Description
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat – Cultivating a Sacred Life Rooted in Haudenosaunee Teachings 2022
Discover the Haudenosaunee principles of the Good Mind — spiritual wisdom for creating your own sacred practices to hold deep peace within, honor the land, and help heal the Earth.
The First Nations of the continent widely defined as North America — “Turtle Island” to them — understood that when they were in alignment with the natural rhythms of life, fulfilling their duties to care for the land…. Nature would yield Her bounty.
They were intimate in their relationship to the sun, the earth, and the great cycles of the moon, seasons, and life itself. Their experiences of being the land and being in communication with the Spirit World were what it meant to live a sacred life.
They understood the true essence of living — by transforming the grip of survival consciousness into a bond of abundant interconnection.
Cut to present-day Turtle Island.
Because most people today are disconnected from the land, community, and spiritual belief — the source of life itself — trauma abounds… along with the reverberations of post-traumatic stressors such as living in isolation (even within families), and the need to “compete” in an impersonal market-driven value system.
Furthermore, Western culture doesn’t prepare us for dealing with grief and loss… of home, job, significant relationships…
We have huge challenges coming to terms with inevitable change.
AND we are also seeing reasonable and accountable people from all walks of life rising in compassionate and effectively powerful opposition as ambassadors of peace, truth, and reconciliation.
It is time to listen to the wisdom of the Elders, to the gentle and true voices of our Indigenous Ancestors, who request you to embrace:
- Personal change — being open to possibilities, as a seeker who is ever curious
- Fearlessness in the face of anxiety and depression — finding happiness amidst life’s chaos
- The stages of your own conscious evolution — releasing stagnation on your spiritual journey
- Life, nature, and the earth as sacred — showing us how to bring our own healing rituals honoring the land and seasons into our daily lives
In an increasingly diverse world, there is indeed a different teacher for each person’s unique tastes, interests, and particular stage of evolution — and countless teachers are on true paths of service to the world at this time.
Very few, however, contain the generational transmission and authentic embodiment of Indigenous “medicine” for our current times as Kahontakwas Diane Longboat — ceremonial leader, traditional teacher, builder, and healer.
Diane believes that understanding the importance of traditional ceremony, story, song, dance, and teachings as healing invocations is imperative to society’s wellbeing and fullness of expression — and that prayers offered in ceremonies benefit the entire world.
These ancient practices hold the power to help us remember our deep connection with the land — and the spiritual wisdom of the Good Mind for cultivating inner peace and unity with all.
They provide us with inspiration, spiritual nourishment, and beautiful examples from which to create our own daily rituals and practices that honor our connection to the land we dwell on and the community we call home.
The principles of the Good Mind also give us the spiritual discipline to hold deep peace within, and enable us — by our presence alone — to help heal others and the Earth. The Good Mind helps us turn the negatives in life into something positive to benefit our personal growth and help others.
Indigenous ceremonies also help with grief, loss, and depression. As you’ll discover in this nourishing program with Diane, the power of Spirit is everything during our most challenging times.
In this essential 7-part video course on Haudenosaunee wisdom, you’ll:
- Discover ways to develop the Good Mind, or spiritual intelligence, to cultivate a life of happiness, honor, respect, love, and peace for yourself and others
- Use these wisdom teachings to create your own rituals and practices for honoring and evoking the sacredness of the land where you live and beliefs you hold dear
- Learn how Kanaronkwa Medicine evokes love for Self, your partner, and all of Creation
- Discover the Haudenosaunee worldview as an example of a good life — and the importance of ceremony, story, song, dance, dreams, giving thanks, and connecting with the land to cultivate such a life
- Be immersed in a Creation Story as a rich pathway to deepen your relationship with Self — and expand your family to include all Living Beings
- Learn the Sun Ceremony as a daily discipline of invocation to give thanks
- Journal to record your dreams, visions, auditory messages, intuition, and challenges
- Explore The Iroquois Creation Story by John Mohawk
- Understand the Natural Laws of the Earth, and uphold the continuance of Life
- Support one another as a Human Family, as brothers and sisters in great diversity
- Discover that great teachers were put in place to guide us and profound teachings were set down to show us the way forward
- Listen to Spirit through Haudenosaunee dreamwork
- Understand how prophecy is a “seed”
- Deepen your connection to the Great Life Force in the cosmos — and within Mother Earth — that connects all Life Beings
- Embark on the path of a Spiritual Warrior of Peace
Learn from a Respected Wisdom Keeper
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat was raised on a 300-acre farm in the largest First Nations community in Canada, where she found true freedom on the land.
From her earliest years, she experienced many spiritual connections, and always thought that everyone had vivid dreams and visions.
When she moved away to the city with her family, she lost her power to dream… until she returned to the Longhouse, at 26, for ceremonies and regular visits home to family members.
While living in the city, attending graduate school, and working in Indigenous education organizations, Diane witnessed returning vets lacking proper support, deficient social services for families and children, substance use challenges, acute levels of unemployment, and governments largely silent on the needs of Indigenous people.
The path that began for her as a young woman experiencing the modern-day legacy of colonialism playing out in her community has since generated a rich personal history of healing for self and others in the lodge of Soul of the Mother at Six Nations Grand River Territory in Canada.
As a professional educator, Diane has held the role of Indigenous Education Advisor to the Office of the Premier of Ontario and two Ministers of Education.
In short… Kahontakwas Diane Longboat is a leader who confidently walks in many worlds.
What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted by talking wires? The end of living and the beginning of survival.
— Chief Seattle (1780-1866)
What You’ll Discover in These 7 Module
In this 7-part transformational intensive, Diane will guide you through the fundamental body-mind-spirit shift required to open your heart to the natural world and all its inhabitants as divine beings.
This course will feature Q&As and teaching sessions with Diane. Her engaging, high-quality teaching segments include everything you’ll need to give you the spiritual discipline to hold deep peace within, and enable you to help heal the Earth. Each session will build harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to reclaim your identity as a natural being.
Course Agreements
— Kahontakwas Diane Longboat
- This course of seven pre-recorded sessions represents the sharing of Indigenous spiritual wisdom in interactive teaching sessions.
- Due to the deeply held sacred significance of the Pipe Ceremonies and other preparatory ceremonies, they will be held prior to the rest of the ceremonies and will not be featured in the course.
- You’re encouraged to practice the sacred values and the spiritual discipline in between teaching sessions to integrate the knowledge into a way of life using your own language and faith tradition.
- Appropriation of the songs or teachings for personal gain or monetary gain constitutes cultural theft and is forbidden.
Each module will open with Giving Thanks and a Ceremonial Song at the Sacred Fire.
Module 1: Thanksgiving Address — Returning to the Land for Life
Indigenous wisdom traditions throughout the world are the oldest living way of life on the planet. They remain the closest to Original Instructions given at the time of creation on how to:
- Be a Human Being, understanding personal duties and responsibilities
- Relate to the natural world as relatives, and steward all Life Beings
- Understand the Natural Laws of the Earth, and uphold the continuance of Life
- Support one another as a Human Family, as brothers and sisters in great diversity
The teachings are intended to inspire your growth potential by guiding you to understand your spiritual mandate and by connecting you to your own ancestral lineage. You’ll explore honoring all Life Beings by:
- Giving thanks daily
- Receiving a vision
- Discerning a real vision
- Acting on the vision
Module 2: Creation Truths & Revitalizing Human Spiritual Integrity
In this module, we’ll examine the core elements of the Creation Truth (Story) to guide you in remembering the Original Instructions on how to be a Human Being — the ethical code of life that determines our relationships with one another and with Mother Earth.
In this session on the story of creation, you’ll:
- Learn of life in the Sky World and the creation of the Earth as a vision of the Creator for a paradise mirroring the Sky World
- Discover that great teachers were put in place to guide us and profound teachings were set down to show us the way forward
- Ask yourself direct questions: How have we wandered off the path of our Original Instructions to find ourselves in chaos and division today? What has clouded our minds? How can we revitalize our minds?
- Understand the principles of Peace, Power, and Good Mind
- Become aware of the deceptive Clouded Mind
- Take necessary steps to revitalize the mind
Module 3: Deep Listening to Spirit Through Your Dreams
Who brings the dreams? What is the source of the power that sends the dreams? What are “bad dreams” or “nightmares”? How should we understand them?
Diane teaches us how we receive Ancestors’ messages through dreams and how they help us understand the “soul” and “spirit” in the Human Being and their different but mutually beneficial roles.
You’ll examine how your dreams bring profound inspiration and clear direction for your way forward in life by being:
- A way of understanding life’s challenges
- Your inspiration of how to help others
- A sacred pathway to fulfill your spiritual mandate
- Integral to the healing of Mother Earth
- Preparation for the future
Module 4: Igniting Your Spirit & Stewarding the Sacred Fire Within
The Ancestors have prayed for each of us for thousands of years to evolve to our present selves with the fullness of our gifts to bring harmony into the world. There has never been a time such as this in the history of humanity. Prophecies are being fulfilled daily.
Do you feel the call to seek out sacred sites of spiritual power in your homelands of genetic origin, which await your return to awaken and receive direction on the way forward to build a new humanity?
This class will ignite your memory of ancient times, of original teachings from when all peoples were still a part of the land and your faith tradition was practiced in concert with the cycles of life. Memories are written on our bones, and triggers turn on the spiritual light switches of DNA.
In this session on cultivating your inner flame, you’ll:
- Begin connecting to the 7 Sacred Fires in the Universe
- Discover how “earning your life” is essential to self-knowing
- Learn how to deepen your communication with the Ancestors
In addition to these empowering benefits, you’ll also receive knowledge in the most honoring ways of how you can support the resurgence of Indigenous Nations practicing cultural traditions, ceremonies, and ways of life — which are done to support the regeneration of their cultural, linguistic, and ceremonial ties to the land — and by their nature, to support the healing of all people in society.
Activity: Remembrance of the Original Council Fire — Preparing Your Sacred Fire on the Land or at Home
Module 5: Learning the Language of Spirit
Spirit communicates with us through traditional teachings of the Thanksgiving Address, the Creation Truth, the Four Sacred Ceremonies, the Great Law of Peace, and the prophecies of the Kariwiio (the Good Message).
These ceremonies of personal healing clean the mind, body, and spirit of the Human Being to prepare us to receive The Sacred. Fasting, vision quest, rites of passage, and many other ceremonies enable us to deal with grief, loss, historical and intergenerational trauma, and abuse of all kinds that produces negative patterns of behavior that no longer serve us.
In this session on prophecy, you’ll:
- Discover how prophecies are a manifestation of communication with the Spirits
- Learn how prophecy is shared in annual recitations to support proper behavior, instill cultural values, and (through stories) express how the greater world will change and the ways to prepare to steward that change
- Understand how prophecy is a “seed” that has been planted and will unfold in time
- Become aware of what is coming, mitigate risk, and (by changing behavior) lessen the impact
- Experience prophecy unfolding daily
Activity: Self-Clearing & Personal Releasing Ceremony on the Land Where You Live
Module 6: Falling in Love With Creation — Message From the Trees
A Clan Mother — a woman leader among the Haudenosaunee Confederacy — once told Diane, “to be truly happy, one must fall in love with Creation… If you do not fall in love with Mother Earth, you will never defend Her.”
In this session, we focus on Mother Earth by:
- Answering, “What is your role in defending the Earth?”
- Understanding the Natural Laws of Mother Earth that all Human Beings must respect and follow
- Deepening connection through prayers and contemplations with the Great Life Force in the cosmos and within Mother Earth connecting all Life Beings
- Understand Trees as sentient Beings
Activity: Tree Ceremony — a group ceremony prepared and conducted at the Sacred Fire (and in your chosen place). The Sacred Songs will carry the ceremony… you’ll be able to hear the songs, and the Sacred Fire will be visible, but you will not see the Pipe Ceremony that will be held before the class begins.
Module 7: The Stages to Becoming a Spiritual Warrior of Peace
In our final session, we’ll review the process of becoming a humble Human Being, of surrendering to a Higher Power, unseen, yet present everywhere. The stages of learning to become a Spiritual Warrior of Peace will be shared.
Activity: This session will also feature a closing Healing Ceremony for all participants. You will not see the Pipe Ceremony, but you will hear the songs, see the Sacred Fire, and receive the directions for participation in prayer from your location.
This healing is offered as a conclusion to this course to strengthen you for the way forward in your life. It is our wish that these teachings enrich your life, deepen your own practice, and empower you to bring harmony into the world with the gifts that you carry.
What People Are Saying About Kahontakwas Diane Longboat
— Kassia Gooding: “Diane Has Been an Amazing Guide, Teacher, Mentor in My Life”
— Renee and Mike LeBlanc: “Regardless of the Faith Tradition You Hold, Diane Allows Us to Connect to Spirit Through Her Teachings”
— Leila Monib: “I Hope You Get the Opportunity to Benefit From Diane’s Teachings in the Way I Have”
— Denyse Johnson: “Diane’s Careful Instructions Helped Me Expand My Helping Other People”
“… a direct connection to the irreducible truth, the epicentre of all light, the doorway to find your own path home.”
After many years of spiritual searching, I was called to meet Dianne at Soul of the Mother. Through ceremony, Diane reintroduced me to the source of all creation. I know her teachings to be of source, from source, and through source, a direct connection to the irreducible truth, the epicentre of all light, the doorway to find your own path home.
— Seamus Clark, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“… I have been able to face complex challenges from a place of peace and love…”
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat is an extraordinary teacher of spiritual awakening, rooted in traditional knowledge systems. Her leadership at Soul of the Mother has been transformative in my own life. Having encountered her work at an education conference in Toronto, and having been deeply moved, I was led to engage further in my own spiritual healing and renewal. The gifts that have been awakened as a result of my work with her are something I strive to embody on a daily basis. I believe that as a result of being strengthened spiritually, I have been able to face complex challenges from a place of peace and love, and to support others in my life and communities to work together for a more just and beautiful world. Her gifts and dedication are profound.
— Maria Vamvalise, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“Kahontakwas is a rare and powerful voice in a world that is often shrouded in darkness.”
Kahontakwas is a rare and powerful voice in a world that is often shrouded in darkness. She reminds us that the Creator’s light is always brighter than the darkness that fear and anger bring. She has shown my family the power of deep faith and has provided powerful healing to each of us as we have grown in our spiritual practices. The teachings that Kahontakwas shared with us have shaped the people we have all become — I do not know where any of us would be without her. We will be forever grateful for her guidance, love, and support throughout the years.
— Tonja Clark, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
“Diane’s ceremonies and teachings have greatly strengthened my spiritual connection to the creator.”
Diane’s ceremonies and teachings have greatly strengthened my spiritual connection to the Creator. I run a large national charity that assists Canadians living in poverty. There is constant stress, especially with fundraising, with this type of job, but the work is deeply meaningful and critical. The teachings have helped me feel more comfortable and trust that everything is taken care of. I have learned that things go according to a master plan and I am simply the conduit of the Creator’s plan. I’m truly blessed that Diane and the council of Soul of the Mother are such an integral part of my life, and I believe that the teachings will bring peace and deep understanding of truth to many others as Diane’s reach grows.
— Helen Harakas, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“It is such an honor to be in her presence and witness all her greatnesses…”
During my work with Kahontakwas, she has helped and guided me through my spiritual work from ceremony preparations to my first ancestor fasting ceremony to understanding how Spirit works… Most importantly, Kahontakwas has guided me through my grieving stages as I have lost many family members in a short time, including both my parents.
It is such an honor to be in her presence, to witness all her greatnesses, and to see her hard work and dedication in helping the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.
I am forever grateful that Kahontakwas has become someone who I hold dearly and have the most respect for. But most importantly, I am thankful for the healing and guidance she has provided to me during our times in ceremony.
— Red Iron Luis Alegria, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
“Kahontakwas was able to unlock spiritual doors reuniting me to my ancestral family!”
You never know how far you have fallen until you look around and you’re sitting in ashes! When I think about Kahontakwas, I am reminded of family and how far her work has brought us. How do you say “thank you” when it just does not seem enough and yet it is everything at the same time!
If you would have told me the tremendous change my family would undergo, I would not have believed it possible. It seemed like my prayers were not being answered, so I switched my prayer to… put someone in my path to guide me. Then I met Kahontakwas… and my family at the Soul of the Mother! Kahontakwas was able to unlock spiritual doors reuniting me to my ancestral family! She encouraged me to be patient for change to come. Just like the spirits shared, there was a shift in the universe, the healing began, and it keeps happening… I have my son back, my daughter back, and the Creator blessed me with two grandsons!
— Audrey Logan, Elunaapeewi Lahkeewiit, Delaware Nation
“… I now have joy in my life and I know my gifts…”
My life has been greatly impacted by meeting Kahontakwas 12 years ago at a local Ceremonial Lodge in my home state of Virginia. She invited us to come to Soul of the Mother for the monthly ceremonies they were conducting at the time.
Kahontakwas and I had a private conversation where I confided that I had been traumatized in childhood by every type of abuse, even spiritual abuse, and I needed help. I had previously been to conventional therapy and it did help with some things, but I felt as if my spirit was dying. I had been praying for God to lead me to somewhere, or someone who could help me. Could she and her Warriors of Peace help me? I told her of one of the worst things that happened to me and without the blink of an eye she said, “This is what Spirit says we need to do…” and right then and there, a ceremony was put together. So, the work began on the spot. Twelve years and many types of ceremonies later, I still go to Soul of the Mother for myself and I do what I can to support Kahontakwas and the Council to help others that need help.
Because I now have joy in my life and I know my gifts, my relationships are improved and I can place healthy boundaries for myself. Healing is a lifelong journey. Today, my Spirit is alive, thriving, and blowing with the wind.
— Donna Hockaday, Spotsylvania, Virginia
About Kahontakwas Diane Longboat
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat is a member of the Turtle Clan, Mohawk Nation, at Six Nations Grand River Territory, Canada. She is a ceremonial leader, traditional teacher, a builder, and a healer. She’s the founder of Soul of the Mother, a healing lodge, born of vision in 1994, on the shores of the Grand River, with extensive relationships with First Nations in Canada and globally.
Diane is a professional educator with a master’s degree in education. In 2017-2018, she was the Indigenous Education Advisor to the Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, and two Ministers of Education. Diane is also founder of First Nations House (Office of Aboriginal Student Services and Programs) at the University of Toronto.
In 2018, Diane was co-chair for the Indigenous Peoples Program at the Parliament of the World’s Religions global gathering in Toronto. She is recognized as an Evolutionary Leader by the Source of Synergy Foundation and is a member of the Council of Elders of many organizations in North America, including the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Canada.
Sale Page: https://theshiftnetwork.com/course/01FirstNationsWisdom01_20
Archive: https://archive.ph/wip/Gof1m
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