Two Spirit Individuals

[Danee]

I found this article describing early indigenous cultures having two spirited individuals that were revered as healers and caregivers. Before European colonization of course. :/ I was happy to discover that it's slowly making a comeback as it was part of the culture.

http://www.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/twospirit.php

The second article in has a photo documentary of modern day two spirit gatherings.

[Guest Denise007]

I've been in the company of more then a few Native American persons that were quite old. I've been told I have an old spirit without my telling i was trans. For a time I bought into the idea that I'm 2 not one person and spirit. It seemed right at that time, and I like so many of us, had no idea that male and female can exist as one person or spirit. Now for me to think or try think of myself as 2 can just; well can give me a migraine!

I see way too many TGs talk in the 3rd person or refer to their female self. I'm sorry, that way of thinking just doesn't work in the long term for me. (opinion)

[VickySGV]

I am a member of a Transgender Spirit Circle where we accept many of the old beliefs as the basis for working out the conflicts that we encounter in our daily lives as Trans* people who are at a wide range of places in our lives. I even have some posts here that talk about this, including a few in conversation with one of our members who has been more fully trained in "The Ways" of First Nations spirituality. This is not a way for everyone who is Trans* to find what they need, but the overwhelming concept of acceptance, especially in the early phases of discovery, can give something that few have had before then and give permission for becoming fully open if only to a small group. I know it has saved lives for those who have been there. I am several generations away from the Full Blood of my Native American ancestry, but I felt it and embraced it long before I even suspected that my discomfort with life was based on my being Trans*. For many Trans* people I know today, it is an opening and a point of beginning. They feel excluded from many spiritual avenues in the beginning of their journeys and that exclusion also makes it harder for them to seek adequate counseling from qualified professional help.

Trans* is not a one-size, one-way only life. Things have and do change almost from day to day.

[Danee]

I've met a two-spirited individual, one born with both sexes. I was glad that they took their time to explore all aspects of both genders. Their an interesting person. And it gave me a new way of looking at the whole spectrum of lifestyles that fall under the gender fluid to TG way of life.

Reading this article made me proud to be Metis. I hope to one day bring my wife to one of these gatherings. I think it would be healing for both of us. Is there a Transgender spirit circle in Canada that you know of?

[Charlize]

Danee, This is certainly something that you as a Metis can be proud of. The idea of two spirit is a First Nation concept. I recently read an article about how many in the Native American population are upset about the concept being usurped by the anglo population. That seemed a pity to me as it described the lives of so many of us.

Hugs,

Charlize

[VickySGV]

Reading this article made me proud to be Metis. I hope to one day bring my wife to one of these gatherings. I think it would be healing for both of us. Is there a Transgender spirit circle in Canada that you know of?

I do not know of any in Canada I am sorry to say, but I would think that there would be one or more. The circle I am part of is very small one in North Carolina and I live in California. It is possible that a call to a Tribal center would get that information, and who knows but that you might even start one!!

[Guest noeleena]

Hi ,

As a ? i wonder why western socitey at large , though when i think about it i doubt one can blame society as a whole so comes down to who started to control how people accepted things such as people like us , I know with my interaction with some people they cant or don't wont to accept a difference we have and have stated very strongly they wont accept us ,

And even when explaining why one is different , its like western thinking has been blocked off , sad to say they belive what they have been taught .and they wont check the facts out to find out ,

A good write up and I have read some many years ago ,

...noeleena...

[Danee]

That's one thing I love about traditional First Nation culture. They are accepting of all cultures, races and different gender/ sexual orientations.

I guess I could go to the Thunderbird house and ask them. They might know of a group here.

[Guest noeleena]

Hi Danee,

Thank you .

I.m fortunate in having many friends who just accept what i am and who I am as a person yet they know my difference yet does not come into what we talk about , unless an other matter is brought up that comes with in my difference other wise im just a normal female bottom line is im not and do they care no, ,

I know over the years each group I,v become a member of some 8 and I'm put incharge of different aspects and two others doing cooking for many 100,s of people and you have a working staff of 15 who are your responcibilty then that says something in your favour and it happens so many times ,

I never ever thought would I be accepted let alone be given charge of so much and people ,, it certainly humbled me .

...noeleena...

[Danee]

Hopefully some day soon that will be the case for me and my wife as well. I'm still trying to sort out how to tell people. I've had mixed reactions. Most of Jiszka's have been positive except her mother.

[Cyndee]

This is all good, I know these folks are really on to something, and I have met one of their founding members and she speaks an authentic language. There really is a spiritual aspect to fixing ones "gender issues", it's far more complex than simple medical explanations and treatments.

http://transspiritcouncil.org/

Incorporate all the belief's of native American two spirit culture into a registered, recognized "Religion", once designated a religion or faith, it's members and those who practice could be trans of any other faith(s) for that matter and would receive protections of practicing these faiths under constitution of this country. We are free to practice our religion of "two spiritness" and therefor gain all rights afforded a religion in this country. We therefor use our "Religious Freedom" to be who were are, same as those that would use the same argument to discriminate against us. The members of this church would not be discriminatory however and would practice and promote inclusiveness of all people.

C -

[TeamEffort]

I've been posting over in the Native Two Spirit area because I didn't see this here, but it's simply who and what we are -- we're not trying to "appropriate" anything by saying "Two Spirit." It's a perfect description that has no western equivalent. We are us, a pair that works through one body, male and female both. Literally two separate spirits in one body. The spiritual aspects are also completely accurate for what we do and how we work (spirit realm travels, healing others, energy work), we just can't and don't do it inside a Native framework.

If there's a better way of describing having literally two spirits in one body than with the English words "two spirit" I'd love to hear it. Also, hello and we would love to meet more like us.