Indigenous Cultures - Indigenous Cultures

Before Rome ruled the Classical World, gleaming stone pyramids stood amid smoking iron foundries from North America's Atlantic seaboard to the Mississippi River. On its east bank, across from today's St. Louis, Missouri, flourished a walled city more populous than London was one thousand years ago, with a pyramid larger - at its base - than Egypt's Great Pyramid. During the 12th century, hydraulic engineers laid out a massive irrigation network spanning the American Southwest that, if laid end to end, would stretch from Phoenix, Arizona to the Canadian border. On a scale to match, they built a five-mile-wide dam from ten million cubic yards of rock. While Europe stumbled through the Dark Ages, a metropolis of weirdly shaped, multistory superstructures, precisely aligned to the sun and moon, sprawled across the New Mexico Desert.

Who was responsible for such colossal achievements? Where did their mysterious builders come from and what became of them? These are some of the questions investigated by Frank Joseph in his examination of ancient influences at work on the American continent. He reveals that modern civilisation is not the first to arise in North America but was preceded instead by four high cultures that rose and fell over the past three thousand years: the Adena, Hopewell, Mississippian and Anasazi-Hohokam. How they achieved greatness and why they vanished so completely are the intriguing enigmas explored by this unconventional prehistory of our country, ADVANCED CIVILIZATIONS OF PREHISTORIC AMERICA.
· Describes the cultural splendour, political might and incredibly
advanced technology of these precursors to our modern age



· Shows that North America's first civilization, the Adena, was sparked by ancient kelts from Western Europe and explores links between Hopewell Mound Builders and prehistoric Japanese seafarers

Hawaiian spirituality teaches that individuals can be truly fulfilled only if they are conscious participants in the long ancestral chain of witnessing and transmission that connects the present to the time of origins. THE CRY OF THE HUNA invokes the author's personal history as he recounts the decline of his people's spiritual tradition as a result of colonization. The breakdown of the Hawaiians' ties with their sacred land led them to forget not only the teachings of their ancestors but also the chain of na aumakua they form which connects this people to both the earth and the realm of the gods. While the na aumakua can be viewed with reverence it is not seen or worshipped as a God. Rather it is seen as a part of the chain of life that arose from one god's vision of creation. Aumakua is a compound of makua (parents) and au the endless ancestral chain that stretches through time. Each individual on earth represents a temporary end to that chain. As we age and our vision of life slowly looks toward death our descendants come forth to provide the next eyes in the chain of witnessing and transmission. THE CRY OF THE HUNA shows how the rupture of this chain has led to widespread alienation. An endless cycle of resentment and revenge is fuelled by the loss of the Hawaiians' spiritual birthright. The connection to the aumakua however can be reforged but only by untying the circular cords of revenge to allow forgiveness to occur in the present so that healing can take place in the future.

DRAWING DOWN THE SPIRITS presents an insider's view of the inner workings, sacred traditions and prevalence of spirit possession existing in our modern world. Spirit possession is an integral part of shamanism as well as many neo-pagan forms of worship that draw down deities or invite spirit possession. However, spirit possession is not for the unprepared. In DRAWING DOWN THE SPIRITS, Kenaz Filan and Raven Kaldera, both initiated and experienced in shamanic and Vodou traditions, present the practical guidance needed to participate in ritual possession. Addressing the benefits and the dangers that await the naive, Filan and Kaldera show that there is no such thing as a guaranteed “safe” possession because spirits have their own agenda - and they are much more powerful than we are. The authors provide a variety of techniques to prepare for possession and abort possession and to promote the safety of the possessed as well as the spirits and witnesses present. With a wide-ranging look at the historic forms of ritual possession found throughout the world - including Uganda, Nepal, Korea, Bali, Greece, Turkey, Scandinavia and France - the authors also include numerous firsthand accounts collected from witnesses of modern spirit possession. • Provides practical techniques for preparation, safety, aftercare, and aborting harmful possessions • Reveals the forms of ritual possession present throughout the world - including Uganda, Nepal, Korea, Bali, Greece, Turkey, Scandinavia and France

All religious groups have codes to guide the lives of adherents, but the Druze, Dr. Ruth tells us, are especially interesting. She has observed the Druze's special art of adjustment in all walks of life, whether religious or secular and for all people, young and old. Their key is an ancient custom called a-takiyya. During times of communal stress, the Druze refrain from accentuating their religious identity, thus reducing the possibilities of conflict with neighbouring groups and allowing them to concentrate on internal community building. According to Druze custom, they predate the Hebrew people in the area surrounding Palestine - particularly in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Thus, like many "native" peoples, they do not feel bound by the customs and religions brought into the area by later settlers. This, of course, has led to a long history of strife with their neighbours. Consequently, the Druze people have had to build an inner strength of individuals and community in order to survive as an identifiable ethnic group. Through stories, personal encounters and historical context, Dr. Ruth Westheimer describes with great warmth the roots of that strength, how the story of the Druze has played out over the millennia, how they influence today's situation in the Middle East and what Westerners can learn from them and their way of life.

For millennia the world's indigenous peoples have acted as guardians of the web of life for the next seven generations. They've successfully managed complex reciprocal relationships between biological and cultural diversity. Awareness of indigenous knowledge is re-emerging at the eleventh hour to help avert global ecological and social collapse. Indigenous cultural wisdom shows us how to live in peace with the earth and one another. ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS evokes the rich indigenous storytelling tradition in this collection of presentations gathered from the annual Bioneers conference. It depicts how the world's native leaders and scholars are safeguarding the original instructions, reminding us about gratitude, kinship and a reverence for community and creation. Included are more than 20 contemporary indigenous leaders such as Chief Oren Lyons, John Mohawk, Winona LaDuke and John Trudell - and non-native environmental and social visionaries - such as Gary Paul Nabhan, Jeremy Narby and Wade Davis. These beautiful, wise voices remind us where hope lies.

Never conquered by Europeans, the Huichol - known for their use of peyote in spiritual ceremonies - have thoroughly retained their ancient way of life. Growing from a deeply rooted respect and reverence for the natural world, the Huichol's shamanic spiritual practices focus on living life in harmony with all living things and offer a path to a truly sustainable future.

THE SHAMANIC WISDOM OF THE HUICHOL is the autobiographical account of Pinkson's decade-long immersion in the shamanic traditions of the Huichol tribes of the Sierra Madre in Mexico. From his first Huichol pilgrimage to Wiricuta (their sacred homeland) in 1981 to searching the desert for the heart medicine of peyote, Pinkson's account of his initiation into the medicine teachings of the Huichol brings new life to this ancient eco-centric tradition. Providing a guiding light for those who seek to become part of the solution to our planet's ecological challenges, Pinkson empowers readers to choose their own path toward healing both on a personal and a planetary level.

In SHAMAN'S WISDOM Samara describes his path, which brought him to discover the traditions of Huachuma shamanism. The shaman's world is one of harmony and oneness and it is based on the clear laws of nature in the material and energetic dimensions. Tony Samara, born in 1965 of diverse cultural backgrounds, has been chosen to tell us about this world and its possibilities for deep healing. SHAMAN'S WISDOM contains previously unpublished wisdom as practiced by a group of people whose history goes back 5,000 years. This philosophy encompasses all aspects of life from child rearing, relationships, physical/emotional well-being and how this can be a wonderful tool to understand the rhythms of nature and feel the oneness of all and then understanding how we are part of a greater creation than just ourselves. In practice and philosophically SHAMAN'S WISDOM clarifies the questions about the mysteries that have been asked throughout the ages in a simple yet profound way that engages the reader to the betterment of the self thus helping the betterment of humanity. · Practical energy exercises are provided to help the body to adjust physically, emotionally and spiritually to the cycles of nature. · Discover a diet that reinforce the necessary qualities for optimum growth and harmonious levels of consciousness · An understanding that freedom is based on fitting into a Cosmos where all is One and where the One carries an expression of all.

Journey through these fascinating stories and you will see how myths and tales retold from many cultures bring universal themes from love and life, fears and foibles, straight into your heart.

From the learned housekeeper who imparts her wisdom on the importance of listening, to a juggler who shows that gifts from the heart are truly the best of all, these stories offer timeless insight and inspiration. They will allow you to connect with the strength and value of your own myths and tales.

Drawn from many cultures and faith traditions including Irish, Scottish, English, European, Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern each retelling illustrates the healing and powerful connection that stretches across the globe and unites us all in an embrace of wisdom through words. You will see your own struggles and successes mirrored in the lives of the characters contained in these pages: As you travel through their stories, you will hear a gentle voice urging you to tap into your own endless power and potential.