Awakening the Eagle by Ralph P. Brown, Ralph is a Mohawk Indian from the St. Regis Indian Reservation in upstate New York.  He currently resides at Earth Lodge Studios in Nebraska where he and his wife, Anita, own and operate the Mirrored Windows Gallery which showcases his art, such as the beautiful stipple pieces used in the book he wrote. 

Publisher:  Booksurge

Genre/Market:  Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Life lessons, Indian Culture and ways

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 9781439228203

Book Length:  72

Price:  $ 10.99

5 Out of 5 points

Headline for Book Review: What is the Medicine Wheel and how does it apply to me?

This is a great resource to learn the Introduction to the Medicine Wheel if you want to learn more about it.  The book is a combination of fiction, tribal lore, existential philosophy, and spiritual guidance.  If you are looking for truth and meaning to your life this is a wonderful guide that will give you wisdom and patience. 

It’s a story about a boy and a man who throve through the world of tribal culture, values, and beliefs.  The boy discovers on his journey the power of the medicine wheel and its benefits.  You will learn about interpreting the Medicine Wheel’s life.  I learned a lot reading this book and would recommend it to anyone open to understanding other teachings to learn life’s lessons and values. 

QUOTES from the book:

Quote: “Awakening the Eagle explains a way of using the Medicine Wheel through pictures, stories, and direct instruction.”

-Life is an amazing thing.  There are so many little wonders that occur all the time that it is easy to take for granted or become desensitized to the miraculous way that life is perpetuated. 

-The search for self often begins with the questions, “Who am I and what is my purpose?”  “Indian people are taught that our physical body is nothing more than a lodge for our spirit being.”

I received this book from Book Surge for my honest review.

© 2011 Jackie Paulson

The FCC guidelines as me to tell you that I picked up this book from http://reviewthebook.com/ for my honest review.  

Reviewed on 12/21/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jackie Paulson

Awakening the Eagle: A Guide to the Medicine Wheel by Ralph P. Brown ISBN 9781439228203

Review by Chris Phillips

Brown takes an elusive Native American concept and uncovers the symbolic and spiritual meanings in this practical guide to understanding the Medicine Wheel. A Native American concept, the Medicine Wheel, deals with the cyclic nature of life. Spiritually he guides the aspirant into a better and more balanced life.

Brown is not only an author but an artist with interests in various media. One of the most striking features of Awakening the Eagle is the art used to illustrate important points and section beginnings. Brown is not clear on whether the art or the book came first, but has integrated both very well.

The fact that Brown is of Mohawk lineage is mentioned on the back cover, but this book is directed to everyone wishing to understand Native American ideas and spiritual development. Brown takes the reader from a rudimentary description of the Wheel through a thorough explanation of the spiritual concepts of direction, symbols, colors, and animals associated with each aspect. Starting in the East he explains the cycles present in life and present with each major struggle the reader might encounter in that life.

The book is constructed conceptually by the Medicine Wheel as well. Each section describes one direction. “The East: Struggle with Self” begins by describing the symbols related and then some stories that expand on the original concept. The following sections use the same structure. Each section has a painting by Brown to identify the major concepts. As a mnemonic device this artwork lends itself to pedagogy very well. The book itself is a great learning tool for education in Brown’s interpretation of Native spirituality.

The Introduction is very long, but contains some very important information about the Medicine Wheel. Brown provides an illustration of the Wheel with word associations identified with each aspect of the Wheel. There is a Foreword, the Introduction, a Conclusion, an About the Author and finally an acknowledgment page amounting to several pages of information. Although it is relevant, this reviewer believes Brown would benefit from re-structuring the book into at least one more chapter describing the Medicine Wheel. That would also allow him more plates for his decent illustrations.

The editing and proofing of Awakening the Eagle, is very good. The continuity is exceptional within each section but the transitions between them would be improved by a little more explanation of how the different stages are encountered.

The book is very well written. It would be an asset to anyone interested in Native American spirituality and spirituality in general. This reviewer hopes that Brown will write more about these concepts.

Published by Book Surge (www.booksurge.com) (SRP $10.99/Amazon $10.99) Book for review sent by author.

Reviewed on 03/02/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Chris Phillips

I've always had a great personal interest in alternative thinking, especially in the areas of religion, spiritual belief and personal guidance.  I thought I had a fairly good understanding of the various tribal lore of American Indian Tribes, but I always did want to learn more.  For any reader interested in tribal lore, spiritual life, wisdom and guidance; Ralph P. Brown has written a fascinating and indepth study of the Medicine Wheel in his wonderous work, "Awakening The Eagle: A Guide to the Medicine Wheel".

Ralph P. Brown is a Mohawk tribal member and spiritual advisor.  His Mohawk name is Tawennihake.  In this unique book, Tawennihake leads us on a spiritual journey along with a young Mohawk boy named Okwaho; and the elderly tribal sage, Lightening Eyes.  Through the indian lore and fables Lightening Eyes shares with young Okwaho, we learn about the Medicine Wheel, the vibrant entity representing and reflecting the existence of everything within our universe.  Through Lightening Eyes' use of parables, fable and indian lore, we learn more of the Native American culture and tradition, and begin to understand the  powers of the Medicine Wheel.   By viewing the medicine wheel as it relates to our lives and spiritual needs today, the medicine wheel will bring us to an understanding and recognition of our human potential and see how we relate to our world, whether in the abstract or the literal, the positive or the negative.

The Mohawk use of the medicine wheel illustrates our universe; and ultimately ourselves as humans and earth inhabitants.  Through understanding and interpretation of the medicine wheel, we can learn insight into ourselves and patience with those around us.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in indian lore and beliefs, anyone who is a student of theology or metaphysics; or any reader with a yearning to learn more about the potential of the universe and their personal life and spiritual health.  It is an easy to understand and truly enjoyable read.  In fact, I have read it twice already, and know I will continue to learn from each reading.  I look forward to the opportunity to learn more from Tawennihake, he is truly a gifted and caring writer. 

Reviewed on 01/25/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES