Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship (Folk Wisdom Series) [Paperback]

J. T. Garrett (Author), Michael Tlanusta Garrett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Folk Wisdom Series | Publication Date: September 1, 1996

Discover the holistic experience of human life from the elder teachers of Cherokee Medicine. With stories of the Four Directions and the Universal Circle, these once-secret teachings offer us wisdom on circle gatherings, natural herbs and healing, and ways to reduce stress in our daily lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The truth, beauty, and simplicity of this book are almost overwhelming. The Garretts have captured the essence of mind, body, soul, and spirit healing through harmony and balance. All who read it will greatly benefit from its depth of sharing the old ways in new understandings."
(Oh Shinnah Fast Wolf, Native American ceremonial teacher and author of Goddess as the Weaver of Life )

“With simplicity, depth, and generosity, J.T. and Michael Garrett convey key insights from the very foundation of North American wisdom, in a way directly relevant to us today. Medicine of the Cherokee will be a valuable addition to the library of anyone striving to become a true human being.”
(Steven McFadden, author, Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth )

From the Back Cover

HEALTH / NATIVE AMERICAN

(HARMONY AND BALANCE IN ALL OUR RELATIONS)

Discover the holistic experience of human life from the elder teachers of Cherokee Medicine. With stories of the Four Directions and the Universal Circle, these once-secret teachings offer us wisdom on circle gatherings, natural herbs and healing, and other ways to reduce stress in our daily lives.

“The truth, beauty, and simplicity of this book are almost overwhelming. The Garretts have captured the essence of mind, body, soul, and spirit healing through harmony and balance. All who read it will greatly benefit from its depth of sharing the old ways in new understandings.”
--Oh Shinnah Fast Wolf, Native American ceremonial teacher and author of Goddess as the Weaver of Life.

“With simplicity, depth, and generosity, J.T. and Michael Garrett convey key insights from the very foundation of North American wisdom, in a way directly relevant to us today. Medicine of the Cherokee will be a valuable addition to the library of anyone striving to become a true human being.”
--Steven McFadden, author, Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth

J.T. GARRETT, Ed.D., and his son, MICHAEL GARRETT, Ph.D., are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee from North Carolina. As students and teachers of Indian Medicine, they draw on the ancient wisdom teachings of their Medicine Elders on the Cherokee Reservation in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Garretts have developed ways to present the “old teachings” to effectively guide people today to appreciate and understand living the “Medicine Way.”

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Bear & Company (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879181371
• ISBN-13: 978-1879181373
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Native American

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is not a book. It is a living entity. It breathes., August 3, 2000

By 

"cat_odair" (Boynton Beach, Fl United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship (Folk Wisdom Series) (Paperback)

The reader can sense that it was written out of love and respect for Cherokee heritage and the desire to share the beauty of The Way of Right Relationship. In a world filled with the sham of plastic books dedicated to the way of shamanism, Medicine of the Cherokee stands bright and clear.

You are given an understanding of the four sacred directions, animal totems, journeying, crystal vision, the way of the circle, the principle of noninterference and more. Father and son, J. T. Garrett and Michael Garrett, guide you along the path and at the same time give you the most important gift - the freedom to find your own path.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional, alive, wise and sensitive..., June 22, 2000

By 

Zane Ivy (Seoul) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship (Folk Wisdom Series) (Paperback)

A lot of "medicine people" take it in the shorts for incorporating "new ideas" into their teachings, or for teaching to non-Indians at all. The Garretts do a great job of following their own teachings of balance in walking that crooked line between various camps, in presenting traditional medicine teachings in a way that is both informative and also respectful in their refusal to discuss certain things.

They provide enough information to get people going on their own, if they read slowly and thoughtfully, practicing and experimenting with the knowledge presented. It is definitely not a book that you will just read once and put down; if you are at all interested in traditional Tsalagi medicine teachings (and why else would you buy this book?) you'll come back to it over and over again.

I've never met the Garretts, but would love to someday if I can make the chance happen. They seem to me to be traditionalists who have been able to find that difficult balance between tradition and the modern world. They respect the learner enough to present the information and let them pick up and go from there, understanding it in the ways/perspectives unique to each individual.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give yourself the gift of the Cherokee way and read this gem, August 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship (Folk Wisdom Series) (Paperback)

This book is a must for those who recognize the wisdom and beauty of the Cherokee way, and for those who seek to be supported and soothed by a heritage rich in lovingkindness and exquisite simplicity. That which is natural is revealed. We are told the stories from the elders and guided to examine those ways which fail us. And in very practical and detailed manner we are given information about healing ways from a medicine man who is also a highly regarded public health official, and his son a remarkable college professor teaching the Cherokee way who is wise beyond his years.