“For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. Ephesians 6:12
BY MARY MINOR
OCTOBER 26, 2025
One only needs to read a newspaper, articles on the internet, or watch the news to experience man’s inhumanity to man. This condition has been created by numerous factors, including greed, fear, ignorance, and the pursuit of power.
Throughout history, these elements have fueled conflicts, oppression, and a lack of justice – lawlessness. As our society evolves, new challenges and adversities arise, but the fundamental struggle remains: a battle of good against evil, and light against dark.
We live in a time of transition, witnessing the changing of the ages, the end of one world and the birth of another. As we awaken to the realities we face, we can see more and more our need to be able to protect ourselves, and those we love, from possible harm. And yet, not lose our humanity, but continue manifesting benevolent compassion from within.
Black Lodge focuses primarily on developing the skills and prowess to engage successfully with the external as well as the internal enemies. This training enables the apprentice to eventually become the Flower Soldier who stands for Grandmother Earth and fights for autonomy, freedom, and justice in the tonal; the Rainbow Warrior who stands for and honors all paths to the light and keeps the Sacred Hoops intact; and eventually when they have a high enough orende (energy) and are a strong enough dreamer they can choose to become the Night Warrior who fights the dark force in the 5th dimension.
Deepen your Mantle
Alpha White Lodge provides the group ceremonies as well as a full set of teachings and training (including key components of Black Lodge, Warrior Techniques of Discipline, and ongoing deepening of your medicine mantles, preparing advanced apprentices for the completion of the 5th Gateway.
The intent of the Black Lodge Curriculum which moves alongside the Gateway Ceremonial Path is for an apprentice to gain enough skill, knowledge and spiritual advancement (enlightenment) to be able to protect and defend your own life or the life of those you love.
There is a second intent and that is to build the spiritual foundation of physical mastery to move forward on the ceremonial path. We do this by learning how to hold our one point and our space, cultivate presence and conscious awareness. In this way we may meet any and all energies that the gateway process will demand as we advance on our path toward enlightenment.
The Sweet Medicine SunDance Path is a Warrior’s Path in both the 3rd and 5th dimensions. This denotes a warrior in the physical 3rd dimension and a Spiritual Warrior in the 5th. It is crucial to understand that the dimensional aspects of the warrior are closely interconnected.
One way we can serve the increased demands for personal protection (defence) during this time is by physically training. We become effective proponents for positive energies in our lives, with others and on this planet. We must also learn to use our spiritual path to manifest the necessary power and strength in the 5th dimension to combat negative energies. As taught in many spiritual schools and martial art forms, the unity of body, mind and spirit is essential.
“This is a great time to be a warrior and alive on the planet. We are living in a time when the energies of the light can directly help us” – ThunderStrikes
ThunderStrikes was a martial arts teacher and he first began to share the Wheels and Keys with his students and include the medicine teachings in his martial art classes. He was eclectic in his pursuit of martial art techniques and practices. He taught his students to fight from the ground as in grappling or Judo, standing up as in, Shorei-Kenpo, and throwing techniques as in Shorinji Ryu Jiu Jitsu. We were even taught how to fight in a phone booth. However, along with the martial arts training, a student walked the gateways to develop their spirit.
Black Lodge (physical mastery training), has been part of the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path, “since always”. Much appreciation to the Deer Tribe Council of Law for its many efforts, along with ThunderStrikes for creating and formalising the curriculum as an integral part of the SMSD ceremonial process in 2004.
The Black lodge curriculum and the ceremonial gateway process are to run parallel with each other to ensure that the apprentice has a foundation of physical prowess and mastery for the ceremonial process of spiritual growth.
This is a great quote from the great Bruce Lee:
“Listen for the silent flute!
Martial art is not to hurt, but is one of the avenues through which life opens its secrets to us.
We can see others only when we can see ourselves and practising martial arts is a valuable step towards knowing oneself.
So will the voiceless voice be heard and the self be brought into harmony with it.”
Mary is a senior apprentice, teaching the wheels and keys of the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path for over 30 years at home in the USA and abroad. She is the Medicine Director of DTMMS that serves as the home of this spiritual Path and is also a Hereditary Lineage Leader, one of six people mandated to lead the Path into the future.
The major focus of her medicine walk is de-armoring her character structure and learning how to assume authority and take responsibility for being an individual, autonomous and free human being. Mary’s use of humor and wisdom is a delight.
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