The Wind Is My Mother: The Life and Teachings of a Native American Shaman

This book has been really amazing for me! I had no expectations about it - I was being curious about Bear Heart's life and certainly got nicely surprised when found a lot of practical advice. It is all really humbling and a joy to read. I don't view as a self-help book, though. I can relate to most parts but not to all. However, I still respect his experiences, even if they might be unusual. I am not sure why people would be buying this is they are not okay with mysticism. After all, he was a shaman and some of what he shares has no logical explanation. He perpetrated the traditional wisdom and rituals of his people as taught by whose that came before him. I had many "Aha" moments while reading and I am actually re-reading it now - I want to make sure I remember some of the words to reflect upon. Again, if someone is not familiar with Native American belief system, I would suggest to read about it first - so they know what to expect with this book.

Quite a informative reading experience

This book is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It is written in a very eloquent way. No amount of money could buy the wisdom and lessons contained within the pages of this book. I always felt a very close affinity to the Native American people, and having read this book, I now know why. Their ways are so gentle, their respect for all living beings, and for one another is really evident. Humanity could really do with applying some of the lessons from this book, to help our chances of survival. This is a must read for anyone interested in Shamanism, Native American teachings, tribal culture etc.

Possibly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Bear Hearts wisdom seeps out through every page. HIs insights into life and connection are profound, and he's touched a part of my life, without me ever having met him. Elegantly written, this made me laugh and cry, and more than once sent shivers down my spine with the depth of his insights into what it is to be human. Inspiring, heart warming and unforgettable, I couldn't recommend this book highly enough. Mah-do!

This is the nicest book I have ever read. I am not a great reader and usually get bored half way through. I haven't finished it yet, I am about 3/4 of the way through and taking it slow so I can enjoy it. Many words of wisdom and uplifting passages. Everyone should read this book and try to live in the suggested ways then may be we would have more peace in the world. We can only hope. I would have loved to have met Bear Heart.

I have recently been searching my spiritual path, and finally read this book which has been sat on my shelves for a few years. The first chapters are really interesting, and provided an insightful look into turn-of-the century Native American life. Some of the descriptions, and ideas rang many bells, and I really enjoyed reading. However after the first 2/3 of the book, the author's missionary zeal started coming out a little too strong, and I started to switch off from the messages they were trying to give. The last two chapters were much better, and probably written earlier than the last 1/3, as the content and writing style changed a bit. It is interesting that at some point in the book, there is clearly a message that everyone's spiritual path is unique, and it is not always good to blithely follow someone else path in the hope that it will become your own. And yet, in the last 1/3 of the book I too often had the feeling that the author was promoting his specific customs as the better way. Perhaps this was good, as it allowed me to draw upon ideas which are useful for my own spiritual path. As with everything it is good to question the value and wisdom of what you read; you will know in your heart if it is right for you, but you may need to learn to listen to yourself, and not what others tell you or try to interpret for you. I would therefore definitely recommend reading the book, and believe in some of the things described, but allow it to talk to you at your spiritual level.

Honestly this is such a special book. I feel so blessed to have stumbled across it. It is a beautiful book full of amazing wisdom. I have been reading only a few pages at a time because it is so special, I just wanted to make it last forever.

This is a book to keep and read over and over. It gives an insite into the lives of an amazing people and in particular Bear Heart and his life as an American Shaman. It also touches on how his ancestors suffered a great injustice and how the Native American Indians kept to their word despite many broken promises, injustices and loss of lives and eventually displacement of whole tribes who were herded up never to live freely and independently again.

Nach Empfehlung meines Chefs habe ich dieses Buch bereits im Deutschen freudig gelesen und mich nun an die Orginalversion herangetraut. Sehr empfehlenswert.

After reading and watching researchers, with 30+ years of experience, talk about NDE (Near Death Experiences) and how it transformed their spiritual views-- I have come to realize that Bear Heart came to understand the meaning of the spiritual self naturally. Bear Heart shares his wisdom which can help readers in all walks of life realize the spirit's potential. His book does require faith or first-hand experience of the supernatural to truly believe his words. Yet I still think his wisdom is worthy of attention of all spiritualists and those interested in spirituality. I do not regret this purchase and I feel like I need to buy more physical copies so I can share Bear Heart's wisdom with the ones I love in life. I basically read the entire book in one session and I still think about his words of wisdom and experiences. Bear Heart's "The Wind is My Mother" definitely deserves a spot in my personal library forever and I hope those interested in Indigenous spirituality will give it a read.

A simple, beautiful vision of our lost connection to Nature and the wild essence of all life. Humble and written in a matter-of-fact tone, this book explains that there is much wisdom in Nature and how our Indigenous ancestors related to Her. Every leader should read it and let it inspire new approaches to world-impacting decisions.

I love this book. Coming from a completely different cultural background, I was amazed to find so many similarities with things I had been told when I was a kid by the older people I knew (e.g. how to behave with older people, how to "keep your spine straight with dignity", to be respectful towards people and the environment, etc.), and the way they did it (by speaking to each other while we children were around, listening to them talking and pretending to play at the same time)... so many memories brought back by Bear Heart's wise words, so many things to think about... It's an inspiring book, one way or the other, it leaves its mark on the reader.

This book will take you to another level. A must read for those who wish to delve into the life and working of a native shaman. Another valuable lesson brought out is that all life on Earth is interconnected. Lifeforms can communicate. We only have to learn to communicate.