The Three Twos

A simple yet profound Indigenous teaching shared by Elder Duncan Grady reminds us that clarity, humility, and presence are the true foundations of service — whether in ceremony or in life itself.

A reflection on humility, lineage, and the architecture of awakening — inspired by Elder Dr. Duncan Grady

As one who appreciates the value in keeping it simple, I was immediately moved by Elder Duncan Grady’s teaching of The Three Twos. At first, their simplicity struck me — three pairs that quietly hold the architecture of our human experience:

1. Security and Survival

2. Esteem and Affection

3. Power and Control

At first glance, they seem almost ordinary — yet as I listened deeper, I realized how profoundly they map the infrastructure of both healing and awakening.

Much like Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements or Byron Katie’s The Work, the Three Twos offer a path of radical simplicity. Ruiz invites us to live through integrity. Katie invites us to question our perceptions. Elder Duncan invites us to witness the energetic architecture beneath them all.

Together, these teachings point us back to truth, each through a different doorway.

For teachers, facilitators, and guides, the Three Twos become a compass — a way to stay humble, centered, and clear. Before stepping into ceremony or service, we can pause and ask ourselves:

Am I seeking? Am I being influenced? Am I the clear vessel necessary to assist this ceremony?

These questions return us to neutrality — where power becomes presence, and service flows from humility and Grace.

Elder Duncan reminds us that his name is not of importance — what matters is the culture and lineage from which these teachings arise. He carries this wisdom in reverence to the Siksika (Blackfoot) traditions and the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society (CINS) in the West Kootenays of British Columbia. He speaks not for Indigenous culture but from within its teachings, with humility and respect for the Elders and ancestors who continue to guide this living tradition.

“To all my relations, blessings, and much care to you all.” — Elder Duncan Grady

In simplicity, we return to the sacred.

— Meghan Sickner