Grandmothers' Wisdom - by International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Grandmothers' Wisdom is a vibrant tribute to the lives of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, an unprecedented global alliance of elders who came together in 2004 to protect our planet in crisis and envision a future for the next seven generations.

With a foreword by Vandana Shiva and tributes to the grandmothers who have passed on, this special work is a living portrayal of the grandmothers' upbringing, their encounters with the violence of colonialism and forced assimilation, their awakening to fierce activism, and the ceremonial practices they carry forward from their lineages with tenacity, grace, and devotion.

The thirteen remarkable women portrayed in Grandmothers' Wisdom are keepers of traditional medicine and Indigenous spirituality, preserving ancient wisdom traditions and traditional ecological knowledge that have served our planet earth for millennia. Their stories come from the Amazon rainforest, the Central American highlands, the Sierra Madre of Oaxaca, the plains, deserts and canyons of North America, the Himalayan mountains of Tibet and Nepal, and the forests of Central Africa. The award-winning photography depicts the grandmothers making offerings to all of creation and stewarding earth-based medicines through their practices of divination, energetic cleansing, gathering herbs, and performing initiations with plant medicines.

The grandmothers have gathered each year for two decades to pray together in their homelands, promoting deep peace and interconnection through Indigenous ancestral knowledge, cultural preservation, and a reverence for the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. In a time when contemporary life has left many young people bereft in the rifts between us, these spiritual activists constitute an intercontinental union across differences in culture, language, and ceremonial practice. They are icons for future generations, representing a worldview that honors the richness of our differences as we unite to protect our shared home on planet earth.

Review Quotes

"...the editors are careful to leave room for their subjects' individual voices, specific details, and practical insights into their lives and philosophies. Informative stories from female elders that focus on the intersection of cultural specifics and universal experiences." - Kirkus Reviews

"After reading this beautiful book, I could not help wondering, as I have so many times over the years, what the world would be like if the grandmothers had been in charge, women in every culture who alone know what it means to give birth, mothers everywhere who sacrifice their own bodies for the sake of new life, and do so with such courage, dignity, and stoic resolve. The word sacrifice means to make sacred, and every time a child is born, the luminosity of the divine is affirmed. Men make war. Women make life."
--Wade Davis, professor of anthropology, University of British Columbia, and author of Beneath the Surface of Things

"Grandmothers' Wisdom is a treasure trove of personal stories and insightful teachings from those who have experienced trauma but emerged stronger and more aligned with the cosmos. Each account gives us a glimpse into a unique journey and its challenges when reaching a deeper purpose, inspiring the reader too to stay the course to reach their own singular calling. These humble and courageous grandmothers and others like them are guardians of our future, whatever it may be. Their voices strengthen my spiritual bones, expand my heart energy, and prepare me to carry on despite fear or uncertainty in order to help bring about healing and a Life-enhancing future."
--Darcia Narvaez, professor emerita of psychology, University of Notre Dame and founder-host of EvolvedNest.org

"This beautiful book is needed now more than ever! The world is suffering from ego, arrogance, and ignorance due to lack of wisdom. The feminine voices of wisdom woven together here, in this timeless book, will guide us how we can recover our humanity and our love for one another. This book will prove to be a key to open our hearts and enter the house of happiness."
--Satish Kumar, president emeritus and founder of Schumacher College

"Grandmothers' Wisdom: Living Portrayals from the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers is not just a book; it's a profound testament to the resilience, wisdom, and guidance of Indigenous women throughout history. In a world where ancestral knowledge is often overlooked, this book stands as a beacon, reminding us of the invaluable teachings passed down through generations. This book is not merely a collection of stories; it's a roadmap for rematriating entheogens, preserving ancestral wisdom, and taking tangible steps towards liberation. Through the songs of our grandmothers, we find direct guidance on how to heal the wounds of our world and forge a path towards a more harmonious existence."
--Mikaela de la Myco, Mothers of the Mushroom