Journeys of the Spirits proof - 10-19-22

Journeys

of the

Spirits

A Spiritual, Emotional and Photographic journey with

Joseph M. Triscari

Copyright ©2022 Joseph M. Triscari
All rights reserved. No part of this book, including images,
may be used or reproduced by any means without the
written permission of the author except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Author: Joseph M. Triscari
Photography: Joseph M. Triscari
Design: David Robison and Herb Neu
Editing: Simpson Point Press
Publisher: Simpson Point Press in association with
Coloradream Publishing

ISBN

I dedicate this to all American Indian Tribes
and people. I hope that everyone enjoys
this journey with me.

Joe

Thank you

for being a part of the Journeys of the Spirits
David Robison, Fred Chapman, John Tarnesse, Bennie LeBeau Sr.
aka Blue Thunder, T.T. Tillman, Mark Angavo, Marlin Pennington
and Jean McKenzie, Charlie Lewis, Carol V. and Don Dickinson,
Ken Knudson, Bob Reed, Gil Bateman, William M. Dennis, Chief

Johnny Looking Cloud, Al Cabral, Xpstva Psy las,
Arlene Santillanes, Calvin Standing Bear, Bernice Bullbear, Sid

Whiting Jr., Elvira Spencer Sweetwater, James Ecoffey,
Dennis Brown, Bobby Applegate and Herb Neu.
Joseph M. Triscari

4 Journeys of the Spirits

Foreward

It’s been my honor and privilege to work with Joseph “Joe,” Triscari
for more than thirty years, helping him with Journeys of the Spirits.
Together with John Tarnesse, an Eastern Shoshone spiritual leader and
friend to Joe and me, we experienced life changing spiritual journeys,
sacred knowledge, and wonderful friendship with each other. These
moments were always awakening my deeper understanding and
respect for the sacred lives and traditions of the American native
people, “Indians.” I wish I could have gone on all the photo shoots
and outings he and John went on together. He always came back with
such stunning images and wonderful stories to share.
As you read this book and study the images I invite you to do so
with the knowledge that Joe has dedicated a large portion of his
life documenting not only these beautiful sites, but also he has
photographed scores of Indian Powwows. All the while he has
done so developing lasting relationships with the dancers and their
families as he honored their traditional ceremonies regarding these
gatherings with his photographs.
I hope you enjoy Joe’s work as much I do. This book is a treat for the
mind, spirit, and soul for a deeper understanding of the meaningful
journey we call life.

David Robison

Ancient ArtEffcts • Coloradream
Robison Advertising Design

Journeys of the Spirits 5

John Tarnesse

CHAPTER 1
My Native American Journey

capturing historic sacred sites and traditions with John,
an Eastern Shoshone representative,
my dear friend and spiritual teacher.

Joseph M. Triscari

Tribute to a Chief

In 1990 as I walked along an ancient petroglyph trail I found this
beautiful image, carved as a tribute to a chief.
I was later told that it’s more than 300 years old.

8 Journeys of the Spirits

Our Brothers’ Last Supper
A Native Legend’s main image
Journeys of the Spirits 9

As related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

In our belief, in our tribal way of life, this rock images for what they are. These are
panel should be titled, Our Brothers Last not horns. These are the thorns of life.
Supper. In your Bible the story is told of The big image with the triangular body
Jesus’ last supper, where he enacted the surrounding our brother is The Great Spir-
parable of brotherly love. For the king- it. His horns are different. The horns he
dom is ours. The image here portrays The wears are as the wings of our brother, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. There Thunderbird. The Great Spirit, who made
are two images here of the Holy Ghost, man in his image wears the wings of the
they portray evil and good. You can see the Thunderbird.
cup-like figures, they represent disciples. The necklace around The Great Spirit’s
Our brother standing with horns on his neck shows the type of ceremonies we
head. They look like horns, but are the hold. White man has referred to them as
same as the crown of thorns Jesus wore. tepee rings. They are not tepee rings. The
In our tribal way of life he was never here, dots are the medicine in our world.
spiritually he was. We understood these

10 Journeys of the Spirits

Monolith / Messenger

Thunderbird at his roosting atop the Devil’s Tower, “Bear’s Lodge.”
Signified by the bear climbing the tower, the claw marks indicate man figure,
lizard, and bear, the petroglyph shows our migration and roots from south.

Incised markings made by the storyteller.

Related by an Eastern Shoshone representative 1990

Thunderbird (in stone)

To many this looks like an owl. Look at the wings. There are lines down through the
body portion and head. There are whiskers, too. This is the great and mighty
Thunderbird full of medicine.

The Thunderbird is our brother; he eats our prayers, our talk, and our confessions.
After he has eaten everything, he flies up to the Great Spirit and vomits out
everything so that the Great Spirit can hear.

Related by an Eastern Shoshone representative, 1991

12 Journeys of the Spirits

Group Shot 1991

This petroglyph panel (18 ft. x 9 ft.) was shot at by red and white people more than a
hundred years ago. The panel dates to approx. 3000 B.C. and inspires the need for
preservation through education, with our heart, head and love. The photograph

below was taken 2 years later in black & white to expose the bullet holes better.

1993

Journeys of the Spirits 13

The Family

On one of my journeys in 1991 to the ancient sacred petroglyph sites in the 2-million
acre Red Desert of Wyoming I came upon these free and wild horses.

14 Journeys of the Spirits

Redboy

In 1992 at the 18th Denver March Powwow was my first introduction to the Ceremony.
Three eighteen hour days filled with wonderment.

Journeys of the Spirits 15

Altar (Physical)

A sacred prayer site, located at a true point with
spiritual stellar in touch with many entities.

Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

16 Journeys of the Spirits

Altar

A beautiful panel ­—vandalized.

Journeys of the Spirits 17

Six Angels

Ancient Petroglyph

Yellow
Hand

The hand of healing.
Sign of the powerful spiritual

healer who possesses the
knowledge from beyond.

Related by an
Eastern Shoshone Representative

Star

I believe this image truly
represents the sacred star.
That special star is known

in all cultures and
religions on earth.

Journeys of the Spirits 19

Sacred Direction

Here we walk into a world of ceremonies, the world of ceremonies is portrayed in many places
and spiritual leaders understand that. Understanding it and learning how to balance our lives
and how to balance the world around us. In these ceremonies we ask for the direction of life.
This Medicine Wheel, as with other sacred sites, is built close to petroglyphs. At these sites
we pray to have Mother Earth claim her medicine and clean her house. She cleans her house
in a way most people do not understand, like hurricanes and tornadoes. We pray for world
peace, for people to live long and happy lives.

Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

20 Journeys of the Spirits

Fasting Rings

Used in a ceremonial way to become in tune with the
paranormal directions of life.

Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

Journeys of the Spirits 21

Medicine ManBeafonred&MAfetedr icine Woman

Top shot in 1990 bottom in 1993
Once they are gone, they are gone forever.

22 Journeys of the Spirits

Guardian

aka Sacred Spirit

A guide to spirit worlds of ceremonies special healing teachings.

Journeys of the Spirits 23

Medicine Man &
Medicine Woman

Ancient Petroglyph

24 Journeys of the Spirits

The Love

This image is of the Medicine Man and all to see. It has been written here in the
Medicine Woman. They hold hands rock for us to understand.
here. The Star and the Holy Grail are In the middle of the panel is the drum
on the left and the image that is hardly we use to sing, to reach the spiritual
there on the right. This panel should be side, the Holy Spirit here on the right,
called The Love, for it tells of this. The the mirror image you see portrays how
panel tells of The Love the Holy Grail we call in The Love with the drum, with
holds. That is what this image is. Once our songs, we have the ability. Through
a year the star you know as Venus and our love and prayers, our faith we have
we know as The Water woman fills the the power to help each other spiritually.
Grail with water and the Love it holds To help mankind.
spills out. Once a year this happens.
You can see it in the night sky. The Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative
Great Spirit gave this spiritual gift for

Journeys of the Spirits 25

Tablet

Ancient Petroglyph

26 Journeys of the Spirits

Star Child

Ancient Petroglyph

Circa 3000 B.C.

Journeys of the Spirits 27

Sundancer in Stone

©2002 Bennie LeBeau Sr. aka Blue Thunder

28 Journeys of the Spirits

In the Domain

©1992 Charlie Ganse

Journeys of the Spirits 29

Ceremonial Dancer

Ancient Petroglyph
Circa 3000 B.C.

The Family two
Image 49

Face

aka Fire, Earth, Wind & Water

Walking along the trail we came to this, from the Little People, the story
tellers, the panel is incised. It tells of the Conquistador…Espanols — the
ones with the helmets. This is in our country. They hide their gold here.

Their pouches are still there, I have seen, I know.

Look at it again, from the top down. You see the Holy Grail through the
rains, and the twins, evil and good, it comes into the cup of love and
that’s the way our hearts beat one bad one good and through
this we flourish.

Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

32 Journeys of the Spirits

CHAPTER 2
The Journey Continues

Awakening with each step upon the path with wide eyed wonder.

My dear friend John who was an Eastern Shoshone
representative stayed at my house in Denver on many
occasions. In 1995 my friend told me, “Yo, after working
with you these last few years I know that you are part of

the Thunderbird Clan.”
Journeys of the Spirits 33

Sweat Lodge

Path to sacredness, praying and purification. A ceremony of speaking with the
dead and the un-dead. Signifies the sign of the turtle and our mothers womb.

Written by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

We started going into this Sweat Lodge in 1993 when John built it.
This photograph is from 1997.

In May of ‘95, several days after photographing the Face, a young man by the
name of Brian Heflin was cleaning out John’s Sweat Lodge and preparing it for
the Sweat when I entered. Bennie, John’s protégé, was heating up the rocks in
the outside fire pit though he was no where in sight. I asked Brian, who always

referred to John as Grandfather, if he would like my help in cleaning up the
Lodge. Brian said that he wanted to take care of it himself.
With that I went into prayers.

34 Journeys of the Spirits

Vision in the Sweat Lodge

From a true-life vision of Joseph M. Triscari

Painted by Stevon Lucero

The sweat had not started yet, and a petroglyphs made out of the same
few minutes later I heard Brian leave amber light. I thought that this can’t be
the Lodge and shut the door. I stopped happening, my second thought was yes
praying for a moment, opened my eyes it is. Over the years I have had a handful
and could hardly believe what I saw. of true-life visions. What little I know
When we are in the sweat we are in I could put on the head of a pin, and I
our mother’s womb. We say our bad, don’t know what you may know. When
our good, we sing, and to the spiritual these visions have taken place it is like
Eastern Shoshone all singing is prayer. being in a Spielberg film, except it’s real
When we come out it is like communion and you are in it.
is to the Catholic, we have a fresh start. I commissioned a gifted artist and friend
The whole rib cage, which is made of Stevon Lucero in 2001 to paint this vision
Alder wood, is lit up in an earthly low- for me. I understand that this is Stevon’s
grade neon-like Amber light. In between vision of my vision, yet it feels very
the Alder there were many Thunderbird close to what I saw.

Journeys of the Spirits 35

Sundance Lodge

When Sundance time arrives each year, The center pole is the first one resurrected.
before the lodge goes up, the door facing Then the twelve forked cottonwood (cut)
east must be sighted at a true point. Then, trees are planted in circular setting. The
building of the lodge takes place. medicine pole next is the first rafter put
A tripod with a buffalo skull is placed at up running through the fork of the center
the east door. The arrival of the center pole pole.
and medicine pole are handled with great At the fork of this medicine pole is tied
respect. The men pick up these two main eagle feathers representing our messenger.
poles, never crossing or stepping over and When the lodge is completed the buffalo
place them behind one another with the skull is taken in, tied facing west, at the
cut ends facing east. crotch of the center pole.
Flags are put on each fork representing the All done…the sacred way of the Eastern
sponsor’s beliefs. The men then pick up Shoshone Sundance ceremony begins and
the center pole four times inching towards four more days of fasting, prayer song
the hole dug where it will stand, singing a with dancing follow.
prayer song before each lift.

Unknown artist, circa 1890

36 Journeys of the Spirits

In the first photograph of these Eastern Shoshone Sundance lodges,
the white flag represents purity; The blue flag, the heavens. In the
second photograph, the red flag represents the spiritual powers of the

Sundance Lodge Chief; the black flag, his anger.

Sundance lodge in 1992

Sundance lodge in 1996

Journeys of the Spirits 37

Power of Our Medicine

The middle figure is holding medicine in lived as Spirits.
his hand. He is medicine himself. Over Here is the Ghost Dance. You see the
and over your Bible says, “I will free you Ghost on the right side of the panel.
from bondage.” That is what this panel is You see the middle figure that is the Great
all about. Spirit. You see on the left the little Spirit
All the spirits here in this panel are on that is our Storyteller. All these Spirits
Mother Earth, to help you. This panel around us to help. In the lower right is
should be called Power of Our Medicine, a Spirit with three Spirits inside itself. In
for these are the Ghost Dancers who your our human selves that is how we walk.
world did not understand. The Ghost We walk with four Spirits.
Dancers were given to help each person First there is sexuality, next temper,
of the four colors. The Ghost Dance was followed by our craziness, and finally
designed to help our people when the humor where we can laugh at ourselves.
government people locked us down. We
could not pray for the world. Still, we Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

38 Journeys of the Spirits

McConkie Ranch

The photograph was taken at the McConkie
Ranch up Dry Fork Canyon outside of
Vernal, Utah. It took three years to fruition.
Permission from the owners, Marlon
Pennington and Jean McKenzie. Twenty
people to help get the 135’ boom in place.
All friends or strangers that volunteered
their time, backs and equipment. The panel
is 126 feet off the canyon floor. The panel is
approximately eighteen feet wide by nine
feet high. I did shoots of this panel with a
rented 6 x 7 two and-a-quarter format still
camera for an hour or two each of the three
days.
Got this keeper on Saturday June 17, 1995
at 1/15th of a second on the second day. I
called it the rain shoot because there
was a light mist falling through the
sunlight around 2:30 p.m. when it
happened. John gave walking tours
of the rock art, about a miles worth,
to some people from the Natural
History Museum of Salt Lake City
during the day and I attended
a Spiritual Journey with him on
Friday night. Some of the folks from
the SLC museum attended too.
The verbal banter between my
friends and me at this camp and
in general, at that particular time
of my life, was you are the Captain, I am
the cook.

Journeys of the Spirits 39

We camped four nights in Dry Fork immediate southern night sky. So beautiful
canyon. On the forth night, June 18, 1995 that I took a long second and third look at
it was John, Mark Dickhoff, our friend and it. It turned into a headlight in the night sky
camp cook and me. Everyone else had and came for me. At the last possible few
headed for home in Vernal, Green River seconds, I got very scared and it went back
and Rock Springs, or Wind River Indian up into its Star formation. Then it turned
Reservation in Wyoming. Lucy, Mark’s into a Thunderbird made of light. Platinum,
wife and assistant cook and one year in the night sky. It went down and up six
old son Reggie, went to bed around 9:00 times. I knew that this was confirmation
p.m. Lucy and Reggie in a camper. Earlier that everything with the shoot was
that day I photographed many images al right. It turned into a single headlight
on the ground with that 6 x 7 camera. At again and started coming for me again.
one point I wondered if it was working I was much braver now. I had been out
properly. Earlier, prior to dinner, I took off there a while, I had seen the Thunderbird
for a bathroom break in the woods. I got made of light.
paranoid about the shoot. I prayed. I asked At the last possible split millisecond, I
for a sign that everything was alright with almost soiled my pants in fear. What I
the shoots. saw semi-transparent then was an old
After dinner John and Mark were roasting Sea Captain flying twenty feet above me
marshmallows over the open fire. Lucy through the pines. He had a gray ashen
and baby Reggie were fast asleep. I was face, sideburns and an old Sea Captain’s
tired. John asked if I would stay at the 1700’s looking cap on. He looked at me
campfire for a while and walk him home. with a scowl that did not look pleased
I thought that was cute, walk him home to and disappeared into the woods. With
his tent in the woods. Around 10:30 p.m. that I went promptly to my tent. I looked
John said; “Yo (he called me Yo instead at my watch. It was twenty to 1:00. I had
of Joe), would you walk me home now?” been out there two hours. The four vision
Mark gave me a flashlight as he headed to paintings that Stevon Lucero has done for
bed in the camper not thirty feet from our me so far are all 24 x 30” oil paintings. Two
fire. I walked with John until we were at of them are called Thunderbird by Night,
the side of his tent. He said; “good night and Captain, based on this true-life vision
Yo,” and took off into his tent. not four weeks after the Face and Vision in
My tent was on the other side of our the Sweat Lodge.
campfire. As I walked through the woods,
I noticed a particularly beautiful Star in the

40 Journeys of the Spirits

The photo shoot at the McConkie Ranch in Vernal, Utah. It took twenty
people to help get the 135’ boom in place. The panel is 126 feet off the

canyon floor. The panel is approximately 18’ wide by 9’ high.
Journeys of the Spirits 41

Silver Lining

Star @ Home

I believe this image truly represents the sacred star. That special star,
that is known in all cultures and religions on earth.

Journeys of the Spirits 43

The Family Two

The Wind River Shoshone and Northern Shoshone may have acquired horses as early as
1680. Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who acted as interpreter and guide for the Lewis

and Clark expedition of 1804–06, is thought to have been a member of either the Wind
River or the Northern group.

44 Journeys of the Spirits

Art image from an 1880 photo of Eastern Shoshone on horseback.
Journeys of the Spirits 45

Sacred Direction II

Here we walk into a world of our This Medicine Wheel, as with other
ceremonies. This world of ceremonies sacred sites, is built close to petroglyphs.
is portrayed in many places. Spiritual At these sites we pray to have Mother
leaders understand it. Earth claim her medicine and clean her
We understand it and learn how to house. She cleans her house in a way
balance our people’s lives and how to most people do not understand, like
balance the world. Here is one of the hurricanes and tornadoes. We pray for
ceremonies we hold to keep the world world peace, for people to live long
and our lives in balance. We ask in the and happy lives.
ceremony the direction of life.
Related by an Eastern Shoshone Representative

46 Journeys of the Spirits

Journeys of the Spirits 47

Watcher of the West

48 Journeys of the Spirits

Chief

Johnny Looking Cloud

“Mahpitya Wakita”
Oglala Sioux Treaty Sub-Chief of the Lakota Nation

June 27, 1920 – August 14, 2000

Journeys of the Spirits 49

StarCruiser

Ancient petroglyph at the McConkie Ranch
Circa 3,000 B.C.

50 Journeys of the Spirits