Mother Earth Spirituality by Ed McGaa

Mother Earth Spirituality
Native American Paths to Healing Ourselves and Our World
by Ed McGaa

Paperback
256 pages
(May 1990)
Harper San Francisco
ISBN: 0062505963

Bookshelf Categories

Native American Spirituality
Goddesses & the Divine Feminine

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Synopsis:

An Oglala Sioux teaches how to reconnect with and heal our wounded earth in this compelling introduction to Native American philosophy, history, and rites.

Mixing natural spirituality, a belief that humanity is rooted in a living, feeling earth, and an awareness of scientific ecological principles, Eagle Man draws on centuries of Native American wisdom to offer practices and ceremonies that reestablish a nurturing relationship with nature.

Reviews:

One of the Best....

9/7/2000

Reviewer: Grant from USA

Ed McGaa has written one of the clearest explanations of Native American spirituality to date. This book speaks in simple terms and translates ancient customs into modern language for the average reader delving into a new cultural approach to spirit and mother earth religion and philosophy. If you are exploring Lakota religion for the first time, this is one of the best introductory books available.

Good book on Oglala Sioux religion and spirituality

6/28/2000

Reviewer: Two Bears from Tennessee, USA

After reading "Native Wisdom" by the same author I had to read this earlier work.

This book includes several ceremonies.

Peace Pipe Ceremony

The Sweat Lodge

Vision Quest (Crying for a vision)

Sun Dance

Yuwipi

and more.

Includes the legend of Buffalo Calf Woman and bringing the pipe to the Sioux.

Includes the vision of Nick Black Elk (a Sioux holyman).

Includes a Sioux-English dictionary (It can be difficult to find what you are looking for).

Includes a glossary of natural names.

Mr. McGaa describes the pipe as a portable altar. This is absolutely correct. The pipe bowl represents the feminine aspects of creation, and the stem represents the masculine forces of creation, and the smoke is offered to the seven sacred directions; N,E,S,W, Above, Below and Center.

Mr. McGaa also calls the Wotai (personal stone)as a portable altar. I disagree with this. It's true that you can present the personal stone to the directions. In my opinion; the personal stone doesn't come close to representing the level of sacredness as the pipe.

Questions or comments? Two Bears

Wah doh Ogedoda

Excellent, easy reading, and full of great information

7/12/1999

Reviewer: A reader from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

I commend Eagle Man for this sensitive and indepth commentary on Native American spirituality and our responsibiity to Mother Earth. In this hustle, bustle world today, we too often lose sight of the environment that we were given. At one point, it was clean and pure and bountiful. Now, we have polluted our water, descecrated our land, and exterminated animal species. Not much of a commentary on how we take responsibility for and care of these gifts we have evolved into taking for granted. Eagle Man opens our eyes to the simple facts that his forefathers knew and that we have allowed to fall by the wayside. It is works like this that should be required reading in our schools. It is a wake up call that unless we do something to change our world, we may not leave much for our descendents. I highly recommend this book not only for its enviromental impact but also to provide knowledge of the spirituality and philosophy of the Native American people.

Mother Earth Spirituality is a great and generous gift

4/23/1999

Reviewer: Joseph from Brooklyn, New York

In Mother Earth Spirituality, Ed McGaa (Eagle Man) writes: "For Indians, four-legged and winged ones, stones, and trees are regarded as holy, in that they harmoniously live upon this earth, following exactly the plan of the Great Spirit." Reading this book was itself a spiritual experience, a revelation of the Great Spirit. I was informed, inspired, moved, and also brought to grief over what had been missing from my own life: the closeness to Mother Earth that the author so clearly and powerfully feels. By describing Oglala Sioux spirituality and philosophy from the inside, Ed McGaa has given us a great and generous gift. I owe him a debt of gratitude for reminding me of what I must recover. If humanity is to have a future, it will have to learn the lessons and absorb the wisdom of this important book.

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One of the Best....	9/7/2000
Reviewer: Grant from USA
Ed McGaa has written one of the clearest explanations of Native American spirituality to date. This book speaks in simple terms and translates ancient customs into modern language for the average reader delving into a new cultural approach to spirit and mother earth religion and philosophy. If you are exploring Lakota religion for the first time, this is one of the best introductory books available.

Excellent, easy reading, and full of great information	7/12/1999
Reviewer: A reader from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
I commend Eagle Man for this sensitive and indepth commentary on Native American spirituality and our responsibiity to Mother Earth. In this hustle, bustle world today, we too often lose sight of the environment that we were given. At one point, it was clean and pure and bountiful. Now, we have polluted our water, descecrated our land, and exterminated animal species. Not much of a commentary on how we take responsibility for and care of these gifts we have evolved into taking for granted. Eagle Man opens our eyes to the simple facts that his forefathers knew and that we have allowed to fall by the wayside. It is works like this that should be required reading in our schools. It is a wake up call that unless we do something to change our world, we may not leave much for our descendents. I highly recommend this book not only for its enviromental impact but also to provide knowledge of the spirituality and philosophy of the Native American people.

Mother Earth Spirituality is a great and generous gift	4/23/1999
Reviewer: Joseph from Brooklyn, New York
In Mother Earth Spirituality, Ed McGaa (Eagle Man) writes: "For Indians, four-legged and winged ones, stones, and trees are regarded as holy, in that they harmoniously live upon this earth, following exactly the plan of the Great Spirit." Reading this book was itself a spiritual experience, a revelation of the Great Spirit. I was informed, inspired, moved, and also brought to grief over what had been missing from my own life: the closeness to Mother Earth that the author so clearly and powerfully feels. By describing Oglala Sioux spirituality and philosophy from the inside, Ed McGaa has given us a great and generous gift. I owe him a debt of gratitude for reminding me of what I must recover. If humanity is to have a future, it will have to learn the lessons and absorb the wisdom of this important book.