Destiny Survival

Yesterday’s DestinySurvival Radio again featured noted survivalist author and instructor Christopher Nyerges to talk about the old ways. Catch up on info about last week’s show here. Christopher has immersed himself in the ways of American Indians because he sees great value in them.

As noted last week, we can easily be duped into a romanticized view of how the Indians lived. Their ways varied from tribe to tribe and location to location because they had their own culture, religion, politics, etc.

But, in general terms, what can you and I learn from them that could help us survive hard times yet to come? What’s relevant and what’s not? Here are a few things to consider.

Concept of Time–If technology fails, we’ll be forced to do without many things. But what’s the one thing we’ll have plenty of? Time. Will we know how to use it? The Indians weren’t slaves to the clock as we are.

Reverence for All Things–We would do well to have greater reverence for things around us. Our consumer based way of life thinks little of good stewardship. Respect for resources means taking to heart the idea to recycle, reduce, reuse.

Family, Home and Community–Many of us want to build prepper communities. Isn’t it sad that we have to think of such a thing? We used to be more family and community oriented. Many Indians have strong ties to land, elders, family and tribes.

Self Reliance–While we as preppers pride ourselves on working toward greater self reliance, what would make that more necessary than the primitive conditions we may one day face?

Heroes and Leaders–Who are our heroes today? Lady Gaga? Sports figures? And who are our equivalents to chiefs and spiritual leaders? At the risk of sounding collectivist, are we too centered on ourselves as individuals?

Role of the Sexes–Women had a high place in the culture of many tribes. They didn’t have to be feminists. Men and women had distinctive and necessary functions.

Outlook on Money–Must everything be viewed with regard to its monetary worth? Is it possible to function in a social structure that values things and people in a more enlightened way? The Indians relied heavily on trading goods of value, rather than exchanging money.

Transportation–The introduction of horses several hundred years ago brought changes to the Indians’ way of life. But we don’t have the number of horses they did in times past. What would we do without modern transportation? We’d certainly have to do a lot of walking or make other arrangements, such as traveling by boat.

We’ll have to adjust our view on time accordingly because a trip which normally takes 15 minutes now might be a half day’s journey.

Mindset–This one’s a must for survival, as you’ve no doubt heard plenty of times before. So many things can factor into it, but some key pillars are our ability to do without, resourcefulness, personal morality, and our relationships with others.

Part 1 includes mention of several books Christopher recommends. He brought up more in our discussion yesterday. Plus, at the end of the list I’ll add one more I’ve read.

As I’ve stated elsewhere, Christopher packs so much into his conversations that you really owe it to yourself to hear part 2 of my interview with him when you listen to DestinySurvival Radio for April 25th. Check out Christopher’s site at www.christophernyerges.com. You might also take a look at www.dirttime.com.

Christopher is open to answering your questions. Contact him through his site or e-mail me, and I’ll forward your message to him.

While I’m intrigued by native American ways, I don’t want to become an Indian. But there’s a disturbing way the plight of most of us could be like that of the Indians. If we have civil war here in America, many of us will be brutally wounded, killed and relocated to designated areas.

No matter how well armed we think we are, we won’t be able to stand up against modern military forces should they come against us. There will be no justice or mercy. We may then know what it feels like to be in the Indians’ place.

I’d be glad if you’d leave a comment below and share your thoughts on this or anything else you’ve read above. What do you think?

Have you ever thought to yourself, if things get chaotic and technology fails, you could live like the Indians? Have you learned how Indians made shelters or lit fires while you were at a wilderness survival camp? Is learning the ways of native Americans already part of your prepping strategy?

Thanks to movies, TV and books, it’s all too easy to romanticize the old ways or the red ways. But what useful skills and attitudes can we glean from American Indians which will help us survive?

I sought an expert to give us some needed perspective. Christopher Nyerges, well known survivalist author and instructor, is well acquainted with the old ways and is qualified to speak authoritatively on the subject.

He was kind enough to be my guest again on DestinySurvival Radio. Yesterday’s show is part 1 of a two part series. Part 2 airs next week.

Christopher has written thousands of magazine and newspaper articles and ten books. He founded the School of Self Reliance with his late wife to help teach urban survival and has been teaching about plants and survival in the L.A. area for nearly 40 years.

Since his youth the ways of the Indians have been of interest to him. Botany and the uses of plants fascinated him early on. As his love for nature grew, so did the idea of living simply, rather than having and depending on the newest gear. As time passed he became acquainted and learned much from native Americans in Southern California.

Along with skills and traditions, he was attracted to their spirituality. He has participated in a number of sweats–not something just anyone can do.

Christopher packs so much information into his conversation that you need to listen to my interviews with him to get the full impact. He really knows history. And the name dropping he does along the way is interesting. His late wife was part Osage, and he has some amazing connections.

Indians have become so integrated into our modern society that even many of them don’t know the ways of their ancestors. Some have forsaken them in favor of running gambling establishments. Others don’t think we can understand their ways and are reluctant to share what they know.

The Indians of the past had their own societies with social, political, religious and cultural structures. For you and me to learn traditional Indian survival skills is good–and it might help us survive–but it doesn’t encompass the Indians’ whole way of life.

To complicate matters, there’s no homogenous Indian culture. Many tribes covered our broad, diverse land. There’s also no simple way to define what it means to be Indian. So much racial and cultural mixing has taken place over the centuries. The real question is, who does an Indian tribe recognize as Indian?

According to Christopher, if you’re really interested in learning the old ways, you’ll need to do your homework. Find out what’s going on in your local area. Is there a reservation nearby? Are there events to go to? Start making personal connections.

Many of us have heard of pow-wows, where dancing and art are displayed and tribal decisions are made. Such a festival can be a good place to make contacts, if you’re seeking Indians who can serve as guides and mentors.

It takes time and dedication to grasp and absorb the red ways. It’s not something you can just do in a weekend or two. Finding credible sources is key. To know more of how they’ve thought and lived, see For Further Reading below.

Hear part 1 of my interview with him when you listen to DestinySurvival Radio for April 18th. Check out Christopher’s site at www.christophernyerges.com.

Below is a list of some of the books Christopher mentioned in our conversation. I know little of them aside from what we discussed. Click on highlighted titles to find out more about each one from Amazon.com. You may want to check your local library for some of these titles as well.

A couple of books I’ve enjoyed from my own reading are…

I’m interested in your thoughts.What value do you believe Indian ways have for helping us survive? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Have you ever thought to yourself, if things get chaotic and technology fails, you could live like the Indians? Have you learned how Indians made shelters or lit fires while you were at a wilderness survival camp? Is learning the ways of native Americans already part of your prepping strategy?

Thanks to movies, TV and books, it’s all too easy to romanticize the old ways or the red ways. But what useful skills and attitudes can we glean from American Indians which will help us survive?

I sought an expert to give us some needed perspective. Christopher Nyerges, well known survivalist author and instructor, is well acquainted with the old ways and is qualified to speak authoritatively on the subject.

He was kind enough to be my guest again on DestinySurvival Radio. Yesterday’s show is part 1 of a two part series. Part 2 airs next week.

Christopher has written thousands of magazine and newspaper articles and ten books. He founded the School of Self Reliance with his late wife to help teach urban survival and has been teaching about plants and survival in the L.A. area for nearly 40 years.

Since his youth the ways of the Indians have been of interest to him. Botany and the uses of plants fascinated him early on. As his love for nature grew, so did the idea of living simply, rather than having and depending on the newest gear. As time passed he became acquainted and learned much from native Americans in Southern California.

Along with skills and traditions, he was attracted to their spirituality. He has participated in a number of sweats–not something just anyone can do.

Christopher packs so much information into his conversation that you need to listen to my interviews with him to get the full impact. He really knows history. And the name dropping he does along the way is interesting. His late wife was part Osage, and he has some amazing connections.

Indians have become so integrated into our modern society that even many of them don’t know the ways of their ancestors. Some have forsaken them in favor of running gambling establishments. Others don’t think we can understand their ways and are reluctant to share what they know.

The Indians of the past had their own societies with social, political, religious and cultural structures. For you and me to learn traditional Indian survival skills is good–and it might help us survive–but it doesn’t encompass the Indians’ whole way of life.

To complicate matters, there’s no homogenous Indian culture. Many tribes covered our broad, diverse land. There’s also no simple way to define what it means to be Indian. So much racial and cultural mixing has taken place over the centuries. The real question is, who does an Indian tribe recognize as Indian?

According to Christopher, if you’re really interested in learning the old ways, you’ll need to do your homework. Find out what’s going on in your local area. Is there a reservation nearby? Are there events to go to? Start making personal connections.

Many of us have heard of pow-wows, where dancing and art are displayed and tribal decisions are made. Such a festival can be a good place to make contacts, if you’re seeking Indians who can serve as guides and mentors.

It takes time and dedication to grasp and absorb the red ways. It’s not something you can just do in a weekend or two. Finding credible sources is key. To know more of how they’ve thought and lived, see For Further Reading below.

Hear part 1 of my interview with him when you listen to DestinySurvival Radio for April 18th. Check out Christopher’s site at www.christophernyerges.com.

Below is a list of some of the books Christopher mentioned in our conversation. I know little of them aside from what we discussed. Click on highlighted titles to find out more about each one from Amazon.com. You may want to check your local library for some of these titles as well.

A couple of books I’ve enjoyed from my own reading are…

I’m interested in your thoughts.What value do you believe Indian ways have for helping us survive? Feel free to leave a comment below.

This has been the hardest part of this series to write. It’s easy to point to problems. But what about solutions? To a degree, it’s like pinning Jell-O to the wall. Or it’s like going shopping for shoes for the whole town. The size of shoes I need likely won’t fit you.

Nonetheless, let me throw out some things to consider. You’ll have to take it from here. The main thing to keep in mind is to always think survival.

I’ve already said it’s too late for America. That means there are no good solutions forthcoming. Your survival, not reform, is the name of the game now. It’s time you and I prepare to live in a dreadful totalitarian society. It’s a bitter pill, but people in many other countries have survived it. And so will e, if we put our minds to it.

I in no way condone what’s happened to our great land. Nor am I saying we lie down and be trodden over. I’m also not advocating civil war or revolution. It may be on the way though. Just don’t be there when the shooting starts if you want to stay alive.

If you and I are going to survive, we need to think in terms of survival for ourselves as individuals. That in itself is a kind of resistance.

Frankly, we live in a frightening, dangerous world. I tell people it’s OK to be afraid. I’m not talking about panicking though. This is about seeing things as they are and dealing with them accordingly.

I have no respect for those who tout the ridiculous idea of a “zombie apocalypse” and push nothing but hype and terror to motivate people to buy their products. I also have no respect for those who say, “Have faith. All will be well.”

Fear is an important motivator. It’s been said that courage is fear faced with resolution. I would add that fear should be faced with faith. The two are not mutually exclusive. Fear doesn’t have to cancel out faith as some suggest.

Why can’t we admit we’re human and have both, as Noah did. Hebrews 11:7 (KJV) says, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

The first part of the survival mindset to cultivate is situational awareness. Pay attention to your surroundings. That’s true whether you’re walking in the woods or shopping for bananas at the grocery store.

Also, look at the big picture. Be informed about what’s going on in our country and around the world. Discern what’s relevant and what isn’t.

Next, break the rules. The powers that be certainly aren’t playing by the rules we think they ought to play by. The hero in the original “Rollerball” movie finally gets it and declares, “There are no rules.”

What will that mean if you and I are to survive? Operating in the underground economy? Black markets? Being devious and evasive? Living a double life? Doing that which was once illegal?

The example that comes to mind is that if guns are outlawed, outlaws will have guns. Will you become an outlaw?

I’ve said since the beginning of this blog over five years ago that we need to think the unthinkable. Remember, we’re talking about survival, not prosperity and the reasonable life we’ve known to this point. We live in a world gone insane. Be ready to live in a radical way.

By telling you to keep prepping, aren’t I giving you the same advice as FEMA? After all, they want us to be prepared for disasters, don’t they?

Yes, but the difference is Uncle Sam thinks you should be prepared just a little, and no more. The idea is not to prepare too much, or you’ll have the FBI and DHS breathing down your neck.

Would you believe someone has said prepping pacifies us and keeps us from fighting against tyranny? I think they’ve missed the boat altogether. Many preppers are preparing for the day when there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that tyranny has arrived. Why else would we be seeing skyrocketing sales of guns and ammo?

Also, don’t be put off by those who say your storage food would be better off used to feed the hungry. One day the hungry may be you and your family. Do you think those who don’t want you to store food will be there with food for you when the chips are down?

Besides, if you store food and are feeling charitable and still have a little food left over, you can share with others who are hungry in the worst of times.

The whole issue of staying or going can be perplexing. And I don’t think most preppers are giving it the kind of consideration it deserves.

I’m not just talking about bugging out when there’s a hurricane coming. What if there comes a time when leaving home for good is the best option? Would you give up your plans to shelter in place? Or will you die fighting for your property?

Like you, I don’t want people banging on my door wanting what I’ve set aside for my family. Maybe there’s a perverse kind of hope though. Perhaps they’ll leave you and me alone because their dependence on Uncle Sam will result in them going to where the food trucks will be, or where emergency centers are (read FEMA camps) are.

Will planning to stay in place and make life as normal as possible guarantee you won’t die? Or will it soon be time to run for good and take your chances in the wilds? What plans are you making to not end up in a FEMA camp or be the victim of depopulation?

Should you leave America and move to another country? Not many of us can do that, but if you have the resources, you should read the article here first.

But what about relocating to another part of this country? Find a map of places to avoid here. If you’re convinced it’s time to move, check out Brandon Smith’s Safe Haven States Project.

Why bring up death in a post about survival? Because death is a very real part of life. Our ancestors were well acquainted with it. Today’s modern society does everything it can to gloss it over and postpone it.

But death is unavoidable. None of us will get out of this world alive. I don’t have a death wish, and neither should you. But realize it’s going to happen, and incorporate it into your mindset.

Of course, if your idea of heroism is to die in a firefight, never mind what I’m saying here. Go out in a blaze of glory and hope your death matters more to someone near you than it would if you stayed alive.

Experts I’ve talked to say a major EMP will bring about conditions that will kill off millions of us within a year. The same could happen if there’s a biowarfare outbreak.

It’s anybody’s guess as to whether we’ll see such major catastrophic events or a slow, painful decline of our accustomed way of life. Either way, you and your loved ones may die from things like malnutrition, a lack of good sanitation and proper medical care.

As much as we don’t like to think about it, death may come brutally to many millions of us. And death for many is something we must brace for. Can you handle that? Are you ready to meet your Maker? What will you do when death touches you?

I think it’s possible we’re experiencing God’s judgment upon our nation right now. This is no longer a Christian country. We (collectively speaking) deserve what we’re getting.

Don’t count on revival. Expecting America to repent isn’t Biblical. The oft quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 about praying an expecting God to heal the land was given to Israel. Claining it for the U.S. is to misapply the verse.

We’re in the beginning stages of serious persecution of Christians in America. If you question that, take a look at DHS vs. Christians. And Don’t be naive enough to think your Christian, conservative friend in law enforcement will come to your rescue. Read Why your Second Amendment cop buddy will take your guns.

You’d better know for sure where you stand regarding Romans 13. Tell your church to give up its 501 (C) (3) status so it’s not hindered by government strings. However, don’t expect meaningful change. Be prepared to start or join an underground church. Or don’t go to church at all.

I don’t believe we’re in the Great Tribulation, nor do i believe the Scriptures teach believers in Christ will go through it. That doesn’t mean there won’t be severe trials and troubles though. We shouldn’t be surprised by that. God is sovereign, but we live in a world dominated by Satan, the father of lies, and his minions.

Many of us are too attached to this present world, including this country. Shouldn’t we be mindful that we’re strangers and pilgrims passing through? Aren’t we headed for a better place one day? Shouldn’t we look forward to that? And doesn’t knowing where we’re going when we die make it easier to put what’s going on in better perspective?

For now, get prepared. And keep prepping. Pray for wisdom and God’s provision. He will lead you.

I pray, come what may, God will have mercy on His people. He knows who we are.

Preparedness calls for awareness, flexibility and adaptability. The most important survival tool any of us have is what’s between our ears. So get your head on straight.

This means setting priorities and making hard decisions. Fix broken family relations as needed. Get control of your finances. Depending on your situation, this may not be an easy road. But start on it immediately.

Then–or at the same time–do the standard preparadness tasks. Work on having food and the means to have clean water. Have a bug out bag for each family member. Plan for self defense. Have firearms and ammunition.

The important thing is to do what you can to prepare for hard times ahead and those things we may think are unthinkable. And don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Take baby steps. Anything you do is better than nothing.

Many worry for our children’s future. Wouldn’t adopting the outlook I’ve shared in this series doom them to slavery and poverty?

I don’t mean to be cavalier about any of this, but we must do the best we can and realize that others have lived through oppression in centuries past. Do you and I have what it takes to do so as well?

The bottom line–we’re screwed. So what? What are you going to do to survive?

But enough hard questions for now. Let’s enjoy a little soft music from Dorothy Lamour.

In Part 1 I asserted that it’s too late for America. Today I want to approach the same idea from a different angle.

If you feel like a foreigner in your own country, read on.

Perhaps somewhere you’ve seen the U.S. referred to as Amerika. (Notice the spelling.) It refers to the Sovietization of America as portrayed in “Amerika,” the ABC TV series from 1987. This mini-series depicts what the United states would be like in the late 1990′s, 10 years after the USSR took over the country.

That all sounds outdated now in light of history as we know it, doesn’t it? But forget the Russians. Forget China. Forget any other country for that matter. An external threat isn’t our problem. We’ve been taken over and occupied by internal forces.

“Amerika” doesn’t portray the use of the Internet and cell phones which were blossoming in 1997, when the show’s events supposedly took place. The show’s creators couldn’t have foreseen all of that when the series was produced. The grip of the iron hand of tyranny was strengthened by the old fashioned use of informants.

Today, however, we have the Internet and cell phones, which make great tools for spying on and controlling the population. But on top of that, we have the “see something, say something” campaign, proving that informants are still useful.

“Amerika” follows the lives of a handful of characters who struggle to find who they really are in the midst of oppression and adversity. There’s plenty of personal drama as good people strive to do the right thing. Some die for the cause.

Spoiler alert: in the end, the Russians are still in control.

So many brilliant and significant ideas are discussed in conversations that take place throughout the mini-series, I can’t begin to do them justice. “Amerika” is prophetic beyond anything else I’ve ever seen.

One of the most profound lines in the show speaks volumes about who we are as a people today. It’s expressed by a key Russian character who says, “You lost your country before we took over.”

In case you’re inclined to think things in present day America couldn’t be like the TV series, think of all that’s passed since 1987. Ruby Ridge. Waco. The Oklahoma City bombing. 9/11. and on it goes.

If you think a couple of those things don’t belong on that list, remember, things aren’t what they seem. Things definitely aren’t like what we’re told in the mainstream media. Incidentally, we don’t need state controlled media for the media to be controlled.

But what about trying to favorably influence things at the local level politically? Keep this in mind. The occupiers in “Amerika” clinched their hold on the country by working through officials and operatives “elected” to serve locally. Are you confident your vote counted in the most recent election?

Plus, think of the incremental growth of Agenda 21 and supposed grass roots movements which work their deception through consensus building. They’re like the glacier that moves only inches in a year, but can wipe out whole villages in just one night.

So much of what “Amerika” depicts has happened already. Brace for what’s yet to come.

The U.S. may break up, as some have predicted. (View a post about that here.) One of the key arguments for a break up in “Amerika” is enticing. Wouldn’t we all like not having to deal with irrelevant Washington politicians?

I first saw a friend’s rare video copy of “Amerika” in the mid ’90′s. I was so enthralled I stayed up all night to watch it. And recently I watched it on YouTube. It has much mor meaning now than ever.

“Amerika” is lengthy–about 12 hours altogether. But believe me, if you’ve never seen it, it’s well worth watching. It draws you in. Like me, you may find it addictive and not want to quit once you’ve started. It really is that good.

I confess, I cried at several places while watching it. It’s distressing to see what has become of our country and us as a people. You’ll find yourself searching your own heart regarding your true convictions.

As “Amerika” ends, the Russians were still in charge in spite of the efforts of a few to rekindle the spark of freedom. But as the hero asks, “Do you think you can kill an idea?”

Maybe not. But ultimately for you and me, it comes down to this. You have to ask yourself what it is you’re willing to live for. And most importantly, what are you willing to die for?

Would you give your life for a hopeless cause? Or would you rather save the lives of your family by any means necessary? Once you know, you’re better able to put survival in its proper light.

Watch the first of 13 parts of “Amerika” here before someone decides it shouldn’t be available online any more. Each part ranges from approximately 40-60 minutes in length. You can click through to watch each of the other parts.

To see a nonfictional account of how totalitarianism can take hold, read Kitty Werthmann’s description here of what happened in Austria when Hitler took over. It didn’t happen all at once. Nor has it happened all at once here in the U.S.

I haven’t yet touched on a couple of significant areas in this series. I can’t possibly do them justice here. They’re inter-related, and I’d be negligent if I didn’t at least acknowledge them.

One topic is the influence of secret societies, such as the Masons and Bilderbergers. They’re real, but I won’t take time to describe them or the hold they have on our political system. Get a hint of how secret societies operate as it’s portrayed in an old movie called The Brotherhood of the Bell. As a lodge member says in the movie, “we’re not just part of the establishment. We are the establishment.”

Another seemingly untouchable subject is satanism. It’s entrenched in high places more deeply than we know. Many of us are frightened and don’t want to know. But its roots go back to ancient Babylon. Again, I won’t try to delve into it here. Nonetheless, it’s real and thrusts up a barrier to any sort of righteous reform in our country.

Let’s say you visit a favorite elderly aunt. You ask her how she’s doing. She says, “I’m still above ground.” And there’s certainly something to be said for that. All is not lost for her if she’s not yet pushing up daisies.

One day without warning she’s admitted into the hospital for a prolonged stay. It looks grim. She’s constantly on your mind. All those wonderful memories of christmas presents, raspberry pie, carnivals and picnics. You hope and pray she’ll pull through.

Then at 2:30 in the morning you get the call. Your beloved aunt has just died.

As long as she was still breathing, you had hope. But She’s not ever coming back. Now that she’s gone, nothing will ever be the same. You’ll cherish the memories forever. Thank God for the blessings bestowed on you while she lived. You grieve, yes, but you find a way to move on with your life.

So it is with America. That favorite aunt is no more. Granted, death leaves a deep void, but we must move forward.

Why go on if we can’t live in the America we’ve grown up with? What of the America of our founding fathers? If we educate enough people and with enough hard work, can’t we get it back?

No. It’s gone. Get used to it. It’s over for the country, but you’re still alive. And you have the opportunity to survive…if you can.

Near the end of “Amerika” the hero is about to push a button to hijack the national network and make a broadcast. Thinking aloud, he faces a bitter truth. He questions what influence any of us can have.

Change has to come from within people. They have to want to change themselves. How hopeless that seems.

Then one of his companions tells him he was glad for Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and JFK. All our hero can say is “Thank you.”

You and I need not feel inadequate because we’re not one of those bright lights. You never know what influence you might have right where you are. Little things mean a lot.

The best place to start is with those around you. Forget about trying to turn the country around or conquering the world. Make a difference in the lives of the individuals around you–family, friends or coworkers. The right words or a small act of kindness can have an unexpected impact.

Before you think I’m getting all gushy and idealistic, let’s bring our thoughts back around to how this relates to prepping. You may be able to introduce others to the need for being prepared, but as I’ve said here numerous times before, practice discretion. Be tight lipped about your own preps.

Prepping seems foreign and ill advised to many today. Some think it’s selfish. But you won’t survive if you don’t look after yourself and your family first. Call it self interest.

The old saying is that charity begins at home. But how can you or I be charitable toward others if we haven’t first met the needs of our own families?

I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV). “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

We’ve grown accustomed to an affluent, prosperous way of life. But where’s the guarantee that will continue? Obviously, there is no such guarantee.

Prepping calls for taking personal responsibility. Our ancestors had sense enough to set aside food for the winter when they canned what they grew. They knew the threat of adversities. Planning to face them was a matter of survival, not convenience.

Are we there yet?