The 13 Original Clan Mothers

by Jamie Sams

Jamie Sams, a member of the Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge, brings us a powerful new method for honoring and incorporating native feminine wisdom into our daily lives. Combining a rich oral tradition—passed on to her by two Kiowa Grandmothers, Cisi Laughing Crow and Berta Broken Bow—with the personal healing and guidance she has experienced through her female Elders, Sams created The 13 Original Clan Mothers . Each of the Clan Mothers reflects a particular teaching, relates to a cycle of the moon, and possesses special totems, talents, and gifts that can help each of us cultivate our own personal gifts and talents.

Genres: Spirituality, Womens, Indigenous, Native American, Nonfiction, Religion, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1993

About the author

Jamie Sams is half French and half American Indian, with ancestors from the Cherokee, Seneca, Choctaw, and Mohawk tribes. She is also a key member of the Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge, retreat leader, and writer on American Indian spirituality, e.g. „Dancing the Dream”, „The 13 Original Clan Mothers”, and (with Twylah Nitsch) „Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours”.

Reviews

[Vannessa Anderson]

The Medical Wheel of The 13 Clan Mothers was thoroughly examined and explained. For example, the 13th Clan mother is the guardian of Transformation and Transmutation. She teaches you how to become your own visions and wholeness. How to release the old self and step into the realized dream. How to honor the process that brought you through the changes and transformation. How to make the Rite of Passage into Wholeness and how to celebrate the Vision you have become—how to be the truth.

Readers will learn: (1) Full maturity happens around the age of fifty-two. (2) How to find kinship with all life. (3) Self-determination can be seen as ability to respond to all asides of life, and to all talents. How to accept truths that focus on strengths. How not to feed the negative by being critical. (4) To listen to all viewpoints. (5) How to stay on a chosen path and not be drawn into the limiting illusions that could destroy personal vision.

I was extremely impressed by the following quote. The Sisterhood grows strong when every woman sees every other woman as an equal part of the whole. There is no room for pecking order in a circle of women and that Life, Unity, and Equality for Eternity" is the foundation for the harmonious circle of the Sisterhood. Every woman is asked to do her part by developing her gifts, talents, and abilities. Each woman is acknowledged for the work she contributes to the whole. Every woman is her own judge; the truth of her actions and the integrity of her words is the model she uses as she leads through example. Each woman is required to face the limitations, fears, and challenges within herself and to heal those parts of her self in order to become the living personification of her personal vision.

When each woman honors her Self, more, raw, creative energy is available to be used by the whole to effect changes in the way humankind reacts to life. When women are no longer lost, asking others to tell them what they should do or how they should live, there will be great changes in our world. This is not to say that the friendships and bonds of women are not to be used; on the contrary, the support of other women who have walked the same path is paramount. This kind of support is based in truth and delivered with caring--without projections or judging another. That kind of support is healthy and productive, when other women create a safe space in which to share personal thoughts and offer alternatives in a respectful way. The Sisterhood always supports every woman who is willing to surmount her own challenges in order to grow."

How profound was that?

Not only is this a great read, it’s an essential read and a must read!

Women who are in discovery, who are lost and can't find direction and have lost control of their lives will find this book encouraging and engaging.

[Li]

Comprehensive look at internal landscapes of different aspects of a human being and the human's relationship with all-that-is using Native American terminology. Jamie Sams was taught the principles from two spiritual teachers and is sharing what she learned here. Each chapter covers one Clan Mother of the thirteen. Repetition of the principles and the integration of each of the first twelve into the thirteenth one at the end.

There is a wealth of wisdom in the book as Jamie steps us through how "creature teachers" exemplify behaviors that we should try and emulate by their example. Also things like Earth, Sky, Water, Stones, Plants are all sacred and try to help us understand the proper way to interface with every other person, place, and thing.

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading)]

I love this book..
Embrace the wisdom of the moons as they move through the seasons.. With each moon, an Native American animal wisdom story is shared to ponder and learn from...

[Teri Stich]

Very powerful book. Explores the traits and lesson of the cycles of the moon in the tradition of the First People. To read and to learn. Each cycle represents a different lesson to be learned as one passes from moon to moon, then starting back to learn the lesson in more depth each passing year. It is a book to read though savoring each chapter, then to go back to the beginning starting in January to truly study the teachings, repeating this each moon cycle, for always. A very moving spiritual experience.

[Rhiley Jade]

4.5 stars!!

[Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson]

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in discovering the sacred in the feminine. I would not take it as gospel so to speak in terms of traditional cultures. It's more of a new age amalgamation of Native American spirituality and symbolism. The book does lay out some basic information through the symbology and story-telling. Anything which connects us to the natural world we live in, is a good thing. I wish that Jamie Sams had given more credit to the teachings of Grandmother Twylah Nitsch of the Seneca nation who developed many of the basic ideas that are in Jamie's book. Grandmother Twylah's book--Other Council Fires is also an excellent source of information about the sacred in the feminine found in nature.

[Magalie Saumure]

Seriously my new favorite book! It is amazing how our view can change. How we grow and how to deal with today's problems.
This book by Jamie Sams helped me realized that at my young age, i have all the time, i have all the chances. But only if i am willing to open my heart to it. And there's so much to learn, one wouldn't know where to start. But i know that with the guidance of my Spiritual Essence I will keep growing.

[Leesa Wilson]

I love the 13 Original Clan Mothers. I felt a deep connection and kinship with each one. This is a book that share ancient teachings in ways that unite womankind in truth, beauty and wisdom. Highly recommended.

[Grete Howland]

After a couple chapters of introduction and contextual information, Sams dedicates one chapter to each of the Thirteen Original Clan Mothers. These chapters contain a poem, a description of the nature and purpose of the Clan Mother, and a story about the Clan Mother's experiences on Earth. In these 13 Clan Mother chapters I found profound wisdom and healing. In some moments, I was brought to tears. In others, I was invigorated and inspired. I feel immense gratitude that Sams shared this wisdom with the world, and I look forward to keeping the book on my shelf to honor it and return to it again in the future.

Yet, my experience with the book was also complicated, darkened by some ideas to which I felt great resistance. In the introductory and concluding chapters, as well as occasionally in the chapters about the Clan Mothers, there was a lot of what seemed to be gender essentialism--a tying of gender not only to anatomy but also to certain roles, traits, and principles. And the male-female/man-woman binary seemed to be foundational to the human experience that was presented. I found it really hard to get past this (in fact, I almost put the book down before I even got past the introduction), but I wanted to remain open, too, especially to a tradition that is not only not my own but also marginalized in my world as a white American. I would love to know more about how gender is understood in the traditions that Sams describes; perhaps I bring too much baggage of European-descent in this regard, and the limits of English in this context (not to mention my own knowledge) are revealed here.

I will cherish the book for the wisdom of the Clan Mothers that it holds, and also be mindful of its potential limitations.

[Lea Grover]

As a collection of mythological stories, I loved it. As a guide to connecting with the feminine aspects of myself and the world... I thought it left much to be desired. In addition to falling back on exploitative stereotypes and reinforcing outdated ideas about a gender binary again and again and again, much of what remained still seemed heavy-handed and awkward. That said, the stories are FANTASTIC. I will drop almost anything to read a collection of folk stories, myths, or fairy tales, and this assortment is beautifully curated. Where Sams was cumbersome in offering advice or wisdom, the care and sometimes subtlety of the stories provided a more compassionate, authentic way to impart lessons, advice, and inspiration regarding life, art, love, and what I found most important- self-love.

[Emmanuelle]

Recueil d'enseignements sous le thème principal des cycles lunaires. Enseignements autochtones , savoirs cultures transmission. Sororité et féminin sacré. Terre mère , croyances, rites. Transformation et guérison . Médecine . Femmes. Nature . Quête de sens . Cycles. Saison . Tout se transforme . Unité . Gratitude. Chaque grand mère apporte un savoir et une médecine à méditer dans sa vie . Un enseignement particulier . Il est bien de le lire sur 13 lunes . C’est la deuxième fois que je le lis et cela me fait cheminer différemment.

[Rachel]

This had been on my bookshelf for quite some time. Now was the perfect time for me to read what Jamie Sams had to say about the Divine Feminine and the healing power of women's wisdom. She weaves beautiful teaching stories within each of the presentations of the gifts each aspect brings. These teachings at this time of change and transition are a powerful reminder of the importance of doing our own individual work.

[Amanda]

this book this book this BOOK, y'all! Take it slow, breathe it in deep, and keep it. I plan to use it as a life-reference, to read it to my children, to read it to myself, to have as a guide in challenging times. it's such a beautiful spiritual text. going to be one of the few books I keep on my physical shelves forever.

[Maria]

This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It also took me the longest to read. For a good reason though, it seemed that with the chapter on each Clan mother's, their message was reflected to me, both in spirit as well as a physical manifestation to either observe or work through. This is truly one for your spiritual journey and self-work. Highly recommended.

[BJ Canaway]

A understanding of women's teachings and traditions told in classic story teller style. Thankyou Jamie Sams for relating the history of walking in truth as an annual journey.

[Myrah]

I recommend this book to all women <3

[Elizabeth]

1840's

[Christina Sudell]

Truly a joy to read. Incredibly beautiful and vivid stories of each Clan Mother. I have been so inspired to create, love, and give thanks to the Creator!

I will definitely read this book again.

[Amrita Magdala]

The best book on Native american wisdom I've read.

A gemstone !

[Amy]

I liked this book. Very interesting

[Dana Myers]

I have absolutely adored this book. It is a book that I will read continuously through each of the moon cycles as a reminder of the wisdom from which I want to live my life.

[Kaar Dawn]

Not always the easiest read, but a lot of lessons in preparation of how my year would end... She who sees truth

[Seven Crow]

I have read this book many times! It is an incredible way to connect with the lessons of the Moon, Earth Wisdom, and how to reconnect your life to these timeless traditions. A must read!

[Tamara Feddema]

Amazing, inspiring. A must-read for all humankind.

[Elliot T]

Guaranteed to put you to sleep in half a page every time.

[Raven]

I would recommend this book to any woman who is on a path of either spirituality, healing, growth or all of those things and wants to embrace the Feminine.
I would also recommend this if it's someones first endeavour into reading a spiritual book because it isn't a 'heavy' book. It's quite easy to digest what with an explanation of each of the 13 Clan Mothers and then a story to accompany the explanations, which if you read between the lines rather then take it at face value, will impart a fair few moral lessons

[Kim]

I read parts of this because it was very reminiscent of The Bible and The Power of Now. It's a look at life and feminism through Native American women but it reads like an empowerment therapy book. It felt like I was reading a Daily tinyBuddha article so I didn't read it all because it was so repetitious of what I've already read. I skimmed here and there and feel I got enough out of it.

[Christine Christman]

A beautiful picture of the sacred feminine and in sync with much of feminine psychology. The book is rich with archetypal stories and support for the uniquely feminine aspects of the human journey.

[Keri]

From Jeanette. Ancient, spiritual teachings.

[Stacy]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/2540218