Product Description
States of spirit possession, in which believers feel themselves to be 'possessed' by the deity and raised to a new plane of existence, are found in almost all known religions. From Dionysiac cults to Haitiam voodoo, Christian and Sufi mysticism to shamanic ritual, the rapture and frenzy of ecstatic experience forms an iconic expression of faith in all its devastating power and unpredictability. Ecstatic Religion has, since its first appearance in 1971, became the classic investigative study of these puzzling phenomena. Exploring the social and political significance of spiritual ecstasy and possession, it concerns the distinct types of functions of mystical experience - in particular, the differences between powerful male-dominated possession cults which reinforce established morality and power, and marginal, renegade ecstatics expressing forms of protest on behalf of the oppressed, especially women. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Book
Although this book is written of a higher educational level, it is still understandable, and well written. The book is very informitive, but is mainly of science minds, who don't know much about the real world where spirits do exist. What the book does point out is that it gives much knowledge of faked possession or believed possession, but it is uncertain if any of these possessions were in fact real spirit possessions at all, since we are not them so how can we know if these possessions is in fact real or not? As a psychic, I know what is real and what is not, and know full blown possession is very rare compare to the lesser possessions which are controalable.

As a wisdom seeker, I can say this is a good book. I will not say I agree 100 percent what others believe, for such has to be experienced in order to know if possession is real or not, other wise it is more of self belief that truth. In fact, possession has many levels, and the most common is in fact the ego. Which open the doors for spirit influences. I not getting into any new age belief all possession is real, for even new aga only knows of beliefs than experience, therefore I can't say all possession is, for any one can fake it, or believe to be possess, but only those who are wise and not believers, would know if one is truely possessed or not. Which only some psychics had experience, but also would know the difference of possession and emotional imbalance.

It is interesting to know how possession is used by many cutures, and how there seems to always be a blaim game to the cause of the possession and conflicts. Seems none knows about laws of karma? But this book is excellent for study.

Ecstatic Religion: A Study of Shamanism and Spirit Possessio
I. M. Lewis's Ecstatic Religion is probably the most important place to begin study of the fields of spirit possession and shamanism. This book has deeply influenced the study of these fields of research since it was first published in 1971. Like most anthropologists, Lewis seeks to determine thesocial etiology and meaning of possession as well as its culturallydetermined psychological dimensions. He seriously examines trance, ecstasy,hypnosis, and shamanism, ultimately concluding that the latter shares animportant process with possession-a reciprocity between gods and humans. Hedevelops two contrasting psychosocial loci of possession which he labels"central" and "peripheral." Central possession, highlyvalued by some, supports prevailing political, moral, and religiousbeliefs, and views spirits as sympathetic to these. Peripheral possessionindicates an invasion of evil spirits, undesirable, immoral, and dangerous. Lewis's work, while much cited and admired, has also been the target ofextensive criticism. Perhaps primary among these criticisms is that hisdistinction between centrality and peripherality becomes highly ambiguousupon close contextual analysis. A second criticism is that many possessionstates do not share with shamanism the essential feature of reciprocity. Athird criticism is that although Lewis is largely free from Westerncultural biases, his characteristic terms "ecstasy" and"ecstatic" are drawn from Western theological discourse andcannot be applied unhesitatingly to many possession accounts. Lewisdescribes ecstasy as "those transports of mystical exaltation in whichman's whole being seems to fuse in a glorious communion with thedivinity" (15). This is similar to only a fraction of possessionstates observed in throughout the world. A fourth critique, and perhaps thesharpest one, is his association of possession with marginalized people,his assumption that possession provides the powerless with a means tosymbolically express social, economic, or political oppression. While manyof the contexts of possession worldwide seem to confirm this, thepreponderance of the evidence inmany countries bears this out in only themost superficial manner, possesssion, trance channeling, etc., have becomeincreasingly middle-class phenomena. Nevertheless, this a veryimportant and valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
A colorful and compelling examination of evidence for the mind's ability to heal, taking a step into the fascinating world of psychic healing and shamanism. 80 black-and-white photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Changed my Life
I have strengthened my clarity because of reading this book, I have had to take some action lately and did so because of what don Eduardo tells his apprentices "a shaman knows he can die at any time, so don't leave any loose ends".

There is no perfect life, but there is greater peace, clarity and wisdom.

Thank you to the authors and their efforts to bring the shaman's work out, very helpful and interesting.

Healing States
Awesome book and an easy read!I finished the book in one setting I got so enthralled with it. It is an excellent book discussing Villado's experiences with various healing traditions in particular shamanism.

Excellent Book!
This book takes one deeper into the spiritual practice of mediumship and Shamanism. Mediumship and healing is not meant to be separate, and this book teaches that, and teaches the spiritual practice of the healer or true psychic. Much as many do not see or know it, truth this is what we are ment to use our abilities.

The trail starts here.
I bought this book shortly after it was published and to this day, I still refer to it.A few years later I was privileged to study many of the healers discussed in these pages with Dr. Krippner in Brazil.It was every bit as amazing as reading about it for the first time.The accounts are factual, described in detail, and skillfully written with academic objectivity.If you are reading this you are probably open to the experiences described in the book but it may lead you as it did in my case, much deeper into the world of healing, alternative medicine, shamanism and good magic.
Carlisle Bergquist, Author of "The Coyote Oak: Burgeoning Wisdom"
The Coyote Oak: Burgeoning Wisdom ... Read more

Product Description

This two-volume reference is the first international survey of shamanistic beliefs from prehistory to the present day. In nearly 200 detailed, readable entries, leading ethnographers, psychologists, archaeologists, historians, and scholars of religion and folk literature explain the general principles of shamanism as well as the details of widely varied practices.

What is it like to be a shaman? Entries describe, region by region, the traits, such as sicknesses and dreams, that mark a person as a shaman, as well as the training undertaken by initiates. They detail the costumes, music, rituals, artifacts, and drugs that shamans use to achieve altered states of consciousness, communicate with spirits, travel in the spirit world, and retrieve souls. Unlike most Western books on shamanism, which focus narrowly on the individual's experience of healing and trance, Shamanism also examines the function of shamanism in society from social, political, and historical perspectives and identifies the ancient, continuous thread that connects shamanistic beliefs and rituals across cultures and millennia.

Product Description
The first book written about Mongolian and Siberian shamanism by a shaman trained in that tradition.

* A thorough introduction to Mongolian and Siberian shamanic beliefs and practices, which, until the collapse of the Soviet Union, were banned from being practiced.

* Includes rituals for healing and divination techniques.

In traditional Mongolian-Buryat culture, shamans play an important role maintaining the tegsh, the "balance" of the community. They counsel a path of moderation in one's actions and reverence for the natural world, which they view as mother to humanity. Mongolians believe that if natural resources are taken without thanking the spirits for what they have given, those resources will not be replaced. Unlike many other cultures whose shamanic traditions were undermined by modern civilization, shamans in the remote areas of southern Siberia and Mongolia are still the guardians of the environment, the community, and the natural order.

Riding Windhorses is the first book written on Mongolian and Siberian shamanism by a shaman trained in that tradition. A thorough introduction to Mongolian/Siberian shamanic beliefs and practices, it includes working knowledge of the basic rituals and various healing and divination techniques. Many of the rituals and beliefs described here have never been published and are the direct teachings of the author's own shaman mentors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Sacred Knowledge
One of my teacher's on the path told me to read this book.It's wonderful and very inciteful into the Heart of Mongolian Shamanism.It's quite a journey and excellently written.Someday I'll get there!

She is NOT Mongolian
I was very interested to read this book. I was very disappointed to read that she's not from Mongolia. Despite her adopted name (Sarangerel, a Mongolian name) she is notMongolian. She was born the the US to parents who were from Siberia. Her parents were not Buryat or Mongolian ethnicity. They were Russian/caucasian, so she did not grow up in a Mongolian or Buryat culture. So, to me, that leaves her with a lot of catching up to do.

I am very wary of people from one culture trying to achieve a deep understanding of another culture. And I am further wary of those who then think that they are experts. I liken it to how a non-native speaker can, with much skill and effort, become a fluent speaker of another language. It's possible, but only a very few can achieve fluency.

The book has lots of recipes for rituals, which some may find interesting, but without a mentor, guide or teacher, are of limited value. The text is disjointed and not scholarly. Indeed, she does not pretend to be a scholar, and says so.

Perhaps I am not giving her enough credit. The book I was really hoping to read was one written by a Mongolian/Buryat or Siberian who grew up in the shaman culture, and is able to share their wisdom with those of us who did not.

If you are in Mongolia, you might be able to get a copy of "Mongolian Shamanism" by P. Otgony and P. Gurbadaryn. ISBN 99929-0-239-6. You are unlikely to find this book outside Mongolia.

So as long as you realize that she adopted Mongolian culture, and is not a native, you may find this book helpful.

Not Bad...
The book covers modern Mongol shamanism to a reasonable degree, but leaving some areas not covered.At first I thought the book was simply deficient in spots, but I think perhaps it is Mongol shamanism that is deficient.What I would like to see is a book on how their shamanism was BEFORE the Russians and Chinese tore their country to pieces and forcibly converted so many of them.Perhaps such knowledge is lost to history.

I enjoyed a brief introduction to Mongolian Shamanism.
I bought this book because I wanted a view of Shamanism as practised in this area of the world because the term Shaman was coined by the Tungus people of Siberia.

The rituals and ceremonies are simple and could be performed by just about anyone.

Chapter 6 deals with assorted forms of diviniation.

The book is clearly written and concise; however; the author uses terms used by the Mongolian Shamans throughout the book, and in a few places; this is tiring and tedious.

My only real complaint deals with page 91 "A more potent hallucinogen, the mukhomar mushroom has been connected with Siberian and Mongolian shamanism from ancient times." (In my opinion; hallucinogenics are NOT needed, and NOT recommended.)

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

A fantastic, enlightening book
This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Shamanism.Sarangerel's book is neither a hollow academic essay nor a self serving autobiography. Riding Windhorses is a practical introduction to Mongolian/Siberianshamanic culture, and a hands-on manual for bringing very ancient practicesinto modern life.It is written in a comfortable and logical style, whichmakes it quite useful for anyone of any background.This book also servesan important role by presenting shamanism from a cultural perspective notyet given: today's bookstores are filled with terrific N. and S. Americanshamanism books.Now, the culture that gave us the word 'Shaman' is beingrepresented, and represented very well. ... Read more

Product Description
In the highest teachings, the elements are understood to be the radiance of being and are accessed through pure awareness. This book offers the reader healing meditations and yogic practices on each of these levels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Healing perspective from Bon Master
Although it's difficult to understand the nature of mind, This book worth to be read by all Vajrayana practitioner to broaden their perspective toward Bon teachings.

very nice
The amount and quality of information in this book is staggering. There is something to be said for a tradition that goes back for many centuries, a tradition that has combined a sophisticated 'energetic technology' with an established ecclesiastic hierarchy that weeds out charlatans and pretenders. Although Native Americans, Lapps etc have similar 'technologies'you will be lucky to get 5% of the info described here from an NDN - first, he doesn't want to talk about the stuff ('too sacred') and second, he doesn;thave a language for it. Tibetans, on the other hand, have developed a vocabulary (much of it sourcing from Abhidarmic texts) that clearly, precisely and unambiguously delineates various types of mental/physiological/psychical etc states and can be used to navigate tricky transpersonal domains as well as to develop greater, more effective and satisfying life. In other words, the Tibetans have developed a solid, unified, empirically tested container with appropriate safeguards.

The book starts by describing the properties of the 5 elements and their relationship to the human psyche.TWR goes on to describe breathing and visualization exercises designed to embody particular elements and their relationship to energetic channels & chakras. Analysis of different types of elemental spirits. Very helpful depictions of working with natural forces, tantric deities, protectors and dzogchen practices. These blend together, seamlessly. Techniques on taking in, holding and releasing tension. Methods to release every negative experience into a more spacious, embodied experience. These techniques are not in the service of self; getting rid of personal suffering is simply an expedient way towards serving all beings, to helping with the awakening of the Universe.

It is rare to find a book on shamanism that is so concise, informative and selfless. Recommended.

For the Shamanic at Heart
If you have a shamanistic bent this book is jam packed with the kind of useful information that usually requires an apprenticeship to acquire.It is one of the three most practical books I've encountered.If you play around with the practices and hints in this book you will experience amazing wonders in a very short time.Through two practices in particular you might even recognize the basis of your mind or be visited by deities.Don't think for one more minute, just buy the book and do the practices for the ride of your life.

Learn To Think Like A Tibetan
Forgive me if I respond first to the review below that said "watch out! This isn't Buddhism!"What that person doesn't know is Tenzin Rinpoche's books are usually prefaced by the Dalai Lama--that's how accepted this is as a legitimate spiritual pathway.This isn't like western religions where diversity means you have to burn somebody at the stake.Everybody is openly accepted for what of value they can offer and Bon has a very alive dzogchen transmission that is second to none.Sorry for this digression.

Anyway, what I liked about his book--other than the fact that Tenzin Wangyal is tops in the Tibetan community in his ability to communicate clearly with westerners (you'll be amazed)is the fact that this book is kind of a lesson in how Tibetans think--which is not required certainly, but if you are studying Tibetan spirituality and are really serious it's something you will find helpful.

LIke his book on Dream Yoga it is extremely readable and is something you can digest with no forehead massaging.I have met Tenzin Wangyal and he is a really good person and nice guy and I always remember in the sleepy period after lunch him chuckling looking out at the sleepy group and saying, "It's earth-element time."

This is a painless way to fill in a gap in your attempts to understand the culture and spirituality of Tibet.

good reference book
If you have a basic understanding of other five element practices, this book is a great resource to round out understanding from the Tibetan Bon teaching.It also covers what in TCM are the Jing, Qi and Shen levels of the Bon approach.Very clearly and openly.I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style and felt the generousity of spirit in his writing.But remember that information does not make a practice, only a practice makes a practice. ... Read more

Product Description
Shamanic journeys are doorways to parallel realities. Within these worlds, the journeyer will find helping spirits capable of guiding us towards the goals or dreams we have for ourselves, personally and collectively. These worlds will offer you information about existing dilemmas and show you new possibilities for living a more fulfilling life. This is also a healing world and can help heal and soothe your mind, body, and your personal spirit or soul. This text will assist those of you who are learning on your own with the help of your spirit guides and provide continued study for those who have begun the path. It is for beginners and seasoned practitioners. It is for healers who wish to introduce shamanic healing into their practice. It is a self guided tour because the true teachers of shamanism lie within and around you. These teachers are your spirit guides emanating from your innate ability to connect with and ... Read more

Product Description
Jargon-free information about shamanism, ESP, dreams, and magical healing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Nice Overall Read
I'm not quite sure how to categorize this book. Its really a nice little collection of brief essays concerning Shamanism in some way shape or form. I believe no few of which appeared in Shaman's Drum (a wonderful magazine in and of itself). There are alot of names you'd expect to see in such a book: Mihaly Hoppal, Joan Halifax, Mircea Eliade, Michael Harner, Serge King, etc. Overall thats a pretty broad scope there, from New Age neo-shamanism to social scientists, so you get a variety of perspectives.
Each article contributes something else to the overall books. There are articles about shamanism and madness, the ecstatic state, ESP and other paranormal phenomena as relating to shamanism, dreams, the question of whether shamanism is archaeic or modern, Native American prayer pipes, shamanism and Theosophy, the role of shaman as adventurer (filled with info on traditional African and Hawai'ian culture) and so forth. Other articles focus in on specific traditions, so that we get articles on the Tamang Shaman of Nepal, Australian aboriginal medicine men, and perhaps most unusual of all an article by Rabbi Yonassan Gersham on Jewish Shamanism, interperting Prophets from Ezekiel to the Baal Shem Tov (founder of the Hasidic movement) as shaman. There are also a couple articles on famous healers such as Rolling Thunder and Wallace Black Elk (who is actually more New Age pseudo-Shaman than anything else).
Overall, this is a very nice book to read, especially if you are interested in history, religion, archaeology, anthropology or so forth. The articles are all relatively short and easy reads, and many of them present some very unique perspectives. Overall worth getting. ... Read more

Product Description
Conversations on shamanism and mind-altering plants by filmmaker Jan Kounen, anthropologist Jeremy Narby, and writer/filmmaker Vincent Ravalec

• Explores how ayahuasca and iboga are tools for communicating with other life-forms

• Offers insights into the role this indigenous knowledge can play in solving the current problems facing the world

In the Amazon, shamans do not talk in terms of hallucinogens but of tools for communicating with other life-forms. Ayahuasca, for example, is first and foremost a means of breaking down the barrier that separates humans from other species, allowing us to communicate with them. The introduction of plant-centered shamanism into the Western world in the 1970s was literally the meeting of two entirely different paradigms. In The Psychotropic Mind, three of the individuals who have been at the forefront of embracing other ways of knowing look at the ramifications of the introduction into our Western culture of these shamanic practices and the psychotropic substances that support them.

With rare sincerity and depth, noted anthropologist Jeremy Narby, filmmaker Jan Kounen, and writer/filmmaker Vincent Ravalec explore the questions of sacred plants, initiations, hallucinogens, and altered states of consciousness, looking at both the benefits and dangers that await those who seek to travel this path. Focusing specifically on ayahuasca and iboga, psychotropic substances with which the authors are intimately familiar, they examine how we can best learn the other ways of perceiving the world found in indigenous cultures, and how this knowledge offers immense benefits and likely solutions to some of the modern world’s most pressing problems.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not organized in any meaningful way
This is simply a transcript of conversations between experts in the field. I've tried several times to pick it up and get into it, but have not been successful. I would return it if I could.

It's a shame, because I was so enthralled by Narby's seminal work, "The Cosmic Serpent."

Save your $!

Please let Narby talk!
Like some other reviewers, I found the conversation taking far too much of an ego one-upsmanship turn throughout this book. I kept looking forward to the next time Jeremy Narby was to speak and wishing the others would just be quiet and listen to him.I think the English translation from French impacts the way it comes off to an English speaker a bit, too.
That said, there were some interesting thoughts and observations in the book, which is not an actual, well-organized book - just a printed conversation that does tend to skew off track from time to time.
Another review was correct in pointing out the lack of any real discussion of Iboga here. I'd have been interested in some comparing and contrasting with the Male energy/spirit of Iboga vs. the Female one of Ayahuasca, etc. from some who have encountered both.
This would not be the best introductory book to someone wanting to learn about or preparing to work with these Teachers. There are many others that would be superior, but it is worth a look for those who are drawn to read what they can about these great plant medicines.

Definitely a Worthwhile Read...
I have been studying plant medicine and journeying intensively for the past 4 years and found this book to be very helpful.
I disagree with the review that suggested that Vincent Ravalec was at odds with Kounen and Narby.Ravalec seemed to be
right there with them, often asking them for their views on a particular topic.There were a few moments, certainly, where Ravalec
seemed to be going off, but I felt it was just that he wanted to address certain things that weren't being addressed.If anything,
I feel this discussion would have been that much stronger had Kounen and Narby participated in an Iboga ceremony prior to their meeting.
From what I understand, Iboga is truly the mother of all plant medicines, more powerful than ayahuasca.I feel that a deeper
exploration of it was missing from the discussion, and perhaps that may have been from whence the slight tension was arising.
I say "yea" to more dialogues/trialogues such as this!

Mr. Narby, I expect better
I consider Jeremy Narby's previous books to have been excellent contributions to our understanding of the connections between 'science' as we understand it, particulary the 'social sciences', and the profundities of the 'science' or wisdom obtained by means of the ceremonial taking of the ayahuasca plant(s) for example, that native peoples have long practiced.

This book is simply a transcription of two conversations in which Mr. Narby participates, along with two other no doubt interesting, but unknown to me, guys on the general topic of their experiences using ayahuasca and other hallucinogens.

These two conversations may be welcome memories for the participants, but they are not fit for a general audience. The nuggets of insight that may be somewhere buried in the discussions, will in my view forever be buried behind the boring format of people talking, with no framing into a focused subject of general interest.

For 'conversation' to be newsworthy, it must be carefully edited and framed. Unless the participants themselves are newsworthy, like Einstein and Freud talking for example. This book is NEITHER!

66% effective
Having pre-ordered this book back in July, I was unaware that it was a trialogue; the edited transcript of conversations between the three co-authors rather than an extension of Jeremy Narby's fine work in THE COSMIC SERPENT. Thus, it started out as a bit of a disappointment for me, but i never-the-less found much to enjoy, particularly in exchanges between Narby and Jan Kounen. Indeed, i liked Kounen's contributions quite a lot.What made the book tedious for me was Vincent Ravalec's egotism and constant attempts at one-upmanship.

Throughout the book Ravalec seems to regard the experiences of the others with ayahuasca as inferior to his own experience with iboga. On occasion he'll make a big deal about raising a point and then later dismiss it as irrelevant when the others take it up. In short, it would have been a much better book if he'd been left out of the mix, not because of his disagreements but because of his disagreeable nature which left me with the impression that he was being disagreeable for it's own sake. Unfortunately, one pretty much needs to read the whole book to realize this, though now that I've told you, you'll likely pick up on it very (VERY!) early. He has his moments where he contributes positively to the discussion, but these moments do not compensate for what he detracts from the overall intent of the project. From time to time, both Narby and Kounen take Ravalec to task on either something he's said or the way he's said it and when they do he generally backs down. But this also distracted me from the discussion and I didn't need to waste my reading time dealing with his ego (I'm thinking maybe he needs a couple more of those ego-busting ayahuasca sessions). Let's just hope there's not a video of these conversations in the works.

Yet overall,it is worth the read, especially if you are contemplating an ayahuasca experience of your own. As for iboga, there's not much in here about it because Ravalec is the only one of the three who claims to have had the experience.He has his own book out on iboga which I wanted to read before i wrote this review, but because of the trialogue format of PSYCHOTORPIC MIND i wanted to get that info out there and clear to potential buyers and readers. ... Read more

Product Description
Creating an alliance and working partnership with the spirits of weather to restore well-being and harmony to Earth and ourselves

• Reveals that, intentionally or not, we affect the weather not only through our actions but also through our thoughts and emotions

• Explains shamanic techniques for working with the spiritual nature of weather

• Special section on “weather dancing” details both its ceremonial and therapeutic aspects

With the growing consensus that global warming is a fact comes the realization that the increasingly violent weather we are experiencing is its chief manifestation. Each storm, each flood, each blizzard seems to break 100-year-old records for both intensity and damage. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases may be too little, too late.

Through a unique blend of anthropological research, shamanic journeys, and personal stories and anecdotes, Moss and Corbin show how humans and weather have always affected each other, and how it is possible to influence the weather. They present teachings directly from the spirits of weather that show how our thoughts and emotions affect weather energetics. They also reveal the ceremonial and therapeutic aspects of “weather dancing,” a practice used to communicate with the weather spirits.

Weather Shamanism is about transformation--of ourselves, and thus our world. It is about how we can develop an expanded worldview that honors spiritual realities in order to create a working partnership with the spirits of weather and thereby help to restore well-being and harmony to Earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Transformed My Relationship With Weather!
This book is one of those gems that can shift the attitudes of a lifetime.
I have always loved storms and have felt some affinity with the elementals who create weather, but after reading this book I became aware of how limited my view of weather has been. The authors supply story after story from shamans all over the world to support their view that weather is alive and part of the divine awareness of the Universe.

I wish everyone on the planet could read Weather Shamanism, because I know it would bring about a major change on the planet if enough people realized that our attitudes about weather, and our neglect of the beings who create weather, are adding to the imbalance and chaos in the world today. Our collective belief in dominion over nature is so far off the mark, but we will only recognize this when we are humble enough to see the truth before our eyes (in the form of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, floods, and droughts). We are not in charge here! But we can participate with the unfolding forces that bring balance and harmony to our planet. That is what this book teaches. It is a lesson we all need to learn, and soon.

Snow Dancing and Wind Communication!
This book was recommend to me by my teacher.It's an excellent book for anyone on the path.I've put it to good use and received some increadible answers from clouds, such as why it's so windy after a major rain storm - "To gather up as much water as possible to minimize flooding for people" hummmm.Thank you for this increcible knowledge.

Fascinating
I just finished reading this book and already I am wishing for Volume II. I can't believe this is the only book out there covering this vital, fascinating subject! My quest now will be to look for more information. Everyone should read this book; not just shamanic practitioners, but anyone who is concerned about global warming and the extreme weather we've experienced. Anyone who gazes at clouds, loves thunderstorms, and feels alive and awake when the wind stirs, must buy a copy of this right away. I can promise you will never look at weather the same way again. Weather is beautiful, awesome, alive, to be respected, to be danced with.
Louisa StrongBear, author of Journey By Night: A Solitary Journey

Journey By Night: A Solitary Journey

one of the dumbest books I've ever read
I have read a lot of books over the years, on various subjects concerning spirituality and the natural world, and this book is a waste of time.It's a lot of words that don't tell you anything!I learned absolutely nothing from reading this book.There are much better books out there...keep looking and don't waste your money.

Weather Shamanism
Who knew? A warning, if you read this book you will never look at the sky or a cloud in the same way again.Okay, I warned you. For those of you with a scientific bent this has scant pickings, though not completely dry bones. The authors are students of the Michael Harner school of core shamanism and they do great credit to their teacher.So instead of the usual foo foo approach so common in the quick feel good shamanistic style out there this tries to be more down to Earth and generally succeeds.

It is clear the authors have great experience teaching others about weather shamanism and share much that they have learned over the years.In contrast to many other books this is very inclusive of other peoples knowledge and experience and quotes are extensive and well placed.

If you are into shamanism this is an absolute must read.If you are a beginner in this field it may be a bit much, but still a worthy read. ... Read more

Product Description
Shamans are an integral part of communal religious traditions, professionals who make use of personal supernatural experiences, especially trance, as a resource for the wider community's physical and spiritual well-being. This Introduction surveys research on the topic of shamanism around the world, detailing the archaeology and earliest development of shamanic traditions as well as their scientific 'discovery' in the context of eighteenth and nineteenth century colonization in Siberia, the Americas, and Asia. It explores the beliefs and rituals typical of shamanic traditions, as well as the roles of shamans within their communities. It also surveys the variety of techniques used by shamans cross-culturally, including music, entheogens, material culture and verbal performance. The final chapters examine attempts to suppress or eradicate shamanic traditions, the revitalization of shamanism in postcolonial situations, and the development of new forms of shamanism within new cultural and social contexts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

very informative, yet easy to read
I read this book as a textbook for the Intro to Shamanism class taught by the author, Tom DuBois. It worked very well as a textbook. It's packed with information on all sorts of Shamanic topics, and uses several of the examples more than once (which I feel builds the reader's connection to each of these examples). It was also very easy to read, and makes a fantastic introduction to the real world of Shamanism for anyone interested in the topic. I would actually prefer to read it as a "fun book" rather than a textbook, but it is comprehensive ehough to use in a classroom setting as well.

*HIGHLY recommended* ... Read more

Product Description
Journeying not only shows the commonalities shared by shamanism andpsychology, but expands on inherent healing possibilities when their forces are joined. This bookoffers informed insight as to how the practice of journeying weaves into the psychologicalperspective, as well as providing those who know little about shamanism an enlightened view.

Journeying is the term used to describe a shaman's movement into an altered state ofconsciousness to obtain healing information. Psychology, like shamanism, works to alleviatehuman suffering and makes use of altered states in a variety of ways including guided imagery andhypnosis. Shamanism, the oldest healing tradition known to humankind, springs from natural,intuitive, and spiritual sources. Psychology, a relative newcomer on the Western scene, relies onlogic and science.

In bringing these two healing disciplines together, the author illustrates how variations onthe practice of journeying strengthens the psychological process. The true heart of this book restsin the application of journeying to the healing of emotional wounds--wounds that occur whenparents are unable to sufficiently bond with their infants. In such healing journeys shamanic poweranimals and spirit helpers provide nurturing not previously experienced, softening edges ofneediness and desperation that sometimes feed adolescent and adult aggression.

Journeying beats a fast-paced path to the alchemy of psychological transformation inwords easily understood by practitioners and lay persons alike.Amazon.com Review
Jeannette Gagan's Journeying is a must-read for thosewho are interested in shamanism but have been turned off byfuzzy-headed mystical claims or sloppy exposition. In thiswell-written and eminently useful manual, shamanism, "perhaps theoldest form of practical spirituality in the world," is explained in astraightforward, scholarly manner by a respected licensedpsychologist. Gagan succinctly summarizes the procedures,philosophies, and purposes of modern psychology, illuminating thecommon areas occupied between the two. She builds a strong case forthe introduction of shamanistic journeying into the retinue of healingmodalities for the modern psychotherapist. For those intent on healingthe psyches of themselves or others, shamanism may well work whereother modalities have failed. For example, long-repressed anger can beprocessed while journeying without fear of upsetting the neighbors, orone day awakening to the horrible realization that you just kicked thedog. --Randall Cohan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Nothing new to offer
Gagan has written a book from a psychologists perspective on the benefits of the shamanic journey. She gives un-necessariy historical essay-type background to basic psychological theories such as attachment, and discusses how psychology and shamanism both come from the same intention, to heal. However the book doesn't really go into depth on the shamanic journey at all, there is no methodology given, no map, no exercises. I was disappointed with this book as it claimed to "marry shamanism and psychology" yet nothing new in this area was offered, no tecnhiques, no examples of how she handled specific cases. She described what is already known as the shamanic counselling process, renamed it "Shamanic Psychotherapeutics", yet did not say how a psychotherapist could add to the shamanic counselling experience. She says that psychology has science to offer shamanism, yet she doesnt not elaborate on this idea.Overall its a book where a classically trained psychologist discovers shamanism and shares her new wisdom with the world. In her blurb on the back she says she is a student of shamanism, which in itself is telling. This book is an introduction to the concept of a shamanic journey to people who come from psychology backgrounds but unfortunatly, it does not do what it claims to do on the cover, which is to give a "daring and pioneering template for healing". You'd be better off reading Harner or Ingerman for a more practical approach.

Ges's Take
Jeannette Gagan is a psychologist, who while dealing with her divorce discovered Shamanism, and over the years has come to recognize Shamanism's value as a psychological healing system. She takes an agnostic approach to the reality of Shamanic visions, at times leaning to them being internally generated and other times believing there is something at work beyond the individual, but either way, they are healing. The book starts with "This is neither a self-help nor a how-to book" and it is true, this book isn't a how-to on Shamanism with a psychological twist, and it isn't how to use Shamanism as a self-help tool to deal with your problems. What the book is though, is a serious and intellectual look at Shamanism as a tool for mental wellness, largely focusing around power animals, and soul retrieval. It helps to be familiar with psychology and the counselling process to make use of the book, but I don't believe it would be necessary. There is a lot of focus on the traumas that can arise in earlier childhood (before the age of four) and examples and theory on how Shamanic journeying can help heal the wounds of childhood, as well as any other point in your life. The book talks about Journeying as a method to safely explore, and express pain, emotions, and wounds, and how psychology and shamanism are working toward the same goal, but from different angles. An intriguing read for those interested in either or both of those fields.

Apples and Oranges --Shared Slices
As a trained psychologist, Jeanette M. Gagan, writes lucidly about the her own personal spiritual journey to wholeness through shamanic practice. By comparing apples (the shaman's fruit of choice) and oranges (the psychologist's fruit of choice), Dr. Gagan succeeds in answering the following questions:

1. How does the shamanic tradition bring such potent healing power to wounds incurred in the earliest months of life? and
2. Could journeying provide a release valve for the violence so rampant in our world?

By contrasting the two traditions historically, Dr. Gagan, underscores the slices of each fruit that can be shared.Central to finding common ground are the notions of altered states of consciousness, imagery, and the Jungian alchemical processes to healing.

Throughout her story Dr. Gagan weaves in carefully chosen vignettes from her clients' journeying, and explains how these experiences transcend verbal therapy and succeed in achieving transformation.

--A very convincing and readable book.

A shamanic practitioner's viewpoint
Having experienced the shamanic path directly and then going back for a degree in psychology I found this a good book for helping the psychological community understand the shamanic path of direct experience. Too many people who are facing a spiritual opening (possibly shamanic) are medicated out of the experience because of the professional's limited viewpoint of the shamanic experience and/or the fear of the unknown.

I caution that the shamanic path cannot be catagorized or analyzed, it is fluid and changing; it is chaotic in nature-if you don't know "the way". I suggest that if you are a professional go out and journey for yourself, explore the path, draw your own conclusions.

Review by Bernie P. Nelson
'Journeying' combines the oldest healing tradition with present-day psychology. The book provides a dynamic, vital model for healing and psychological growth for anyone interested in self-improvement. The information is highly understandable at the meeting point of shamanic animal symbolism, including the psychotherapeutic experience of altered states of consciousness-'journeying,' and psychology. ... Read more

Product Description
The shaman occupies a key role as a healer mediating between the world of the living and the world of spirits and is a potent figure in alternative medicine. Shamanism, a richly illustrated guide, looks at both historic and present-day manifestations, from the snowscapes of Siberia to the jungles of the Amazon.

Explores both spiritual and psychological aspects of the subject, as well as the relevance of shamanism to contemporary Western culture ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Author
I own The Shaman writen by the auther on sale from another popular book store here in Maryland, and I found that book to be the best far read. As for this book? I not read it, but it may be re-written of the one I just boughts, which seems no longer publish? Anyway, this author is good writer, and his books are high quality. If this book is the same a The Shaman, it is well worth buy. He explains about shamans all over the world, different beliefs and practive. He covers way morte than so far I read from other books on shamanism.

Start here!
Anthropologist Piers Vitebsky, Head of Anthropology and Russian Northern Studies at the Scott Polar Research Institute, has been doing fieldwork among shamanic cultures since 1975. His researches range from Siberia to India to Sri Lanka and beyond. In this book he has provided a clear, non-technical introduction to a badly misunderstood field. Included: bibliographic information (including citations of his own studies) and a glossary. The book begins with a discussion of shamanism and its worldview, moves on to regional traditions, talks about shamanism from the shaman's viewpoint, and ends with a brief discussion of the new shamanic "movements" (fads).

As with "Far Eastern wisdom" reinterpreted and sold by people educated in the West, shamanism has been the target of intense cultural appropriation. A worldwide esoteric spiritual tradition has been diluted into self-help, with guided imagery exercises sold as "shamanic journeying." As Vitebsky notes, "Many forms of neo-shamanism use elements from North American native religions which I have characterizedin this book as not strictly shamanic. In addition...native organizations have started to criticize some of these systems for cultural imperialism or intellectual piracy." It would seem to be a characteristic of the empire psychology so many of us share but do not see that we feel entitled to uproot practices and traditions that grew up in very different societies instead of exploring our own.

A strength of this book is its presentation of shamanism as actually studied in its indigenous contexts. This frees it of the choking layer of common mischaracterizations (e.g., shamanism as dark night of the soul, self-improvement method, or spiritual path for people taking drumming lessons). I often recommend this book in my graduate holistic studies classes because here in California everyone and their mother think of themselves as shamans after attending some workshops and watching a few videos. The real shaman does not decide to become one but is selected from a long shamanic lineage by imaginal guides ("spirits") whose manifestations vary across cultures. The selectee then works as a shaman if he or she survives the initiatory illness (some do not). Nobody who has lived through the illness would choose to walk it as a spiritual path. It has nothing to do with self-improvement, and genuine shamans sometimes report feeling wounded by it for decades after enduring it.

Bonuses of this book include the glossy text stock and beautiful photography. Most of the pictures are small, but evocative, especially the agonized expressions of the shamans who appear throughout the book (e.g., pages 10, 58, 65, 98, and 156). The book also discusses the arduous training the shaman will need for a lifetime of dissociating and painful ecstatic trances that (in the shamanic view) hold the energies of the world community in balance beyond the healing work done with an occasional human client.

A Good Quick Reference
This volume provides a good quick reference on the varying aspects and traditions of shamanism. Whilst it doesn't boast the detail of Eliade's Shamanism for example or contain any how to information, it is an excellent introduction for those approaching the subject for the first time. It is beautifully illustrated and does provide enough pointers to guide you in the right direction. It is supplemented by a good bibliography and a list of contacts (although how current the latter are I don't know). Taken for what it is, an introductory text, the book achieves its goal admirably. In my opinion it is also a useful supplement to Eliade by countering the dryness of Eliades text. In summary a readable introduction to the topic.

An interesting look into Shamanism
Vitebsky may have not put together a masterpiece with this book, however there is a multitude of excellent information within its pages.The book covers shamanism cross culturally, so you get a taste of shamanism in Siberia (where it first originated) Africa, South American, North America, and many others.Some of the information in the text may be a little dated or flawed, but if you are someone who is just getting interested in the area of shamanism I highly recommend it.The text is easy to read, has vivid pictures, isn't too dry or boring, and doesn't spend an exorbitant amount of time on any one thing in particular.In short it's a fun and interesting educational read.

a perfect example of "don't judge a book by its cover."
i was assigned this book as a text for a course on shamanism at my university.the cover is eye-grabbing and colorful.i was excited to crack this book open.

i was horribly let down.

...first of all, it's completely disorganized.vitebsky jumps all over the place and can't seem to make a coherent point to save his life.

secondly, the material is seriously flawed.vitebsky shows virtually no signs of firsthand fieldwork; instead, he relies on outdated ethnographic accounts and mircea eliade's work, which are both flawed in and of themselves.several bits of "information" presented along the way [a reference to the bering land bridge migration, which has very little basis in actual fact, and a short anecdote about the "berdache," a term that is frightfully offensive to native peoples, among others] made my jaw drop at the ... poor scholarship shown in preparing this text.

the only upside to this book is that it's very colorful and has lots of nice pictures.it may make for good collage material, but as a serious text on the subject, it's worthless. ... Read more

Product Description
Explores shamanic and Tibetan Buddhist attitudes toward dreams. ... Read more

Product Description
Take one part of the world''s oldest spiritual system (shamanism), mix in one part of one of the world''s most popular spiritual cultures (the Celts), and bring it up to date by blending in modern forms of shamanism. The result is one of the most amazing books you''ll ever use, D. J. Conway''s By Oak, Ash, & Thorn.

This book is filled with information that can start you on a lifetime of study, practice, and spirituality. First, you''ll learn about ancient and modern forms of shamanism. You''ll discover the secrets of the three shamanic worlds, and how you can travel through these mysterious realms. You''ll be shown how to communicate and deal with the entities and allies you meet there. You''ll also learn about the tools that a shaman uses.

The thing that makes this book unique is that it comes from the viewpoint of Celtic shamanism, and not some generalized form. As a result, the worlds are specifically Celtic in nature. The tools come from Celtic myth and lore. The fifty entities you meet are named and defined as the Faery Folk and their kin — from the Bean sidhe (banshee) to the Will o'' the Wisp (a faery who appears at night in lonely places carrying a lantern to confuse travellers). Almost fifty more animal allies are listed and described. You will also learn the mysteries of the vision quest and how it applies and can be used by Celtic shamans.

Before starting your journey you will take a test to determine your strengths and weaknesses as a potential shaman.

Other topics include:

- Shamanic Healing
- Soul Retrieval
- Shape-shifting
- Invisibility
- Divination with stones, the omen stick and the Ogam alphabet
- Pathworking through the three shamanic worlds
- Different forms of Celtic magic
- Herbs

This only begins to hint at everything that you can learn from this book. Get your copy today.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Avoid this Book
I have read several books and articles on shamanism made by shamans, anthropologists, people in indigenous cultures that have shamanic cosmological worldviews, and works by modern NeoShamans.What I see is that this book dresses up the Wiccan worldview, gives it catchphrases found in New Age and NeoShamanic works, and gives it a Celtic spin, but there is no real depth to this book.Yes, I have read it, and I have found it very deeply wanting in terms of context, depth, and ability to communicate shamanic teachings, worldviews, or even basic legends and understanding of Celtic myth.

Almost the entirety of Chapter 2 is Michael Harner's work paraphrased in one form or another where he is not directly quoted.In other chapters Conway frequently intersperses non-Celtic or New Age words and practices in with little to no direction as to safe or effective practice, such as the bare mentioning of kundalini in Chapter 3.This book recycles much of what other authors have wrote, while contributing, in my opinion, little to either the understanding or practice of Shamanism or NeoShamanism.

Great Service as usual
I am as usual very happy with the service.Amazon has not let me down yet on an order

Very very very disappointed
I believe I just spent the last few days going through a train wreck. I have noted in the book several times where the woman repeats herself, almost word for word. Contradicts herself from my count so far, 16 times. The interchanging of 'druid' and 'bard' and inserting shaman is for lack of another word, childish and dumb. The rituals are restricting, the suppose to be 'shaman like tools' are that of the Wiccan world. The calling on dieties when a shaman traditionally did not call upon them 'just to make things work' made me gag. Over all, very disgusted over this book. Please, D.J. Stop writing about things you don't know jack about? Save us the heartache of seeing your signature on every half put together book that is 'Generic Wiccan' slapped with pretty titles like 'Norse Magic' or 'Celtic Shamanism'. Anyone who has had spiritual experiance, actually wish and long for something that is meaningful and deep beyond the act of simply replacing prayer with 'spells' will be disheartened, angry and feel quite upset after reading this monstrosity. Being a shaman, druid, spiritualist or pagan is about an individual journey, not a hacked up piece of fiction thrown together and at an audience. Please, if you want something meaningful, stay away from her step by step books. Find the path yourself.

Oak Ash & Thorn M.C.S...(L.C.W.)
DISAPPOINTING,WHAT KIND OF HERBAL SHAMANISM INSTRUCTS YOU "Drink a cup of herb tea OR SODA...."???????????? i had heard this author was known for making.. educated fabrications.. and stating personal experiences as fact, but this book was less than i had prepared for. i read a lot on this subject and i DO NOT RECOMMEND PAYING FOR THIS BOOK! IF YOU WANNA READ IT GO TO A LIBRARY!(i wouldn't make a Special trip, but if you're there....) I put this in the category of BS bedtime stories, the only part i say is good is the personal inventory for why you want to be a shaman, but then its still worded for extreme amateurs and skeptical readers.. this is a Wiccan book for 6th graders, its fantasy fiction, or simply BS.. this wasn't worth the shipping, let alone the $5 i lost..

Good beginners book
I bought this book as a beginners guide to Celtic Shamanism.I found it an excellent starting guide (notice I said starting guide), and too this day am often referring back to it.As with all outside (of self) gathered information, it is a guide only, your own personal experiences are the definitive experience. ... Read more

Product Description

As I grew to know Adam Dilwyn Vaughn, it became clear why he lived as he did, where he did, and why he was regarded warily by others, for in his younger days, Adam had been a sin eater (bwytawr pechod in the Welsh, from which this tradition comes)—a devourer of human sins—and his was a story of the soul, what it may contain, and how it can be healed and find purpose. It is only now that I can keep my promise to Adam to make his confession by the telling of his life.

Revealed in this remarkable true account are the secrets of a lost tradition of Celtic shamanism, from working with plant medicine and nature allies to deciphering omens and communicating with nature spirits. In this fascinating tale, the sin eater's apprentice shares powerful gifts and lessons from the natural world and explores their relevance to our human quest to discover—and live—our soul's purpose for this lifetime.

Customer Reviews (5)

Unconvincing, poorly-written, depressingly derivative
This book has to be one of the most depressing things I've read in a long time because it is little more than the physical manifestation of a personal vendetta.

In the "Afterword" of this book (published 2008), Ross Heaven explicitly refers to his bitter and widely-publicised feud with his former collaborator Simon Buxton, author of The Shamanic Way of the Bee (published 2006). Heaven here and elsewhere claims to have co-authored if not ghost-written Buxton's book. In fact, in publishing this shamelessly derivative work, Heaven gives the lie to his claim as he demonstrates here that as a writer he is nowhere near in the same league, a fact that will become immediately apparent to anyone who compares the two books.

In the unlikely event that Heaven's supposed mentor Adam Dilwyn Vaughan did really exist, Heaven has done his memory absolutely no favours with an amateurish, one-dimensional and wholly unconvincing characterisation that makes Adam sound suspiciously like a half-baked and hurried fictional creation of a man writing with the primary objective of discrediting a rival rather than truthfully telling a memoir of a much loved and genuine spiritual teacher.

The, ahem, parallels with Buxton's earlier and far superior work are too numerous to mention; it is strongly hinted that Adam's spiritual name is 'Bridge' just as Buxton's mentor was called; honey and metheglin feature regularly in initiations as they do in Buxton's memoir, even the chapter names closely echo Buxton's work throughout, for The Gate of Transition read The Gateway to the Garden, for The Small Branch of the Great Tree read The Soul of the Great Tree, for The Path of Pollen read The Path of Purpose, for The Web of Dreams read The Web of Dreams and Lies etc etc etc.

Ross Heaven is a prolific writer on shamanism and undoubtedly he knows what he is talking about to a certain extent in his other works. However knowing the context (made explicit in the Afterword) in which this book is written it is unfortunately impossible to trust a single word of it.

What Heaven is attempting to do in this book is to cynically and retrospectively prefigure Buxton's work by making it seem as if the ideas in Buxton's book were his own, thus substantiating his claim to have co-authored or ghost-written The Shamanic Way of the Bee. Perhaps fortunately, because he isn't in the same league as a writer, all he has succeeded in doing is demonstrating conclusively that he didn't.

So unfortunately my conclusion is steer clear - this book could seriously damage your faith in the existence of genuine shamanic traditions in the UK, not to mention human nature.

Insight into the Celtic/Older Pagan Traditions
I really enjoyed this book.It is a breezy read.The "sin eater" in this book is an incredibly likable character who supports the community that shuns him.I felt that a lot of what the author talks about is in fact true.I know others who have said similar things regarding sin eating and it was remarkable to me how people of different beliefs can come to similar understandings of the natural/spiritual world.I especially love all of the information on plants!I plan on seeking out nettles and st johns wort now but I am trying to heed what he mentions about the innate power of wild herbs.I should probably learn about medicinal herbs native to my area.This is a great book and I will be reading it again in the future and consulting its herbal info.I thought it was interesting that he places emphasis on the energies of the plants and says how rather than ingesting the plants you can benefit from the energies in other ways.One part about some herbs screaming when they are removed from the ground and how in the past they would be pulled from dogs tails gave me pause.Excellent read- check it out for yourself!

Ross Heaven has done it again.
Having Read Voudou Shaman and The Way of the Lover, I knew I would enjoy this book. Celtic myths are woven into the lessons in this well-written and soulful story; I am adding this one to my required reading list for students.

What a great honor for Adam, the teacher Heaven studied with, to be vividly remembered this way and recognized as a friend!

Blessed Be
Louisa StrongBear
Journey By Night: A Solitary Journey

A crucial addition to shamanic literature.
I've read several of Ross Heaven's books and they are always uniquely incredible works, especially among the boring flood of New Age platitudes that plague much of Western spiritual thought.This book joins his style and integrity with personal, emotional experience, allowing it to expand into places of the psyche that his past work couldn't as he shows more of his artistic talents as a captivating writer.Highly recommended for any spiritual sorts tired of all the proverbial garbage out there.

invaluable information
This book is a blessing for those who follow the ancient path of celtic shamanic work.It is so good to find a book that covers the western path of shamanic practice.There is an abundance of other tribal shamanic culture/tradition/practice, so this part of the tradition is sorely in need.Ross Heaven is an excellant bard and the telling of his friendship with Adam draws you in.The teachings are excellant & give alot to meditate upon. Adam may no longer be with us physically but his soul continues to sing, thank you for sharing. ... Read more

Product Description
For the past forty years shamanism has drawn increasing attention among the general public and academics. There is an enormous literature on shamanism, but no one has tried to understand why and how Western intellectual and popular culture became so fascinated with the topic. Behind fictional and non-fictional works on shamanism, Andrei A. Znamenski uncovers an exciting story that mirrors changing Western attitudes toward the primitive.The Beauty of the Primitive explores how shamanism, an obscure word introduced by the eighteenth-century German explorers of Siberia, entered Western humanities and social sciences, and has now become a powerful idiom used by nature and pagan communities to situate their spiritual quests and anti-modernity sentiments. The major characters of The Beauty of the Primitive are past and present Western scholars, writers, explorers, and spiritual seekers with a variety of views on shamanism. Moving from Enlightenment and Romantic writers and Russian exile ethnographers to the anthropology of Franz Boas to Mircea Eliade and Carlos Castaneda, Znamenski details how the shamanism idiom was gradually transplanted from Siberia to the Native American scene and beyond. He also looks into the circumstances that prompted scholars and writers at first to marginalize shamanism as a mental disorder and then to recast it as high spiritual wisdom in the 1960s and the 1970s. Linking the growing interest in shamanism to the rise of anti-modernism in Western culture and intellectual life, Znamenski examines the role that anthropology, psychology, environmentalism, and Native Americana have played in the emergence of neo-shamanism. He discusses the sources that inspire Western neo-shamans and seeks to explain why lately many of these spiritual seekers have increasingly moved away from non-Western tradition to European folklore. A work of intellectual discovery, The Beauty of the Primitive shows how scholars, writers, and spiritual seekers shape their writings and experiences to suit contemporary cultural, ideological, and spiritual needs.With its interdisciplinary approach and engaging style, it promises to be the definitive account of this neglected strand of intellectual history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent
I just love this book. I can't thank this guy enough for what he did. Not only is it super informative, he holds the sarcasm and just presents the facts objectively with a lot of thoughtfulness. For me, it's the best book on the subject. There is a tiny little problem I have with his discussion of SAC. I think it's oversimplified, but it's an easy mistake to make.

Very Well Thought Out Take on Sahamanism
Probably every serious book on Shamanism is going to be written in relation to Eliade's famous "Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy."The Beauty of the Primitive is nothing different in that regard.What is difference is that this author is a Russian and he knows about the history of Shaman studies in Siberia, and that makes all the difference.He points out how Eliade, who was himself an "armchair scholar" incorporated accounts of early Russian "scholars" who were often political exiles first, and anthropologists only because they were stuck in the middle of Siberia.The success of this book lies in the linkage of Siberian shamanism studies to the rise of North American Native American Shamanism, and then, in a neat final chapter, he shows how these neo-Shamans have gone back to Siberia to "help" Native people rediscover their shamanic heritage.Alll along, he writes with humor and affection, and I quite enjoyed this book because of it.

The Best Book on Shamanism
This is without doubt the best book on Shamanism I have ever read, even better than Eliade's famous one. My central interest is not shamanism but divination and early ways of thought. I had felt I needed to have a better understanding of Shamanism and so picked up this book after I met the author at a conference.

It's primary focus is modernized versions of shamanism but one learns about original forms because of the author's considerable knowledge of the subject. He is sympathetic to modernized versions such as Harner's "Core Shamanism" but always makes clear how this version has been greatly altered to fit the interests and lifestyle of modern Westerners.

For anyone interested in Shamanism this book is the best possible start; experts too will learn from it.

I give this my highest recommendation.

... Read more

Product Description
This moving and transformative road trip traces the growing friendship of a modern shaman and his companion as they explore the seductive world of synchronicity and spirits. Set amidst the backdrop of ancient European sacred monuments, the self revealing narrative invites the reader to join in the spontaneous adventures of a modern shaman, spiced with practical exercises at the end of each chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

A journey worth taking...
In this engaging book, Kenn Day reminds us that for shamans to serve as healers, it is important to bring them into the present moment and recognize their role as real people doing what is natural to them. He says, "[T]he shaman is a naturally occurring phenomenon, arising when the individual or community has need of the talents they have to offer" (12).I think this beautifully captures the essence of the shaman's path in our contemporary society, and it set the tone for my journey into Kenn Day's riveting book.As he writes, Kenn seems very aware of the unity underlying the multitude of maps we follow--even beyond the maps of the shamans--and this spoke to me on a deep level.So many parts of my life, from as early as five years old, were brought into clearer light and healing integration as I found myself resonating with Kenn's descriptions of initiation and exploration.I'm sure this will be the experience of many readers who pick up his book.

Dance of Stones is the best kind of shamanic book, a journey story
Recently Kenn day sent me a copy of Dance of Stones to review. I am very happy we connected around this engaging and effective introduction to modern shamanic practices.

In narrative chapters Kenn Day describes traveling through Europe, exploring new connections--with Soli, a woman he met at a magick workshop they both found disappointing, and with the spirits of the places and situations they adventure into as their roadtrip winds along.

Instead of following ordinary reality maps, they head towards the next, nearest intersection of synchronicity and serendipity.

Of course their inner journeys are progressing and intertwining along the way. Kenn shows Soli shamanic practices that bring her, suddenly, to the termination of her job and, eventually, to the beginning of a really fulfilling, even more successful career. Soli's journey leads Kenn to a new stone circle vision and a future shamanic mission.

In Deepening chapters amid the thickening plot, Kenn offers his interpretation of contemporary western shamanism (that incorporates eastern spirituality teachings and practices, also).

Kenn's writing is clear and he presents ideas simply yet entertainingly.

"Dance of Stones" was, for me, a teaching by example of "how to write a shamanic book" - as a suspenseful, multi-level story of an adventurous journey along outer and inner edges.

The Book In Your Bag This Summer
This is the kind of book that you're sad to finish.Kenn Day shares a tale of life and its subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) transformations that happen along the way.There is no heavy-handed stage magic here.This is the gentle urging of energy that transforms as surely as waves transform the shoreline.It is, in short, authentic.And that is exactly what makes it a thoroughly satisfying and entertaining journey.

You see yourself in the characters.You see people you know in the characters.You see them change in both profound and subtle ways.The backdrop of the ancient sites they visit gives a solidity to the story that keeps in mind the fact that so many people have made this same journey before us.They have left markers along the way, tools, and an ancient tradition that some few people still practice today.

This book presents shamanism in a way that I celebrate--not through ego, but with open hands and heart,and a profound simplicity.

Open and clear
I find Kenn Day's writing to be open and clear.In the process of telling a fairly simple story he managed to convey a great deal about his beliefs and practices and left me with intriguing questions.Too much of the metaphysical literature is based on giving simple answers.For myself if I want answers I'll seek a church.Spiritual growth is about better and better questions and Kenn inspires those with his writing and teaching.

A Great Introduction to Post-Tribal Shamanism
I started reading this book in the car on my way to my very first workshop with Kenn. It's a wonderful tale of an actual journey that mirrors a spiritual journey that takes place at the same time. This is a book that can help you get closer to some of the answers you seek and may send you in a whole new direction in your life. If you are ready to connect with something deeper, something eternal, something that modern society seems to deny this book may just be what you are looking for to begin your new journey of self discovery and healing. ... Read more

Product Description
In this timely collection, Neil Price brings together recent archaeological thought on shamanism. Issues addressed include shamanic material culture, responses to dying and the dead, shamanism in the context of other belief systems such as totemism, shamanic soundscapes, and the use of ritual architecture. With case studies from the arctic Greenland to Africa and from Europe to Asia this work covers the Palaeolithic to the present day. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing on shamanic beliefs and practices found in many cultures, Leo Rutherford shows us how we can use this ancient practice to suit our contemporary lifestyle through such devices as power animals, talismans, and journeying. ... Read more

Product Description
You are invited.This book is a kiss and tell. It tells stories of fun, juicy sexual experiences, long, sweet kisses, whispered words and touches in the dark, all offering the reader delicious vicarious experiences.It is also a roadmap to healing for survivors of sexual trauma. It offers new pathways, hope, and wisdom to make that journey swifter, more pleasurable and more complete than following only the more conventional routes to healing.This book is a guide to women's empowerment, to finding, embracing and actualizing the feminine divine within. It's a journey to finding and joyfully claiming your power, complete with detailed exercises and instructions.This book speaks to healing between men and women. It offers ways to mend the gap between the sexes and open to a balance in which both are empowered, honored and whole. This book is an invitation. Come and play. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Combines the spirituality book with the kiss and tell book
Nothing seems to be juicier than other people's sex lives, and author Katie Weatherup bares all. "Sex, Shamanism, and Healing: My Kissing Quest" combines the spirituality book with the kiss and tell book, using sex as a powerful tool for women's empowerment as well as a way of healing past misuses of sex from others. Heavily sprinkling her own experiences, Weatherup seeks to make both men and women appreciate sex and its countless benefits more. "Sex, Shamanism, and Healing" is well worth the read for more than one reason.

Engaging, insightful, and empowering
This book challenged and helped me on levels I wasn't expecting, leading me gently into an evolving dialogue with myself that grew more nuanced with each chapter. I appreciated author Katie Weatherup's personal touch in sharing her own story, which she does in a lively and spirited way that shows healing can have a fun and adventurous side if we choose. Katie writes with great respect for the tenacity of the human spirit, and her passionate confidence in our ability to heal and grow through traumatic experiences, and discover new depths of character in the process, is inspiring.This book is empowering for anyone who is on a healing path, whether or not the reader has personally experienced some kind of sexual abuse or trauma.It is filled with spiritual insights and shamanic exercises for healing, as well as practical suggestions for quieting those internalized criticisms--the constant judgments, restrictive gender norms, and social conditioning that drive our culture's ideas of beauty and self-worth--in order to enter into a more consistently compassionate, conscious, and adoring relationship with oneself and others.

Great read packed with valuable tools
This book truly is a pathway to healing sexual wounds on all levels. Anyone who has experienced trauma, particularly molestation and rape, will find many routes to personal healing in this book. Sex, intimacy and love: Katie addresses each of these areas separately and weaves them together and gives you exercises to help you do for yourself what she has done for herself. Her journey through discovering herself sexually and applying her shamanic techniques to what she found is a compelling story. I've never read a book like this one before and highly recommend it! ... Read more