Author Lynn V. Andrews began her quest for self-discovery in her remarkable book Medicine Woman. With the help of her teacher, the Indian shaman woman Agnes Whistling Elk, Andrews was given a series of challenges that continued to lead her to more expanded levels of awareness. Now, once again, Andrews weaves a mesmerizing story as she learns to protect the powers she has gained from the sorcerer Red Dog.
As with the first book in the series (Medicine Woman), I was fascinated and completely absorbed. Mainly because it is supposed to be true while being totally impossible by the mainstream world view. If it turned out to be false, I'd be very disappointed and it would lose a lot of its power and value. Whereas Medicine Woman was about stealing a "marriage basket," this second book is about creating protection by making medicine shields, to strengthen her new powers as a shaman. I believe she also reaches enlightenment at the end, and passes a final test of her training. Nothing about her experiences is subtle. The mystical visions are big and bright and out of this world. In terms of story line and characters, the first book is a little more cohesive as a stand-alone novel, while this one is less focused on characters and more on the visions she has.
Continuing story from Medicine Woman, remember sitting on the back porch reading for hours as the tale unfolded. Wonderful way to escape my troubles at the time.
I remembered how much I enjoyed reading Lynn V. Andrews Medicine Woman series in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I wanted to return to the books and I'm glad I did. These books reminds me of all the spiritual and metaphysical practices I first learned about in the 1980s. It amazes me that I take these practices for granted now when they were so controversial just three, even two decades ago.
Two stars for being a bloated story about a woman's self importance while sharing very little about the history of medicine women. Earns a star for having moments of what sounds like sound wisdom of finding strength within one's self.
Also that final confrontation with red dog sucked. Evil sorcerer is defeated by the mighty feminine power of crying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Could not possibly be a true story since so many of her observations and so called facts are incorrect. Very insulting in many ways both to women and native americans.