Books by Teresa Pijoan

Myths allow us to experience and find a meaning for life through different cultures. Myths resonate within us, bringing an experience of existing within a dissimilar reality. The Native American storytellers who shared their myths with the author were taught by their Elders who lived in a place and culture altered from that of today. These myths were told and recorded by the author with the understanding they would not be lost. Some of these myths were found to be almost lost, some to be very old, almost forgotten. The Salt Woman stories are difficult to find. They are very old and come from several cultures and diverse tellers. Other myths are from New Mexican Pueblos, Southeastern Creek, Lakota, Cheyenne, Hopi and Guiana cultures.

In a small town in northern New Mexico a father's untimely death leads to mayhem and murder. Families find their lives threatened once the father's will is read for unlike his wife, he did not believe in primogeniture. Truth reveals that the father did not believe in his son Granger at all and herein begins the conflict. The father's death was to be Granger's salvation but Granger must now find a way to gain wealth in order to maintain a family male heir. The father's doctor and nurse know without a doubt that the father's death was not a natural one, but can they get the daughter Sophia to see the obvious as she suffers in her grief? Soon Granger is shown not to be as clever as he believes himself to be when someone else-someone who wants Granger's money and is equally as dangerous-comes on the scene and Granger soon becomes a victim. Sinister and clever machinations now outweigh truth and honesty. Sophia is not willing to let her home and her loved ones be separated from her without a fight as her relatives threaten to remove her from all she holds dear, including life itself. Can she survive and solve the mystery of her father's death? The body count piles up as the story unfolds. What appears obvious may not be easy to prove as the prodigal son falls. Includes Readers Guide. TERESA PIJOAN was born in Espanola, New Mexico, and grew up in Indian communities where she learned the ways and legends of the Native People. Her father was a public health doctor from Barcelona and her mother was a school teacher from New York. Her grandfather was the famous Spanish author, Jose Pijoan. Teresa Pijoan is a lecturer, storyteller, research writer, and teacher and has shared her storytelling throughout Central Europe, Mexico, and the United States. To storyteller Pijoan, myths are "magic lenses" through which cultures can be viewed, understood, and deeply appreciated. Other books by Teresa Pijoan are "Dead Kachina Man," "American Indian Creation Myths," "Healers on the Mountain," "Pueblo Indian Wisdom," "Native American Creation Stories of Family and Friendship" and "Ways of Indian Magic," all from Sunstone Press.

A unique characteristic of Native American medicine is the belief that each patient holds a different spirit, and that the healing can only work when it affects the individual spirit. Mythology is essential to this healing process. The belief stories within these pages reflect a culture that holds both poignant and alarming lessons. Readers of this book will discover the intriguing past and knowledge of Native American history and beliefs which are more enlightening than they may have previously realized.

Myths tell us much about a people. And all cultures have creation myths. The myths collected by the author in this book tell us about the rich and varied lives and imagination of the first Americans. They vary from simple to complex and all attempt to answer the question of human origin. Native Americans are of profound beginnings. Each Tribe, Group or Pueblo hold their beginning to be truths, unique from one another. The beliefs in this book are only a sampling of the many that still exist today. "In collecting these tales," the author says, "no tape recorder was used and no notes were taken during the telling. Immediately after the session copious notes were taken and later expanded into a recreation of the myth. Subjects were located through word of mouth and after a short time people started coming forward and volunteering their stories. The people hold the stories. May they continue to tell and share with their families, communities, and the outsiders. We have much to learn from Creation, from each other, and from the holders of the stories."

Text in English & Spanish. These lively stories from northern New Mexico blend elements from Native American, Latino, and Anglo sources and range from elaborate nursery rhymes to dark accounts of ghosts and spirits.