Rainbow Medicine: A Visionary Guide to Native American Shamanism [Paperback]

Wolf Moondance (Author), Jim Sharpe (Illustrator), Sky Starhawk (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Native American | Publication Date: June 30, 1994

Uncover the secrets of personal strength from a shaman who has been successfully training others for 27 years, drawing on her Osage and Cherokee ancestry and her training in psychology. Follow the path to open your spirit and mind, balance your emotions, get in touch with your body, and explore your creativity, through the ceremonies of growth, truth, wisdom, and impeccability, and the sacred quest for the whole self. 192 pages, 32 b/w illus., 6 x 9.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; 1 edition (June 30, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806903643
• ISBN-13: 978-0806903644
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars sorry people. This is not the real thing!!, November 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rainbow Medicine: A Visionary Guide to Native American Shamanism (Paperback)

My purpose for writing this review is by no means motivated by any intent to slander the author in any way. In fact, after reviewing the author's website and other books, I think my review can be applied to all bookstore shamans. Unforunately, it seems that many of you non-natives are unable to distinguish authentic native spirituality from this type of material. My concern is for the interests of the reader. The approach that most Native Americans have taken in response to this type of misrepresentation of culture has not been a peaceful one. There is no shortage of protests and lawsuits against mispresentation in Indian country. There are many people today who are taking advantage of Native American people through their presentations of bogus teachings. I implore you to use common sense. You must know that today, in this modern age, there are many charlatans at work, especially in this genre. I do not mean to insult the intelligence of the readers but what you have here by "Wolf Mood Dance," is a romanticized version of Native Spirituality. In a sense, maybe this book's information is what you "want" to hear. If it adds something positive to your life, ..fine. But for those of you who are genuinely interested in learning about Native Spirituality, you must approach these presentations in a skeptical manner. Real Medicine healers are few and far between. Again, you must use common sense on this one. Authentic Native spiritual leaders usually keep to themselves and live a simple life usually among their own people and not in a corporate headquarters. It would seem very fishy to my people if our spiritual leaders were to suddenly begin to write books and create websites in order to promote an image. For those of you who seek spiritual guidance from an authentic leader, I'll leave you with a few points to contemplate. In short, you must seek the authentic healer in the proper place, and that is NOT in a bookstore. Also, each tribe has its own cosmology and heirarchy of deities and spirit helpers. It is not a case of lumping a Native practices in to one group and labeling it "Native Spirituality." As I seek to bridge the gap between non-indians and my own people. I am willing to share what I have experienced and how a genuine Native American percieves life. I do not "KNOW IT All" but I do know my culture and offer my hand for the sake of helping another in life, however I can. [e-mail]

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good place to start if you are interested in Shamnism!, May 6, 2000

By 

W. Lambdin "Two Bears" (Ellensburg, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rainbow Medicine: A Visionary Guide to Native American Shamanism (Paperback)

The author does many things right and I only have two minor nitpicks.

Nitpicks first.

1 In a few places the author seems to go down to a children's level.

2. She associates the elemnts with other directions than I, but on page 39 she does allude to other traditions for casting a medicine wheel.

My praise for this book.

1. the text is clear and easily understood.

2. On page 20 and other locations the author makes it abundantly clear that Shamanic practitioners should abstain from mind altering drugs. (a refreshing departure from Carlos Castaneda!) She prefers meditation to enter the shamanic state of consciousness, and I concur!

3. The author teaches that you only need a few items to practise real shamanism, and more importantly you should have no difficulty finding them at the nearby store if you do not already have them.

4. The ceremonies are extremely simple to perform.

5. The importantance of the proper frame of mind (a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude)

6. the importance of giving small gifts (cornmeal, tobacco, small stones, etc) as a way of saying thank you to mother earth.

and other reasons

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Thing, November 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rainbow Medicine: A Visionary Guide to Native American Shamanism (Paperback)

This book is a contemporary teaching tool to reach out to all people that strive for a better life. Many would say that this isn't "traditional" material or that shamans don't write books. The idea of this book is to reach out to the public in a contemporary Native American spiritual way, and allow people to find happiness in a difficult world. This book accomplishes the goal, and succeeds in being an excellent healing tool. Doubt or anger is not what this book is about. It is about sharing a vision (contemporary) and helping people to have a guide for self healing and happiness. No, this isn't "tradional" Native American writing, but it IS great contemporary Native American writing. We are all on this earth to share our ideals and culture, so do yourself a favor and read all of Wolf Moondance's work. Native American's do write books and they also share their visions with the rest of the world. Remember anger and negative opinions do NOT mend the hoop. The book is a great beginning to help people get acquinted with spirituality whether it is Native American or a personal experience. The book is a quality experience and I recommend it highly.