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leah_markum's review against another edition
4.0
I regard this book as a gentle read. I initially didn't leave a review because I didn't have strong opinion or analysis to express. However, it is worth mentioning that Lupa gives excellent qualitative descriptions about ecological topics like bioregions, along side descriptions to help you open yourself to seeing the world in a spiritual like. It's wonderful to not only think about the natural world as a home, but to break it down by address--I'm in the Beaver Lake watershed in the Boston Mountains, a part of the Ozark Mountains within the Mississippi greater watershed.
Some spirituality books can be too "off" for me, which is part of the reason why I describe this book as "gentle." Lupa's views or her narrative don't grate me and are actually close to my own beliefs. Applying the concept of totems as a lens to see the world with evokes a sense of history, personally and culturally. Maybe some criticize that it's cultural misappropriation, but once upon a time, no matter where your ancestors were, they likely worshiped totems. No one culture owned the idea. I think revitalizing and personalizing the idea is a good way to appreciate so much about the world--human and natural, material or spiritual.
Some spirituality books can be too "off" for me, which is part of the reason why I describe this book as "gentle." Lupa's views or her narrative don't grate me and are actually close to my own beliefs. Applying the concept of totems as a lens to see the world with evokes a sense of history, personally and culturally. Maybe some criticize that it's cultural misappropriation, but once upon a time, no matter where your ancestors were, they likely worshiped totems. No one culture owned the idea. I think revitalizing and personalizing the idea is a good way to appreciate so much about the world--human and natural, material or spiritual.
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
I chose not to give this a star rating, as my biggest challenge with it is that it just isn't my "thing." So giving it a lower star rating may not be fair for people whose "thing" it is.
First off, what I love: the early chapters of the book, which go into great detail about how to learn your bioregion. Lupa's questions for getting to know the denizens and features of your region are, imo, must-answers for anyone who claims to follow a Nature-based spirituality.
But then the vast bulk of the book (as I suppose I should've guessed from the subtitle, but I was hoping for a little more balance) is all about "the totems." And let me tell you, I am not a fan of this form of spirituality. I won't spend time arguing with Lupa's basic premise here, because it's her belief system, and a person's beliefs are very personal. (Though I do take issue with the assertion that some totems who are initially resistant just need time and patience to "come around." No means no, even when talking about supernatural entities.)
I will say this: I wish, oh how I wish, that Lupa had found words other than "totem" and "totemism" for her spiritual practices. Lupa does go to considerable lengths to make clear that she's a white person of European descent and isn't talking about indigenous totemism, which I appreciate... but then why call the practice "totemism" and the beings "totems" at all? My understanding is that most indigenous folks would rather have non-indigenous folks use different terms for similar spiritual concepts than have their terms appropriated to describe something completely different from what they use it for. Reading this book felt very challenging when every instance of the word "totem" made me twitch.
First off, what I love: the early chapters of the book, which go into great detail about how to learn your bioregion. Lupa's questions for getting to know the denizens and features of your region are, imo, must-answers for anyone who claims to follow a Nature-based spirituality.
But then the vast bulk of the book (as I suppose I should've guessed from the subtitle, but I was hoping for a little more balance) is all about "the totems." And let me tell you, I am not a fan of this form of spirituality. I won't spend time arguing with Lupa's basic premise here, because it's her belief system, and a person's beliefs are very personal. (Though I do take issue with the assertion that some totems who are initially resistant just need time and patience to "come around." No means no, even when talking about supernatural entities.)
I will say this: I wish, oh how I wish, that Lupa had found words other than "totem" and "totemism" for her spiritual practices. Lupa does go to considerable lengths to make clear that she's a white person of European descent and isn't talking about indigenous totemism, which I appreciate... but then why call the practice "totemism" and the beings "totems" at all? My understanding is that most indigenous folks would rather have non-indigenous folks use different terms for similar spiritual concepts than have their terms appropriated to describe something completely different from what they use it for. Reading this book felt very challenging when every instance of the word "totem" made me twitch.
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