Customer Reviews

The Cherokee Sacred Calendar: A Handbook of the Ancient Native American Tradition

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've enjoyed reading a number of the works of Raven Hail in thepast, and have found them very informative concerning Native Americanand particularly Tsalagi tradition. This book however, confuses me more than clarifies things for me concerning Tsalagi "star knowledge" or the use of the various cosmic cycles and its relationship to Tsalagi ceremony of the present and past. What surprised me most of all was the very, very close correlation between the names of the days as given by Raven Hail (in English and Tsalagi-in-transliteration), and the names of the days in the Mayan day count. This just leaves me with unanswered questions such as, "how much of the Tsalagi tradition has come to us from Mesoamerica?" I wish that Raven Hail would have gone into more detail about her own sources of this knowledge that she presents as traditional Tsalagi teaching.

For the traditionalist who is really bothered by the incorporation of non-Tsalagi sources/ideas into teachings, I think this book is going to seem a little too "New Age." Raven Hail brings in insight from "Old World" wisdom sources as well as traditional Tsalagi teachings, though her underlying down-home humor is apparent and is definately traditional Tsalagi.

For those who are just looking for alternative ways outside of their own tradition of thinking about the patterns within human variety, you might like this book, but you might be more interested in checking out some of the Mayan-inspired studies that go into greater detail. The calendar Raven Hail includes at the back of the book does make it easy to find out either your "Cherokee" or "Mayan" day sign though.

As an official of the Cherokee Nation, let me advise the readers that the "teachings" of "Raven Hail" are not endorsed by the Nation, nor in fact, do they follow any Cherokee historical or cultural beliefs that I have ever heard.

I don't like or recommend this book for the following reasons.

1. Why is the Mayan 20 count included in a book about the Cherokee?

2. Raven Hail goes into an astrological system that seems to imply that one's future is set in stone. It is NOT. I am living proof that one can be anything thet want to be; providing they have the will and desire to change their life.

The book has a few Cherokee legends.

Please E-Mail me if you have questions or comments about my reviews. Two Bears

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

A New Age version of the Mayan calendar given new Cherokee-esque names. What is reprehensible about this book is that Raven Hail is in fact a Cherokee tribal member.

The Cherokee Sacred Calendar is a piece of writing that begs for explanations. Why is the Cherokee astrological system essentially the same as that of the Maya and Aztecs and why hasn't this come out before? (We are also informed of the news that the Cherokee counted in a vegisimal system of dots and bars exactly like that of the Maya). Why do only some of the personality descriptions seem to be cleverly lifted (a short string of words at a time) from those in the book "Day-Signs: Native American Astrology From Ancient Mexico" but not others? Why are the tables the same as those in that unmentioned and uncited book? These are questions that both the author and the publisher need to answer.

Warning, This book, and the book titled "Cherokee Astrology: Animal Medicine in the Stars " published by Bear & Co. ARE THE SAME BOOK.
The titles are different, publishers are different, but it's the same exact material inside.

Other than that, I question the validity of this work. Yes, there are some things that are Cherokee-words, a few pieces of stories (not much detail) but I really have to question, especially since she doesn't give any background, whether this is simply Cherokee stories pasted over the Mayan calendar. Information on Ms. Hail and her background, studies, etc. is scarce.
This comes off as untrue, a bit new agey, and really does not do the preservation of Cherokee ways any justice. In my opinion, misinformation is worse than no information. Don't write something and say it's Cherokee when it's not. That is an insult to my ancestors.
She could have at least sited her teachers or some lineage of teachings.

I found this book interesting; the symbolic natal sign easily
accessed using Raven Hall's charts was most interesting and not at all a surprise to me! I do wish more information as to how Raven Hall's claim this information came from "ancient Native American Tradition" was discovered .Since the system is so strongly similar to Mayan systems, is Raven Hall suggesting Mayans and Native Americans are interrelated? I would love to hear the answer;in spite of this ponderings, I truly enjoyed the book!

We are lucky to be living in a time when such knowledge is available to us. Grandmother Hail is the first Cherokee to set down the wisdom of our intricate Cherokee Astronomy and Astrology teachings. She also has the ability to take information that could have been dry and scholarly, and present it to us in a way that is clearcut and easy to understand. This book is a wonderful combination of astromomy, astrology, and history from the Cherokee point of view.

The book was in good shape with some high lighted pages. I was very pleased with my purchase!

You'll find yourself thinking deeply about the symbolism of your sign and its meaning in your life and the decisions you've made. I found the concept fascinating, and love my own symbol. You'll enjoy exploring the entire book.