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by Charles A. Eastman (Author)
Slow down, breathe deep, and walk with Dr. Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa) as he guides you into meditations on reflection, reverence, and the timeless wisdom of Native American spirituality.
Some truths are not taught but remembered--in stillness, in solitude, in the sacred hush of the natural world. In Meditations of Ohiyesa, Dr. Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa) guides us back to the truths that live beneath words. Raised in traditional Dakota ways during the late 1800s and later educated in the formal institutions of a very different world, Charles moved between cultures with grace, offering rare insight into Indigenous thought and reverence. His reflections on nature and spirit embodied the rhythms of a life lived in harmony with the land.
Meditations of Ohiyesa collects 60 of Eastman's most resonant writings on nature, community, prayer, and Indigenous philosophy. Each passage opens a doorway: to silence, to humility, to the deep understanding that nature is not separate from us but part of us. These writings offer inspiration, as well as practical guidance for anyone seeking a more mindful, rooted way of living. Read it slowly. Return to it often. Carry it with you into the woods--or into a quiet moment of your day.
Inside you'll find:
- Reflections on the sacredness of nature and our place within it
- Core Dakota values of generosity, humility, and spiritual connection
- Powerful critique of modern materialism and disconnection
- Authentic Indigenous teachings, shared with clarity, grace, and emotional depth
Royalties from this edition are donated to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Health Center, supporting community well-being.
Author Biography
Dr. Charles A. Eastman, or Ohiyesa (pronounced oh-hee-yay-suh), was a writer, speaker, medical doctor, and member of the Eastern Dakota. Born in 1858 in Minnesota, he survived the US-Dakota War and the persecution that followed. His father, Many Lightnings, was presumed killed in the war, but years later Ohiyesa was reunited with him. Many Lightnings had adopted Christianity and the name "Jacob Eastman."
Encouraged to pursue a Western education, Charles earned a medical degree--becoming one of the first Indigenous Western-trained doctors. He served on reservations, including Pine Ridge, where he treated victims of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre.
Charles wrote more than a dozen books, starting with Indian Boyhood (1902), blending vivid nature writing with reflections on Indigenous life. As is clear from his works, he effectively lived in two worlds. His writing is a look back to a time when the memory of the US-Dakota War was raw and its aftermath obvious, yet his text is also remarkably modern and bracingly honest.
