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Skinny White Woman
“You are about to embark upon a spiritual pilgrimage and you will be visiting sacred sites where you have been in past lives in order to help you remember who you are. You are a healer. A lightworker. Right now, like the Aborigines, you are about to go on your walk-about to claim yourself. You must claim your power. You must clear out all the bullsh*t that says you’re not worthy. You are here to serve the planet and remember who you are.”
After being pronounced a lightworker by a psychic from Sedona, all Stasia Minkowsky wants to do is smoke a joint, get drunk and forget about it. The only problem? It’s not working.
Desperate for answers, she is guided to her first Native American sweat lodge where most participants are in recovery for drugs and alcohol. Cautious about “drinking the Kool-Aid,” Stasia’s once guarded exterior begins to unravel with the power of the ceremonies and the path known as the “Red Road.” Under the guidance of a goofy yet reclusive Native American teacher, she is buried in a hole for her vision quest and the only white woman dancing in the spiritual piercing ritual called the Sundance.
But as her rites of passage into the ceremonial path become deeper, so does her understanding of the blemishes and betrayals of following a spiritual path. The lure of her old lifestyle is never far from her thoughts along with a nagging question about the pain of growing consciousness. If this is truly the path to becoming a lightworker, why is it so friggin’ hard?
A self-reflective memoir about what it means to follow a modern-day spiritual path, “Skinny White Woman” is a raw and unrefined look at the human journey to find the spirit within.
After being pronounced a lightworker by a psychic from Sedona, all Stasia Minkowsky wants to do is smoke a joint, get drunk and forget about it. The only problem? It’s not working.
Desperate for answers, she is guided to her first Native American sweat lodge where most participants are in recovery for drugs and alcohol. Cautious about “drinking the Kool-Aid,” Stasia’s once guarded exterior begins to unravel with the power of the ceremonies and the path known as the “Red Road.” Under the guidance of a goofy yet reclusive Native American teacher, she is buried in a hole for her vision quest and the only white woman dancing in the spiritual piercing ritual called the Sundance.
But as her rites of passage into the ceremonial path become deeper, so does her understanding of the blemishes and betrayals of following a spiritual path. The lure of her old lifestyle is never far from her thoughts along with a nagging question about the pain of growing consciousness. If this is truly the path to becoming a lightworker, why is it so friggin’ hard?
A self-reflective memoir about what it means to follow a modern-day spiritual path, “Skinny White Woman” is a raw and unrefined look at the human journey to find the spirit within.
414 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 15, 2012
My dear friend from college wrote this book about her nontraditional path to sobriety with the use of Native American ceremonies. I'm so proud of the work she's produced and encourage those who are interested in personal journeys and self introspection to take a look at her work.
June 24, 2017
Since I knew Stacia a decade or so ago.. i had to buy this book... especially since she used to talk about this writing. The book was an interesting insight into her experience on the reservation and getting over herself and narcissism. Thought she has some very poignant refelctions and points.. ones that will stay for year.. the book tended to ramble a bit and shoulf have probably been two not one in reflection.. so alas I could not finish it
March 8, 2012
I found this to be a touching book that gave insight into one person's struggles with addiction and the long journey back. I thought the writing was easy to understand and approached in such a way that made me keep turning the page. I was touched by the honesty that was shared in the conveying of a very personal story and really bringing it to life. The author delves into touching, personal details of a troubled life that has an enlightened outcome. As a reader, I wanted to keep reading to find out where her life would take her next. The book is an easy, comfortable read and I enjoyed every minute of it! I hope everyone gets a chance to experience this book!
February 17, 2014
This was my free rental from Amazon for January. Skinny White Woman is a memoir written by Stasia Minkowsky about her journey of change from a self-centered addict to an enlightened soul using many native rituals as a form of healing and growing. She seems to very authentic and cuts herself no slack. I love a good memoir and this fits the bill. My only complaint would be that it was too long and by that I mean some of the reading seems to be redundant at times. It was worth the time, but I was happy to read the last page. I even thought I might want to try a sweat lodge, which is so not me.
October 12, 2012
I found this story to be raw, honest, hopeful, and brave. Well written and a story that will stick with you in moments you don't expect in your own life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews