Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being by Cervantes, Carl Lorenz

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Occult Philosophy

Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being

Name: Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being
Price: 21.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Cervantes, Carl Lorenz
ISBN: 9798889842637

Cervantes, Carl Lorenz

Reader rating

4.6

(1 reviews) 123 sold

$21.00

Editorial score How we rate

In stock

Stock reported in the catalog; fulfillment is confirmed with your request.

📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Unearth ancestral Filipino wisdom for profound personal and collective liberation.

Carl Lorenz Cervantes masterfully guides readers through the rich tapestry of Filipino indigenous psychology and ancient spiritual practices. Moving beyond colonial distortions, this book reclaims a vibrant ancestral worldview, drawing from folklore, linguistic insights, and ethnographic studies. Cervantes offers a powerful framework for personal growth and shared well-being, inviting both those of Filipino heritage and seekers of universal truths to engage with a decolonized understanding of identity and spirit. It's an essential journey into the heart of a resilient culture's enduring wisdom.

Key themes

Indigenous Filipino Psychology Reclaiming Decolonized Identity Holistic Well-being & Spirit

Historical context

This work sits at the intersection of contemporary decolonial theory and indigenous Filipino psychology, reclaiming ancestral wisdom from colonial distortions. It bridges ethnographic study with practical spiritual frameworks for modern well-being.

Difficulty

●● Moderate

Fans will love it

Eduardo Kohn · Gloria Anzaldúa · Linda Tuhiwai Smith

🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 North Atlantic Books 📅 2025 📖 232 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9798889842637

Fun fact

Cervantes delivers a deeply insightful and necessary work, masterfully weaving together cultural psychology, history, and personal narrative. 'Sikodiwa' is a beacon for those seeking to understand indigenous wisdom beyond superficial interpretations, offering a profound decolonial lens. While it may not satisfy readers solely seeking practical spells or quick fixes, its strength lies in reorienting one's entire perception of heritage and self. This book stands as a significant contribution to the growing field of global indigenous spiritual thought.

📝 Description: Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being

Researcher and lecturer Carl Lorenz Cervantes explores the timeless wisdom, ancestral worldviews, and spiritual tools of Filipino psychology and culture--and offers Indigenous ways of knowing for all readers, Filipino and non-Filipino alike. Drawing from folklore, language, ethnography, and personal story, Sikodiwa is a mind-opening exploration for readers of Braiding Sweetgrass and Fresh Banana Leaves Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa pinaroroonan: Those who do not honor their roots will never reach their destination. --Filipino proverb For centuries, Filipino lifeways were presented to outsiders through the distorted lens of colonization--and the oppression, exploitation, and denigration suffered by Filipino ancestors are well-documented. Here, Carl Lorenz Cervantes draws from Filipino folklore, language, and culture to reorient toward an Indigenous worldview: one that rejects being seen as a passive object in history. That reclaims Filipino identity, storytelling, and liberation on Filipino terms. And that embraces a powerful truth: We are the descendants of our colonized ancestors, but we are also the grandchildren of the revolution. Rooted in Indigenous Filipino worldviews, Sikodiwa offers a vital exploration of: Indigenization: reclaiming and restoring Indigenous worldviews Cosmic origins: Defining Indigenous through the lens of creation myths Filipino-ness: Navigating processes of decolonization and the vagueness of cultural identity Deep spirituality: Folk healing, native spirituality, and deep, mystical realities Cultural authenticity: navigating the complexities of identity and reconnecting with our most authentic selves Reclaiming values: Challenging stereotypes about Filipino cultural values Towards Kapwa Understanding shared identity--and learning how it manifests Revolution and fate Applying cultural frameworks and existential tools to self-help practices Cervantes also shows how we can apply vital cultural frameworks to our own self-help and empowerment practices, from learning to use existential tools like Bahala na (letting go of burden) to understanding the inherently collective meaning-making of Kasaysayan (history). A vital contribution to a more inclusive world psychology, Sikodiwa uplifts Indigenized ways of knowing--and offers a timely and inspired path toward collective consciousness, cultural authenticity, and embodied well-being.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Cervantes delivers a compelling reclamation of Filipino indigenous psychology, yet this text may not suit readers seeking quick self-help fixes or those uninterested in the labor of decolonization. It requires engagement with complex cultural and linguistic insights rather than passive consumption. Readers looking for purely Western esoteric traditions might find the specific ethnographic focus alienating. However, for those willing to delve into the tapestry of ancestral worldview, it offers profound clarity. The book is not for those resistant to challenging colonial distortions or exploring non-Western spiritual architectures.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers deeply invested in decolonizing their spiritual practice or seeking authentic indigenous perspectives will find this book transformative. It offers a vital corrective to colonial narratives, providing a robust framework for personal growth rooted in Filipino heritage. Those yearning for shared well-being through ancestral connection will appreciate the gentle guidance toward liberation. It is particularly valuable for individuals exploring how folklore and linguistics can heal identity fractures. Ultimately, it serves as an essential bridge for seekers of universal truths who wish to engage with a resilient culture’s enduring wisdom without appropriation.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are drawn to ancestral wisdom, decolonized perspectives, or cultural psychology, this book is for you. Readers seeking to understand Filipino heritage, or anyone yearning for profound insights into self and collective well-being outside conventional frameworks, will find a powerful guide.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Cervantes delivers a compelling reclamation of Filipino indigenous psychology, yet this text may not suit readers seeking quick self-help fixes or those uninterested in the labor of decolonization. It requires engagement with complex cultural and linguistic insights rather than passive consumption. Readers looking for purely Western esoteric traditions might find the specific ethnographic focus alienating. However, for those willing to delve into the tapestry of ancestral worldview, it offers profound clarity. The book is not for those resistant to challenging colonial distortions or exploring non-Western spiritual architectures.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not. While deeply rooted in Filipino wisdom, Cervantes expertly bridges cultural insights, offering universal frameworks for understanding identity, connection, and well-being that resonate with anyone seeking deeper self-knowledge and cultural appreciation.

The book delves into ancestral worldviews, linguistic insights, and practices embedded in Filipino folklore and daily life. It offers a reorientation of perspective rather than specific spells or rituals, focusing on understanding and applying indigenous wisdom for holistic well-being.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Indigenous Filipino Psychology

Cervantes delves into the unique framework of Filipino consciousness, revealing how language, folklore, and ancestral knowledge shape perception and spiritual practices. This exploration offers a profound alternative to Western psychological models, emphasizing collective well-being and a deep connection to heritage, providing insights into a worldview often overlooked or misunderstood.

Reclaiming Decolonized Identity

This work courageously reorients the narrative of Filipino history and identity, challenging the long-standing colonial lens. By highlighting indigenous perspectives, Cervantes empowers readers to see Filipino culture not as a passive recipient of history, but as a vibrant, self-determining force, asserting its stories and pathways to liberation on its own terms.

Holistic Well-being & Spirit

Beyond academic exploration, the book offers tangible pathways to personal and community flourishing. It integrates ancient wisdom and spiritual tools into contemporary life, fostering a deeper connection to one's roots and fostering resilience. This approach to well-being is holistic, intertwining individual health with the health of one's ancestral and cultural lineage.

💬 Quotes from the book

“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa pinaroroonan: Those who do not honor their roots will never reach their destination.”

“We are the descendants of our colonized ancestors, but we are also the grandchildren of the revolution.”

📜 Historical context

For centuries, narratives of Filipino culture were filtered through colonial lenses, often diminishing or distorting indigenous wisdom. This book stands firmly in a modern tradition of scholarship that seeks to redress these historical imbalances, reclaiming and re-centering authentic Filipino voices and worldviews. It's a vital contribution to decolonial thought and indigenous studies.

📚 Glossary

Sikodiwa
Indigenous Worldview
Decolonization

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might honoring your own ancestral roots, regardless of your background, shape your personal journey and understanding of your 'destination'?
Reflect on how historical narratives have influenced your perception of your own culture or identity. What aspects might you wish to 'reclaim' or re-examine?
Consider the idea of 'shared well-being.' How do your personal actions contribute to, or detract from, the well-being of your community and the collective spirit?