Medicine Woman by Lynn V. Andrews (1983, Paperback, Reprint)

Here you will find the TRUTH about Lynn Andrews, taken straight from REAL Indian webpages, from REAL Tribal leaders, REAL Indian activists lists & articles on AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE THEFT. FACTS, NOT FICTION! And if you doubt it, CALL THE OFFICES OF THE TRIBES THESE PEOPLE CLAIM TO REPRESENT OR SAY THEY ARE MEMBERS OF! CALL THE PEOPLE! THEY SAY THESE BOOKS ARE FULL OF FAKE TEACHINGS, NOT ME! THE TRIBES SAY SO! CALL THEM!

Site #1- Lynn Andrews <from this point on this is ALL quoted text from REAL NATIVE websites!> has been instrumental in propagating the non-existent "Sisterhood of the Shields". She has been shown to peddle fantasy, and heads the list of "fake medicine people."

Site #2- By far, the biggest business in New Age appropriation of indigenous spirituality transpires in the publishing industry where plastic medicine authors are big sellers. Perhaps the most successful, not to mention notorious, is Lynn Andrews. Andrews has been dubbed the "Beverly Hills Shaman" by some of her New Age supporters and the less flattering epithet "Beverly Hills Witch" by a number of Native Americans criticizing her commercial exploitation of indigenous spiritual traditions.

Site # 3 - Shields carried NO SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, but were held in great respect, for they depicted the high deeds of valorous warriors. The making and use of shields by Sedonia Cahill and others like Lynn Andrews is another misappropriation, distortion and abuse of meaningful Indian ways torn out of their contexts. There are many individuals like Andrews teaching the making of shields, as if it were an Indian ritual or ceremonial act of great spiritual significance.
The fact is that no Westerner, European or Caucasian carries in his or her psyche the collective memory of American Indians of this continent. To pretend to that memory is a blatant falsehood which cannot be maintained. Both common sense & scholarly expertise recognize such falsehood.

Site #4- Indians are concerned that bits & pieces of their ceremonies are used & manipulated without discretion in an ignorant manner as to their consequences. They are concerned that such actions, based on slavish imitation & improprieties, can cause damage to others, and that the very people who speak so loudly of their concern for mental health are engaging in unauthentic spiritual practices....as in books by Lynn Andrews, Jamie Sams.... Native American spiritual leaders are fully aware of these dangers.

Site #5- This situation has been long & bitterly attacked by legitimate Indian scholars, like Vine Deloria, Jr. , & by activists such as the American Indian Movement (AIM) , Survival of American Indians (SAIL) , & the late Gerald Wilkenson, head of the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC). Nonetheless, the list of phony books like Dyhani Ywahoo, Lynn Andrews' , Jamie Sams, Sun Bear, Wallace Black Elk & others claiming alternately to debunk or expose the innermost meanings of Indian spirituality continues to grow as publishers recognize a sure-fire money-maker when they see one. Most lately, ostensibly scholarly publishers like the University of Chicago Press have joined the parade, generating travesties such as University of Colorado Professor Sam Gill's _Mother Earth: An American Story.

IF YOU DOUBT THIS, I DARE YOU, CALL THE TRIBES! ASK THEM WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO TEACH OUR INDIAN CULTURES! IT WON'T BE ANDREWS!

This is a piece of garbage, I got it for 25c in a bargain bin at a yard sale, and that's about how much it's worth. There is NO SUCH THING AS AN AMERICAN INDIAN "SHAMAN"!!! This book is perfect, though, for middle-aged white women who just want to co-opt FAKE but pretty looking and sounding parts of a culture without actually learning about the dirty authentic history. This woman charges over $4000 a YEAR to learn this stuff. And people still pay her! Wise up!

I have loved this book for years, reread it many times. It is about Lynn's introduction into shamanism with two First Nations elder shaman women, and her journey of self-discovery and personal power as they teach through incredible experiences. Whether you believe that it is partly metaphoric or that there is more possible in the world than we are usually aware of, this book is inspiring, teaching and pleasurably readable.

I am fascinated with the teachings of Lynn Andrews. She is a wonderful writer and I can relate to her well. I have purchased other books by her as well.

it deals with woman of old for a today women to give as a gifti am looking for ways to live a better today and not get all out of the way things are going. life changes but life is life at any time past or now. you look the world over and all it some to is lost and hurt i think the world would be better if we look to the past for some thing.