For Better or For Worst.

For Better or For Worst is written by Lisa F. Tardiff
Montreal, P.Quebec

I recently wrote a blog entry, on August 3rd, 2010, entitled “Walk your Talk”. Yesterday, a friend who’s pen name is Rockstar and who manages our workshops, our community site, our web page and other activities brought to my attention a blog entry written by one of the participants in CF. JP thought it was important to bring this entry to my attention because not only is it defamation of character but it also confirms my complaint of plagiarism.

I don’t do defensive mode but I do – do Warrior mode. I think it is important to stand and accept the burden of truth. I certainly don’t pretend to take ownership of the Senecca language or the Senecca traditions as I am not Senecca. Yet, I repeat – I will take ownership of what is self-originated within the teachings that I have shared with others in the last 20 years. The Medicine Wheel is a self-originated ceremony which means that it is partly self-created and interwoven with the ways of the People. The individualized insights and ideas that I have brought to “our “ Wheel have been copy written in Canada during the course of our journey – which is 20 years of teaching, lecturing and writing. Every teacher of the Medicine Wheel brings new insights and new ideas. I strongly recommend that you read Sun Bear, Kenneth Meadow, Evelyn Eaton, Joseph Raël, Jamie Sams and her teacher, Twylah Nitsch. They are all pioneers in the writing and teaching of the Medicine Wheel. Twylah Nitsch in particular offers Senecca teachings. I would recommend that you compare her teachings to “ours”in order to clearly see the difference between what is Senecca and what is our self-originated ideas and insights. You’ll notice through reading these books that each of these teachers owns claim to a unique perception of the Sacred Circle Tradition. I don’t think that plagiarising their teachings or slandering their characters would be taken lightly….

The Moon of Territory teaches us to set boundaries and to claim our thoughts, our feelings, our impressions and our memories. She brings us to understand what it means to take responsibility and gives us a glimpse of what it means to be Warrior. I was told by people who are investigating this matter on my behalf that since “Walk your Talk” the CF site has changed many of the words which derive from our teachings and replaced them with new titles, synonyms of sorts. I appreciate this action. Affairs concerning plagiarism on internet are tricky; nevertheless there are recourses we can take to protect our legal rights especially in matters of registered patents and copyrights even across borders. Still, I personally prefer civil dialogue.

The author representing CF admits in “Response to RTB” that my request to discuss the matter was indeed refused. I did write my name in bold letters in hope that they would recognize me, notice the urgency and accept my attempt for discussion. Apparently they did recognize me and intentionally refused to deal with me. On my part, the matter was hence handed down to appropriate individuals for further investigation. After launching a complaint I was told that at least four individuals were already looking into the matter for me. I was also told that two of their demands were also rejected and one was told after an inquiry that “the site’s creators were incredibly mistrusting of newcomers and strangers.” I could understand some kind of apprehension if they were approached in the manner that the author of the dragonflyclouds blog responded to my blog entry. Yet, as the author of the blog stated there was no accusation, no attacks, nothing except a name and hope of recognition on my behalf. If CF were without reproach concerning this issue they would have amicably replied to me.

Just recently “our” circle in Alberta was looking into the topic of conflicts:

• How are they started?
• Why are they started?
• How can they be resolved?

I explained that a conflict always starts with us even though it always takes two to argue. I’m big on taking responsibility and encouraging others to do the same. We can only find resolution through owning what is ours. Nobody has control over the will of another individual. Personally, if I have any expectations they are usually directed towards my story and my growth process. Expectations towards the personal development of others sounds arrogant to me.

• Lots of conflicts are started because of shame, regret, jealousy and guilt. These are the four nightmares we struggle with.
• Believe it or not quite a few conflicts are triggered because of ignorance. We were brought up to believe for example that it’s easier to let go if we cause a conflict or that it’s a sure way of getting attention.
• Some conflicts are meant to deviate our attention from the issue at hand. Fear of consequences are also at the bottom of creating feuds.


There are many other reasons why we step into conflict and one of them, is to reach results of resolution. My blog entry, Walk your Talk, was meant to express my feelings and my reactions towards receiving the information that someone was copying and profiting from my words. In many instances especially today, people back down from standing behind what they believe in because of fears: Fear of being humiliated, fear of being attacked, fear of causing trouble, fear of getting caught up in a never ending war, fear of being disliked or fear of being judged unfairly. Ghandi showed us that we could fight for what is “ours” without disempowering anyone.

I’ll admit that I had to sit with the “Response to RTB” and ask myself if I should even bother with a second blog entry on the topic or any other topic... My hands shook and I did feel doubt for a moment. I felt fear: Fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of hurt. I read and re-read Walk your Talk while seriously asking myself if I had been unfair and malicious towards others and I couldn’t find through my text anything else but sincere factual observation and an open dialogue with those who experienced similar issues in their lives. I was not talking to the people of CF or even about them but rather focusing on misguided actions.

Being in EGO as far as I’m concern should always be a given. In my World – having an EGO is crucial to having a SOUL. I know that the MOONS are the steady development of our EGO and that Goddess guides us every day of our lives with this raw, earthly attached power. I’m definitely not always balanced with my EGO or what I call my MOONS but I certainly don’t hope to ever be without it or without them. We can discuss this topic more thoroughly in a next blog entry. LOL

One thing is very clear to me – I will never sell out the teachings of the Wheel because it would be easier for me and easier for the ego of others. I will never allow myself and the people I love to be walked on and to be abused by others. You can say all you want but in the end, the truth is what it is and I accept its burden. I believe in the people who walk alongside me not students or worshippers but People of a common ground. People who know me – know that I don’t do good with crowds and with center stage but given the chance, I will take the spot light if it means sharing the beauty and abundance of the Sacred Circle Way. All I ask is that each and everyone of us speak from our hearts, our minds, our soul and make sure we ask permission when borrowing from others….

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED BY THEIR GENEROSITY.

Finally, in my experience there is no such thing as a Dark Shaman. SHAMAN as a word is whole and is not divided by duality. It’s been said before that one can choose to destroy, to construct and to create but that does not make anyone good or bad; dark or light. In Shamanism there’s no such judgment. The quest for balance may demand from us a unique kind of service. Still, I plan to do some research on the topic just in case there’s something else out there that is begging to be unravelled. I’ll keep you posted on what I uncover.