Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society: Medicine Wheels

Part of the Red Lodge teachings provided by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society is learning about medicine wheels. This program consists of six weekend gatherings in a year that teaches how to view the medicine wheel as a symbol for life.

Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society helps us see the interconnections between our many experiences and the ways in which one set of teachings overlays on others to deepen our understanding. Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society teaches people that we are responsible for our own lives and provides the tools to make life what we most desire it to be.

Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society: Our Offerings

Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society is a worldwide organization that was founded on the teachings of the Sweet Medicine SunDance path (SMSD).

We offer a variety of resources including study groups and lodges, longhouses, community ceremonies, rites of passage ceremonies, physical mastery, complementary healing ways.

Many people first encounter the SMSD path through our study groups and lodges.   These are often small, intimate groups where the wheels and keys are presented in ways highly relevant to daily life in community.  Our study groups and lodges can be found in 15 countries around the world, and in 20 states in the US.

Our Red Lodge Longhouse program is a 4-year structured program taking students through the first 3 ceremonial gateways, with in-depth associated teachings.  Each year of this program features 6 weekend sessions filled with teachings, hands-on applications, and ceremony; and in addition a ceremonial week-long event in nature. 

Study groups, lodges, and our mother lodge offer community ceremonies for all who wish to participate. 

One of our primary goals is to bring Rites of Passage back to the people – that is, to all of us.  In Europe these ceremonies have been offered for many years in the Earth Lodge programs in Germany and Italy.  We are currently working to bring a similar program to the US. 

The SMSD path encompasses all aspects of our being, including the physical; and developing physical mastery is an integral part of our gateway process.  We offer martial arts training through the Ten No Kishi Dojo, headed by our founder SwiftDeer.  In addition, students are encouraged to explore other disciplines and types of physical mastery.

In the SMSD healing paradigm, the healed, or healthy, person is not just someone whose body is free from disease. True health encompasses our emotions, mind, spirit, and sexuality as well as our body. When we speak of healing, we mean coming into balance in all our aspects as well as with the natural world, into alignment with Sacred Law, and into alignment with one’s true self.  This paradigm seeks to get at spiritual cause, not just at fixing symptoms.  Healing paradigm teachings and ceremonies are available in many lodge locations.

For more information on any of our programs, contact the main DTMMS office at info@dtmms.org, or the study group or lodge closest to you.

Mental? Physical? Spiritual? The Human Aspects

Is the spiritual path supported by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society more mental or more physical?

Actually it is both – and more.

The Sweet Medicine Sundance (SMSD) path wheel of human aspects includes our emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, and sexual or soul force aspects. 

And of these, which is the most important?  Where should we put our developmental emphasis?

On all five aspects, in balance!   

SMSD teachings say the human  body is intended to live 135 years – but we can only do that when we are balanced. By combining and balancing all aspects of human growth and evolution, SMSD and DTMMS promote optimal human health, fitness and happiness.

We provide programs that:

• increase endurance and promote longevity and heightened awareness
• empower emotional maturing and balance
• hone mental capacity and flexibility
• increase spiritual connection, and knowing of interconnection between all forms of all things
• develop soul force energy and awareness of the sacredness of sexuality

In addition, DTMMS and SMSD encourages all seekers and students to broaden their studies and knowing into multiple disciplines, to provide perspective and true knowing.  Challenge your self, your path, your teachers, your beliefs!

Visit our web site for more about the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society.