Category: Self-Help Publisher: Book Surge
ISBN-10: 1439228205
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 75
Copyright: Jan 18, 2009
Enjoy a fascinating and poignant journey into fiction, Native American lore and wisdom as you are taken on a spiritual quest that reveals our purpose on this earth and the wonder of the Medicine Wheel.
Ralph P. Brown's "Awakening the Eagle: A Guide to the Medicine Wheel" stands alone as a unique combination of fiction, tribal lore, existential philosophy and spiritual guidance. A member fo the Mohawk tribe and a long-time spiritual advisor, the author - Mohawk name: Tawennihake - takes us on a journey of learning and awareness.
Young Okwaho represents every man seeking truth and meaning to life; old Lightning Eyes personifies all that we must learn about wisdom and patience. Together, boy and man travel through the world of tribal cutlure, values and beliefs. In the course of their adventure, the boy discovers the true significance and power of the Medicine Wheel, both a graphic representation of the forces of energy and life ... and life itself.
Through young Okwaho's eyes and heart, we learn about interpreting the Medicine Wheel's life-directing word clues and how to follow the directions they provide. Also we learn about the significance of its colors and their correlation to both simple and complex ideas that confront us daily.
This book is designed to teach, to open our heart and to remind us of the importance of our senses being open to the experiences of the universe. It is also part of the curriculum for Native Studies at the University of Nebraska.
Excerpt
... As was said in East, there are many ways of perceiving and the story has lessons in this way but it is the Coyote, also known as the Trickster, that teaches what may not be so obvious. The Coyote is a wily creature, very elusive and hard to catch. He is able to disguise himself, creating the illusion that he is something he is not. When in danger the Coyote will run in huge circles, often coming up behind the one chasing him. The Coyote has large, sensitive ears that can hear a mouse running or burrowing under deep snow. He is also a relentless hunter.
When the Coyote or Trickster teaches us, we often go in huge circles, sometimes chasing our tails before coming up behind the lesson we are learning. When we are tricked into learning we often don't know if we are running towards something or if it is running towards us. You may even think you are teaching a lesson while in fact you are being taught. The lesson may be disguised and appear as one thing while actually being something else. We use the coyote as a metaphor for the way we "trick" ourselves.
It was being "blind" that helped the boy in the story to see he had to learn to see in other ways, to look through different eyes. It was pain and fear that tricked him into learning not only what he sought to know in the story, but also a lesson that would serve him throughout the rest of his life. He had to go in a roundabout way for his understanding, but such is the nature of the trickster.
The South and this story help us to learn the way of emotions. Emotions serve to teach us but they can also inhibit us. When you better understand the way of the South, you will be capable of recognizing the things that help or hinder the growth we seek.
This brings us to another teacher in this direction and that teacher is the Mouse. As we learned from the story the Mouse doesn't have the best eyesight. He basically sees shapes and shadows, relying more on his sensitive whiskers to guide him along. He stays close to walls and other fixtures for this reason. If you have ever had the occasion to observe a Mouse, you may have seen that they avoid wide open spaces. Everything the Mouse sees in the shapes and shadows is perceived as something to be Feared...
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Reviews for "Awakening the Eagle: A Guide to the Medicine Wheel"
I've always had a great personal interest in alternative thinking, especially in the areas of religion, spiritual belief and personal guidance. I thought I had a fairly good understanding of the various tribal lore of American Indian Tribes, but I always did want to learn more. For any reader interested in tribal lore, spiritual life, wisdom and guidance; Ralph P. Brown has written a fascinating and indepth study of the Medicine Wheel in his wonderous work, "Awakening The Eagle: A Guide to the Medicine Wheel".
Ralph P. Brown is a Mohawk tribal member and spiritual advisor. His Mohawk name is Tawennihake. In this unique book, Tawennihake leads us on a spiritual journey along with a young Mohawk boy named Okwaho; and the elderly tribal sage, Lightening Eyes. Through the indian lore and fables Lightening Eyes shares with young Okwaho, we learn about the Medicine Wheel, the vibrant entity representing and reflecting the existence of everything within our universe. Through Lightening Eyes' use of parables, fable and indian lore, we learn more of the Native American culture and tradition, and begin to understand the powers of the Medicine Wheel. By viewing the medicine wheel as it relates to our lives and spiritual needs today, the medicine wheel will bring us to an understanding and recognition of our human potential and see how we relate to our world, whether in the abstract or the literal, the positive or the negative.
The Mohawk use of the medicine wheel illustrates our universe; and ultimately ourselves as humans and earth inhabitants. Through understanding and interpretation of the medicine wheel, we can learn insight into ourselves and patience with those around us.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in indian lore and beliefs, anyone who is a student of theology or metaphysics; or any reader with a yearning to learn more about the potential of the universe and their personal life and spiritual health. It is an easy to understand and truly enjoyable read. In fact, I have read it twice already, and know I will continue to learn from each reading. I look forward to the opportunity to learn more from Tawennihake, he is truly a gifted and caring writer.
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