Spirits of the earth : a guide to Native American nature symbols, stories, and ceremonies

Book

Spirits of the earth : a guide to Native American nature symbols, stories, and ceremonies / Bobby Lake-Thom, Medicine Grizzly Bear.

Summary:

Lake-Thom, who has studied with the elders of many tribes, explains the significance of animal figures as manifestations of good or evil, and shows how we can develop our own powers of awareness and intuition. The first book of its kind, this practical and enlightening resource includes dozens of fascinating animal myths and legends, as well as exercises and activities that draw upon animal powers for guidance, healing, wisdom, and the expansion of spiritual influences in our lives. You'll discover here how animals, birds, and insects act as signs and omens; the significance of vision quests; how to make and use a medicine wheel; the role of spirit symbols - and how they affect the unconscious; exercises for creative dreaming; the power of the earth-healing ceremony; how to increase your spiritual strength and create sacred spaces; and more--Publisher's description.

Record details

ISBN: 0452276500
ISBN: 9780452276505
Physical Description: 210 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Publisher: New York : Plume, ©1997.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (pages [200]-203) and index (pages [205]-210).
Formatted Contents Note:: A spiritual understanding about nature -- How I learned nature's language -- Nature's symbols -- How to develop symbolic and spiritual thinking : Symbolic thinking exercises ; Mythic-spiritual thinking and spirit guides -- Stories for discovering nature's spirit symbols : The woman who feared snakes (Wyot) ; Grizzly bear and raven (Lummi) ; Coyote and wolverine (Cheyenne) ; Creation of the Animal People (Shasta-Karuk) ; Coyote and skunk (Crow Nation) ; Coyote and eagle visit the Land of the Dead (Yakima) ; Coyote takes water from the frogs (Wintun) ; The toughest snake of all (Kickapoo) ; How the deer got his horns (Cherokee) ; The sister's wish to marry a star (Chippewa, Cheyenne, Lakota) ; Blue jay's skinny legs (Salish-Kootnai/Flathead) -- Animal signs and omens : Antelope ; Badger ; Bear ; Beaver ; Bobcat and panther ; Buffalo/Bison ; Coyote ; Deer ; Eld ; Fox ; Gopher ; Mink ; Muskrat ; Otter ; Porcupine ; Porpoise/dolphin ; Raccoon ; Shark ; Shrew and mole ; Skunk ; Weasel ; Whale ; Wolf ; Wolverine and Fisher -- Bird signs and omens : Blue jay/stellar jay ; Buzzard ; Crane or egret ; Eagle ; Flickerbird ; Goose ; Hummingbird ; Magpie ; Osprey or fish hawk ; Owl ; Quail ; Raven and crow ; Robin ; Seagull ; Turkey ; Woodpecker ; Wren and other small birds -- Insect signs and omens : Ant ; Bee ; Beetle ; Butterfly ; Cockroach ; Cricket ; Flly and blowfly ; Grasshopper ; Moth ; Spider ; Tick -- Reptile and snake signs and omens : Alligator ; Frog ; Garden or garter snake ; Lizard ; Snake ; Turtle -- Using nature's symbols : Creating a medicine shield ; An exercise to develop creative and symbolic dreaming -- An earth-healing ceremony -- Power centers and sacred places -- Relearning nature's language.