Sacred Ground

By Ron Zeilinger

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1877976040
• ISBN13: 9781877976049
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Tipi Pr
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

The Author tries to merge "christianity" and Sioux belief

Ron Zeilinger attempted to merge "christianity" and Sioux Spirituality by trying to get the "christians" to remain opened minded and looking to the deeper truths instead of making snap judgements. At this; the author does a fair job. Unfortunately; the author gets several things wrong on the Sioux side of the equation. 1. Throughout this book; the Lakota Sioux name for the Great Spirit Wakan Tanka is spelled as Wakantanka. 2. On page 35 the author associates water with the west of the medicine wheel. the books I respect link Earth with the west direction. 3. On page 46 the autor talks of four virgins cutting down the Cottonwood tree for the Sundance ceeremony. A young girl makes only the first cut, and she represents the White buffalo Woman that brought the pipe to the Sioux. 4. On page 50 the author talks of the four directions, and doesn't mention two more directions Sky and Earth until page 53. When I pray with the pipe I offer smoke to the seventh direction (the center) because the Grear Spirit is everywhere. This last statement is only my opinion. 5. Page 50-51 places the colors differently. I use the colors as spelled out by Lakota Sioux holy man Nick Black Elk. Black in the west, white in the north, red in the east, and yellow in the south. You can see this form of medicine wheel by looking at the cover of "Native Wisdom" Ed McGaa. Ed McGaa is a member of the Sioux nation. Now that my nitpicks have been cleared out of the way I wish to compliment the author for the following portions of the book. 1. Pages 53-55 The author tells the truth about the three most important plants used by the Sioux. Sweetgrass, sage, and tobacco. 2. The author tells the truth about what tatanka (the buffalo) really meant to the people. The indians made their tipis, clothing, moccasins, from the buffalo hide. the Sioux made needles and beads from the bones of the buffalo, and the indians used the sinews of the buffalo as thread, and the Buffalo skull has a place of reverence on the altar at many Sioux ceremonies. 3. Page 61 "This attitude also means a reverence for all other living things in the world. Everything was put on this "island" earth by the Great Spirit. All people and things are relatives." I am happy to see that Mr. Zeilinger truly does understand Sioux spirituality whether he is capabable of crossing all of the Ts and dotting all the Is or not. I will leave you with a quote I use from time to time. "How can you worship the Great Spirit and not have respect for the Great Spirit's creation?" Please E-Mail if you have questions or comments about this review. Two Bears. Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)