Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota [Paperback]

Wallace Black Elk (Author), William S. Lyon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Religion and Spirituality | Publication Date: March 1, 1991

"An unprecedented account of the shaman's world and the way it is entered."
STANLEY KRIPPNER, PH.D., coauthor of 'Personal Mythology: The Psychology of Your Evolving Self' and 'Healing States'

"Black Elk opens the Lakota sacred hoop to a comic

Product Details

• Paperback: 199 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (March 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062500740
• ISBN-13: 978-0062500748
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The difficult road of a Lakhota shaman, with heart and humor, October 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota (Paperback)

Those who know Wallace Black Elk personally know that Bill Lyons captures the flavor of Grandfather's humor, the deeper teachings that lay behind the words, as well as the pain and difficulties that have gone into making access to the Spirit available to all. When you read this book, you'll know why the early government and Christian religions wanted to stop the Indian practices - they're real, and you'll be glad for the triumph of these sacred teachings. Like his predecessor, Nicholas Black Elk, Wallace Black Elk's vision goes beyond the borders of race to encompass all beings, so that once again, the great hoop may be whole. For Indian peoples who have lost contact with spiritual origins, whatever they may be, this book can be a powerful reclamation of the Spirit. For all people who have been searching for the something that has been missing, you will find it in Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota. This book and others detailing the shamanic practices of our ancient Indian cultures are a real coup for the American Indian: in spreading the teachings, these courageous men and women have transformed the children of the enemy into friends and allies. The whole world benefits.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro into Lakota spirituality, July 16, 2003

By 

kaioatey (Awatovi, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota (Paperback)

It is rather interesting to see the controversy surrounding Wallace Black Elk and his activities. Although Wallace is a Rosebud medicine man with impeccable credentials, he has become too well known and that means he has broken an unspoken taboo that cannot be forgiven within his community. Many Native Americans, like so many other peoples (indigenous or not) simply cannot tolerate the success of one of their own and are prepared to do anything to bring them down. After all, a true member of the tiospaye is supposed to be self-effacing, humble, generous... and poor.

I cannot be a judge of Black Elk's character. But I know a good thing when I see it. Anyone who has had even remote experience of Lakota healing ceremonies will know immediately that with this book we are given a great gift. The book will be useful to all who want to understand social and ceremonial aspects of Lakota life and the practical manifestation of their worldview and religious practice. God knows that our country and our planet are in need of these teachings. We get highly useful descriptions of major rituals, such as the Kettle Dance, the sweat lodge and the "vision quest"; more importantly, we get an intimate glimpse into a Lakota medicine man's relationship with his spirit helpers and guides and with his sacred pipe (Chanunpa). The book bristles with the reverence for the pipe and with acknowledgement that the medicine man is only a channel ("a hollow bone") for the Spirit. There can be no question about Black Elk's credentials, about the validity and importance of his experiences and his ability to heal people through sacred Lakota ceremonies.

The book is also funny in a way that Lakota themselves can be funny by being at the same time self-deprecatory and self-congratulatory. Black Elk obviously enjoyed the process of describing his experiences; he also inserts a few pages on his encounters with unindentified flying objects and their denizens but I suggest the reader checks this out for herself.

In short, this is a warm, informative and rewarding book that addresses crucial elements of Lakota religious life through the words of an authentic practitioner. It glows with gratitude to Great Spirit, Mother Earth and the Chanunpa. I recommend it.

54 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars So sad to see him do this to his people, April 2, 2001

By 

"apacheman" (Lafayette IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota (Paperback)

Wallace "Black Elk"'s real name is Wallace Black Elk Cow. He is NOT related to the famous Black Elk in any way. The real Black Elk's family has been trying to get Wallace to quit deceptively using their family name for decades. He is not even of the same tribe. What is truly sad is that so many whites who don't know any better will look to a shady character like Wallace for guidance. Wallace sells ceremonies, which is considered unethical by native traditionalists. In this book he reveals a lot of things that are supposed to be kept private or only taught orally and face to face in the traditional way. Wallace has greatly dismayed native people with his selling out to the New Age for the sake of cash. The saddest thing is that, nearly thirty years ago, he once was a respected medicine man. But he threw all that away for cash. If you want to learn about native religions, try Vine Deloria's God Is Red. But don't give this opportunist your cash instead.