Customer Reviews

Secret Native American Pathways: A Guide to Inner Peace

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Thomas Mails, a well known artist, spent most of his adult life painting Native American subjects and recording their vanishing culture. In Secret Native American Pathways Mails provides valuable information on Native rituals. A friend of some of the great Native American shamans and holy men of the last century Mails preserved much information about the spiritual paths of Native people. Mails died several years ago but the legacy he leaves in Secret Native American Pathways is invaluable and thanks to him will survive.

I detest writing negative reviews, but when the author says the following on page 230. My hands are tied.

"I do not in any instance give you enough guidance to duplicate any of the rituals. The native Americans would be rightfuly displeased if I did, amd I would be breaking confidences."

If Mr. Mails did not have permission to release accurate information he should not have written the book!

Now to my minor nitpicks about the book.

I was personaly offended at the title of chapter 4 "Marauding Apache".

On page 189 Mr. Mails talks of women as well as men being pierced in the sundance. Both sexes may participate in the sundance but only the men are pierced.

On page 211, 258, and 259 the author discusses the Sioux medicine wheel, and he lists different colors associated with the directions.

Page 211& 259: West-Black, North-Red, East-Yellow, South-White.

Page 258: West-Black, North-White, East-Red, and South Yellow.

Page 258 has the correct color associations according to Nick Black Elk's vision, and these same colors are shown on the cover of "Native Wisdom" Ed McGaa.

I have no idea why the author would have the colors right on page 258 and wrong again on the very next page.

If you have questions or comments E-Mail me. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda

I found help in this book. I think it fulfills the intended purpose, for those of us who were not raised within the culture to find peace within ourselves using the terminology of the Native American to break us out of our linear thinking. I don't believe the author meant for the book to be a guide to "becoming an Indian" or anything like that. This was the first step on my road. It has also helped me to understand some of the things my Grandfather said to me. I feel very strongly that this book can help those who may be searching for a spiritual way to connect with the Universe, so much so I am here today buying one for a friend.