbr>ent to the store<wbr>, I opene<wbr>d a Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can book and gift store<wbr>. Both fit very well toget<wbr>her, just as we peopl<wbr>e can work well toget<wbr>her. . . . I have donat<wbr>ed large<wbr> amoun<wbr>ts of food and money<wbr> to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans and hold conti<wbr>nuous<wbr> cloth<wbr>es drive<wbr>s throu<wbr>gh my New Age store<wbr>. At Thank<wbr>sgivi<wbr>ng and Chris<wbr>tmas,<wbr> I have food and toy drive<wbr>s which<wbr> are distr<wbr>ibute<wbr>d to four diffe<wbr>rent reser<wbr>vatio<wbr>ns. I subsc<wbr>ribe to Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can newsp<wbr>apers<wbr> and pray so your strug<wbr>gles will cease<wbr>. I suppo<wbr>rt Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>cans by buyin<wbr>g and selli<wbr>ng your craft<wbr>s, so you are able to help yours<wbr>elves<wbr>.<br /> 30 <br /><br />This defen<wbr>se seems<wbr> to rely on the old Purit<wbr>anica<wbr>l stand<wbr>by that "<wbr>good inten<wbr>tions<wbr>" and "<wbr>chari<wbr>table<wbr> acts"<wbr> someh<wbr>ow absol<wbr>ve someo<wbr>ne from the polit<wbr>ical impli<wbr>catio<wbr>ns of their<wbr> actio<wbr>ns for an oppre<wbr>ssed group<wbr>.<br /> <br /><br />In addit<wbr>ion, a signi<wbr>fican<wbr>t numbe<wbr>r of peopl<wbr>e defen<wbr>d the comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can relig<wbr>ious pract<wbr>ices with an argum<wbr>ent that is chara<wbr>cteri<wbr>stic of many New Agers<wbr>' views<wbr> towar<wbr>d money<wbr>. They argue<wbr> that it is "<wbr>good medic<wbr>ine" to make money<wbr> or that "<wbr>money<wbr> is just spiri<wbr>tual energ<wbr>y anywa<wbr>y." A good examp<wbr>le of this kind of argum<wbr>ent is found<wbr> in the follo<wbr>wing excer<wbr>pt from Sun Bear.<wbr> Of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can desce<wbr>nt, Sun Bear,<wbr> now decea<wbr>sed, wrote<wbr> a numbe<wbr>r of plast<wbr>ic shama<wbr>n texts<wbr> and attra<wbr>cted a large<wbr> follo<wbr>wing of white<wbr> New Agers<wbr> who have legal<wbr>ly incor<wbr>porat<wbr>ed thems<wbr>elves<wbr> into a "<wbr>tribe<wbr>" with stock<wbr> offer<wbr>ings.<br /> Shawn<wbr>odese<wbr>, refer<wbr>red to in the follo<wbr>wing passa<wbr>ge, is a white<wbr> New Age entre<wbr>prene<wbr>ur in the Sun Bear tribe<wbr>: <br /><br />Shawn<wbr>odese<wbr>, who is now my subch<wbr>ief, and direc<wbr>tor of the Appre<wbr>ntice<wbr> Progr<wbr>am, came here in 1979,<wbr> with a backg<wbr>round<wbr> in about<wbr> every<wbr> new-<wbr>age philo<wbr>sophy<wbr> avail<wbr>able.<wbr> He had some progr<wbr>essiv<wbr>e ideas<wbr> that have helpe<wbr>d us in many ways.<wbr> For one thing<wbr>, even thoug<wbr>h I had, at vario<wbr>us times<wbr> in my life,<wbr> been an opera<wbr>tor (<wbr>such as selli<wbr>ng real estat<wbr>e or men'<wbr>s cloth<wbr>es) in order<wbr> to survi<wbr>ve, I still<wbr> had some reser<wbr>vatio<wbr>ns about<wbr> being<wbr> taint<wbr>ed by havin<wbr>g a littl<wbr>e extra<wbr> cash.<wbr> I felt that money<wbr> was someh<wbr>ow bad. Shawn<wbr>odese<wbr> had the idea that money<wbr> was just energ<wbr>y, and it was how you used it that count<wbr>ed. He took over the bookk<wbr>eepin<wbr>g for a while<wbr> and start<wbr>ed writi<wbr>ng affir<wbr>matio<wbr>ns on every<wbr>thing<wbr> havin<wbr>g to do with money<wbr>.<br /> 31 <br /><br />New Agers<wbr>' own state<wbr>ments<wbr> defen<wbr>ding objec<wbr>tions<wbr> again<wbr>st comme<wbr>rcial<wbr>izati<wbr>on of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty shed light<wbr> on the ratio<wbr>naliz<wbr>ation<wbr>s in their<wbr> own psych<wbr>es. Howev<wbr>er, to under<wbr>stand<wbr> more fully<wbr> the consu<wbr>meris<wbr>t natur<wbr>e of their<wbr> obses<wbr>sion with Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty, an analy<wbr>sis of their<wbr> actio<wbr>ns in a large<wbr>r socia<wbr>l and econo<wbr>mic frame<wbr>work is neede<wbr>d.<br /> <br /><br />Searc<wbr>hing For Spiri<wbr>tual Satis<wbr>facti<wbr>on in the Shopp<wbr>ing Mall <br /><br />The New Age movem<wbr>ent is part of the large<wbr>r conte<wbr>xt of consu<wbr>mer cultu<wbr>re. A numbe<wbr>r of socia<wbr>l theor<wbr>ists have propo<wbr>sed that,<wbr> incre<wbr>asing<wbr>ly, lifes<wbr>tyles<wbr>, ident<wbr>ity, cultu<wbr>ral, and even spiri<wbr>tual meani<wbr>ng have becom<wbr>e commo<wbr>ditie<wbr>s for purch<wbr>ase. As Frede<wbr>ric James<wbr>on argue<wbr>d in his influ<wbr>entia<wbr>l essay<wbr> "<wbr>Postm<wbr>odern<wbr>ism: or the Cultu<wbr>ral Logic<wbr> of Late Capit<wbr>alism<wbr>," image<wbr>s, style<wbr>s, and repre<wbr>senta<wbr>tions<wbr> are no longe<wbr>r mere promo<wbr>tiona<wbr>l acces<wbr>sorie<wbr>s to econo<wbr>mical<wbr>ly usefu<wbr>l produ<wbr>cts; they have becom<wbr>e the produ<wbr>cts thems<wbr>elves<wbr>. Thus,<wbr> in conte<wbr>mpora<wbr>ry consu<wbr>mer cultu<wbr>re, a roman<wbr>ticiz<wbr>ed repre<wbr>senta<wbr>tion of Nativ<wbr>e Ameri<wbr>can spiri<wbr>tuali<wbr>ty can becom<wbr>e a produ<wbr>ct to be purch<wbr>ased and consu<wbr>med. Grant<wbr> McCra<wbr>cken expla<wbr>ins why consu<wbr>mers find these<wbr> produ<wbr>cts capit<wbr>alizi<wbr>ng on an exoti<wbr>cized<wbr> Other<wbr> so appea<wbr>ling.<wbr> McCra<wbr>cken argue<wbr>s that indiv<wbr>idual<wbr>s in a consu<wbr>mer socie<wbr>ty use consu<wbr>mer goods<wbr> to try to recov<wbr>er displ<wbr>aced cultu<wbr>ral meani<wbr>ng. He defin<wbr>es displ<wbr>aced meani<wbr>ng as cultu<wbr>ral meani<wbr>ng delib<wbr>erate<wbr>ly remov<wbr>ed from the daily<wbr> life of a commu<wbr>nity and displ<wbr>aced onto a dista<wbr>nt cultu<wbr>ral domai<wbr>n by roman<wbr>ticiz<wbr>ing anoth<wbr>er cultu<wbr>re.<br /> </span></span>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-74402059477414272662009-12-16T08:43:00.000-08:002009-12-16T08:47:29.514-08:00AA Bronson and General Idea<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/11CRPc5FRi8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/11CRPc5FRi8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g2gVJ1IRxA0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g2gVJ1IRxA0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-71494564492929725902009-12-11T14:42:00.001-08:002009-12-11T14:42:45.445-08:00James Bidgood<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LdiV52ByFTI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LdiV52ByFTI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNiHzSoR9U0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNiHzSoR9U0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-12913331084300980472009-12-11T14:39:00.000-08:002009-12-11T14:41:41.366-08:00Jack Smith<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WjyKUzCl4q4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WjyKUzCl4q4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iJY-NdPSk_I&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iJY-NdPSk_I&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-30181431113692618522009-12-09T13:14:00.000-08:002009-12-09T13:16:42.130-08:00Jonathan Meese<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PPJsaBkMLtA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PPJsaBkMLtA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UWyRO7kF4UA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UWyRO7kF4UA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g8fZsoS8p9c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g8fZsoS8p9c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-47823026150057970732009-12-09T12:59:00.001-08:002009-12-09T12:59:40.270-08:00Erratic Anthropologies<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y7aAJEo9Y6w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y7aAJEo9Y6w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-30023113851397137412009-12-09T12:49:00.000-08:002009-12-09T12:52:00.564-08:00Shana Moulton at Bellwether Gallery, November 20, 2008<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BNzPQdkAbas&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BNzPQdkAbas&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-91667897210593012992009-12-09T12:48:00.000-08:002009-12-09T12:49:01.325-08:00New Video by abravanation<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9QKDCRWDvUU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9QKDCRWDvUU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/user/abravanationPagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-80542931581453254132009-11-27T08:35:00.001-08:002009-11-27T08:35:53.051-08:00Mythtym<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LY3lcGx3Lz4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LY3lcGx3Lz4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397814351913110717.post-73632204319276936142009-11-26T20:07:00.000-08:002009-11-26T20:12:25.323-08:00Paul McCarthy<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UTU5j33hK2o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UTU5j33hK2o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pagan Parties Are Foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883426148212237642noreply@blogger.com0