Lessons in Courage: Peruvian Shamanic Wisdom for Everyday Life

by Bonnie Glass-Coffin, Don Oscar Miro-Quesada

Buckminster Fuller reminds us, You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete. This book provides just that model, as well as concrete practices for living it. The model is derived from ancient wisdom traditions, modeled on the pulses, cycles, and seasons of our beloved Earth Mother. It deeply grounds the reader in a this world spirituality that blends indigenous cosmologies, earth-honoring ritual, and time-tested models for living with modern sensibilities.

The proposed text presents the biography of an extraordinary man, who has awakened to his own purpose in life as a servant to conscious evolution for all humanity. His life story, full of adventure, cosmic interventions, and synchronicity is on par with that of the luminaries documented in these biographies and the time has come for his story to be told. don Oscar s story is also the story of each one of us. The only reason his story has not been told until now is that he was first charged with creating opportunities for others to awaken to their higher purpose through his teachings as part of an oral tradition. Now, after completing his compacto (sacred contract) with his Andean teachers and mentors, he has been released from service to tell his story in writing. And it is an extraordinary story, dealing with nothing less than individual, spiritual, and planetary transformation.

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Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[AliceinWonderland]

- Some very important concepts that humankind needs to hear...some very interesting personal stories, especially the journey to collect sacred cacti during a militarized state and his visit with the “elder brothers” or star beings.
- A few interesting breathing and meditation exercises, but I wish the stories would have been told more like a narrative novel with more detail.
- Still, an important life story of Peruvian wisdom that needs to be passed down.

[JKA Short]

Great book. Even greater are the meditations Don Oscar takes you through (some of them are in the books, but the powerful ones, such as the invoking of the Merkabah, are available online). His practice/Pachakuti Mesa tradition definitely deepened my spiritual life...

[Doorway]

Too specific

Everyone can't have his hallucinating visions, spend energy creating "mesas," or chant weird sounds...his general framework can be helpful though.

[Shylee W.]

Very inspiring and opening to a new perspective. A self-help book without explicitly being a self-help book.

[Abbie Sawyer]

This is a quick read, but I found all the information very overwhelming and could only read it a few pages at a time. It helps to be an open-minded reader if you grace upon these pages.

[Z]

The wisdom traditions that have been passed on orally for 1000's of years have recently been written down (in the form of this book and other books) thanks to the time of the great pachakuti or "world-turning" being upon us. Those who are aware of the prophesies of the native peoples know that the world is in for some challenging times. It is a belief that if we nurture our sense of connection to life and a cultivate love for ourselves, each other, and Mother Earth, we can transcend these times and create a New Earth. 

The time is NOW to Take Action. The earth is reverberating, calling us to Higher Ground, compelling us to "step-up" and participate in co-creating a more expansive and creative reality.


Wondering how to do this?

The life lessons and Peruvian wisdom expressed within this book will help.

I was moved by reading wise child don Oscar's intriguing journey toward wholeness as he become an empowered poet, who is now sharing with the world ways for us too, to become enabled to serve with love, compassion and, wisdom.

Each chapter of the book begins with a profound truth that will help us in the art of living. Examples are then given to illustrate how the profound truth works. A shamanic practice rounds out the chapter to guide you in cultivating this truth in your life. Readers are empowered to form a harmonious relationship with life and to create a balance between body, mind, and spirit. In doing so we can connect to our divinity, embody our true essence, and follow our internal compass to guide us on our own earth-walk journey.

Fave quote:

"The longest voyage you will ever take is the seventeen inches from your head to your heart. When you resist, this takes lifetimes. When you surrender, you are already home."

[Rhonda]

A Door of Grace

I loved this book by Bonnie and Don Oscar...I love when a book can draw me in and I feel the love ,attention to details and experiences of the Individual's experience the ups the downs the Great love and potential the deep longing...the synchronicity along with the frustrations ,anger the never ending conclusion that continues in this man Don Oscar expanding ever expanding and expressing it on many planes including the Physical plane with the Pachakuti Mesa...I dream of a well that is in a continues flow that anyone can drink of so full of Love and That brings comfort and joy the Re-membering..for me once you drank from this well I will not stop the journey continues my faith grew immensely just by being in the "present" of Don Oscar. The tools he offer are phenomenal and your own (mine) will blossom.

[Steve Francis]

There is so much in this book, so much behind-the-scenes information in terms of how our world works. Lessons in Courage profiles don Oscar Miro-Quesada, a true modern-day shaman, a man with tremendous wit, intelligence, integrity, heart and vision. It is also an introduction to a particular shamanistic tradition, the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, which offers a very real and useful alternative way of approaching human and environmental issues. Oscar Miro-Quesada is a rare, authentic man. This book is only a small part of his story, but will lead the interested reader to new avenues of humanistic shaman study.

[Julianne Larsen]

Amazing true story of Mr. Quesadas quest in shamanism. Important truths about the earth and the need to bring our consciousness together into enlightenment. Note, the Pachakuti Mesa makes more sense if it is demonstrated to you.

[Monika Radclyffe]

I'll be meeting Oscar while in Peru next month, so wanted to know more about his life and what shaped him. The book contains step by step instructions for shamanic practices, which I found very useful.

[Victor De witt]

To keep it brief, this is positively a very profound book.

More detailed review information will be in my comments.

I'm 100% done with reading and starting to re-read!

[Chante]

I really like how this book gives simple ways to awaken One's Consciousness; to show gratitude in ceremony; to re-member that we are part of the at-ONE-ment with All-That-Is.

[Steve Guettermann]

I've read this entire book twice and the second read was so much more revelatory than the first. I gained so much more insight from what was being shared and told. Bonnie Glass-Coffin is a very good anthropologist. Oscar Miro-Quesada, who is the shamanic subject of this book, is a rare and authentic man, a person with whom every spiritual seeker should become acquainted. This book is a great introduction to him and his shamanic and atavistic wisdom.