Customer Reviews

Crystal Medicine (More Crystals and New Age)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

...this book has a very Native American spirituality slant...also Paganism/Wicca oriented too, which is not necessarily a bad thing - it's just good to be aware of if you are not into that sort of thing - I am, so was pleased with this book. It has good info on more modern or newer crystals and gems than some of the other crystal books out there. It may not be the absolute best beginner's book and the writing lacked warmth (or something!) but it does has some useful and fascinating info on healing, correspondences and much from the author's personal experience as a Native American healer and (if I recall correctly) Wiccan high priestess. The crystal-and-moonlight healing water is one of the things that orignally caught my eye and the color pictures are beautiful and helpful.

This book is not worth one star.

Ms. Elsbeth implies this book is authentic indian stone medicine.

It is NOT. If you want Native American or new age material; look elsewhere than reading this conglomeration and getting confused.

Page xii-xiii: "The stone people - the earth angels, devas, dwarves, elves" _| The Indians worked with the stone people and the little people. Devas, dwarves and elves are Celtic of origin.

Page xvi: "The Celts left their tracks literaly etched in stone in the Ancient Celtic alphabet called Ogham". _|What does the Druid alphabet have to do with crystal healing?

Page xix: "The South American rainforest, our main source of oxygen" _|What does THIS have to do with crystal medicine? Furthermore; I am all in favor of preserving the rainforests, but the rainforests are NOT the primary source of oxygen. Trees only produce oxygen during daylight hours. They use oxygen during hours of darkness, and trees are dormant part of the year. Trees are a further oxygen depletion system when leaves decompose. The real source of oxygen is from the oceans (this will not win friends and influence people, but it's true).

Page 3: "The Lakota address the Great Spirit as Tunkashila" _| Only part of the Lakota. The more common name is Wakan Tanka.

Page 3: There is the Yuwipi ceremony which uses the power inherent in the sacred stones." Ms. Elsbeth has confused the Inipi ceremony with the Yuwipi ceremony.

Page 57: There is an illustration of the seven chakras. The chart is incorrect.

Page 79: the author goes into palmistry.

Page 99: the author (tries) to show an illistration of the meridians. She shows a few accupuncture points on the body (without showing ANY illustration of the meridians. Furthermore; the Chakra model, and meridian model are mutually exclusive. If the Chakra model were correct; then accupuncture could not work.

The ONLY redeeming quality of this book is the 16 pages of color photos between page 168 and 169.

Mahalo. Two Bears

I do have to agree with the previous reviewer, in that the book lacked direction and motivation in the beginning pages; but the Stone Encyclopedia included in it has been a great asset to me in finding quick information about certain stones. A valuable book for a collection, but I would recommend it only as a reference tool.

...and generally accomplishing it.

This is a book that has blended eastern, western, and New World practise with crystals into a unique product. Nonetheless, the author does imply that the matter at hand is largely of native lore and with some Pagan influence. This book has altered my outlook on stones a bit, and therefore may open some other eyes as well. This is one book that may be read with a grain of salt, but it still includes some great information. In addition to the commonly addressed minerals, Elspeth goes on to include some others that are rarely discussed. More research should be undertaken by the reader before working with all of these minerals, however. Several of them (such as autunite) are potentially toxic and/or radioactive. Care should always be taken to know what you are using. Always double check metaphysical references with mineralogical or geological ones!

This book is full of useful information for both indian and wiccan uses of crystals. The encyclopedia is a must for creating indian arts and crafts.

In this book i truly felt "left out in the cold?"..maybe, but, it seems that the author left out a lot of info that seemed to be left out in the book that should have been in there. There were some great info on each stone..however, it left you wanting more but you just couldnt find it and just left you empty. Now as for "American Indian medicine" with stones i just couldnt see it anywhere close, and some of her info were misleading. Anyways, readers looking for healing within the stones should pick up a better book like "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic" which is the best so far you'll get tons of info from that book than this one.

I ordered the "Crystal Medicine" and I received "Colored Sugar Water" instead of my book. I sent the seller an email requesting the proper book and I have not yet heard from the seller. I suppose I will be forced to get a refund through Amazon's guarantee instead of relaying on the seller. I would never do business with this seller again I am just glad I deal with Amazon and their guarantee program so I know that I will not be riped off by the seller but Amazon will make it good.