Description

Grandmothers of the Light: A Medicine Woman’s Source Book by Paula Gunn Allen (1991 ed.)

Grandmothers of the Light is Paula Gunn Allen’s rich and illuminating exploration of Indigenous womanhood, spirituality, and creation traditions. Drawing from the vast oral traditions of North American tribes, Allen retells and interprets stories centered on powerful female figures—goddesses, creators, and culture‑shapers—whose guidance has shaped generations.

Blending ethnography, mythology, personal narrative, and feminist scholarship, Allen presents a woman‑centered metaphysical worldview rooted in Native belief systems. These stories highlight a cosmic feminine creative intelligence and emphasize the roles women play as healers, knowledge‑keepers, and sources of balance within their communities.

Structured in three parts—an introduction to Allen’s feminist, pan‑Indigenous perspective; a collection of retold traditional myths; and a concluding contextual study—the book serves as both a cultural primer and a spiritual guide. It invites readers to reclaim intuition, honor ancestral knowledge, and engage with woman‑centered teachings as a pathway to personal and collective empowerment.

A profound resource for those seeking insight into Indigenous cosmologies, women’s spirituality, or the medicine traditions of Native America, Grandmothers of the Light offers timeless stories with enduring transformative power.

Copyright: This paperback copy was published by Beacon Press in 1991.

Condition: Okay. Loved. No markings.

U.S. media mail shipping included.

ISBN-10: 0807081035

ISBN-13: 9780807081037

Dewey Decimal: 398.2