Two-Spirits

One of my favorite classes in seminary was Native American Theology. Bishop Steven Charleston was my professor. He is an elder of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma and retired Episcopal Bishop of Alaska. He taught me many things about what it really means to be a Christian and lessons from Native American faith that I will never forget. One of the most powerful things I learned in all of seminary is the history of reverence toward the “Two-Spirits” persons in Native American theology.

Two-Spirits were people who had both feminine and masculine characteristics.

In parts of our culture today, they might be described as a “man who is too feminine” or a “woman who is too masculine,” a gay person, a transgendered person, a non-binary person. 

You may be confused by these people because they lack a clear or obvious gender. You may not understand their biology.

However, in native tribes the Two-Spirits person was viewed as gifted in their superior abilities to communicate with every member of the tribe. They were relevant leaders who could speak the language of both women and men.

Two-Spirits were often gifted healers and wisdom guides for the tribe. 

It was thought that the Great Spirit above had blessed Two-Spirits with a complete set of human characteristics and they were thus capable of greater visions and wisdom.

Author Will Roscoe has published multiple books on this topic, and in his research has found similar traditions of reverence in many indigenous cultures across the globe. It appears that some of our human ancestors honored and revered differences rather than fearing them.

What if we approached everyone today as gifted rather than focusing on what they lack or how they are different from us? 

What if we listened to one another with open eyes and hearts to learn a new perspective from their gifts and insights? 

What if we stopped judging and began to look at all people through eyes of love?

Imagine the possibilities if we could see each other as God sees us: whole and fully gifted for our purpose of contributing love to one another in our own unique way.

What if someone with two spirits is not broken, but rather some of our greatest leaders of love?

Knowing the history of the Two-Spirits people invites us to challenge our fears and discomfort and instead see with love. Next time you see a person who would have been known as a Two-Spirits, notice their giftedness and the deep wisdom they have inside. Talk to them. Learn from them. They have an amazing story to tell you about what it means to be uniquely human. 

Less judgement, more love,