The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1891, pages 301-398

"The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees" by James Mooney is a historical record from the late 1800s that shares the sacred knowledge and healing ways of the Cherokee people. It contains over six hundred formulas that cover medicine, love, hunting, and spirits revealing the connection between their ancient religion and their everyday lives. Early in the book, Mooney tells of getting these treasured formulas from Cherokee leaders on a reservation in North Carolina during the late 19th century. He shows why these writings matter, noting how they reflect Cherokee culture and spirituality and act as a pharmacy guide. The early parts talk about where these formulas come from, the difficulty in collecting them, and how the spiritual leaders and their community connect. Through stories and reasons, Mooney aims to show how deep Cherokee customs are and how important their healing ways are to their beliefs.