| Title | : | Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0684830337 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780684830339 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 160 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1995 |
Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World Reviews
-
I just finished reading this book, which is so beautifully and gracefully written. Linda Hogan's prose is indeed filled with poetic language, in which she reminds us of our connectedness to the natural world, of the natural world's connectedness to the spiritual and mythic world, and that every action, however small and insignificant to us, has the most profound effect on others. So here, not only are we humans and animals alive; the mountains, the trees, the water are also alive, and contain memory of everything that has ever touched it. Imagine, old as water is, what it knows.
This means, then, that we should live mindfully. She tells us of her everyday actions, from performing a small ritual with sage for a dead elderly and decrepit porcupine on her street, and from which maggots emerge, rapidly developing into so many different kinds of insects, which, upon reaching the other side of the street, are quickly devoured by the ants awaiting them there. So from one death, so much life, whose deaths feed more life.
Hogan telescopes (or microscopes) in and out, from these sorts of details in a finite space and time as above, to the geological time it takes for water to carve a canyon through a hill, and what layers of life burrow their way into what is now cliff face. How this cliff, this half a hill hums with the collective sound of bees nesting within it.
In her "Dwellings" essay, she tells us of the fallen and abandoned bird's nest outside of her home, which is woven with old grass, sage, threads from her old skirt, her daughter's hair from an old hairbrush. How it is that the strands from her life and family become a shelter for these other lives. Throughout this collection of essays, Hogan continues to pull back, widen the view, until we are presented with the planet, which is the nest in which we have made our home, this nest resting in branch of a larger tree that is our galaxy.
Still, let the above not stand as a new age-y or uncritically Utopian message of "we are all one." I especially appreciate about Hogan that she is not blameless. When she speaks of a "we" who has lost touch with indigenous ways of knowing, including knowing how to live as stewards of the life on this planet, she includes herself as a part of this modern human culture. In this way, there is a message of hope, that each and every one of us and our seemingly little deeds of saving and honoring lives, can amount to something significant. She cites all manners of other voices; artists, poets, scientists, who have in common that they have paid close attention to the physical, spiritual, or mythical world, in order to hear its voice. It's important to be mindful, Hogan is telling us, to live mindfully, to respect all life, as we are connected to them as they are to us. -
One of the best sets of essays I have ever read. Hogan uses tremendous imagery here, just like in her poetry. I especially loved the essay on bats.
...they live with the goddess of night in the lusty mouth of earth...
...bending over the stone, smelling the earth up close, we drank sky off the surface of water... -
She said caves were feminine places that’s real shit
-
“whichever road i follow, i walk in the land of many gods, and they love and eat one another. walking, i am listening to a deeper way. suddently all my ancestors are behind me. be still, they say. watch and listen. you are the result of the love of thousands.” aidan thank you for recommending me this book i now need my own copy
-
What a beautiful volume about nature, the world, and our place in it. Such lovely reminders of nature’s incredible depth and breadth. Refreshing 🥰
-
Would honestly say this is one of the best books i've read in a while. True to its content, the book shapeshifts between poetry and prose in a beautiful, soothing way. Hogan's storytelling felt intimate and healing as it wove her (and her family's) personal experiences with ancestral beliefs (not only human but of the earth herself). As I read an essay every day, I felt the distinction between "humans" and other earth beings blur further and further, allowing me to experience an intimacy I haven't felt before. Whether Hogan was writing about wolves, porcupines, bats, or creation itself, her poetic storytelling related astute observations of earth and earth beings to the impact of humans on ecologies. In their wide range of topics, these essays were tied together in their contemplations of life, death, and how there is always a possibility for repairing our relation to earth. Forever grateful to have experienced this book and am now inspired to be more intentional about my own relations to earth and her relatives.
"Walking, I am listening in a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands." -
Some of these essays touched me, prodded me, lifted and soothed and strengthened me more than others. They are all good. "The Kill Hole" is my favorite. I shared "A Different Yield" with my students.
A brief passage from a chapter about working in a raptor rehabilitation center: "The most difficult task the birds demand is that we learn to be equal to them, t feel our way into an intelligence that i different from our own. A fiend, awed at the thought of working with eagles, said, 'Imagine knowing an eagle.' I answered her honestly, 'It isn't so much knowing the eagles. It's that they know us.' "
These are wise rumination about knowing how our lives fit into the landscapes, the animals and plants and flowing water of our home here on earth.
Oh! The last chapter of this book ends on page 159. -
Absolutely fascinating. This book changed my understanding of the earth that we inhabit, and left me in a state of reverence.
“We want to live as if there is no other place, as if we will always be here.
We want to live with devotion to the world of waters and the universe of life that dwells above our thin roofs….
We were children of the universe. In the gas and dust of life, we are voyagers.” - Page 134 -
This book was the first I’ve read of Linda Hogan, and I am so glad she’s come into my life. Some of these essays moved me deeply, while others didn’t. Regardless of the impact or lack of impact, her writing is divine, and I will read many more of her works undoubtedly. I highly recommend.
-
I love dwelling in Linda's world.
-
Beautiful, simply beautiful! Hogan's reflections on nature are part prose, part poetry. I will be re-visiting this book again.
-
For some reason, it seems nature writing tends toward a certain superficiality. "Ooh, I saw a bird! I'm going to write down that I saw the bird. If I'm feeling fancy, I might even use a metaphor or simile!" And then it ends, right there. It just plops down and roosts, right where the thought terminated, which often is less a thought and more a straightforward observation. Though not quite as drearily pathetic as A Moving Meditation: Life on a Cape Cod Kettle Pond, this one sure gets close at points. It's obvious that Hogan is a better writer and has slightly more interesting things to say, but so much of what she writes comes off as... trite. The word kept rattling in my head every time I read a new platitude or almost-interesting observation. A potential reader of this book would benefit much more greatly by reading the work of Basho, Ryokan, John G. Neihardt, Ted Kooser, Thoreau, or any number of other writers who write about nature or Native American religion.
I think the problem why so much of it fell flat was that the author was attempting to navigate a gap which some of the most talented writers and most nuanced minds have failed to bridge: that between scientia and sapientia, between mathematical/scientific knowledge and traditional/theological wisdom. If one attempts too direct a correspondence, then it comes off precisely as trite oversimplifications and dismissals of "the other side." The only way out of the conundrum to me seems to be something in the region of what the medieval Christian and Islamic thinkers achieved, though they're badly out of fashion and unlikely to gain any traction. In the post-modern meantime, it seems that native/indigenous thinking may be our best bet. Unfortunately, because so much of indigenous religion and tradition has been decimated and lost, what we have now is a shell of what it was back in its heyday. Instead, now we have essays like this collection's first, "The Feathers," which was originally published in a magazine called New Age (which should tell you all you need to know about it). The essay, like much of the book, amounts to little more than superstitious pattern recognition and unfalsifiable witness claims. I find this really unfortunate, because I feel like this book, were it written by someone more capable, could have helped bridge an important gap in the discourse. Instead, it came off as smug and self-righteous, yet shallow in its lack of elaboration on each point. Rather than diving into depth on a certain topic, she loosely grouped vaguely related stories and memories. Sometimes the chapters ended nicely, but to get any higher of a rating she needed to weave that throughout, instead of only plopping it at the end.
These essays often had little to no cohesion other than an over-arching word (apparently broadened to a "theme," though precious little thematic resonance held it together). In "The Feathers" (as well as "The Bats" and "The Caves," original names, I know), the author jumped from reverie to reverie, doing none of the hard work of nature writing; that is, transforming it into something above mere observation or speculation. I was doubly surprised that the worst, most disjointed of the chapters were previously published essays, while the better chapters were ones seemingly written for this collection. I also will admit I gave up the book halfway through, because I'm not Catholic enough to be that masochistic. I will, however, leave you with probably the best quote from the book, one which another author who visited my university quoted:
Bending over the stone, smelling earth up close, we drank sky off the surface of the water.
Now that's a sublime line. If only the rest of the book had as much originality and attention to the line, I would have enjoyed it thoroughly. Because it didn't, I didn't. Adieu. -
From the book jacket: Award-winning Chickasaw poet and novelist Linda Hogan's first work of nonfiction explores the author's lifelong love for the living world and all its inhabitants. As an Indian woman, grandmother, and environmentalist, Hogan questions "our responsibilities to the caretaking of the future and to the other species who share our journey." In stores about bats, bees, porcupines, wolves, and caves, Hogan honors the spirit of all living things. Dwellings is about the idea and meaning of home. The earth is our universal home, this book tells us. "We want to live as if there is no other place, as if we will always be here. We want to live with devotion to the world of waters and the universe of life." Dwellings teaches us about cultures whose understanding of the world are often at odds with one another and with other species; about Native peoples' sacrifices and gifts, and the Indian tradition as a means of finding balance, of restoring our relationship to the earth. In offering praise to sky, earth, water, animals, we witness how each living thing is alive in a conscious world with its own integrity, grace, and dignity. Spoken with tenderness, beauty, and care, Dwellings takes us on a spiritual quest born out of the deep past. These illuminating writings offer a more hopeful future as they seek visions and light ancient fires.
Linda Hogan very eloquently conveys the connection of humans, animals, earth, sky, wind, water in Dwellings. I frequently found my mind wandering to a past time of Native Americans in their native land. Curious of what our world would resemble if the founding fathers (and generations that follow) had not obliterated much of Native culture but rather embraced and learned from our Native brothers and sisters. The knowledge of and relationship with the natural world would very much have benefited all of our generations.
Over the past year I have adopted a curiosity for Native culture and spirituality. The spirituality and deep connection of all natural beings in the Native culture is captivating. One of my favorite passages: "Drinking the water, I thought how earth and sky are generous with their gifts, and how good it is to receive them. Most of us are taught, somehow, about giving and accepting human gifts, but not about opening ourselves and our bodies to welcome the sun, the land, the visions of sky and dreaming, not about standing in the rain ecstatic with what is offered."
Or this passage: "Humans colonizing and conquering others have a propensity for this, for burning behind them what they cannot possess or control, as if their conflicts are not with themselves and their own way of being, but with the land itself." The mark of an amazing book is one that encourages me to think beyond the pages. I had always considered the destruction of wars and battles to human life. But, to consider the damage to the land itself - just because humans disagree or intend to conquer another. Linda Hogan's words strike deeply and further my admiration for the Native connection to all of nature. It breaks my heart that this connection and respect was not allowed to flourish after our country was conquered. How different our souls would have been through history. -
Mõned aastad tagasi oli mingi uudis, et kusagil USAs või Kanadas anti välja teadusgrant selleks, et uurida P-Amerika põlisrahvaste kosmoseteooriaid ja sellega seotud füüsikat ja muud säärast. Ei - mitte selleks, et uurida maailmaloomise jms seotud pärimust. Ei. Vaid selleks, et uuridagi indiaani füüsikat ja kosmoloogiat jms. Sest miks ei võiks igal rahval olla oma füüsika... miks peavad kõik ühte ja sama gravitatsioonikonstanti taluma ja valguse kiirust kogema?
Ühesõnaga - selle indiaanitädi looduseteemalisi mõtisklusi lugedes meenus mulle alatasa see uudis. Sest temagi rääkis üsna sellist juttu. Kuni selleni välja, et mis iganes hõim see oli, kelle pärimus väidab, et nende esiisad vaatasid pealt, kuidas maailm loodi ja seepärast teavad nad seda täpselt, ja otseallikast, ja ärgu mingi tuim ja tundetu teadus tulgu ütlema, kuidas see käis. Õudsalt närvidele käisid need tema mõtted, ja ta oli pea igas jutus ikka vaja selliste uhhuundustega muidu üsnagi toredad looduskirjeldused või mingid tänapäevaste indiaanlaste argitegemised ja kasvõi ka need vanad pärimused ära lörtsida. Selline jutt devalveerib mu meelest nende endi pärimust, mis muidu mulle väga meeldib. (Kui just muidugi mitte olla Dewalvaeri indinaanlane...)
Tundus täpselt selline pealtnäha emalikult rauge tädi, kes mingil loodusfestivalil läheb esoteerilist äksi täis, ja tahab sulle iga hinna eest mingit uhhuud tõestada, väites kohe jutu alguseks, et mida need teadlased, eksole ju ikka teavad, ja üldse asju varjatakse, ja kõik vastused on looduses. Ja lõpuks unikaalseid persetšakraid avavaid sitakivisid pähe, või kusagile mujale määrida, või toppida. Ei teagi, miks ma ikkagi lõpuni venitasin sellega. Võibolla seepärast, et lugesin peldikus ja teine raamat, mis mul seal parasjagu on (Borgese väljamõeldud olendite raamat), on veelgi hullem pettumus... -
Dwellings is an essay collection by Chickasaw American writer Linda Hogan. My favorite essays here were What Holds the Water. What Holds the Light. Deify the Wolves. Creations.
Notes... -
I wish I had discovered Linda Hogan 30 years ago. Her essays about the earth are equal parts poetry and passion:
"We do not know the secrets of stars. We do not know the true history of water. We do not know ourselves. We have forgotten that this land and every life-form is a piece of god, a divine community, with the same forces of creation in plants as in people. All the lives around us are lives of gods. The long history of creation that has shaped plankton, and shaped horseshoe crabs, has shaped our human being. Everything is Maker; mangroves, termites, all are sources of one creation or another. Without respect and reverence for it, there is an absence of holiness, of any God."
Published in 1995 - what have we learned since then? -
Poetic & enchanting. Hogan helps to restore our connection to the loss divine aspects of ourselves. She states that the disconnection from ourselves derives from our lack of connection with the earth. Us and the earth are one entity. We exist only briefly and then we turn ourselves back over to the earth, once again returning to that which birthed us. We must listen to the intuitive voice within ourselves that reaches far back to the origin of existence. I really enjoyed this book, it was further confirmation that god is all around us. “What does god look like? These fish, this water, this land.”
“To dream of the universe is to know that we are small and brief as insects, born in a flash of rain and gone a moment later. We are delicate and our world is fragile.” -
I went searching for this book because of a quote that I found over six years ago that was attributed to the author. Turns out it was the very last line of the book, but I'm so glad it led me to the rest of her beautiful words.
This book is a love song to the earth and all its inhabitants. It dances with life and death, with creativity and destruction, with beauty and decay. If you loved reading Braiding Sweetgrass, I would highly recommend Linda Hogan's writing to you. Although nearly 30 years old, this book feels desperately relevant to the crises we find ourselves facing today.
And her stories and memories will stir a romance for the earth in you again. -
Quiet, beautiful, and hopeful. If I had my own copy, I would have dog-eared so many pages.
Other random thoughts:
-It takes a very special person (and the best kind of nature-lover) to write as beautifully and lovingly about a trail of maggots leaving a dead porcupine as of an eagle soaring through the air.
-I want to read everything Linda Hogan has ever written now.
-I was so excited by the story she told about Naomi Shihab Nye, because I also love Naomi Shihab Nye's work, and OF COURSE THEY ARE FRIENDS. <3 -
I enjoyed her voice and many of her descriptions, and I think I will look at some of her other writing. But I failed to detect any narrative thread or dramatic arc within or across the essays. After about halfway through, the lack of cohesion, tension or progression made reading this book rather boring and tedious. Rather than a "spiritual history," this was an assortment of individual chapters containing observations and musings which had been previously published, later gathered hastily into this one volume without any overarching purpose.
-
While I enjoyed the perspectives and quotable sentiments in this collection of essays, it lacked cohesiveness for me - both within the individual essays and as a collective. Towards the end of the book, especially, the writing appeared to be more random observations than pointing the reader to specific conclusions. Perhaps it was too subtle for me, but I would have preferred knowing what Hogan was driving at with the random ideas she shared.
-
A collection of deep and rich observations of the world around us. Having been so wrapped up in thoughts about the past, future, career, and everything stressful, this book felt like fresh balm to my spirit with its gently bringing my attention and gratitude back to earth and nature, to all of its beauty and mistery hidden in plain sight.
A book I find myself going back to, which never fails to take a weight off my shoulders with its meditative and contemplative considerations. -
I have not read such an amazing book in a while. Wow! That was how I felt the whole time I was reading this book. It spoke to my soul, to the deepest part of my heart. Actually I felt it reflects me and the way I think and feel. I’m grateful for my Professor for introducing Linda Hogan to me. I completely love this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone willing to open up to understand how we are part of this universe and are not the masters but rather equals to all living organisms.
-
A thoughtful and inspiring series of essays, digging into the foundations of the relationship between humans, other living creatures and the land. It was thrilling to see a skillful writer use Native American experiences and concepts to show how we can rethink our relationship to "nature" without preaching. Show, not tell. Do, not preach.
-
"Our work is our altar." That line resonated so much for me, and it put the book into focus for me. The dwellings in this prose-poem are all the sacred places where humans meet others dwelling in this space. Sometimes in peace, sometimes not.
Quiet, short musings with elements of memoir and insight...a reverential walk down a dusty path with a friend.
