Dakota half-breed Hannah Hops Along struggles with her life as a reclusive widow living on the edge of the Badlands. A harrowing snake attack in a ceremonial lodge throws Hannah headlong into the arms of an untimely suitor named JB Iverson. Hannah’s life-threatening ordeal also strengthens the psychic bond she shares with the planet Earth, who is portrayed as a girl on the verge of becoming a young woman.
If you enjoyed…
…The magic and mysticism of Carlos Castenada and Lynn Andrews
…The philosophical insights offered in Redfield’s runaway bestseller, Celestine Prophecy, and Quinn’s cult classic, Ishmael
…Hank Wesselman’s glimpse into the future with Spiritwalker
…And Lousie Erdrich’s view of contemporary reservation life in Beet Queen
You will love Away From Hannah’s Castle
“It’s vitally important that more of us share a bond with the Earth that is like Hannah’s, the main character in the novel,” says West. “Tribal people have a spiritual system that is earth-based. As a result, they have a spiritual relationship to everything around them, a reverence for all life on earth. To them, everything in nature including the earth herself has consciousness. That’s not to say the rocks, trees or clouds perceive the same way humans do. But most definitely all around us are sensitive beings worthy of respect.”“Our estrangement from the planet allows us to be disrespectful and abusive toward the natural world,” West goes on. “The leaders of the environmental movement may have a scientific understanding of how our actions affect the planet, but it’s only through a connection to the Earth on a deep, spiritual level that people will become truly motivated to care for the environment. It is this innately germane relationship between humans and the earth that gets concisely laid out in Away From Hannah’s Castle.”
Excerpt
Centuries ago grandmothers told much loved stories about the spirit of Earth, not ones that presented the planet as a mother, but those introducing the soul of Earth as a girl entering adulthood. They were tales of the future, about a time when Earth's childlike essence would grow to take on new life. Earth's coming-of-age story was often shared. The listeners accepted Earth's evolution, not human progress, as the most important development of all times.
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Away from Hannah’s Castle
Eileen “Ike” West
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 0595367909
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (12/06)
Author Eileen “Ike” West wrote “Hannah’s Castle” “To help current generations appreciate the
wisdom treasured by the ancestors – that humans are here to share earth’s consciousness.” In writing
this story, she hopes that it will teach others to nurture and protect the earth. This tale is about “the
sacred covenant between a woman and her planet.”
Sixty-year-old widow, Hannah Hops Along, lives on the edge of the Dakota badlands. She is half
Indian. She lives in a cabin that sits below an impressive rock formation. Her neighbors refer to her
home as “Hannah’s Castle.” She is very reclusive, but does have a close relationship with a woman
named Betsy. Betsy is half Rom (gypsy). She taught Hannah how to scry into the past and the future.
Hannah also has a gift of being able to see beings that no one else can. This gift gives Hannah a
special connection to nature. She travels through the universe, into the past and future with “Earta.”
When Earta comes to get Hannah to take her on their journeys, Hannah always loses consciousness
and has no control. As a result of this, Hannah is a recluse.
During an emergency health crisis, Hannah is rescued by trucker J.B. Iverson. He is intrigued with
her and makes an effort to get to know her better. Hannah is afraid because she misses her husband
and she never knows when Earta is going to visit. Suddenly her connection with Earta is ended.
Hannah feels unprotected and at a loss. She finds out that there is more to J.B. than she first realized.
He teaches her how to reconnect and bring balance into her life. It is time for her to break away from
her self-imposed seclusion and romance blooms for Hannah. This is a beautiful story that will touch
your soul. Hannah’s special connection to nature and the universe will make you yearn for a piece of
it. “Away from Hannah’s Castle” is the perfect book to curl up with and enjoy. It would also be a
great find for a readers group for women.
Poetry. Various urgent, lively, and sometimes haunting poems appear here alongside stark black and white photos of Jones' homeless subjects. Jones takes on the plight of the homeless in different voices, echoing the thoughts of people on the streets,
Intuitively, I know I've lived many lifetimes, and none more interesting than the one I'm living now. However, being born an old soul somehow did not excuse me from the same job I share with you and that is learning to craft a positive attitude about
Poetry. Various urgent, lively, and sometimes haunting poems appear here alongside stark black and white photos of Jones' homeless subjects. Jones takes on the plight of the homeless in different voices, echoing the thoughts of people on the streets,
