Secret Native American Pathways: A Guide to Inner Peace

by Thomas E. Mails

More than 40 years ago, Thomas E. Mails began a personal exploration of the spiritual richness of traditional Native American customs and secret ceremonies. Using his gifts as a talented illustrator and writer, he tirelessly worked to bring the spiritual culture of Native Americans to readers until his death in November 2001. The new edition of Secret Native American A Guide to Inner Peace authentically details the religious beliefs and rituals of four major tribes (Apache, Cherokee, Hopi, and Sioux) as practiced since ancient times. In this beautifully illustrated "how-to why-to" book, Mails' includes instructions for applying Native teachings to contemporary life. His central premise is that each tribe he discusses has triumphed over adversity through "walking the pathways" that led to inner peace, and that each of us can use these pathways to find our own inner peace. For more than a century, Native American medicine men have predicted the advent of a new era in which the spiritual practices of their peoples would be revered by the white man and the Native American alike. Thomas E. Mails could be considered a principal figure in helping that prediction come true.

Genres: Native American

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1988

Reviews

[Ljhwestern · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well- formulated review of several Native American spiritual pathways and ceremonies written by a Lutheran pastor who gathered and recounts sensitive information through his years of study and friendship with key native leaders. This is one of several books he has written.

While somewhat proprietary, he is clear that he shares only what has been approved and validated by tribal leaders for public consumption. What makes this unique is the author’s wrap-up in Part Three of the book where he suggests ways in which non-native people can create their own spiritual practices within their own faith traditions using segments of the native ceremonies and philosophies. I suspect this is a bit controversial within the Native American population, though he recounts interviews with numerous respected leaders.

[Susan Eddy]

Clever book. My husband's family has Cherokee ancestors and I was amazed to see so many expressions and behaviors that are apparently Cherokee in them. I enjoyed the matter of fact presentation. The author did not belabor the injustices or disappointments of the American Indian life. I learned a lot from Mr Mails.

[Barbara]

Book includes some early to mid history of a number of tribes. Sections on some ceremonial and religious practices. Also some research links at the end. This is a book that deserves more than one read and would be referred to often if I owned it. I had to order it from library in another city so I will need to re-borrow it again later.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good look at how four different tribes approached life and the stresses within it. Mails was a good friend of the great healer Fools Crow and cites him often throughout the book while offering adaptive uses of native rituals to address modern times

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

got it and need to absorb it.