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Book
Review:
Grandmothers Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our
Planet
by Carole Schaeffer
Article by Tisa Anders, Ph.D
Condensed by Gina Boltz, Director, Native Village Publications
(Special Thanks
to Professors World Peace Academy)
In a world of both violence and dreams,
Carol Schaefer's Grandmothers Counsel
the World offers invaluable messages for the 21st century and beyond. As
the book's jacket explains, "In some Native American societies, tribal leaders
consulted a council of grandmothers before making any decisions that would
affect the whole community. What if we consulted our wise women elders about the
problems facing our global community today?" And that is exactly what
happened: 13 indigenous grandmothers from 5 continents began
meeting in 2004. The Grandmothers' counsel is timely, pertinent,
filled with hope, and open to the general
public and for academics.
These 13 international women leaders were brought together by a U.S. woman, Jyoti (Jeaneane Prevatt), director of the Center for Sacred
Studies in California. During her prayers and visions, Jyoti saw a circle of grandmothers from
across the world bringing wisdom and guidance to all
humanity. Through her contacts and connections within indigenous communities, Jyoti and her colleagues issued
16 invitations, and 13 were accepted. As the wise women met, they realized that Jyoti's efforts were
today's catalyst for a centuries-old prophecy: "When the Grandmothers from the four directions speak, a new time
is coming." In October, 2004, the first International Council of
Grandmothers met in Phoencia, New York. After the Grandmothers 2004
meeting, annual councils have been convened in New Mexico; Oaxaca, Mexico; the Black Hills, South Dakota; and Gabon, Africa
(cancelled due to area strife)
Following an introduction by Winona LaDuke,
Grandmothers Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our
Planet. is organized into two parts.
Part One provides brief biographies of each grandmother:
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Agnes Baker Pilgrim (Takelma Siletz) from Grants Pass,
Oregon; |
Bernadette Rebienot (Omyene),
Gabon, Africa |
Flordemayo
(Mayan) from the Highlands of Central America/New Mexico |
Margaret Behan (Arapaho/Cheyenne), Montana |
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Rita Pitka
Blumenstein (Yupik), Arctic Circle |
Tsering Dolma Gyaltong (Tibetan Buddhist), Tibet/Canada;
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Mona Polacca (Hopi/Havasupai/Tewa),
Arizona |
Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance and Beatrice Long Visitor
Holy Dance (Oglala Lakota), South Dakota |
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Maria Alice Campos Freire (Santo Daime), Amazon Rain
Forest of Brazil |
Clara Shinobu Iura (Santo Daime), Amazon River Forest of
Brazil |
Aama Bombo or Buddhi Maya Lama (Tamang), Nepal |
Julieta Casimiro (Mazatec), Huautla de Jimenez, Mexico |
During their New York
Council, the Grandmothers chose several women elders to
participate in the proceedings. Grandmothers Council
introduces these women.. They include
Alice
Walker, Gloria Steinem, Carol Moseley Braun, Tenzin Palmo, Helena Norberg-Hodge,
Luisah Teish, Wilma Mankiller, and Her Holiness Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi.
Part Two shares the women's wisdom and guidance including
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Women's Wisdom |
Sacred Relations |
Our Mother Earth |
Oppression |
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Nature's
Pharmacy |
The
interconnectedness and sacredness of all life |
environmental sustainability |
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Prayer |
Resurrecting the Feminine Divine |
Women's
equal place in the world |
Prophecies, |
Grandmothers Council the World fills current, deep gaps in many
religious and spiritual disciplines, especially those regarding the
voices of women and indigenous peoples. The book is appropriate
for high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, church study groups, book
clubs, and other, related gatherings.
My one concern is that scholars will dismiss this work because
it doesn't reflect the "usual" Western, academic form. This would be a great disservice to these women leaders, their wisdom, and
the public. The Grandmothers themselves address the problems of
Western medicine versus traditional healing: "That modern medicine deals with
the disease much more than the health and well-being of a person is not a
judgment," Maria Alice [Campos Freire] says. "One is not good or bad. Good or bad
is not the question, because both are part of the whole and part of a process.
What is important is to try to understand both approaches." To reach mutual understandings
and knowledge, the Grandmothers believe a bridge must be built
between both types of medicine. That bridge must rely on equality, dedication to the salvation of humanity, and a
fair exchange of resources.
"For the Next Seven Generations," a film by Emmy and
Peabody winner Carole Hart, is currently in production. Filming began in 2004.
Cameras have accompanied the Grandmothers
during their gatherings and world travel.
To learn more about
the
Grandmothers' Council, visit:
www.grandmotherscouncil.com .
Progress on "For the Next Seven Generations" is updated at
www.forthenext7generations.com.
http://www.articlearchives.com/north-america/united-states-northwest-usa-montana/1877568-1.html
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