Brant was one of the first teachers to bring his magic to Hawkwind. Having been one of our regular cosmic playmates at the Medicine Wheel Gatherings, Brant brought an impishness to our group. We like to remember him as a Jewish, Huichol, Leprechaun who could sing like an angel in any language. Our Fire crew wrestled to see who would get to work with Brant in the lodge. His humor and love of the healing work was bar none the most rockin’ healing process going on. He always gifted his helpers with a new rattle, which he had used in the lodge. Now we could go buy one from him for $20, but getting one that had his juice in it was part of our magical quest. Brants rattles still play in every lodge at Hawkwind.

Brant is a dancer, a singer, a keeper of Deer healing magic and oh so much more. Brant is love and light and laughter. His workshops are like the flower blooming; the moments expand into beauty and fragrance of healing. His laughter and songs move with grace as he moves over and around the person who is lucky enough to receive his healings. His first visit to Hawkwind was just like that.

We were still in our infant stage when Brant came. We had to park him at someone’s home, as we were living in a single room above a barn, ourselves. Brant brought out our big drum and set it up in the field after leading us through an amazing fire ritual to hold the center fire. We danced for the next three days, and laughed through his lodges and workshops each night. He took us on a pilgrimage to set the original portals of Hawkwind. Each of us making an arrow of the truth of our intent to build this Sacred place and the promises that we would keep to maintain the vision of healing and hope for the generations to come. We sang our way over the many acres of this place and landed in the spot that became the women’s moon lodge. We all sang our intent, and Brant blessed the space that it would become fertile with the hopes and prayers of women. That circle still holds his beauty and prayers and the moon lodge still has a keeper. The fourth generation of young women are moving through these Sacred cycles. Brant was one of the first men to come to Hawkwind an make blessings specifically for the women and create a safe place for them. An honor which will always raise him up as a Sacred Warrior in our eyes.

Brant has many skills that he shares with the thousands he has served. His web site; www.Shamanism.com will offer everything from workshops to his non-profit organization that keeps the old tribes alive. Brant has walked his talk and built an amazing series of programs around the world, and we are most honored to know that some of that began in our own back yard.

One of my fondest memories of Brant happened at a Medicine Wheel in New York. I had been violated by an Elder and another Elder had pulled this man off my body as I had called for help. Yes, folks it does happen. The details have been the source of much pain for me and much healing in my life. Needless to say, my good brother Brant, along side Phil Lane called all of the Medicine Wheel circle together. With each warrior at my side, Brant lead a speech about the Sacredness of our Medicine and the respect we must have for each other. Brant held my hand as I sobbed my embarrassment of having even ended up in that situation to begin with. I had blamed myself for taking my pledge to serve the Altar to such an extreme that I did not mind the cautions of an Elder sister. I had walked the old man back to his cabin, proudly carrying his Medicine bag, as if being his favorite bag carrier was a badge of honor. I had heard her say, “ Don’t ever walk in that room alone” and I blew it off as tha t was her stuff, not mine. I did it anyway, and within minutes I was backed into a place of no return. Yet, Brant became my protector that night. He sang to my sorrow, he cleared away my shame with his feather and he treated me with the respect I should have gotten from the old man. He showed me there was a difference. Then he stood at my side and told the other women that there was no power in a Medicine Man’s sex part or in his demands. Brant stood up and took a hit for me. What a man, and I have always remembered his honor and most of all his RESPECT for women.

When Brant came to Hawkwind, I had two fractured ankles. Oh yeah, in another moment of medicine delight I had run to get my drum for Sun Bear to play at opening circle. I was so honored that he wanted to use my drum, that I rushed to my cabin, not seeing the fox hole that snagged my ankles into a classic keystone cop fall. Brant had used me as his healing demo that day and had sucked my bones into place, rather than us find a local hospital to do so. Now that was embarrassing. Here is this sweet singing guy, sucking on my smelly, dirty feet in front of a room full of people, just to show them that healing can happen anywhere. I would have been horrified for both of us if it had not worked, so I know in my mind, that day I accepted his healing in fullness and the ace bandage that carried me through the weekend with a lot of rides in the back of a red wagon. Brant has been my champ more than once, an though I have not seen him for many years, I follow his progress and see him standin g tall as an Elder these days, and I continue to hold him as a model of RESPECT whenever I work with any Elder, anywhere.

And ladies, know when you come to Hawkwind and step up to that Moon lodge, it is Brant, Wingedstone and Tarwater that made sure all women would know respect at Hawkwind. The Warrior that protects women is alive and well in that little moon lodge that got built where Brant left his arrow of truth.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Charla