Customer Reviews

The Medicine Way: A Shamanic Path to Self Mastery (The "Earth Quest" Series)

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I have reviewed other books by Kenneth Meadows. I really do like them, but I have to warn readers to be careful. This book suffers from the "Shamanism equals Native American" or the "All Shamans are Native Americans" syndrome. Meadows and many Europeans are being trained in Lakota-esque tradtions and learning a great deal from them. WONDERFUL! However, the outcome is that many of these Europeans become authors and begin writing authoritative books on the subject. I ask the reader to be aware of this ... and then, thus armed, to make much of the good exercises and comfortable language of the book.

For a better idea of Shamanism and its world wide impact, take a look at Michael Harner's 'Way of the Shaman' or Sarangrel's 'Riding Windhorses.' The best books I have read about the Lakota people have been by Ed (Eagle Man) McGaa.

I do not recommend any of Kenneth Meadow's books. He is what many American Indians would call a "plastic shaman," in other words a fake. He fails to mention that the beliefs he has taken are mainly Lakota beliefs, in other words he practically generalizes all American Indian tribes as if they have all the same beliefs. Which is definitely not the case. One of his sources is Harley Swiftdeer. Swiftdeer was officially kicked out of the Cherokee nation because of making sacred beliefs become public.

I would also recommend to STAY AWAY from authors such as Sun Bear, Mary Summer Rain, Ed McGaa, and Dhyani Ywahoo. And there are many more authors to stay away from when it comes to Amerindian spirituality. If you really care about spiritual theft and authenticity do not buy these authors' books and throw them away if you have them. I recommend doing an online research into "plastic shamans." You'll come up with lists of people of who to stay away from and what to watch out for (for example, a Choctaw "medicine man" does not teach Cherokee, Lakota, or Navajo ways and vice versa).

If you are interested in legitimate Amerindian beliefs I suggest these authors and books:

For Southern (Montana) Piegan (Piikani) Blackfoot beliefs I'd highly recommend the book 'Ni Kso Ko Wa: Blackfoot Spirituality, Traditions, Values and Beliefs' by Harold E. Gray Long Standing Bear. He is a known and respected Blackfoot activist and scholar.

For Blood (Kainai) Blackfoot beliefs, I recommend the book 'The Sacred Tree' by Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp, Phil Lane, and Lee Brown. It was developed by the Four Worlds Development Project, an inter-tribal group based in Alberta, Canada. It was guided by the elders of the tribe. It was initially created to help American Indians return to the traditional ways and to stay away from alcohol and drugs, but they eventually decided to release the book to the public at large.

Anyone interested in being one with the universe, while maintaining their uniqueness, will find this book helpful and inspiring. If the tasks and quests are attempted, I believe you will come away from them with a renewed respect for all inhabitants of the Earth, animate and inanimate, and for the infinite possibilities beyond.

This book is excellent! It DOES come after a companion book, though. I've been a Wiccan for over 10 years, but had never read a book so "dead-on!" It let me realize that the Native American community and their views are-in MY opinion- right up there with what people like Einstein and Prof. Hawking have to offer! Trust me, folks....they know what's up with life, and why we're here!!

I do not understand how anyone could find Mr. Meadows works to be disrespectful to Native Americans.He states in his books that he has collected his knowledge from numerous sources and is not locking in a "single" aspect of this knowledge, but several. Native Americans (and I am half Choctaw)should rejoice in more Americans learning Native ways.After all, most people no longer have respect for our planet or the other life forms here & the planet and animal & plant species are all suffering from this.Mr. Meadows works are a great start to understanding this and helping find the "Spirit Within".He also explains in his books that Shamanism is a Practice,a way of life, not a religion.I think it's a good read and well worth the time and money!

Meadows takes bits and pieces of what "sounds good" from Native American beliefs, makes them sound better, and wraps them up in a pretty package to present to spiritual seekers.

The reality is, Native American religion is not so much a religion as a way of life. So many people just want to "add" Native American rituals to their lives without truly understanding the background behind them. To do so is extremely disrespectful to Native Americans.

Beyond these facts, I studied this, and other, books of Meadows prior to becoming more politically involved in Native American issues. I found nothing of worth in this book. Even when I looked to Native American practices for guidance, I found nothing that will improve spiritual life within these pages.

Any way you cut it, you're better off saving your money and avoiding this book.