Soul Sounds Mary Summer Rain
Created: 10/10/05
From a well-known e-magazine <all text quoted>
In the New Age quest of Culture Theft, there are wannabes, & then there are Twinkies.
A Twinkie goes a bit further than a Wannabe. While most Wannabe's are harmless admirers of Native cultures, Twinkies are people who CLAIM to be Indian just so they can swindle you out of money and rob you spiritually. They are usually attention-seekers masquerading as enlightened Shamans, spiritual teachers, healers or leaders. An example would be those who charge $100 a pop to put you through the paces of a Vision Quest or a Sweat Lodge (true spiritual leaders never charge for their services.) Some people charge up to $3000 for a week-long "Native American" Spiritual Workshop, or $50.00 for a crystal healing ceremony. Twinkies to watch out for include: Grace Spotted Eagle and Wallace Black Elk (Sweat Lodge Workshops), Osheana Fast, Bear Tribe Medicine Society, WolfVision Quest, Inc., Quanda the "Healing Woman", and Cyfus McDonald
Twinkie authors are quite common and often have a following. Jamie Sams, Ted Andrews, Mary Summer Rain, Sun Bear, and Brook Medicine Eagle are just a few that need to be avoided.
Before you buy, go to any search engine & type in PLASTIC SHAMANS. The list grows monthly!
Many of the Twinkies are peddling Native American Spirituality -- targeting people searching for a deeper sense of self and a connection with a deity, and with the earth. These Twinkies borrow from various beliefs and practices -- combining them into a New Age religion that can be sold over the Internet via books, chants, candles, crystals and so on. This New Age trend is actually a distorted image of various Native practices and rituals and in no way reflects the true belief systems of Native people and communities. These Twinkies are indeed stealing from the Native people, and to do so is not only wrong (supposedly going against all that they preach to begin with) but it is also patronizing, and insulting.
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Soul Sounds by Mary Summer Rain (1992)
Created: 09/10/08
As with all Mary Summer Rain's books, she provides a very personal insight into a world many of us are not in tune with, but would like to know. This book is a highly recommended read~
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