Hyemeyohsts Storm's Seven Arrows & Lightningbolt

Seven Arrows, an exquisitely illustrated epic chronicle of the Plains Indians' legends and traditions, has been eagerly read by followers of Native Amer-ican culture for nearly a quarter of a century. Hyemeyohsts Storm's best-selling 1972 classic taught the Way of the Medicine Wheels -- the spiritual discipline and intricate science around which Native Americans believe our universe is formed. Last year, Storm, a half-breed Northern Cheyenne Indian, continued his "spiritual autobiography" with Lightning-bolt, tracing the trail of the Zero Chiefs from the Mayans of ancient Mezoamerica to the indigenous people of the Northwest.

As a young Cheyenne/Sioux/German mixed-blood -- a metis -- Hyemeyohsts was scorned and attacked by both whites and Indians. One eye will never recover from a severe beating, but rather than returning aggression or succumbing to self-pity, Storm seeks to change perception through his books. He knows most of humanity is now a mixed-blood, mixed-heritage people, and he believes the Medicine Wheels will guide us all to save ourselves and our planet. In Lightning-bolt, Hyemeyohsts also pays homage to Estcheemah, a Mayan Zero Chief, and Holy Woman, who taught him that when all that is female is honored equally to that which is male, then Balance will be restored to our world through the Medicine Wheels. Hyemeyohsts Storm and his wife, Swan Storm, will teach "Meeting Our Earth: the Way of the Medicine Wheels," February 23-24 at St. Edward's University. The workshop will be preceded by a free lecture, "Circle of Law," at the UT Law School, Townes Hall Rm. 2.124, Thursday, February 22, 1:30-2:30pm, and an introductory lecture Friday evening at St. Edward's, 719-5323. -- Marybeth Gradziel