Secret Native American Pathways: A Guide to Inner Peace

by Thomas E. Mails

This treasury of Indian lore and inspiration is fascinating listening, detailing the stories of ceremonies, medicine men and their awesome power. 4 cassettes.

Genres: Native American

312 pages, Hardcover

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.