And the Silent Spoke

And the Silent Spoke is an account of one woman’s attempt to find indigenous medical treatments that may be of use to Western medicine. As she traveled to remote locations, she discovered friendship and community and a deeper understanding of the interconnections within the world we inhabit. She also weaves through the book an imagined account of her aging and what she wishes to leave behind for her own family. I found this to be both a profound and beautifully written account of her adventures around the globe.

I have to admit that I was expecting a little more information about the plants that she discovered and the work she was doing once she returned from her travels. Nevertheless, I loved the excellent and lively descriptions of places many of us will only ever dream of visiting. The thoughts and sentiments she shared in this book resonated with me. I particularly liked the compassion she showed to local people who are often having to make choices based on survival and, are not always following what the West thinks is appropriate. Ms. Greeson did not judge anyone she met on her travels. Her account has made me think more about how much we can learn from indigenous people and their customs. I hope others will also take that message from this book. After reading this, I realized that we owe indigenous healers a debt of gratitude for sharing their knowledge about plants and the way they use them. And I am saddened to think about those who will pass away without being able to pass along valuable knowledge. The death of Joamad in Madagascar struck me as just such an example.

Although I thought that looking into the future as she aged and reconnected with her family was unique, I had mixed feelings about this part of the book. I didn’t feel it added that much to the whole story. I did, however, love the descriptions of experiences in Congo-Brazzaville. Everyone needed to display a sense of power, but luck seemed to be on the side of the expedition. As I read through the numerous extraordinary adventures, I felt as if I were one of the team.

I hope the author is continuing her quest to find ancient medical treatments and promote educational awareness of indigenous cultures through her non-profit organizations. And because I feel it is such a worthy cause, I hope this book will help spread the word about Healing Seekers. I was excited to discover this group and the work they are doing, and I’m happy I was able to follow their incredible adventure.