26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
An unfortunate case of not doing ones homework, July 29, 2004
I was disturbed but unsurprised to see the average customer review at 5 stars. My review is not meant to put down the author or the book in question, rather, to express my deep interest in a factual portrayal of friends of mine, their lifestyle and spiritual traditions. I have lived in Cusco, Peru for over two years and have become close friends with a dozen or so paqos-- shaman-mystics-- from Qeros. I speak Spanish and Quechua. I am the godfather of a six month old boy from Qeros. My house has become the place of lodging for five Qero shamans when they are visiting Cusco. I share these statements as a reality check.
The author --apparently-- speaks neither Spanish nor Quechua, and has as her primary source of information, translation, and spiritual guidance two shamans who are decidedly Non-Qeros, these being Ñunez del Prado and Yabar. Rather than state my bias towards these two purveyors of Andean shamanism-mysticism, I would simply use this space to state the obvious-- that the author presents an unresearched and uninformed portrait of the Qero through the eyes of her mestizo teachers. It should come as no surprise, then, that when interviewing her Qero informants, she often realizes that they have no idea what she is talking about. Her statement of the westernized so-called Andean traditions lacks true Andean character. See, for one shocking example, the supposed Quechua names for the chakras-- these are Inventions of Ñunez del Prado!!
There are parts that save face for both the author and her westernized teachers, like the biographical interviews she conducts. Even so, I was generally saddened to find yet another book written from the point of view of a relatively ignorant foreigner who has decided to share an idiosyncratic, romanticized and westernized image of the Andean spiritual universe. In my experience, when we strip the Qero tradition and other autoctonous traditions of comparative mysticism, or of our western cosmovision, we do ourselves a tremendous favor.
If you want to learn about the Qero or Andean mysticism, come to Peru. If you want to learn about one North American woman and her (mis)conceptions about these people, read this book.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book written about the Q'ero of Peru., May 12, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Keepers of the Ancient Knowledge: The Mystical World of the Q'Ero Indians of Peru (Hardcover)
This book gives the reader a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the Q'ero, who are the direct descendants of the Inca people. The author takes the reader on a journey in which the Q'ero share their stories, prophecies and ancient wisdom. Joan Parisi Wilcox provides information which is easy to read and understand. Exercises are provided so that the reader can apply spiritual practices which will be healing to the reader and to the earth. I could not put the book down! This author has given us a great gift from her heart.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Honest Account of the Way Things Really Are, February 15, 2000
This review is from: Keepers of the Ancient Knowledge: The Mystical World of the Q'Ero Indians of Peru (Hardcover)
I have been searching for a book such as this ever since my pilgrimage to Peru and Bolivia. I could not put this book down. It gives one a greater understanding of the traditions of these widsom keepers, and explains honestly what I experienced there, but could not fully understand because of the language barrier. Written with great integrity, and without a "western twist". A must read for anyone travelling to Peru. Much gratitude to the author for this gift.
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