State of the Church Address
Seventh Generation Native American Church
1011 Winterville Road
Athens, GA 30605
21 April 2023
My Dearest Relatives,
I am writing to you tonight, to bring to you a proclamation of the State of the Church as we have come to celebrate nearly a year since we embarked on this local, physical journey; this phase of the development of our Church and Church family in Athens, GA. It has been a remarkable, amazing joinery, one filled with Magic and Miracles.
A year ago, late April 2022, I had been residing in Chattanooga, TN for three years, dodging COVID, locked down, and locked in with a dear relative there. It had been too long since I had seen my Mother, who, on her next Winter, will celebrate 95 years walking, in a good way, on the breast of our Sacred Mother Earth. I was eager to come here, come home, and visit her. It was my initial plan to spend only a few days here, then return to Chattanooga. But, Spirit had other plans.
Not long after my arriving here in Athens, my brother and his family went on a week’s vacation, four hours away from our Mom. Realizing if I went back to Chattanooga, as I initially planned, she would be here, alone, with both of her two sons, hours away from her. I was prompted to stay a while, at least until my brother returned from holiday. Fortunately, this was one of those moments in which I listened. Within days, I received a phone call from her Assisted Living facility, saying Mom had take a nasty fall, and was being transported to the ER. She and I, ended up in Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital for four days.
I was staying at a friend’s place a few nights, then another for a few nights, then in rented Air B&Bs in and around Athens. One evening, while enjoying a comfortable bed in my friends, Wendy and Bryce’s guest room, a text came through. It was from Victoria (Bradfield), asking if I was ever interested in playing Native American music. “Of course!” I replied. Victoria then made me aware of some up-coming festivals at Rabbit Hole Studios that I might be interested in.
Now, stepping back in the story a few years, I first met Victoria while she was working as a server at a favorite restaurant of mine. How fortunate was I, we, that Victoria was serving my table that. night. We had never met until then, but there was that certain and immediate soul connection between she and me. I spoke of Prayer Ceremony I was offering in the Athens area at the time. She expressed a beautiful interest in my work and offerings. We exchanged phone numbers, agreeing that I would invite her to my next Ceremony, the latter of which came in November 2018.
We gathered for Prayer Ceremony at our beloved Healing Path Farm, in our yurt, creating a sacred space on a cold November evening. Little did we know, and who could have imagined then, the Teacher that was coming, and who was cooking already, lurking just around the dark corner, in what would manifest through the sickness now known as COVID. That would be our last gathering, (until recently) as we navigated our way through an intense Season of the West, that place of darkness, chaos, and confusion, even death, as the whole world ground to a halt.
Stepping back into the present tense of the story, Victoria arranged for me to come to Rabbit Hole, and give a talk. There I met Mokah Jonson, and Cassie Chantel. Mokah was running for a local political office, and Cassie was hosting a fund-raising event for her campaign. Cassie invited me to come and give a talk on the struggles of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. From there I was invited to a Healing Arts Festival, hosted at Rabbit Hole, a vision of a dear Granddaughter, Alexandria. From there, offering prayer and Ceremony at a gathering of Sacred Fire. It soon became apparent to me. that what was unfolding was a “right here, right now” moment of manifesting Destiny, suggesting I might want to stay here a while longer than originally planned and anticipated.
I began to pray, seeking guidance and help from the Ancestors, Elders, Creator, the Earth, praying, “Ancestors, Elders, I need your help, your guidance now.” Echoing that same prayer, calling on Grandfather, Grandmother, The Sacred Mother Earth, “I am calling on you now! I need your help, your guidance now.” I was seeking clarity, a “Yes” from Sprit to and for this moment, this place, this “now”.
Soon, I met with Victoria, Nick (Bradfield), co-owners of Rabbit Hole, and JC Jones, a dear brother with whom I had shared many good prayers and Ceremonies. I shared with them my vision ~ the Vision that was given to me seven years prior in the culmination of an eight week Vision Quest in the West. The Quest eventually led me to Hovenweep National Monument, a few miles west of Cortex CO. I was not supposed to be anywhere near Cortex, but there I was, catching a glimpse of a faded, easily missed, weathered sign reading ~ “Hovenweep National Monument, 43 miles”. While having dinner that evening, I called my Navigator, asking what she knew of Hovenweep. Amazing conversation. Some have called it an interesting coincidence. The next morning Highlander (my car) and I headed further west, to Hovenweep.
It was there, at Howenweep National Monument, and on the morning, sunrise, on the fourth day, and like a movie being played out in front of me, the Vision became undeniably, and abundantly clear, just as Sprit was directing the Quest, from preparation for the journey, to and til now. I was to return to Athens create a State of GA Non-Profit Corporation, apply for and secure Federal 501(c)3 Non-Profit status. This organizing, applications, investigations as regards legitimacy, waiting, waiting, waiting, took nearly three years until all was officially and legally organized and structured. I was instructed to do it this way, so-that no outside angry, dark entities could challenge our authenticity. I was given the name, Seventh Generation Native American Church, consistent with what has come to be known as the Seventh Generation Prophecy, as was given to Crazy Horse. Many of you have heard me tell that story. Critical in these instructions was the conviction to create a Sacred Space, grounded and founded on the essential principle of Excellence.
Through the sharing of the Vision for the Church, and all the preparation invested in its infra structure, including websites, Social Media presence, and having secured nearly 1k relatives following the Church world-wide, and through dialogue with Nick, Victoria, JC, it was realized and affirmed that we would begin the physical manifestation of the Vision here, at Rabbit Hole Studios in Athens, GA. We held our first Sunday Spiritual Celebration Service on the first Sunday of August 2022, beginning at 11:11 AM. We have not missed a Sunday yet.
Each week our Fellowship is growing, seeing new pilgrims finding their way to our Church family. Some have lingered for a while, then moving on in a good way, and hopefully carrying forth the Medicine that is being shared here every Sunday. Some have come and gone, but we have established a central and core group of the Faithful, consistent in attendance, and support. I am extraordinarily grateful for each one of you, and honored and blessed by all who have sat in Sacred Space, and made their good prayer at our Altar.
We have resumed our Ceremonial gatherings at Healing Path Farm, praying with the Sacred Pipe. We enjoyed a beautiful Winter Solstice Ceremony, and Spring Equinox Ceremony. Our next up-coming event will a teaching on the Medicine Wheel and the creation of a physical Medicine Wheel on the Healing Path property. In the Fall I will be teaching an eight week series on Walking the Medicine Path, the Medicine Wheel, and the concordant Seven Sacred Teachings. We have taken many from our Fellowship to my Tribal Grounds of the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation for Ceremony and Medicine School. We have begun to sponsor other relatives on their own Vision Quest, opening the land at Healing Path for these sacred journeys.
We have created several Council Fires within the structure of the Church. We have established a Stewardship Council, which has encouraged me to write this Address, a Logistics Council, responsible for setting up, taking down, for our events, especially our Sunday Spiritual Celebration, as our space, The Grand Hall at Rabbit Hole is a shared, multi-use(d), space. We have established a Hospitality Council, which is responsible for greeting, welcoming, and ushering our guest Relatives, who are new to our services and work. We most recently established a Media & Public Relations Council, and a Technology Council, the latter of which is desperately needed as technology has outran me long ago as I soon will celebrate 72 Winters on my present Earth Walk! Additional Council Fires will be established and added as the need(s) present themselves.
Just within the last two weeks, and through a mutual arrangement and agreement with Nick, Victoria, and the Rabbit Hole Counsel, I have taken an office suite here, in a work-exchange credit agreement in and through which I will be providing mediation, conflict resolution, and counsel to the community here at Rabbit Hole. I will be sharing this sacred space with you in Open House Ceremony following our Sunday Spiritual Celebration on Sunday, 23 April.
The sacred space that has been created in this office/study, will be a place to provide counsel through our Mental Health entity, White Wolf Counseling. I finished preparing the space tonight. It took me Seven Days to create, with Sprit orchestrating, directing each step, just like Spirit directed my preparation for Vision Quest. “Take this, take that, place it here, place it there…”. I stepped back in awe and amazement earlier this evening, when the awareness of “It is done” and a sense completion came over me.
Nothing here is here by accident; no. Each and every Sacrament has a story, a connection, with relatives, Ancestors, even my own family, all from the beginning. The Cherokee, Creek artifacts on the very first piece of furniture I ever purchased, the books on the shelves, the artwork on the walls, the desktop photographs, too much to mention in the writing of this declaration, are all here as a result of Divine Navigation.
As I had that “It is finished” realization, I sat in my chair, and became keenly aware, the Vision has come full circle, here, in this space, in this time, in this moment, in this reality, in this fully and ever present Earth Walk. And, it is a beautiful space. You’d just have to see it.
Growth however, is not without its challenges. Ever keeping true to the demand for excellence, the creation of this space, its consecration and soon dedication, has come at a tremendous financial investment. Leading up to this moment, everything has been self-funded, and most of it trough my own financial reserves. I must now practice the Seven Sacred Teachings in the telling of this story, and humble myself (Humility), be honest (Humility), and dig deep for Courage. I stand with and in deepest Respect for you, the young Seventh Generation relatives who have been a part of this development from the beginning, those wayfarers, who have found their way here, and to those of you who have supported me in a good way through this journey from Vision to reality. I come now to speak a Truth.
When I was realized that yes, here was the place, and now was the time, I leased a small Cabin near the Apalachee River, in Apalachee GA. The land there is sacred as our Mvskoke ancestors once inhabited that land and settled along the banks of the River. I made a good prayer to the Creator then, opening my heart, saying if indeed this was/is a moment from the heart of the Divine, I could not do this with out help.
I have never been one who has enjoyed much financial abundance, at least in the physical realm, the realm of the Economy of Man, opting rather and as much as I can, to operate in the Economy of Sprit, wherein principles of generosity and reciprocity, are at its core, and foundation. I retired several years ago, relying solely on my Social Security benefits to pay my commitments, put food on the table, and fuel in my automobile. Not much room in that budget for any additional commitments of expense. My prayer to Creator was phrased, “If this is you I can not do this on my own. I simply do no have the resources to support it all, especially now, having said yes to a need of the establishment of this office space to offer the Medicine of wise counsel, healing, teaching, and Ceremony.
My understanding of my responsibility to the equation was to provide counseling services, to teach on Principles of Generosity, Gifting, Reciprocity, and operating in the Economy of Spirit.. This I have done. Moving through the Winter Holiday season, many who began a wisdom walk with me, have not returned, most expressing a restoration of wholeness, and healing, and that’s a wonderful thing. I celebrate and honor that. It has, however, left a deep hole in my financial posture. Simply put, I have run out of fiscal resources.
I have come to you, my dear friends, allies, and Relatives to ask for help, your help. Our annual budget is close to $24k, and we, I, are totally dependent upon the faithful giving of those who come our way, and their generous donations and gifts that have being offered in ways nothing short of Magic and Miracles. I am grateful for every gift, no matter how large, or seemingly small. Those weekly donations at our Sacred Altar, however are not nearly enough to support the greater and growing vision of where we are heading.
One would think that funding such a meager budget, particularly given the consideration of how our Church is growing in both, the physical and spiritual realm. Yet, it is demonstratedly daunting. As I did when I first began this journey, my good prayer is to receive the help, support, and assistance needed and necessary to move forward, in a good way.
The Big Black Book reminds and assures us, “Let your prayers rise like smoke to the Great Spirit, for he will see and answer you. Every step is a prayer, and as you dance upon the earth for the things you seek, the way will open before you. In the same way, as you search for the true ancient pathways, you will find them. Answers will come to the ones who ask, good things will be found by the ones who search for them, and the way will open before the ones who keep dancing their prayers.” (Mathew 7:7-8.)
Ideally, I hope you will consider supporting me, and the greater Vision for the people, our Church, in and through an on-going, consistent, dependable manner. Many of you already are, and I am richly grateful for that. We simply need more of you to stand with those who already are. Together we can accomplish great things.
Many of you, who have opted into our mailing list, I have never met. Rarely do I see a, or your name, only an email address. Yet, I consider each of you a Sacred part of our Fellowship. Many of you are from far away places, and perhaps, and understandably so, may wonder how your support will benefit you. Let me help you with that dilemma.
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) tells a touching story, a parable, of the King, who comes into his kingdom, who will, and on that day, separate the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand, the goats on his left. (Parenthetically, the metaphor here is clear: sheep are known to be more docile, peaceful, eager to follow their shepherd, cooperative, etc. Goats, on the other hand are iconically stubborn, head strong, determined to plow through head first, and head-strong. They are known to wonder away and go astray. They buck up against the guidance of their shepherd, seeking their own way.
To those who now stand on his right, the King says, come dear relatives, take your rightful place in the kingdom, for when I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. When I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was thirsty, you satisfied my parched tongue with water. When I was sick, you came, and when I was in prison, you visited me. The people marveled when hearing this. They asked, when did we do these things unto you? The Kings replied, when you did these things to others, you did them likewise unto me.
Similarly, he will say to the goats, go away from me, for you have bad hearts. When I was hungry, you did not bring food to my doorway. When I was thirsty, you offered noting to drink. When I was naked you offered no coat. When I was sick, you left me to suffer on my own. When I was in prison, you ignored me. For when you did not open your heart to your brother, your sister who was in need, you likewise did them not unto me. Matthew 25:31-46
Simply put, your blessings enable us to bless others in a good way. Your gifts have a reciprocal energy that exponentially expands beyond you in a manner that will bless and empower others. That’s the way the Economy of Sprit works.
Earlier this evening, for example, a young and new relative to our local church family came to sit with me for a while. He was telling me of having lunch yesterday, with his Mother’s Pastor. As he, the man who was sitting on my sofa, told me that this Pastor had gifted him $100 bill as he was leaving. On Sunday, prior, my new and adopted Grandson remained in my office after church, quietly praying. I had left him sit in quietness, alone. Returning to my office later in the afternoon. Sitting on the Altar, this relative had left a $20 blessing, and now, in less than a week, his blessing me, had taken a life energy of its own, and came back to him five-fold. Magic and Miracles, yes, but that is the way things work in the realm and economy of Spirit. Many have come already, seeking wise counsel, Spiritual guidance, healing, and have not the resources to pay for these services as they would in the realm and economy of Man. No one is ever turned away due to lack of funds. Your gifts and blessings can help make this a “non-issue”, as we are simply and directly instructed, admonished, to simply go, simply do, simply speak, simply be: present, available, prepared, and paying attention.
Again, the Big Black Book puts it this way: The amount you measure out to others is the amount that comes back to you, like a basket that has been filled to the top, shaken down, and packed together, until it overflows. What you give out will come back to you - full circle. (Luke 6:36)
I have multiple platforms available through which you can engage in offering your support to this ministry, either as a one-time-blessing, or as an on-going, regular agreement of support. PayPal, Venmo, Zelle are the most commonly used and readily available to most, even those who, like me, are techno challenged. Use SeventhGenerationNativeAmericanChurch@Gmail as your beneficiary through using those apps, or websites; all of which are safe and secure. Zelle is easiest and has no merchant fees attached to your gifts and blessings. There are also “Donate” tabs/buttons on my personal website: RobertBlakEagle.com. There is a “Donate” tab/button also on our Church webpage: SeventhGenerationNativeAmericanChurch.org
Checks, and cards of support are receivable at the following address:
Seventh Generation Native American Church
2301 Experiment Station Road
Suite 301-490
Watkinsville, Ga 30677
I have been blessed to offer Counsel to relatives from far away, England, Ireland, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Egypt, India, Canada, via Zoom or other Face-Time platforms. Most have not had the resources to offer payment for service, but I have shown up each and every time there has been a need and query. I say that to show you just how connected we all are in this Sacred Circle of Life, and how interdepend we all are in the Hoop.
As I finished setting up my office space, a labor of love that took seven days to create, I was keenly aware earlier in the evening, that this office space, our physical groundedness in this space, is the full and complete culmination of my Vision Quest in 2015. It has come full circle, and that, while reflecting a sense of completion, the work, the Vision, it is just beginning. I can not wait to see what lies before us.
We living in critical times, and challenging days. Many more await us. And in this perpetual struggle between light, dark, peace, chaos, angry and happy, it is more important now, more than ever in our evolution as human beings to move forward as people of the light, people of peace, people of love, people who are walking and dancing their prayer in good ways, if we are ever to overcome the darkness that wants nothing more than to steal your joy, your peace, your serenity, and interrupt the flow of love, coming down from Divine Source, and spreading horizontally in and among the people.
Will you join me on this epic journey? Will you share your support, financially as well as and more especially in a prayerful manner? May I depend on you to stand strong with me, us, as we move forward to teach our young people, this emerging Seventh Generation our old and Indigenous ways, wisdom, story, song, and tradition?
The day of Crazy Horses’s own personal Vision is coming into fruition even as I write these words. For, In that day (a time of the Seventh Generation), all of the colors of mankind will gather together as one, and the Sacred Circle of Life will be restored, and we will all, stand as one. That is being fulfilled among us, even now.
Crazy Horse saw a time of Seven Generations, the latter of whom, would come to those (Elders) who carry knowledge and wisdom, and ask for this Medicine, teachings, and traditions. Especially, the young white ones. He saw them coming, hungry for this knowledge of harmony and unity among all living things.
That day is this day, and the time is now. It is so exciting to see it unfold, just as it was prophesied to be, just as it was envisioned to be, and it is incredibly intense, in a good way, to be caught up right in the middle of it all.
This is the work I have been called to. The is the voice I have been given to speak. It is this I desire to commit all of my energies, and not be distracted over matters of finance. Please join me, Relatives, as we move forward in these troubling times. Let us, together, be that light of the world, a light that sets the captives free.
I have said many times, the hope, the Agreement of this Seventh Generation is one one of healing, returning, reconciliation, restoration to a time and a place of love, unblemished, pure, unconditional, as was intended and created to be, in the beginning. That time is now, and that place is here.
There is a beautiful scene in the movie, Field of Dreams. It is, in fact, the final scene. (If you’ve not seen the film, I encourage you to do so. It is Medicine in its own way.). The scene has Terrence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) being invited by the “ghost” baseball players to go with them, as they returned to corn field from whence they emerged to play ball on a field created by Ray Kinsella in response to the whisper, If you build it, they will come.
Mann decides to follow the ghost players. Tentatively, he reaches his hand into the sea of corn stalks, only to see it disappear. He turns to Ray, and chuckles. He reaches in a little deeper. Jerking back his hand, again, he turns to Ray and chuckles. He then proceeds to channel a great story of great wisdom to Ray, who has been labeled foolish for plowing up his abundant Iowa corn field, to construct a baseball field. The project that has nearly bankrupted him, has resulted in a bank foreclosure of the land, and close relatives insisting he sell. Mann’s admonishment is just as poignant today, perhaps more-so, as it was then. I close with this:
Ray, people will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children longing for the past.
“Of course, we don’t mind if you look around,” you’ll say. “It’s only twenty dollars per person.” They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it. For it is money they have, and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers, and sit in shirt-sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game, and it will be a as if they have dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.
People will come, Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game ~ its a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be good again.
Ohhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.
I heard the whisper at Hovenweep, If you build it, they will come. Ohhhhhh, they will most definitely come. I have built it, and they are, in fact, coming. And this is a beautiful thing.
So, I invite you now, to come, sit on the bleachers of our Seventh Generation Native American Church. We have reserved seats for you, and here, may you find peace, a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that the world can not give you nor which it can take away. And together, we will be that one constant that remains and stands the test of time ~ Truth, Wisdom and Love. Look around, and see what we are building.
And by the way, it’s only twenty dollars per person (sic)………
I stand with much gratitude for you all.
A’ȟo. O Mítákuye Oyásíŋ 🦅
Robert Black Eagle
706-340-7134
Note: The Seventh Generation Native American Church meets weekly, 11:11 AM, at Rabbit Hole Studios, 1011 Winterville Road, Athens GA 30605. All who come in a good way are welcome.
As a Federally recognized and registered 501(c)3, your generous donations to the Seventh Generation Native American Church may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax expert for more information.
(Scriptural references are from the First Nations Version of the New Testament)