Jenny Ray

Instructor

Jenny Ray

Dancing on the banks of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, Canada

Smudging Stone Walker Petra in Ireland

Lacing a drum in Canada

Lecture at the Circle in Ireland

Offering Sacred Stokes to Maura in Ireland

My Native name is Ska Mahto Pejuta Winan which means White Bear Medicine Woman. I received this name from my father, Chas Thompson in 2000 at traditional Castun Ceremony. My heritage is like many natives these days....quite mixed up. From my father's linage we are Santee', Dakota Sioux and from my mother, Jean Carper I have my Irish heritage. I am very humbled that you would share your time with us to read this web site and inquire about the Medicine Ways of Inyan Oyate (the Stone Nation).

I have had the privilege to study with many great healers, medicine men and women and shamans of several cultures. My late father, Charles Thompson, known as Chas to his Native friends and as Chuck to his white friends, was an inspiration for much of this study. He was thrilled that one of his children wanted to follow the traditions of his people. My sister Nancy also follows the ways of our ancestors, although on a bit different path from mine.

On the journey to become Shaman there are Twelve Medicine Paths according to the traditions I was taught. Each path requires one year minimum of study and apprenticeship. Each path is very detailed and can require a life time of in-depth learning to become a master. I have walked all twelve paths and have spent the last 14 years fully committed to Inyan Pejuta (Stone Medicine). I must admit I find it the easiest for me to understand.

My family (mom's side) has been known as 'Rock Hounds' from day one. I grew up with them trooping us kids over hills and valleys of the Northwest in America. We learned geological names for many of the stones from my Grandfather, Aunts and Uncles. It was a great way to grow up getting acquainted with all the Stone Nations. Some of them were armature or hobby miners, so I learned to pan for gold in Oregon and hunt star garnets in Idaho. We would dig up ore samples and find agates to tumble. The list went on and on. Always the stones were in my pockets and around our house. The first conversation when someone came to visit was usually about some ore sample or bowl of rocks sitting on a shelf.

The Stone Tribe has been very busy telling me its story and I am so honored to be able to share a portion of this with you. Much of my work with the stones has been in ceremonial ways but since 2000 it has been focused on developing a workshop format for teaching these methods to the professional massage industry. This required some digging and education on the modern scientific portions of our work. Thank goods for the internet and willing teachers.

I have been to the Mountain on Henblanche (Vision Quest) 6 times. I have built many Inipi and pour water often at Janelle's lodge. I have a ministers license and perform traditional wedding ceremonies and funerals as well as Castun (naming ceremony). I have been teaching women to build Inipi (Sweat Lodge) for over ten years, holding Sacred Fire while they 'Go to the Mountain' on Henblanche. Helping them make Wakhan Channunpa (Sacred Pipe) create drums, prayer fans, rattles and more to support their work in native traditions. I teach people to make traditional regalia and many other aspects of native culture. All of this is possible because these traditions were passed on to me in the legacy of my ancestors. I am humbled each time a gathering of people take some of these ancient teachings to heart. It reminds me that as long as I walk the Red Road in the Hollow Bone Way I am allowed to witness Creator blessing those who honor living in right relationship with the All.

I was asked to create and teach a 'Contemporary Native American Culture' course at the Kalispell Institute for the tribal employees at the gaming casino in Spokane Washington. This was a blessing as it allowed me to see how it felt to teach non-Indian people about our traditions. I was very impressed with the genuine respect these people had for the ways of Indian people. It offered me the confidence to move forward with Stone Medicine when the time came for it to meet the public world. For many generations it was not acceptable to be an Indian. People of mixed blood were the least respected of them all. Imagine my surprise when I began to realize our voices were now falling on open ears and welcoming hearts.

When I first moved to Washington state I became acquainted with Shelly Bolton-Walden. Shelly is a professional massage therapist with many hours of education in a variety of modalities. After she took a course from Patricia Warne in LaStone Therapy she offered me a session. I did not speak of my work with Inyan Pejuta because I wanted to experience this approach to stone work.

You can imagine my surprise when much of what she offered followed the traditions of Stone Medicine! After I gave her a session in trade she was blown away.

She insisted I contact Mary Nelson the founder of LaStone Therapy. Coincidentally (or not) during this same time period Charles Light Walker called to see if I would offer Inyan Pejuta to Robert, a new friend of his. I went to Roberts' home and in a traditional way his wife and sister-in-law were witness while he received Stone Medicine. After we shared a nice lunch and talked of traditions his wife Judy gave me a wonderful massage.

Then Robert asked if he could write an article about the session. I said yes if I could read it first and where would it be published? You may have guessed I am speaking of the late Robert Calvert, then owner and editor of Massage Magazine. He and Judy were to become good friends and held the torch high for me to step into the public arena. I thank Creator every day for the gift Robert offered the Stone Tribe with the article that soon brought Stone Medicine into view for all the world to see.

After the article was published I connected with Mary Nelson of LaStone Therapy and eventually I made my way to Tucson to offer her a class in Stone Medicine, and as they say...'the rest is history'. Mary opened the doors to the professional world of massage and body workers for me to carry the ceremonial aspects of our stone work into the modern industry. She directed me toward hydrotherapy education so I could learn to research and document the science behind our work with temperatures on the body.

Over the last few years I have been to many points in the US, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Denmark, Japan, Australia and the UK to carry the message of Stone Medicine. The Stone Tribe has literally walked me around the world.

As I continue to write more course materials and establish workshop formats for this education process I am amazed at the enthusiastic response from the professional massage industry. There is another magic coincidence in all this....Janelle Lakman who is a very well educated and experienced massage therapist (with so many CE certificates to her credit she has them in file drawers rather than wall paper for her office!) came to seek education in the Shamanic ways of the Red Road. Just when I needed help to bring Stone Medicine to the professional world she entered my life. She has taught me the proper terminology and the correct and professional way to present Geothermal Therapy through the traditions of Stone Medicine.

I am so grateful to Shelly, Robert, Janelle, Mary and many others who have paved the way for the Stone Tribe and allow me to carry it to the professional world. Thanks most of all to the elders who shared the wisdom and the ceremonies with me and others from hearts willing to carry the Good Medicine Way.

I thank Marlene Lock for her genuine embrace of the Stone Nation. I am blessed to say Sandra Locke is my friend and her deep respect for all the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota traditions shines forth in her hospitality. Chief Grass has been so generous in his blessings of the work we offer through Stone Medicine and he is always in our prayers. Whether at my home or theirs when we have been together we all walk gently with the cultural differences we struggle with while honoring each other for the work we do.

Native people have used hot and cold stones and specific stroke and layout systems for over ten thousand years. I feel honor bound to always carry the message of the Stone Tribe with a gentle voice and quiet respect, for they have many more songs of wellness to sing for us.

If you should join Janelle or me in a workshop we both pledge to you that along with the technical aspects and scientific education of Geothermal Therapy you will receive the history and traditions of Stone Medicine. We may offer a free gift of ceremonies that will change your life. We never charge for ceremonies, they are simply an offering of the gifts we have received from our ancestors. We are blessed to be a very small part of this living culture in America that many may think has vanished. Therefore we freely become ceremony with you in an effort to continue that legacy.