Medicine Trails: A Life in Many Worlds by Mavis McCovey

"Sometime in 1933, in Northern California's lush Humboldt County, a Karuk medicine woman named Daisy Jones had a vision identifying the tribe's next medicine woman. Later that year, Mavis Smither (McCovey) was born, and in the first twelve years of her life she was groomed by a designated group of medicine women to become a spiritual healer.

Medicine Trails is Mavis McCovey's honest and lively account of the many worlds in which she moves: the Indian and white cultural worlds, and the day-to-day and visionary reality of the medicine woman's world, as well as trips to what she calls "the other side": one of the responsibilities of a medicine woman is to bring back a medicine man's soul if he gets lost on the trails of the world beyond—a task McCovey has been called upon to do.

One of very few first-person accounts of Native American healers, Medicine Trails is invaluable for its insights into the experiences of a modern-day medicine woman. And McCovey is a warm and engaging guide not only to her life, but also her family's history and the history of the Karuk, Yurok, and Hupa peoples of the region."

In the Land of the Grasshopper Song by Mary Ellicott Arnold & Mabel Reed

"In 1908 two young women—the authors of this book—accepted Indian Service appointments as field matrons for the Karok Indians in the Klamath and Salmon River country of northern California. Although the area had been the scene of a gold rush some fifty years earlier, they write in the foreword, "the social life of the Indian—what he believed and the way he felt about things—was very little affected by white influence. The older Indians still had the spaced tatoo marks on their forearms, by which they could measure the length of the string of wampum required to buy a wife. . . . The white men we knew on the Rivers were pioneers of the Old West. . . . All around us was gold country, the land of the saloon and of the six-shooter. Our friends and neighbors carried guns as a matter of course, and used them on occasion. But the account given in these pages is not of these occurrences but of everyday life on the frontier in an Indian village, and what Indians and badmen did and said when they were not engaged in wiping out their friends and neighbors. It is also the account of our own two years in Indian country where, in the sixty-mile stretch between Happy Camp and Orleans, we were the only white women, and most of the time quite scared enough to satisfy anybody."

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Looking for a good book in the gothic novel genre for a long airplane flight or to curl up with on a cold, rainy day?

"I'd like to say more about this superbly entertaining book but don't dare to hint any more about its plot twists. Suffice it to say that -- and here's yet another critical formula -- anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should." - Michael Dirda, The Washington Post


'Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Umberto Eco meets Jorge Luis Borges...Ruiz Zafón gives us a panoply of alluring and savage personages and stories. His novel eddies in currents of passion, revenge and mysteries whose layers peel away onion-like yet persist in growing back... we are taken on a wild ride that executes its hairpin bends with breathtaking lurches.' NEW YORK TIMES

A Story Waiting to Pierce You: Mongolia, Tibet and the Destiny of the Western World by Peter Kingsley

"A Story Waiting to Pierce You is a breathtaking account of our past and our future as human beings. Firmly and gracefully it traces the ancient threads that connect Mongolia, Tibet and Native Americans to the very origins of western civilization—showing how these sacred ties have shaped our lives today.
     This new book by the author of Reality and In the Dark Places of Wisdom is a work both of magic and of the finest scholarship. With haunting simplicity and power it tells the true story of where our western culture really came from—and of where it is taking us now."

Peter Kingsley's website

Harmony by Charles HRH The Prince of Wales

"With its holistic approach, this provocative and well-reasoned book takes the discussion of sustainability and climate change in a new direction. Prince Charles shows how the solutions to problems like climate change lie not only in technology but in our ability to change the way we view the modern world.

For decades, the Prince of Wales has been studying a wide array of disciplines to understand every aspect of man's impact on the natural world, and in that time he has examined everything from architecture to organic farming to sustainable economics. Now, for the first time, he speaks out about his years of research, presenting a fascinating look at how modern industrialization has led us to a state of disharmony with nature, created climate change, and pushed us to the brink of disaster."

Kyoto Journal Issue 75 "Biodiversity"

This is probably one of the most visually beautiful journals in the world! The current issue is especially so and has articles by Barry Lopez, Robert Brady, Satish Kumar, Thomas Berry and Gary Snyder (just to mention a few). Several are available as pdf downloads and there is an extended list of articles that are available only online.

Example of articles:

Satoyama: The Ideal and the Real by Brian Williams

Six Thousand Lessons by Barry Lopez

A Different Kind of Luxury: Japanese Lessons in Simple Living and Inner Abundance by Andy Couturier

This is an exquisite jewel of a book.  I am reading it slowly in order to savor each person's story.

"Raised in the tumult of Japan’s industrial powerhouse, the 11 men and women profiled in A Different Kind of Luxury have all made the transition to sustainable, fulfilling lives.

Based on Andy Couturier's popular articles in The Japan Times, this lushly-designed volume is a treasure chest of stories about real people who have created an abundance of time for contemplation, connecting with nature, and contributing to their communities. In their success is a lesson for us all: live a life that matters."

Vision from the Life of Hildegard von Bingen

Was very disappointed in this film. All the rich and unusual knowledge that Hildegard von Bingen received was virtually ignored in this film. They chose instead to focus only on drama and the lower nature of the various people involved. The whole film is about her one-upmanship of the abbot, her attachment to a younger nun and in earlier scenes some very graphic and gory scenes of flagellation, which she did not believe in. That's it! What a waste of an amazing caste, locations, costumes and mostly of Hildegard's legacy of knowledge about theology, medicine, and music to name only a few.

"In Vision, New German Cinema auteur Margarethe von Trotta (Marianne and Juliane, Rosa Luxemburg, Rosenstrasse) reunites with recurrent star Barbara Sukowa (Zentropa, Berlin Alexanderplatz) to bring the story of this extraordinary woman to life. In a staggering performance, Sukowa portrays von Bingen’s fierce determination to expand the responsibilities of women within the order, even as she fends off outrage from some in the Church over the visions she claims to receive from God. Lushly shot in the original medieval cloisters of the fairytale-like German countryside, Vision is a profoundly inspirational portrait of a woman who has emerged from the shadows of history as a forward-thinking and iconoclastic pioneer of faith, change and enlightenment."

The Mystery of Trees

"DIANA BERESFORD-KROEGER is a botanist and medical biochemist who is an expert on the medicinal, environmental, and nutritional properties of trees. She is also a precise and poetic writer, steeped in Gaelic storytelling traditions, gathered from her childhood in Ireland. Her indisputable passion for her subject matter will inspire readers to look at trees, and at their own connection to the natural world, with newfound awe." website

She is the author of four exquisite books, all of which i highly recommend:

• A Garden for Life
• Arboretum America, A Philosophy of the Forest
• The Global Forest (series of interesting, informative essays. If you really want a simple, elegant description of carbon sequestration, read this book!
• Arboretum Borealis, A Lifeline of the Planet

Satoyama Spirit

This is a beautiful blog written by a friend, Alan Zulch. He very articulately describes the traditional Japanese way of life lived in harmony with the land and nature which is called Satoyama. He explains that this older wisdom is being revived in modern Japan but often it is lacking a deep understanding of the ethics and values that are at its foundation.

Be sure and look at his collection of images, they convey the spirit of satoyama most eloquently:
Images of Traditional Satoyama Landscapes

Earth Pilgrim by Satish Kumar

Another good book, not to be missed!

"Satish Kumar has been a pilgrim ever since at the age of eight he joined the brotherhood of wandering Jain monks in his native India. Later he walked the length and breadth of India with Gandhi’s successor Vinoba Bhave, persuading landowners to donate a portion of their lands to the poor, and in the 1960s he made an 8,000-mile pilgrimage for peace, which included walking from India over the Himalayas to Paris via Moscow."

Tinkers by Paul Harding

A luminous novel of poetic prose that can take your breath away!

"There are few perfect debut American novels. Walter Percy's The Moviegoer and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird come to mind. So does Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping. To this list ought to be added Paul Harding's devastating first book, Tinkers, the story of a dying man drifting back in time to his hardscrabble New England childhood, growing up the son of his clock-making father. Harding has written a masterpiece around the truism that all of us, even surrounded by family, die alone." —John Freeman, NPR's The Best Debut Fiction of 2009

Queen of the Sun

"From the director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John comes a profound, alternative look at the tragic global bee crisis. Queen of The Sun draws from the insights of Rudolf Steiner an Austrian scientist who, in 1923, predicted that in 80 to 100 years, bees would disappear. Steiner said: “The mechanization of beekeeping and industrialization will eventually destroy beekeeping.” 
     Gunther Hauk, our main character and a protégé of Steiner’s, against all odds, begins to build the first bee sanctuary in the world. Surrounded by industrial agriculture, he is creating a 600-acre farm to help support the bees in crisis. Through his insights, we are launched into a journey around the world to uncover the compelling perspectives concerning the complex problems bees are facing such as malnutrition, pesticides, genetically modified crops, migratory beekeeping, parasites, pathogens and lack of genetic diversity from over queen breeding.  
     Seeking answers through unique and unusual beekeepers and scientists who have heart-felt respect for their bees we confront and address the harsh realities causing the bees to disappear.  Queen of The Sun finds practical solutions and discover the deep link between bees survival and our own."

The Secret of Kells

This is a beautiful and unusual animated film, both in quality and choice of subject matter.

"Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times.

In a remote medieval outpost of Ireland, young Brendan embarks on a new life of adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying a book brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the falry Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendans determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?"

Secret of Kells Blog

A few beautiful films

BRIGHT STAR– A drama based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25. Directed by Jane Campion. Stars: Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw.

LITTLE DORRIT – 2009 Masterpiece Theater production. Really wonderful cast and location, costumes.... as always superb!

SÉRAPHINE is the story of Séraphine Louis aka Séraphine de Senlis, a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41, self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel began painting brilliantly colorful canvases. In 1912 Wilhelm Uhde (Ulrich Tukur), a German art critic and collector discovered her paintings while she worked for him as a maid in his house in Senlis outside Paris. Directed by Martin Provost. Stars: Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur.

JANE EYRE– again a stellar Masterpiece Theater production from 2007. This has become one of my all time favorite versions of this story.
(all are available via Netflix)

The Elder Brothers & The Heart of the World

There is both a film, reviewed here, and a book, about this hidden pre-Columbian culture and their essential message to the world.

The book has been reissued and is available here. Or you can probably find a used copy of the original title at www.bookfinder.com (The Elder Brothers: A Lost South American People and Their Message About the Fate of the Earth).

On July 7,2010, the author and filmmaker, Alan Ereira, offered a live webcast via Link TV's website. He reported that the Kogi people asked for cameras and other film equipment and are making their own film, which they say will show us things we (The younger brothers) have never seen before.

I highly recommend the book and the film, some of which can also be seen on You-tube.

Mongolia

Reading several fascinating books about Mongolia. Hearing Birds Fly by Louise Waugh provides a very down-to-earth report of this young English woman's three-year stay in Ulaanbaatar and later in a remote western village.

In the Empire of Genghis Khan by Stanley Stewart is the beautifully written story of a long and interesting journey beginning in Istanbul and culminating in his 1,000 mile trek on horseback across Mongolia.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford is a very readable account of a most unusual and intriguing time period that has influenced the world as we know it. Many of the inventions, ideas, and beliefs that we would consider "Western" have been introduced to the West from the Caucasus region and further east into Mongolia.

The Mummies of Urumchi

Fascinating book by Elizabeth Wayland Barber about the 4,000 year-old mummies found in western China. They are very well preserved, especially their clothing. Some are over six feet tall, with blond or red hair, round eyes and otherwise Caucasian rather than Asian features. Their textiles are quite beautiful and have been extensively studied. Many are similar to tartan plaid.

Starting on March 27, 2010, some of these mummies will be part of an exhibit called "Secrets of the Silk Road" at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA.