A small book with great impact!

I adore this book. Plain and simple. It was a wonderful read, such an insightful way to understand the many Nations, a bit of their culture and particularities and to enlarge and enrich my understanding on what it means to be on this earth.

Along with he beauty of knowledge and the expansion it brings, I appreciate greatly the writing style, the permanent concern for the reader to not appropriate the practice of the Nations and create their own meaningful ones. A fantastic read I highly recommend as a starting point in knowing and respecting the Nations.

I received a copy of this book in order to offer my view on it.

Suth an important addition to the spiritual genre of writing. For anyone who engages with terms such as 'smudging' or 'spirit animals' i urge you to educate yourself through this beautiful and respectful read on a tradition that is older than many and yet thriving and an extremely relevant indigenous community. We have so much to learn from Native American Spiritualism. An important read. Thank you.

Native American Spiritualism documents the spiritual practices and ideologies of a collection of Native American cultures from a Native perspective.

I really appreciated how Arroyo instructed the non-native reader to respectfully apply the insights that can be gained from studying Native American spirituality without culturally appropriating. The reflective guides at the end of each chapter allow the reader to evaluate ideas that resonated with them within the context of their own culture so they do not take from native practices. Redirecting the misguided spiritual enthusiasm of non-natives rather than simply warning them not to appropriate is probably the best way to handle that, and I will absolutely be trying that salmon recipe!

I'm from Georgia, which is the original home of the Cherokee and the start of the Trail of Tears. So, the Cherokee section is what I was most interested in. What surprised me was that the Chippewa practices were actually what I was most familiar with since so many of them have been stripped of their cultural significance and co-opted by mainstream Western culture.

I wish pronunciations were included, either parenthetically after native names or words or at the end in a glossary, because I can't confidently say most of the words out loud. But, I appreciated the list of resources in the back.

It is a relatively short read and covers multiple cultures, so it doesn't get too in-depth. However, it is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about Native Americans and it should be available in every middle and high school library.

This book is stunning from the history and culture provided to the lovely illustrations paired with it. The book contains incredible insight into different Native American cultures and the stories that have been handed down through the generations. For example, the Cherokee Nation and the land of the Blue Smoke tells the story of three connected worlds. I would highly recommend this as a way to learn about these incredible cultures through stories that show various traditions and lore.

An examination of several Native American tribes traditions, ceremonies, and belief systems puts a spotlight on the similarities -and more importantly - the differences between them. The difference between appreciation and appropriation is also brought to light.

A very informative look into the spiritual practices of Native Americans. The author does a good job of explaining the religious beliefs of a number of different Native American groups. He approaches each section with respectful insights and descriptions. He also gives examples of how non-Native people can also absorb the teachings and beliefs without disrespectful appropriation.

Wonderful and fascinating. Easy to consume and understand. Felt like an inspirational and calming journey.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Native American Spiritualism: An Exploration of Indigenous Beliefs and Cultures by L. M. Arroyo is a highly insightful and captivating book that delves into the spiritual practices, legends, and traditions of various Indigenous tribes across North America. It offers a comprehensive insight into the origins and practices of Indigenous American spirituality, encompassing a wide range of spells, rituals, folklore, and myths.

As part of the Mystic Traditions series, Native American Spiritualism celebrates the unique and beautiful culture of Native Americans. The utmost care and respect have been taken in presenting the subject matter with accuracy and reverence. This ensures accessibility to a diverse audience while also fostering support for these rich practices and traditions for years to come.

The book is beautifully illustrated with stunning imagery that enhances the reading experience. It is a must-read for practitioners who wish to explore the origins of their craft and delve deeper into their practices.

In my opinion, this book is incredibly insightful and provides a wealth of knowledge about First Nations’ stories, history, and culture. The layout is well-organized, making it easy to navigate and comprehend. I particularly enjoyed the visual presentation of off-white pages and the inclusion of graphics throughout the book. Additionally, the thought-inducing exercises provided are truly engaging for readers.

Overall, Native American Spiritualism: An Exploration of Indigenous Beliefs and Cultures by L. M. Arroyo is an exceptional resource that not only educates but also sparks curiosity about Native American spirituality.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

ARC Book Review Native American Spiritualism
Introduction
I was given a copy to review by Wellfleet Press and Netgalley. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #ARCReview #Netgalley #NativeAmericaSpiritualism #LMArroyo #WellfleetPress


Review
I feel I need to preface the main review with a little more depth than my introduction covers. I am not American but I am fully aware that as a citizen of the UK our ancestors (I am not fully aware if any of mine did leave the isles) were in part responsible for setting out and taking over the lands of the Americas from those who had lived their for centuries. As such despite what our school history may teach while in primary or secondary I always wanted to find both sides, or rather the true side of history from those who were ultimately displaced, removed from their land, had the cultures and beliefs questions and sometimes persecuted all the idea of what we were taught back in history class was ‘Manifest Destiny’. Ultimately a nice way of putting that, that land that was yours is now ours because we say so. As such I have always had a deep appreciation for Native American Cultures, as I say cultures because as the book details each tribe and group may have their own believes and customs that differ from the other. Needless to say I was interested and excited to read this one.

I believe from the introduction it is clear that L M Arroyo feels much the same way as I do and I fully understand that passion, particularly when highlighting injustices can be hard to reign in. That said I found parts of the introduction, while I fully agreed with it, regarding appropriation of the culture of the indigenous people a little too aggressive in a book that is hopefully going to inspire people and their customs. I fully agree with the sentiment as I say and for me I found myself nodding along but I feel that some who may be trying to learn more or starting their journey to understand the Native American people and their way of life may feel like they are being judged already. Particular in the current climate of today’s society it could be that some will become angry and forgo buying and reading a wonderfully researched book. Again I do fully understand the passion and meaning behind it. As someone who has a strong appreciation for Japan and it’s culture as well as Native American’s and theirs it is easy to find appropriation and become angry. And we should be. I just felt personally it could turn some people who are likely to falter along the line of appropriation and appreciation turn away from the book. But once more I fully understand and get why Arroyo goes so full on this path, making it clear that some things are not okay, especially when you consider the way these people where treated by early settlers and still are being treated today.

Arroyo’s passion for the subject shows ultimately throughout the book. They have researched and then concisely and clearly put this research into structured ways to give us insight into the peoples that populated America before the settlers. Multiple subjects are covered including Oral Traditions and the historical events of the Mythic Time, key values of the eight Nations including the Chippewa, Sioux and Chumash Nations, the Native American seasonal ceremonies and their cultural significance, everyday life in the Nations including games, objects and common foods and much more as well. It is ultimately a celebration of the unique cultures and beliefs of the people indigenous to North America. I particularly liked that Arroyo offered ways to not use or follow the beliefs of those Nations but how we can reflect on those things and how they may tie into the way or path we already follow. Again they highlight the line between appreciation and appropriation of the culture and its beliefs, highlighting the differences but how elements of them can be used for reflection on our selves and our relationships to nature, the past, the present and ultimately each other.
Hashtag


#ARCReview #Netgalley #NativeAmericaSpiritualism #LMArroyo #WellfleetPress # #BookReviewer#BookBlogger #BookHoader #FantasticRead #BookDragon #BookShark #BookReader #Bookstagram #BookNerd #BookReader #BookLover #BooksBooksBooks #BookAddict #Book

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Wellfleet Press for providing an eARC copy of Native American Spiritualism.

A really insightful novel of the First Nations in the most respectful way. It was nice to learn their stories, their culture, and I loved the inclusion of the little things that encouraged the reader to be mindful.

Just an absolutely beautiful book. I love the spiritual practices and the focus on our connectedness to the Earth. I recommend this book to anyone who seeks spiritual connection.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a great guide to Native American Spiritualism. It provides information on how to respectfully learn and understand Native American culture without appropriating the Native culture.

This is a very respectful and well written book about some of the First Nation peoples of North American continent. The positive and life affirming ceremonies described along with the history of the people involved in them are relevant to today. Simple exercises and practices are discussed and the reader is encouraged to live in a positive manner with the Earth throughout this book. My favorite part was about the Chippewa who lived near where I grew up. I knew little about them but after reading this I had an understanding of some of their history and lives.
Excellent and respectful to the peoples it brings forward. This is a good book.

A really insightful book that was a very interesting read! Thank you NetGalley for approving me on this one