Mandan Dreams
by Cedric Red Feather
Galde Press, 2012

In the tradition of Chief Plenty Coups and Black Elk, comes another Native voice, Cedric Red Feather in his book, Mandan Dreams.

Red Feather is a waxikena, or Turtle Priest of his tribe, the Mandans, but his path was a challenging one.  Damaged by his experiences in the Viet Nam War, the young Cedric Mandan spent a long time burying his pain in sleep, depression and alcohol until his brothers’ spiritual practices inspired him and he began to pursue his own spiritual path.

Red Feather speaks unashamedly of his transformation and his pain, and offers his spiritual wisdom and teachings to any and all who will listen.  As we read of his progress, Red Feather shares a great deal of his people’s history, philosophy, and lifeways.  He shares his family tree and features both modern and historic photos.  We learn that the Mandans, who now reside in the upper Midwest/western Great Lakes region, migrated from the Gulf of Mexico in the distant past, and the Mandan tribe has long been known as the “mysterious” Mandans, who boasted a wide range of hair colors and a few with blue eyes.  Red Feather tell us that is not mysterious—the Mandans have always welcomed all who came, including the Viking travelers before Columbus.

From the White Buffalo Calf Woman to the Sun Dance, we learn of the many variations on traditions from tribe to tribe, and the intention to bring together all peoples to pursue a greater spirit-driven life.

The book is alive with Red Feather’s own spirit, with drawings, personal photographs and even a never-before published photo found in the bottom of General George Armstrong Custer’s foot locker—Red Feather’s great-great-great grandfather.

This fascinating combination of personal and tribal history, spiritual traditions and personal spiritual growth will be a book to treasure for years to come and is sure to become a classic among Native American literature.

Reviewers Note:  I had the great privilege recently to participate in one of Red Feather’s ceremonies on the shore of a Minnesota lake beneath the stars, fulfilling a prophecy given to Red Feather. 

This book can be purchased at Eye of Horus and Galde Press.

The Secret History of the Reptilians:
The Pervasive Presence of the Serpent in Human History, Religion and Alien Mythos

By Scott Alan Roberts, New Page Books.

Author Scott Alan Roberts examines the archetype of the serpent and rumors of reptilian entities across cultures from the ancient past to the modern ufology claims.  Drawing upon a rich variety of sources from the Bible to Indiana Jones, he examines the human pre-occupation with serpent and serpent-like creatures as both foil and friend to human kind. Although in his introduction he makes some unsubstantiated claims, overall the book is intelligently written and avoids dramatic conclusions, instead leaving the reader with a great deal of food for further thought.

Roberts also draws upon his own work from The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim.  The history as presented here begins with an examination of the Sumerians and the much-fabled Annunaki and the mysterious stories from Genesis.  He argues for the accuracy of the early Old Testament books, historically speaking, and reasons that if they are accurate in such things as the names of king (which agree with archaeological artifacts and secular sources), that the depiction of the serpent and other shadowy figures might be an accurate reflection of actual human experience.  He notes, too that these texts reflect stories found in much older Sumerian and Akkadian writings.  And this is one reader who is happy to see that Robert re-examines these writings, revealing that Zecharia Sitchen—famous for his books on the Annunaki—did little actual research and that Sitchen’s work is filled with misinterpretations and misconceptions.

Theorizing the possibility that Cain and Abel were twin sons of two fathers—the serpent creature known as Nachash (the Hebrew word meaning roughly, “enchanter”) and Adam. This created two bloodlines for humanity—the “reptilian” one and the human one.

Roberts also examines the prominence of the serpent symbol in cultures around the world—the kundalini in Hindu, the great dragons of China, and the Aztec feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl.

In the middle section, Roberts examines the presence of the serpent among alien/UFO theorists.  In the final section, he returns to the hidden bloodline, making connections to the Merovingian theories of Jesus’ descendants.  His arguments are cogent, if not entirely convincing.

For anyone interested in archetypes, ancient religions, Bible mysteries, aliens and even conspiracy theories, The Secret History of the Reptilians will make for fascinating reading.