Customer Reviews

Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power

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An amazing book, by one of the most renowned Holy Men in the Native American Community. "Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power" is bursting with knowledge and love. He depicts techniques on how to become a living chanel for Great Spirit's Healing Energy, you will learn how to become a "Hollow Bone" as he calls it. But you must realize that this is by no means a how to book. He describes his experiences in a way that they are filled with teachings of how to attain power and wisdom, and the right way to use both. All and all, this is one of my favorite books out-right! I hope that you have the privilage of reading this incredible book, it will inevitably change your life and how you live it forever.

The legacy of Fools Crow is his wisdom & power as a Lakota medecine man. The path he walked, as a man called to serve his people & the Great Spirit, is recalled in this book. His simple message is that all of us can be "hollow bones" for the Great Spirit to work through. The reader learns that the power & wisdom of Frank Fools Crow's life was in his detachment from ego and submission to a higher force. Some readers may only be interested in the ceremonies & rituals described in the book. However, the message is the spirit of the man & his committment to his God & to his people. I can not imagine that any reader can walk away from this book untouched.

This is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read! If you want a book that will draw you closer to God, regardless of your religion or beliefs, this is the book. Frank Fools Crow will teach you by his example what a holy life truly is and the power that will naturally flow from living this type of life.

The beauty of the traditional way of the Sioux is also captured in this book. Yet Fools Crow reaches to the heart of all people with the love he freely gives. Fools Crow's many gifts are laid out here - his healing ability, his compassion. It is made clear these are gift's that come from God, not man, and as are to be shared with all.

This is a wonderful book, and I recommend it to anyone thatwants to understand the late great Holy man Frank Foolscrow (TheCeremonial Chief of the Teton Sioux).

I give Mr. Mails high praisefor including the two following comments in the book.

1. Page 40"I have never touched alcohol or drugs; I have not even usedpeyote like they do in the Native American Church. Wakan-Tanka cantake me higher than any drug ever could."

2. Page 160 "Ifeel it is dangerous for amateurs to recommend something about whichthey know very little and I do not wish to be the cause of effectsthat might be disastrous."

I agree completely! Just becauseherbs are natural does not mean they are safe.

I have one tinynitpick. When Mr. Mails described the Sioux medicine wheel on pages59-60 the information is incorrect.

Here are the correct colors anddirections they are associated with.

Black in the West andrepresents Earth.

White in the North and represents Air.

Red inthe East and represents Fire.

Yellow in the South and representsWater ....

Wah doh Ogedoda

thomas mails' honesty and humility in recognition of the potent and vibrant personality of fool's crow allows him to become a nearly transparent medium for this account of a shaman's personal methods and rituals.

at their most effecftive, shamanistic rituals use p[hysical symbols to trigger and continue cycles of effect and reaction between the individual practitioner and the world-system as a whole. this book doesn't go into great depth in presenting the fundamental metaphysic of the native american heritage that fool's crow continued, but provides a rich and meticulously detailed account of demonstrations of its practice by a healer, teacher and leader.

this book may tempt immitators and pretenders; they might find themselves playing with fire. this volume should not be taken as a single source outside of the greater context of the heritage it celebrates and partially describes, but it can be a valuable supplementary resource for a careful student, or the agile and humble explorer.

I love this book. As a Shaman, Chi Gung Master, and best-selling Author (CHI GUNG: Chinese Healing, Energy, and Natural Magick), with over 30 years experience in working with and healing plants, animals, and people, I have to say that this book truly sings to my heart. This is the one book that I love buying for my friends. In fact, I highly encourage everyone I meet to read it because it truly shows you the power of living in the moment with nature. Read this book and listen to the wisdom and love that Fools Crow shares. His lessons of healing and helping others will change your life forever. Reading this book sure has helped me become a better healer.

For a person interested in American Indian Medicine People, this Book, and it's companion book - Fools Crow, ISBN 0-8032-8174-9, will
read as a Treasure of insight, clarity, simplicity & wonder. This reviewer has been reading books on this subject for more than 40 years, and these 2 books are true Treasures of this world view. Fools Crow is magnificant.

A great man, a great vision. An example to every human being who walks upon our Mother Earth. One that should be followed in every aspect of life. If only there were more like this man what a better world we would live in. Inspiring, encouraging. What more can I say than this is a MUST have on your bookshelf.

I have not read Mails' other book Fools Crow. Mails writes he does not repeat what was in the first Fools Crow book except what is needed to make this book flow, however the book didn't seem to lack anything to make it understandable. Mails says he did his best to keep as close to what Fools Crows actually said and not change or embellish his words/answers. The book is not indexed and even if it is short I would have liked an index. I appreciated Mails' sketches illustrating some of the tools and rituals Fools Crow used. Fools Crow like his uncle Black Elk was a Catholic, but both men also preserved the Sioux spiritual ways and decided they should share some of the Lakota spiritual ways with the world and wanted to set some of the Sioux ways down to preserve them. Mails states he did not reveal everything in the book and kept some things for himself so this book should be viewed as a basic primer to help readers get some understanding of Fools Crows basic healing methods and point of view. Don't expect anything too deep or detailed. I doubt I would use these methods as they are best fitted to the Sioux way of life, but the book offers basic insights into their spiritual practices. I would have wished for a bit more depth on that end, but the book is fine as a starting point. There is a newer edition of this book which is referred to as expanded Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power. I have not read it so I can't tell you if the additional information is significant enough to warrant a new purchase.

Fools Crow expressed he was only a servant of the "Creator God", the Wakan Tanka. He sought to bring himself as close to the Wakan Tanka as possible, perhaps to what some might view as Cosmic Consciousness or God Consciousness. He said that all who wished to live as he did could achieve what he did. Some of the thoughts expressed in the book about the nature of healing are similar to what I have experienced. One is that healers are supported with long lives. I would specify though these are people working as lightworkers, generally humble, and are at peace within. They also conduct their healings properly and manage their energy. It was great to read healers of another culture have similar experiences even if we have different methods.

Some may find parts of the book too fantastic to believe such as a feather or a piece of fur could turn into a living creature. I have not witnessed such things. I can only say I have had brief contact with a couple of medicine people from the Indian Nations (Ojibwa and Mohawk) and they have done things I can't explain, such as predict things that could not have been an educated guess or coincidence or otherwise "cold reading" method.

Interwoven within the book Mails writes about the conditions at the reservation and the ensuing politics. It isn't the main thrust of the book, but I can understand why Mails includes this as for the Indians all are interwoven and the way Fools Crow conducts himself shows more of who he is on a personal and spiritual level. Some may feel these parts are political statements and would probably prefer the book had just kept on the subject of spirituality/healing. It is clear that Thomas Mails had a great affection for Fools Crow and admired him. While Fools Crow declares Black Elk as the greatest Sioux holy man, Mails declares that Fools Crow was the greatest Sioux holy man above his uncle Black Elk. I think if they were both here they would both say they served the Wakan Tanka and neither was greater than the other for all comes from the Wakan Tanka.

A wonderful book, by one of the more renowned Holy Men in the Native American Community. "Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power" offers native wisdom and love. He offers ways to become a living "Hollow Bone" for Great Spirit's Healing Energy. But he states in many ways the importance of all teachers to live a life of integrity. I borrowed from his example in my chapter: The Tao of Not Following in my book, The Wheel of Initiation. Wheel of Initiation: Practices for Releasing Your Inner Light

I appreciate the warnings and guidance he gives for anyone seeking or providing spiritual healing.