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An Inner Exploration of Native American Spirituality
author: Cinnamon Moon
As with Cinnamon Moon, my path in life has been a very eclectic one. One of the things that drew me to this book was her acceptance of all paths, and the heart-felt realization that each persons path consists of what they have taken from their experiences in life that has served them well. She makes a very good point when she emphasizes that there is no one book, person or organization that will show us the way. That each of us has to take the responsibility for our own lives, for our own decisions and for our own actions. This is a very gentle book, done in the oral, or story-teller tradition. We are invited to walk with Cinnamon Moon, and chat with her along the way. There are no graphics, no charts, no "Step 1, Step 2, Step 3" in this book. As a result, the wisdom comes through in a very subtle way - it permeates the air we breathe, it is a mist that surrounds us, it is in each and every blade of grass, in every flower, tree, stone and animal that we encounter. It is words and music that stay in the back of our minds until we need them. Cinnamon Moon presents her wisdom in a very clear, concise manner. Her gentle voice tells us that Native American, shamanic spirit voices can be applied to our path regardless of which spiritual path we choose to walk. There are those that say the wisdom of any path belongs to the culture that it comes from, and that it is wrong to share it with others outside of that tradition. Through sharing the thoughts of many leaders on the shamanic path, and through the shining story of the White Buffalo Calf (and White Buffalo Calf Woman), we are shown that now is the time for the Rainbow Tribe (people from all spiritual traditions) to walk together and to share their wisdom and healing with others. Cinnamon Moon speaks of the Medicine Woman tradition - an expansive spirituality that connects with the four elements (Fire, Water, Air and Earth), the four directions (North, South, East and West), and the three worlds (the upper world of Spirit, the middle world of the physical, and the lower world of ancestors), as well as All of Our Relations (mineral, plant, animal and human). It is a connection with the cycle of the thirteen moons of the calendar year. It is our inter-connectedness with these things, our interactions with them, that form our path. This is the avenue that allows us to meet our Spirit guides, meet our animal totems and guides, move through the different states of consciousness and connect with universal energies. Through learning to connect with yourself, through understanding and implementing sacred space, through understanding the principles of ritual and ceremony, and through venues such as vision questing, we are shown how to build a solid foundation for the path and the work that is ours in this lifetime. The gifts of spirit are ours to receive, if we allow ourselves to be open to them. A Medicine Woman Speaks impressed me because it carries a tone of respect - for ourselves, and for every one and everything around us. It encourages us to be humble, to know when to act, and to know when not to act. Through Cinnamon Moon's words, we can find our paths, and walk them with the integrity that leads to balance and harmony in all things. One last thought - there is a web site that is listed in the author's bio that gives access to Women's Medicine on the Internet. The address in the book was not one that I was able to access. Tweaked a bit - it worked just fine. The address is: www.spiritlodge.tripod.com.
A Medicine Woman Speaks can be purchased here.
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