I was born the son of a banker… a loan officer to be exact.

From the belly of the monetary beast, I was taught that all things can be reduced to money. And it was not even commodity backed currency, but that is another topic.

I grew up in this world and saw no way out until I was pushed to the level of death within me. I think many get to this point and continue drudging on, but I was too sensitive for this. My transition is ongoing and was/is helped by so many forces and spirits along the way. A solidifying time transitioning from a monetary framework has been from my time visiting the Lakota.

Within my first week living among the Lakota, I was refreshed with spirituality and deep conversations with a few. I remember one grandmother explaining to me:

“Where does your clothes come from?… Sheep, Cotton, and Goose Down

Where does this structure and the heat for winter come from?… the forest

Where does your food come from?… Plants and Animals

Your drink?… within the earth”

She did not ask all these, but she did the same as ask all these things. I had been raised to think all these things come from loans, investments, and basically: paper money. I was told even through today by my father:

“Where are you going to get your clothes without money?

How will you have food if you don’t first have money?

You can’t have a house without money…”

I now say… money yells at its importance as a lap dog tries to pick a fight with a grizzly bear. A grizzly bear that has a house with no mortgage, clothing perfect for all seasons, excess food including precious berries and Alaskan salmon that is the envy of the New York City bankers…

-Trey from the Longhouse (no mortgage)