NAFPS Forum

QuoteThe Brief
A San Francisco woman was sentenced in Phoenix federal court after netting over $92,000 selling counterfeit Native American jewelry on eBay.

Molly Breivis, 57, imported knockoffs from Asia and falsely marketed them as authentic pieces by Apache, Laguna, Navajo and Zuni artisans—ignoring multiple federal warning letters along the way.

Breivis was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, sentenced to time served and forced to post an official letter of apology to tribal artists on a federal website.

QuoteUsing a comparative analysis of Navajo healing ceremonials, acupuncture and biomedical treatment, this essay examines placebo studies and ritual theory as mutually interpenetrating disciplines. Healing rituals create a receptive person susceptible to the influences of authoritative culturally sanctioned 'powers'. The healer provides the sufferer with imaginative, emotional, sensory, moral and aesthetic input derived from the palpable symbols and procedures of the ritual process—in the process fusing the sufferer's idiosyncratic narrative unto a universal cultural mythos. Healing rituals involve a drama of evocation, enactment, embodiment and evaluation in a charged atmosphere of hope and uncertainty. Experimental research into placebo effects demonstrates that routine biomedical pharmacological and procedural interventions contain significant ritual dimensions. This research also suggests that ritual healing not only represents changes in affect, self-awareness and self-appraisal of behavioural capacities, but involves modulations of symptoms through neurobiological mechanisms. Recent scientific investigations into placebo acupuncture suggest several ways that observations from ritual studies can be verified experimentally.
Placebo effects are often described as 'non-specific'; the analysis presented here suggests that placebo effects are the 'specific' effects of healing rituals.

Keywords: placebo effect; ritual; Navajo healing; placebo acupuncture; biomedicine

Quote25 Csordas, T. J. 2000 The Navajo healing project.Med. Anthropol. Q. 14, 463–475. (doi:10.1525/maq.2000.14.4.463)
26 Kim, C. & Kwok, Y. S. 1998 Navajo use of native healers. Arch. Intern. Med. 158, 2245 –2249. (doi:10.1001/archinte.158.20.2245)
27 Kluckhohn, C. & Leighton, D. 1948 The Navajo, p. 168. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
28 Spencer, K. 1957 An analysis of Navajo chantway myths. Philadelphia, PA: American Folklore Society.
29 Gill, S. D. 1977 Prayer as person: the performative force of Navajo prayer acts. Hist. Relig. 17, 143 –157. (doi:10. 1086/462785)
30 Kaptchuk, T. J. & Croucher, M. 1986 The healing arts, p. 108. London, UK: British Broadcasting Corporation.
31 Faris, J. C. 1990 The nightway. A history and a history of documentation of a Navajo ceremonial. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.
32 Csordas, T. J. 2004 Healing and the human condition: scenes from the present moment in Navajoland. Cult. Med. Psychiatry 28, 1–14. (doi:10.1023/B:MEDI. 0000018095.54422.66)

QuoteI've had many lifetimes of being persecuted and killed simply for being me, and being abused for what I can offer others.

QuoteQ What is one thing about getting older that your younger self is so proud you grew through?

A I hope I can articulate the answer to your question in a way that does not polarize anyone. In all honesty, it was the journey of several major let gos:

1) Forgiving myself for willingly choosing to incarnate into the daily torture of human trafficking. I was enraged with myself for years about choosing this mission.

2) Surrendering into a public mission, which I never wanted, as a painfully sensitive psychic. Learning how to ignore the haters, the jealousy, the slander, the constant judgments and misunderstandings of others. Still learning how to grow a thicker skin, but I am getting there, and I am really really proud of that.

3) Learning how to serve others without giving myself and everything away. Still evolving on this one. Invaluable self-examination to manage the marathon of service

4) Letting go of society's shaming that a woman has to be in a committed partnership to feel whole in herself. This one took years to fully extract from within. This one may be the one I am the most proud of. There are simply no words to describe how happy and fulfilled I feel in a relationship with my own heart.

Quote from: Sparks on August 02, 2026, 01:45:24 AMThere is another website, which, it seems, has never been mentioned before:
https:/thesophiacode.org/  Also quite comprehensive.

QuoteWhile we don't claim Hopi identity or culture, we deeply resonate with the values and principles of their worldview.

QuoteA WORD ABOUT WHO WE ARE
Before we go further, a word about who we are.

We are not Hopi. The name Hopi Wisdom Teachings reflects a deep resonance with the Hopi worldview — its values of peace, balance, harmony, and interconnectedness — not a claim to speak for the Hopi people or own their tradition.

QuoteHOPI AS A SYMBOL OF PEACE
Crafted by Lee Black: Weaving Wisdom for Your Journey
The Peaceful People
The word "Hopi" carries profound meaning, deeply rooted in the concept of peace. Often referred to as the "Peaceful People" or "People of Peace," the Hopi embody a philosophy that transcends mere words. For the Hopi, peace is not a passive state but an active practice—a way of living in balance and harmony with all beings, including humans, animals, plants, and Mother Earth. This worldview, known as the Path of the Peaceful Way, serves as a guiding light for those seeking to live in right relationship with the sacred web of life.
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The Hopi Philosophy of Peace
The Hopi philosophy is built on the foundation of interconnectedness and balance. Their teachings emphasize the importance of living in harmony with the cycles of nature, embracing change, and honoring the sacredness of all beings. Peace, in the Hopi worldview, is not simply the absence of conflict—it is a dynamic state of balance that requires mindfulness, gratitude, and respect for all life.

The Hopi people believe that peace begins within. It is cultivated through intentional actions, such as showing kindness, practicing gratitude, and living in right relationship with the Earth. This philosophy is reflected in their ceremonies, which are acts of gratitude and reverence for life. For the Hopi, peace is a way of being—a commitment to living in harmony with the sacred web of life.

Lessons for the Modern World
The Hopi understanding of peace offers timeless lessons for our contemporary world, which is often marked by environmental crises, social fragmentation, and spiritual disconnection. Their teachings remind us that peace is not something external to be achieved—it is a practice that begins within each of us.

By embracing the Hopi principles of balance, respect, and harmony, we can transform our relationships with ourselves, others, and the Earth. The Hopi philosophy challenges us to ask: Are we living in balance? Are we walking in right relationship? Are we honoring the sacredness of all beings?

Walking the Path of the Peaceful Way
The Hopi philosophy invites us to walk the Path of the Peaceful Way, a journey of humility, gratitude, and love. It is a path about intention—consciously choosing to live in a way that honors the interconnectedness of all life. It is a call to action, urging us to take small, meaningful steps toward a more peaceful and sustainable world.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the Hopi worldview provides a framework for addressing challenges with grace and wisdom. It teaches us that peace is not a destination but a way of being—a practice of living in balance with the sacred web of life.
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A Symbol of Hope
The Hopi people remind us that peace is possible, even in the face of adversity. Their teachings serve as a beacon, guiding us toward a more conscious, compassionate, and harmonious world. By walking the Path of the Peaceful Way, we can honor the sacred web of life and create ripples of transformation that inspire others to do the same.