| Emaho is a Native American Indian man sitting right in | | | | Our western world, dominated by scientific materialism |
| the centre of transformative bonfire. The most striking | | | | and consumerism where citizens have now become |
| initial first impression is how he holds eye contact with | | | | consumers, has amassed extravagant wealth and |
| you; it’s as if he looks right through you but not in | | | | religious structures to conceal a spiritual vacuum. But |
| an intimidating way. My photographer and I had just | | | | the profound enigmas of existence have not gone |
| arrived out of the blue at his annual event in Glasgow. | | | | away and even greater numbers of people yearn for |
| There was not the usual well you didn’t make an | | | | much more meaning in their daily lives and a sense of |
| appointment, no groupies dived in to ‘handle’ the | | | | community that may no longer exist. At Emaho’s |
| situation he accommodated us totally himself. Openly. | | | | seminar you get a chance to connect again especially |
| That common sense approach is the tone of his | | | | at the fire dance. |
| whole set up and is sadly missing in other spiritual | | | | The highlight of his seminar for everybody had to be |
| circles. | | | | the fire dance. Emaho disappeared for a while only to |
| He encouraged the photographer to take as many | | | | return in a ceremonial costume. The drums were |
| pictures as she liked, whatever she liked and however. | | | | switched on and played through massive amps. All the |
| There was to be no boundary probably because there | | | | participants including Grandmothers and children kicked |
| is no boundary around an open heart and Emaho is a | | | | off their shoes. Between the beats of the drum, the |
| shaman who has just that. You soon begin to get a | | | | dancing and the spontaneous warrior cries you are |
| feeling that he has nothing at all to hide - nothing. | | | | transported to the plains of New Mexico. The drum |
| Shamans or Medicine Men exist in all indigenous | | | | beats from the fire dance will evoke the forgotten |
| cultures. They have the power to heal, to receive | | | | beat of your heart and your feet land on the earth |
| messages and some might say journey to other | | | | with a new found determination. When was it you last |
| worlds where parts of your soul may be. | | | | had a laugh, a cry, a dance even if you didn’t know |
| The day’s events started off with a well groomed | | | | the steps? |
| Emaho facing an audience of about 150 people. I was | | | | He danced, they all danced, eventually I danced and |
| concerned that the event may be rehearsed and very | | | | for two hours during which every now and then he |
| evangelical. Those fears soon dissipated when Emaho | | | | would take someone from the crowd to the centre. At |
| started by connecting, through eye contact, to every | | | | the centre he had assembled a shrine where he |
| person in the audience - one at a time. Instantaneously | | | | placed two large white candles. Into the flames of |
| the atmosphere became very intimate. The look has a | | | | these candles he put his hands at least over one |
| knowingness, an acceptance and reminded me of the | | | | hundred times during the ceremony. The shaman then |
| ‘Eye of the Beloved’ that Sufi poets so often | | | | placed his hands on the throat, mouth and forehead of |
| write about. In that space with him two really become | | | | whomever he had led to be at the centre. Sometimes |
| one and you realise the shamanistic principal that there | | | | he screamed into to the forehead – perhaps some |
| is no separation. I am another you. | | | | need more waking up than others. |
| Directly after this union he chants some very poignant | | | | Men were well represented as were most spiritual |
| Native American prayers, thereafter the big chief | | | | traditions but the most notable observation was the |
| arrives and the homily begins. What you intuit Indian | | | | attention and full participation of the children there that |
| Elders of old to articulate he does so in an abundant | | | | day with their parents. Even in the spiritual parts they |
| and fluid fashion - live and without notes. He says | | | | were totally consumed by what was taking place. As |
| “The most sacred prayer is not coming from a | | | | children judge people from the inside and not the |
| book, it's not coming from somebody else's mouth, it's | | | | outside I took this to be a huge testament to |
| coming from your own heart.” | | | | Emaho’s integrity and presence and it is these not |
| Initially I was suspicious that the place may be full of | | | | him that command respect. |
| trophy wives in delirious states of infatuation. Well if | | | | His status and fame does not affect him. Emaho is |
| they came with an infatuation for him it soon turned to | | | | imbued with an integrity and authenticity that is seldom |
| his message or in Emaho's case his transformative | | | | seen now on the spiritual circuit. Someone who has |
| teachings and the power they have if heard. Each | | | | attempted to purge the sadness and reignite the spirit |
| message that came was meant especially for | | | | of so many people must have developed a deep |
| someone in the audience. Whether their intellect | | | | sensitivity along the way. How he remains so open |
| realised it or not their heart soon would - the message | | | | and so fresh despite what obstacles he has had to |
| found its way there and I witnessed the tears some | | | | surmount is an authentication to his own personal |
| people cried washing away years of pain and grief. | | | | spiritual practice and path. |