Customer Reviews

The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers: Your Sacred Path to Discovering the Gifts, Talents, and Abilities of the Feminine Through the Ancient Teachings of the Sisterhood

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Through the experiences of the archetypal 13 Original Clan Mothers, the reader is guided through life's lessons. Writing of the purpose of being a woman, Sams gingerly walks the feminist precipice between woman as a reproductive machine and woman as a meaningful contributor to society. She magically does not lose her balance, successfully making the case for women fulfilling a personal and cosmic biological role as creators, with men assigned the role of helpmate and protector. It becomes painfully clear that the tasks that men and women have traditionally performed have not been so much at fault as has the value placed on them by society and the individuals contained within it. Sams is a competent writer with a gift for description. Unlike many spiritual bestsellers, the reader does not have to overcome the distraction of faulty writing in order to receive her powerful message.

When I first bought this book, I enjoyed the stories within them. I felt that they offered great food for thought for spiritual contemplation. Unfortunately, I also found them lacking in truly deep thought -- they were more of a superficial approach to important issues.

Recently, I have been informed by individuals within the Native American community that the work of Jamie Sams is offensive to Native Americans. Her work is presented in a manner disrespectful to her very source of information and/or inspiration for her writings.

Although I do feel that this book has value, I believe that value is minimal. I suggest looking elsewhere.

If you want a good read about a Native American woman, I highly recommend "Lakota Woman" by Mary Brave Bird/Mary Crow Dog. It is an autobiography that presents a Native American's views about her life, including Native practices and beliefs, and is VERY eye opening and insightful!

I haven't read this book yet, although I intend to.
I recently received it as a gift from a friend after
having told her how wonderful a book I thought "Dancing the Dream" was. It's sad to see that, as the result of what I think is jealousy and resentment for Jamie's success, some rather negative comments have been posted. Don't believe all that you hear/read. From what I read in Dancing the Dream, Jamie doesn't claim to be a pure blood, and she's very honest about how she has been treated by some members of the Native American community.
Some feel she has no right to share the mysteries of greatness
because she isn't a "pure breed", (I find that just pure arrogance), some feel she's giving information away that somehow will become diluted by us "white folk", (there is a
bitterness against the white man, and rightly so, -- one of the casualties of cruelty is the loss of trust), but the fact that this information is being shared by so many, both pure breed and other, is, to me, a sign that it NEEDS to be shared. Many of us have lost our way. We live in a world of chaos and hatred, of dysfunction and disassociation, and we need to find a way back to our sacred paths. Thank you Jamie Sams, and others, for providing us with the means with which to do that.

Tribal wisdom through parables focusing on attaining the Good Red Road to spirituality and Oneness with all life. An eye-opener to the sacredness and lessons to be learned all around us. My favorite book. I've purchased many for friends and congregation.

I am such a fan of Jamie Sams her books never dissapoint! The spiritual depths of the subject bring me knowledge and motivation and a lighting of spirit. Highly recommend for women and me too!

This is an amazing book. Its well written and the stories bring to life the deeper meaning of the Clan Mothers, lessons. We use this book as a guide to our full moon drumming circles. Love it!!!!!!

As is usual with the writing of Jamie Sams, the book is filled with interesting information, ideas and spirituality. It is also not easy to read or easy to understand at times. I find her writing to be like reading a Falkner novel, a wonderful piece of work which requires concentration. This is not casual reading for the feint of heart. This book has very nice photos of some of her "art" and a lot of new information, at least, for me.

As with all of the Jamie Sams books that I have read, this book is most inspiring. I am learning much from the wisdom of these Clan Mothers.

This book is set up perfectly for monthly review with a book club. I enjoy reading about the clan mothers and find something more everytime. The stories are set up to follow each moon cycle. They are not overly long or wordy but enjoyable and offer the opportunity to learn from the wisdom of our ancestors.

I've enjoyed this book although, at times, the writing is dry and uneventful. It is sometimes hard to follow but the information and experience it contains makes up for those slight downfalls.