Raindrop Therapy—From the Lakota?

I recently received an email from a member of the Lakota people, asking me to remove the reference to Wallace Black Elk from the  NAHA White Paper about the risks involved in Rain Drop Therapy. I would have gladly complied, but I was not the author of the paper and didn’t feel it was right to alter the original authors’ words. (The fact that essential oils are NOT used in traditional Native American healing is an indication of the veracity of Don Gary Young, but that’s another subject.)

Instead of altering the paper as published, using Young’s own writings as a reference, I asked permission to quote her email, below.

Greetings, It saddens my heart to see misinformation continuing to pop up in regard to our Dear Grandfather Wallace Black Elk.

Per your website search: “Raindrop Technique originated in the 1980’s from the research of D. Gary Young working with a Lakota medicine man named Wallace Black Elk. It integrates…”

Don Gary Young is a known quack who has claimed to have learned and modified a “technique” from Grandfather Wallace. Don was a “monkey” (and there have been many) who hung around Grandfather, he was “monkey-see, monkey-do.” He would imitate things he saw without knowledge, without wisdom and without any knowledge of our& Grandfather. He never “worked with” nor was he ever taught, endorsed or recognized by Grandfather. He has stained our beautiful Grandfather’s name and it has to stop.

Thank you for exposing Don Gary Young for the sick individual that he is, but, please, take it one step further and correct all the information. Please support our Grandfather and his memory and remove this lie from your website. It will be a blessing to us all.

Further correspondence bought the following:

Perhaps a posted copy of my email message would be appropriate. I would definitely appreciate not having my private email put “out there” for all to see and attack. Each time I reach out to a person in regard to this matter I take a risk, so I thank you for your kind nature. If I may share with you…

This misinformation has been taught by this man, Don Gary Young, for many years. It is not uncommon, but it is very untrue. My information comes directly from Grandfather Wallace’s biological children and my own experience directly knowing Grandfather. He was a beautiful, generous spirit during his time on Earth and I want nothing more than to set the truth free — even if is takes me one person at a time. It is my heart’s hope that, like a pebble in a pond, as we reach out in a good way to each person, that this information will travel and reach everyone and in doing so bring light and truth forth and wash away this untrue stain from Grandfather’s life. It causes great pain to his family daily and more than I can share, it is getting worse as the lie travels with the power of the internet.

Our Lakota Medicine Men and Women and their ways are Sacred and all too often bastardized by “wanna-bees.” There is no “raindrop,” it was completely fabricated by Don Gary Young. It is possible that Mr. Young heard Grandfather’s stories, as he told many. Often to teach, send a message or simply to bring laughter forth. It is also possible that he witnessed healing ceremonies performed by Grandfather as a Medicine Man. But to claim to have been directly taught or instructed by Grandfather is simply an untruth. It is a way for him to gain trust and access to your finances.

The best “translated” book about Grandfather Wallace was written by a man who did actually spend time with Grandfather and was allowed to record his words on audiotape, William S. Lyon. Mr. Lyon is very clear in his representation of himself as translator to the best of his ability and honored Grandfather in doing so. It is simply humanly impossible to capture the depth and essence of such a human in words. 

Sitting with Grandfather, for even an hour, was worth more than a lifetime of attempting to “describe” anything about him. At any rate, the book is called “Black Elk, The Sacred Ways of A Lakota.” I think you will enjoy it. Try to get a copy at your local library so you don’t have to spend your money.

Additional information on DGY… www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/young.html

Be safe, live in the light and close to the Earth. Thank you for spending a few moments with me. Please toss your own pebble of truth into the pond and help us spread the word.

I request you send me a copy of what you would post to your website prior to posting it.

Namaste’

Anni
Black Hills, South Dakota