The Native American Flute is best suited for playing expressive music that comes from the heart. For me, once I get going and can let go, the flute transports me out of time, and it indeed feels like a Spirit is playing the flute through me. This is the gift to me, as it brings a peace to my soul which I cannot find anywhere else.   Separateness is only an illusion. When we hear from our inner ears and see with our inner eyes we are then awake, and know that there is only one universal voice, one God, one mind, one spirit. Listen

About Me

I have been playing the Native American Flute for 21 years and perform publicly for special occasions such as: Earth Day, environmental meetings, fund raisers for the Planet and Endangered Species, concerts that are good for the soul, hospice, church and memorial services. I studied Native American Spirituality with Flying Eagle; a Shaman from Canada of Cree Heritage.

For references you may contact Janice Gunderson, gundersonjp@yahoo.com (Music Director of The First Baptist Church of Palo Alto and Director of The Sine Nomine Chamber Choir), William Alley, parsifal5224@yahoo.com (Music Director for The Crystal Springs United Methodist Church), Pamela Ravenelle, pamelaflute@mac.com (Music Director of the Magicflutes Flute Orchestra), Jorgina Petheo 650-284-6560 (Director of Bay Area All Strings and Brass), and Kathleen Nelson, kjnmusic@gmail.com (Piano Accompanist and Composer).

My Book

Playing the flute is an extension of my personal beliefs and Spirituality. For those interested in detail, I recommend reading my book “The Great Spirit Says…. a rainbow warriors journey”

The Great Spirit Says: A Rainbow Warrior’s Journey is a spiritual and detailed account of a personal shamanic journey to the universal mind. Drawing upon my life-changing out-of-body experience, I share how, through connecting to the eternal spiritual realm, we become free from the fear of death and the unknown, and can experience an elevated state of pure ecstasy and joy. I convey how the power of the mind, when unconfined by time or space, has the ability to connect to the voice of unity. This oneness contains the ancient knowledge of our existence. When we allow the silence of nature and its wisdom to heal us, we become connected to our highest self, elevating personal growth and human evolution.

Excerpt from The Great Spirit Says

The use of the flute in the cultures of the Indigenous North American peoples can be traced back at least 34,000 years through oral traditions and ancient pictographs. While there are many myths and legends that have survived by oral tradition and although they differ in geography and culture, most all of them seem to have a common thread in that the flute was basically a gift from the “Great Spirit” or Creator.” Below is one Legend.

“Many years ago before the white man came, a young Cheyenne boy was said to have gotten lost wandering aimlessly alone in the forest. The Great Spirit saw him and took pity on one so young and decided to give him a gift so he would not be alone. From the heavens He sent a small bird to sit upon a hollow branch of a large tree. Underneath the shade of the tree sat the young Indian boy. As the brisk Northern wind blew through the hollow branch, it produced a sound which he had never heard before. Looking up he saw a bird perched high in the tree. Soon the bird began to peck holes into the branch and with each hole that the bird made, it changed the pitch of each note as the wind continued to blow. The young boy realized that the beautiful sound came from the hollow branch and that it was a gift to him from the Great Spirit/God. He carefully climbed the tree to reach the branch and gently broke off the branch. He blew it, imitating the northern wind, thereby making the beautiful sound. He found his way home and shared the wonderful gift with his people. (Note – This is why a small bird sits atop of most Native flutes)!

The flute is and has been used for many purposes. It is used to pass on traditions and to reinforce spiritual and philosophic lifeway’s. Is has been called a Love or Spirit flute and is used for courting serenades, meditations, and praying. It is used for social gatherings as well as sacred ceremonies and rituals. I will play my flutes for special occasions such as Earth Day, Weddings, Anniversaries, any gathering that encourages Love, World Peace, Compassion for all life and a green Mother Earth.”

Quotes, Prayers, and Teachings

Below are some of my favorite quotes concerning the Native flute and some Native American teachings that I believe would lift the Spirit/Soul of anyone who reads them.

“The Earth has music for those who listen.”
– William Shakespeare

“It Rose-that chanted mournful strain, like some lone spirits, o’er the plain; Twas musical but sadly sweet, such as when winds and harp strings meet and take a long unmeasured tone.”
– Thomas L. McKenney

“The radiance of one flute shines healing warmth upon the hearts and souls of many, the songs from one flute caress the inner minds and bodies of all Nations. The melodic prisms from one flute pour forth in abundance, inebriating those who are thirsty for the life-giving drink of harmony.”
– Dr. Kathleen Joyce-Grendal

“Bach gave us God’s word, Mozart gave us God’s laughter, Beethoven gave us God’s fire, and God gave us Music that we might pray without words.” ( From an old German opera house.)
An Indian Prayer

O’ GREAT SPIRIT, Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!
I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom.
Let Me Walk in Beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make My Hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make Me Wise So that I may understand the things you have taught my people.
Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
Make Me Always Ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
American Indian Sacred Laws

Everything is an inseparable part of the whole.
The Universe is the sacred expression of the Will and the Mind of the Source and has been created with Love and ensouled with Life.
Everything is characterized energy and is interchangeable with anything else. So mind/matter/spirit are but different levels of the same energy;
All things in the Universe have life, but they experience it in different ways. Nothing is ‘truly’ dead because there is no such thing as no-motion.
Everything is made up of the same primary elements and receives the same energies. But individual ‘beings’ organize themselves differently. Everything thus evolves within the law of its own being.
Everything evolves by continually seeking harmony and balance with everything else. The only constant in the Universe is change.
Everything is completely and intimately linked to everything else, and everything else is subject to the sacred laws.
Everything is born of woman. Everything comes into existence through the feminine principal.
Nothing must be done to harm the children, for the continuity of life is through children.
Circular motion is the law of everything. Lineation is an illusion. Absolute beginnings and endings do not exist because there are no true beginnings.
Be certain of nothing. Let it be understood that as soon as you are certain about anything you may be certain you are wrong. For thirteen is about shifting energy from one dimension to another. When we comprehend that, our whole dimension of existence and life experiences is changed!
The Ten Native American Commandments

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect
Remain close to the Great Spirit / God
Show great respect for your fellow beings
Work together for the benefit of all Mankind
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed
Do what you know to be right
Look after the well-being of mind and body
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good
Be truthful and honest at all times
Take full responsibility for your actions
Apache Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

Warmly, Jeanette Sacco-Belli (little wolf)