Crossing into Medicine Country: A Journey in Native American Healing
by David Carson
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Book Summary Information
Author: David CarsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-01
ISBN: 1571782087
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Council Oak Books
Book Reviews of Crossing into Medicine Country: A Journey in Native American Healing
Book Review: Choctaw conjuring
Summary: 4 Stars
In this book, Carson, an ex-marine, describes his apprenticeship in the Oklahoma Kiamchis country with Mary Gardener, an old Choctaw "conjure" (medicine woman). The process included a prolonged purification (diet, smudges, tobacco, fasting), ceremonies, vision quests that are typical of NDN medicine practices. Towards the end, he helped Mary treated people afflicted with some of the diseases a conjure meets on her way: spirit -of-war, tiny-animals-frolicking-about-in-the-water,cloud, feather, little-gray-men-who run-the-world, birdsnake and television sickness. He learns about an inexhaustible collection of other diseases and sicknesses a conjure has to treat; each animal can cause its own specific disease which is illustrated by its own specific myth, usually featuring the Choctaw culture hero, Yellow Tobacco Boy.
Carson was not alone, Mary had apprentices from new Orleans and Mexico; apparently, in the universe of North American medicine people information flows copiously, if not freely. The apprentices learn about proper protocols for asking help from animals either in the individual form or from the collective animal spirit. Other things he learns about is the all-important knowledge of working one's energy body, or "shilip". The Choctaws recognize 22 gradations within the shilip, the viewing of which, and manipulation of which has the central role in the healing process. The shilip is tightly integrated within the cosmology, which in turn, is part of the healing process. Hence, the patient is seen holistically; a disease, or misfortune, is reflection of a wrong energetic turn in life which the conjure works to right.
The arduous training proved to be too much and Carson bailed out. Or lived to write about it :)
I found the book interesting and a quick read. The description of healing practices was certainly fascinating, not to mention Carson's interactions with the "paranormal". However, the book jacket reveals that Carson is also the author of "medicine cards" through which one can discover "power through the ways of animals". Hmmm... suspicious. The man seems to have jumped on the New Age wagon which means that the information in the book has to be taken cum grano salis. We'll see how it pans out - i'll definitely be on lookout for more info about the "conjures."
Summary of Crossing into Medicine Country: A Journey in Native American Healing
David Carson's personal story of his initiation into the mysterious healing rites of the Choctaw with medicine woman Mary Gardener. Through her teachings and his own mind-bending experiences, he gives us a glimpse into an alternate reality.General Books
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > General
- Native Healing
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- Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Anthropology > Cultural
- Special Groups > Native American Studies
- Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Native American
- Shamanism
- New Age > Mental & Spiritual Healing
- Medicine > Alternative & Holistic > General
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- Professional & Technical > Medical > Alternative Medicine > General
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