Observations placeholder
Lame Deer - Native American Indians - Bear Butte
Identifier
003265
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
No North American Indian will say that to obtain a spiritual experience he visited a telluric hot spot, but it fairly clear from the literature that they knew at one time which were the 'hot spots' for producing a spiritual experience.
Mount Rushmore, for example, was once sacred to the Native Americans because it was a very effective spiritual hot spot. But the white Americans decided that they would knock the mountain down by blasting great heaps of stones from its surface to build a giant monument to its presidents. The likelihood of its being a sacred spot now are extremely remote.
Building railroads may also have had its effects, changing the direction of the current because the rails are iron. One cannot be too negative about this, because changing a current does not mean it has disappeared it just has to be refound. Who knows, the railroads and the building works might have focused some of the energy in another place which may be a better spot.
If it is any help, Canyonlands seems unaffected by anything and is quite the best place I have ever visited for a long time.
A description of the experience
Lame Deer Seeker of Visions – John Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes
Bear Butte is a stark volcanic outcrop at the northeast end of the Black Hills. It was once called Mato Paha and was considered the place where spiritual power was most intense. Called the Sacred Mountain by the Cheyenne, it is so revered that all the tribal buildings on their reservation at Lame Deer Montana, face it. Tradition says that once in every generation a holy man must receive a vision there. Sweet Medicine, Erect Horns and Frank Fools Crow did.