John Trudell. Photo by Matika Wilbur, Project562, Indian Country Today Media Network (see the link to the obituary in the post).
John Trudell. Photo by Matika Wilbur, Project562, Indian Country Today Media Network (see the link to the obituary in the post).

“Protect your spirit, because you are in the place where spirits get eaten.” ~ John Trudell

The wise warrior-poet John Trudell died on December 8th.

He was, to say the least, a great inspiration to me, and to many others as well, both through his words and his example.

The words elude me just now, so I’ll share a few others’, and you can get a feel for it yourself.

The Poet Joy Harjo writes:

“One of our beloved messengers left this world December 8, 2015,
In the early hours of the morning,
When the dreamers and teachers walk the earth
Speaking to us as we imagine the new day into being,
All of us here essential to the story in the great imagining.
They took John with them. It was time.” [Source]

You’ll find a good biographical eulogy on John’s life here, at Indian Country Today Media Network.

But it’s perhaps best to let John speak for himself.

He left behind poetry, spoken word, and many a conversation in which he shared some of the wisdom he gathered along the way of a journey that spanned youthful warrior-activism, a deep and dark night of the soul that stirred his warrior-poet soul alive, and ultimately as a wise warrior guide.

Here’s just one of those wisdom-sharing conversations … brilliant in its example of an Aquarian warrior’s mind and mission, and truly relevant to this time, and the time that’s on the horizon before us.

Big Love, and thank you, John.

Jamie