Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

a profusion of rituals to explore
I love this book and highly recommend it to any one interested in exploring and connecting with the natural world around us.This book has many rituals and celebrations to try out and approaches it all in a very user-friendly manner.The rituals use easily obtainable and available objects and tools-- no shopping around for hard to find obscure items, thereby making the exercises easy to incorporate into an every day practice.As an added bonus, the colorful illustrations, also by the author Jo Morgan Wood, are imaginative and fantastic!Again, I recommend this book for any one willing to explore themselves and their immediate surroundings in a non-technical unintimidating way.

A good intro shamanism and beautiful artwork!
A very nice primer on the subject of shamanism with wonderful illustrations by the author. There may be better written intros on this subject, but this one is DEFINITELY the best illustrated! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fasinating, bizarre, mystical and factual.A great read!
Very mystical, yet factual account of the beginning of her spiritual journey in the teachings of shamanic tradition in Siberia. Olga, guides thereader through the bizzare and mystical experiences, telling her fasinatingstory in a very personal and eloquent way.Upon reading the last page ofthis book, I turned to page one and read it again. ... Read more

Product Description
Shamanism: A Reader unites perspectives from disciplines including anthropology, psychology, musicology, botany to provide a unique overview of modern writing on shamanism. From grassroots political writing to classical ethnographies, and imaginative narratives to detailed case studies, the 25 articles and short extracts presented here cover topics including gender, initiation, hallucinogenic consciousness and political protest. Juxtaposing the traditional practices of indigenous peoples with their new and often radically urban reinterpretations, experts including Michael Harner, Milhàly Hoppàl, Majorie M Balzer and Piers Vitebsky raise questions about constructions of shamanism, its efficacy, its use and misuse as a cultural symbol, and its real nature. ... Read more

Product Description

Healers and visionaries, food-finders and rainmakers—as intermediaries between the physical and spirit worlds, shamans have served a vital role in indigenous cultures for more than 40,000 years. The timeless wisdom of the shaman also holds relevance for the challenges we face today.

James Endredy explores shamanic paths from around the globe and discusses the tools, rituals, and beliefs that are common to most traditions. You'll discover how shamans are chosen and initiated, and how they establish a relationship with power animals, ancestors, and other inhabitants of the spirit realm. Along with many stories from his own experiences, Endredy shares insights from other scholars in the field, including Mircea Eliade, Michael Harner, and Holger Kalweit, and from indigenous shamans throughout history.

Shamanism for Beginners concludes with a thoughtful, empowering look at how shamanic practices can help restore balance and peace to our lives and the earth.

Customer Reviews (3)

Not Much Different Here
Although Mr. Endredy has had experience with indigenous cultures and has learned at the feet of many a shaman, he is not presenting much different from most 101 NeoShaman books.I like how he presented shamanism as a calling, rather than something you pick up, and I like that he provided a wider range of directions than most "beginning shamanism" books, and went without an animal totem dictionary or other usual fare.He stuck to what he set out to do, and I appreciate it.However, this is such an overview-styled book that it lacks the power, punch, and direction of his other books.It is perhaps needed to address a lot of oversight that other books leave out, (i.e. the variety of experiences one can has when called to shamanism) but it still suffers, in my view, from being a little too generic in its scope.Calling to more of some very specific practices he has learned, assuming he is allowed to share them, would have added to the teaching value of the book.His experiences, as he writes them in his other works, are teaching ones.Still, a solid 101 book.

Shamanism for Beginners
Use messages in the book for students and clients.Easy and excellent for beginners.More information than have obtained in taking classes from some Elders.

A book of authentic authority
Contrary to what you have been taught, Shamanism is the oldest profession on the planet.

James Endready's new book on Shamanism takes a look at the world's oldest profession with insight, depth, all grounded in his own personal experience of working with indigenous peoples all over the planet. The book is comprehensive in scope.

James is one of the few people born into a Eurocentric culture who is a practitioner of shamanism worthy of your time. But as he accurately notes, even Eorocentric peoples were originally part of shamanic practices. He understands deeply the commitment/responsibility side of taking up this rather profound `call' by spirit, and what is entailed in walking this path.

He notes in his introduction that he is a "small shaman" understanding that shamanic knowledge is a lifelong quest, where one's full powers are achieved in old age.

James differs substantially with the New Age (or neo-shamanism) movement in profound ways.He understands his commitment is to serve the traditional communities who keep these traditions alive for humanity; he further understands his own personal responsibility to his mentors, who have shared their knowledge with him.

Too often in our contemporary moment, there is a rush by some to embrace "spirituality" as a commodity. In this sense, spirituality and neo-shamanic practices in particular, are seen as nothing more than a path to personal prosperity and happiness.

As James succinctly notes in his narrative, a shaman is chosen by spirit for a specific commitment to his or her own community; in this regard the `call' a shaman receives is to service to others, and not to one self. I suspect that the `call' any prospective shaman receives to take up this healing art and requisite commitment to training is understood by Spirit to also posses the required maturity to serve others selflessly.To further understand the call, is to also understand the sacredness of the indigenous world view and its connection to the land itself as a nexus to the ancestors who abide upon the land at the service to the continuity of the people. This relationship between the living, the ancestors who have passed over, and the land is critical to the entire meaning of indigenous identity. When broken, the stories die and pass from the living font of the tribe.

James notes many interesting anecdotal stories of his own experience working with indigenous healers, elders, and sages, who have kept the stories and traditions alive. One of the functions of keeping these stories alive is the vast diversity of the art and its keepers. As James notes retelling a story of a question posed to a friend about something he did not understand in a ceremonial function:

"He casually explained that shamans all have different levels of knowledge and experience. Even the wisest and most experienced shamans didn't know everything that another shaman does, or even all the myths and histories of the people. That is why there are multiple shaman leaders, or kawiteros, that would always come together at special ceremonies and work together to keep the tradition alive. "

The author also pays particular attention to the maturity of the shamans he studied under noting that they often keep silent or speak briefly to the point; they avoid participating in community gossip, and are role models representing the best of human character traits. He discusses the differences between authentic shamanic power, and what it is not. He describes the various ways one is chosen to be a shaman and the signs or portends to this end.

In taking up the call, any prospective shaman undergoes a rigorous initiation where the former life drops away, and a new life emerges through intense trails. This is not a calling for the faint of heart, or dilettantes engaged in New Age superficiality.

So the author's discussion on Becoming a shaman is worthwhile and directly to the point.

The discussion on the plant spirit medicine is also profound. Again, as juxtaposed with the New Age movement which is entirely geared toward making a buck, or to create a cottage industry that is ubiquitous through eco-travel; James notes the dishonesty, not only to those who are being defrauded by shame healers, but also how this preoccupation with eco travel diminishes the indigenous communities.

As a case in point, I often visited the Shaur Indians deep in the upper Amazon jungle in Ecuador. On one particular trip, a couple of thrill seekers showed up obliquely with a tribe I had a relationship with through the environmental organization Dreamchange. In a subsequent conversation, these two were giddy and eager to participate in an Ayahuasca ceremony without also understanding the sacred nature of the ceremony.As it turned out, neither had a vision using the medicine and both were disappointed afterword. I later asked the shaman why they did not receive a vision, and was told simply said that "their hearts were not true."

James also notes how different shaman use companion plants with the Ayahuasca, thus the brew is unique to every shaman. He also offers a warning that this is nothing to fool around with, if your heart and focus is not prepared in a good way that also honors the traditional practices. Since the authentic indigenous healers have been working with this medicine for thousands of years, and have a deep spiritual relationship with the plants, it is nothing to be taken lightly or as just another experience.

As I've previously noted, this book is comprehensive in scope and practice. I give it my highest recommendation.James brings to this work a creative spirit will still honoring the traditions and cultures giving them birth. You won't find a better guide or healer from a western perspective that Endready.


... Read more

Product Description
Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Karen Finley are just a few of the well-known artists who have used shamanistic techniques to access visions. Mark Levy explores the use of seeing dreaming and ritual by these and other artists seeking the kind of visionary experience that has long been the wellspring of creativity. Since humankind first learned to use imagination and dreaming there have been seers and sages eager to press beyond the known and verifiable to see what they can see. This is their story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A tough read
I had to read this for a course I was taking and really did not care for it at all. I'm afraid I can't think of anything I gleaned from it. It was a tough read for me.

Seeing the World through Artist and Shaman Eyes
TECHNICIANS OF ECSTASY takes the reader on a scintillating, scholarly tour through the work of several artists. While not all artists see the world as shaman do, there are some artists who see, dream, and perform in much the same way as the shaman. Some of the 27 artists included in TECHNICIANS OF ECSTASY are: Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Alex Grey, Henri Rousseau, Salvador Dali, Man Ray, Ann McCoy, and Jonathan Borofsky.

What makes this book so fabulous is the way it demonstrates ways that spiritual meaning and wisdom is at the heart of much of the world's best art. The world's best artists know how to break out of habitual modes of looking, and in sharing their visions, empower all who view their art by helping people open their eyes to new ways of seeing. Author Mark Levy explains, "In shifting attention from common sense or 'consensus reality,' artists as shamans succeed in expanding their consciousness and the consciousness of their communities and offer blueprints for spiritual development." I particularly loved the shamanic techniques mentioned to stimulate creativity, as these exercises indeed are part of the core of all shamanic training: isolation, not-doing, prolonged looking, the strong eye, and setting up dreaming.

TECHNICIANS OF ECSTASY is essential reading for everyone who is excited by meaningful art, as well as for anyone wishing to better understand how to see the world through the artist's and the shaman's eyes. I give this book my highest recommendation!

An enthralling, well written subject
I found Mr. Levy's work on shamanic techniqes as it applies to contempoary artists particularly fascinating.His research navigates the theory that mondern artists (visual as well as performance) such as Van Gogh, Kahlo, Dali and others were able to produce the transcendental content of their work through classic shamanic practices.Mr. Levy clearly illustrates the multiplicity of the creative process therein giving reverence and relevance to shamanic techniqes and towards the comprehension and appreciation of modern art. A must read for any art appreciator!

An enthralling, well written subject
I found Mr. Levy's work on shamanic techniqes as it applies to contempoary artists particularly fascinating.His research navigates the theory that mondern artists (visual as well as performance) such as Van Gogh, Kahlo, Dali and others were able to produce the transcendental content of their work through classic shamanic practices.Mr. Levy clearly illustrates the multiplicity of the creative process therein giving reverence and relevance to shamanic techniqes and towards the comprehension and appreciation of modern art. A must read for any art appreciator!

Well-researched and academically argued
Although the casual reader (that is, a lazy reader looking for easy, New-Agey content) might find Levy's book too rigorous and academic, I felt that he was scrupulous and thorough in making a case for his theory that many contemporary artists use traditional shamanic techniques to achieve the spiritual and metaphysical content in their work. The profiles of individualartists and their specific uses of certain techniques or processes was especially illuminating, and I appreciated the fact that he included seminal figures like Joseph Beuys and performance artists like Karen Finley-- whose radical content sometimes obscures the powerful social critique it carries. Levy was clear in revealing how work by an individual can heal or benefit an audience of viewers or an entire community. The sections in the back of the book wherein he describes specific shamanic techniques in detail for those who want to experiment with them was especially valuable. Contrary to what another reviewer wrote, there was nothing spacey, indulgent or Druidic about this scholarly work! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Forgotten Shaman of Ancient China
Arthur Waley does a superb job covering the role of the wu, or shaman, in ancient China. Similar to the traditional shaman of Siberia, Central Asia and the Arctic, the wu enters into a trance state in performing ceremonies. However, unlike his northern counterparts, the Chinese shaman enters into a fleeting love relationship with the God (or Goddess). Although references to shaman abound in China, actual descriptions of the practice and beliefs of the wu are rare. Waley takes what is known about them, comparing it occaisonally to other Asian beliefs, and makes a wonderful introduction to Chinese shamanism.

He then goes on to translate and analyze all nine of the songs in Ch'u Yuan's Nine Songs. Each of these songs is dedicated to a particular deity or spirit, such as T'ai I, Hsiang-chuan, Ta Ssu-ming, Ho-po and the Shan-kuei. In each song, he interperts the meaning, as well as giving a general description of the deity or spirit in question, and even analyzing the meaning of the name. This book is fairly short (there is little material on shaman practices in ancient China, and each of the Nine Songs is fairly short), but it is quite a good book to read nonethelesss, particularly with so little about Chinese shamanism in English. Indeed, this book may be the only English translation of the Nine Songs, as far as I am aware.

Waley closes out the book with three appendices, one on the expansion of the kingdom of Ch'u (where the book is believed to have originated), one on commentaries on the book and another on Japanese scholar Aoki Masaru's interpetation of the book. Ultimately, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in East Asian shamanism, but it can be appreciated by anyone with an interest in shamanism or ancient culture. The only comment I would make is that I am not entirely sure about the transliteration of Chinese words. The systems used may be slightly off or outdated, though I'm sure many of those interested in this book probably already have at least some understanding of Chinese linguistics so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. If not, then don't let that deter you. It is a wonderful book to read.

Lao's review
The first ten pages presents an overview of the history and cultural significance of classic shamanism in Northern China, and a descripotion of the typical forms of the poetry which follows.The Nine Songs are presented as the songs the shaman sings to the spirits that they encounter during their rituals, many taking the form of love songs.Arthur Waley provides commentary on each of the songs, with additional commentary and notes at the end.This is one of my favorite books. ... Read more

Product Description
Eleven years in the making, Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki & Shamanism features 45 true and heartwarming stories about animals and their role in the evolution of a gifted energy worker and shamanic healer.Meet the myriad of animals that populate the pages of Tails of a Healer, and follow healer and animal communicator Rose De Dan as she relates humorous tales of what happens when worlds collide - human vs. animal, ancient traditions vs. modern world - and touching stories of life and death. This inspiring collection of tales, featuring dozens of photographs by the author, is brought together here in one place for the first time."Tails of a Healer is jam-packed with animal stories that delight the senses, tickle the imagination, and transcend the mundane into the realm of mystery. Author Rose De Dan is not only a gifted healer, shamanic practitioner, and Reiki Master; she is also a master storyteller. The true-life tales in her book will make you laugh and sometimes cry. They'll make you think and they'll fill you with wonder. Most of all, De Dan's stories will teach you about the fine art of bridging worlds - between animals and humans, between heart and mind, between body and soul, and between consensus reality and the deeper levels of reality that nurture and sustain us all. Tails of Healer is a gem!"- Cat Saunders, Ph.D., author of Dr. Cat's Helping Handbook"Tails of a Healer takes you deeply into the world of telepathic animal communication and shamanism. It is a rich mix of intimate animal stories that are both healing and enlightening. Rose De Dan has packed this book with wisdom and heart. Prepare to be opened."- Mary J. Getten, telepathic animal communicator, author of Communicating with Orcas, winner of 2007 Nautilus Book Awards Animals/Nature ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Tails ofa Healer
I stumbled on this title by accident while searching for feral cat information.I decided to buy it and have to say it was by far the best book I have read in a very long time.The stories are truly heartwarming, and it's obvious the author is sharing her personal connections as well.Whether you know anything about Reiki, animal communication or are even an animal lover, this book is definitely one to read, and a keeper!

Repetitive collection of reprinted ARTICLES
This is a collection of previously published ARTICLES (which was NEVER mentioned in the description)! Consequently, MUCH is repeated and the author doesn't go into ANY topic in depth. The "teaching" is not direct just what you may glean from her experiences.If you work with animals,or practice Reiki or Shamanisms, it is more than likely you've already had experiences like the authors (my personal experiences ARE over all more dramatic and interesting as yours are likely to be).I was hoping for something with more depth. I can only imagine that the other reviewers are personal friends of the author since they mention her by name in their reviews.I've only been able to read it about half way through, reading an article now and then when there was nothing else around. It put me to sleep more than once, did not engage me, except to get me to start writing down my own experiences.

A Compliment to my Reiki Journey
I started reading "Tails ofa Healer" while on breaks from the Reiki I class I took with Rose De Dan this past May.I had the chance to read an article of two and decided that I needed to finish the entire book, prompting me to order it from Amazon for my Kindle.Rose writes how she teaches; honestly, warmly, respectfully and with integrity.Many of the insights and stories Rose chooses to share in this book will seem familiar, mostly because all of us, whether we're into Reiki or not, have experienced joy, love and ultimately, loss.However, as a compliment to beginning the journey as a Reiki practitioner, it is without compare.

A healer on many levels
Tails of a Healer is a wonderful collection of anecdotes from the heart.Rose De Dan's vivid descriptions and easy way with words make you think you could sit down for lunch with her.There are many lessons in this book, and some of the chapters I'll read over and over and keep learning something new.We don't just meet dogs and cats, there is an orangutan, some bats, and even a dragonfly introduced.She explains things well, so if you know little or nothing about shamanism you will still enjoy the read, but you'll probably end up wanting to learn more. This book is a small treasure.

Outstanding!
Every so often, a book comes our way that we want desperately to share with everyone, to make sure that everyone reads it.This is just such a book.These tales are evocative, joyful, sad, a full range of the emotions we - and our animal friends - experience.A must-read for all shamans, healers, and animal lovers!De Dan, with her beautiful prose, takes into the heart of what she does as a healer, and shows us how we too may be healers.
My own quick story to share- my puppy will chew pretty much anything in sight.I had left the book on the end table near the couch, and rather than chew it all up, the puppy gently took it in his mouth, and once he'd brought it down to the floor, proceeded to lick it.It's as though he knew that inside were wonderful tales of creatures just like him, creatures who needed love and healing.
If you don't buy another book, be sure to check this one out.You won't regret it! ... Read more

Product Description
A new edition of the highly acclaimed manual of freestyle shamanism, suitable for all those inspired by such figures as Austin Spare and Aleister Crowley, and who feel the imperative to develop their own unique magical way. Visual Magick aims to build vision, imagination, and creative magick. It shows how magicians, witches, artists and therapists can improve visionary abilities, enhance imagination, activate the inner senses, and discover new modes of trance awareness. The emphasis is on direct experience and the reader is asked to think, act, do, and enjoy as s/he wills. 'One of the best books on magick I have read in a long while.' Phil Hine in Pagan News 'A practical modern grimoire.' The Cauldron ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

One of the best
I stayed away from this book because I am not fond of Thelemite work, but discovered, in a borrowed copy, that Crowley is mentioned, but not re-canned into a new wrapper here.

But I discovered something else as well. This book contains one of the clearest and most thorough expositions of Sigil Majik that has ever been put to paper. I've been working with the Spare technology for a while, and not only did he manage to validate some of my ideas (which are pretty antithetical to most of the writing on the subject) from his experience, but explained in a very succinct way how he came about these same insights. I've been hoping to discuss these matters from a fresh perspective, but in this agenda-laden craft, that's not easy. Jan provided the the other side of this conversation in a clear and concise way.

There is also the shamanistic side of this exposition - some parts of "freestyle" approach the aesthetic benchmark I am guiding my practice towards without costing a king's ransom, and for that I am grateful. I am not really fond of the style of writing, and I really don't see the point some of the exercises, but neither of these objections gets in the way of the content. If you are looking to find something on natural majik that is inspiring and practical, this book is excellent. If you're a beginner, you could do a lot worse than starting here. If you take what you need and leave the rest, there probably won't be so much "rest" to leave.

Insightful manual about shamanism.
I was looking for a different perspective about modern shamanism, and after reading some reviews about this book, I decided to give it a try.Visual Magick is a treasure chest filled with pearls of wisdom like no other book I have read before.Fries' tone made me feel like I had walked right in the middle of a conference taught by him.He provides insights about several aspects of magick that are invaluable to beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.However, it may be difficult for beginners, since there is no general introduction to magick before starting with sigil magick in Chapter 1.

This is how the book is organized:

Preface
Chapter 1 The Seed
- How is the sigil made?

Chapter 2 The Ritual
- How do we transmit the sigil?

Chapter 3 'Automatic Drawing'

Chapter 4 Sigils, Sex and Beyond

Chapter 5 Visualization
- Waking the senses
- Exercise one
- Magick requires good imagination
- Exercise one - in the wild

Chapter 6 Access to Imagination
- What have the astral doorways and the god forms in common?
- Exercise two - banishing and invocation
- My dream of being x
- An Approach To Colour
- Exercise three - what colours may reveal

Chapter 7 Imagination and Prayer
- Cup meditation
- Invoking the elements
- Invoking earh: an example
- The cup meditation in a group

Chapter 8 Mandala Building
- A personal mandala
- Connecting ideas to the plants
- Tree and plant lore
- Smaller plants

Chapter 9 Spirits of Nature
- Exercice four: creative hallucination
- Exercise five: shape shifting
- Earthing

Chapter 10 Waking the Beasts
- Exercise six - waking the beasts

Chapter 11 Coming to Earth
- What do you do with it?

Bibliography and Index

The book feels disjointed on first glance, but once I got past Chapter 4, I knew it wasn't an ordinary book.In this book, Jan Fries shares his experience and wisdom about his magickal practice.I definitely want to read it more than once to make sure I haven't missed something that may be important to me.

Superb Postmodern Grimoire
Jan Fries has done a fine job with this work.The book is sub-titled "A Manual of Freestyle Shamanism," and to anyone in the know that seems to fit the books nicely.This work is very much for working magicians who are not afraid to leave their comfort zones.Fries has exercises in every chapter of the book corresponding to the philosophy covered, a rarity in occult works these days.This book is an important text that I believe all modern practitioners should have a copy of, if not for themselves, for potential students.This work will save the would be occultist YEARS of sifting through booshwa to get the facts about magic.In regard to this, the section on sigil magic alone is worth the price of the book. If one truly wishes to the deep transformations that are meant to be brought about by occult workings, this is perhaps one of the best places to start.

As an aside I must mention that this work will not be for those searching for "traditional" forms of shamanism, primitivism or "neo-shamanism."Rather the work is a mix of psychology, NLP, trance, chaos magick, and shamanic technique that blend together to form superb practice.I recommend this book highly to all seekers on the path.I do not recommend that the practices employed be used in a group working, unless all have been working together strictly using said practices.Rather this book works at the core of the occult, personal transformation.Also, the work makes no religious claims or clarifications, another rarity in occult works.This book can be used by a magician, witch, sorcerer, etc. of any stripe.It is so non-judgemental about individual beliefs and practices that it can even easily be employed by an atheistic occultist, and yes they do exist.The only reason that I have not given this book a four star rating is that I do disagree with the author on a few points made in regard to tradition, but otherfise a most excellent work.

Ryan

Excellent Material
This book is fun to read, and has quite alot of fresh material. Im not fully convinced it is all shaminism, as you usually think of it, but it is excellent material. The methods are explained well, and the tasks are easily do-able by most anyone.
Highly recommended!

Simply put: awesome!!
Really this book opens a door on the subject.It really enlightens one about sigils, how to contact desire, and moreover magick as life.A terrrific read for anyone remotely interested in the subject.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The literature on shamanism and related topics is extensive, but has in general been biased toward curing and trance; the political and historical significance of shamanic activities has been largely neglected. The contributors to Shamanism, History, and the State--distinguished anthropologists and historians from England, Australia, and France--show that shamanism is not static and stable, but always changing as a result of political dynamics and historical processes.
Contributors are Tamsyn Barton, Sysan Bayly, Mary Beard, Maurice Bloch, Peter Gow, Roberte N. Hamayon, Stephen Hugh-Jones, Caroline Humphrey, and Nicholas Thomas.
"The importance of this collection lies in the painstaking, many-sided ways in which it shows 'shamanism' to be a multifarious and continuously changing 'dialogue' or interaction with specific, local contexts. . . . Thus, rather than tackling the issue in principle, this collection tries to demonstrate through 'case studies' just how different 'shamanism' becomes if seen through a lens sensitive to history and the influence of institutions, such as the state, which seem far removed from it. I think the demonstrations add up to an impressive force." --Michael Taussig
"This new, ably edited volume provides . . . chapters that are rich in historic detail and that provide insights into general cultural processes and social interactions." --Historian
Nicholas Thomas is Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellow, Department of Prehistory and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra. He is the author of Out of Time: History and Evolution in Anthropological Discourse. Caroline Humphrey, author of Karl Marx Collective: Economy, Society and Religion in a Siberian Collective Farm, is Fellow of King's College and Lecturer in Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge.
... Read more

Product Description
All archaic landscape lines are, in essence, spirit lines. Within us all we hold a blueprint of this spiritual earth and of the ancient shamanic power of magical flight. If we could only find the wellsprings of the psyche and translate these timeless patterns from our minds to the physical earth, then we too could learn to experience the reality behind the straight line mystery. Once again, we would allow the spiritual earth to lead the way in our personal growth and transformation. We need to bring this out-of-body state from its cultural exile and give it the much greater attention it deserves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Real Story of the Ley Lines
This review is based on the copy of the book I own, first published in 1993. Ley lines are generally considered to be lines of energy in the earth by those interested in earth mysteries or geomancy (this latter term actually being a misnomer that has become entrenched in popular use). In "Shamanism and the Mystery Lines: Ley Lines, Spirit Paths, Shape-Shifting & Out-of-body Travel," Paul Devereux takes a hard look at this idea, and finds that there are major problems with this idea. Devereux has paid his dues in this field, having been involved in the "earth mysteries" field for several decades and having written many books and articles on the subject; he is no neophyte. He is not a skeptic by any means, in the Randi/CSICOP mold, but he tries to be intellectually honest about the evidence or lack thereof in these fringe subjects. Devereux has examined the idea that ley lines reflect lines of mysterious "earth energies" stretching across the landscape, and believes that the evidence does not support that idea.

"Part One: The History" covers "The Rise of a Heresy" (how the idea of ley lines were transformed in popular western thought, from a simple alignment of archaeological sites and geographic features into an elaborate grid or web of "energies" that have no empirical basis), "Other Lines of Enquiry" (various types of European sites -cursuses, reaves, stone rows- with geographic focus), and "The Amerindian Legacy" (the various kinds of "earth lines" found across the Americas, from California and the Southwest (Anasazi and Chaco etc.), to South America (the Kogi of Colombia and the Nazca lines of Peru, and Bolivia and Chile).

"Part Two: The Mystery" covers how these lines were conceived WITHIN THE CULTURES THAT ACTUALLY MADE THEM, rather than the western interpretations that came up with the idea of earth energies. Part Two's chapters include "The King and the Land,"which looks at the identification of the king with the land (as in Arthurian tales, the king IS the land), shamans, Indo-European clues, king and country, and the king's power; "Spirit Lines" which shows that it is alignment of sites that matters, not some so-called energy lines, and how this idea interacts with Celtic fairy paths and the Chinese feng shui; and "Trance, Dance and Magic Plants" which focuses on how these alignments of sites relate to techniques of ecstasy in shamanic flight or OBEs (Out of the Body Experiences), the significant of location, mystery lights or earth lights, plants with hallucinogenic properties that were used to stimulate shamanic flight/OBEs, the evidence from rock art (pictographs and petroglyphs), and symbolism of form and meaning.

The last chapter in Part Two is called "The Lines of the Lone Wild Gander" really is where Devereux lays out his ideas of how archaeological alignments of various types and from different regions of the world are all reflective, physical marks made by the cultures that recognize and ritualize the shamanic flight and ritual movements between sacred sites on the landscape. In this chapter he looks at the shamanic landscape, flight of the shaman (or flight in the dream state or in the trance state), the Old and New Worlds, shamanic land markings, the evolution of the line of magical flight, and landscape or mindscape. Some of the most illuminating sources come from the Kogi Indians of Colombia, who speak of the alternate REAL world of Alunna which reflects in the world we call "real." This is where alternative philosophies kick in; our physical world is a pale reflection of reality, the reality of the source reality where consciousness is the focus of being.

As Devereux states in his Epilogue (p. 220): "Landscape lines, leys, alignments, are traces. They are variously-evolved features that had their origins in the ecsomatic experience at the heart of shamanism. They may have become, conceptually, lines of power, then energy; they may have become physical tracks, ritual pathways, avenues of the dead or whatever, but they are in essence simply traces of an effect of the human centralnervous system transferred to the land. That effect, as we have discussed, is the remarkable ability of the human mind to roam experientially, if not actually, beyond the body."

There are many other works that elaborate this idea, from the contested ideas in the works of Carlos Castaneda, to more solid anthropological approaches in Timothy Knab's "War of Witches" and in "From the Heart of the World." This book is an essential piece of the puzzle that includes shamanism, dream states including lucid dreaming, etc. The particular significance of this book is in providing a link between the psychosomatic work of psychological and anthropological research that is human-centered, and the environmental work of deep ecology, archaeology, and sacred geography. There is a lot further to go in this area, but this book helps fit the pieces together. ... Read more

Product Description
Few religious traditions have generated such diversity and stirred imaginations as shamanism. In their engagements with other worlds, shamans have conversed with animals and ancestors and have been empowered with the knowledge to heal patients, advise hunters, and curse enemies. Still other shamans, aided by rhythmic music or powerful plant helpers, undertake journeys into different realities where their actions negotiate harmony between human and other than human communities. Once relegated to paintings on cave walls, today Shamanism can be seen in performances at rave clubs and psychotherapeutic clinics.The A to Z of Shamanism has the duel task of exploring the common ground of shamanic traditions and evaluating the diversity of both traditional indigenous communities and individual Western seekers. This is done in an introduction, a bibliography, a chronology, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries, which explore the consistent features of a variety of shamans, the purposes shamanism serves, the function and activities of the shaman, and the cultural contexts in which they make sense. ... Read more

Product Description
The focus of this work is Muism, which is Korean shamanism. Mudangs, Korea's unique religious shamans, preside at kut and at other religious ceremoneies, which are based on the folk culture of Muism. Muism serves as an important resource for research into Korean religion, ideology, history, literature, music, stories and the other vital elements of its civilization. ... Read more

Product Description
The contributors to this volume describe the many facets shamanism and depth psychology have in common: animal symbolism; recognition of the reality of the collective unconscious; and healing rituals that put therapist and patient in touch with transpersonal powers. By reintroducing the core of shamanism in contemporary form, these essays shape a powerful means of healing that combines the direct contact with the inner psyche one finds in shamanism with the self-reflection and critical awareness of modern consciousness.

The contributors' draw from experiences both inside and outside the consulting room, and with cultures that include the Lakota Sioux, and those of the Peruvian Andes and the Hawaiian Islands. The focus is on those aspects of shamanism most useful and relevant to the modern practice of depth psychology. These explorations bring the young practice of analytical psychology into perspective as part of a much more ancient heritage of shamanistic healing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book, a must!!!!!
This is a great book. If you are a counselor, psychologist or social worker and would like to know a little bit more on how traditional healing works, here is a pretty good place to start! The book is easy to read and is accesible to anyone, regardless of past experience or cotact with the topic. For all those doing work in therapy, this book will open new venues of inquiry and hopefully will get you going to research some more. If you are looking for inspirational work for your own practice, ths book will work for you as well. The book speaks directly to our core as it accounts experiences that are easily related to our collective mind as human beings.
The more books like this one, that connect spiritual dimensions into our work as counselors, the better!

Profound experiences and insights
Being interested in both Jungian psychology and Shamanism I found this book extremely interesting. It contains a series of short chapters written by various authors that represent both diversity and expertise in their fields. While showing their knowledge in their fields the individual authors relate deeply personal experiences that are very moving and thought provoking. The order of the chapters is well thought out and each of them has an informative intro that both prepares you for what comes next and helps tie the whole book together. At the end of each chapter there is a list of references that can further help with ones research in this and related material. Although each chapter can be read individually as one's interest is sparked, I enjoyed reading the whole book in succession.

An always engrossing, sometimes harrowing compilation
This book is a compilation of essays on Shamanism and Jungian Psychology. Many diverse points of view are presented, from Christian mysticism to Native American visionary dance rituals.

The book is presented in foursections, which progress from the abstract to the concrete.

The essaysin the first section make a convincing case that Dr. Carl Jung was aWestern Shaman whose healing energies were coincident with his personalwound.

The next section, dealing with shamanic medicine, contains essayswith brilliant therapeutic case studies, interpretations of animal dreamsymbolism, a fascinating discussion of shamanic allies and examples of thehealing potential of altered states of consciousness.

The third sectiongrounds us further with essays dealing with the realities of coping withpain, cancer, surgery, death in childbirth and loss of soul. Some of theseessays were difficult reading, but worthwhile nonetheless.

The fourthsection, the most amazing of all, takes us into the physical experience ofshamanic visionary states.Essays include: shamanic practices of a NativeAmerican tradition, a visionary Big Dream in the Christian mysticaltradition, a participation in the modern counterpart of an ancientsacrificial ritual and worship of the Goddess Pele in a Hawaiian volcano.

This diverse book is a marvel, bringing together the ancient and modern,weaving them with the thread of Jungian thought and spirit. It is a worthyaddition to the library of anyone interested in Shamanism, JungianPsychology and mystical experience. ... Read more

Product Description
Shamanism is the oldest spiritual path on this planet, with roots tracing back more than 50,000 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Waste of Money!
I was fooled into believing that "Principles of Shamanism" is a different book from "Way of Shamanism" - THEY'RE THE SAME BOOK!!!! Buy one or the other - buying both is a waste of money!

At least buy one of them though, it's a great book.

An Excellent Introduction to Shamanism!
I am always a bit suspicious of books that makes claims such as the subtitle of this one: "The only introdution you'll ever need." However, Leo Rutherford does an excellent job of covering the major aspects of Shamanism in enough detail to give the novice (or curious) a basic sense of what is entailed in this ancient spiritual path-- all in a scant 160 pages.

The book-- in a concise fashion-- covers a definition of Shamanism and mythology, then introduces the reader briefly to the concepts of the Medicine Wheel; the "tools" of Shamanic living-- including ceremony and ritual; journeying and soul retrievals-- including "non-ordinary" realities; Trance Dancing as a path to healing; and "Teacher" plants from nature. Rutherford concludes with a section on "Shamanism Today," and includes an appendix with assorted resources-- however, please note that the resources are somewhat "skewed" towards the UK, where this book was published.

Final thoughts: Highly recommended! (10 out of a possible 10 bookmarks) Very readable, and highly worthwhile, introductory text on Shamanism.

and the journey begins
This is a great guide and over-view of all the major aspects of shamanism!! ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout history, the shaman has been an important figure in many cultures, including most Native American tribes, the Ainu of Japan, The Northern Aranda of Australia, and much of pre-Roman Europe. The shaman state is one involving special insight and magical powers. In Shamanism for Everyone, Gini Graham Scott shows you how to gain shamanistic wisdom safely and easily, and how to use it in your daily life. Her techniques include rituals, "seeing" into other realities, working with the forces of nature, mental projection, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent study, but only for specialists
Becoming Half Hidden is a fascinating study of Inuit shamanism, with astrong focus on psychological elements. It is very much an academic textand will be a difficult read for anyone without a strong background inpsychology and perhaps also philosophy or theology. Elements of the studyof folklore and mythology seem rather deemphasized. Merkur treats hissubjects with a reasonable amount of respect, unlike some of the scholarswhose work he quotes. All in all, this is no doubt an important academicwork, but even well-educated nonspecialist readers will find itunapproachable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good, but not complete.
This is a great guide for assembling different Northern magic practices into a coherent practice.It does not contain any really deep information on these required skills, however.If you already have experience in Rune magic, Seidr, shamanic journeying, etc... then you can jump right in.If not, be prepared to study those subjects first.

guide to galdr
This book is a great guide to galdr and other asatru subjects. these folk have a different view of the world tree than most other asatruers but don't insist that their view is the only one.Great book

Galdrbok
I have thoroughly enjoyed the book.It is interesting, informative and has an easy style.The information is invaluable for any Anglo Saxon heathen and a MUST if you follow the path or even wish to have a greater understanding of what makes us as we are.This is the Shamanism based on the Anglo Saxon or Northern European culture and it is great to have this information. ... Read more

Product Description
Shamanism has always been of great interest to anthropologists. More recently it has been "discovered" by westerners, especially New Age followers. This book breaks new ground byexamining pristine shamanism in Greenland, among people contacted late by Western missionaries and settlers. On the basis of material only available in Danish, and presented herein English for the first time, the author questions Mircea Eliade's well-known definition of the shaman as the master of ecstasy and suggests that his role has to be seen as that of a master of spirits.The ambivalent nature of the shaman and the spirit world in the tough Arctic environment is then contrasted with the more benign attitude to shamanism in the New Age movement. After presenting descriptions of their organizations and accounts by participants, the author critically analyses the role of neo-shamanic courses and concludes that it is doubtful to consider what isoffered as shamanism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dave Hanson's Review Says It Well
After reading Dave Hanson's review, I found I had little to offer that wasn't already covered other than to add two more stars. This book covers, through extensive research, what so many traditionals have been saying for years: there is little similarity between real shamanism and neoshamanistic practices offered by the followers of Harnerism.

True shamanism is neither pretty nor fun. It is a path that one is forced upon by the spirits and ancestors, not one that a person seeks for fame and fortune. It involves deadly encounters with spiritual beings that some do not survive. It requires a shattering, not just of the psyche, but of the very soul of the shaman.

Enough said. This book will give you an opportunity to acquaint yourself with real shamanism and its difference from the likes of Harnerism. This is not intended to be a criticism of Harnerism, but to intend that such is not shamanism.

Contributes to a serious discussion of shamanism.
This book has two parts. First, it is a description of the beliefs and activities of shamans in Greenland beginning in the 1700's, as reported by missionaries and anthropologists. Secondly it is a description of contemporary neoshamanic activity, particularly in shamanic trainingworkshops conducted by one teacher in Europe. Jakobsen poses a criticaldistinction between the spiritual worlds of indigenous shamans in Greenlandand that of contemporary new age shamans, and concludes that new ageshamanism should not be called shamanism at all. Rather, it should betermed "shamanic behavior."

For serious students of shamanismwho have read extensively in the anthropological literature, thisdifference in the beliefs of indigenous and contemporary shamans is notnew. Harner's sanitizing of shamanism altered the student/spiritrelationship from one of fear, awe and mediation of forces outside ofthemselves, to one of consorting with one's benevolent teachers andhelpers. It is apparent that the reduction of the "fear factor"in shamanism has attracted more workshop attendees.

Jakobsen, unlikeneoshamans, reminds us that the spirits of the Greenland shamans did notemanate from their psyche, were not projections of self, did not reside ina collective unconscious. There were no seeds of imaginal shamanism. Today,the neoshaman creates the spirits, thereby imposing order and morality onan otherwise fearsome universe. I heard a respected teacher in the Harnercadre tell a group of beginners that they would have to "teach yourpower animals how to behave." Such a notion would shock an indigenousshaman.

The origins of imaginal, neoshamanism don't lie in shamanism atall, but rest on the foundation set in the humanistic psychology and humanpotential movement that emerged at Esalen in the sixties. Harner andCastaneda reap the benefits of the movement. In a framework where all isseen in terms of humanistic psychology, neoshamans master the spirits bynot inviting the dangerous ones to the party. Touching upon the origins ofneoshamanism would have helped this book. Jakobsen says "here they areand this is what they are doing," but she doesn't say"why."

Jakobsen's reports of her experiences in neoshamanicworkshops are good samples of both the rituals and the anecdotal accountsof the participants. The descriptions of the workshops and people in themwas all too familiar. She is fair in her reporting. It is interesting thatthe course leader with whom she studied the most, refused to allow the useof his name. Coercive harmony dominates neoshamanic training.

Jakobsen'sbook is a valuable addition to a discussion of shamanism. It asks us toconsider where we place ourselves in the cosmos. Perhaps it will stimulatemore examinations of the many aspects of the neoshamanic movement. Morelikely it will be seen by neoshamans as negative and critical. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Invaluable for Borneanists
This collection of essays includes contributions from George and Laura Appell, H.S. Morris, Jerome Rousseau, Sian E. Jay, Jay Bernstein, Richard Fidler, Robert J. Barrett and Clifford Sather.Topics range from spirit mediumship among the Rungus, Bulusu' and Ngaju to Oya Melanau and Taman shamanism to Sarawak-Chinese spirit possession.This volume should be of interest not only to Borneanists, but also to anthropologists of religion and anyone interested in the topic of shamanism generally ... Read more