Correction by the German-language editorial team dated September 18, 2024 regarding the publication “Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle: ‘This moment humanity is living through can be seen as a door or a hole’”.

Pressenza published this profound and touching text in August 2021 and it has been widely circulated ever since. Especially during the pandemic and in the face of social challenges, his words gave comfort and strength to many people. Even today, in a geopolitically uncertain world, the text continues to be a popular read.

However, the publication contained misinformation in the title, cover image and introduction to the text, which we unwittingly contributed to spreading and which we would now like to correct.

According to our research, the cover picture originally used shows Dan Evehema, a traditional Hopi leader, a well-known medicine man and healer. However, Dan Evehema, who was born in Old Oraibi in 1893 and died in 1999 at the age of 106, is not the author of the text, nor is he known by the name “White Eagle”.


Original cover picture: Dan Evehema (Source: Facebook)

A UK-based community that spreads the teachings of a spiritual leader called “White Eagle” has confirmed in response to our inquiry that this text is not theirs. We were able to trace the text back to two Portuguese-language social media posts from March 19, 2020, but without any reference to the original source.

The author of the text therefore remains unknown. However, we now assume that the text is neither based on authentic Hopi traditions nor represents the statements of a Hopi representative.

We have therefore changed the title of the publication and replaced the cover picture.

The Pressenza team sincerely apologizes for disseminating this erroneous information.

Here is the text:

This moment that humanity is experiencing can be seen as a door or a hole. It is up to you to decide whether you fall into the hole or go through the door. If you consume the news 24/7, with negative energy, constantly on edge, with pessimism, then you fall into that hole. But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to consider life and death, to take care of yourself and others, then you will go through the portal.

Take care of your home, take care of your body. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself, you are also taking care of everyone else.

Do not underestimate the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Take the perspective of an eagle that sees everything from above – with an expanded view. This crisis involves a social issue, but also a spiritual issue. Both go hand in hand.

Without the social dimension, we fall into fanaticism. Without the spiritual dimension, we fall into pessimism and meaninglessness.

Are you ready to face this crisis? Take your toolbox and use all the tools at your disposal.

Learn resistance from the example of the Indian and African peoples: we have been and are still being exterminated, but we have never stopped singing, dancing, lighting a fire and rejoicing.

Don’t feel guilty for feeling blessed in these troubled times. Being sad or angry does not help in any way. Resistance is resistance through joy!

You have a right to be strong and positive. And there is no other way to do that than to maintain a positive, happy and light-filled attitude. This has nothing to do with alienation (ignorance of the world). It is a strategy of resistance.

When we cross the threshold, we have a new world view because we have faced our fears and difficulties. That is all you can do now:

  • Keep calm in the storm
  • Keep calm, pray daily
  • Make it a habit to encounter the sacred every day.
  • Show resistance through art, joy, trust and love.