Inner Journey: Views from Native Traditions (PARABOLA Anthology Series)

Drawn from 30 years of Parabola magazine, this compelling collection illuminates the vast scope of the Native American spiritual tradition. Well-known figures including Black Elk, Peter Matthiessen, Arthur Amiotte, Joseph Bruchac, N. Scott Momaday, and Joseph Epes reveal a continuing line of human apprenticeship with the earth in writings that span many genres, from poetry and stories to essays and interviews. In “Native Earth,” Matthiessen examines the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world, writing that “the whole universe is sacred, man is the whole universe, and the religious ceremony is life itself.” Linda Hogan’s “The Great Without” explores the impact of the outside world on human consciousness. These and other pieces convey the possibility of a life based on respect and love for the earth — a view that, in light of the ecological tragedies the contemporary world faces, is more relevant than ever.