The World We Used to Live In: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men

A collection of reports of the amazing deeds and perceptions of natives of the past. For this alone the book is worth the price.This book is the original reports, rather than conclusions or interpretations of them. Deloria does have some comments but he mostly holds his tongue in this book. He is the gatherer rather than the interpreter here.This book should be used in workshops and classes to begin an inquiry: assuming these reports are true, how did the people come to have the perceptions of things at a distance or in the future? How did they come to do things some would say are miraculous? The people themselves attributed these powers to Badger and Wakan Tanka and other beings outside themselves, animal beings, plant beings, the world being and the creator. If these deeds and perceptions were done before, could they be done again? What relationship with nature does one need to have to sense more than five senses worth? To influence elements to do things they don't usually do? This book should be alongside the gospels to begin a nondenominational study of "the miraculous".

Vine Deloria, Jr. died just a few years ago and it's our loss. An amazing man and life. This book describes just how much, not only the American Indians lost, but all of us by the disappearance of a way of life so in touch with Mother Earth, Brother Animals, and, firstly, the Great Spirit or Great Mystery they called Wakan Tanka. This book recounts the stories of their Medicine Men and from many Nations. I accept the work of their Medicine Men as true bc they reminded me of two "weather" things my Irish mother taught me as a child and which I could do, also. I'd forgotten all about them. I absolutely believe in the Medicine of American Indians without understanding their "how" beyond knowing they were in touch with the Great Mystery - it was part of their life - for all the People, not just the Medicine Men. Who knows how much they could have offered us if they'd been allowed to and had we the humility to ask. Our Mother Earth would not be in its present state.

“The World We used to Live In”, remembering the powers of the Medicine Men by Vine Deloria Jr. Deloria has pulled together a splendid array of reports, stories, observations, legends and accounts from a lengthy list of sources spanning the 1600s – early 1900s to show us the nature of the American Indian Medicine Men when they really were figures of power. It is some fascinating and though-provoking reading for anyone with a philosophical, theological or metaphysical bent.It’s also Class A reading for anyone interested in the culture(s) of American Indian tribes. I recommend it to any such reader. Deloria’s underlying premise is that the spirituality of today’s American Indian tribes is a lot like that of today’s Christian congregations – a lot of claimers but many fewer believers. He bemoans the fact that rituals, rites and ceremonies being preformed today are mostly of a perfunctory “walk-through” nature that doesn’t produce even a shadow of the spiritual power enjoyed by Medicine Men prior to the early 20th century. And, of course, he beseeches modern American Indians (and everyone) to try to recapture the spirituality of the past.

Soooo happy with the shape this book is in! Plus it arrived most quickly, HAPPY with the book and the service! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book communicates the beliefs of many Native American Indian tribes concerning various aspects of worldview. It also covers the miracles that medicine men were able to do. It is a fantastic book, and a must-read for anyone who is interested in cultures, shamans, Native American Indians, multicultural teaching, and comparing the history of western miracles with the miracles performed by the medicine men. It is interesting to see the common miracles, as well as the other practices that were different.

With little commentary, the author, in his final work, offers up a compendium of primary source material attesting to the powers utilized and displayed by the medicine men of old. This, of course, begs the question: "Why don't we see this anymore?".

Anyone with an iota of knowledge about Vine Deloria Jr.'s scholarly background could accuse him of being a sentimental crack pot fallen prey to tall tales and rural legends. Finally someone who is not afraid to be taken for such has written about paranormal encounters with powers that actually exist beyond special effects studios. However, those who like to imagine that only THEIR cultural/ethnic group has been chosen will find it disconcerting that Native Americans have had an on-going relationship with God and spiritual forces for thousands of years. This is an unapologetic as well as unsensationalized account of personal experiences with the real powers of the world.

Very good read!

We all need to know this stuff. Good read.