Product Description
Jodorowsky’s memoirs of his experiences with Master Takata and the group of wisewomen--magiciennes--who influenced his spiritual growth

• Reveals Jodorowsky turning the same unsparing spiritual vision seen in El Topo to his own spiritual quest

• Shows how the author’s spiritual insight and progress was catalyzed repeatedly by wisewoman shamans and healers

In 1970, John Lennon introduced to the world Alejandro Jodorowsky and the movie, El Topo, that he wrote, starred in, and directed. The movie and its author instantly became a counterculture icon. The New York Times said the film “demands to be seen,” and Newsweek called it “An Extraordinary Movie!” But that was only the beginning of the story and the controversy of El Topo, and the journey of its brilliant creator. His spiritual quest began with the Japanese master Ejo Takata, the man who introduced him to the practice of meditation, Zen Buddhism, and the wisdom of the koans. Yet in this autobiographical account of his spiritual journey, Jodorowsky reveals that it was a small group of wisewomen, far removed from the world of Buddhism, who initiated him and taught him how to put the wisdom he had learned from his master into practice.

At the direction of Takata, Jodorowsky became a student of the surrealist painter Leonora Carrington, thus beginning a journey in which vital spiritual lessons were transmitted to him by various women who were masters of their particular crafts. These women included Doña Magdalena, who taught him “initiatic” or spiritual massage; the powerful Mexican actress known as La Tigresa (the “tigress”); and Reyna D’Assia, daughter of the famed spiritual teacher G. I. Gurdjieff. Other important wisewomen on Jodorowsky’s spiritual path include María Sabina, the priestess of the sacred mushrooms; the healer Pachita; and the Chilean singer Violeta Parra. The teachings of these women enabled him to discard the emotional armor that was hindering his advancement on the path of spiritual awareness and enlightenment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Indeed...
I do so enjoy these short reviews. For This book is deeply profound and speaks for itself.

Jodorowsky y las Magas
Great book by this great surrealist master. His first encounter with Leonora Carrington as he described it is simply amazing! surreal surreal surreal surreal surreal surreal. If you are a big fan of Jodo buy this book but read first "La Danza de la Realidad" [The Dance of Reality].

Undoing yourself with Alejandro Jodorowsky
a beautifully sculpted ritual healing disguised as a autobiographical tale, this book will take you on a journey in to your own heart and confront you with the wondrousness of life and encounters with the incredibly rich mind that populates it.

it is truly a crime that more of Jodo's works are not translated into english, and that he should ever have trouble finding money to make his films. until people understand what jodo is trying to give them, they will never understand themselves. ... Read more

Product Description

A healing path using the power of dreams, theater, poetry, and shamanism

• Shows how psychological realizations can cause true transformation when manifested by concrete poetic acts

• Includes many examples of the surreal but successful actions Jodorowsky has prescribed to those seeking his help

While living in Mexico, Alejandro Jodorowsky became familiar with the colorful and effective cures provided by folk healers. He realized that it is easier for the unconscious to understand the language of dreams than that of rationality. Illness can even be seen as a physical dream that reveals unresolved emotional and psychological problems.

Psychomagic presents the shamanic and genealogical principles Jodorowsky discovered to create a healing therapy that could use the powers of dreams, art, and theater to empower individuals to heal wounds that in some cases had traveled through generations. The concrete and often surreal poetic actions Jodorowsky employs are part of an elaborate strategy intended to break apart the dysfunctional persona with whom the patient identifies in order to connect with a deeper self. That is when true transformation can manifest.

For a young man who complained that he lived only in his head and was unable to grab hold of reality and advance toward the financial autonomy he desired, Jodorowsky gave the prescription to paste two gold coins to the soles of his shoes so that all day he would be walking on gold. A judge whose vanity was ruling his every move was given the task of dressing like a tramp and begging outside one of the fashionable restaurants he loved to frequent while pulling glass doll eyes out of his pockets. The lesson for him was that if a tramp can fill his pockets with eyeballs, then they must be of no value, and thus the eyes of others should have no bearing on who you are and what you do. Taking his patients directly at their words, Jodorowsky takes the same elements associated with a negative emotional charge and recasts them in an action that will make them positive and enable them to pay the psychological debts hindering their lives.

Customer Reviews (2)

Prepare to be under the spell of a Cheshire Zen Master!
I'm only 10 pages into it and I wish I had more time for it. My favorite quote so far:

"For some years now, Jodorowsky has been hosting, without publicity, a conference-happening to deal with therapeutic themes every Wednesday in Paris. The event is free of charge; five hundred spectators attend each week. At the end of the Mystical Cabaret sessions, volunteers pass the hat to collect the money necessary to pay for renting the hall. Three days before the conference, and always free of charge, Jodorowsky reads the tarot cards for some thirty people. At the conclusion of each reading, the person who received the reading is required to trace the words "thank you" with their index finger in Jodorowsky's hands as payment."

As is the case with such figures, if you're into his movies, you'll be blown away by stories about them and by them.

Rule Changer
I was able to begin applying the knowledge immediately.I bought two additional copies for friends.The material helps define laws of personal spiritual reality versus the collective consciousness reality utilizing the logic of life work, reciprocating experience for services rendered. This may be an answer book for individuals working in a positive direction. There are exercises for creating with imagination and interesting stories of discovery. ... Read more

Product Description
Filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky’s insights into the Tarot as a spiritual path

• Works with the original Marseille Tarot to reveal the roots of Western wisdom

• Provides the key to the symbolic language of the Tarot’s “nomadic cathedral”

• Transforms a simple divination tool into a vehicle for self-realization and healing

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s profound study of the Tarot, which began in the early 1950s, reveals it to be far more than a simple divination device. The Tarot is first and foremost a powerful instrument of self-knowledge and a representation of the structure of the soul.

The Way of Tarot shows that the entire deck is structured like a temple, or a mandala, which is both an image of the world and a representation of the divine. The authors use the sacred art of the original Marseille Tarot--created during a time of religious tolerance in the 11th century--to reconnect with the roots of the Tarot’s Western esoteric wisdom. They explain that the Tarot is a “nomadic cathedral” whose parts--the 78 cards or “arcana”--should always be viewed with an awareness of the whole structure. This understanding is essential to fully grasp the Tarot’s hermetic symbolism.

The authors explore the secret associations behind the hierarchy of the cards and the correspondences between the suits and energies within human beings. Each description of the Major Arcana includes key word summaries, symbolic meanings, traditional interpretations, and a section where the card speaks for itself. Jodorowsky and Costa then take the art of reading the Tarot to a depth never before possible. Using their work with Tarology, a new psychological approach that uses the symbolism and optical language of the Tarot to create a mirror image of the personality, they offer a powerful tool for self-realization, creativity, and healing.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Some good ideas, but flawed by sexist and religious dogma
There are good reviews of this book already, but they all focus on the positives and there are some definite negatives for me. I imagine other new readers may also feel this way as time goes on.

First off, I found Jodorowsky to be rather limited in his ideas of sexuality and he sees the Tarot as 100% heterosexually enforced. He can't help but bring up sex on every page, and yet, offers little beyond what seems to be a very rigid approach to sex, gender, and gender roles in society. For example, he states that a major relationship problem occurs when the "woman of a couple is more masculine and the man more feminine. This will induce a cosmic disorder..." and provides countless examples of how women are 'receptive' and men are 'active'. Basically he comes off as an old man who is set in his conservative ways - maybe not quite a misogynist but definitely there's something there.

He states his reasoning for not using Tarot as an oracle or fortune-telling device is a passage from the Bible that goes on about not being a soothsayer, not practicing divination, etc. That's fine to not believe the Tarot is used for divination, but to quote the Bible as proof? There are countless numbers of quotes that people today would find to be very bad advice, and that particular quote rings of intolerance of the times rather than divine direction. The author tries to justify his religious beliefs quite often, which is unnecessary and frankly not appealing when trying to learn about the Tarot.

However, besides these major shortcomings (the authors dogmatic beliefs get in the way of his full understanding with the Tarot) there is a lot to like about this book. It goes into vivid detail on the combination of cards, and really provides some great food for thought for folks interested in the psychological aspects of the Tarot as I am. Using it as a tool in therapy is fantastic and Jodorowsky offers come interesting and useful advice here as well.

Facinating book on Life and Tarot
I am not a fan of the Tarot de Marseille, but the text and the logic of this book is fascinating and illuminating. I don't know if the casual Tarot reader would ever appreciate this book, but any Jungian or creative artist working with the collective unconscious would LOVE it.
Highly recommended.

My new favorite book
My favorite director, and maybe person, Alejandro Jodorowsky. He's a madman, a visionary. This is THE definitive book on the Tarot.

The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards
(Review by RNT's wife, C. A. Taylor)

I firstly purchased the Jodorowsky tarot deck which quickly made it plain to me that I needed to brush up on my numerology, symbols and so forth in order to understand this particular deck, so I was compelled to buy the corresponding book for the price of two cheesecakes.A month into my study of the book, I can say that it has impacted my perceptions beyond what words can describe.This inability to describe "that which is beyond us" is precisely why we are given symbols, colors, all elements in their respective places (etc.) on the cards - and I feel that I moved quickly from "novice" to "humble minor expert" without straining my brain one iota.This book would be sufficient for understanding and employing all decks of cards.

Jodorowsky approaches the wisdom-seeker as a patient teacher who does not strive to sound omniscient but, rather, presents his insights and information logically and with a respectful eye-to-eye style of delivery.

Upon reading The Way of Tarot, the mind opens, receptive as the beak of a birdling, to numbers, orientation, suits, degrees, order, color; the infinite possibilities of card combinations; mind exercises and layouts devoid of that "hocus-pocus" feel.Contrary to the singular negative review, I find this book to be abounding with logic and coherence even in its esoteric obscurities.It seems to make perfect sense once the various pieces are put together.Jodorowsky seems well aware that the more angles from which we study a subject, the greater our understanding:

He addresses the Major Arcana and how the cards correspond to one another in various ways.He works the reader up the suits of the Minor Arcana and across by level, which thoroughly ingrains the essence, value and placement of each card.As if that were not enough, he (firstly) divides the individual card into sections: receptive versus active; earth/matter versus air/spirit; and the interplay and perpetual cycle of the suits.

He trains the reader to apply common-sense in scrutinizing details such as the direction of leaves and the openness of flowers, and to expand the impressions through the understanding of colors, the direction of gazing eyes, etc..Everything within the Jodorowsky tarot, right down to the dots, is deliberate and worth study for as broad an interpretation as possible and, in turn, for an invitation to the subconscious mind to awaken and unleash its divining potential.

But one of the most valuable pleasant surprises within this book, in my opinion, is its lesson of the practical application of the Tarot in determining one's placement in life for guidance on one's personal path, and it even hints toward how one can analyze the dynamics of relations with others according to where The Fool lands in their lives and their development within their representative suit (actually, one can analyze anything by way of the Tarot).

The possibilities are boundless, and now, as each and every card presents its universal wisdom, my mind opens, confidently, expansive as a rainbow, to define a plethora of possibilities within each moment, and to divine that vital truth to resonate deeply within me.

I can only assume that, except by plagiarism, there will not, for a long time, be a more worthy, resourceful and helpful book on understanding the Tarot in general than that which was simply yet eloquently presented as Jodorowsky's The Way of Tarot.

(I am very grateful to the team of individuals who put this book together.If I were to not yet own this book while knowing what I do of it, I would buy it - right now.It's worth a cheesecake's weight in gold!)

Filled with invaluable insights for Tarot practitioners of all skill and experience levels
Filmmaker and psychotherapist Alejandro Jodorowsky and Tarot workshop teacher Marianne Costa present The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards, a guide to Tarology and unlocking the esoteric wisdom within the Tarot cards. Chapters address the significance of each major and minor arcana, as well as specific pairs of cards, and the steps to successfully read Tarot. "Just as in life, at every moment in a Tarot reading a choice is offered us: we can interpret the facts (the Arcana) in a positive or negative sense. We have seen that this choice is not predetermined, insofar as in the Tarot, no card is innately negative." An excellent all-around guide to both the nuts-and-bolts practical and the spiritual sides of Tarot, The Way of Tarot is filled with invaluable insights for Tarot practitioners of all skill and experience levels.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointing
I thought I was buying an historical novel, had no idea it was part of a series and it was like a comic book.Very disappointingBorgia: Power and Incest

Uncensored history
If you are looking for Manara's sexy artwork, buy something else by this wonderful artist.If you are looking for an uncensored version of earlier renaissance papacy, this is sure to interest anyone.For sure, there is some copulation and nudity, but this is primarily a history.

Good Stuff
Excellent art and very good dialog storytelling. It's fairly short, but it's a good value for the price.There are actually three books altogether which kind of continue the storyline.This is not a graphic novel for kids.Lots of sex, incest and nudity.

Forbidden history
Yes, you could call the book with this name. There are topics which are forbidden to speak about in history. Everybody knows the events in our history which are described in official history books 180 degrees different as they were in reality. Only because the winners write the history and it is not allowable to show the winners in any other way as heroes and good ones.
So this two books about Borgias is just one example how it is possible by picture book tell little different story than an orthodox history tells us.
But even without all this it is very good book with fine graphic and little humor.
I would suggest to everybody who admires the Milo Manaras art and to everybody who are interested to have a little history lesson.
Good enjoying! ... Read more

Product Description
Este libro es un ejercicio de autobiografia imaginaria, aunque no en el sentido de 'ficticia', pues todos los personajes, lugares y acontecimientos son verdaderos, sino en el hecho de que la historia profunda de mi vida es un esfuerzo constante para expandir la imaginacion y ampliar sus limites, para aprehenderla en su potencial terapeutico y transformador. Ella actua en todos los terrenos de nuestra vida, incluso en los que consideramos racionales. Por eso, no se puede abordar la realidad sin desarrollar la imaginacion desde multiples angulos. Normalmente lo visualizamos todo segun los estrechos limites de nuestras creencias condicionadas. De la realidad misteriosa, tan vasta e imprevisible, no percibimos mas que lo que se filtra a traves de nuestro reducido punto de vista. La imaginacion activa es la clave de una vision amplia: permite enfocar la vida desde angulos que no son los nuestros, imaginando otros niveles de conciencia superiores al nuestro. Esta busqueda me separo de mi Yo ilusorio, me hizo huir de Chile y me impulso a buscar con desesperacion un sentido a la vida.» ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY «La vida de Jodorowsky es una obra de arte esmaltada de situaciones maravillosas, vivencias surrealistas, prodigios y logros de la imaginacion y la conciencia.» La Vanguardia ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Un gran libro!
Como todo lo que hace Jodorowsky, tiene un contenido sanador y de una gran ayuda para la superacion personal, el mejoramiento de la autoestima y la calidad de vida!
Totalmente recomendable! ... Read more

Product Description
Basandose en una sugerente frase de Jean Cocteau, «un pajaro canta mejor en su arbol genealogico», Jodorowsky nos sumerge, en la primera parte de este libro («Cuando Teresa se enojo con Dios») en un amenisimo relato, tan comico y sorprendente como heroico y legendario, sobre la vida de sus antepasados, desde sus bisabuelos hasta sus padres. Esta reconstruccion narrativa de su arbol genealogico le sirve para bucear en el sentido de su propio ser y su propia vida, a traves de una inmensa geografia: Ucrania, Paris, Venecia, Chile o Argentina. Con ello el autor aspira a servir de ejemplo para que cada lector transforme, a traves del perdon, su memoria familiar en leyenda historica. En la segunda parte del libro («El nino del jueves negro») el autor relata como un ente metafisico, el Rebe, toma posesion de los varones de la familia Jodorowsky. A traves de esta «tradicion», se transmite la historia de la familia y una serie de contenidos esotericos. Dice el autor: «Alucinacion o no, el Rebe cambio nuestras vidas. Sin el, yo nunca hubiera podido echar raices en este mundo que, en su mayor parte, es agresion. Mi abuelo hizo de el un complice, mi padre un intruso y yo un maestro, porque a Jaime lo perdi a los dos anos y solo volvi a verlo a los diez. Por eso, aunque mi razon diga lo contrario, prefiero creer que el Rebe y todo aquello que conto de mi pais y mi familia es verdadero.» ... Read more

Product Description
Psicomagia es el documento mas completo sobre la evolucion de la obra creativa y terapeutica de Alejandro Jodorowsky, e incluye la version integra del texto fundamental para comprender la psicomagia. El autor nos muestra el camino que le llevo a ella, desde sus primeros actos poeticos y teatrales hasta su aprendizaje para controlar el mundo onirico. Estos pasos imprescindibles, junto con el conocimiento que maestros, curanderos y chamanes le transmitieron, fue lo que dio origen a sus tecnicas para sanar, conocidas como psicomagia y psicogenealogia. El libro ofrece tambien al lector una reciente entrevista con Jodorowsky, en la que nos habla de la muerte, del destino, las religiones, la clonacion humana, su idea sobre el futuro de la humanidad o la necesidad de despertar nuestra mente. El volumen lo cierra un curso con ejercicios, donde el autor nos muestra como es posible desarrollar nuestra creatividad y utilizarla para que nos libere de roles e ideas preconcebidas, y un apendice con doce casos psiquiatricos reales cuyos pacientes fueron curados al serles prescritos actos de psicomagia. «De pronto hay libros que se hacen necesarios porque son capaces de aventar la caspa de las ideas establecidas y de abrir horizontes. Los textos aqui reunidos tienen ese don: el de contemplar viejos problemas desde perspectivas que nunca se penso que pudieran existir.» El Mundo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book! but the copy I got from Amazon had missing pages
I got this book last year but I didnt have the opportunity to read it until now. I really enjoyed the book but the copy that I got from Amazon had several misprinting pages. I suggest to everybody who purchased a book from Amazon, to check it for missing pages right away!

modern genius
I have been a fan of Jodo's for years. This book is an updated version of one of his best sellers. It is an interview with Alejandro about his healing art which he named Psicomagia and it's origins and inspirations. Jodorowsky is a modern day shaman who prescribes artistic actions to individuals with a healing purpose. He is a master Tarot reader, a recognized film maker a writer and poet... There is no end to this man's talent. He works extensively with genealogy, claiming that a majority of our ills originate in our family tree. I hope they translate his books into English soon.Most of my friends here in the US are English speakers only and are missing out on some incredible talent and inspiration.

I never got this book from Amazon
The one star is for Amazon, because I never got this book from them. NEVER. I waited for 6 months and finally I got and email canceling the order.
I am sure the book is great.

Ah, would that I spoke Spanish...
I would SO love to have this book in English translation!! I love the Jodowrosky's work. Why did I give this five stars, sight unseen? I had the pleasure of attending a Jodo signing at La Luz de Jesus gallery in LA. Jodowrosky was interviewed by the writer Jerry Stahl. Jodowrosky has lead a colorful life, to say the very least. This book, which I have flipped through, is packed with pictures and no doubt brims with amazing stories like the snippets I heard at the reading. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Path of the TarotFor over 40 years, Alejandro Jodorowsky has studied the tarot, a fundamental element in his artistic and therapeutic development. Here, with the help of Marianne Costa, he extracts the quintessence of the innumerable classes and lectures he has given around the world and explores the architectural depths of this set of 78 cards. The result is an exhaustive manual that will allow its readers to discover the symbolic nature of the cards, understand each one of the 22 major arcana and the 56 minor arcana, and engage in a guided analysis of their own unconscious. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

un libro muy fantasioso pero excelente
Como es una traducción de la versión francesa no puedo hacer comentarios sobre el libro original pero según el texto las introducciones a las secciones distintas las escribió en castellano el mismo Jodorowsky y dichas introducciones son las partes más fascinantes del libro.Es obvio que Jodorowsky es un artista sobre todo y a veces el libro se parece más a una autobiografía que a un manual acerca del tarot.Sin embargo muchas de sus observaciones parecen razonables y el mismo reconoce que sus enseñanzas son subjetivas.Mi única queja es que no me pareció necesario tanto repasar los significados de los arcanos menores después de explicar bien la numerología.He comparado las imágenes de la baraja que usa en el libro con la reproducción de la de Conver que ha publicado Héron y también con la de Burdel que ha realizado Lo Scarabeo. Aunque muchos símbolos aparecen en por lo menos uno de estos mazos, otros parecen sacadas de la imaginación del autor.Para un libro que se basa más en la historia del tarot recomiendo El Tarot Book de Stuart Kaplan.Pese a este comentario es un placer notar el cariño que demuestra Jodorowsky hacia el tema y también hacia sus lectores.No sé cómo será la traducción al inglés pero al menos las secciones menos repetitivas de La vía del tarot son encantadoras.


Since this work is a translation of the French version I am unable to comment on the original; however, according to the text the introductions to the different sections were written in Spanish by Jodorowsky himself,and these introductions are the most fascinating parts of the book, which in some cases seems more like an autobiography than a manual concerning the Tarot.Nonetheless, many of his observations seem reasonable and he does admit that his teachings are subjective.My only complaint is that the amount of review concerning the meanings of the Minor Arcana seems unnecessary after explaining the numerology sufficiently.I have compared the images of the deck that he uses in the book with the reproduction of the Conver published by Heron and also the Burdel released by Lo Scarabeo.Although many symbols appear in at least one of the two, others appear to have been pulled from the author's imagination.For a book with a firmer basis in the history of the Tarot, I recommend Tarot Classic by Stuart Kaplan.Despite this comment, the warmth Jodorowsky displays toward the subject and his readers is a noteworthy pleasure.I don't know what the English translation is like, but the less repetitive sections of The Way of Tarot are enchanting. ... Read more

Product Description
Manteniendo el lenguaje directo de las conferencias originales que ofrecio en la Universidad Jussieu en Paris, el autor va citando fielmente, casi uno a uno, los versiculos de los cuatro evangelios («cada frase del Evangelio es perfecta y contiene una ensenanza»)para realizar a continuacion una interpretacion, completamente nueva y radical, de lo que estos pretenden decirnos. Como el propio autor senala, «esta nueva interpretacion, que afecta tanto a la sexualidad de Jesus o de Maria, al nacimiento y muerte del Cristo, a las bienaventuranzas o a los milagros, intentara proponer una Moral satisfactoria basada en la salud y la belleza; y ensenar, a los que esten listos y prestos a mutar, el sagrado regreso a si mismos». «Los Evangelios pueden quitarnos miedos.» ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Libro Extraordinario
una breve recopilacion de cuentos, Sunies, Chinos, Persas, Indues. Acompannados de la mirada e interpretacion imaginativa y profunda de Jodorowsky ... Read more

Product Description
Memorias de un nino bombero, historia de un nino que desea ser bombero, es mas la historia de un aprendizaje: la de aprender a ser uno mismo. La sabia dona Filovera hace comprender al joven que Nada ni nadie hay que no sea doble. La realidad es lo que es, al mismo tiempo que es lo que no es. Tan importante es lo que sientes como lo queno sientes. Las ideas fijas del padre chocaran con la voluntad del nino, que tendra que enfrentarse a el y a los demas para poder alcanzar su objetivo. Loïe del cielo cuenta la relacion que durante la dictadura del loco y perverso Horzatt mantienen un hombre mayor y Loïe, una nina que no se parecia a ningun mortal y que quiza vino del cielo. La increible mosca humana es una reflexion que narra la metamorfosis que realiza una mosca en ser humano, poniendo en evidencia la huida que las personas hacemos para no ser quienes en realidad somos, huyendo de nuestra propia espiritualidad. ... Read more

Product Description
En este libro que completa su autobiografia La danza de la realidad (Siruela, 2001), Alejandro Jodorowsky cuenta como conocio al maestro japones Ejo Takata, que lo inicio en la meditacion, en el budismo zen y en la ensenanza que transmiten los koans. Sin embargo, la aplicacion de estos conocimientos en la vida lo aprendio de un reducido grupo de mujeres (magas) que nada tenian que ver con el budismo. Aunque era el propio Takata quien le mostraba la esencia del zen y de los koans, la experiencia de dichas ensenanzas solo la aprendia a traves de estas mujeres. En este libro nos habla de la escritora y pintora surrealista Leonora Carrington; de Dona Magdalena, que le enseno el masaje iniciatico; de la poderosa actriz mexicana la Tigresa; y de Reyna DAssia, hija del ocultista G. I. Gurdjieff. Pero en la vida del autor hubo otras magas: la sacerdotisa de los hongos Maria Sabina, la curandera Pachita o la cantante chilena Violeta Parra, de quienes ya escribio en La danza de la realidad y Psicomagia (Siruela, 2004). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An amazing tale of Synchronical events
Jodorosky was probably meant to be the perfect definition of a Jungian sychronical subject. In this book he describes events that took place in Mexico during the sixties and seventies where Alejandro was initiated in Japanese budist meditation and shamanic rituals, as well as meeting highly influencial woman in the art world. People that later lead him to create his psicomagic practices. ... Read more

Product Description
Alejandro Jodorowsky, entre otras muchas cosas, recogio en sus libros La danza de la realidad (Siruela, 2001) y Psicomagia (Siruela, 2004) la base teorica de esta tecnica sanadora creada y desarrollada por el. Su parte practica la encontramos por primera vez reunida en Manual de Psicomagia, que, con sus mas de 300 consejos, pretende ayudar a todas aquellas personas que ante diferentes problemas psicologicos, sexuales, emocionales o materiales desean sanar, liberar o mejorar su vida. A lo largo del libro, estos consejos practicos nos ensenan a desprendernos de ideas nocivas o de la influencia negativa que el pasado familiar puede ejercer sobre nosotros; a mejorar aspectos de nuestra vida laboral o economica, de la salud, de la vida en pareja o en soledad; a enfrentarnos al sentimiento de desamparo, de odio, de celos, de inseguridad, de fracaso, de pesimismo, de inferioridad, de abuso sexual, de cobardia, de no haber sido querido, etcetera. Finalmente, varios actos de psicomagia para consultantes sanos, y otros tantos dirigidos a la sociedad, anteceden a mas de cien consultas individuales que atendio el autor de quienes le pedian informacion a traves del Tarot. ... Read more

Product Description
Este libro es un ejercicio de autobiografia imaginaria, aunque no en el sentido de ficticia, pues todos los personajes, lugares y acontecimientos son verdaderos, sino en el hecho de que la historia profunda de mi vida es un esfuerzo constante para expandir la imaginacion y ampliar sus limites, para aprehenderla en su potencial terapeutico y transformador. Ella actua en todos los terrenos de nuestra vida, incluso en los que consideramos racionales. Por eso, no se puede abordar la realidad sin desarrollar la imaginacion desde multiples angulos. Normalmente lo visualizamos todo segun los estrechos limites de nuestras creencias condicionadas. De la realidad misteriosa, tan vasta e imprevisible, no percibimos mas que lo que se filtra a traves de nuestro reducido punto de vista. La imaginacion activa es la clave de una vision amplia: permite enfocar la vida desde angulos que no son los nuestros, imaginando otros niveles de conciencia, superiores al nuestro. Esta busqueda me separo de mi Yo ilusorio, me hizo huir de Chile y me impulso a buscar con desesperacion un sentido a la vida. Alejandro Jodorowsky ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Changed my view of reality
What does God, Theatre, Zen, Chamanism, Magic, Psychology, Tarot, Crazyness, Love, Movies, Parents, Trips, Friends, Dreams have to do together???? I discovered it in this amazing book, by this great Teacher...It took me form laugh to tears, from conciousness to observation, from love to hate... Highly recomendated if you want to take a peek of what's inside you...

Jodorowsky Biography and an Intro to PsychoMagic
Alexandro Jodorowsky tells the most intimate details of his life, leading up to the creation (or discovery?) of PsychoMagic. His life is very intriguing and interesting, full of twists and surrealism. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the sixth book in Creation's highly-acclaimed Persistence of Vision film book series. Alejandro Jodorowsky remains one of cinema’s most controversial and influential film-makers. In 1968 his scandalous debut, Fando & Lis, caused a riot in Mexico, forcing the Chilean-born director into exile in France. The following year, his ultra-violent underground smash hit El Topo inagurated the Midnight Movie phenomenon, transforming its creator into a counter-culture icon championed by John Lennon and, latterly, Marilyn Manson.Anarchy and Alchemy features • Exclusive interviews • Rare images • Exhaustive chapters on all Jodorowsky’s films including the mesmerising cine-trip The Holy Mountain, the award-winning Oedipal circus show Santa Sangre • The aborted Dune project with Salvador Dali, Pink Floyd and H R Giger • Texts on Jodorowsky’s 60s terror-theatre outfit The Panic Movement • His world mime tour with Marcel Marceau• His graphic novel collaborations with Moebius ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A Highly Disappointing Book
I do not know the background of the author, but it is obvious that he is NOT a specialist of Jodorowsky. Nor is he aware of elementary cinematographic or cultural terminology. At one point, mentioning the 'peplum' movies, he translates the word (peplum) as 'sandals.' His inability to speak French and Spanish is adversely affecting the very quality of the book. Instead of interviewing Jodorowsky in one of these two languages, he forces the director to kill English with the obvious effect of making him look childish and ridiculous (which he is not). Worse, three quarters of the book are copy-and-paste built using scripts of Jodorowsky's movies and Internet texts. I had hoped to find interesting things about Dune. I was disappointed to discover that I had already read the same text on Internet. Same thing for the description of the Sacramental Melodrama. Overall, I can hardly understand why the publishing house decided to print such an inferior book.

Anarchy indeed
I agree with other reviewers that the films didn't need a play-by-play for every scene, however, some of the insights provided through this obviously loving tome, were welcomed.The description of some of his earlier play work and aborted projects really make this book worth this small price!How exciting it would've been to be a part of or witness some of these events.An incredible volume of work accurately described by the author.One other complaint is the massive amount of footnotes sometimes distracting from the actual text.Great read, great subject!

Mondo-Jodo
Alejandro Jodorowsky's carrer is admirable, with 2 movies (El Topo - La Montaña Sagrada) he achieved what most directors took up to 10 movies to achieve and i don't mean Hollywood recognition at all, but Art, and for some of us, enlightment of conciousness.
Nowadays is really difficult to find a movie director to do what Jodororwsky did 3 decades ago, total freedom to do any creative idea that pass trough his mind, no restrictions and of course the budget to do so. Lynch came to my mind but after watching his last movie you wonder what could Jodorowsky do instead with that freedom now.
This book will take you to his carrer, since the Efímeros Pánicos later known as "happenings" to Marceau's teachings to his in production project "King Shot".
Also it includes info on what i assume it would be the best science fiction project of all time, Dune, for some stupid reason of production Jodorowky never completed it but was eventually completed as crap by Lynch, and probably it was the main influence (maybe copied?) for "Star Wars" and "Alien".
Great tribute for an artist who really deserves it. Great book.

disappointing
I was so looking forward to this book,& what a disappointment! Perhaps this was intended as an introduction for the uninitiated? Even still,I have some specific criticisms: First,way to many pages needlessly rehashing each films synopsis - um,I can watch the movie right?This might have flown 10 years ago(when it was harder to find video copies),but we have DVD now.Right?
And thats my next criticism:much of the material is taken DIRECTLY from the various DVD supplements from the last couple of years!Again,I can watch/listen to the DVDs right? The text on his Panic days,the aborted Dune project,and the closing (very brief) interview are all that keep this from being a complete waste of my time.Disappointing.

Worth the wait!
This book seemed to have a release date that never came, but when it did, oh boy! :)Each film is broken down scene by scene, I was tickled to see this because I love both El Topo and the Holy Mountain, so to have them broken down like this with notes is a wonderful testament to the glory of Jodorowsky.It was like someone thought, "this guy is 75, we should give him a book of epic proportions!" and Creation did.Plus, they have the breakdown of Tusk, only found in French so us that have the film can translate it easily.The black and white photos are great, the projects that morphed or were dropped were great to read and the comparisons to David Lynch make me think that the girls in Inland Empire and the thief's women followers (to be nice and Victorian here) are symbols of the same thing, a sort of collective unconscious surrealism.The book itself is twice the thickness of any other Creation book I've owned (I own three, Moonchild being my favorite until this one blew into town) and it is deep in scale...it's a perfect reference for a fan and a great starter book for anyone getting into this artist and director.It's well worth the money...and the wait! ... Read more

Product Description
Una novela original de este conocido autor, que no se parece en nada al resto de las novelas. «Llevado por mi ardiente deseo de evadirme de la novela costumbrista, realista magica o didactica-social, con su aristotelica construccion en tres actos, comienzo-nudo-desenlace, cuajada de lluvias de flores, chamanes drogados, patriarcas con olor a queso de cabra, amores entre vejetes, putas santas, jergas indigenas, muertos que no saben que han muerto..., me dije: voy a presentar un heroe con el que el lector de ninguna manera pueda identificarse. No sera uno sino tres. Por que no? Los teologos nos han dividido a Dios en tres, Padre-Hijo-Espiritu Santo; tres ciegas con un solo ojo, organo comun que se lo pasan de cuenca a cuenca, son las Gorgonas; el hombre cabalistico consta de tres partes: Guff (el cuerpo), Nephesh (el alma) y Neshamah (el espiritu)... Peor aun: a los integrantes de mi heroico trio no se les vera el cuerpo ni la cara, porque iran cubiertos de ropa de pies a cabeza; habran perdido la memoria; cada persona los captara de forma diferente. Son estudiantes, angeles, asesinos, viejos, ninos? Buscan o son buscados? Sabenque saben o no saben que no saben?» ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY ... Read more