Dancing With Raven And Bear

Original tales inspired by Native American and Norwegian folklore that highlight the wisdom of the divine natural world • Shares unique stories about Earth Medicine and animal magic, inspired by the author’s unusual Native American (Hopi) and Norwegian upbringing • Interwoven with ancient teachings and everyday practical applications of Earth Medicine, such as grounding and dream interpretation • Each tale is beautifully illustrated with the author’s original art, which promotes spiritual understanding and the power of the Earth’s healing properties • Paper with French flaps Drawing on both her Native American (Hopi) heritage and her Norwegian upbringing, renowned mystic and intuitive healer Sonja Grace shares original wisdom tales, received through her heart and soul, to take you on a journey into the magic of Raven and Bear and the healing power of Earth Medicine. Featuring Sonja’s distinctive and beautiful artwork, each story is embedded with ancient teachings to inspire you to live closer to the Earth. The fables include powerful examples of animal magic and everyday, practical applications of Earth Medicine, such as simple energy exercises, dream interpretations, Earth Medicine prayers and meditations, and using medicinal plants to manage negative energies. As background to the stories, Sonja reveals parallels between Norse mythology and Native American traditions and explores the symbology of animals and the recurring central theme of the tension between light and darkness. In Norse myth, the great god Odin, for instance, is often accompanied by Ravens. These birds are considered manifestations of the Valkyries, the goddesses who brought brave soldiers to Valhalla, while in Native American traditions, the Raven is viewed as a trickster or messenger, a magical creature with the ability to shapeshift into a human or animal, yet also portrayed as a hero overcoming adversity. The Bear on the other hand can embody the healer who grounds our energy and removes illness or can represent the inner part of us that has faith. In one fable, Sonja brings Bear to life as a mythical creature singing songs to bring in the light, reflecting the powerful lesson that by using our voice and speaking the truth we can hold darkness at bay. Throughout all of the stories, Raven and Bear teach us to be responsible for our actions and develop spiritual accountability. By sharing these tales of Earth Medicine, Sonja offers not only a path of reconnection with the Earth but also medicine for the soul. She shows how the Earth works in unity within herself and provides a warehouse of knowledge for all who live upon her.

Mother Bear tries to persuade her young daughter Amy to stop dancing and go to bed with unexpected results.

Friendship comes in many flavors in the launch of a charming new series by Laura Numeroff, Nate Evans, and Lynn Munsinger. Just as jellybeans are different colors and flavors, each character in this heartwarming friendship story has a personality and pizzazz that young readers will love. Emily loves to dance and can’t wait to meet the other girls in her class, who are sure to be just like her. But instead she meets Nicole, a tomboy who would rather be playing soccer; Bitsy, who loves arts and crafts; and Anna, a shy bookworm who has no interest at all in dancing. Realizing that they have to work together to make their dance recital a success, the girls learn to love each other’s differences and strengths as they band together and name their group the Jellybeans! The latest picture book by beloved bestselling authors Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans is as sweet as sugar and features four adorable characters that all children will relate to. With joyful illustrations by Lynn Munsinger that dance off the page, The Jellybeans and the Big Dance will inspire readers to dance, prance, and boogie-woogie to the beat of their own drum.

Boris receives dancing lessons from his friend Max, a dancing bear with the Moscow Circus.

When Raven Dances tells the story of a girl growing up in in Seward, Alaska after World War II. It is also a study in mythology, reminding us that dangers lurk in the midst of happiness. Ms. Bigelow has obviously done a lot of research into the history of Seward, Alaska, a port often overlooked by tourists as they board or disembark their luxury ocean liners. She is able to weave in the language and folklore of Native Americans and other early immigrants from Alaska to New Mexico. Her descriptive writing style reminds one of Elizabeth Peters, author of the popular Amelia Peabody series. Many details bring the 1940s vividly to life. Most of us today are unaware of what sacrifices U.S. citizens had to make for the war effort. There are many suspenseful events in this novel that keep us turning the pages. Readers will be hoping for a sequel to learn what else happens to our gutsy heroine and her compatriots. Patricia Cleavenger, teacher of English literature and Columbia Basin College librarian War disrupts a young child's life when her father is killed in action. As a result, her mother decides to leave the comforts of New Mexico to seek a new life for them in far north Alaska. This story chronicles the ups and downs, adventures and misadventures in her life as she and her mother struggle to establish themselves in their new world. This is a “feel good” book worth your time. Read it. You will be glad you did. William R. Brooksher, Brigadier General USAF, military historian and author of Glory at a Gallop: Tales of the Confederate Cavalry

A dancing bear in Turkey who dreams of freedom receives her wish when a compassionate peasant buys her.

Atop the Unaka Mountain overlooking the many ridges and valleys, looking out across the vast expanse from east to west, I became aware of distant mountains that my father could name without a moments hesitation and point out the lay of the old trace of the old Wagon Road. Years upon years ago, many events occurred, and some of them were formed into stories that were told to children around the campfire when they camped along the old trails. As time changed the children into old men, a few stories were told over and over until they became woven into the fabric of folklore. Now I cannot name but a few of the mountains, and my father is gone . . . No doubt most of the Indian tales are gone too, lost in the pages of time. Aided with folklore and imagination, maybe we can unweave one or two stories that otherwise might have been lost. When I was but a lad, many were the old stories I heard. One of those was most fascinating, the story of a lost mine, Lost Treasure of Long Ago, and another was one called Bear Wallow, a little flat at the head of a long valley where bears were seen that were eerie looking because of the yellow mudholes that they wallowed in. Perhaps the story of Yellow Bear and his horse that wore silver shoes is one of those tales that has been uncovered from the lost pages of time.