Great post. Probably the most to-the-point identification of the root of all our modern issues. The only thing I feel compelled to say is that instead of banishing the wendigo, we really ought to kill it. Banishment hasn't worked. Those monsters simply find another community to sicken and feed upon. I believe with all of my heart that humanity's salvation lies within our ability to hold space for BOTH creation and destruction. There are healthy ways to destroy. We'll remain unbalanced and weakened as a species until we learn how to do that.
The way the Wendigo story has been presented to me by local indigenous elders is that it is a cautionary tale about an aspect of the human psyche that lay dormant in all of us (based on fear, greed and ego) which we can keep in check or keep “banished” through introspection, self awareness and shadow work to take an honest look in the mirror (so it can never really be “killed”).
Even the metaphorical Wendigo on the scale of societies and governments is also something that arises from a mind state of fear, want, lack of gratitude and materialism (so even if you killed all those currently overtly embodying those behaviors more suffering from the same ego and greed diseased thinking would fight to take their place).
The way to address the Wendigo within and the Wendigos of our broader society is through continuously making more choices that align our path with actions that align with honoring the 7th generation that comes after us, enriching our eternal spirit through courageous, generous , kind and compassionate choices and keeping the Wendigo banished and unable to enter our hearts, minds and communities.
I appreciate you proposing a solution. We need them. But enriching our souls with these virtues in order to provide a better world for ourselves and for our species centuries away doesn't feel like enough. There are those who will never make that choice and who will destroy societies as a result. How do we deal with people who refuse to recognize they're sick? Cutting out the cancer and throwing it in the trash is the only solution I can see. Is there a spiritual offensive I should be aware of? Is there a way to heal them in spite of themselves? A way to disempower wendigo thinking that renders it benign within communities?
I will compile a list that links all the speakers included in this video and update the post above. Thanks for the reminder.
I am excited to hear your thoughts on the post about permaculture ethics and involuntary governance structures once you have had a chance to explore the whole thing.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat (May the road rise to meet you)
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl (May the wind be always at your back)
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d’aghaidh (May the sun shine warm upon your face)
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna (May the rains fall softly upon your fields)
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís (And until we meet again)
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú. (May God hold you in the palm of His hand.)
the policeman himself is a slave to the state. He must carry out the enforcement of their statutes for his pay. He must sell his soul for this paycheck, because his very daily activity of harassing fellow citizens defies his own humanity. It becomes a battle of us vs. them
Great post. Probably the most to-the-point identification of the root of all our modern issues. The only thing I feel compelled to say is that instead of banishing the wendigo, we really ought to kill it. Banishment hasn't worked. Those monsters simply find another community to sicken and feed upon. I believe with all of my heart that humanity's salvation lies within our ability to hold space for BOTH creation and destruction. There are healthy ways to destroy. We'll remain unbalanced and weakened as a species until we learn how to do that.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
The way the Wendigo story has been presented to me by local indigenous elders is that it is a cautionary tale about an aspect of the human psyche that lay dormant in all of us (based on fear, greed and ego) which we can keep in check or keep “banished” through introspection, self awareness and shadow work to take an honest look in the mirror (so it can never really be “killed”).
Even the metaphorical Wendigo on the scale of societies and governments is also something that arises from a mind state of fear, want, lack of gratitude and materialism (so even if you killed all those currently overtly embodying those behaviors more suffering from the same ego and greed diseased thinking would fight to take their place).
The way to address the Wendigo within and the Wendigos of our broader society is through continuously making more choices that align our path with actions that align with honoring the 7th generation that comes after us, enriching our eternal spirit through courageous, generous , kind and compassionate choices and keeping the Wendigo banished and unable to enter our hearts, minds and communities.
I appreciate you proposing a solution. We need them. But enriching our souls with these virtues in order to provide a better world for ourselves and for our species centuries away doesn't feel like enough. There are those who will never make that choice and who will destroy societies as a result. How do we deal with people who refuse to recognize they're sick? Cutting out the cancer and throwing it in the trash is the only solution I can see. Is there a spiritual offensive I should be aware of? Is there a way to heal them in spite of themselves? A way to disempower wendigo thinking that renders it benign within communities?
I will answer in full when I have time but for now wanted to share this link to a post where I do attempt to address something like those questions:
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/in-pursuit-of-an-antidote-for-parasites
I love the video, Gavin. I recognise Robin Wall Kimmerer and Lyla June: who are the others? Thank you!
And I've also just got really excited to see your essay on voluntaryism and the permaculture ethics! Diving in now...
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment Helen.
Henna Maria was another prominent speaker in the video above. Here is her full presentation from The People's Reset 2025 (which is where the clips in my video above were sourced from): https://rumble.com/v6hcao7-henna-maria-peoples-reset-2025.html
I will compile a list that links all the speakers included in this video and update the post above. Thanks for the reminder.
I am excited to hear your thoughts on the post about permaculture ethics and involuntary governance structures once you have had a chance to explore the whole thing.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat (May the road rise to meet you)
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl (May the wind be always at your back)
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d’aghaidh (May the sun shine warm upon your face)
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna (May the rains fall softly upon your fields)
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís (And until we meet again)
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú. (May God hold you in the palm of His hand.)
Beautiful blessing - I can sing that! Though not in Gaelic, sadly!
Without police this would not be a problem. Our relationship with the police is complicated, let me unravel this concept in my podcast here:
https://soberchristiangentlemanpodcast.substack.com/p/s2-ep-47-the-police-deception-what
I`ll listen when I can, thanks for the comment.
Excellent.
the policeman himself is a slave to the state. He must carry out the enforcement of their statutes for his pay. He must sell his soul for this paycheck, because his very daily activity of harassing fellow citizens defies his own humanity. It becomes a battle of us vs. them
You would like the podcast.
Cool.